Patent ID: 8708733

Claim:
An insulation displacement terminal for mounting within a terminal receiving slot in a housing of an insulation displacement interconnection system, the housing having opposed spaced end walls, the insulation displacement terminal comprising: a base portion having first and second opposing sides; a contact portion extending from the first side of the base portion for making electrical contact with the insulation displacement terminal; and opposed fingers each extending from the second side of the base portion to a distal end, the opposed fingers having a length and having outer edges and opposed inner edges spaced from one another so as to make electrical contact with a wire disposed between the opposed inner edges, the outer edges of each finger including a first abutment section proximal to the base portion and a second abutment section adjacent the distal end of the finger respectively, the first and second abutment sections configured to abut an adjacent end wall of the terminal receiving slot when the insulation displacement terminal is disposed within the housing to constrain the outer edge of the respective finger against outward movement at the respective abutment sections, each finger having a resilient spring-like mid-section along at least a portion of the length of the finger between the first and second abutment sections to permit outward deformation of the inner edge of the finger upon disposal of a wire between the opposed spaced fingers adjacent the finger mid-sections, wherein each finger includes at least one opening within the mid-section to provide the resilient spring-like mid-section.