WO2025243265A1

WO2025243265A1 - Connector assembly including right angle plug connector and receptacle connector

Info

Publication number: WO2025243265A1
Application number: PCT/IB2025/055377
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jeffrey JONIAK; Andrew Matcha; Gautam Sharma; Sreenath A
Original assignee: Molex LLC
Current assignee: Molex LLC
Priority date: 2024-05-24
Filing date: 2025-05-23
Publication date: 2025-11-27
Anticipated expiration: 2026-11-24

Abstract

A connector assembly including a right angle plug connector and receptacle connector is provided. The receptacle connector may be a right angle receptacle connector, or may be a wired receptacle connector. Each right angle connector includes at least one conductive contact assembly mounted within the housing. A body of the contact assembly may have front and rear sections being formed as separate components which are mechanically and electrically coupled together such that multiple rear sections can be coupled to a same front section. The housing may have a rear section that has a height that is greater than or equal to a height of a front section thereof. The plug assembly of the receptacle connector includes a pin, and the contact assembly of the receptacle connector includes a socket.

Description

CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY INCLUDING

RIGHT ANGLE PLUG CONNECTOR AND RECEPTACLE CONNECTOR

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This disclosure relates to a connector assembly including a right angle plug connector and a receptacle connector. The receptacle connector may be a right angle receptacle connector or may be a wired receptacle connector.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

[0002] Power connectors are used in equipment consuming high amounts of power and consequently utilize high current. In some instances, multiple power connectors are mounted on busbars in an array. In larger arrays of power connectors, alignment of a male pin to a female socket connector may be difficult due to a buildup of tolerances. High power systems can also generate heat and the resultant expansion of the system when carrying high current can cause relative movement between the male pin and the female socket connector.

SUMMARY

[0003] A connector assembly including a right angle plug connector and receptacle connector is provided. The receptacle connector may be a right angle receptacle connector, or may be a wired receptacle connector.

[0004] Each right angle connector includes at least one conductive contact assembly mounted within a housing including a front section and a rear section. The conductive contact assembly includes a body including a front section and a rear section, the front section including one of a pin and a socket, the pin or socket defining a centerline, and a plurality of pins extending downward from the rear section and in a direction transverse to the centerline.

[0005] The front section of the housing has a front passageway extending and is open to a front of the housing. The rear section of the housing has a rear cavity extending from the front passageway and which is open to a bottom of the housing. The front section of the body is seated within the front section of the housing and the rear section of the body is seated within the rear section of the housing.

[0006] The front section of the housing may have a vertical height which is equal to or shorter than the rear section of the housing, or may have a height which is greater than the height of the rear section of the second housing. [0007] In an embodiment, the front and rear sections of the body are formed as separate components which are mechanically and electrically coupled together. Multiple rear sections can be coupled to a same front section, each rear section having a different height than the others.

[0008] The socket may be a separate component from the body, and may have one or more springs which allow the socket to float relative to the body.

[0009] The pin may be integrally formed with the body.

[0010] The plurality of pins may be compliant pins extending from a rail, the rail being seated within a recess in the body and the rail extends longitudinally or laterally along the body. The rail may have a retention feature which is used to lock the rail into the recess of the body. A fastener may be used to couple the body to a busbar or circuit board.

[0011] A lock may be couplable to the housing and the body to secure the body into the housing. The lock has a gripping bar which couples with the housing and a pair of flexible legs which couple with the body.

