Patent Publication Number: US-8968022-B2

Title: Electrical connector having poke-in wire contact

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The subject matter described herein relates generally to an electrical connector having a poke-in wire contact. 
     Some electrical connectors terminate electrical wires. Such electrical connectors include an electrical contact that engages an electrical wire to establish an electrical connection therebetween. The electrical contacts of some electrical connectors that terminate electrical wires are poke-in wire contacts. Poke-in wire contacts include wire interfaces that extend within a receptacle of the electrical connector. The electrical wire is inserted, or poked, into the receptacle such that the electrical wire engages, and thereby forms an electrical connection with, the wire interface of the poke-in wire contact. 
     Poke-in wire contacts are not without their disadvantages. For example, in some circumstances the electrical wire is removed from the receptacle to facilitate product testing, inspection, replacement, and/or repair of the electrical connector. But, it may be difficult to release the electrical wire from the poke-in contact and thereby remove the electrical wire from the receptacle without damaging the electrical wire and/or the poke-in contact. Damage to the electrical wire and/or the poke-in contact may require otherwise unnecessary repair and/or replacement of the electrical wire and/or the poke-in contact, which may increase a cost of the electrical connector. 
     Moreover, at least some known poke-in contacts require a special dedicated tool to release the electrical wire from the contact. The special dedicated tool may not be readily available in the field and therefore may not be used. Instead, an operator may use another tool that was not designed to release the electrical wire from the poke-in contact, which may damage the electrical connector. 
     The housings of some known electrical connectors include a flexible member that pushes on the poke-in contact to release the electrical wire from the contact. But, the plastic or similar material of the housing may become brittle when the electrical connector is exposed to the heat of a solder reflow process, which may damage the flexible member. For example, heat from the solder reflow process may reduce the elastic range of the flexible member and/or cause the flexible member to fracture, break, and/or the like. The damage may cause the flexible member to fail to sufficiently push on the poke-in contact, which may render the electrical wire as unreleasable from the poke-in contact. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, an electrical connector includes a housing having a receptacle that is configured to receive an electrical wire therein. An electrical contact is held by the housing. The electrical contact includes a contact beam that includes a wire interface that is configured to engage the electrical wire. The contact beam is movable between a closed position and an open position. The wire interface is configured to engage the electrical wire when the contact beam is in the closed position. The wire interface is configured to be disengaged from the electrical wire when the contact beam is in the open position. The electrical connector includes a push-button actuator having a resiliently deflectable spring that is configured to slidably engage the contact beam to thereby move the contact beam from the closed position to the open position. 
     In another embodiment, an electrical connector includes a housing having a receptacle that is configured to receive an electrical wire therein. An electrical contact is held by the housing. The electrical contact includes a contact beam that includes a wire interface that is configured to engage the electrical wire. The contact beam is movable between a closed position and an open position. The wire interface is configured to engage the electrical wire when the contact beam is in the closed position. The wire interface is configured to be disengaged from the electrical wire when the contact beam is in the open position. The electrical connector includes a push-button actuator having a spring that is configured to be resiliently deflected and thereby moved relative to the contact beam such that slidable engagement between the spring and the contact beam moves the contact beam from the closed position to the open position. 
     In another embodiment, an electrical connector includes a housing having a receptacle that is configured to receive an electrical wire therein. An electrical contact is held by the housing. The electrical contact includes a contact beam that includes a wire interface that is configured to engage the electrical wire. The contact beam has a wire side and an opposite side. The wire side includes the wire interface of the contact beam. The contact beam is movable between a closed position and an open position. The wire interface is configured to engage the electrical wire when the contact beam is in the closed position. The wire interface is configured to be disengaged from the electrical wire when the contact beam is in the open position. The electrical connector includes a push-button actuator having a resiliently deflectable spring and a spring beam. The spring is configured to slidably engage the contact beam to thereby move the contact beam from the closed position to the open position. The spring beam is engaged in physical contact with the opposite side of the contact beam for biasing the contact beam to the closed position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an electrical connector. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an electrical contact of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is another perspective view of the electrical contact shown in  FIG. 2  viewed from a different angle than  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a push-button actuator of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of cross section of a portion of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a portion of the electrical connector shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5 . 
         FIG. 7  perspective view of a cross section of a portion of the electrical connector shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  5 , and  6  illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a spring of the push-button actuator shown in  FIG. 4  as deflected. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a cross-section of a portion of the electrical connector shown in FIGS.  1  and  5 - 7  illustrating an exemplary electrical wire installed to the electrical contact of the electrical connector. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the electrical connector shown in FIGS.  1  and  5 - 8  illustrating an open position of the electrical contact wherein the electrical wire can be uninstalled from the electrical contact. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of an electrical contact that may be used with the electrical connector shown in FIGS.  1  and  5 - 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is another perspective view of the electrical contact shown in  FIG. 10  viewed from a different angle than  FIG. 10 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an electrical connector  10 . The electrical connector  10  is configured to electrically connect to one or more electrical wires  12 . The electrical wires  12  may or may not be grouped together in a cable (not shown). In the exemplary embodiment, the electrical connector  10  is mounted on a substrate  14  for providing an electrical path between the electrical wires  12  and the substrate  14 . In other embodiments, the electrical connector  10  terminates one or more other electrical wires (not shown) for providing an electrical path between the electrical wires  12  and the other electrical wires. The other electrical wires may or may not be grouped together in a cable (not shown). The substrate  14  may be any type of substrate, such as, but not limited to, a circuit board and/or the like. 
