Abstract: An improved anti-wicking connector for releasably connecting an integrated circuit or other electrical component to a printed circuit board. Electrically conductive contacts are pre-formed into a loop, horizontal section, and tail configuration for insertion into respective recesses of an electrically insulating housing. Housing recesses have top openings to receive integrated circuit leads and bottom openings to receive the contacts and through which the electrically conductive contacts extend for connecting to the printed circuit board. The loop of the contact is inserted into the housing recess and secured in place by heat-staking. Horizontal sections of the inserted contact loops are dimensioned to substantially seal the bottom opening of the recesses to prevent flux and solder wicking up into the housing which can tack or contaminate the I.C. leads during or after soldering of the contact tails to the circuit board.

Abstract: An electronic component contact which provides substantially lower insertion force while providing sufficient contact force to maintain good electrical engagement with a component lead. The contact includes a plurality of inwardly angled spring fingers which are laterally yieldable and which are of two or more different lengths. A component lead inserted into the contact initially engages the shorter spring fingers and thereafter engages the longer spring fingers, the sequential engagement of the spring fingers with the inserted lead providing substantially reduced insetion force. Once the lead is inserted into the improved contact, the normal contact forces of the fingers on the lead are sufficient to maintain good electrical engagement.