Abstract: An insulation displacement connector for flat multiconductor cable has a housing containing several, and preferably three, rows of openings on centers of 0.100 inch. The rows of openings are laterally aligned to each other so that aligned contact pins of a header may be inserted into the openings. Identical contacts are contained in each of the openings. The contacts contain wire piercing ends or tines which are laterally displaced from the center line of the contacts. The contacts are inserted into the openings with the contact tines displaced in one direction in a first row of contacts and in an opposite direction, such as 180.degree., on a second row of contacts. The lateral displacement between the centers of the contact tines from the center of the respective contact is equal to one-half of the spacing between the wires of the multiconductor cable.

Abstract: A hermaphroditic electrical connector comprising a pair of substantially identical body members releasably secured together to electrically connect plural electrical contacts of one member to respective electrical contacts of the other member and for maintaining such electrical connections while enabling the two connector members to be pivoted with respect to each other about a longitudinal axis through a predetermined angular range. The means for securing the two connector members together comprise a post and a recess on each body member aligned with the longitudinal axis to enable the post of one member to be readily snap-fit within the recess of the other member. Each of the two body members includes spaced-apart ribs which, when the two members are connected together, are interleaved to define plural internal spaces. Each space houses a pair of engaging contacts and is generally isolated from the ambient atmosphere.

Abstract: An insulation displacement connector is described for making contact to the wires of a flat multiconductor insulation cable wherein the wires are spaced by 0.050 inch or less, and may be as low as 0.025 inch. An insulation housing contains two rows of identical contacts which are easily loaded into the openings of the housing. The contacts have cable insulating shearing tines extending beyond one surface of the housing and nose ends for receiving header pins or other mating members at the outer surface of the housing. The tines of the contacts in one row of openings are staggered from those of the adjacent row by the distance between wires in the connecting cable. A metal latch secures a cover to the insulator base and a special metal strain relief strap is fixed to the cover to hold the cable in position against strain forces which would tend to pull the cable away from its connection with the tines.

Abstract: An electrical connector comprises an elongated insulator block having a plurality of transverse channels extending around the front, upper and lower sides thereof and at least partially around a rear side thereof. A plurality of electrically conductive resilient contacts are disposed in the channels. Each contact has a generally C-shaped profile and a generally U-shaped projection in an intermediate portion thereof. Each contact is partially bifurcated on opposite sides of the intermediate portion along a longitudinal dimension of the contact, thereby defining upper and lower pairs of contact arms. The channels are contoured to substantially the shape of the contacts, including a generally U-shaped indentation slightly larger in dimension than the U-shaped projection to permit each contact to float in its respective channel.

Abstract: A connector structure for making electrical connection to a plurality of individual conductors contained within a flat wire cable has a plurality of fixed length flexible contact members assembled in parallel relationship in an insulation base. Each of the contact members has a nose portion at one end extending through the base and a piercing tail at the other end extending above the base and contained in a slot formed in a side extending from the base. A flexible connection region connects the piercing tail to the nose. Each of the flexible connection regions of all contacts are pre-bent in the same direction to accommodate a variable lateral spacing between the piercing and nose portions of each contact element. Alternatively, the contacts may be designed to bend in the same direction during installation. The central region of each contact is engaged by a contact locking plug which is frictionally held in the base.

Abstract: A flat cable connector which receives a flat cable having a conductive sheath is completely enclosed in a metallic casing which electrostatically and electromagnetically shields the electrical conductors within the connector. The casing is formed of stamped metal parts including two end cups and two side plates which are clamped over the edges of the end cups. The side plates have inwardly turned serrated sections which bite into and securely clamp the flat cable as it extends out of the flat cable connector housing. The side plate bottoms hook into slots in the bottoms of the end cups. The tops of the side plates have projections which latch into openings in the tops of the end cups to hold the housing together. In another embodiment, bifurcated clamping pins having tapered legs enter aligned slots on the side plates and end cups in order to hold them together.

Abstract: A tray having a plurality of parallel troughs is made from vacuum-formed polystyrene. Each of the troughs contains a pair of side walls, with adjacent walls of adjacent troughs connected together by respective flat, elongated ledges. The periphery of the tray is surrounded by a flat flange which is parallel to the ledges. The length of the troughs is greater than the length of two or more individual conductors which are side-mounted within the troughs. The width of the troughs corresponds to the combined height of a connector with its flat cover loosely fitted thereon and not fully latched to the body of the connector. The depth of the tray corresponds approximately to the width of the connector. Embossment projections are formed in the flat bottoms of the troughs and project into the space between the body of the connector and its loosely mounted cover.

Abstract: A connector structure for making electrical connection to a plurality of individual conductors contained within a flat wire cable has a plurality of fixed length flexible contact members assembled in parallel relationship in an insulation base. Each of the contact members has a nose portion at one end extending through the base and a piercing tail at the other end extending above the base and contained in a slot formed in a side extending from the base. A flexible connection region connects the piercing tail to the nose. The flexible connection region of each contact is pre-bent to accommodate a variable lateral spacing between the piercing and nose portions of each contact element. Alternatively, the contacts may be designed to bend in the same direction during installation. A rib is provided adjacent each contact member to align it with the corresponding slot. The central region of each contact is engaged by a contact locking plug which is frictionally held in the base.

Abstract: A multiple contact connector header has a frangible section carrying a rib which extends laterally from a wall of the header to interfere with the body of a socket which engages the header unless the socket has a groove to receive the rib, thereby to polarize the socket and header combination. The rib can be removed from the header by breaking away the frangible section to enable the header to be used with a socket not containing polarizing grooves.

Abstract: A pierce-type contact element for use with a connector for a multi-conductor flat cable having a plurality of parallel insulated round wire conductors, each contact element having a circuit connecting terminal and a bifurcated part nested within the connector. The bifurcated part provides a pair of sharply pointed tines the opposed inner edges of which are spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of the wire conductor and act to slice through the conductor insulation to electrically engage opposite sides of the conductor wire. The tines are reversely bent to provide the same with parallel portions which are offset from one another along the longitudinal axis of the insulated conductor. The opposed inner edges of the tines are provided with sharply cornered cutting edges which respectively bite into and make contact with opposite sides of the conductor wire at two points spaced lengthwise of the wire.