     The electrical connector  10  includes a housing  16  and one or more electrical contacts  18  (better illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). The electrical contacts  18  are poke-in contacts. For example, the housing  16  includes one or more receptacles  20 . The electrical contacts  18  are held within the receptacles  20 . Each receptacle  20  is configured to receive a corresponding electrical wire  12  therein. Specifically, the receptacles  20  include entrances  22  through which electrical wires  12  are inserted. In other words, the electrical wires  12  are inserted, or poked, into the receptacles  20  through the entrances  22 . Each receptacle  20  receives the corresponding electrical wire  12  therein along an insertion axis  24 . Once the electrical wires  12  are poked into the receptacles  20 , each electrical wire  12  engages, and thereby electrically connects to, the corresponding electrical contact  18  to establish an electrical connection between the electrical connector  10  and the electrical wire  12 . 
     As will be described below, the electrical contacts  18  include contact beams  26  ( FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  5 - 9 ) that have wire interfaces  28  ( FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  7 - 9 ). The contact beams  26  are movable between open and closed positions. In the closed position, the wire interface  28  is configured to engage the corresponding electrical wire  12 . In the open position, the wire interface  28  is configured to be disengaged from the corresponding electrical wire  12 . Push-button actuators  30  are provided for moving the contact beams  26  from the closed positions to the open positions to thereby enable the electrical wires  12  to be removed from the receptacles  20 . Optionally, the push-button actuators  30  are used to move the contact beams  26  from the closed positions to the open positions for insertion of the electrical wires  12  into the receptacles  20 . As will be described in more detail below, each push-button actuator  30  includes a resiliently deflectable spring  32  that is configured to slidably engage the contact beam(s)  26  of a corresponding electrical contact  18  to thereby move the contact beam(s)  26  from the closed position to the open position. The spring  32  of each push-button actuator  30  includes a push button  34  that is configured to be pushed to slide the spring  32  along the contact beam(s)  26  of the corresponding electrical contact  18 . As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the push buttons  34  are exposed through corresponding windows  36  of the housing  16 . 
     The electrical connector  10  may include any number of push-button actuators  30  for slidable engagement with any number of electrical contacts  18 , whether or not the number of push button actuators  30  is the same as the number of electrical contacts  18 . Although two windows  36  are shown for exposing two push buttons  34 , the housing  16  may include any number of windows  36  for exposing any number of push buttons  34 , whether or not the number of windows  34  is the same as the number of push buttons  34 . For example, in an exemplary alternative embodiment, the housing  16  may include a single window  36  that exposes two or more push buttons  34 . 
     Although two are shown, the housing  16  may include any number of receptacles  20  for receiving any number of electrical wires  12 . Each receptacle  20  may receive any number of electrical wires  12  therein. In the exemplary embodiment, each receptacle  20  receives a single corresponding electrical wire  12  therein. Only one electrical wire  12  is shown in  FIG. 1  for clarity. The housing  16  may hold any number of electrical contacts  18 . In the exemplary embodiment, the housing  16  holds four electrical contacts  18 . Each receptacle  20  may hold any number of electrical contacts  18  therein. In the exemplary embodiment, each receptacle  20  holds a single corresponding electrical contact  18 . Each electrical contact  18  may engage, and thereby electrically connect to, any number of electrical wires  12 . In the exemplary embodiment, each electrical contact  18  engages a single corresponding electrical wire  12 . 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  are perspective views of an exemplary embodiment of the electrical contact  18 . The electrical contact  18  includes a base  38  and one or more of the contact beams  26 . The contact beams  26  extend from the base  38 . Each contact beam  26  extends a length from an end  40  to an opposite end  42 . The contact beams  26  include inner sides  44 , outer sides  46  that are opposite the inner sides  44 , and end sides  48 . The end sides  48  intersect the inner sides  44  at edges  50 . The edge  50  may be considered a portion of the inner side  44  and/or a portion of the end side  48 . In other words, the inner side  44  and/or the end side  48  may be considered to include the edge  50 . The end sides  48  intersect the outer sides  46  at edges  52 . The end  42  of each of the contact beams  26  include the edges  50  and  52 , the end side  48 , a portion of the inner side  44  that extends adjacent the edge  50 , and a portion of the outer side  46  that extends adjacent the edge  52 . The inner side  44  may be referred to herein as a “wire side”, while the outer side  46  may be referred to herein as an “opposite side”. 
