Claims
- 1. A method of forming an electrical connector comprising:
forming a hollow conductive post member with a circular periphery, the post member including a foot portion and a distal end, the distal end having a generally cup shaped indentation; mounting the foot portion of the post member to a base member, the base member having top and bottom surfaces, the foot portion being mounted to the top surface; and extending at least one standoff from the bottom surface of the base member, the at least one standoff for resting against a contact surface when soldering the electrical connector to the contact surface, thereby separating the bottom surface from the contact surface to define a minimum volume therebetween for occupation by solder.
- 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising forming the distal end of the post member with an annular ridge encircling the generally cup shaped indentation.
- 3. The method of claim 2 further comprising forming the generally cup shaped indentation with a generally planar bottom wall, the bottom wall having an opening therethrough.
- 4. The method of claim 3 further comprising forming the opening as a locking structure capable of engaging with a locking device of a mating connector.
- 5. The method of claim 2 further comprising forming the annular ridge with a curved peak.
- 6. The method of claim 1 further comprising forming the base member with four standoffs.
- 7. The method of claim 1 further comprising forming a solder layer on the bottom surface of the base member.
- 8. The method of claim 7 further comprising forming a central opening through the base member for facilitating spin soldering of the connector.
- 9. The method of claim 1 further comprising extending the post member from the top surface of the base member at a right angle.
- 10. A method of forming an electrical connector system comprising:
providing a male connector including a hollow post member, the post member having an opening forming a locking structure; providing a female connector having a socket for insertion of the post member of the male connector therein; and providing a locking device for extending from the female connector and engageable with the locking structure opening of the post member of the male connector for locking the female connector to the male connector.
- 11. The method of claim 10 further comprising forming the post member of the male connector with a circular periphery and a distal end having a generally cup shaped indentation with a generally planar bottom wall, the locking structure opening extending through the bottom wall.
- 12. The method of claim 11 further comprising forming the distal end of the post member of the male connector with an annular ridge encircling the generally cup shaped indentation.
- 13. A method of coupling a male connector with a female connector, the male connector including a hollow post member having an opening forming a locking structure, and the female connector having a socket for insertion of the post member of the male connector therein, the method comprising:
inserting the post member of the male connector into the socket of the female connector; and extending a locking device from the female connector and engaging the locking device with the locking structure opening of the post member of the male connector for locking the female connector to the male connector.
- 14. An electrical connector system comprising:
a male connector including a hollow post member having an opening forming a locking structure; a female connector having a socket for insertion of the post member of the male connector therein; and a locking device for extending from the female connector and engageable with the locking structure opening of the post member of the male connector for locking the female connector to the male connector.
- 15. The system of claim 14 in which the post member of the male connector has a circular periphery and a distal end, the distal end having a generally cup shaped indentation with a generally planar bottom wall, the locking structure opening extending through the bottom wall.
- 16. The system of claim 15 in which the distal end of the post member of the male connector includes an annular ridge encircling the generally cup shaped indentation.
- 17. The system of claim 16 in which the male connector further comprises a base member having top and bottom surfaces, the post member being mounted to the top surface of the base member and extending at a right angle therefrom.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/847,861, filed May 2, 2001, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/491,135, filed Jan. 26, 2000, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/199,810, filed Nov. 25, 1998. The entire teachings of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09847861 |
May 2001 |
US |
Child |
10209556 |
Jul 2002 |
US |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09199810 |
Nov 1998 |
US |
Child |
09491135 |
Jan 2000 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09491135 |
Jan 2000 |
US |
Child |
09847861 |
May 2001 |
US |