Patent ID: 7241190

Claim:
A female electrical terminal, comprising: a contact section for mating with a complementary male terminal, the contact section including a bottom wall; a first set of walls that define a first closed tubular portion with the bottom wall; and a second set of walls that define a second closed tubular portion with the bottom wall, the second closed tubular portion arranged end to end with the first closed tubular portion, the first closed tubular portion having an effective diameter that is less than an effective diameter the second closed tubular portion, the first closed tubular portion defining an insertion pathway for the male terminal; and a flexible contact element at least partially disposed within the contact section and retained by the contact section so that opposing freestanding ends of the flexible contact element can move in relation to the contact section, the flexible contact element for urging the complementary male terminal into engagement with the bottom wall, wherein the flexible contact element does not extend into the first closed tubular portion and the first set of walls is positioned between one of the freestanding ends of the flexible contact and the insertion pathway.