     The contact beams  26  also include actuation surfaces  51  where the spring  32  slidably engages the contact beams  26 . The actuation surfaces  51  are edges that extend between the inner sides  44  and edge sides  53  of the contact beams  26 . The actuation surfaces  51  may be considered edges of the inner sides  44  and/or of the edge sides  53 . In the exemplary embodiment, each actuation surface  51  is a rounded surface that defines a rounded edge that extends between the inner side  44  and an edge side  53  of the corresponding contact beam  26 . Alternatively, one or both actuation surfaces  51  is an approximately flat surface that defines an approximately flat edge that extends between the inner side  44  and the edge side  53 . In still other alternative embodiments, one or both of the actuation surfaces  51  is a pointed (i.e., sharp) surface that defines a pointed edge that extends between the inner side  44  and the edge side  53 . The actuation surfaces  51  are not limited to the location along the length of the contact beams  26  shown herein. Rather, the actuation surfaces  51  may have any other location along the lengths of the contact beams  26  that enables the actuation surfaces  51  to function as described and/or illustrated herein. 
     The contact beams  26  include the wire interfaces  28  where the contact beams  26  are configured to engage the corresponding electrical wire  12  ( FIGS. 1 ,  8 , and  9 ) to thereby form an electrical connection between the electrical contact  18  and the corresponding electrical wire  12 . For each contact beam  26 , the wire interface  28  may or may not press into the corresponding electrical wire  12  when wire interface  28  is engaged with the corresponding electrical wire  12 . In the exemplary embodiment, the wire interface  28  of each contact beam  26  is at least partially defined by the edge  50 . In other words, in the exemplary embodiment, the wire interface  28  includes the edge  50 . A portion of the end side  48  that is adjacent the edge  50  and/or a portion of the inner side  44  that is adjacent the edge  50  may also engage the corresponding electrical wire  12 , for example in embodiments wherein the contact beam  26  presses into the corresponding electrical wire  12 . In other words, in some embodiments, the wire interface  28  includes a portion of the end side  48  that is adjacent the edge  50  and/or a portion of the inner side  44  that is adjacent the edge  50 . In addition or alternatively to the edge  50 , a portion of the end side  48  that is adjacent the edge  50 , a portion of the inner side  44  that is adjacent the edge  50 , and/or any other location(s) along the contact beam  26  may define a portion or an entirety of the wire interface  28  of the contact beam  26 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment, the electrical contact  18  includes two contact beams  26 , namely the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b . But, the electrical contact  18  may include any number of contact beams  26 . For example, in some alternative embodiments, the electrical contact  18  includes a single contact beam  26  (e.g., the contact beam  26   a  or the contact beam  26   b ). The inner sides  44  of the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  oppose each other. The contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  include respective wire interfaces  28   a  and  28   b  that oppose each other. In the exemplary embodiment, the corresponding electrical wire  12  is configured to be received and secured between the wire interfaces  28   a  and  28   b  of the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b , respectively. In embodiments wherein the wire interface  28   a  and/or the wire interface  28   b  presses into the corresponding electrical wire  12 , the corresponding electrical wire  12  is compressed between the wire interfaces  28   a  and  28   b  of the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b , respectively. Each of the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  may be referred to herein as a “first” and/or a “second” contact beam. The wire interfaces  28   a  and  28   b  may each be referred to herein as a “first” and/or a “second” wire interface. 
     Each of the contact beams  26  is movable between an open position and one or more closed positions. Specifically, each contact beam  26   a  and  26   b  is moveable along a respective arc A and B between an open position and one or more closed positions.  FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate the open positions of the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b . In the open position, the contact beam  26  is configured to be disengaged from the corresponding electrical wire  12 . Specifically, the wire interface  28  of the contact beam  26  is configured to be disengaged from the corresponding electrical wire  12  when the contact beam  26  is in the open position. In at least one closed position, the contact beam  26  is configured to engage the corresponding electrical wire  12  at the wire interface  28 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment, each contact beam  26  includes a fully closed position when the corresponding electrical wire  12  is not present and a partially closed position when the contact beam  26  is engaged with the corresponding electrical wire  12 . The contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  are shown in the fully closed positions in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  5 , and  6 .  FIG. 8  illustrates the partially closed positions of the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b . Each contact beam  26  is movable from the fully closed position to the partially closed position to accommodate the presence of the corresponding electrical wire  12 . Each contact beam  26  is further moveable from the partially closed position to the open position. In other words, each contact beam  26  is moveable from the fully closed position to the open position. In some alternative embodiments, one or more of the contact beams  26  is configured to engage the corresponding electrical wire  12  when the contact beam  26  is in the fully closed position. 
     As can be seen in both  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in the exemplary embodiment, the wire interfaces  28   a  and  28   b  of the respective contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  do not engage each other when the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  are in the fully closed positions. But, alternatively the wire interfaces  28   a  and  28   b  engage each other when the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b , respectively, are in the fully closed positions. 
     It should be understood that the open position of a contact beam  26  depends on the size of the corresponding electrical wire  12 . For example, a position of a contact beam  26  that is open (wherein the contact beam  26  does not engage the corresponding electrical wire  12 ) with respect to a smaller-sized electrical wire  12  may be closed (wherein the contact beam  26  engages the corresponding electrical wire  12 ) with respect to a larger-sized electrical wire  12 . The open position of a contact beam  26  may or may not be at the end of a range of movement of the contact beam  26 . In other words, as a contact beam  26  is moved from the partially closed position to the open position, the contact beam  26  may or may not disengage from the corresponding electrical wire  12  before the contact beam  26  has reached an end of the range of movement of the contact beam  26 . For example, the open position of a contact beam  26  may or may not be at the end of a range of deflection and/or an elastic range of the contact beam  26 . 
