Electrical connector having stamped electrical contacts with deformed sections for increased stiffness

摘要

An electrical connector includes contacts each having a contact body that is stamped from sheet material. The contact body has opposite surfaces and a nominal thickness between the opposite surfaces corresponding to a thickness of the sheet material. The contact body has a mounting section that is secured in a housing, and a resilient section that is deflectable upon engagement with a mating contact. The resilient section includes a deformed section wherein the opposite surfaces of the contact body are deformed to produce extremities, and a thickness between the extremities is greater than the nominal thickness of the contact body. The increased thickness increases the stiffness of the resilient section, thereby increasing the spring rate of the contact.