Electrical terminal having improved insertion characteristics and electrical connector for use therewith

An electrical connector adapted to be connected to a panel member, the electrical connector comprising:

• a plurality of electrical contacts arranged in a linear array within a housing, each electrical contact comprising a mating end and a mounting end, the mounting end comprising a base, a tip, and a compliant section positioned between the base and the tip, wherein the base and the tip define a plane;
• wherein the compliant section comprises a first leg member deformed in a first direction away from the plane and a second leg member deformed in a second direction away from the plane;
• and
• wherein the compliant section has a size and a shape sufficient to achieve an insertion force that is substantially uniform along at least about 50% of a distance of terminal travel during insertion of the compliant section into a panel member aperture.

An electrical terminal comprising:

• a mating end;
• a mounting end comprising a slit defined by a base, a tip, a first leg member having a first end and a second end, and a second leg member having a first end and a second end, wherein at least a portion of the first leg member is deformed in a first direction and at least a portion of the second leg member is deformed in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction, and wherein a first width is defined at the first end of the first leg member and the first end of the second leg member, and a second width is defined at the second end of the first leg member and the second end of the second leg member, the first width being less than the second width;
• wherein the tip is connected to the first end of the first leg member and the first end of the second leg member, and the base is connected to the second end of the first leg member and the second end of the second leg member;
• wherein the slit extends from the first end of the first leg member and the first end of the second leg member to the base;
• and
• wherein the mounting end may be inserted into a panel member aperture with an insertion force of less than about 4 pounds.