     Optionally, one or more of the contact beams  26  is a spring that is resiliently deflectable from the fully closed position to the open position. The exemplary embodiment of each of the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  is a spring that is resiliently deflectable from the fully closed position to the open position. In other words, the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  are each resiliently deflectable along the respective arcs A and B in the respective directions C and D. The contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  are thus each resiliently deflectable from the fully closed position to the partially closed position, and from the partially closed position to the open position. In some alternative embodiments, the contact beam  26   a  and/or  26   b  is movable from a closed position to an open position without being resiliently deflectable from the closed position to the open position. 
     In the exemplary embodiment, the base  38  includes one or more surface-mount tails  54  that are configured to be surface mounted to contact pads  56  ( FIG. 1 ) of the substrate  14  ( FIG. 1 ), for example as is shown in  FIG. 1 . In addition or alternatively to the surface-mount tails  54 , the base  38  and/or one or more other portions of the electrical contact  18  may include one or more other mounting structures, such as, but not limited to, a press-fit tail (not shown) that is configured to be press-fit into an electrical via (not shown) of the substrate  14 , a solder tail (not shown) that is configured to be received within an opening (e.g., an electrical via) of the substrate  14 , a structure that is configured to terminate an electrical wire, and/or the like. Although only one is shown, the electrical contact  18  may include any number of mounting structures (e.g., any number of the surface-mount tails  54 ). 
     The electrical contact  18  includes one or more retention structures that hold the electrical contact  18  within the corresponding receptacle  20  ( FIGS. 1 ,  5 ,  7 , and  9 ) of the housing  16  (FIGS.  1  and  5 - 9 ). In the exemplary embodiment, the contact beams  26  include embossments  56  that are configured to be received within corresponding voids (not shown) of the housing  16  with an interference fit. The electrical contact  18  also includes a barbed leg  58  that extends from the base  38  in the exemplary embodiment. The barbed leg  58  includes barbs  60  that are configured to engage the housing  16  with an interference fit to hold the electrical contact  18  within the corresponding receptacle  20 . In addition or alternatively to the embossments  56  and/or the barbed leg  58 , the electrical contact  18  may include one or more other structures for holding the electrical contact  18  within the corresponding receptacle  20 , such as, but not limited to, a snap-fit structure (not shown), an opening (not shown) for staking the electrical contact  18  to the housing  16 , and/or the like. Each of the embossments  56  and the barbed leg  58  may have any other location along the electrical contact  18 . The electrical contact  18  may include any number of the embossments  56  and any number of the barbed leg  58 . 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a push-button actuator  30 . The push-button actuator  30  includes a base  62  and the spring  32 . The spring  32  extends a length outward from the base  62  to an end  64  of the spring  32 . In the exemplary embodiment, the end  64  of the spring  32  includes a wedge  66 . The wedge  66  includes opposite broad sides  68  and  70  and edge sides  72  and  74  that extend between the broad sides  68  and  70 . As will be described below, the wedge  66  is configured to slidably engage the contact beams  26  ( FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  5 - 9 ) of the corresponding electrical contact  18  ( FIGS. 1-3  and  5 - 9 ) to move the contact beams  26  from the partially closed position to the open position and thereby enable the corresponding electrical wire  12  to be removed, or uninstalled, from the corresponding electrical contact  18 . The wedge  66  is also configured to slidably engage the contact beams  26  of the corresponding electrical contact  18  to move the contact beams  26  from the fully closed position to the open position and thereby enable the corresponding electrical wire  12  to be installed to the corresponding electrical contact  18 . The spring  32  may be referred to herein as an “actuator”. 
     The edges sides  72  and  74  define actuation surfaces of the spring  32  where the wedge  66  slidably engages the contact beams  26  of the electrical contact  18 . Specifically, the edge side  72  of the wedge  66  slidably engages the actuation surface  51  ( FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  6 , and  7 ) of the contact beam  26   a , while the edge side  74  slidably engages the actuation surface  51  of the contact beam  26   b . It should be understood that in embodiments wherein the electrical contact  18  includes only a single contact beam  26 , only one of the edges sides  72  or  74  will slidably engage the contact beam  26 . The wedge  66  is not limited to being located at the end  64  of the spring  32 . Rather, the wedge  66  may have any other location along the length of the spring  32  that enables the wedge  66  to function as described and/or illustrated herein. 
     The spring  32  is resiliently deflectable from a natural resting position of the spring  32 . Specifically, the end  64  of the spring  32  is resiliently deflectable along an arc E in an actuation direction F. The spring  32  is shown in the natural resting position in  FIG. 4 . As will be described below, deflection of the spring  32  in the actuation direction F slides the wedge  66  of the spring  32  along the contact beams  26  in engagement therewith. In other words, the wedge  66  and the contact beams  26  slidably engage each other as the spring end  64  deflects in the actuation direction F. 
