Electric coupler

Claim 2

An electrical coupler for connecting color-coded conductors, which comprises: a pair of mating, identical coupler units, each unit including a plurality of different colored, laminate wafers stacked in a selected color-coded pattern having colors corresponding to the colors of insulation of the conductors, the stacked wafers forming contactor-receiving cells within each wafer, and a plurality of contactors within the respective cells, the contactors having a corresponding plurality of the color-coded conductors secured therewith, each color-coded conductor having insulation of a given color secured to a contactor occupying the cell formed by the wafer of the same given color, so that when the coupler units are brought together, the colored wafers of one unit are aligned with the mating wafers of the same colors and the color-coded conductor groups secured to one coupler unit aRe connected to corresponding color-coded conductor groups secured to the mating coupler unit.

Claim 3

An electrical coupler as set forth in claim 1 which includes: each wafer being formed with at least one slot having opposed spaced sidewalls, the slots of the stacked wafers forming the contactor-receiving cells, one sidewall of each slot of the wafers being formed with a contactor-locking groove, and a tab formed on each contactor and positioned so that the tab is inserted into the contactor-locking groove when the contactor is inserted into the associated cell of the coupler unit to preclude movement of the contactor out of the longitudinal opening of the associated slot during a period when the wafers are unstacked.

Claim 4

The electrical coupler as set forth in the claim 1 which includes: a pair of resilient inner bands for receiving therewithin associated stacks of the laminated wafers which are keyed and supported in an assembled relation.

Claim 5

The electrical coupler as set forth in claim 3 which includes: each of the contactors being formed with long tines which extend from associated cells of the associated coupler unit, and the resilient inner bands being formed with means for protecting end portions of the long tines of the contactors which extend from associated cells.

Claim 6

The electrical coupler as set forth in claim 4 wherein the means for protecting the long tines of the contactors includes: at least a pair of rows of spaced teeth which extend from one edge of the resilient inner bands in a direction parallel with the direction of extension of the long tines of the contactors with the ends of the teeth extending a distance beyond the ends of the long tines so that the contactor ends of the long tines are protected from lateral forces and so that the spaced teeth of the inner bands of each coupler unit intermesh with the spaced teeth of the mating coupler unit and absorb pressures exerted upon the coupler unit when the units are assembled together.

Claim 7

The electrical coupler as set forth in claim 3 which includes: a resilient outer band for receiving within opposite ends the mating identical coupler units including the stacked wafers and the associated inner bands which are keyed in a position so that the contactors of each coupler unit are held in contacting engagement with the contactors of the mating coupler unit.

Claim 8

The electrical coupler unit as set forth in claim 6 wherein the resilient outer band includes latching means for locking the assembled mating coupler units within the outer band.

Claim 9

The electrical coupler as set forth in claim 7 wherein the means for latching the coupler units within the outer band includes: a pair of springs having shank portions attached to the outer band for movement relative to the band, and the ends of the springs being deformed structurally to fit into associated complementary portions of the coupler units after the coupler units have been assembled within the outer band so that the coupler units are locked within the outer band.

Claim 10

An electrical coupler for connecting color-coded conductors, which comprises: a pair of identical mating coupler units, each unit including a plurality of different colored, laminate wafers having colors corresponding to the colors of insulation of the conductors, the wafers being stacked in a selected color-coded pattern and having contactor-receiving cells therein, and a plurality of contactors within the respective cells, pairs of the contactors having color-coded pairs of conductors secured therewith, at least one conductor of each conductor pair having colored insulation of color corresponding to one of the wafer colors, each of the conductors having insulation of a wafer color being secured to the contactor which occupies one of the cells formed by the wafer of the same color, the other conductor of the conductor pair being secured with a contactor which occupies the adjacent cell formed by the same wafeR, so that when the coupler units are brought together the colored wafers of one unit are aligned with the mating wafers of the same colors and the color coded pairs of conductors of one coupler unit are connected to the identically color-coded pairs of the mating coupler unit.

Claim 11

An electrical coupler for connecting color-coded conductors, which comprises: a pair of identical mating coupler units, each unit including a plurality of different colored, laminate wafers having colors corresponding to the colors of insulation of the conductors, the wafers being stacked in a selected color-coded pattern and having contactor-receiving cells therein, and a plurality of contactors within the respective cells, pairs of the contactors having color-coded pairs of conductors secured therewith, at least one conductor of each conductor pair having colored insulation of color corresponding to one of the wafer colors, each of the conductors having insulation of a wafer color being secured to the contactor which occupies one of the cells formed by the wafer of the same color, the other conductor of the conductor pair being secured with a contactor which occupies the adjacent cell formed by the same wafeR, so that when the coupler units are brought together the colored wafers of one unit are aligned with the mating wafers of the same colors and the color coded pairs of conductors of one coupler unit are connected to the identically color-coded pairs of the mating coupler unit.

