Zero insertion force electrical connector

Claim 1

A zero insertion force electrical connector comprising: an insulator housing having a top wall, a lower wall and side walls; a longitudinal slot in said top wall of said housing for receiving a member being switched, said side walls of said housing having recesses; elastic contacts placed in said recesses and having inner end faces, said housing having a longitudinal passageway; a key ensuring opening of said elastic contacts during its movement in said longitudinal passageway in one direction and closure of said elastic contacts during its movement in the opposite direction, said key being in the form of a rod, said rod having one at least one ellipsoidal projection provided on at least one end portion of said rod which has opposing lateral curved edges symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of said rod and cooperating with said inner end faces of said elastic contacts when said key is moved; a wall of each of said recesses facing towards said end portion of said rod when said key is moved in said direction in which opening of said elastic contacts is provided; and projections provided on said wall of each of said recesses and disposed on both sides of said longitudinal slot of said top wall of said housing; an outer periphery of said projections being embraced by said inner end faces of said elastic contacts when they are open.