[0012] A plurality of crushable ribs may be provided to couple the body to the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, with emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a connector assembly according to a first embodiment and mounted on busbars or circuit boards;

[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates a first bottom perspective view of a plug connector of the connector assembly;

[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates a second bottom perspective view of a plug connector with a terminal exploded therefrom;

[0017] FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the plug connector of FIG. 2;

[0018] FIG. 5 illustrates a side elevation view of an alternate housing for the plug connector;

[0019] FIG. 6 illustrates a bottom perspective view of a receptacle connector of the connector assembly according to an embodiment;

[0020] FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the receptacle connector of FIG. 6; [0021] FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the plug connector or the receptacle connector showing a lock exploded therefrom;

[0022] FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the plug connector or the receptacle connector showing the lock assembled therewith;

[0023] FIG. 10 illustrates a bottom perspective view of an alternate receptacle connector of the connector assembly according to an embodiment;

[0024] FIG. 11 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of the plug connector or the receptacle connector showing a terminal exploded therefrom;

[0025] FIG. 12 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of the plug connector or the receptacle connector showing the coupling to a busbar or a circuit board;

[0026] FIG. 13 illustrates a perspective view of an alternate housing of the connector assembly according to an embodiment;

[0027] FIG. 14 illustrates a perspective view of a connector assembly according to a second embodiment, with a plug connector thereof mounted on a busbar or a circuit board;

[0028] FIG. 15 illustrates a bottom perspective view of a plug connector of FIG. 14; and

[0029] FIG. 16 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the plug connector of FIG. 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] While the disclosure may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail, specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the disclosure, and is not intended to limit the disclosure to that as illustrated and described herein. Therefore, unless otherwise noted, features disclosed herein may be combined to form additional combinations that were not otherwise shown for purposes of brevity. It will be further appreciated that in some embodiments, one or more elements illustrated by way of example in a drawing(s) may be eliminated and/or substituted with alternative elements within the scope of the disclosure.

[0031] The present disclosure relates to an electrical connector assembly 10, 110 for high current, high voltage energy storage and power distribution units. The electrical connector assembly 10, 110 may be used in high power applications such as computers, data servers, busbar applications, and electric vehicle (EV) systems. In an embodiment wherein a board to board configuration is provided as shown in FIG. 1, the electrical connector assembly 10 includes a right angle plug connector 12 and a right angle receptacle connector 14. In an embodiment wherein a board to wire configuration is provided as shown in FIG. 14, the electrical connector assembly 110 includes a right angle plug connector 112 and a wired receptacle connector 114.

[0032] Attention is invited to FIGS. 1-13 which illustrate the board to board configuration of the electrical connector assembly 10 with the right angle plug connector 12 and the right angle receptacle connector 14. Each of the plug connector 12 and the receptacle connector 14 includes an insulative housing 16, and at least one conductive contact assembly 18 mounted within the housing 16. The housing 16 may be made of plastic. The at least one contact assembly 18 may be made of metal.

[0033] Each housing 16 has a top wall 16a, an opposite bottom wall 16b, a front wall 16c and an opposite rear wall 16d extending between the top and bottom walls 16a, 16b, and opposite side walls 16e, 16f extending between the top and bottom walls 16a, 16b. A front surface of the front wall 16c is planar. A body receiving opening 20 extends longitudinally along the housing 16 and receives the contact assembly 18. As shown, two body receiving openings 20 and two contact assemblies 18 are provided. It is to be understood that one body receiving opening 20 and one contact assembly 18 may be provided or more than two body receiving openings 20 and two contact assemblies 18 may be provided. If two or more body receiving openings 20 are provided, the body receiving openings 20 are preferably parallel to each other.

[0034] Each body receiving opening 20 includes a front passageway 22 which is open through the front wall 16c and extends rearward, and a rear cavity 24 which extends from a rear end of the front passageway 22 and is open through the bottom wall 16b of the housing 16 and through the rear wall 16d of the housing 16. The front passageway 22 is in a front section 26 of the housing 16, and the rear cavity 24 is in a rear section 28 of the housing 16. The rear cavity 24 includes an upper wall 24a which may be arcuate, and a pair of parallel side walls 24b, each of which extends from the rear wall 16d to the front passageway 22. First and second key walls 30 protrude inward from the side walls of the rear cavity 24 and extend longitudinally from the rear wall 16d to the front wall 16c.