Claim 12

An electrical coupler for connecting color-coded conductors, which comprises: a pair of mating, identical coupler units, each unit including a plurality of stacked laminate wafers of different colors corresponding to the colors of insulation of the conductors, each wafer having a series of parallel, spaced slots formed on one surface thereof and a flat face formed on the opposite surface thereof, the laminate wafers formed with complementary interlocking structure to preclude relative lateral movement, the stacked laminate wafers being assembled in a predetermined color-code arrangement, whereby the grooves of one wafer are positioned adjacent the flat face of an adjacent wafer to form a plurality of contactor-receiving cells, a plurality of contactors within the cells of each coupler unit, the contactors formed with tines which extend from the assembly and are received by cells of the mating identical coupler unit, the contactors provided with a pocket for receiving conductors having different colored insulation thereon, whereby the colors of the insulation correspond to the different colors of the laminate sections of the coupler unit so that the conductors having a given colored insulation may be attached to contactors inserted into one of the cells formed by the laminate wafer of the same color, a resilient band for receiving within opposite ends the mating, identical coupler units, and means formed in the band for keying the coupler units in an assembled relation within the band so that the colored wafers of one unit are aligned with the mating wafers of the same colors and the color-coded conductors of one coupler unit are connected to corresponding color-coded conductors of the mating coupler unit.

Claim 13

An electrical coupler for connecting color-coded conductors, which comprises: a pair of mating, identical coupler units, each unit including a plurality of stacked laminate wafers of different colors corresponding to the colors of insulation of the conductors, each wafer having a series of parallel, spaced slots formed on one surface thereof and a flat face formed on the opposite surface thereof, the laminate wafers formed with complementary interlocking structure to preclude relative lateral movement, the stacked laminate wafers being assembled in a predetermined color-code arrangement, whereby the grooves of one wafer are positioned adjacent the flat face of an adjacent wafer to form a plurality of contactor-receiving cells, a plurality of contactors within the cells of each coupler unit, the contactors formed with tines which extend from the assembly and are received by cells of the mating identical coupler unit, the contactors provided with a pocket for receiving conductors having different colored insulation thereon, whereby the colors of the insulation correspond to the different colors of the laminate sections of the coupler unit so that the conductors having a given colored insulation may be attached to contactors inserted into one of the cells formed by the laminate wafer of the same color, a resilient band for receiving within opposite ends the mating, identical coupler units, and means formed in the band for keying the coupler units in an assembled relation within the band so that the colored wafers of one unit are aligned with the mating wafers of the same colors and the color-coded conductors of one coupler unit are connected to corresponding color-coded conductors of the mating coupler unit.

Claim 14

An electrical coupler for connecting color-coded conductors, which comprises: a pair of identical, mating coupler units, each unit including a plurality of different colored wafers formed from a first group of colors, the wafers being stacked in a selected color-coded pattern and having a row of contactor-receiving cells within each wafer, and a plurality of contactors within the respective cells of the coupler unit, a plurality of pairs of the contactors secured with a plurality of pairs of conductors, one conductor of each pair having colored insulation with a color of the first group, the other conductor of each pair having colored insulation with a color of the second group, the conductors having insulation color of the first group secured with contactors occupying cells formed by the wafer of the same color, the conductors having insulation color of the second group secured with contactors occupying the adjacent cells formed by the same wafer, so that when the coupler units are brought together the colored wafers of one unit are aligned with the mating wafers of the same colors and the color-coded pairs of conductors of one coupler unit are connected to the identically color-coded pairs of the other coupler unit.

Claim 15

An electrical coupler for connecting color-coded conductors, which comprises: a pair of identical, mating coupler units, each unit including a plurality of different colored wafers formed from a first group of colors, the wafers being stacked in a selected color-coded pattern and having a row of contactor-receiving cells within each wafer, and a plurality of contactors within the respective cells of the coupler unit, a plurality of pairs of the contactors secured with a plurality of pairs of conductors, one conductor of each pair having colored insulation with a color of the first group, the other conductor of each pair having colored insulation with a color of the second group, the conductors having insulation color of the first group secured with contactors occupying cells formed by the wafer of the same color, the conductors having insulation color of the second group secured with contactors occupying the adjacent cells formed by the same wafer, so that when the coupler units are brought together the colored wafers of one unit are aligned with the mating wafers of the same colors and the color-coded pairs of conductors of one coupler unit are connected to the identically color-coded pairs of the other coupler unit.

