Abstract: An electrical connector (1) comprises electrical contacts (3) arranged in two contact rows on opposite sides of an insulator (6), with the contacts (3) in each row being spaced apart laterally one from one another, the contacts (3) being arranged in pairs with the insulator (6) being between the contacts (3) of each pair, mating contact portions (24) on each pair of the contacts (3) overlying each other in opposed spaced relationship, and electrical terminals (26) on each pair of the contacts (3) being offset from each other in lateral directions, and being offset from each other front to rear.

Abstract: An enclosure (10) having a pair of covers (12,14) fastenable together to close about and seal a cable splice (200,300) between end portions of a pair of multiconductor shielded cables (202,204;302,304) in either a butt-splice or in-line arrangement. A pair of routing channels (24,26) are provided at a first end (20) and a single routing channel (28) at the second end (22), with a splice-receiving region (90) provided adjacent inner ends (44,46,50) of the routing channels. A grounding region (100) between inner ends of the routing channels (24,26,28) includes a ground contact (102) having two pairs of cable-receiving slots (110,112;114,116) each pair being aligned with a respective routing channel for ends of respective cables to be received thereinto with at least one of the slots engaging an exposed shield portion of the cable.

Abstract: An extension wire socket includes a nonconductive U-shaped portion, a nonconductive chamber and at least one electrical connector supported therein. The U-shaped portion is defined by a base and opposed tabs extending from the base. The U-shaped portion snaps over insulated electrical conductors. The nonconductive chamber is adjacent to the base. The socket accepts the terminal end of an extension wire. Each connector includes a spiked prong for piercing the insulation of one of the conductors when the socket is attached to the conductors. Each connector also includes an insulation displacement terminal for attaching the terminal end of the extension wire thereto. The spiked prong is located in the U-shaped portion and the insulation displacement terminal is located in the chamber. The connector is slotted into the socket in a manner that protects most portions of it from exposure and unwanted flexing and stresses.

Abstract: An electrical connector (1) comprises, a cable receiving face on an insulating housing (2), a cable engaging face on a termination cover (3), cavities (6) in the housing (2), each of the cavities (6) communicating with two slotted openings (12), electrical contacts (13) received in one or the other of the slotted openings (12), insulation displacement terminals (15) on adjacent contacts (13) being wider than spacing between the adjacent contacts (13), and opposite sides of the terminals (15) being confined between respective first and second walls (9, 10) to resist bending of the terminals (15).

Abstract: An insulation displacement connector for flat cable comprising an insulating housing and one piece terminals, each having a mating contact portion and a slotted plate wire connecting portion joined by a conducting lead portion. All the mating contact portions are mounted in a common plane at the mating face as a row extending transversely of a mating direction and the wire connecting portions are arranged as four rows extending transversely of the cable axis and at predetermined spacings apart in an axially rearward direction.

Abstract: A method of making a double-head signal connector, which includes the steps of: i) preparing a signal line distribution plate; ii) inserting the leading ends of the pairs of signal lines of a Transmission Data Bus Line through an elongated center slot on the signal line distribution plate and then turning them backwards from the top and the bottom respectively; iii) preparing a holding down plate; iv) fastening the holding down plate to the signal line distribution plate to hold down the distributed signal lines; v) preparing a female header; fastening the female header to the holding down plate permitting the contacts of the female header to make a respective contact with the conductors of signal lines; vii) preparing a male header; viii) fastening the leading ends of the signal lines to the forked tails of the contacts of the male header permitting the contacts of the male header to make a respective electric contact with the signal lines; ix) fastening two fastening plates to the male header to hold down t