[0035] In a first embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the housing 16 is formed such that the bottom surfaces of the bottom wall 16b of the front and rear sections 26, 28 are planar and the housing 16 seats above a busbar or a circuit board 32 as shown in FIG. 1. In a second embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the housing 16 is formed such that the front section 26 of the housing 16 is vertically longer than the rear section 28 of the housing 16 such that the bottom wall 16b of the front section 26 is vertically downward of the bottom wall 16b of the rear section 28. In this second embodiment, the rear section 28 of the housing 16 seats on top of a busbar or a circuit board 32, the front section 26 hangs down from the busbar or circuit board 32, and a front edge 32c of the busbar or circuit board 32 seats against a rear wall surface 26d of the front section 26 as shown in FIG. 1. While the plug connector 12 is shown in FIG. 1 having the first embodiment of the housing 16 and the receptacle connector 14 having the second embodiment of the housing 16, the receptacle connector 14 may have the first embodiment of the housing 16 and the plug connector 12 may have the second embodiment of the housing 16. It is to be understood that both of the plug connector 12 and the receptacle connector 14 may have the first embodiment of the housing 16, and that both of the plug connector 12 and the receptacle connector 14 may have the second embodiment of the housing 16.

[0036] The contact assembly 18 includes a conductive body 34 mounted within the housing 16, and at least one conductive terminal 36 extending from the body 34. As shown and described, first and second contact assemblies 18 are provided in the housing 16, but a single contact assembly 18 or more than two contact assemblies 18 may be provided in the housing 16. The first contact assembly 18 is described herein, with the understanding that the second (or more) contact assembly 18 (if provided) is identically formed and coupled to the housing 16 in an identical manner.

[0037] The body 34 has a top wall surface 34a, an opposite bottom wall surface 34b, a front wall surface 34c and an opposite rear wall surface 34d extending between the top and bottom wall surfaces 34a, 34b, and opposite side wall surfaces 34e, 34f extending between the top and bottom wall surfaces 34a, 34b. The bottom wall surface 34b and the front wall surface 34c are planar. The body 34 is divided into a front section 38 and a rear section 40 extending from a rear end of the front section 38. The front section 38 of the body 34 defines a longitudinal centerline 42 and generally conforms in shape to the front passageway 22. The rear section 40 of the body 34 generally conforms in shape to the rear cavity 24. First and second longitudinally extending key ways 44 are provided in the side wall surface 34e, 34f of the rear section 40. At least one terminal recess 46 extends upward from the bottom wall surface 34b of the rear section 40 of the body 34. As shown in one embodiment in FIGS. 2 and 3, each terminal recess 46 extends longitudinally from the rear wall surface 34d toward a front end of the rear section 40. In another embodiment as shown in FIG. 10, each terminal recess 46 extends laterally across the lower wall surface 34b. The rear section 40 may have a fastener receiving hole 48 extending upward from the lower wall surface 34b which is between the terminal recesses 46. The rear section 40 may be formed as a block.

[0038] Each terminal 36 has an elongated upper rail 50 from which a plurality of spaced apart pins 52 extend. The pins 52 may be compliant pins. As shown, seven compliant pins 52 are provided, but more or fewer compliant pins 52 may be provided. The rail 50 seats within, and conforms in shape to, of the recess 46 of the body 34 and the terminal 36 is mechanically and electrically coupled to the body 34. The pins 52 extend downward from the lower wall surface 34b of the body 34 for mechanically and electrically coupling to the busbar or circuit board 32. The upper rail 50 may have a retention feature 54 which is used to lock the rail 50 into the recess 46 of the body 34. In an embodiment, the retention feature 54 is a plurality of dimples which extend outward from the rail 50, and the dimples are crushed and deformed upon insertion into the recess 46 to maintain an interference fit. The rail 50 may be pressed into the recess 46 using a tool (not shown). Other means for securing the terminals 36 to the body 34 are within the scope of the present disclosure. Alternatively, the pins 52 may be integrally formed with the body 34. [0039] The pins 52 extend in a direction which is transverse to the centerline 42 of the body 34. As such, the connector 12, 14 is a right angle connector.