Claim 16

An electrical coupler for connecting color-coded conductors, which comprises: a pair of identical, mating coupler units, each unit including a plurality of different colored wafers formed from a first group of colors which corresponds to a first of two groups of colors of insulation of the conductors, the wafers being stacked in a selected color-coded pattern, each of the stacked wafers forming a row of contactor-receiving cells, the cells of the stacked wafers forming columns of cells perpendicularly disposed from the rows of cells, and a plurality of contactors within the respective cells, a plurality of pairs of the contactors secured with a plurality of color-coded pairs of conductors, a first conductor of eAch conductor pair having an insulation color of the first of the two groups of colors, a second conductor of each conductor pair having an insulation color of the second of the two groups of colors, the first conductor of the pairs of conductors having insulation color of the first group secured with contactors occupying alternate cells of the row of cells formed by the wafer of the same color, the second conductor of the pairs of conductors having insulation color of the second group of colors secured with contactors occupying alternate columns of cells formed by cells not occupied by the first contactors of each pair, so that when the coupler units are brought together the colored wafers of one unit are aligned with the mating wafers of the same colors and the color-coded pairs of conductors of one coupler unit are connected to the identically color-coded pairs of the other coupler unit.

Claim 17

An electrical coupler for connecting color-coded conductors, which comprises: a pair of identical, mating coupler units, each unit including a plurality of different colored wafers formed from a first group of colors which corresponds to a first of two groups of colors of insulation of the conductors, the wafers being stacked in a selected color-coded pattern, each of the stacked wafers forming a row of contactor-receiving cells, the cells of the stacked wafers forming columns of cells perpendicularly disposed from the rows of cells, and a plurality of contactors within the respective cells, a plurality of pairs of the contactors secured with a plurality of color-coded pairs of conductors, a first conductor of eAch conductor pair having an insulation color of the first of the two groups of colors, a second conductor of each conductor pair having an insulation color of the second of the two groups of colors, the first conductor of the pairs of conductors having insulation color of the first group secured with contactors occupying alternate cells of the row of cells formed by the wafer of the same color, the second conductor of the pairs of conductors having insulation color of the second group of colors secured with contactors occupying alternate columns of cells formed by cells not occupied by the first contactors of each pair, so that when the coupler units are brought together the colored wafers of one unit are aligned with the mating wafers of the same colors and the color-coded pairs of conductors of one coupler unit are connected to the identically color-coded pairs of the other coupler unit.

Claim 18

An electrical coupler for connecting color-coded conductors, which comprises: a pair of mating, identical coupler units, each unit including a plurality of stacked laminate wafers of different colors, each wafer having a series of parallel, spaced slots formed on one surface thereof and a flat face formed on the opposite surface thereof, the laminate wafers being formed with complementary interlocking structure to preclude relative lateral movement, the stacked laminate wafers being assembled in a predetermined color-code arrangement so that the slots of one wafer are positioned adjacent the flat face of an adjacent wafer to form a plurality of contactor-receiving cells, each unit including a pair of different colored side wafers assembled on each stacked side of the stacked, laminate wafers, a plurality of contactors within the cells of each coupler unit, the contactors formed with tines which extend from the assembly and are received by cells of the mating, identical coupler unit, the contactors provided with a pocket for receiving conductors of a unit cable of a multiple unit group, the conductors having different colored insulation thereon which corresponds to the different colors of the laminate sections of the coupler unit, the conductors having a given colored insulation being secured with the contactors inserted into the cells formed by the wafer of the same color, the conductors of each unit cable being bound by a pair of different colored tapes having the same colors as the colors of the side wafers, the colored tapes of each cable of the multiple group being a different color combination relative to the tapes of the other cables of the group, so that the coupler unit of the color-coded conductors of one unit cable are distinguishable from the coupler unit of the conductors of another unit cable within the multiple unit group, and a resilient band for receiving within opposite ends the mating, identical coupler units, whereby the laminate wafers of each coupler unit are held in an assembled relation within the band and the contactors of each coupler unit are held in contacting engagement with the contactors of the mating coupler unit.

