Electric connector

Claim 1

A low insertion force electrical connector adapted to connect the conductor of a flat flexible circuit member (16) having at least one conductor (19) to a second circuit member, said connector including, a housing (1) with a forward conductor receiving opening (40) and a bottom wall (41), a terminal (3) mounted in the housing with a base (5) connected to said second circuit member and a flexible arm (6), wherein said bottom wall and said flexible arm defining a mating region (42) therebetween communicating with said conductor receiving opening (40), said flexible arm (6), adapted to be placed in either a preloaded or non-preloaded position, having a contact point (7) adapted to be positioned out of electrical contact with said conductor (19) in said preloaded position, allowing said conductor to be inserted in said mating region, and said contact point (7) adapted to electrically mate with said conductor (19) in said non-preloaded position after said cable (16) with said conductor is received within the mating region (42), an actuator (10) slidingly received within said mating region (42) between said bottom wall (41) and said flexible arm (6) and having a front portion (20), the improvement comprising: said terminal flexible arm (6) having a cam surface (24), and said actuator front portion (20) having a cam follower (23) adapted to contact an extended section (25) of said cam surface (24) and force said contact point (7) away from said conductor (19) in said preloaded position and, as the actuator is further inserted into the mating region, said cam follower (23) sliding off said extended section (25) onto a non-extended section (26) of said cam surface (24) in said non-preloaded position allowing said flexible arm (6) to force said contact point (7) toward the conductor (19), establishing an electrical connection therebetween.