Low insertion force connector with improved cam actuator

Claim 1

A low insertion force connector for making electrical connection between a printed circuit board assembly and external electrical circuits in combination comprising: an elongated outer housing have a centrally located opening with a channel extending longitudinally along the bottom thereof, said channel including a plurality of spaced apart ramps along the length thereof, said outer housing having first and second ends; first and second mating ramp means each mounted on a respective one of said first and second ends of said outerhousing; a plurality of electrically conductive contacts mounted in said outer housing on either side of said channel, said electrically conductive contacts having first end portions positioned interior said centrally located opening and bowed inwardly for contacting a printed circuit board assembly, and said plurality of electrical contacts having second end portions projecting exterior to said outer housing for making electrical contact with external electrical circuits; an elongated cam actuator having longitudinal grooves along the side thereof and a first surface configured to mate with said spaced apart ramps along the length of said channel, said elongated cam actuator adapted to be actuated in a longitudinal direction for causing movement in a transverse direction, said elongated cam actuator having first and second ramp means mounted thereon for cooperating with said first and second mating ramp means, wherein said first and second ramp means and said first and second mating ramp means are positioned to cause transverse movement of said elongated cam actuator opposite to said transverse movement caused by said plurality of spaced apart ramps and said first surface of said elongated cam actuator; a shell housing positioned interior said opening and including cam follower structure having gripping means cooperatively associated with said grooves in said elongated cam actuator for providing positive slideable engagement therewith and yielding transverse movement in said shall housing corresponding to said movement in a transverse direction of said elongated cam actuator, said shell housing further including a pair of upright sections forming a slot for receiving the printed circuit board assembly, each of said upright sections including contact engagement means for abutting said bowed portions of associated ones of said electrically conductive contacts and being adapted to urge said bowed portions to a position disengaged from said printed circuit board assembly when said elongated cam actuator is actuated longitudinally causing said transverse movement, and said bowed portions are allowed to engage said printed circuit board assembly when said elongated cam actuator is actuated to cause the mating of said first and second ramp means with said first and second mating ramp means.