Low profile connector providing high density application

Claim 2

An electrical connector (10) for making an interconnection between conductors (12) and a high density array of fixed terminals (74), said connector comprising an elongated housing (16) of insulative material having a mating face (18) and an oppositely directed terminating face (20) with a plurality of terminal passages (22) extending between said faces (18, 20), a like plurality of terminals (54) each mounted in a respective terminal passage (22) and having a mating portion (56) directed towards - said mating face (18) and a conductor engaging portion (58) extending from said terminating face (20), and a cover (36) adapted to be received on said terminating face (20) of said housing (16) and having therein a like plurality of terminal passages (40) each aligned with a respective terminal passage (22) of said housing (16), characterized in that opposite end portions (30, 48) of said connector housing (16) and cover (36) are profiled with a keyed series of projections (32, 50) and recesses (34, 52) extending continuously between said housing (16) and said cover (36) whereby like connectors can be stacked in an edgewise arrangement with the end most terminal passages (22) of adjacent connectors (10) being spaced apart a distance no greater than twice the distance between adjacent terminal passages (22) in a single connector (10).

Claim 3

An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said cover further comprises: a plurality of transverse conductor passages (42) each intersecting a respective terminal passage.

Claim 4

An electrical connector according to claim 2 wherein each said transverse conductor passage (42) is continuous through said cover whereby said connector can be used for daisy chain termination.

Claim 5

An electrical connector according to claim 2 wherein said cover further comprises: a profiled transverse slot (80) capable of receiving therein a multi-conductor flat cable, the conductors of said cable traversing respective terminal passages.

Claim 6

An electrical connector according to claim 1 further comprising: at least one groove (24) in each elongated side of said housing (16) extending between said faces (18, 20), at least one latching lug (26) in each said groove (24), at least one latching leg (44) depending from each elongated side of said cover (32) and positioned to enter a respective groove (24), and a latching shoulder (46) adjacent the free end of each said leg (44) to latchingly engage a respective latching lug (26).

Claim 7

An electrical connector according to claim 5 wherein a pair of latching lugs (26, 28) are spaced apart in each said groove (24) whereby engagement of said latching shoulders (46) with one of said lugs (26) holds said cover (36) on said housing (16) with said terminating faces (20, 38) spaced apart and engagement with the other of said lugs (28) holds said cover (36) on said housing (16) with said terminating faces (20, 38) substantially abutting.

Claim 8

An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein each said terminal (54) has a mating portion (56) capable of mechanically and electrically receiving a pin terminal therein.

Claim 9

An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein each said terminal (54) has a conductor engaging portion (58) formed by a pair of tines (64, 66) defining an insulation piercing slot (68) therebetween.

Claim 10

An electrical connector according to claim 8 wherein each said tine (64, 66) further comprises an outwardly directed shoulder (70, 72) adjacent the free end thereof to grippingly engage in a respective passage (40) of said cover (36).

Claim 11

An electrical connector (10)for use in combination with other like connectors (10) to make interconnection between conductors (12) and a high density array of pin terminals (74) in fixed continuous rows, each said connector (10) having an elongated housing (16) of insulative material with a mating face (18), an oppositely terminating face (20), and a plurality of terminal passages (22) extending between said faces (18, 20), an elongated conductor carrying cover (36) of insulative material adapted to be received on said terminating face (20) of said housing (16) and having a like plurality of terminal passages (40) each aligned with a respective terminal passage (22) of said housing (16), and a plurality of terminals (54) each mounted in a respective terminal passage (22) of said housing (16) with a mating portion (56) directed towards said mating face (18) and an insulation piercing conductor engaging portion (58) extending from said terminating face (20) to engage a respective conductor (12), characterized in that end portions (30, 48) of said connector housing (16) and cover (36) are profiled with a keyed series of projections (32, 50) and recesses (34, 52) extending continuously between said housing (16) and said cover (36) whereby like connectors (10) can be stacked in an edgewise arrangement with the end most terminal passages (22) of adjacent connectors (10) being spaced apart a distance no greater than twice the distance between adjacent terminal passages (22) in a single connector (10).

Claim 12

An electrical connector (10)for use in combination with other like connectors (10) to make interconnection between conductors (12) and a high density array of pin terminals (74) in fixed continuous rows, each said connector (10) having an elongated housing (16) of insulative material with a mating face (18), an oppositely terminating face (20), and a plurality of terminal passages (22) extending between said faces (18, 20), an elongated conductor carrying cover (36) of insulative material adapted to be received on said terminating face (20) of said housing (16) and having a like plurality of terminal passages (40) each aligned with a respective terminal passage (22) of said housing (16), and a plurality of terminals (54) each mounted in a respective terminal passage (22) of said housing (16) with a mating portion (56) directed towards said mating face (18) and an insulation piercing conductor engaging portion (58) extending from said terminating face (20) to engage a respective conductor (12), characterized in that end portions (30, 48) of said connector housing (16) and cover (36) are profiled with a keyed series of projections (32, 50) and recesses (34, 52) extending continuously between said housing (16) and said cover (36) whereby like connectors (10) can be stacked in an edgewise arrangement with the end most terminal passages (22) of adjacent connectors (10) being spaced apart a distance no greater than twice the distance between adjacent terminal passages (22) in a single connector (10).