Abstract: A terminal 20 is provided with a coupling portion 21 on an end thereof and with a press-contact portion 22 on the other end. A press-contact member 23 is coupled to the press-contact portion 22. The member 23 is provided with a press-contact slot 23a an inlet port of which is arranged in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction. A connector case 10 is provided with a cylindrical portion 13. When the terminal 20 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 13, the press-contact portion 22 is exposed through an opening 14 formed in a side wall of the connector case 10. When an electrical cable W is inserted into the case 10 through the opening 14, the cable W is inserted into the slot 23a to form an electrical connection. Then, the cable W is arranged in parallel with the terminal 20 so that a mating cable to be connected to the terminal 20 does not project from the cable W.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly (22) for terminating a multi-conductor cable (20) includes a cover block member (32) with grooves (52) for each holding a respective one of the cable conductors (54). The grooves extend along three sides of the generally rectangular cover block member so that the conductors may be wrapped thereabout. A housing (24) containing insulation displacement contacts (34) is pressed against the cover block member to engage the cable conductors and a pair of metal backshells (26, 28) are fastened together over both the cover block member and the housing to hold them together. The metal backshells are also crimped over the cable to provide primary strain relief therefore. The bending of the conductors around the cover block member serves two functions--it provides partial strain relief for the conductors during assembly and it prevents the exposed wire ends of the conductors from contacting the metal backshell.

Abstract: A press-in connection type contact, comprising a first press-in connection terminal, a second press-in connection terminal and a third press-in connection terminal, can be made by a process comprising the steps of splitting the first, second and third press-in connection terminals from one another by shear-cutting a plate member; bending the third press-in connection terminal in a first direction along an intermediate line between the first and second terminals; forming press contacting surfaces on corner portions of the first, second and third press-in terminals by swaging; and bending the third press-in terminals in a second opposite direction along the intermediate line between the first and second press-in terminals so that the press contacting surfaces are placed in an opposing relation.

Abstract: An electrical connection assembly for providing a variety of input/output connections between electrical conductors and connectors. An electrical path is established between insulation displacement contacts positioned on a printed circuit board and one or more connectors connected to the board. The insulation displacement contacts are pre-arranged on the board in accordance with the board circuitry to provide a desired input/output arrangement. The conductors are terminated at the insulation displacement contacts on the board in a simple manner without a complex assembly and pre-arrangement of the conductor wires.

Abstract: The upstanding terminating portion (12) of a contact (10) has respective cut-outs forming respective laterally-extending ears (13) on respective sides of the elongated body (11) of the contact (10). The bottom surfaces (14) of the ears (13) are thus elevated above the plane (15) of the top surfaces (16) of the contacts (10). As a result, the contacts (10) may be spaced closer together (Y) for a higher circuit density. Moreover, the ears (13) are supported on respective ledges (19) formed in the insulated connector housing (17); this assures that the terminating portion (12) of each contact (10) will not move during the wire-terminating operation.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided for insulation displacing termination of ribbon cable having insulated conductors in predetermined close centerline spacing. The connector includes a dielectric housing having a mating face, an opposed cable-receiving face and a plurality of terminal-receiving passages extending between the faces for receiving a plurality of terminals. Each terminal includes a mating portion toward the mating face and slotted U-shaped insulation displacement portion toward the cable-receiving face. The insulation displacement portions of the terminals are arranged staggered in at least two rows. A dielectric cover forces the conductors into the U-shaped insulation displacement portions and embraces the cable between the cover and the cable-receiving face of the housing. The cover includes a surface for engaging the cable and recesses in the surface for receiving the U-shaped insulation displacement portions of the terminals.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided for insulation displacing termination of ribbon cable having conductors in predetermined close centerline spacing. The connector includes a dielectric housing having a mating face, an opposed cable-receiving face and a plurality of terminal-receiving passages extending between the faces for receiving a plurality of terminals. Each terminal includes a mating portion toward the mating face and slotted U-shaped insulation displacement portion toward the cable-receiving face. The insulation displacement portions of the terminals are arranged staggered in at least two rows. A dielectric cover forces the conductors into the U-shaped insulation displacement portions and embraces the cable between the cover and the cable-receiving face of the housing. The cover includes a surface for engaging the cable and holes in the surface for receiving the U-shaped insulation displacement portions of the terminals.

