WO1998029924A1

WO1998029924A1 - Electrical contact

Info

Publication number: WO1998029924A1
Application number: PCT/US1997/023225
Authority: WO
Inventors: Toshiaki Kohno; Noriaki Sai
Original assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
Priority date: 1996-12-27
Filing date: 1997-12-12
Publication date: 1998-07-09
Also published as: AU5383798A; JPH10189102A

Abstract

The present invention provides an electrical contact which can effectively prevent micro-rubbing wear, which can also be easily and inexpensively manufactured, and which does not require any assembly of a contact section inside a receptacle section. Electrical contact (1) has a receptacle section (10) which accomodates a mating contact. The receptacle section (10) has a top wall (14) which extends from an upper end of one side wall (12) toward the other side wall (13), a connecting portion (15) which extends from an upper end of the other side wall (13) toward the first side wall (12), and whose width (W1) in an axial direction is sufficiently smaller than the length (W2) of the other side wall (13), and a contact member (30) which is connected to a tip end of the connecting portion (15), and which engages a mating contact that is positioned inside the space surrounded by the base wall (11), the pair of side walls (12, 13) and the top wall (14). The contact member (30), along with the connecting portion (15), is formed as an integral unit with the base wall (11), the pair of side walls (12, 13) and the top wall (14).

Description

ELECTRICAL CONTACT

The present invention relates to an electrical contact which is used to prevent micro-rubbing wear.

Depending on the application involved, electrical connectors used in automobiles may be subjected to vibration. When these electrical connectors vibrate, micro-rubbing occurs between engaged electrical contacts within the mated connectors. As a result, micro-rubbing causes wear between the contacts so that the resistance between the engaged contacts increases.

For example, the electrical contact shown in Figures 18A-C is contact 200 which prevents micro-rubbing wear as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No.7-296886.

Electrical contact 200 includes an inner member 210 which is to be connected to an electrical wire (not shown) and which connects with a mating contact (not shown) , and an outer member 230, which accommodates the inner member 210.

Inner member 210 is equipped with a pair of side walls 214 which are raised from both sides of a base wall 227, an electrical wire-connecting part 211 is positioned to the rear (I. e., to the right m Figure 18B) of the side walls 214 and includes a wire barrel 212 and an insulation barrel 213, a spring section 215 is positioned forward of the side walls 214, and a contact section 225 is positioned forward of the spring section 215 and connects with the mating contact (not shown) . Furthermore, the spring section 215 has two pairs of flexible portions 216 and 220, which are raised from both sides of the base wall 227; flexible portions 216 and 220 have respective pairs of bridges 217, 218 and 221, 222, and are connected at the upper ends by respective bridge parts 219 and 223. The adjacent bridges 218 and 221 of the flexible portions 216 and 220 are connected at the oottom by a connecting section 224. Furthermore, the contact section 225 has cantilever contact arms 226, which extend rearward (opposite each other) from the respective side walls raised from both sides of the base wall 227. The contact arms 226 converge toward the rear and receive and connect with a mating contact. Meanwhile, the outer member 230 is formed in an approximately box shape, which has a bottom wall 231, side walls 232 raised from both sides of the bottom wall

231, and top walls 233 which are bent inward from the respective side walls 232. Furthermore, substantially U- shaped tabs 234, which engage the side walls 214 of the inner member 210, are formed on the respective side walls

232, and a retaining hole 235, which fastens the inner member 210 to the outer member 230 by engaging with a projection 228 formed on the inner member 210, is formed in the rear end portion of the bottom wall 231. Moreover, an anti-overstress tab 236, which is inserted into the slit 229 formed between the pair of bridges 221 and 222 of the inner member 210, is formed on a front end portion of the bottom wall 231, and this anti-overstress tab 236 prevents excessive compression of the spring section 215 when the mating contact is inserted into contact section 225.

Electrical contact 200 is inserted into a connector housing (not shown), and a pair of lances 237, which protrude from both side walls 232 of the outer member 230 are latched to the connector housing so that the electrical contact 200 is latched therein. In this case, as a result of the presence of the spring section 215, the contact section 225 of the inner member 210 can move freely in the forward-backward direction, independently of the outer member 230.