[0040] The front section 38 of the body 34 seats within the front passageway 22 and the rear section 40 of the body 34 seats within the rear cavity 24. The key walls 30 seat within the key ways 44 to properly locate the body 34 within the housing 16. The rear section 40 may extend downward from the bottom wall 16b, or may be flush with the bottom wall 16b of the rear section 28 of the housing 16. Since the rear section 40 generally conforms in shape to the rear cavity 24, the rear section 40 defines a height Hl in the first embodiment as shown in FIG. 4 between the planar bottom wall surface 34b of the rear section 40 and the centerline 42, and a height H2 in the second embodiment as shown in FIG. 5 between the planar bottom wall surface 34b of the rear section 40 and the centerline 42. The height Hl is greater than the height H2. Height H2 can be any desired amount to accommodate the other components

[0041] In the plug connector 12 as shown in FIGS. 2-5, the front passageway 22 is cylindrical and the front section 38 of the body 34 is formed as a pin 56. A rear portion of the pin 56 conforms in shape to the front passageway 22 of the body 34 and a front portion of the pin 56 extends longitudinally outward from the front passageway 22 of the body 34. In an embodiment, the pin 56 is integrally formed with the rear section 40 of the body 34. In an embodiment, the pin 56 is formed separately from the rear section 40 of the body 34 and is mechanically and electrically coupled to the rear section 40. In an embodiment, the pin 56 may be pressed into the rear section 40 and coupled using a press fit interference fit. In an embodiment, the pin 56 is welded or screwed into the rear section 40. Other means of attachment are within the scope of the present disclosure. When the front and rear sections 38, 40 are formed as separate components and thereafter joined together, the same front section 38 can be used with different rear sections 40 having different heights, thereby providing manufacturing efficiencies by allowing the manufacturer to make a single configuration of the front section 38.

[0042] In the receptacle connector 14 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the front passageway 22 includes a smaller diameter section 22a through the front wall 16c and a larger diameter section 22b extending rearward from the smaller diameter section 22a to the rear cavity 24. The housing 16 includes a planar front lower wall 16g extending between the front wall 16c and the side walls 16e, 16f to form the larger diameter section 22b. In the receptacle connector 14, the front section 38 of the body 34 includes a recess 58 into which a socket 60, which may be a floating socket, is mounted as shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 10. The recess 58 includes a first part 58a which extends rearward from the front wall surface 34c of the body 34, and a second part 58b which extends radially outward from the first part 58a proximate to the front wall surface 34c. By using the term “floating socket,” this means that a portion of the socket 60 can move relative to other parts of the socket 60, while still maintaining the electrical path through the socket 60, in order to accommodate any misalignment when the pin 56 of the plug connector 12 (or another a male pin) is inserted into the socket 60. The first part 58a is defined by a side wall and a rear wall. The second part 58b is defined by a front wall, a rear wall, and a side wall extending therebetween. [0043] The socket 60 can take a variety of forms. In the example embodiment shown in the drawings, the socket 60 includes a contact receiving housing 62, a contact 64, and one or more springs 66 which are each formed of a conductive material, such as metal. The contact receiving housing 62 is formed of a horizontal wall 68 which defines an inner passageway extending between the ends thereof, and a flange 70 which extends radially outward from the horizontal wall 68. In some embodiments, the wall 68 has a circular cross-section, and the flange 70 is circular. The contact 64 generally forms a hollow shape which generally conforms to the shape of the passageway of the contact receiving housing 62. The contact 64 may be formed of an alloy with gold plating. In an embodiment, the contact 64 is formed from a ring-like connecting portion 72 having a plurality of separate flexible contact beams 74 cantilevered therefrom such that a passageway is formed therein which extends from front ends of the contact beams 74 to a rear end of the connecting portion 72. The contact 64 may include a cap 76 which couples the ring-like connecting portion 72 to the contact receiving housing 62. The cap 76 may be eliminated. The cap 76, if provided, may be formed of a conductive material or an insulative material. The contact 64 is seated within the passageway of the contact receiving housing 62 and the ring-like connecting portion 72 is secured to the wall 68 of the contact receiving housing 62. [0044] The horizontal wall 68 of the contact receiving housing 62 seats within the first part 58a of the recess 58 of the body 34 and the flange 70 of the contact receiving housing 62 seats within the second part 58b of the recess 58 of the body 34. The horizontal wall 68 of the contact receiving housing 62 has an outer diameter which is less than the diameter defined by the side wall of the first part 58a such that a gap is defined therebetween when the one or more springs 66 is unflexed. The rear end of the contact 64 is spaced from the rear wall of the first part 58a by a gap. The flange 70 of the contact receiving housing 62 is smaller than the second part 58b of the recess 58 of the body 34 such that a gap is formed therearound when the one or more springs 66 are unflexed.

