Patent ID: 7291030

Claim:
A zero insertion force electrical connector part comprising: a sleeve contact having contact members with a plug contact receptacle situated between the contact members for receiving an electrical plug contact, each contact member having at least one contact region; and an activation element enclosed around the contact members, wherein the activation element is displaceable relative to the sleeve contact between a non-activated position and an activated position, wherein the activation element applies a contact force to the contact members of the sleeve contact which forces the contact regions against the plug contact inserted into the plug contact receptacle of the sleeve contact to make contact with the plug contact while the activation element is in the activated position; wherein the activation element separates the contact regions from the plug contact inserted into the plug contact receptacle of the sleeve contact while the activation element is in the non-activated position; wherein the activation element includes positioning clips respectively associated with the contact regions of the sleeve contact, wherein the positioning clips lift away the associated contact regions from the plug contact inserted into the sleeve contact while the activation element is in the non-activated position.