The present invention relates to a connector block comprising at least one contact member, each contact member being integrally made and provided with a first contact terminal for electrical contact to a contact member of a mating electric element, a second contact terminal and a spring part giving the contact member a resilient capacity in a predetermined axial direction, the connector block also comprising a shorting rod electrically contacting predetermined contact members when the connector block is in its disconnected state and being electrically separated from said predetermined contact members when the connector block is in its connected state. Such a connector block is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,954,087 which is intended for test purposes and to identify electric components which are able to push away predetermined first terminals from the shorting rod in the testing state. The shorting rod in this prior art connector block is not intended to short circuit vulnerable electronic equipment, such as MOS elements, when the connector block is in its disconnected state. Moreover, the known short rod extends in an open space in the connector block and the spring parts of the contact elements occupy a large space. Thus, the design of the known connector block is unsuitable for miniaturization.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,903,385 shows a connector provided with opposite pairs of electrical contact members which are "shorted" by a shorting bar assembly when the connector is not connected to a printed circuit board. The shorting bar assembly comprises a shorting bar extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the contact members. The shorting bar is supported by a spring pushing the shorting bar against both contact members which are somewhat bent to one another for that purpose, whenever a printed circuit board is absent. Inserting a printed circuit board into the connector pushes the shorting bar away from the contact members. Since each contact member is made up of two opposite parts and each pair of contact members needs its own shorting bar with a spring the known shorting bar assembly is unsuitable for miniaturization.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,070,557 discloses a shroud, e.g. used in back panel systems, in which resilient bridging contact members are provided. When no connector is inserted in the shroud the bridging contact members are forced in electrical contact with preselected terminals to form a closed loop condition in vacant module positions. When a connector is inserted into the shroud the connector block pushes the bridging contact members away from the terminals, thus breaking the closed loops. The bridging contact members are U-shaped and need a relatively large space within the shroud making the known arrangement unsuitable for miniaturization.