Patent ID: 8297662

Claim:
A connector having an insertion force that differs from a disconnection force comprising: a pin comprising an elongated body defining a pin longitudinal axis, a pin insertion end comprising a tapered surface relative to the pin longitudinal axis, and a pin groove disposed about said elongated body, said pin groove comprising two tapered surfaces that converge in a direction of the pin longitudinal axis; a housing comprising a housing bore having the pin disposed, at least in part, therein by moving the pin in a first direction relative to the housing to latch the pin to the housing; said housing bore comprising a lengthwise housing axis, a housing groove disposed on an inside surface of said housing bore and comprising a groove bottom surface being generally parallel to the lengthwise housing axis; said housing bore being structured to permit disconnection of the pin from the housing when moving the pin in a second direction relative to the housing, which is opposite the first direction; a canted coil spring comprising a plurality of coils each comprising a major axis, a minor axis, and a wire diameter sized to cooperate with the pin groove and the housing groove to permit latching and unlatching located in the pin groove and the housing groove with the plurality of coils contacting both tapered surfaces of the pin groove; wherein the tapered surface of the pin insertion end lifts the plurality of coils during insertion of the pin in the first direction into the housing bore, said movement in the first direction produces a connect force; and wherein at least one of the two tapered surfaces of the pin groove abuts and lifts the plurality of coils during disconnection of the pin from the housing by moving the pin in the second direction, said movement in the second direction produces a disconnect force.