Multi-contact connector and contact terminal for flat cable

Claim 2

A stamped and formed electrical contact terminal for forming an electrical connection with an insulated wire comprising: a pair of closely spaced, parallel, substantially planar plate sections which are connected by a bight, and bight extending along corresponding first sides of said plate sections, each plate section having a pair of spaced apart arms extending from second corresponding sides of said plate sections; and a contact member extending from a third side of at least one of said plate sections, said second corresponding sides being adjacent to said first corresponding sides, said arms having opposed edges, said edges defining a wire-receiving slot, said slots extending into said plate-sections whereby, upon movement of a conductor laterally of its axis into said slots, the edges of said slots pierce the insulation of said wire and establish electrical contact therewith.

Claim 3

A contact terminal as set forth in claim 1, said contact member comprising a post member.

Claim 4

A contact terminal as set forth in claim 1, said arms being of decreasing widths along their lengths and being stiffly flexible towards and away from each other.

Claim 5

A contact terminal as set forth in claim 3, the arms of at least one of said pairs having outwardly directed free ends of each arm of said one pair having a shoulder lying in the plane of said plate sections for latching engagement with one part of a two-part connector housing.

Claim 6

A contact terminal as set forth in claim 1, said slots extending in parallel laterally offset relationship to each other.

Claim 7

An electrical connecting device for forming electrical connections with the conductors of a multi-conductor flat cable of the type comprising a plurality of conductors in side-by-side Parallel relationship, said conductors being contained in a web of plastic insulating material, said connecting device comprising: a base member of insulating material having a plurality of cavities extending therethrough from one side thereof to another side which is opposite to said one side, an electrical contact terminal in each of said cavities, each of said contact terminals having a wire-receiving portion comprising a pair of spaced-apart arms, said arms having opposed edges defining a wire-receiving slot, said arms extending normally beyond said one side of said base member, a cap member which is adapted to be assembled to said base member against said one side thereof, said cap member having openings extending therethrough for reception of said arms of said contact terminals, and interengageable means on said arms and said cap member for retaining said cap member on said base member whereby, upon positioning said cable in spaced parallel relationship to said one side of said base member, and upon movement of said cable towards said one side, said arms penetrate said cable and each of said conductors is forced into said slot in one of said contact terminals, and upon assembly of said cap member to said base member, said cable is clamped between said cap member and said base member.

Claim 8

An electrical connecting device for forming electrical connections with the conductors of a multi-conductor flat cable of the type comprising a plurality of conductors in side-by-side Parallel relationship, said conductors being contained in a web of plastic insulating material, said connecting device comprising: a base member of insulating material having a plurality of cavities extending therethrough from one side thereof to another side which is opposite to said one side, an electrical contact terminal in each of said cavities, each of said contact terminals having a wire-receiving portion comprising a pair of spaced-apart arms, said arms having opposed edges defining a wire-receiving slot, said arms extending normally beyond said one side of said base member, a cap member which is adapted to be assembled to said base member against said one side thereof, said cap member having openings extending therethrough for reception of said arms of said contact terminals, and interengageable means on said arms and said cap member for retaining said cap member on said base member whereby, upon positioning said cable in spaced parallel relationship to said one side of said base member, and upon movement of said cable towards said one side, said arms penetrate said cable and each of said conductors is forced into said slot in one of said contact terminals, and upon assembly of said cap member to said base member, said cable is clamped between said cap member and said base member.

Claim 9

An electrical connecting device as set forth in claim 6, said interengaging means comprising laterally outwardly directed free end portions on said arms, said free end portions having shoulders directed towards said one side of said base member, said shoulders being against surface portions of said cap member which extend parallel to said one side of said base member.

Claim 10

An electrical connecting device as set forth in claim 7, each of said contact terminals having a generally U-shaped yoke portion intermediate the ends thereof, said yoke portions comprising a bight and substantially parallel plate sections, said arms extending from one side of one of said plate sections which is adjacent to said bight, a second pair of arms extending from the other one of said plate sections, said second pair of arms providing a second wire-receiving slot.

Claim 11

An electrical connecting device as set forth in claim 8, said second pair of arms being inclined towards said pair of arms.

Claim 12

An electrical connecting device for forming electrical connections with a multi-conductor flat cable of the type comprising a plurality of conductors in side-by-side parallel relationship, said conductors being contained in a web of plastic insulating material, said connecting device comprising: a base member of insulating material having a plurality of cavities extending therethrough from one side thereof to another side which is opposite to said one side, each of said cavities being generally rectangular and having an internal ledge which is recessed from, and which extends parallel to, said one side, each cavity including a rectangular opening extending from said shoulder through said base member to said other side, said opening being in a corner of said cavity, a stamped and formed contact terminal in each of said cavities, each of said contact terminals having a wire-receiving portion comprising a yoke of U-shaped cross-section and comprising a pair of side-by-side plate sections connected by a bight, a pair of spaced-apart arms extending from each of said plate sections at one end of said yoke section, each of said pairs of arms having opposed edges defining a wire-receiving slot, a contact post member integral with one of said plate sections at the end thereof which is opposite to said one end, said opposite end being on said ledge and said post member extending through said base member and beyond said opposite side, and a cap member which is adapted to be assembled to said one side of said base member said cap member having openings extending therethrough at locations corresponding to the location of said contact terminals and, interengaging means effective betwEen the free ends of at least one pair of said arms and said cap member for retaining said cap member on said base member whereby, upon positioning said cable in spaced parallel relationship to said one side of said base member and upon movement of said cable towards said one side, said free ends of said contact terminals penetrate said cable and each of said conductors is forced into said slots in one of said contact terminals, and upon assembly of said cap member to said base member, said cable is clamped to said base member.

