ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY WITH LOW TERMINAL INSERTION FORCE

摘要

An electrical connector assembly (10) comprising a wire (12) attached to a terminal (18) and a connector body (46). The terminal (18) defines a pair of terminal wings (32) protruding from opposite side surfaces (34) of the terminal (18). A cavity (48) within the connector body (46) is configured to receive the terminal (18). side walls (70) of the cavity (48) define terminal guides (72) that have guide rails (74) and a guide slots (76) beneath the guide rails (74). As the terminal (18) is pushed into the cavity (48), the guide rails (74) urge the terminal wings (32) toward a top wall (68) of the cavity (48) until the terminal wings (32) reach an end of the guide rails (74). The terminal wings (32) then enter open ends (78) of the guide slots (76) as the wire (12) is pulled cavity (48) and the terminal wings (32) traverse the guide slots (76) until the terminal wings (32) engage closed ends (80) of the guide slots (76) and/ or a terminal (18) lock tab engages a lock surface within the cavity (48), thereby preventing the terminal (18) from being inadvertently withdrawn from the cavity (48).