Abstract: An electrical connector assembly 2 for use with a printed circuit board 6 includes an electrical connector 4, such as a standard miniature ribbon connector, and an injection molded lead positioning comb 48. Cantilever beams 54 in the lead positioning comb 48 form lead receiving slots 52 into which terminal leads 40 extending at right angles from terminals 26 inserted into a connector housing 8 precisely position rows of leads 40 for insertion into printed circuit board holes or on surface mount pads. The slots 52 on the lead positioning comb 48 face the connector housing 8 and the comb 48 is snapped to the housing from the rear. As the comb is snapped to the housing, the terminal leads enter the slots. Carrier strips 46 join terminals in each row during insertion of the leads into the slots to prevent deflection. The carrier strips 46 are removed after assembly of the comb 48 to the housing 4.

Abstract: An electrical connector which has a plurality of electrical contacts for interconnecting a plurality of data or communication lines is mountable to a printed circuit board and interconnectable to a plurality of electical traces thereon. The connector includes a front mating portion which is connectable to a matable connector, and a right angled portion, including a plurality of terminals, the right angled portion being mountable to a printed circuit board and the terminals being interconnectable to printed circuit board through holes. The connector further comprises a retention member which securely affixes the connector to the printed circuit board prior to soldering of the connector to the printed circuit board, and which provides a cylindrical soldering interface for mechanical stability of the connector to the printed circuit board.