Chessboard electrical connector

1. Electrical connector for a printed circuit board, comprising:

a main body including a printed circuit board engaging surface;

a first socket disposed on said main body, said first socket including a first section extending from said main body opposite said printed circuit board engaging surface, and a plurality of first contacts each having opposite first and second ends;

a first plug spaced from said first socket and having a plurality of second contacts each having opposite first and second ends,

said first ends of each of said first and second contacts extending in substantially the same direction from a first side of said main body and being adapted to engage the printed circuit board, and each said second ends of said first and second contacts being exposed and including a catching surface for engaging a contact of a mating connector;

a second socket disposed opposite said first plug on said main body so that said exposed second ends of said second contacts of said first plug face away from said second socket; and

a second plug disposed opposite said first socket on said main body so that said exposed second ends of said first contacts of said first socket face said second plug.

2. An electrical connector according to claim 1 , wherein

each of said first and second contacts being resilient; and

each of said catching surfaces being disposed on a catch of said respective second ends of said first and second contacts.

3. An electrical connector according to claim 1 , wherein

said second socket includes a plurality of third contacts, said second plug includes a plurality of fourth contacts, and each of said third and fourth contacts includes a first end extending from a second side of the main body in a direction opposite that of the first and second contacts, said first ends being adapted for engaging the printed circuit board, and an opposite second end exposed and including a catching surface for engaging a mating connector.

4. An electrical connector according to claim 1 , wherein

said second socket is substantially identical to said first socket; and

said second plug is substantially identical to said first plug.

5. An electrical connector according to claim 1 , wherein

said second socket is not identical to said first socket; and

said second plug is not identical to said first plug.

6. An electrical connector according to claim 1 , wherein

said second socket includes an L-shaped member disposed on a corner of said main body opposite said printed circuit board engaging surface.

7. An electrical connector according to claim 1 , wherein

said first and second contacts have a pitch that is less than 0.5 mm.

8. An electrical connector according to claim 1 , wherein

said main body includes first and second alignment posts extending from said printed circuit board engaging surface for engaging corresponding holes in the printed circuit board.

9. An electrical connector according to claim 1 , wherein

said first socket includes a second section, and said first and second sections of said first socket forming an L-shaped member.

10. An electrical connector according to claim 9 , wherein

said L-shaped member is disposed at a corner of said main body.

11. An electrical connector assembly, comprising:

first and second printed circuit boards; and

first and second substantially identical connectors mounted to said first and second printed circuit boards, respectively,

each of said first and second connectors including a main body, and a first socket and a first plug extending from a surface of said main body opposite said respective first and second printed circuit boards, said first socket and said first plug including a plurality of first and second contacts, respectively, each of said first and second contacts including opposite first and second ends,

said first ends of said first and second contacts of said first connector extend in substantially the same direction from a first side of said main body of said first connector and engage said first printed circuit board, said first ends of said first and second contacts of said second connector extend in substantially the same direction from a first side of said main body of said second connector and engage said second printed circuit board, said second ends of said first contacts of said first socket of said first connector engaging said second ends of said second contacts of said first plug of said second connector, and said second ends of said second contacts of said first plug of said first connector engaging said second ends of said first contacts of said first socket of said second connector, thereby electrically connecting said first and second printed circuit boards.

12. An electrical connector assembly according to claim 11 , wherein

each of said first sockets includes an L-shaped member disposed at a corner of said main body of said respective first and second connector; and

said L-shaped members support said first contacts.

13. An electrical connector assembly according to claim 11 , wherein

each of said first and second connectors includes a second socket substantially identical to said first socket and a second plug substantially identical to said first plug.

14. An electrical connector assembly according to claim 11 , wherein said first and second contacts have a pitch that is less than 0.5 mm.

15. An electrical connector assembly according to claim 11 , wherein

each of said main bodies of said first and second connectors include at least one alignment post disposed along a central longitudinal axis of said main body.

16. An electrical connector assembly according to claim 11 , wherein

each of said first and second connectors includes a second socket disposed opposite said first plug, and a second plug disposed opposite said first socket.

17. An electrical connector assembly according to claim 11 , wherein

each of said first and second connectors includes a third socket and a third plug disposed opposite said third socket.

18. An electrical connector assembly according to claim 11 , wherein

each of said second ends of said first and second contacts of said first and second connectors includes a catching surface for engaging the respective second end of said first and second contacts of said first and said connectors.

19. An electrical connector assembly according to claim 18 , wherein

each of said catching surfaces is disposed on a catch of said respective second ends of said first and second contacts of said first and second connectors.

20. An electrical connector assembly according to claim 11 , wherein

each of said first and second connectors includes a second socket and a second plug;

said first and second sockets of each of said first and second connectors being disposed on opposite corners of said main body;

said first plug being disposed opposite said second socket; and

said second plug being disposed opposite said first socket.

21. An electrical connector assembly according to claim 20 , wherein

each of said second sockets include a plurality of third contacts;

each of said second plugs include a plurality of fourth contacts; and

each of said third and fourth contacts including opposite first and second ends, said first ends of said third and fourth contacts of said first and second connectors engaging said first and second printed circuit boards, respectively, said exposed second ends of said third contacts of said second socket of said first connector engaging said exposed second ends of said fourth contacts of said second plug of said second connector, and said exposed second ends of said fourth contacts of said second plug of said first connector engaging said exposed second ends of said third contacts of said second socket of said second connector.

22. An electrical connector assembly according to claim 20 , wherein

said exposed second ends of said first contacts of said first socket of each of said first and second connectors face said second plug; and

said exposed second ends of a plurality of said third contacts of said second socket of each of said first and second connectors face said first plug.

23. Electrical connector for a printed circuit board, comprising:

a main body including a printed circuit board engaging surface;

a first socket disposed on said main body, said first socket including first and second sections, said first section extending from said main body opposite said printed circuit board engaging surface, said first and second sections of said first socket forming an L-shaped member, and a plurality of first contacts each having opposite first and second ends;

a first plug spaced from said first socket and having a plurality of second contacts each having opposite first and second ends,

said first ends of each of said first and second contacts extending in substantially the same direction from a first side of said main body and being adapted to engage the printed circuit board, and each said second ends of said first and second contacts being exposed and including a catching surface for engaging a contact of a mating connector.

24. An electrical connector according to claim 23 , wherein

said L-shaped member is disposed at a corner of said main body.