Abstract: A computer cable connector, comprising a plurality of contacts respectively fastened in a plurality of holes on an insulator assembly covered by a metal shell and respectively connected to the wires of a flat cable, wherein said contacts are consisted of a bar of connecting terminals connected to a car of contact terminals, each contact terminal comprising a straight body having a unitary rectangular frame at a tail thereof, each connecting terminal being made in a flat structure including a body, a unitary, flat projecting strip extending from said body at one end and a flat, forked tail extending from said body at an opposite end, said flat projecting strip being inserted into said rectangular frame and secured in place through a rivet joint respectively, said bar of connecting terminals including one at the middle having the projecting strip and the body thereof longitudingally aligned, and the others having the projecting strips thereof respectively deviated from respective central axes through different

Abstract: A terminal alignment system is provided for an electrical connector assembly disclosed as an insulation displacement type connector for terminating a plurality of insulated conductors of a multi-conductor cable. The connector includes a dielectric housing having a plurality of terminal-receiving passageways for the insertion thereinto of a plurality of terminals in a given insertion direction. Each terminal includes an insulation displacement section at one end for piercing the insulation about one of the conductors, a contact section at an opposite end for mating with a mating terminal, and an intermediate securing section between the ends for securing the terminal in a respective one of the passageways. The insulation displacement section of each terminal includes a notch facing in the insertion direction. The housing includes a rib for interengagement with each notch.

Abstract: Long and short terminal lugs are installed in alternate slots formed in the connector housing. Each terminal lug consists of an electrical contact portion and a wire connecting portion connected together through an intermediate link portion. The wire connecting portion is larger in width than the electrical contact portion. The wire connecting portions of the long terminal lugs and those of the short terminal lugs are staggered from each other in the axial direction. The long terminal lugs each have a depressed intermediate link portion so that the wire connecting portions of the adjacent short terminal lugs positioned by the side of the depressed intermediate links of the long terminal lugs are given sufficient space and are not interfered with by the wire connecting portions of the adjacent long terminal lugs as in the conventional connectors. This construction allows reduction in the size of the connector housing.

Abstract: A stackable connector (20) formed by positioning connector housings (22,24) back-to-back and securing them together with terminating covers (26,28). Opposing terminating covers (26,28) have leg means (86,88,90,92) that complement leg means on the other terminating cover to substantially fill apertures (52). Either a short segment of cable or conductors of a cable are terminated on corresponding ones of contacts in the two housings (22,24). The terminating covers (26,28) are secured to housings (22,24) in a pretermination position in which corners (98,100) of leg means (86,88,90,92) engage side walls (126) of apertures (52) in a first interference fit. As termination of the conductors is completed, leg means (86,88,90,92) of terminating cover (86) enter apertures (104,106,108,110) on terminating cover (28) and engage a protrusion (112,114,116,118) in a second interference fit.

Abstract: A high density electrical connector for terminating to conductors of a ribbon cable has an insulative housing defining a cable receiving face, a mating face and at least one row of terminal receiving passages extending therebetween with terminals secured therein. The terminal receiving passages open into opposing channels near the cable receiving face. Each terminal includes a mating portion, an intermediate section and an insulation displacement plate. The intermediate section is defined by a pair of sheared edges extending toward the insulation displacement plate from the mating section. The intermediate section includes a notched region defining a first shoulder and an insert sheared edge. The intermediate section further includes a lateral offset formed such that the mating portion is perpendicular to the insulation displacement plate. The first shoulder, a portion of the intermediate section and the insulation displacement plate are received in a channel near the cable receiving face.

Abstract: An electrical connector (100') having a plurality of contacts (10) positioned in a dielectric housing (20') for terminating respective electrical wires (1) and a plurality of wire retaining grooves (70, 80) on the housing (20') for receiving and retaining respective electrical wires (1), each groove (70, 80) being provided with projections (72a, 72b, 82a, 82b) on respective sidewalls (74, 84) wherein the projections (72a, 72b, 82a, 82b) are positioned at different depths relative to each other.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly is provided for terminating a multi-conductor cable. The assembly includes a conductive guide member having a plurality of channels for positioning the conductors of the multi-conductor cable whereby the conductors can be trimmed along an edge of the guide member. A cover member is profiled for engagement with the conductor guide member, with a portion of the cover member covering exposed ends of the trimmed conductors. A base assembly mounts a plurality of terminals and is profiled for aligning the terminals for termination to respective conductors when the base assembly is assembled with the conductor guide member and cover member. The cover member is sandwiched between the conductive guide member and the base assembly and includes a plurality of apertures through which the terminals project for termination to the conductors. The connector includes a conductive backshell formed by a pair of backshell halves.

