ANTENNA CONNECTOR ARRANGEMENT

The present invention provides a connector assembly (24, 524, 624, 724, 824, 924, 1024) for electrically connecting to an electroconductive element (20) having an electroconductive connector (28, 528, 628, 728, 828, 928, 1028) with a generally flat pad portion (40, 540, 640, 740, 840, 940, 1040), a terminal portion (42, 542, 642, 742, 842, 942, 1042) capable of connecting the assembly (24, 524, 624, 724, 824, 924, 1024) to an external device (26) and connecting portion (44, 544, 644, 744, 844, 1044) interconnecting the pad (40, 540, 640, 740, 840, 940, 1040) and terminal portions (42, 542, 642, 742, 842, 942, 1042), and a preformed plug member (30, 530, 630, 730, 830, 930, 1030) sized to a predetermined configuration and overlaying the pad portion (40, 540, 640, 740, 840, 940, 1040) such that a major surface of said pad portion (40, 540, 640, 740, 840, 940, 1040) is exposed along a first surface of the plug member (30, 530, 630, 730, 830, 930, 1030). The exposed surface may be covered with an adhesive (68, 568, 668, 768, 868, 968, 1068) and in one embodiment of the invention, the connecting portion (44, 544, 644, 744, 844, 1044) extends through the plug member (30, 530, 630, 730, 830, 930, 1030). The plug member (30, 530, 630, 730, 830, 930, 1030) is preferably an electrically nonconductive and moisture impervious material.