Electrical connector employing dual locking contact retention

Claim 1

An electrical connector assembly comprising: a plurality of elongate electrical contacts, each said contact having a connection end, an opposed conductor terminating end and a central portion therebetween; said central portion including a first locking element adjacent said conductor terminating end and a second longitudinally spaced locking element adjacent said connection end; and an elongate insulative connector housing having an interconnection end and a contact insertion end for insertably supporting said contacts therein, said connector housing including: a discrete initial contact support member positioned adjacent said contact insertion end; said initial contact support member including a plurality of initial apertures permitting insertable passage of said contacts through said initial contact support member in an insertion direction from said contact insertion end toward said interconnection end; said initial contact support member including engagement elements adjacent each initial aperture for locking engagement with said first locking elements of said contacts preventing inadvertent movement of said contact in a withdrawal direction opposite said first direction; and a discrete final contact support member movably positioned adjacent said interconnection end of said housing, said final contact support member including a plurality of first apertures; said first apertures being shaped to provide first aperture portions permitting passage of said second locking elements of said contacts therethrough in said first direction and second aperture portions in communication with first aperture portions, preventing passage of said second locking elements therethrough in said withdrawal direction; said final contact support member being movable within said housing to move from a first position permitting contact passage through said first apertures to a second position preventing contact passage through said first apertures.