Patent ID: 6293833
Filing Date: 2001-09-25
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
In a chamber of a female wire harness terminal, a female spring contact comprising:a base electrically connected to the terminal;a cantilevered spring ramp connected to the base by a spring radius and extending rearwardly and upwardly from a terminal insertion end of the chamber at an acute angle above the base, the spring ramp having an insertion force at a first lower level over an initial range of insertion of a mating terminal into the chamber; anda secondary spring arm, the secondary spring arm located between a forward end of the female spring contact and a rearward end of the spring ramp between the spring ramp and the base, the secondary spring arm further having a first end attached to one of the spring ramp and the base and a free end located between the spring ramp and the base, the free end comprising material removed from the spring ramp, the secondary spring arm being responsive to deflection of the spring ramp by the mating terminal beyond the initial range of insertion to increase the insertion force to a second greater level.