Accordingly, electrical contact 200, in cases where tne connector housing to which the electrical contact 200 s latched is for some reason subjected to vibration, the outer member 230, the spring section 215 of the inner member 210 and the portion of the inner member 210 located rearward of the spring section 215 vibrate together with the connector housing, while the contact section 225 of the inner member 210 does not vibrate. As a result, micro-rubbing wear of the contact points of the contact is prevented.

However, in conventional electrical contact 200, the outer member 230 and the contact part 225 of the inner member 210 are formed as separate members. Accordingly, not only is the manufacturing cost of the electrical contact 200 high, but also work is required in order to assemble the inner member 210 and outer member 230, so that problems of increased working time during the assembly process and the generation of dimensional errors caused by manufacture and assembly occur. Accordingly, the present invention provides an electrical contact, which can effectively prevent micro- rubbing wear, which can also be easily and inexpensively manufactured, and which does not require any assembly work. The electrical contact of the present invention has a receptacle section that accommodates a mating contact, the receptacle section has a base wall, a pair of side walls which are raised from both sides of the base wall, a top wall which extends from the upper end of one of the pair of side walls toward the other side wall, a connecting portion which extends from the upper end of the other side wall of the pair of side walls toward the first side wall and whose width in the axial direction of the contact is sufficiently smaller than the length of the other side wall, and a contact member which is connected to a tip end of the connecting portion, and which engages a mating contact positioned inside the space surrounded by the base wall, the pair of side walls and the top wall, and the contact member, together with the connecting portion, is formed as an integral unit with the base wall, the pair of side walls and the top wall .

Furthermore, it is effective if the contact member is equipped with a contact section which has a contact projection that extends rearward from a front end of the receptacle section and protrudes downward, and which is connected to a tip end of the connecting portion, and a flexible contact section which is folded back on the underside from the rear end of the contact section, and which extends obliquely upward toward a front end of the receptacle section.

Moreover, it is even more effective if a pair of anti-overstress members, which are positioned on the front and rear sides of the connecting portion, and which can engage front and rear edges of the connecting portion, are disposed on an end portion of the top wall located on the side of the other side wall.

The connecting portion may also extend from an upper end of the other side wall of the pair of side walls toward the first side wall, and be folded back on the underside, and the contact member may be equipped with a first flexible contact section which extends obliquely upward and toward the rear from approximately a front end of the receptacle section, and which is connected to the folded-back tip end of the connecting portion, a bent part which is folded back on the underside from a rear end of the first flexible contact section, and a second flexible contact section which extends obliquely upward and toward the front end of the receptacle section from the bent part.

A first anti-overstress member, which extends forward of the bent part of the contact member, and which is capable of engaging the bent part, may also be disposed on at least one side wall of the pair of side walls, and a second anti-overstress member, which extends rearward of the bent part of the contact member, and which is capable of engaging the bent part, may be disposed on rear end portion of the top wall.

Additionally, the electrical contact of the present invention has a receptacle section that accommodates a mating contact, and in which the receptacle section is equipped with a base wall, a pair of side walls which are raised from both sides of the base wall, a top wall which extends from an upper end of one of the pair of side walls toward the other side wall, a contact member which has a contact projection that extends from an upper end of the other side wall of the pair of side walls toward the first side wall and protrudes downward, and a flexible contact section which engages a mating contact that extends obliquely upward and toward the rear from a front end of the base wall, a continuous first slit is formed in the pair of side walls and the base wall, and a continuous second slit is formed separately from the first slit in the pair of side walls and the base wall, and the contact member and the flexible contact section are formed as an integral unit with the base wall, the pair of side walls and the top wall.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of an electrical contact constituting a first embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a right-side view of the electrical contact shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the electrical contact shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a left-side view of the electrical contact shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 in Figure 2. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in Figure 3. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line

7-7 in Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a front view which illustrates an electrical contact constituting a second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 9 is a right-side view of the electrical contact shown in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a plan view of the electrical contact shown in Figure 8. Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 11-11 in Figure 9.

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 12-12 in Figure 10.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of an electrical contact constituting a third embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 14 is a right-side view of the electrical contact shown in Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a plan view of the electrical contact shown in Figure 14.

Figure 16 is a bottom view of the electrical contact shown in Figure 13.

