In-line connector for electrical conductors or the like

Claim 1

A connector for electrical wires or the like having an external sheath of insulating material comprising: a base, said base having a lower jaw member positioned thereon and protruding above the surface thereof; first and second upper jaw members formed integrally with said base and extending above said base to form a generally C-shaped article for receiving said wires between said upper and lower jaw members, said upper jaw members being deformable to permit movement thereof toward said base; said first and second upper jaw members being laterally displaced from said lower jaw member by a distance slightly less than the diameter of said wires less said external sheath so that each of said upper jaw members form with said lower jaw member a pair of laterally displaced parallel shear planes; movement of said upper jaw members toward said base causing said wires to be deformed about said lower jaw member to position said wires such that portions of the external sheath of each wire is parallel to said shear planes whereby said jaw members remove said sheath from said portions of said wires in a direction parallel to the axes of said wires, said base limiting the relative movemenT of said jaw members and preventing shearing of said wires in a direction normal to their axes.