Abstract: A modular telephone connector includes a housing defining a standard telephone jack, a contact carrier that mounts a plurality of metal contacts each having resilient cantilever jack forming portions and insulation displacement portions and a wire positioning fixture having aligned first and second rows of wire guide channels. The connector is assembled by latching the contact carrier and contacts to the housing, positioning wires through first and second wire guide channels of the wire positioning fixture and securing the fixture to the housing and contact carrier with a centrally located cantilever latch arm formed on the fixture inwardly from the periphery of the connector, closely adjacent the row of contacts. The latch arm engages a slot formed in the housing and contact carrier to releasably secure the fixture to the connector. The central latch arm prevents misalignment of the fixture with the housing and contact carrier which can result in defective termination of the connector.

Abstract: An insulation displacement contact for insulation displacement contacting of an insulated electrical conductor disposed in a cable. Each contact comprises two flat sheet parts abutting against each other, obtained by folding over a flat blank of metal and provided with projecting tongues bounding an aperture for receiving the cable and displacing the insulation thereof. The ends of the tongues lying away from the aperture are folded over essentially at right angles to the plane of the flat sheet parts, in order to form an H-shape.

Abstract: Cable tap and splice assembly for selectively connecting tap conductors to cable wire conductors comprises a housing having a cable wire locator for locating the cable wires in predetermined coplanar positions. A plurality of bus conductors are provided in the housing and extend parallel to the cable wires with each bus connector being dedicated to, and associated with, a single cable wire. The bus conductors have receptacle sites which are accessible from the exterior of the housing so that terminals can be mated with the bus conductors. Connecting devices extend from the bus conductors to the cable wires. The assembly has a major surface having defined zones, each of which receives an electrical connector that has male terminals which are mated with specific cable wires when the connector is coupled to the major surface. The bus conductors can also connect two connecting devices engaging two wires in separate cables positioned in abuttment with a central, removable, partition in the cable clamp.

Abstract: A multiple conductor cable connector (1) is disclosed including a metallic clip (4) which latches a termination cover (5) and a housing (2). A projecting tab (18), a latch (20) and concave inner surfaces of the clip (4) grasp a handle (14) of the termination cover (5) to secure it to the clip (4). The termination cover (5) is recessed (15) to allow the clip tab (18) to fit flush with a rear surface (13) of the termination cover (5). Convex outer surfaces of sleeves (19) of the clip (4) cooperate with concave inner surfaces of channels (8) of opposed paired towers (7) on the housing (2) to guide the termination cover (5) towards the housing (2). Use of the clip (4) within the channels (8) provides a rigid structure for the connector (1), unaffected by normal handling.

Abstract: A connector includes a terminal positioning seat, a wire positioning seat with upper and lower trough portions, and a molded hood housing the wire positioning seat and supporting the terminal positioning seat. Horizontal positioning structure is provided for lockingly engaging the terminal positioning seat and the molded hood to one another. A positioning piece projects vertically from the terminal positioning seat through vertical grooves provided in the upper and lower trough portions in order to position the wire positioning seat accurately with respect to the terminal positioning seat.

Abstract: A daisy chain connector (10) and method of using the connector (10) are disclosed. The connector has a housing having contacts (16) secured therein. A pair of terminating covers (56,58) are provided for applying termination force to conductors (48) of a multiconductor round or flat cable (46). The conductors (48) are formed into two loops with the connector therebetween. A terminating cover (56,58) is positioned in each loop (52,54), the conductors are positioned relative to the covers (56,58) then the covers (56,58) are pressed toward each other terminating the conductors to insulation displacement portions of the contacts (16) and simultaneously securing the covers (56,58) to the connector housing (20).

Abstract: A connector is described which has contacts with wire termination ends (24) for connecting to two ribbon-like wire groups (16, 18) wherein the wires in each group alternate between grounded wires (26c) and signal-carrying wires (26a), and wherein the contacts have connector mating ends (22) arranged in two rows including one row (1) of signal contacts and another (2) of grounded contacts. The contacts are arranged in groups of four on an insulative body (40), with the termination ends (24a, 24d) of first and fourth contacts lying respectively on first and second sides (46, 48) of the body. The termination ends (24b, 24c) of second and third contacts are each bent to extend through a slot (66b, 66c) in the body so while the contact mating end (e.g. 22b) lies in a row (1) at one side of the body, its termination end (24b) lies in a row (6) at the other side of the body.

