Abstract: An electrical connector having a reduced DIP footprint for a power distribution system for a printed circuit board is provided. The electrical connector achieves a smaller footprint (with a correspondingly small area taken up on the printed circuit board) than is currently available for power distribution system connectors. The electrical connector has an electrically conductive body having an arcuate section with at least one contact terminal being integrally formed therewith and extending from a lower portion of a first side and a second side of the conductive body for attaching to the printed circuit board. The conductive body is retained in an electrically insulating housing by a latching element integrally formed therewith and extending outwardly therefrom on each side of the conductive body.

Abstract: A socket contact for mating with a pin contact in an electrical connector. The socket contact is provided with an electrical component-attaching section integrally formed with a receptacle section for providing an electrically efficient design. The receptacle section has a centrally disposed opening therein having an arc-arresting end portion with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the pin so that the end portion initially engages the pin and establishes an electrical connection between the pin and socket contacts. The socket contact is expandable so that the centrally disposed opening can enlarge to accommodate the pin passing therethrough into the bore.

Abstract: An electrical socket for mating with a pin contact is provided which has an expansion ring adjacent to the opening into the electrical socket so that when the pin contact is brought into mating relation with the socket, an electrical connection is made between the pin contact and the expansion ring to prevent deleterious arcing to a thin conductive contact element in the socket.

Abstract: A universally releasable and extractable retention clip for an electrical contact in a connector housing, the retention clip includes at least one arcuate element having a first end and a second end, and a retaining mechanism located between the first end and the second end which engages a first face and a second face of a collar around the electrical contact for removably retaining the electrical contact in the clip. The arcuate element is resiliently biased such that when the arcuate element is contacted near either its first end or second end with a release and extraction tool, the retaining mechanism is disengaged from both the first face and the second face of the collar simultaneously so that the electrical contact can be extracted from the front or rear of the connector housing.

Abstract: An electrical power connector having a housing that substantially surrounds a mounting body. The mounting end of the mounting body extends beyond the end of the housing so that when the electrical connector is mounted on a back plane there is a gap between the end of the housing and the back plane which allows the electrical power connector freedom to pivot with respect to the back plane so as to accommodate misalignment between the electrical power connector and its mating connector and to provide a better electrical connection. An electrically conducting arm is also provided that can be inserted into the mounting body of the electrical power connector to convert the electrical power connector from a female connector to a male connector.