[0045] The one or more springs 66 may be a circular wave spring or take other spring forms. If two springs 66 are provided, the springs 66 may be integrally formed with each other. In the embodiment as shown, a first spring 66 seats between the front end of the flange 70 and the front wall of the second part 58b and surrounds the horizontal wall 68, and second spring 66 seats between the rear end of the flange 70 and the rear wall of the second part 58b and surrounds the horizontal wall 68. The one or more springs 66 may extend into the first part 58a. The one or more springs 66 fill portions of the gaps. The one or more springs 66 enable the contact receiving housing 62, contact 64 and cap 76 to move relative to the body 34.

[0046] While a particular socket 60 is shown and described herein, other contact assemblies 18 may be used with the present housing 16.

[0047] The terminal(s) 36 of the plug connector 12 are mounted to a first busbar or circuit board 32, and the terminal(s) 36 of the receptacle connector 14 are mounted to a second busbar or circuit board 32. After mounting to the busbar or circuit board 32, the first embodiment of the housing 16 shown in FIG. 4 or the second embodiment of the housing 16 shown in FIG. 5 can be selected depending upon the desired application, and attached to the body 34. The pins 52 can alone be used to secure the connector 12, 14 to the busbar or circuit board 32. Alternatively, a fastener 78, such as a screw, can, in addition to the pins 52, be passed through the busbar or circuit board 32 and fastened into the fastener receiving hole 48 in the body 34. The use of the fastener 78 can assist in bringing the bottom wall surface 34b of the body 34 into surface contact with the upper surface of the busbar or circuit board 32 as shown in FIG. 12, which may lead to improved performance.

[0048] After the bodies 34 are mounted onto the busbar or circuit board 32 and the housing 16 is attached thereto in the board to board configuration provided as shown in FIG. 1, the pin 56 of the plug connector 12 is inserted into the contact 64 of the receptacle connector 14. The one or more springs 66 allow the contact receiving housing 62 and contact 64 to float and move to accommodate any misalignment between a central axis of the pin 56 and a central axis of the contact 64. While a floating socket 60 is shown and described, the socket 60 does not need to have float, and can be fixed into place relative to the body 34.

[0049] As shown for example in FIGS. 1, 4 and 7-9, a lock 80 is provided to releasably lock the contact assembly 18 to the housing 16. In these embodiments, a lock opening 82 is formed within the housing 16 and a channel 84 is formed in the body 34 of the contact assembly 18 to accept the lock 80. The lock opening 82 includes an elongated, laterally extending section 86 in the top wall 16a and a vertical section 88 extending downward from the section 86. If two body receiving openings 20 are provided, the vertical section 88 is between the body receiving openings 20. The vertical section 88 has an upper portion 88a and a lower portion 88b. The upper portion 88a is wider than the lower portion 88b. A tool receiving opening 90 may be provided through the housing 16 which extends through the front wall 16c and through the rear wall 16d and intersects with the vertical section 88. The channel 84 extends laterally and downward from the top wall surface 34a of the body 34. When the body 34 is inserted into the body receiving opening 20 of the housing 16, the channel 84 in the body 34 aligns with the elongated, laterally extending section 86 in the housing 16.