     The push button  34  of the spring  32  can be used to deflect the spring  32  in the actuation direction F and thereby slide the spring  32  along the contact beams  26 . Although shown as being located at the end  64  of the spring  32 , the push button  34  may have any other location along the length of the spring  32  that enables the push button  34  to function as described and/or illustrated herein. In some embodiments, and referring again to  FIG. 1 , the push buttons  34  and the windows  36  are configured (e.g., sized, shaped, positioned, and/or the like) such that a special dedicated tool is not required to push the push button  34  and thereby deflect the spring  32  in the actuation direction F. For example, a user may push the push button  34  and thereby deflect the spring  32  using a conventional tool (e.g., a pencil, a pen, a wire, a rod, and/or the like), using a body part (e.g., a person&#39;s finger, thumb, and/or the like), and/or the like. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 4 , the push-button actuator  30  includes one or more spring beams  76  that extend from the base  62 . Each spring beam  76  extends a length outward from the base  62  to an end  78  of the spring beam  76 . The spring beams  76  include inner sides  80 . In the exemplary embodiment, the push-button actuator  30  includes two spring beams  76 , namely the spring beams  76   a  and  76   b . The inner sides  80  of the spring beams  76   a  and  76   b  oppose each other. Each of the spring beams  76   a  and  76   b  may be referred to herein as a “first” and/or a “second” spring beam. 
     Each spring beam  76   a  and  76   b  is resiliently deflectable from a natural resting position of the spring beam  76 . Specifically, the ends  78  of the spring beams  76   a  and  76   b  are resiliently deflectable along a respective arc G and H in a respective direction I and J. The spring beams  76   a  and  76   b  are shown in the natural resting positions in  FIG. 4 . 
     As will be described below, the spring beams  76   a  and  76   b  are configured to engage in physical contact with the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b , respectively, to increase the retention force provided by the contact beams  26 . Although two are shown, the push-button actuator  30  may include any number of the spring beams  76 , which may or may not be the same as the number of contact beams  26  of the electrical contact  18 . 
     The push-button actuator  30  and the electrical contact  18  may each be fabricated from any material(s). Examples of materials of the electrical contact  18  include electrically conductive materials such as, but are not limited to, copper, gold, silver, aluminum, nickel, platinum, and/or the like. Optionally, the electrical contact  18  includes a base material (not shown) that is coated (e.g., plated and/or the like) with one or more different materials. Examples of materials of the push-button actuator  30  include, but are not limited to, steel, stainless steel, copper, gold, silver, aluminum, nickel, platinum, titanium, magnesium, and/or the like. Optionally, the push-button actuator  30  includes a base material (not shown) that is coated (e.g., plated and/or the like) with one or more different materials. 
     The push-button actuator  30  may or may not include any electrically conductive materials. In some embodiments, the push-button actuator  30  is fabricated from one or more metallic materials. For example, the spring  32  may be fabricated from one or more metallic materials. Fabricating the spring  32  and/or other portions of the push-button actuator  30  from one or more metallic materials may facilitate preventing damage to the spring  32  from heat experience during a solder reflow operation. 
     In some embodiments, the push-button actuator  30  is fabricated from one or more different materials than the electrical contact  18 . For example, the spring beams  76  of the push-button actuator  30  may be fabricated from one or more different materials than the contact beams  26  of the electrical contact  18  to provide the spring beams  76  of the push-button actuator  30  with a greater yielding tensile strength than the contact beams  26  of the electrical contact  18 . 
     The push-button actuator  30  includes one or more retention structures that hold the push-button actuator  30  within the corresponding receptacle  20  ( FIGS. 1 ,  5 ,  7 , and  9 ) of the housing  16  (FIGS.  1  and  5 - 9 ). In the exemplary embodiment, the base  62  includes barbs  82  that are configured to engage the housing  16  with an interference fit to hold the push-button actuator  30  within the corresponding receptacle  20 . In addition or alternatively to the barbs  82 , the push-button actuator  30  may include one or more other structures for holding the push-button actuator  30  within the corresponding receptacle  20 , such as, but not limited to, a snap-fit structure (not shown), an opening (not shown) for staking the push-button actuator  30  to the housing  16 , and/or the like. Each of the barbs  82  may have any other location along the push-button actuator  30 . The push-button actuator  30  may include any number of the barbs  82 . In the exemplary embodiment, the push-button actuator  30  includes two barbs  82  that extend outwardly from the base  62  in opposite directions. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a cross section of a portion of the electrical connector  10 .  FIG. 5  illustrates the push-button actuator  30  and the electrical contact  18  as held by the housing  16  without an electrical wire  12  being installed. Specifically, both the push-button actuator  30  and the electrical contact  18  are held within the corresponding receptacle  20  of the housing  16 . As should be apparent from  FIGS. 2-5 , the push-button actuator  30  and the electrical contact  18  are discrete components from each other that are engaged in physical contact with one another. Accordingly, the spring  32  (not shown in  FIG. 5 ) of the push-button actuator is a discrete component from the electrical contact  18 . Alternatively, the push-button actuator  30  is integrally formed with the electrical contact  18 . 
