Electrical connector assembly

Claim 2

In an electrical connector assembly, the combination comprising a first connector member having first electrical terminal means, a second connector member having second electrical terminal means, a third connector member having third electrical terminals means for making electrical connections upon aligned engagement with said first and second electrical terminal means, first joint means integral with said first and second connector members for preventing relative movement therebetween in all but two directions and for positioning said first electrical terminal means with respect to said second electrical terminal means to provide for alignment of said first and second electrical terminal means with said third electrical terminal means, second joint means including a joint member engageable with portions of said first and second connector members for preventing relative movement between said first and second connector members in said two directions and for positioning said first electrical terminal means with respect to said second electrical terminal means to provide for simultaneous engagement of said first and second terminal means with said third terminal means when said first and second connector members are clamped to said third connector member, a portion of said second joint means being located between said first and second connector members, the joined first and second connector members and said third connector member having first and second alignment means for aligning said first and second electrical terminal means with said third electrical terminal means, and one of said alignment means and said joint member having means for clamping said joined first and second connector members to said third connector member.

Claim 3

In an electrical connector, the combination comprising first and second connector members having electrical terminals projecting therefrom with ends lying in planes, a third connector member having electrical terminals with ends lying in a plane for making electrical connections upon aligned engagement with said electrical terminals of said first and second connector members, first joint means for preventing relative movement between said first and second connector members in all but two directions perpendicular to said planes and for positioning said terminals of said first and second connector members adjacently with respect to each other to provide for alignment with said terminals of said third connector member, said first joint means comprising a tenon anD mortise joint integral with said first and second connector members and extending in a direction perpendicular to said planes, second joint means for preventing relative movement between said first and second connector members in said two directions perpendicular to said planes and for positioning said terminals of said first and second connector members with respect to each other to provide for simultaneous engagement with said terminals of said third connector member, said second joint means comprising a joint projection projecting from each of said first and second connector members an equal distance from and in a direction parallel to said planes, said second joint means further comprising a joint member having a pair of holes complementary to said joint projections and positioned relative to each other for receiving said joint projections and placing said ends of said terminals of said first and second connector members in a common plane, first and second alignment means for aligning said terminals of said first and second connector members for engagement with said terminals of said third connector member, said first alignment means comprising a freely rotatable bolt extending endwise through said tenon to be received within a threaded insert in said third connector member, said second alignment means comprising alignment flanges projecting perpendicularly from said first and second connector members and enclosing said terminals of said first and second connector members, said second alignment means further comprising a pair of alignment projections on said third connector member shaped complementary to said alignment flanges for reception therein, locking joint means for locking said joint member to said first and second connector members, said locking joint means comprising a dual pronged projection extending from said joint member and engaging said bolt, said prongs having inward facing sides inclined from the ends of said prongs, said inward facing sides having the inclines terminate at a pair of locking slots, said locking joint means further comprising a detent having a pair of locking projections extending oppositely therefrom, said detent being aligned with said bolt to cooperate with said inclined surfaces to deflect said prongs outward as said joint member receives said joint projections and engages said bolt to provide for said inclined surfaces to pass said detent and for said locking projections to be received in said locking slots, and said first alignment means and said dual pronged extension to cooperate for clamping said first and second connector members to said third connector member.

Claim 4

In an electrical connector, the combination comprising first and second connector members having electrical terminals projecting therefrom with ends lying in planes, a third connector member having electrical terminals with ends lying in a plane for making electrical connections upon aligned engagement with said electrical terminals of said first and second connector members, first joint means for preventing relative movement between said first and second connector members in all but two directions perpendicular to said planes and for positioning said terminals of said first and second connector members adjacently with respect to each other to provide for alignment with said terminals of said third connector member, said first joint means comprising a tenon anD mortise joint integral with said first and second connector members and extending in a direction perpendicular to said planes, second joint means for preventing relative movement between said first and second connector members in said two directions perpendicular to said planes and for positioning said terminals of said first and second connector members with respect to each other to provide for simultaneous engagement with said terminals of said third connector member, said second joint means comprising a joint projection projecting from each of said first and second connector members an equal distance from and in a direction parallel to said planes, said second joint means further comprising a joint member having a pair of holes complementary to said joint projections and positioned relative to each other for receiving said joint projections and placing said ends of said terminals of said first and second connector members in a common plane, first and second alignment means for aligning said terminals of said first and second connector members for engagement with said terminals of said third connector member, said first alignment means comprising a freely rotatable bolt extending endwise through said tenon to be received within a threaded insert in said third connector member, said second alignment means comprising alignment flanges projecting perpendicularly from said first and second connector members and enclosing said terminals of said first and second connector members, said second alignment means further comprising a pair of alignment projections on said third connector member shaped complementary to said alignment flanges for reception therein, locking joint means for locking said joint member to said first and second connector members, said locking joint means comprising a dual pronged projection extending from said joint member and engaging said bolt, said prongs having inward facing sides inclined from the ends of said prongs, said inward facing sides having the inclines terminate at a pair of locking slots, said locking joint means further comprising a detent having a pair of locking projections extending oppositely therefrom, said detent being aligned with said bolt to cooperate with said inclined surfaces to deflect said prongs outward as said joint member receives said joint projections and engages said bolt to provide for said inclined surfaces to pass said detent and for said locking projections to be received in said locking slots, and said first alignment means and said dual pronged extension to cooperate for clamping said first and second connector members to said third connector member.