[0050] As best shown in FIG. 8, the lock 80 includes an elongated gripping bar 92 and first and second spaced apart flexible beams 94 extending downward therefrom. Each beam 68 has a barbed lower end 96. The gripping bar 92 conforms in size to the section 86 of the lock opening 82 and further conforms in size to the channel 84 in the body 34.

[0051] The lock 80 is inserted after the body 34 is inserted into the housing 16. The flexible beams 94 pass through the section 86 and into the vertical section 88. The upper portion 88a is narrower than the distance between the barbed lower ends 96 when the flexible beams 94 are unflexed. The flexible beams 94 flex to allow passage of the barbed lower ends 96 through the upper portion 88a. Once the barbed lower ends 96 pass into the lower portion 88b, the flexible beams 94 resume their unflexed position and the lock 80 is seated. This prevents the inadvertent removal of the body 34 from the housing 16. The lock 80 can be removed from the housing 16 by squeezing the barbed lower ends 96 together until the barbed lower ends 96 can pass into the upper portion 88a, and pulling the gripping bar 92 upward. The barbed lower ends 96 can be accessed through an opening in the rear wall surface 34d which is continuous with the lower portion 88b. The barbed lower ends 96 can be squeezed by a tool T inserted through either open end of the tool receiving opening 90 or a user’s fingers inserted through the tool receiving opening 90, even when the body 34 is mounted on the busbar or circuit board 32. The tool T can be inserted into the tool receiving opening 90 through either open end. When the connector 12, 14 is mounted onto the busbar or circuit board 32, other components may be behind the connector 12, 14 which may make it difficult to access the rear opening the tool receiving opening 90 through the rear wall 16d. Since the tool T can be inserted into the tool receiving opening 90 through either open end, the opening through the front wall 16c can still be easily accessed to remove the connector 12, 14 from the busbar or circuit board 32 since there is always space in the front of the connector 12, 14 to allow for the other connector 12, 14 to be positioned for mating.

[0052] As shown for example in FIG. 13, a plurality of spaced apart crushable ribs 98 are provided instead of the lock 80. The ribs 98 are provided on the housing 16 and extend longitudinally and into the rear cavity 24. As shown, the ribs 98 are provided along the upper wall 24a and the side walls 24b of the rear cavity 24. The ribs 98 may only be provided on the upper wall 24a, on the side walls 24b, or on the upper wall 24a and one side wall 24b. The ribs 98 may extend any length along the upper wall 24a and/or the side wall/side walls 24b. As shown in FIG. 13, the ribs 98 extend rearward from the front wall 16c and extend approximately half of the length of the side walls 24b. A rear end 98d of each rib 98 may be angled. The ribs 98 may be integrally formed with the housing 16, or may be separately formed from the housing 16. When the body 34 is inserted into the housing 16, the body 34 engages with, and crushes and deforms the ribs 98 to cause an interference fit. This permanently couples the contact assembly 18 to the housing 16.

[0053] Attention is invited to FIGS. 14-16 which illustrate the board to wire configuration of the electrical connector assembly 110 with the right angle plug connector 112 and the wired receptacle connector 114.

[0054] The right angle plug connector 112 includes an insulative housing 116, and at least one conductive contact assembly 18 mounted within the housing 116. The specifics of the contact assembly 18 are not repeated herein. The housing 116 is identically formed to the housing 16, except for the differences discussed herein.