     The inner sides  80  of the spring beams  76   a  and  76   b  of the push-button actuator  30  are engaged in physical contact with the outer sides  46  of the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b , respectively, of the electrical contact  18 . In the exemplary embodiment, the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  are received and engaged between the spring beams  76   a  and  76   b , as can be seen in  FIG. 5 . As will be described below, the spring beams  76   a  and  76   b  are configured to increase the bias of the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  to the partially and fully closed positions to thereby to increase the retention force that the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  exert on the electrical wire  12 . The contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  are shown in the fully closed positions in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a portion of the electrical connector  10 .  FIG. 6  illustrates the push-button actuator  30  and the electrical contact  18  held by the housing  16  without an electrical wire  12  ( FIGS. 1 ,  8 , and  9 ) being installed. The housing  16  of the electrical connector  10  is shown in phantom in  FIG. 6  for clarity. In  FIG. 6 , the end  64  of the spring  32  of the push-button actuator  30  is shown as being undeflected from the natural resting position of the spring  32 . In other words,  FIG. 6  illustrates the spring  32  in the natural resting position of the spring  32 . In the exemplary embodiment, the edge sides  72  and  74  of the wedge  66  of the spring  32  are engaged in physical contact with the actuation surfaces  51  of the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  when the spring  32  is in the natural resting position, as can be seen in  FIG. 6 . Alternatively, the edge sides  72  and  74  of the wedge  66  of the spring  32  are disengaged from physical contact with the actuation surfaces  51  of the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  when the spring  32  is in the natural resting position. 
     As described above, the spring  32  can be deflected in the actuation direction F from the natural resting position to cause the wedge  66  to slidably engage the contact beams  26  and thereby move the contact beams  26  from the fully or partially closed positions to the open positions. As can be seen in  FIG. 6 , the actuation direction F is non-parallel to the insertion axis  24 . In some embodiments, the actuation direction F is approximately perpendicular to the insertion axis  24  (e.g., in embodiments wherein the end  64  of the spring  32  deflects in a linear direction instead of along the arc E). 
     The contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  are shown in the fully closed position in  FIG. 6 . The end  64  of the spring  32  can be deflected in the actuation direction F to move the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  from the fully closed positions to the open positions. As the wedge  66  of the spring  32  is deflected in the actuation direction F, the edge sides  72  and  74  of the wedge  66  slidably engage the actuation surfaces  51  of the of the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b , respectively. In other words, the edge sides  72  and  74  slide along the actuation surfaces  51  (in engagement with the actuation surfaces  51 ) in the actuation direction F. The slidable engagement between the wedge  66  and the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  moves the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  along the respective arcs A and B in the respective directions C and D from the fully closed positions to the open positions. 
       FIG. 7  perspective view of a cross section of a portion of the electrical connector  10  illustrating the spring  32  as deflected in the actuation direction F ( FIGS. 4 and 6 ). The contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  are shown in the open positions in  FIG. 7 . As should be apparent from a comparison of  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the wedge  66  of the spring  32  slidably engages the actuations surface  51  of each of the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  to move the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  to the open positions. In embodiments wherein the electrical contact  18  includes two contact beams  26 , the wedge  66  of the spring  32  is received between the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  to spread the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  apart. Specifically, when the wedge  66  of the spring  32  is moved in the actuation direction F, the slidable engagement between the wedge  66  and the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  moves the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  to the open positions by spreading the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  apart from each other. It should be understood that in embodiments wherein the electrical contact  18  includes a single contact beam  26 , the wedge  66  of the spring  32  may slidably engage the single contact beam  26  in a substantially similar manner to either of the contact beams  26   a  or  26   b  to move the single contact beam from a closed position to an open position. 
     In the open positions shown in  FIG. 7 , the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  of the electrical contact  18  are positioned such that an electrical wire  12  ( FIGS. 1 ,  8 , and  9 ) can be installed to the electrical contact  18 . Specifically, the corresponding electrical wire  12  can be inserted, or poked, into the corresponding receptacle  20  along the insertion axis  24 . As the electrical wire  12  is poked into the receptacle  20 , the electrical wire  12  is received between the wire interfaces  28   a  and  28   b  of the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b , respectively, and between the wedge  66  and the base  38  ( FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  8 ) of the electrical contact  18 , for example as should be apparent from a comparison of  FIGS. 8 and 9 ). The contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  can then be moved from the open positions to the partially closed positions such that the wire interfaces  28   a  and  28   b  engage the electrical wire  12  and thereby establish an electrical connection between the electrical contact  18  and the electrical wire  12 . Specifically, the spring  32  can be released such that the resilience of the spring  32  (i.e., the bias of the spring  32  to the natural resting position) moves the end  64  of the spring  32  back to the natural resting position of the spring  32 . With the spring  32  being released, the resilience of the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  (and additionally the bias provided by the spring beams  76  if included) causes the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  to move to the partially closed positions. 