Claim 19

An electrical coupler for connecting color-coded conductors, which comprises: a pair of mating, identical coupler units, each unit including a plurality of stacked laminate wafers of different colors, each wafer having a series of parallel, spaced slots formed on one surface thereof and a flat face formed on the opposite surface thereof, the laminate wafers being formed with complementary interlocking structure to preclude relative lateral movement, the stacked laminate wafers being assembled in a predetermined color-code arrangement so that the slots of one wafer are positioned adjacent the flat face of an adjacent wafer to form a plurality of contactor-receiving cells, each unit including a pair of different colored side wafers assembled on each stacked side of the stacked, laminate wafers, a plurality of contactors within the cells of each coupler unit, the contactors formed with tines which extend from the assembly and are received by cells of the mating, identical coupler unit, the contactors provided with a pocket for receiving conductors of a unit cable of a multiple unit group, the conductors having different colored insulation thereon which corresponds to the different colors of the laminate sections of the coupler unit, the conductors having a given colored insulation being secured with the contactors inserted into the cells formed by the wafer of the same color, the conductors of each unit cable being bound by a pair of different colored tapes having the same colors as the colors of the side wafers, the colored tapes of each cable of the multiple group being a different color combination relative to the tapes of the other cables of the group, so that the coupler unit of the color-coded conductors of one unit cable are distinguishable from the coupler unit of the conductors of another unit cable within the multiple unit group, and a resilient band for receiving within opposite ends the mating, identical coupler units, whereby the laminate wafers of each coupler unit are held in an assembled relation within the band and the contactors of each coupler unit are held in contacting engagement with the contactors of the mating coupler unit.

Claim 20

An electrical coupler, which comprises: a pair of mating, identical coupler units, each unit including a plurality of stacked laminate wafers, each wafer having a series of parallel, spaced slots formed on one surface thereof and a flat face formed on the opposite surface thereof, the laminate wafers formed with complementary interlocking structure to preclude relative lateral movement, the stacked laminate wafers assembled so that the slots of one wafer are positioned adjacent the flat face of an adjacent wafer to form a plurality of contactor-receiving cells, a plurality of interchangeable contactors self-secured within the cells of each contactor-supporting coupler unit, the contactors formed with tines which extend from the unit and are received by cells of the mating, identical coupler unit, means formed on the contactors for receiving conductors secured therewith, means formed on each contactor for facilitating the removal of the contactor from within the cell of the supporting coupler unit so that the contactors and conductors secured therewith may be interchanged relative to the coupler unit, and a resilient band for receiving within opposite ends the mating, identical coupler units whereby the laminate wafers of each coupler unit are keyed in an assembled relation and the contactors of each coupler unit are held in contacting engagement with the contactors of the mating coupler unit.

Claim 21

An electrical coupler, which comprises: a pair of mating, identical coupler units, each unit including a plurality of stacked laminate wafers, each wafer having a series of parallel, spaced slots formed on one surface thereof and a flat face formed on the opposite surface thereof, the laminate wafers formed with complementary interlocking structure to preclude relative lateral movement, the stacked laminate wafers assembled so that the slots of one wafer are positioned adjacent the flat face of an adjacent wafer to form a plurality of contactor-receiving cells, a plurality of interchangeable contactors self-secured within the cells of each contactor-supporting coupler unit, the contactors formed with tines which extend from the unit and are received by cells of the mating, identical coupler unit, means formed on the contactors for receiving conductors secured therewith, means formed on each contactor for facilitating the removal of the contactor from within the cell of the supporting coupler unit so that the contactors and conductors secured therewith may be interchanged relative to the coupler unit, and a resilient band for receiving within opposite ends the mating, identical coupler units whereby the laminate wafers of each coupler unit are keyed in an assembled relation and the contactors of each coupler unit are held in contacting engagement with the contactors of the mating coupler unit.

Claim 22

An electrical coupler, which comprises: a pair of mating, identical coupler units, each unit including a plurality of stacked laminate wafers, each wafer having a series of parallel, spaced slots formed on a first major surface thereof and a flat face formed on an opposite major surface thereof, each wafer formed with keeper lugs at opposite ends of the first major surface and keeper notches at opposite ends of the opposite major surface, the wafers stacked so that the keeper lugs of each wafer fit into the keeper notches of the adjacent wafer to preclude relative lateral movement, the stacked laminate wafers assembled so that the slots of one wafer are positioned adjacent the flat face of an adjacent wafer to form a plurality of contactor-receiving cells, a plurality of contactors self-secured within the cells of each coupler unit, the contactors formed with tines which extend from the assembly and are received by cells of the mating, identical coupler unit, means formed on the contactors for receiving conductors secured therewith, and a resilient band for receiving within opposite ends the mating, identical coupler units whereby the laminate wafers of each coupler unit are keyed in an assembled relation and the contactors of each coupler unit are held in contacting engagement with the contactors of the mating coupler unit.

