Terminal positioning device

An electrical connector, comprising:

• a terminal holder defining at least one terminal opening adapted to receive a terminal from a first side of the terminal holder in a terminal insertion direction;
• and
• a terminal positioning device arranged adjacent the first side of the terminal holder and defining:
• a sliding surface abutting a portion of the connector;
• and
• at least one terminal contact surface, the terminal positioning device movable relative to the terminal holder in an operating direction perpendicular to the insertion direction between a first position wherein the device does not overlap the at least one terminal opening in the insertion direction, and a second position wherein the at least one terminal contact surface overlaps the at least one terminal opening in the insertion direction, the terminal contact surface includes a ramp surface oriented obliquely relative to the sliding surface and a planar section adjacent to the ramp surface, the ramp surface engages the terminal before the planar section as the terminal positioning device moves from the first position to the second position.

A method of installing a terminal into a terminal holder of an electrical connector, including the steps of:

• inserting a terminal into an opening formed in a terminal holder in an insertion direction to a position that is less than a final position;
• biasing a terminal positioning device in an operational direction perpendicular to the insertion direction;
• as the terminal positioning device is biased in the operational direction, engaging a portion of the terminal with a ramp surface of the terminal positioning device extending both in the operational direction and the insertion direction;
• biasing the terminal in the insertion direction with the terminal positioning device by continuing to bias the terminal positioning device in the operational direction.