Cam actuated low insertion force connector

A connector assembly for zero on/zero off mating with a plurality of fixed post terminals, said connector assembly comprising:

• a first housing member having a mating face on a front end, a cavity depending into an opposite rear end, a plurality of profiled terminal passages extending from said mating face to said cavity including at least one reaction surface facing said cavity, a pair of parallel spaced apart handles resiliently attached to said first housing member extending rearwardly on opposite sides of said cavity, and cam surfaces on the opposed surface of said handles;
• a second housing member profiled to be received in said cavity, a plurality of profiled contact receiving passages in said second housing member each aligned with a respective terminal passage in said first housing member, and a pair of oppositely directed cam surfaces aligned to react with said cam surfaces on the handles of said first housing member to effect relative motion between said housing members;
• and
• a plurality of spring contacts each having a first end profiled for engagement with a conductor and second mating end including at least one spring arm having a normal relaxed first position, said arm engaging said reaction surface of said first housing member upon relative closing movement of said housing members and being deflected to a second position allowing insertion of a terminal post into said assembly without application of force.