Connector having low profile contact element

Claim 1

A connector of the type having a molded plug in which at least one contact element is housed within a separate enclosure having spaced upper and lower walls in part defining an open forward end, said contact element having a split terminal portion including a pair of spaced apart legs adapted to receive a male contact element projecting through said enclosure open end, said legs each having a major longitudinally extending body portion terminating in an outwardly angularly flared end disposed in respective contact with said upper and lower walls proximal said open forward end, said contact element leg body portions being generally spaced from said upper and lower walls except at said ends thereof whereby relative inward motion of said male element with respect to said legs tends to force said leg ends slightly forwardly along said walls towards said open enclosure end while simultaneously tending to flatten the disposition angle between said leg ends and said leg body portions, said enclosure including a rear wall having an opening therethrough, rearwardly disposed portions of said leg body portions adapted to pass through said opening and disposed in mutual face-to-face contact with each other both within said opening and at those portions thereof extending into said plug rearwardly of said enclosure rear wall opening, said legs being of essentially flat blade-like configuration, said enclosure rear wall opening being of flat slot-like configuration such that said legs passing in face-to-face disposition therethrough essentially block said rear wall opening such that material forming said plug cannot pass through said rear wall opening during the molding of said plug about said enclosure and said contact element, said leg body rear portions extending rearwardly of said enclosure rear wall opening forming a contact tongue to which an electrical conductor is attached, one of the said body portions of said tongue having an open slot disposed therethrough, said electrical conductor contacting the other of said tongue body portions of that face distal from said slot, and a clamp extending about said tongue and said conductor, said clamp having opposite ends disposed in said slot and in contact with the face of said other of said tongue body portions proximal said slot.