摘要 |
A zero terminal insertion force electrical connection assembly. A female terminal features a barrel having a floor, a roof and an opening. Connected to the floor is a tongue which curves inwardly and upwardly into the barrel, and has an interface surface located adjacent the roof when the tongue is in a relaxed state. A boss feature is connected to the tongue and passes though an aperture in the roof when the tongue is in its relaxed state. A zero insertion force member is slidably interfaced with the barrel such that at a first position, the boss feature projects fully through the aperture. However, when slid to a second position, the zero insertion force member presses upon the boss feature so as to cause the tongue to be resiliently depressed toward the floor and allow a male terminal to be slid receivingly into the barrel without any contact with the tongue. Yet, when the zero insertion force member is returned to the first position the tongue resiliently rebounds such that the interface surface of the tongue is in good abutting electrical contact with the male terminal by virtue of the resilient normal force of the tongue.
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