Abstract: A shorting plug for selectively interconnecting contacts of an integrated circuit socket includes a housing for supporting a terminal pin assembly including a plurality of terminal pins corresponding to the number of contacts of the integrated circuit socket, with the terminal pins being electrically shorted together by electrically conductive bridges. Each bridge includes a removable portion that is partially pre-sheared so as to enable the removable portion to be broken out to arrange the paths of electricity in the terminal pin assembly in any desired pattern.

Abstract: A low profile socket for receiving an electronic multi-pin package is characterized by having a housing including a plurality of elongated channels, and a corresponding plurality of terminal pins. Each terminal pin includes a receptable portion that is disposed within a channel in the housing, and furthermore includes a post portion which extends from one side of the housing. Each channel includes a flexible membrane portion having an aperture through which the post of the terminal pin extends, with the aperture of the flexible membrane portion being smaller in cross-section than the cross-section of the post. Accordingly, when the terminal pin is fully inserted in the housing, the flexible membrane portion is flexed or stretched, and thereby forms a fluid type seal with the terminal post, thereby restricing liquid or foam flux and solder from entering the channel of the socket when the socket is being connected, such as by wave soldering, to the associated printed circuit board.