Claim 13

An electrical connecting device for forming electrical connections with a multi-conductor flat cable of the type comprising a plurality of conductors in side-by-side parallel relationship, said conductors being contained in a web of plastic insulating material, said connecting device comprising: a base member of insulating material having a plurality of cavities extending therethrough from one side thereof to another side which is opposite to said one side, each of said cavities being generally rectangular and having an internal ledge which is recessed from, and which extends parallel to, said one side, each cavity including a rectangular opening extending from said shoulder through said base member to said other side, said opening being in a corner of said cavity, a stamped and formed contact terminal in each of said cavities, each of said contact terminals having a wire-receiving portion comprising a yoke of U-shaped cross-section and comprising a pair of side-by-side plate sections connected by a bight, a pair of spaced-apart arms extending from each of said plate sections at one end of said yoke section, each of said pairs of arms having opposed edges defining a wire-receiving slot, a contact post member integral with one of said plate sections at the end thereof which is opposite to said one end, said opposite end being on said ledge and said post member extending through said base member and beyond said opposite side, and a cap member which is adapted to be assembled to said one side of said base member said cap member having openings extending therethrough at locations corresponding to the location of said contact terminals and, interengaging means effective betwEen the free ends of at least one pair of said arms and said cap member for retaining said cap member on said base member whereby, upon positioning said cable in spaced parallel relationship to said one side of said base member and upon movement of said cable towards said one side, said free ends of said contact terminals penetrate said cable and each of said conductors is forced into said slots in one of said contact terminals, and upon assembly of said cap member to said base member, said cable is clamped to said base member.

Claim 14

A multi-conductor flat cable having an electrical connecting device thereon, said cable comprising a plurality of conductors in side-by-side parallel relationship, said conductors being contained in a web of insulating material, said connecting means comprising: a base member of insulating material having a plurality of cavities extending therethrough from one side thereof to another side which is opposite to said one side, an electrical contact terminal in each of said cavities, each of said contact terminals having a wire-receiving portion comprising a pair of spaced-apart arms, said arms having opposed edges defining a wire-receiving slot, said arms extending normally beyond said one side of said base member, said cable being substantially against said one side of said base member, said arms extending through said cables and each of said conductors being in the said wire receiving slot of one of said contact terminals, a cap member assembled to said base member against said cable, said cap member having openings extending therethrough, said arms of said contact terminals extending into said openings, and interengageable means on said arms and said cap member, said interengaging means latching said cap member to said base member and maintaining said cap member and said base member in clamping engagement with said cable.

Claim 15

A multi-conductor flat cable having an electrical connecting device thereon, said cable comprising a plurality of conductors in side-by-side parallel relationship, said conductors being contained in a web of insulating material, said connecting means comprising: a base member of insulating material having a plurality of cavities extending therethrough from one side thereof to another side which is opposite to said one side, an electrical contact terminal in each of said cavities, each of said contact terminals having a wire-receiving portion comprising a pair of spaced-apart arms, said arms having opposed edges defining a wire-receiving slot, said arms extending normally beyond said one side of said base member, said cable being substantially against said one side of said base member, said arms extending through said cables and each of said conductors being in the said wire receiving slot of one of said contact terminals, a cap member assembled to said base member against said cable, said cap member having openings extending therethrough, said arms of said contact terminals extending into said openings, and interengageable means on said arms and said cap member, said interengaging means latching said cap member to said base member and maintaining said cap member and said base member in clamping engagement with said cable.

Claim 16

A multi-conductor flat cable and connecting means as set forth in claim 11 said base member and said cap member being on one end of said cable.

Claim 17

A multi-conductor cable and a connecting means as set forth in claim 12, said interengaging means comprising laterally outwardly directed free end portions on said arms, said free end portions having shoulders directed towards said one side of said base member, said shoulders being against surface portions of said cap member extending parallel to said one side of said base member.

Claim 18

A multi-conductor cable and a connecting means as set forth in claim 13, each of said contact terminals having a generally U-shaped yoke portion intermediate the ends thereof, said yoke portions comprising a bight and substantially parallel plate sections, said arms extending from one side of one of said plate sections which is adjacent to said bight, a second pair of arms extending from the other one of said plate sections, said second pair of arms providing a second wire-receiving slot.