Board to board connector with an offset mounting profile

1. A board to board connector, comprising:

a substantially flat and horizontal insulating housing having a first mating portion located on a first level, and a second mating portion located on a second level which is vertically offset from the first level, a bending portion interconnecting the first mating portion and the second mating portion;

a first mating face defined on a first surface of the first mating portion and a second mating face defined on a second surface opposite the first surface in a vertical direction, on the second mating portion; and

a plurality of terminals, each spanning the first mating portion, the bending portion and the second mating portion, and having a first elastic-end and a second elastic-end corresponding to the first mating face and the second mating face respectively.

2. The board to board connector as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said bending portion retains the terminals to the housing.

3. The board to board connector as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a plurality of slots are formed in the first mating portion, and said first elastic-end protrudes through said slots.

4. The board to board connector as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said board to board connector further includes a removable cover attached to the insulating housing further secures the terminals to the housing.

5. The board to board connector as claimed in claim 4 , wherein a first base face formed on the first mating portion vertically opposite the first mating face, and a second base face formed on the second mating portion vertically opposite the second mating face, positioning portions are defined on both of the first and second mating portions.

6. The board to board connector as claimed in claim 5 , wherein each of said terminals further defines an engaging portion between the first elastic-end and the second elastic-end, and a opening is formed on the engaging portion, and a corresponding protrusion is defined on the insulating housing.

7. An electrical connector comprising:

a substantially flat and horizontal insulative housing defining a retention base as well as first and second mating regions located on opposite sides of the retention base along a horizontal direction, said first mating region defining a first mating face in a first vertical direction perpendicular to said horizontal direction and said second mating region defining a second mating face in a second vertical direction opposite to the first vertical direction and perpendicular to said horizontal direction;

a plurality of contacts disposed upon the housing, each of said contacts defining a retaining section securely mounted to the retention base and corresponding first and second mating sections extending in opposite directions from the retaining section to the first and second mating regions, respectively; wherein

said first mating region is vertically offset from the second mating region; wherein

a first mating face defined on a first surface of the first mating region and a second mating face defined on a second surface opposite the first surface in a vertical direction, on the second mating region.

8. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said first mating region defines a plurality of passageways extending therethrough in the vertical direction, and the contacts are assembled to the housing in said vertical direction on the second surface such that one of either the first and second mating section extends through the corresponding passageway to the first surface.

9. The board to board connector as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said retaining section is securely sandwiched between a cover and the retention base of the housing.

10. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said cover is assembled to the retention base of the housing in the vertical direction.

11. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the retaining section defines a hole, and one of said cover and said retention base of the housing defines a protrusion extending through said hole.

12. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said first mating region is further equipped with at least one mounting post extending from a face vertically opposite said first mating face.

13. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 12 , wherein said contacts are assembled to the housing in said first vertical direction.

14. A board to board connector comprising:

an insulative housing defining opposite first and second mating regions in a horizontal direction, said first mating region defining a first mating face, said second mating region defining a second mating face vertically opposite to said first mating face; and

a plurality of contacts assembled to the housing, each of said contacts unitarily including opposite first and second mating portions, said first mating portion extending over the first mating region and beyond to the first mating face in a first vertical direction, said second mating portion extending over the second mating region to the second mating face in a second vertical direction; wherein

the first mating region is offset from the second mating region in the vertical direction.

15. The board to board connector as claimed in claim 14 , wherein each of said contacts is vertically assembled to the housing.

16. The board to board connector as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the first mating region further defines a mounting face vertically opposite to the first mating face.

17. The board to board connector as claimed in claim 16 , wherein said first mating region further includes a mounting post extending from the mounting face.

18. The board to board connector as claimed in claim 17 , wherein each of said contacts is assembled to the housing by a cover vertically attached to the housing.

19. The board to board connector as claimed in claim 17 , wherein said second mating region further includes another mounting face vertically opposite the second mating face with another mounting post extending from said another mounting face.