[0055] The housing 116 differs from housing 16 in that an extension portion 200 extends from the front wall 16c and forms an open-ended socket 202 which surrounds the pin 56 and is open at its front end. As shown, two contact assemblies 18 and two open-ended sockets 202 are provided in the housing 116. The extension portion 200 has a top wall surface 200a, an opposite bottom wall surface 200b, a front wall surface 200c, and opposite side wall surfaces 200e, 200f extending between the top and bottom wall surfaces 200a, 200b. The front wall surface 200c is planar.

[0056] The receptacle connector 114 includes an insulative housing 204 having an extension receiving passageway 206, and wire(s) 208 extending from the passageway 206 and the housing 204.

[0057] After the bodies 34 are mounted onto the busbar or circuit board 32 and the housing 116 is attached thereto in the board to wire configuration provided as shown in FIG. 14, the extension portion 200 of the plug connector 112 is inserted into the extension receiving passageway 206 of the receptacle connector 114 and the pin(s) 56 of the plug connector 112 make mechanical and electrical contact with the wire(s) 208 of the receptacle connector 114 in a known manner.

[0058] Directional terms such as front, rear, horizontal, vertical and the like are used for ease in explanation, and do not denote a required orientation in use.

[0059] While a particular embodiment is illustrated in and described with respect to the drawings, it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. It will therefore be appreciated that the scope of the disclosure and the appended claims is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated in and discussed with respect to the drawings and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure and appended drawings. Moreover, although the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings describe example embodiments in the context of certain example combinations of elements and/or functions, it should be appreciated that different combinations of elements and/or functions may be provided by alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the disclosure and the appended claims. Further, the foregoing descriptions describe methods that recite the performance of a number of steps. Unless stated to the contrary, one or more steps within a method may not be required, one or more steps may be performed in a different order than as described, and one or more steps may be formed substantially contemporaneously. Finally, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A conductive contact assembly of an electrical connector comprising: a body including one of a pin and a socket, the pin or socket defining a centerline, a fastener receiving hole extending upward from a lower wall surface of the body; a plurality of compliant pins extending downward from the body and in a direction transverse to the centerline; and a fastener seated within the fastener receiving hole.

2. The conductive contact assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pins are compliant pins extending from a rail, the rail being seated within a recess in the body.

3. The conductive contact assembly of claim 2, wherein the rail extends longitudinally along the body.

4. The conductive contact assembly of claim 2, wherein the rail extends laterally along the body.

5. The conductive contact assembly of claim 2, wherein the rail has a retention feature which locks the rail into the recess of the body.

6. A conductive contact assembly of an electrical connector comprising: a body including one of a pin and a socket, the pin or socket defining a centerline, a terminal receiving recess extending upward from a lower wall surface of the body; and a terminal including a rail and a plurality of pins extending downward from the rail in a direction transverse to the centerline, the rail being seated within the terminal receiving recess.

7. The conductive contact assembly of claim 6, wherein the plurality of pins are compliant pins.

8. The conductive contact assembly of claim 6, wherein the rail extends longitudinally along the body.

9. The conductive contact assembly of claim 6, wherein the rail extends laterally along the body.

10. The conductive contact assembly of claim 6, wherein the rail has a retention feature which locks the rail into the recess of the body.

11. A conductive contact assembly of an electrical connector comprising: a body including a front section and a rear section, the front section including one of a pin and a socket, the pin or socket defining a centerline, the front and rear sections being formed as separate components which are mechanically and electrically coupled together; and a plurality of pins extending downward from the rear section and in a direction transverse to the centerline.

12. The conductive contact assembly of claim 11, wherein multiple rear sections can be coupled to a same front section, each rear section having a different height.

13. The conductive contact assembly of claim 12, wherein a first one of the multiple rear sections has a height that is greater than or equal to a height of the front section, and a second one of the multiple rear sections has a height that is less than the height of the front section.

14. The conductive contact assembly of claim 11, wherein the pin is integrally formed with the body.

15. The conductive contact assembly of claim 11, wherein a bottom wall surface of the rear section is planar, and wherein the rear section further includes a fastener opening configured to receive a fastener therein.