     In some alternative embodiments, the push-button actuator  30  is not used to install the electrical wire  12  to the electrical contact  18 . For example, the spring  32  may remain in the undeflected natural resting position and the insertion force exerted by the electrical wire  12  on the contact beams  26   a  and/or  26   b  may be sufficient to move the contact beams  26   a  and/or  26   b  from the fully closed position toward the open position a sufficient amount such that the electrical wire  12  can be captured between the wire interfaces  28   a  and  28   b  without deflecting the spring  32 . 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a cross-section of the electrical connector  10  illustrating an electrical wire  12  installed to the electrical contact  18 . The contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  are shown in the partially closed positions in  FIG. 8 . The wire interfaces  28   a  and  28   b  of the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b , respectively, are engaged with the electrical wire  12  to electrically connect the electrical contact  18  to the electrical wire  12 . 
     To uninstall the electrical wire  12  from the electrical contact  18 , the end  64  ( FIGS. 4 ,  6 , and  7 ) of the spring  32  ( FIGS. 1 ,  4 ,  6 ,  7 , and  9 ) is deflected in the actuation direction F as described above. Referring now to  FIG. 9 , and as described above with respect to  FIG. 7 , when the spring  32  is sufficiently deflected in the actuation direction F the wedge  66  is engaged with the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  such that the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  are in the open positions. In the open positions, the wire interfaces  28   a  and  28   b  of the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b , respectively, are disengaged from the electrical wire  12 . The open positions of the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  represent an open position of the electrical contact  18  wherein the electrical wire  12  can be uninstalled from the electrical contact  18 . Specifically, the electrical wire  12  can be pulled along the insertion axis  24  to remove the electrical wire  12  from the electrical contact  18  and from the corresponding housing receptacle  20 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 8 , when the electrical wire  12  installed to the electrical contact  18  as shown in  FIG. 8 , the inner sides  80  of the spring beams  76   a  and  76   b  of the push-button actuator  30  are engaged in physical contact with the outer sides  46  of the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b , respectively, of the electrical contact  18 . In the open positions of the contact beams  26 , the spring beams  76   a  and  76   b  have been deflected from the natural resting positions thereof in the respective directions I and J. The resilience of the spring beams  76   a  and  76   b  (i.e., the bias of the spring beams  76   a  and  76   b  to the natural resting positions thereof) biases the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  to the fully closed position. The spring beams  76   a  and  76   b  thus increase the inherent bias of the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  to the fully closed positions, which increases the retention force exerted by the contact beams  26   a  and  26   b  on the electrical wire  12  to hold the electrical wire  12  and the contact beams  26  in electrical and mechanical connection. 
     Accordingly, the spring beams  76  provide the electrical contact  18  with a greater retention force than the retention force provided by the contact beams  26  alone. The increased retention force may enable the electrical contact  18  to accommodate a greater range of differently sized electrical wires  12 . Moreover, as described above, the spring beams  76  may be fabricated from one or more different materials than the contact beams  26  of the electrical contact  18  to provide the spring beams  76  of the push-button actuator  30  with a greater yielding tensile strength than the contact beams  26  of the electrical contact  18 . For example, the contact beams  26  may be fabricated from copper, while the spring beams  76  may be fabricated from stainless steel, which has a greater yielding tensile strength than copper. The greater yielding tensile strength of the spring beams  76  may facilitate providing an even greater increase in the retention force than embodiments wherein the contact beams  26  and the spring beams  76  are fabricated from the same material(s), which may enable the electrical contact  18  to accommodate an even greater range of different sizes of electrical wires  12 . 
     As described above, the push-button actuator  30  is not limited to being a discrete component from the electrical contact  18 . Rather, the push-button actuator  30  may be integrally formed with the electrical contact  18 . For example,  FIGS. 10 and 11  are perspective views of an exemplary embodiment of an electrical contact  118 . As will be described below, the electrical contact  118  includes a push-button actuator  130  that includes a spring  132  that is integrally formed with the electrical contact  118 . 
     The electrical contact  118  includes a base  138  and one or more of contact beams  126  that extend from the base  138 . The contact beams  126  include actuation surfaces  151  where the spring  132  slidably engages the contact beams  126 . The contact beams  126  include wire interfaces  128  where the contact beams  126  are configured to engage the corresponding electrical wire  12  ( FIGS. 1 ,  8 , and  9 ) to thereby form an electrical connection between the electrical contact  118  and the corresponding electrical wire  12 . Each of the contact beams  126  may be referred to herein as a “first” and/or a “second” contact beam. Each of the wire interfaces  128  may be referred to herein as a “first” and/or a “second” wire interface. 
     The push-button actuator  130  is integrally formed with a portion of the electrical contact  118  such that the electrical contact  118  and the push-button actuator  130  define an integral structure. Accordingly, the push-button actuator  130  and the electrical contact  118  form a one-piece design, as opposed to the two piece design of the discrete electrical contact  18  ( FIGS. 1-3  and  5 - 9 ) and push-button actuator  30  (FIGS.  1  and  4 - 9 ). In the exemplary embodiment, the push-button actuator  130  is integrally formed with the base  138  of the electrical contact  118 , but the push-button actuator  130  may be additionally or alternatively integrally formed with any other portion of the electrical contact  118  (e.g., with one or more of the contact beams  126 ). 