Figure 17 is a part cross-sectional view taken along line 17-17 in Figure 15. Figures 18A-C illustrate a conventional electrical contact with Figure 18A being a perspective view of an assembled contact, Figure 18B being a perspective view of an inner member, and Figure 18C being a perspective view of the outer member. In Figures 1-7, electrical contact 1 includes a receptacle section 10, which accommodates a tab-form mating contact (not shown) , and an electrical wire- connecting section 20, which is connected to an electrical wire (not shown) by press-fitting, and which comprises a wire barrel 21 and an insulation barrel 22. Receptacle section 10 and electrical wire-connecting section 20 are formed as an integral unit by stamping and forming a metal sheet.

Receptacle section 10 has a base wall 11, a pair of side walls 12, 13 raised from both sides of the base wall 11, a top wall 14 extends from the upper end of side wall

12 toward side wall 13, a connecting portion 15 extends from an upper end of side wall 13 toward side wall 12 and whose width i in the axial direction (the left-right direction in Figure 6) is sufficiently smaller than the length W₂ of side wall 13, and a contact member 30 connected to a tip end of the connecting portion 15, which engages a mating contact that is positioned inside the space surrounded by the base wall 11, the pair of side walls 12, 13 and the top wall 14. Contact member 30 is equipped with a contact section 31 which has a projection 32 that extends rearward from a front end (left end in Figure 6) of the receptacle section 10 and protrudes downward, and which is connected to the tip end of the connecting portion 15 at the approximate center with respect to the axial direction, a bent section 33 which is folded back on the underside from the rear end of the contact section 31, and a flexible contact section 34 which extends forward and obliquely upward from the bent section 33. Since the contact member 30 is connected to the side wall 13 by connecting section 15 whose width Wi in the axial direction is sufficiently smaller than the W₂ of the side wall 13, the contact member 30 can move inside the receptacle section 10 in the direction of insertion of the mating contact independently from the base wall 11, side walls 12, 13 and top wall 14. Furthermore, the electrical contact l^'is inserted into a connector housing (not shown) and held in place by the engagement of a lance provided in the connector housing (not shown) with he rear end of the top wall 14 of the receptacle section 10, and a mating contact is accommodated inside the receptacle section 10. The mating contact is clamped between the flexible contact section 34 and the projection 32 of the contact section 31 and is held inside the contact member 30 by the upward-directed spring force of the flexible contact section 34. In this case, if the connector housing should vibrate for some reason, the contact member 30 moves independently inside the receptacle section 10 as described above; accordingly, only the receptacle section 10 engaged with the lance of the connector housing vibrates together with the connector housing, and the contact member 30 does not vibrate. As a result, no micro-rubbing wear occurs between the contact member 30 and the mating contact, so that there is no increase in the resistance therebetween. Furthermore, the contact member 30, along with the connecting portion 15, is formed as an integral unit with the base wall 11, side walls 12, 13 and- top wall 14. As a result, there is no need to assemble a separate contact member 30 inside the receptacle section 10; thus, the cost of manufacture is reduced. Furthermore, manufacture is easy, so that the manufacturing time is shortened, and there is no dimensional error caused by assembly.

Moreover, a pair of anti-overstress members 16 and 17, which are positioned on the front and rear sides of the connecting portion 15, and which are capable of engaging the front and rear edges of the connecting portion 15, are formed by bending the end portion of the top wall 14 located on the side of the side wall 13. Accordingly, in cases where there is a danger that an excessive stress will be applied to the connecting portion 15 when the mating contact is inserted into the contact member 30 or pulled out of the contact member 30, the front and rear edges of the connecting portion 15 engage the anti-overstress members 16 and 17, so that the generation of an excessive stress in the connecting portion 15 can be prevented. Furthermore, an anti- overstress member 18 for the flexible contact section 34 is a protruding member on the forward portion of the base wall 11, and a protective member 19, which protects the front end of the flexible contact section 34, is a protruding member at a front end of the base wall 11. Furthermore, a reverse-insertion preventing member 23, which prevents reverse insertion when the electrical contact 1 is inserted into the connector housing, is a protruding member on the upper end of the side wall 12 of the receptacle section 10.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 8 through 12 wherein electrical contact 50, like electrical contact 1 shown in Figures 1 through 7, includes a receptacle section 60, which accommodates a mating contact (not shown), and an electrical wire-connecting section 70, which is to be connected to an electrical wire by press- fitting, and which includes a wire barrel 71 and an insulation barrel 72. Receptacle section 60 and electrical wire-connecting 70 are formed as an integral unit by stamping and forming a metal sheet.