Abstract: An insulation displacement connector is described, of the type that includes a cap (26) that can push a ribbon cable or discrete wires (12) into insulation displacement contacts (20) projecting from the top of an insulative body (14) until the cap latches to the body, which provides strain relief for the cable in a simple construction. The cap includes a cover part (44) that presses down on the cable and an elongated cable support (60) lying under one side of the cover part to enable the cable to be threaded between the cover part and the cable support. The cable support is connected to the cover part by bendable arms (74,76), and the insulative body has a deflecting surface (90) that deflects the cable support upwardly as the cap is pushed down, to squeeze the cable between the cable support (60) and the side (46) of the cover part for strain relief.

Abstract: A modular telephone connector includes a housing defining a standard telephone jack, a contact carrier that mounts a plurality of metal contacts each having resilient cantilever jack forming portions and insulation displacement portions and a wire positioning fixture having aligned first and second rows of wire guide channels. The connector is assembled by latching the contact carrier and contacts to the housing, positioning wires through first and second wire guide channels of the wire positioning fixture and securing the fixture to the housing and contact carrier with latch arms formed on the fixture. The insulation displacement portion of each contact is positioned in alignment with and between first and second wire guide channels to engage and terminate a wire positioned in the first and second wire guide channels.

Abstract: Connector for terminating ribbon cable having conductors on close centerline spacing employs slotted plate terminals having conductor receiving portions in staggered relationship at the cable receiving face of the connector. Each conductor receiving portion has substantially parallel outer sheared edge surfaces spaced as the conductors in the cable. Outer sheared edge surfaces of a transition portion diverge through arcs toward a wider base portion which imparts strength to the conductor receiving portion.

Abstract: An insulation-piercing connector includes a connector body made of an insulating material, and a plurality of contacts made of a resilient conductive metal. Each of the contacts consists of a contact element to be connected to a contact of a mating connector, a fixing element carried by the connector body and a U-shaped piercing terminal element extending from a surface of the connector body and embracing a wire between legs of the U-shaped element. The contacts are arranged staggered in at least two rows. A cover is maade of an insulating material and formed with terminal element receiving grooves for receiving the U-shaped elements of the contacts. When the cover is covered onto the connector body, the cover forces wire into the U-shaped elements and embraces the wires between the cover and the connector body.

Abstract: An electrical connector (10) for terminating a multi-conductor cable (100) has a housing (12) including a cable terminating face (18), an opposed mating face (16) and opposed end walls (24,26) having latch means (58,60) thereon. The cable terminating face (18) has major edges and minor edges, with the minor edges contiguous with the end walls (24,26). The major edges extend laterally beyond the profile of the mating face (16). The cable terminating face (18) has a rib (44,46) extending along the major edges, upstanding from the cable terminating face (18). A plurality of contacts (30) are secured in the housing (12) and have respective insulation displacement plates (34) extending from the cable terminating face (18). A terminating cover (14) defines an inner surface (80) and major side edges and has latch arms (86, 88) at opposite ends thereof adapted to engage the latch means (58,60) on the connector housing (12) to retain the terminating cover (14) on the housing (12).

Abstract: An electrical connector to which insulated conductors of a multiconductor cable are connected by insulation piercing, which includes an insulation housing having a front recess and a rear recess; a plurality of contacts arranged in the insulation housing so that their contacting sections are exposed in the front recess and their piercing sections project upwardly in the rear recess; and a guide block disposed in the rear recess and having a lateral slot in which the insulated conductors are arranged side by side at regular intervals, a plurality of vertical slots into which the piercing sections are inserted, and a deformation groove provided behind the vertical slots for securing the insulated conductors to the guide block when it is deformed.

Abstract: An insulation displacement connector with a dielectric body having terminal members extending through the body, the terminal members having insulation displacement terminals at one end and outwardly projecting terminal pins at the other end. In preferred structures, the terminal pins are displaced from the terminal members so that they lie in two rows which are spaced-apart laterally of a plane of the body. The body may be a single molded structure with location positions for the terminal members inserted into one side of the body.

