Electrical connector

An electrical connector, comprising

• a squib connector of an electrical insulating material for housing a plurality of socket contacts;
• a squib assembly of an electrical insulating material for housing a plurality of pin contacts for insertion in the socket contacts when the squib connector and squib assembly are moved together in a mating direction and mated;
• a retaining means for retaining the squib connector and squib assembly in a fully mated condition, the retaining means being self activated when the squib connector and squib assembly are fully mated;
• a spring, acting in a direction opposite the mating direction, to provide a resisting force to oppose mating;
• wherein
• during the application of a mating force to overcome the resisting force of the spring and move the squib connector and squib assembly in the mating direction, and prior to the squib connector and squib assembly reaching the fully mated condition, removal of the resisting force of the spring is triggered and the mating force is instantly applied to moving the squib connector and squib assembly to the fully mated condition, whereat the retaining means is activated, and
• the spring is formed of a plastic material to have:
• a spring body having a lower portion and an upper portion, the upper portion having a central opening extending upwardly to an upper edge of the spring body to partially define first and second shoulders,
• first and second arms extending outwardly from the first and second shoulders respectively, and
• the lower portion, shoulders and first arm disposed in a first plane and the second arm disposed in a second plane intersecting the first plane;
• the spring is formed to provide a resistance force when ends of the arms are moved toward a lower edge of the spring;
• the ends of the arms bear on the squib connector;
• the squib assembly includes a ledge;
• and
• the lower edge of the spring bears on the ledge.