Furthermore, like the receptacle section 10 of the electrical contact 1 shown in Figures 1 through 7, the receptacle section 60 has a base wall 61, a pair of side walls 62, 63 raised from both sides of the base wall 61, a top wall 64 extends from an upper end of side wall 62 toward the side wall 63, a connecting portion 65 extends from an upper end of side wall 63 toward the side wall 62, and whose width W₃ in the axial direction (the left- right direction in Figure 12) is sufficiently smaller than the length W₄ of the other side wall 63, and a contact member 80 is connected to a tip end of the connecting portion 65, and engages a mating contact that is positioned inside the space surrounded by the base wall 61, side walls 62, 63 and top wall 64. The receptacle section 60 differs from the receptacle section 10 in the construction of the connecting portion 65 and contact member 80. Specifically, the connecting portion 65 is constructed by being extended from side wall 63 toward side wall 62 and including folded-back portion 65a on the underside (see Figure 11), and the contact member 80 is equipped with a first flexible contact section 81, which extends rearward and obliquely upward from a front end of the receptacle section 60, and which is connected to the folded-back portion 65a of the connecting portion 65, a bent section 82, which is folded back on the underside from the rear end of the first flexible contact section 81, and a second flexible contact section 83, which extends forward and obliquely upward from the bent section 82. When a mating contact is accommodated inside the receptacle section 60, the mating contact is clamped between the first flexible contact section 81 and the second flexible contact section 83, and is held inside the contact member 80 by the downward-directed spring force of the first flexible contact section 81 and the upward-directed spring force of the second flexible contact section 83. Thus, the mating contact is held by spring forces from two directions (above and below) , contact member 80 differs from the contact member 30 of the electrical contact 1, which holds the mating contact only by means of spring force, which is directed upward from below. The independent movement of the contact member 80 inside the receptacle section 60 and the resulting prevention of micro-rubbing wear between the contact member 80 and mating contact are the same as in the electrical contact 1 shown in Figures 1 through 7.

Additionally, first anti-overstress members 67a and 67b extend forward of the bent section 82 of the contact member 80, are capable of engaging the bent section 82, and are formed as protruding parts on the respective side walls 62 and 63. A second anti-overstress member 66 extends rearward of the bent section 82 of the contact member 80, is capable of engaging the bent section 82, and is formed as a protruding part at the rear end of the top wall 64. Accordingly, the generation of an excessive stress in the connecting portion 65, when a mating contact is inserted into the contact member 80 or pulled out of the contact member 80, is prevented. It would also be possible to form a first anti-overstress member as a protruding part on only one of the two side walls 62 and 63. Furthermore, a lower top wall 68 is formed by bending from the upper end of the side wall 63 toward the side wall 62, and an anti-overstress member 69a for the first flexible contact section 81 is formed as a protruding part on a front portion of the lower top wall 68. Moreover, an anti-overstress member 69b for the second flexible contact section 83 is formed as a protruding part on a front portion of the base wall 61. Furthermore, protective members 69c and 69d, which protect the respective front ends of the second flexible contact section 83 and the first flexible contact section 81, are formed as protruding parts on the respective front ends of the base wall 61 and the top wall 6 .

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 13 through 17 wherein electrical contact 100 includes a receptacle section 110, which accommodates a mating contact (not shown) , and an electrical wire-connecting section 130, which is to be connected to an electrical wire (not shown) by press-fitting, and which comprises a wire barrel 131 and an insulation barrel 132. The receptacle section 110 and electrical wire-connecting section 130 are formed as an integral unit by stamping and forming a metal sheet.

Receptacle section 110 is equipped with a base wall 111, side walls 112, 113 raised from both sides of the base wall 111, a top wall 114 extends from an upper end of side wall 113 toward side wall 112, a contact section 115 which has a contact projection 116 that extends from an upper end of side wall 112 toward side wall 113 and protrudes downward, and a flexible contact member 117 extends rearward and obliquely upward from a front end of the base wall 111, is folded back at a rear end and caused to extend forward, and engages the mating contact. Furthermore, anti-overstress members 118 and 119, which prevent overstress of the flexible contact member 117, are formed as protruding parts on the front portion of the base wall 111 and a tip end of the flexible contact member 117.