Claim 23

An electrical coupler, which comprises: a pair of mating, identical coupler units, each unit including a plurality of stacked laminate wafers, each wafer having a series of parallel, spaced slots formed on a first major surface thereof and a flat face formed on an opposite major surface thereof, each wafer formed with keeper lugs at opposite ends of the first major surface and keeper notches at opposite ends of the opposite major surface, the wafers stacked so that the keeper lugs of each wafer fit into the keeper notches of the adjacent wafer to preclude relative lateral movement, the stacked laminate wafers assembled so that the slots of one wafer are positioned adjacent the flat face of an adjacent wafer to form a plurality of contactor-receiving cells, a plurality of contactors self-secured within the cells of each coupler unit, the contactors formed with tines which extend from the assembly and are received by cells of the mating, identical coupler unit, means formed on the contactors for receiving conductors secured therewith, and a resilient band for receiving within opposite ends the mating, identical coupler units whereby the laminate wafers of each coupler unit are keyed in an assembled relation and the contactors of each coupler unit are held in contacting engagement with the contactors of the mating coupler unit.

Claim 24

An electrical coupler, which comprises: a pair of mating, identical coupler units, each unit including a plurality of stacked laminate wafers, each wafer having a series of parallel, spaced slots formed on one surface thereof and a flat face formed on the opposite surface thereof, the laminate wafers formed with complementary interlocking structure to preclude relative lateral movement, the stacked laminate wafers assembled so that the slots of one wafer are positioned adjacent the flat face of an adjacent wafer to form a plurality of contactor-receiving cells, a plurality of contactors self-secured within the cells of each contactor-supporting coupler unit, each of the contactors formed with a long tine which extends from the unit and is received by one of the cells of the mating, identical coupler, each long tine formed with a ramp intermediate the ends thereof positioned within the cell of the supporting unit, each of the contactors formed with a short time spaced from, and parallel with, the long tine, each short tine formed with a ramp on the leading end thereof positioned within the cell between the contactor end of the supporting coupler unit and the long tine ramp, whereby the long tines of each coupler unit are flexed and engaged by the ramps of the respective short and long tines of the mating coupler unit and are flexed into engagement with an intermediate portion of the respective long tines of the mating coupler unit, means formed on the contactors for receiving conductors secured therewith, and a resilient band for receiving within opposite ends the mating, identical coupler units whereby the laminate wafers of each coupler unit are keyed in an assembled relation and the contactors of each coupler unit are held in contacting engagement with the contactors of the mating coupler unit.

Claim 25

An electrical coupler, which comprises: a pair of mating, identical coupler units, each unit including a plurality of stacked laminate wafers, each wafer having a series of parallel, spaced slots formed on one surface thereof and a flat face formed on the opposite surface thereof, the laminate wafers formed with complementary interlocking structure to preclude relative lateral movement, the stacked laminate wafers assembled so that the slots of one wafer are positioned adjacent the flat face of an adjacent wafer to form a plurality of contactor-receiving cells, a plurality of contactors self-secured within the cells of each contactor-supporting coupler unit, each of the contactors formed with a long tine which extends from the unit and is received by one of the cells of the mating, identical coupler, each long tine formed with a ramp intermediate the ends thereof positioned within the cell of the supporting unit, each of the contactors formed with a short time spaced from, and parallel with, the long tine, each short tine formed with a ramp on the leading end thereof positioned within the cell between the contactor end of the supporting coupler unit and the long tine ramp, whereby the long tines of each coupler unit are flexed and engaged by the ramps of the respective short and long tines of the mating coupler unit and are flexed into engagement with an intermediate portion of the respective long tines of the mating coupler unit, means formed on the contactors for receiving conductors secured therewith, and a resilient band for receiving within opposite ends the mating, identical coupler units whereby the laminate wafers of each coupler unit are keyed in an assembled relation and the contactors of each coupler unit are held in contacting engagement with the contactors of the mating coupler unit.

Claim 26

An electrical coupler, which comprises: a pair of mating, identical coupler units, each unit including a plurality of stacked laminate wafers, each wafer having a series of parallel, spaced slots formed on one surface thereof and a flat face formed on the oppositE surface thereof, each of the slots formed with an undercut at one common end and a sloped surface at the opposite end, the laminate wafers formed with complementary interlocking structure to preclude relative lateral movement, the stacked laminate wafers assembled so that the slots of one wafer are positioned adjacent the flat face of an adjacent wafer to form a plurality of contactor-receiving cells, a plurality of interchangeable contactors positioned within the cells of each contactor-supporting coupler unit, each of the contactors formed with a contacting end for engaging contactors of the mating coupler unit and a conductor-receiving end for receiving conductors secured therewith, each contactor formed with a locking hook at the contacting end thereof which is flexed into engagement with the slot undercut to preclude contactor movement toward the conductor end of the contactor, each contactor formed with a tab at the conductor end thereof which engages the sloped surface of the slot to preclude contactor movement toward the contacting end of the contactor, whereby the contactors are self-secured within the cells of the coupler unit, each locking hook being accessible from the contacting end of the coupler unit so that the locking hook may be flexed from engagement with the slot undercut and withdrawn from the cell of the stacked wafers to facilitate interchangeability of the contactors and the conductors secured therewith, and a resilient band for receiving within opposite ends the mating, identical coupler units whereby the laminate wafers of each coupler unit are keyed in an assembled relation and the contactors of each coupler unit are held in contacting engagement with the contactors of the mating coupler unit.

