Electrical connector

Claim 2

An electrical connector comprising: a first frame for coupling to another frame, said first frame having a plurality of contact elements for making contact with corresponding contact elements in the other frame, said first frame having opposite ends and having a pair of outwardly extending flanges and a pair of inwardly stepped regions at each end; an elongated hood having a first end with a pair of slots for receiving the outwardly extending flanges at either end of said first frame and having a second end with an aperture for passing wires that connect to said contact elements; and a clamp having flanges defining a pair of slots for receiving the flanges on an end of said first frame, a pair of resilient fingers for reception behind the inwardly stepped regions on an end of said first frame, and a pair of outwardly extending hood-engaging parts, said hood having a pair of slots at its second end for receiving said hood-engaging parts on said clamp.

Claim 3

An electrical connector for connecting to a complementary connector and to a plurality of wires comprising: an elongated first frame having a first face with a plurality of contact members for making contact with contact members of another complementary frame, and a second face for receiving a plurality of insulated wires that join to said contact members of said first frame, said first frame having a pair of sidewardly extending flanges at each end; a hood for enclosing the region over said second face, said hood having top and side walls and first and second ends, said second end having a pair of slots, and said second end having an aperture for passing said wires that connect to said contact members and said first end having a pair of flanges extenDing toward each other to form undercut slots with parallel side walls for slidably receiving said sidewardly extending flanges at either end of said first frame; and coupling means including a pair of protuberances for reception in said slots at said second end of said hood and a pair of inwardly extending flanges forming a pair of undercut slots for receiving the outwardly extending flanges on an end of said first frame, whereby to hold said second end of said hood to said first frame.

Claim 4

An electrical connector for connecting to a complementary connector and to a plurality of wires comprising: an elongated first frame having a first face with a plurality of contact members for making contact with contact members of another complementary frame, and a second face for receiving a plurality of insulated wires that join to said contact members of said first frame, said first frame having a pair of sidewardly extending flanges at each end; a hood for enclosing the region over said second face, said hood having top and side walls and first and second ends, said second end having a pair of slots, and said second end having an aperture for passing said wires that connect to said contact members and said first end having a pair of flanges extenDing toward each other to form undercut slots with parallel side walls for slidably receiving said sidewardly extending flanges at either end of said first frame; and coupling means including a pair of protuberances for reception in said slots at said second end of said hood and a pair of inwardly extending flanges forming a pair of undercut slots for receiving the outwardly extending flanges on an end of said first frame, whereby to hold said second end of said hood to said first frame.

Claim 5

The connector described in claim 2 wherein: said coupling means includes a clamp housing forming said protuberances and said inwardly extending flanges thereof, and a clamp member slidably mounted on said clamp housing for movement along said aperture in said hood to clamp against wires passing therethrough.

Claim 6

In an electrical connector which includes an elongated frame with electrical contacts and an elongated hood for enclosing one face of said frame, each end of said frame having a pair of sidewardly extending flanges and a pair of stepped regions on either side thereof and said hood having a pair of slots at a first end portion for receiving said flanges at either end of said frame and an aperture at a second end portion for passing wires, the improvements comprising: a clamp having a pair of slots for receiving the flanges at an end of said frame, a pair of fingers for engaging said stepped regions on an end of said frame, first means for removable attachment to said second end portion of said hood, and second means for adjustably engaging wires passing through said aperture in said hood to clamp them in place.

Claim 7

In an electrical connector which includes an elongated frame with electrical contacts and an elongated hood for enclosing one face of said frame, each end of said frame having a pair of sidewardly extending flanges and a pair of stepped regions on either side thereof and said hood having a pair of slots at a first end portion for receiving said flanges at either end of said frame and an aperture at a second end portion for passing wires, the improvements comprising: a clamp having a pair of slots for receiving the flanges at an end of said frame, a pair of fingers for engaging said stepped regions on an end of said frame, first means for removable attachment to said second end portion of said hood, and second means for adjustably engaging wires passing through said aperture in said hood to clamp them in place.

Claim 8

The improvement described in claim 4 wherein: said first means on said clamp includes walls defining a pair of outwardly extending flanges; and said hood has walls at said second end portion thereof for receiving said outwardly extending flanges on said clamp, whereby, when said clamp is fastened to said frame, sliding of the frame and clamp assembly along said hood engages opposite ends of said hood with the flanges on said frame and clamp.

Claim 9

An electrical connector comprising: a first elongated frame having a plurality of contact elements for making contact with corresponding elements in another frame; a hood for mounting on said first frame and passing wires that connect to said contact elements, said hood having first and second ends; said first elongated frame having opposite ends and having means defining at least one inwardly stepped region at a location near each of said ends; and a coupling member for attachment to either end of said first frame, said coupling member having at least one resilient finger extending in a direction primarily along the length of said first frame and having a projection for reception behind the inwardly stepped region on either end of said first frame, and means for attaching the coupling member to an end of said hood to hold an end of said first frame to said hood.

Claim 10

An electrical connector comprising: a first elongated frame having a plurality of contact elements for making contact with corresponding elements in another frame; a hood for mounting on said first frame and passing wires that connect to said contact elements, said hood having first and second ends; said first elongated frame having opposite ends and having means defining at least one inwardly stepped region at a location near each of said ends; and a coupling member for attachment to either end of said first frame, said coupling member having at least one resilient finger extending in a direction primarily along the length of said first frame and having a projection for reception behind the inwardly stepped region on either end of said first frame, and means for attaching the coupling member to an end of said hood to hold an end of said first frame to said hood.

Claim 11

An electrical connector comprising: a first frame having a plurality of contact elements for making contact with corresponding contact elements in another frame, said frame having first and second end portions and having a pair of outwardly extending flanges at each end portions, said flanges extending outwardly by the same distance at each end portion; a hood for mounting on said first frame, said hood having side walls, an enclosed first end and a second end with an opening for passing wires that connect to said contact elements, said hood having a first pair of slots in said side walls near said first end for closely receiving one of said pair of flanges at an end of said first frame, and having a second pair of slots in said side walls near said second end which are located out of line with said first pair of slots; and a coupling member having first means for attachment to either end of said first frame and having a pair of outwardly extending flanges for close reception in said second pair oF slots of said hood when the flanges on the frame are slid into the first pair of slots in the hood.

Claim 12

An electrical connector comprising: a first frame having a plurality of contact elements for making contact with corresponding contact elements in another frame, said frame having first and second end portions and having a pair of outwardly extending flanges at each end portions, said flanges extending outwardly by the same distance at each end portion; a hood for mounting on said first frame, said hood having side walls, an enclosed first end and a second end with an opening for passing wires that connect to said contact elements, said hood having a first pair of slots in said side walls near said first end for closely receiving one of said pair of flanges at an end of said first frame, and having a second pair of slots in said side walls near said second end which are located out of line with said first pair of slots; and a coupling member having first means for attachment to either end of said first frame and having a pair of outwardly extending flanges for close reception in said second pair oF slots of said hood when the flanges on the frame are slid into the first pair of slots in the hood.