Connector assembly accepting different size post contacts therein

Claim 1

An electrical connector receptacle assembly capable of mating with a terminal pin having round, square, or rectangular section, with substantially uniform contact force being applied to said terminal pin regardless of its section, said connector assembly comprising: a housing comprising a pair of identical mating housing members together defining therebetween a plurality of contact receiving cavities with a terminal pin receiving bore passing through each said cavity, each said bore having inwardly directed flanges at opposite ends thereof defining entrances with stepped profiles of lesser dimensions than the respective bore, a projection and a recess between each said cavity and bore mating with like projections and recesses in the opposite housing member with each projection bonded into a corresponding recess to permanently bond said housing members together; and a contact received in each said cavity, each said contact having an elongated body portion lying within said cavity, neck means at each end of said body engaging said entrance flanges for lockingly holding said contact in said cavity, a conductor engaging solder tab portion integral with each end of said body portion and extending from each end of said bore, said solder tab being at least as wide as said body portion, and a terminal pin engaging blade portion having one end integral with and extending normal to said body portion and lying aligned with the broadest portion of said stepped profile for engagement with terminal pins inserted therein, said blade having an initial cantilever position in which it first engages a terminal pin and a second double beam position in which its free end engages and is supported by said housing to apply uniform pressure to the pin terminal regardless of the sectional configuration thereof.