Claim 27

An electrical coupler, which comprises: a pair of mating, identical coupler units, each unit including a plurality of stacked laminate wafers, each wafer having a series of parallel, spaced slots formed on one surface thereof and a flat face formed on the oppositE surface thereof, each of the slots formed with an undercut at one common end and a sloped surface at the opposite end, the laminate wafers formed with complementary interlocking structure to preclude relative lateral movement, the stacked laminate wafers assembled so that the slots of one wafer are positioned adjacent the flat face of an adjacent wafer to form a plurality of contactor-receiving cells, a plurality of interchangeable contactors positioned within the cells of each contactor-supporting coupler unit, each of the contactors formed with a contacting end for engaging contactors of the mating coupler unit and a conductor-receiving end for receiving conductors secured therewith, each contactor formed with a locking hook at the contacting end thereof which is flexed into engagement with the slot undercut to preclude contactor movement toward the conductor end of the contactor, each contactor formed with a tab at the conductor end thereof which engages the sloped surface of the slot to preclude contactor movement toward the contacting end of the contactor, whereby the contactors are self-secured within the cells of the coupler unit, each locking hook being accessible from the contacting end of the coupler unit so that the locking hook may be flexed from engagement with the slot undercut and withdrawn from the cell of the stacked wafers to facilitate interchangeability of the contactors and the conductors secured therewith, and a resilient band for receiving within opposite ends the mating, identical coupler units whereby the laminate wafers of each coupler unit are keyed in an assembled relation and the contactors of each coupler unit are held in contacting engagement with the contactors of the mating coupler unit.

Claim 28

An electrical coupler, which comprises: a pair of mating, identical coupler units, each unit including a plurality of stacked laminate wafers, each wafer having a series of parallel, spaced slots formed on one surface thereof and a flat face formed on the opposite surface thereof, each slot having a bed extending between opposed sidewalls, the laminate wafers formed with complementary interlocking structure to preclude relative lateral movement, the stacked laminate wafers assembled so that the slots of one wafer are positioned adjacent the flat face of the adjacent wafer to form a plurality of contactor-receiving cells, a plurality of contactors self-secured within the cells of each contactor-supporting coupler unit, each contactor formed with a pocket having opposed sidewalls for receiving conductors secured therewith, each contactor formed with a long tine which integrally extends from one sidewall of the pocket toward a contacting end of the contactor, each contactor formed with a short tine which extends from the opposite sidewall of the pocket toward the contacting end of the contactor, the long tine of each contactor flexed against a wall of the cell formed by the flat face of he adjacent wafer, the short tine of each contactor flexed against the bed of the respective slot, whereby the tines are flexed apart to facilitate the reception and engagement of the contactor end of the long tine of the mating coupler unit with the long and short tines of the supporting coupler unit, and a resilient band for receiving within opposite ends the mating, identical coupler units whereby the laminate wafers of each coupler unit are keyed in an assembled relation and the contactors of each coupler unit are held in contacting engagement with the contactors of the mating coupler unit.

Claim 29

An electrical coupler, which comprises: a pair of mating, identical coupler units, each unit including a plurality of stacked laminate wafers, each wafer having a series of parallel, spaced slots formed on one surface thereof and a flat face formed on the opposite surface thereof, each slot having a bed extending between opposed sidewalls, the laminate wafers formed with complementary interlocking structure to preclude relative lateral movement, the stacked laminate wafers assembled so that the slots of one wafer are positioned adjacent the flat face of the adjacent wafer to form a plurality of contactor-receiving cells, a plurality of contactors self-secured within the cells of each contactor-supporting coupler unit, each contactor formed with a pocket having opposed sidewalls for receiving conductors secured therewith, each contactor formed with a long tine which integrally extends from one sidewall of the pocket toward a contacting end of the contactor, each contactor formed with a short tine which extends from the opposite sidewall of the pocket toward the contacting end of the contactor, the long tine of each contactor flexed against a wall of the cell formed by the flat face of he adjacent wafer, the short tine of each contactor flexed against the bed of the respective slot, whereby the tines are flexed apart to facilitate the reception and engagement of the contactor end of the long tine of the mating coupler unit with the long and short tines of the supporting coupler unit, and a resilient band for receiving within opposite ends the mating, identical coupler units whereby the laminate wafers of each coupler unit are keyed in an assembled relation and the contactors of each coupler unit are held in contacting engagement with the contactors of the mating coupler unit.

