Plug-in circuit board with reduced insertion force

Abstract

A plug-in circuit board assembly requires reduced insertion force during connection to a plurality of shorting contacts in a socket or receptacle. The connector portion of the circuit board assembly has a pair of end sections with beveled insertion edges that extend substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction of the circuit board. A shallow V-shaped cut-out with non-beveled insertion edges is located between the end sections. Electrically conductive fingers are carried by the connector portion of the circuit board assembly and extend toward the insertion edges of the end sections and V-shaped cut-out. The electrically conductive fingers adjoining the V-shaped cut-out are positioned to make contact with shorting contacts in the socket or receptacle, while the electrically conductive fingers of the beveled end sections are positioned to make contact with conventional (non-shorting) contacts in the socket or receptacle. The angled insertion edges of the V-shaped cut-out cause the electrically conductive fingers adjoining the cut-out to make contact with the shorting contacts in a sequential or progressive manner when the circuit board assembly is inserted into the socket or receptacle, thereby reducing the insertion force that would otherwise be encountered due to the absence of a bevel on the insertion edges of the cut-out