     The push-button actuator  130  includes the spring  132 , which extends a length outward from the base  138  to an end  164  of the spring  132 . In the exemplary embodiment, the end  164  of the spring  132  includes a wedge  166 . The wedge  166  is configured to slidably engage the contact beams  126  to move the contact beams  126  from partially closed positions to open positions and thereby enable the corresponding electrical wire  12  to be removed, or uninstalled, from the electrical contact  118 . The wedge  166  is also configured to slidably engage the contact beams  126  to move the contact beams  126  from fully closed positions to the open positions and thereby enable the corresponding electrical wire  12  to be installed to the electrical contact  118 . The spring  32  may be referred to herein as an “actuator”. The wedge  66  includes actuation surfaces  172  where the wedge  166  slidably engages the contact beams  126  of the electrical contact  118 . The wedge  166  is not limited to being located at the end  164  of the spring  132 . Rather, the wedge  166  may have any other location along the length of the spring  132  that enables the wedge  166  to function as described and/or illustrated herein. 
     The spring  132  is resiliently deflectable from a natural resting position of the spring  132 . Specifically, the end  164  of the spring  132  is resiliently deflectable along an arc K in an actuation direction L. The spring  132  is shown in the natural resting position in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . Deflection of the spring  132  in the actuation direction L slides the wedge  166  of the spring  132  along the contact beams  126  in engagement therewith. In other words, the wedge  166  and the contact beams  126  slidably engage each other as the spring end  164  deflects in the actuation direction L. 
     In the exemplary embodiment, the actuation surface  172  of the wedge  166  of the spring  132  are disengaged from physical contact with the actuation surfaces  151  of the contact beams  126  when the spring  132  is in the natural resting position, as can be seen in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . Alternatively, the actuation surfaces  172  of the wedge  166  engaged in physical contact with the actuation surfaces  151  of the contact beams  126  when the spring  132  is in the natural resting position. 
     The spring  132  includes a push button  134  that can be used to deflect the spring  132  in the actuation direction L and thereby slide the spring  132  along the contact beams  126 . The push button  134  may have any location along the length of the spring  132  that enables the push button  134  to function as described and/or illustrated herein. In some embodiments, the push button  134  and/or the windows  36  ( FIG. 1 ) of the housing  16  (FIGS.  1  and  5 - 9 ) are configured (e.g., sized, shaped, positioned, and/or the like) such that a special dedicated tool is not required to push the push button  134  and thereby deflect the spring  132  in the actuation direction L. For example, a user may push the push button  134  and thereby deflect the spring  132  using a conventional tool (e.g., a pencil, a pen, a wire, a rod, and/or the like), using a body part (e.g., a person&#39;s finger, thumb, and/or the like), and/or the like. 
     The push-button actuator  130  and the reminder of the electrical contact  118  may each be fabricated from any material(s), such as, but are not limited to, copper, gold, silver, aluminum, nickel, platinum, and/or the like. Optionally, the push-button actuator  130  and/or another portion of the electrical contact  118  includes a base material (not shown) that is coated (e.g., plated and/or the like) with one or more different materials. Fabricating the spring  132  and/or other portions of the push-button actuator  130  from one or more metallic materials may facilitate preventing damage to the spring  132  from heat experience during a solder reflow operation. 
     Operation of the push-button actuator  130  to move the contact beams from the fully and partially closed positions to the open positions is substantially similar to the operation of the push-button actuator  30  and therefore will not be described in more detail herein. 
     The embodiments described and/or illustrated herein may provide a an electrical contact having a wire interface that can be disengaged from an electrical wire. The embodiments described and/or illustrated herein may provide an electrical contact that enables an electrical wire to be inserted into and/or removed from a receptacle multiple times without damaging the electrical wire and/or the electrical contact. The embodiments described and/or illustrated herein may provide an electrical contact that can accommodate a greater range of different wire sizes than at least some known electrical contacts. 
     The embodiments described and/or illustrated herein may provide an electrical connector having an actuator for releasing an electrical wire from an electrical contact, wherein the actuator can be actuated to release the electrical wire without using a special dedicated tool. The embodiments described and/or illustrated herein may provide an electrical connector having an actuator for releasing an electrical wire from an electrical contact, wherein the actuator can be actuated using a conventional tool (e.g., a pencil, a pen, a wire, a rod, and/or the like), using a body part (e.g., a person&#39;s finger, thumb, and/or the like), and/or the like. 
     The embodiments described and/or illustrated herein may provide an electrical connector having an actuator for releasing an electrical wire from an electrical contact, wherein the actuator is less likely to be damaged when exposed to heat than the actuators of at least some known electrical connectors. For example, the actuator may be less likely to be damaged when exposed to heat than actuators fabricated from non-metallic (e.g., plastic) materials. 
     It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments (and/or aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Dimensions, types of materials, orientations of the various components, and the number and positions of the various components described herein are intended to define parameters of certain embodiments, and are by no means limiting and are merely exemplary embodiments. Many other embodiments and modifications within the spirit and scope of the claims will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects. Further, the limitations of the following claims are not written in means—plus-function format and are not intended to be interpreted based on 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, unless and until such claim limitations expressly use the phrase “means for” followed by a statement of function void of further structure.