Abstract: An insulation slicing terminal, stamped from electrically conducting sheet material, has a base portion and two cantilevered legs extending from the base portion providing opposed side edges between which a conductor is positioned. The top edge and side edge of each leg intersect at an abrupt angle to form insulation slicing edges, the two top edges forming a shallow Vee formation. An initial small gap is provided between the side edges by a first swage on one leg near the junction with the base portion. A further swage on one of the legs nearer the top of the leg acts to prevent movement of the conductor out of the terminal once the wire is inserted past the further swage. As a further feature, the shallow Vee formation, of the top edges, has an apex prior to slitting which is a radiused flat, permitting off-center tolerances on slitting without detrimentally affecting the insulation slicing edges.

Abstract: A connector for electrically connecting electrical conductors having a housing within which is a holding member containing a preloaded spring, with an insulating cutting edge on the spring and an insulation cutting edge on the holding member, the cutting members acting in opposition on a conductor. Release of the spring, as by flexing the housing causes the cutting edges to cut through the insulation, into electrical contact with the conductor. A similar arrangement of cutting edges is provided for each conductor and a conductive path from one conductor to another is via the spring and/or holding member.