Claim 30

An electrical coupler as set forth in claim 18, wherein: each of the long tines is formed with a ramp intermediate the ends thereof which is positioned within the cell of the supporting coupler unit, each of the short tines is formed with a ramp at the contactor end thereof which is positioned within the cell of the supporting coupler, whereby the long tine of the mating coupler unit is flexed between, and engages, the ramps and is flexed into engagement with an intermediate portions of the long tine of the supporting coupler unit thereby facilitating multiple contacting engagement between mating contactors of the mating coupler units.

Claim 31

An electrical coupler as set forth in claim 18, wherein: the slot beds of each wafer are formed with an undercut at one common end thereof and a sloped surface at the opposite end thereof, the contactor end of each short tine formed with a locking hook, and a tab angularly extending from the conductor end of the pocket wall which is integral with the short tine, the locking hook flexed into the slot undercut to preclude contactor movement toward the conductor end of the coupler unit and the angularly disposed tab being in engagement with the sloped surface to preclude contactor movement toward the contactor end of the coupler unit, whereby each contactor is removably self-secured within one of the coupler unit cells.

Claim 32

An electrical coupler unit for assembly with a mating coupler unit, which comprises: a plurality of stacked laminate wafers, each wafer having at least one slot formed on one surface thereof, each slot having a bed extending between opposed sidewalls, the laminated wafers formed with complementary interlocking structure to preclude relative lateral movement, the stacked wafers assembled so that the slot of each wafer is positioned adjacent to an associated portion of a flat face of the adjacent wafer o form a conductor-receiving cell, a plurality of contactors self-secured within the cells of the coupler unit, each contactor formed with a pocket having opposed sidewalls for receiving conductors secured therewith, each contactor formed with a long tine which extends integrally from one sidewall of the pocket toward a contacting end of the contactor, each contactor formed with a short tine which extends integrally from the opposite sidewall of the pocket toward the contacting end of the contactor, the long tine of each contactor flexed against a wall of the associated cell formed by the flat face of the adjacent wafer, the short tine of each contactor flexed against the bed of the associated slot so that the tines are flexed apart to facilitate the reception and engagement of the contactor end of the long tine extending from the mating coupler unit, and a resilient band for receiving the stacked, laminate wafers within one end thereof with the wafers being keyed in an assembled relation and the contactors of the coupler unit held in a position so that the long tines of the contactors can engage associated contactors of the mating coupler unit.

Claim 33

An electrical coupler unit for assembly with a mating coupler unit, which comprises: a plurality of stacked laminate wafers, each wafer having at least one slot formed on one surface thereof, each slot having a bed extending between opposed sidewalls, the laminated wafers formed with complementary interlocking structure to preclude relative lateral movement, the stacked wafers assembled so that the slot of each wafer is positioned adjacent to an associated portion of a flat face of the adjacent wafer o form a conductor-receiving cell, a plurality of contactors self-secured within the cells of the coupler unit, each contactor formed with a pocket having opposed sidewalls for receiving conductors secured therewith, each contactor formed with a long tine which extends integrally from one sidewall of the pocket toward a contacting end of the contactor, each contactor formed with a short tine which extends integrally from the opposite sidewall of the pocket toward the contacting end of the contactor, the long tine of each contactor flexed against a wall of the associated cell formed by the flat face of the adjacent wafer, the short tine of each contactor flexed against the bed of the associated slot so that the tines are flexed apart to facilitate the reception and engagement of the contactor end of the long tine extending from the mating coupler unit, and a resilient band for receiving the stacked, laminate wafers within one end thereof with the wafers being keyed in an assembled relation and the contactors of the coupler unit held in a position so that the long tines of the contactors can engage associated contactors of the mating coupler unit.

Claim 34

An electrical coupler unit as set forth in claim 21, which includes: one sidewall of each slot of the wafers being formed with a contactor-locking groove, and a tab formed on each contactor and positioned so that the tab is inserted into the contactor-locking groove when the contactor is inserted into the associated cell of the coupler unit to preclude movement of the contactor out of the longitudinal opening of the associated slot during a period when the wafers are unstacked.

Claim 35

The electrical coupler unit as set forth in claim 21 wherein the resilient band includes: means for protecting the contactor end portions of the long tines of the contactors which extend from associated cells.

Claim 36

The electrical coupler unit as set forth in claim 23 wherein the means for protecting the long tines of the contactors includes: at least a pair of rows of spaced teeth which extend from one edge of the resilient band in a direction parallel with the direction of extension of the long tines of the contactors with the ends of the teeth extending a distance beyond the ends of the long tines and the teeth of each row being positioned adjacent to an associated one of the spaces between the teeth of the adjacent row so that the contactor ends of the long ties are protected from lateral forces.