16. The conductive contact assembly of claim 11, wherein the plurality of pins are compliant pins extending from a rail, the rail being seated within a recess in the body.

17. The conductive contact assembly of claim 11 in combination with an insulative housing, the housing including a front section and a rear section, the front section of the housing having a front passageway extending therethrough and being open to a front of the housing, the rear section of the housing having a rear cavity extending from the front passageway and being open to a bottom of the housing, wherein the front section of the body is seated within the front section of the housing and the rear section of the body is seated within the rear section of the housing.

18. The conductive contact assembly and insulative housing of claim 17, wherein the front section of the housing has a greater vertical height than the rear section of the housing.

19. The conductive contact assembly and insulative housing of claim 17, further including a lock couplable to the housing and to the body to secure the body into the housing.

20. The conductive contact assembly and insulative housing of claim 19, wherein the lock has a gripping bar which couples with the housing and a pair of flexible legs which couple with the body.

21. The conductive contact assembly and insulative housing of claim 19, wherein the lock seats within a lock opening, and wherein the housing further includes a tool receiving opening which intersects with the lock opening, the tool receiving opening being open to the front of the housing and to a rear of the housing.

22. The conductive contact assembly and insulative housing of claim 17, further including a plurality of crushable ribs on the housing, wherein the body crushes the ribs to secure the body into the housing.

23. The conductive contact assembly of claim 11 in combination with a first insulative housing including a front section and a rear section, the front section having a front passageway extending therethrough and being open to a front of the housing, the rear section having a rear cavity extending from the front passageway and being open to a bottom of the housing, wherein the front and rear sections have the same height or substantially the same height; a second insulative housing including a front section and a rear section, the front section of the second insulative housing having a front passageway extending therethrough and being open to a front of the second insulative housing, the rear section of the second insulative housing having a rear cavity extending from the front passageway of the second insulative housing and being open to a bottom of the second insulative housing, wherein the front section of the second insulative housing has a height which is greater than the height of the rear section of the second insulative housing; and wherein either the first or second insulative housing can be attached to the body.

24. The conductive contact assembly and insulative housings of claim 23, further including a lock couplable to the housings and the body to secure the body into the respective housing.

25. The conductive contact assembly and insulative housings of claim 24, wherein the lock has a gripping bar which couples with the housing and a pair of flexible legs which couple with the body.

26. The conductive contact assembly and insulative housings of claim 24, wherein the lock seats within a lock opening, and wherein the housing further includes a tool receiving opening which intersects with the lock opening, the tool receiving opening being open to the front of the housing and to a rear of the housing.

27. The conductive contact assembly and insulative housings of claim 23, further including a plurality of crushable ribs on at least one of the housings, wherein the body crushes the ribs to secure the body into the housing.

28. A plug or receptacle connector comprising: an insulative housing including a front section and a rear section, the front section having a front passageway extending therethrough and being open to a front of the housing, the rear section having a rear cavity extending from the front passageway and being open to a bottom of the housing; a conductive body configured to be removably seated within the housing, the body having a front section configured to seat within the front passageway of the housing, and a rear section seated configured to seat within the rear section of the housing, the front section including a pin or a socket which defines a centerline; a plurality of pins extending downward from the housing and in a direction transverse to the centerline; and a lock removably couplable to the housing and to the body to secure the body into the housing.

29. The plug or receptacle connector of claim 28, wherein the lock has a gripping bar which couples with the housing and a pair of flexible legs which couple with the body.

30. The plug or receptacle connector of claim 29, wherein the lock seats within a lock opening, and wherein the housing further includes a tool receiving opening which intersects with the lock opening, the tool receiving opening being open to the front of the housing and to a rear of the housing.

31. The plug or receptacle connector of claim 28, wherein the plurality of pins are compliant pins extending from a rail, the rail being seated within a recess in the body.