Wiring device such as female connector with deformable insulating housing element for maintaining contact alignment

Claim 1

A wiring device comprising: an insulating housing having a chamber and a plug blade receiving aperture through an exterior wall of said housing to said chamber; at least one female contact within said chamber, said female contact comprising at least one spring contact element located in relation to said blade receiving aperture to frictionally engage an inserted blade; said chamber having fixed walls from which said contact is spaced, and at least one deformable projection extending from a chamber wall to maintain alignment of said contact, said deformable projection being integrally molded with said insulating housing and extending to a location at which it is deformed by said contact at least when said contact is deflected upon blade insertion; said female contact comprising two spring contact elements that are deflected away from each other upon blade insertion, and one said deformable projection being located extending from a chamber wall adjacent each said spring contact element; said two spring contact elements being supported at a terminal with means for connecting a wire thereto, a portion of each of said elements extending proximate to each other and then flaring apart from each other at a free end thereof thereby forming a knee in each element between the two of which is the location of closest proximity and of greatest frictional engagement with an inserted blade, and said deformable projections being contacted by said flared apart portion of said elements.