Claim 37

An electrical coupler, which comprises: a pair of mating, identical coupleR units, each unit including a plurality of stacked laminate wafers, each wafer having at least one slot formed on one surface thereof, each slot having a bed extending between opposed sidewalls, the laminate wafers formed with complementary interlocking structure to preclude relative lateral movement, the stacked laminate wafers assembled so that the slot of each wafer is positioned adjacent to a flat face of the adjacent wafer to form a contactor-receiving cell, a plurality of contactors self-secured within the cells of each contactor-supporting coupler unit, each contactor formed with a pocket having opposed sidewalls for receiving conductors secured therewith, each contactor formed with a long tine which extends integrally from one sidewall of the pocket toward a contacting end of the contactor, each contactor formed with a short tine which extends integrally from the opposite sidewall of the pocket toward the contacting end of the contactor, the long tine of each contactor flexed against a wall of the cell formed by the flat face of the adjacent wafer, the short tine of each contactor flexed against the bed of the respective slot, whereby the ties are flexed apart to facilitate the reception and engagement of the contactor end of the long tine extending from the mating coupler unit, a pair of resilient inner bands for receiving therewithin associated stacks of the laminated wafers which are keyed in an assembled relation, and a resilient outer band for receiving within opposite ends the mating identical coupler units including the stacked wafers and the associated inner bands which are keyed in a position so that the contactors of each coupler unit are held in contacting engagement with the contactors of the mating coupler unit.

Claim 38

An electrical coupler, which comprises: a pair of mating, identical coupleR units, each unit including a plurality of stacked laminate wafers, each wafer having at least one slot formed on one surface thereof, each slot having a bed extending between opposed sidewalls, the laminate wafers formed with complementary interlocking structure to preclude relative lateral movement, the stacked laminate wafers assembled so that the slot of each wafer is positioned adjacent to a flat face of the adjacent wafer to form a contactor-receiving cell, a plurality of contactors self-secured within the cells of each contactor-supporting coupler unit, each contactor formed with a pocket having opposed sidewalls for receiving conductors secured therewith, each contactor formed with a long tine which extends integrally from one sidewall of the pocket toward a contacting end of the contactor, each contactor formed with a short tine which extends integrally from the opposite sidewall of the pocket toward the contacting end of the contactor, the long tine of each contactor flexed against a wall of the cell formed by the flat face of the adjacent wafer, the short tine of each contactor flexed against the bed of the respective slot, whereby the ties are flexed apart to facilitate the reception and engagement of the contactor end of the long tine extending from the mating coupler unit, a pair of resilient inner bands for receiving therewithin associated stacks of the laminated wafers which are keyed in an assembled relation, and a resilient outer band for receiving within opposite ends the mating identical coupler units including the stacked wafers and the associated inner bands which are keyed in a position so that the contactors of each coupler unit are held in contacting engagement with the contactors of the mating coupler unit.

Claim 39

An electrical coupler as set forth in claim 25 which includes: one sidewall of each slot of the wafers being formed with a contactor-locking groove, and a tab formed on each contactor and positioned so that the tab is inserted into the contactor-locking groove when the contactor is inserted into the associated cell of the coupler unit to preclude movement of the contactor out of the longitudinal opening of the associated slot during a period when the wafers are unstacked.

Claim 40

The electrical coupler as set forth in claim 25 wherein each of the resilient inner bands includes: means for protecting the contactor end portions of the long tines of the contactors which extend from associated cells.

Claim 41

The electrical coupler as set forth in claim 27 wherein the means for protecting the long tines of the contactors includes: at least a pair of rows of spaced teeth which extend from one edge of each of the resilient inner bands in a direction parallel with the direction of extension of the long tines of the contactors with the ends of the teeth extending a distance beyond the ends of the long tines so that the contactor ends of the long tines are protected from lateral forces and so that the spaced teeth of the inner bands of each coupler unit intermesh with the spaced teeth of the mating coupler unit and absorb pressures exerted upon the coupler unit when assembled within the outer band.

Claim 42

The electrical coupler as set forth in claim 25 wherein the resilient outer band includes latching means for locking the assembled mating coupler units within the outer band.

Claim 43

The electrical coupler as set forth in claim 29 wherein the means for latching the coupler units within the outer band includes: a pair of keeper springs having shank portions attached for movement to the outer band, and the ends of the springs being deformed structurally to fit into associated complementary portions of the coupler units after the coupler units have been assembled within the outer band so that the coupler units are locked within the outer band.