Electrical contact with torsion bars

In a female contact assembly, at least one first elongated contact blade having a free end which makes electrical contact with a male contact member, said first contact blade having a greater rigidity throughout its length to bending in one plane than in a second, orthogonal, plane, a second contact blade having means defining a surface forming, with said first elongated contact member blade, a gap for receiving the male contact, a support, and an elongated, substantially linear, torsion bar fixedly mounted at one end to the support and joined at the opposite end thereof to an end of said first contact blade opposite its free end, said torsion bar applying torque to oppose the outward displacement of the free end of said first contact blade without bending of said first contact blade caused by the male contact member, said first contact blade being oriented so that displacement thereof occurs in substantially said one plane, and whereby the pressure provided against the male contact member by the free end of said first contact blade is established primarily by said torsion bar.

A female contact structure of unitary construction composed of a material of good electrical conductivity and comprising:

• a channel-shaped contact member having a planar base portion to which an electrical conductor may be connected, said member being formed with opposite end portions and with two side portions extending upwardly from the plane of said base portion,
• an elongated contact blade extending from one of said end portions, and
• a contact element having a portion of generally T-shaped configuration in plan, the vertical leg of the configuration positioned opposite said contact blade and defining a gap therebetween into which a male contact may be inserted, said vertical leg being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said contact blade and being substantially rigid against bending, the horizontal leg of said contact element being spaced outwardly from said base portion and having its opposite ends joined to a different one of the upwardly extending side portions, whereby the horizontal leg twists about its horizontal axis to resist angular displacement of the vertical leg caused by the insertion of the male contact into the gap.