Abstract: An electrical terminal (32) for insertion into a passage (30) in a dielectric housing (22) or a high density ribbon cable connector (20) incorporating the terminal is disclosed. The high density ribbon cable connector (20) has an insulative housing (22) having passages (30) extending therethrough. Each of the passages (30) have an electrical terminal (32) secured therein. Each terminal (32) has a mating section (34), an intermediate section (56) and an insulation displacement section (38). A first transition section (60) is disposed between the mating section (34) and the intermediate section (56); a second transition section (72) is disposed between the intermediate section (56) and the insulation displacement section (38). The intermediate section (56) provides forwardly facing stop shoulders (58) for engagement with stop shoulders (64) in the insulative housing (22) to position the terminal (32) in a passage (30).

Abstract: A low profile, metal shell insulation displacement contact (IDC) connector comprises an elongate insulative housing having two spaced longitudinally extending sidewalls and two transversely extending longitudinally spaced end walls. Within the interior of the housing sidewalls, there are a plurality of pockets formed therein for securing a metal shell to the housing. The metal shell is preferably made in two-part construction wherein a lower portion defining a continuous D-shaped configuration is attached by deformable tabs to an upper portion and the upper portion comprises a plurality of deformably prongs that are adapted to be received in the pockets of the housing and deformed therein for securing the composite metal shell thereto. A cover is latchably secured to the end walls of the housing and a strain relief is provided for sandwiching a flat multiconductor ribbon cable between the strain relief and the cover.

Abstract: A channel outlet comprising a housing of insulative material has means for mounting the outlet in an opening in a channel-shaped cover of a channel housing and includes a terminal-receiving member and a cover member. Power terminals and a ground terminal are secured in cavities in the terminal-receiving member. The terminals have a first section adapted to terminate a respective electrical conductor thereto. The power terminals have wrap-around receptacle sections adapted to receive blade terminals of a conventional electrical plug therein. The ground terminal includes a contact member for sliding electrical contact with a ground pin of the electrical plug and a ground tab extending exteriorly of the cover member for ground connection to a channel-shaped base of the channel housing.

Abstract: An electrical connector adapter is disclosed having front and rear insulators with corresponding contact cavities therein which are slightly laterally offset from each other. The contacts have intermediate bendable portions. One of the insulators is formed of a resilient material. After one end of the contacts are mounted in the other insulator, the contact cavities in the resilient insulator are expanded to slidably receive the other ends of the contacts therein. The expansive force is then released causing the resilient insulator to contract around the contacts therein to automatically bend the intermediate portions of the contacts to accommodate for the lateral offset of the contact cavities in the front and rear insulators.

Abstract: Apparatus for terminating conductors on circuit boards. The apparatus comses an insulator member having electrical conducting contacts embedded therein each with a bifurcate portion extending from the insulator member. The bifurcate portion consists of a pair of prongs arranged for engaging a conductor and a complaint section having an end formed both for piercing insulation of the conductor and insertion into a circuit board plated-through hole to establish an electrical connection between the engaged conductor and circuit board.

Abstract: An electrical distribution system incorporating power, data and analog signals into a single system, and suitable for use in a building is disclosed. A flat cable containing various conductors can be positioned within the walls of the structure and a common receptacle can be employed to provide a common outlet for power and signal. The mateable plug also containing power and signal terminals is engageable with the receptacle. Shiftable doors for environmental protection are located on the exterior of the receptacle. The doors provide both guidance for the plug into the receptacle and engage the exterior of the plug to ensure that one door fully closes prior to the other.

Abstract: A connector (51, 86) is provided having a plurality of contact elements (53), the contact elements comprising plug-in elements (55) arranged in three rows (58, 59, 60) with a first pitch, insulation displacement contacts (54) arranged in two parallel rows (56, 57) with a second pitch different from the first pitch.

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 modular, multi-row, mass terminated electrical connector which mates with an array of pins. The connector includes a housing having top and bottom rows of elongated terminal receiving cavities each with a forward pin receiving opening. A plurality of terminals are mounted in the cavities with each terminal having a forward pin engaging portion and a rear insulation displacement portion. The cavities of the top rows are staggered with respect to the cavities of the bottom row and the adjacent top row cavities are spaced apart from one another. An access slot is formed in the top of each cavity to expose the insulation displacement portion of the terminals. The insulation displacement portion of the terminals received in the bottom row cavities are accessible between adjacent top row cavities so that all of the terminals of both rows can be mass terminated from the top of the connector. The housing is made up of a plurality of modules connected together by means of selectively removable connecting members.