Furthermore, a continuous first slit 120 is formed in rear portions of the side walls 112, 113 and base wall 111, and a continuous second slit 121 is also formed separately from the first slit 120 in the rear portions of the side walls 112, 113, top wall 114 and contact section 115. The electrical contact 100 is inserted into a connector housing (not shown) and is held in place by engagement of a lance (not shown) with a rear end of the contact section 115 and the top wall 114 of the receptacle section 110. Moreover, a mating contact is accommodated inside the receptacle section 110. In this case, if the connector housing should vibrate for some reason, the base wall 111, the side walls 112, 113, the contact section 115 and a portion of the top wall 114 that is located to the rear of the second slit 121 vibrate together with the connector housing, while a portion of the top wall 114 located forward of the second slit 121 does not vibrate. Accordingly, no micro-rubbing wear occurs between the mating contact and the contact parts, so that an increase in the resistance between these parts is prevented.

Furthermore, the contact section 115 and flexible contact member 117 are formed as an integral unit with the base wall 111, the sides walls 112, 113 and the top wall 114. Accordingly, there is no need to assemble a separate contact part with the receptacle section 110. A bent portion 122, which is caused to bow to the rear in roughly the center portion of the bent portion with respect to the left-right direction of the electrical contact 100 (i. e., the vertical direction in Figure 15) , is formed in the second slit 1.21 formed in the top wall 114, while a projection 123 with a shape that is complementary to the shape of the bent portion 122 is formed as a protruding part in the top wall 114.

The projection 123 protrudes rearward beyond the width of the second slit 121. As a result, when the lance of the connector housing slides along the top wall 114 during the insertion of the electrical contact 100 into the connector housing, this lance is prevented from slipping into the second slit 121. Furthermore, since wall portions of the top wall 114 remain to the left and right of the bent opening 122, the lance cannot slip into the bent portion 122. Moreover, a similar bent portion 124 and projection 125 are also formed in the first slit 120 formed in the bottom wall 111.

In the electrical contact of the present invention, the receptacle section, which accommodates the mating contact, has a connecting portion which extends from an upper end of the other side wall of a pair of side walls toward the first side wall, and whose width in an axial direction is sufficiently smaller than the length of the other side wall, and a contact member which is connected to a tip end of the connecting portion, and which engages the mating contact positioned inside the space surrounded by the base wall, the pair of side walls and a top wall. Accordingly, the contact member can move independently inside the receptacle section, so that the contact member does not vibrate even if the connector housing in which the electrical contact is inserted and held should vibrate. As a result, no micro-rubbing wear occurs between the contact member and the mating contact, so that there is no increase in the resistance between these parts. Furthermore, the contact member, along with the connecting portion, is formed as an integral unit with the base wall, the pair of side walls and the top wall; accordingly, there is no need to assemble a separate contact member inside the receptacle section, and the manufacturing cost is therefore lowered. In addition, manufacture is easy, the manufacturing time can be shortened, and there is no dimensional error caused by assembly.

The contact member is equipped with a contact section which has a contact projection that extends rearward from a front end of the receptacle section and protrudes downward, and which is connected to a tip end of the connecting portion, and flexible contact section which is folded back on the underside from a rear end of the contact section, and which extends obliquely upward toward the front of the receptacle section. Accordingly, the construction of the contact member is simplified. A pair of anti-overstress members which are positioned on front and rear sides of the connecting portion, and which can engage front and rear edges of the connecting portion, are disposed on an end portion of the top wall located on the side of the other side wall. Accordingly, the generation of an overstress in the connecting portion when the mating contact is inserted into the contact member or pulled out of the contact member is prevented. The connecting portion extends from an upper end of the other side wall of the pair of side walls toward the first side wall, and is folded back on the underside, and the contact member is equipped with a first flexible contact section which extends obliquely upward and toward the rear from approximately the front end of the receptacle section, , and which is connected to the folded-back tip end of the connecting portion, a bent section which is folded back on the underside from a rear end of the first flexible contact section, and a second flexible contact section which extends obliquely upward and toward the front of the receptacle section from the bent section. Accordingly, the mating contact can be clamped from above and below by two flexible contact sections .

