Wire-splicing apparatus and contact element therefor

A wire-connector having a substantially planar spring compression reserve contact element in an insulating body, wherein said element consists of a flat plate of spring metal having an extended-width central portion, parallel legs extending from one end of said central portion to form an upper bifurcate contact member, parallel legs extending from the opposite end of said central portion to form a lower bifurcate contact member, the central slots of said contact members extending into said central portion, the inner ends of said slots remaining separated by a distance approximately 1.5 to 1.7 times the width of each of said legs, the side edges of said central portion being centrally cut away in a generally semicircular pattern to form inwardly curved edges, the least distance between a said edge and a said inner end being substantially equal to the width of each of said legs thus providing a longer dielectric breakdown path between alternate contact elements.