Circuit panel connector

Claim 1

A circuit panel connector for enabling connection of the circuit terminals along the edge of a circuit panel, such as a printed circuit board, with external conductors, said panel connector comprising: a body of dielectric material; an elongate socket in the body for receiving said panel edge, the socket having opposite side walls and a bottom; a plurality of bifurcated electrical contacts in the body, the contacts each having a base juxtaposed with the bottom of the socket and opposed tines juxtaposed with the side walls and including contact members projecting beyond the side walls into the socket; a plurality of tubular connector elements, one for each bifurcated contact, each connector element being captured within the body against movement relative thereto and being spaced from a corresponding bifurcated contact; a conductive strap integral with the base of the bifurcated contact, said strap being recessed within the body and extending from the base to the tubular connector element, said strap being received within a corresponding tubular connector element and being adapted to slide relative to the corresponding tubular connector element upon lateral movement of the corresponding bifurcated contact; and means cooperating with each said tubular connector element for releasably clamping an external conductor to the connector element and in electrical contact with the strap, said body including an opening juxtaposed with each tubular connector element such that an external conductor will be guided through the opening and received within the tubular connector element between the strap and the clamping means; each tine being spaced from the corresponding side wall with which the tine is juxtaposed to enable lateral movement of the bifurcated contact relative to the body and resilient flexing of both tines away from one another in response to entry of the panel edge between the contact members of the tines.