A first anti-overstress member, which extends forward of the bent section of the contact member, and which is capable of engaging the bent section, is disposed on at least one side wall of the pair of side walls, and a second anti-overstress member, which extends rearward of the bent section of the contact member, and which is capable of engaging the bent section, is disposed on the rear end portion of the top wall. Accordingly, the generation of an overstress force in the connecting portion when the mating contact is inserted into the contact section or pulled out of the contact section can be prevented.

A continuous first slit is formed in the pair of side walls and the base wall, and a continuous second slit is formed separately from the first slit in the pair of side walls and the top wall. Accordingly, when the connector housing which receives and protects the electrical contact vibrates, the base wall, the pair of side walls, and the portion of the top wall that is located to the rear of the second slit vibrate together with the connector housing, while the portion of the top wall located forward of the second slit does not vibrate. Accordingly, no micro-rubbing wear occurs between the mating contact and the contact parts. Moreover, the contact section and the flexible contact section are formed as an integral unit with the base wall, the pair cf side walls and the top wall. Accordingly, there is no need to assemble a separate contact part with the receptacle section.

Claims

1. An electrical contact comprises a receptacle section (10, 60) having a base wall (11, 61), side walls (12, 13; 62, 63) extending upwardly from both sides of the base wall, a top wall (14, 64) extending from one of the side walls, and a contact member (30, 80) disposed within a space defined by the base wall, side walls and top wall and extending along the space from a front end of the receptacle section toward a rear end thereof for engagement with a mating contact when inserted within the space, characterized in that a connection portion (15, 65) extends from an upper end of one of the sidewalls (12, 13; 62, 63) toward the other of the sidewalls, and the contact member (30, 80) is connected to the connecting portion.

2. An electrical contact as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connection portion (15, 65) has a width (W_x, W₃) in an axial direction of the receptacle section substantially smaller than the length (W₂, W₄) of the sidewall from which the connecting portion extends.

3. An electrical contact as claimed in claim 2, wherein said contact member (30, 80) is connected to a tip end of the connecting portion (15, 65).

4. An electrical contact as claimed in claims 1-3, wherein said contact member (30) includes a contact section (31) and a flexible contact section (34), said contact section (31) having a contact projection (32) extending rearward from a front end of said receptacle section (10) and is connected to the tip end of said connecting portion (15) , said flexible contact section

(34) being folded back on an underside from a rear end of said contact section (31) and extending obliquely upward toward the front end of said receptacle section (10) .

5. An electrical contact as claimed in claims 1-4, wherein anti-overstress members (16, 17) are located at front an rear sides of said connecting portion (15) and are engagable with the front and rear sides of said connecting portion.

6. An electrical contact as claimed in claims 1-3, wherein said connecting portion (65) has a folded-back portion (65a), said contact member (80) including a first flexible contact section (81) extending obliquely upward and toward the rear from the front end of said receptacle section (60) and being connected to said folded-back portion (65a), a second flexible contact section (83) extending obliquely upward and toward the front end of said receptacle section; and a bent section (82) connecting said first and second flexible contact sections (81, 83) together.

7. An electrical contact as claimed in claims 1-3 and 6, wherein a first anti-overstress member (67a) extends inwardly from one of the sidewalls (62, 63) forward of said bent section (82), and a second anti- overstress member (67b) extends inwardly from the other of said sidewalls (62, 63) rearward of said bent section (82) , said bent section (82) being engagable with either of said first and second anti-overstress members (67a, 67b) .

8. An electrical contact comprises a receptacle section (110) having a base wall (111), side walls (112, 113) extending upwardly from both sides of the base wall, a top wall (114) extending from one of the side walls, and a contact member (117) disposed within a space defined by the base wall, the side walls and the top wall and extending along the space from a front end of the receptacle section toward a rear end thereof for engagement with a mating contact when inserted within the space, characterized in that a contact section (115) having a contact projection (116) extending from the other of the side walls, said contact member (117) being a flexible contact member extending obliquely upward toward the rear end from a front end of the base wall, a continuous first slit (120) in the side walls (112, 113) and the base wall (111), and a continuous second slit (121) in the side walls (112, 113) and the top wall (114).

9. An electrical contact as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first slit (120) and said second slit (121) have respective bent portions (122, 124) and projections (123, 125) .

10. An electrical contact as claimed in claim 8, wherein anti-overstress members (118, 119) are provided by a front portion of said base wall (111) and a tip end of said flexible contact member (117) .