Multi-terminal connector unit

Claim 2

A multi-terminal connector unit consisting of a pair of connectors formed identically with each other and adapted to be interconnected; each connector including first wall means defining a female portion having a base plate with a partition formed thereon and second wall means defining a male portion having a base plate with a partition formed thereon; said female and male portions of each connector being formed integrally with each other of a mold-forming insulating material with a space therebetween for receiving said base plate of the confronting female portion of the other connector, and said male portion being adaptEd to be fitted in the confronting female portion of the other connector in the connected state; and terminal plates of the same shape separately mounted in both the female and the male portions of each connector, each of said terminal plates having a resilient contact plate and being positioned in each of said female and male portions of each connector by means of said base plate and said partition, whereby the terminal plates positioned in the female and male portions of the one connector respectively engage the terminal plates positioned in the male and female portions of the other connector when said connectors are interconnected.

Claim 3

A multi-terminal connector unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said female portion of said pair of connectors has an identical cut-out portion formed at the central portion of its wall and a hook movably supported over said cut-out portion, and wherein each said male portion of said pair of connectors has an identical projection on its outer surface, thereby ensuring a secure connection of said pair of connectors to each other.

Claim 4

A multi-terminal connector unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said partition on the base plate of the male portion divides same into at least two recesses each having one of said terminal plates positioned therein, wherein said partition on the base plate of the female portion divides same into at least two recesses each having one of said terminal plates positioned therein, and wherein said partition on the base plate of either of the female and the male portion has a protuberance longitudinally formed thereon and having a triangular shape in its section, said protuberance being adapted to contact with the partition of the confronting female or male portion to form a closed space for each pair of contacting terminal plates, thereby enabling the adjacent pairs of contacting terminal plates to be perfectly separated from one another.

Claim 5

A multi-terminal connector unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein said female portions of said pair of connectors have on their outer surfaces identical convexed portions provided with a hollow therethrough and a cut-out portion, and wherein said male portions of said pair of connectors have on their outer surfaces identical projections with a size forcibly passable through said hollow of the convexed portion, thereby ensuring a secure connection of said pair of connectors to each other.

Claim 6

A multi-terminal connector unit comprising a pair of substantially identical connectors adapted to be interconnected to one another, each said connector including: first wall means defining a blocklike base portion; second wall means integrally connected to said first wall means and defining a socketlike female portion projecting outwardly from said base portion and having recess means formed therein; said second wall means including partition means projecting at least partway into said recess means resulting in the formation of a plurality of elongated channel-like grooves disposed in side-by-side relationship; third wall means integrally connected to said first wall means and projecting outwardly therefrom and defining a male portion which is substantially parallel to but laterally spaced from said female portion, said male portion having a cross-sectional configuration compatable with and similar to the cross-sectional configuration of the recess means formed in said female portion, whereby the male portion of one connector is insertable into the female portion of another connector which is identical to said one connector; said male portion having a recess therein which opens sidewardly in a direction toward said female portion, and said third wall means including partition means projecting into said recess and dividing same into a plurality of elongated channel-like grooves disposed in side-by-side relationship, whereby the grooves of said male portion are substantially parallel with but spaced from the grooves of said female portion; and a pluralitY of substantially identical terminal plates each having a resilient contact portion, one of said terminal plates being stationarily positioned within each of the grooves of said female portion, and one of said terminal plates being stationarily positioned in each of the grooves of said male portion; whereby the plurality of terminal plates disposed within the grooves of the female portion of said one connector resiliently engage the terminal plates disposed within the grooves of the male portion of said other connector, and simultaneously the terminal plates disposed within the grooves of the male portion of said one connector resiliently engage the terminal plates disposed within the grooves of the female portion of said other connector.

Claim 7

A multi-terminal connector unit comprising a pair of substantially identical connectors adapted to be interconnected to one another, each said connector including: first wall means defining a blocklike base portion; second wall means integrally connected to said first wall means and defining a socketlike female portion projecting outwardly from said base portion and having recess means formed therein; said second wall means including partition means projecting at least partway into said recess means resulting in the formation of a plurality of elongated channel-like grooves disposed in side-by-side relationship; third wall means integrally connected to said first wall means and projecting outwardly therefrom and defining a male portion which is substantially parallel to but laterally spaced from said female portion, said male portion having a cross-sectional configuration compatable with and similar to the cross-sectional configuration of the recess means formed in said female portion, whereby the male portion of one connector is insertable into the female portion of another connector which is identical to said one connector; said male portion having a recess therein which opens sidewardly in a direction toward said female portion, and said third wall means including partition means projecting into said recess and dividing same into a plurality of elongated channel-like grooves disposed in side-by-side relationship, whereby the grooves of said male portion are substantially parallel with but spaced from the grooves of said female portion; and a pluralitY of substantially identical terminal plates each having a resilient contact portion, one of said terminal plates being stationarily positioned within each of the grooves of said female portion, and one of said terminal plates being stationarily positioned in each of the grooves of said male portion; whereby the plurality of terminal plates disposed within the grooves of the female portion of said one connector resiliently engage the terminal plates disposed within the grooves of the male portion of said other connector, and simultaneously the terminal plates disposed within the grooves of the male portion of said one connector resiliently engage the terminal plates disposed within the grooves of the female portion of said other connector.

Claim 8

A connector unit according to claim 5, wherein the partition means as formed on the male and female portions of said one connector are sized to sealingly engage the partition means formed on the female and male portions, respectively, of said other connector for totally separating and isolating the adjacent side-by-side grooves from one another when said pair of connectors are interconnected.

Claim 9

A connector unit according to claim 5, wherein the base portion of each connector includes first opening means extending therethrough and communicating with the recess means formed in said female portion, the terminal plates disposed within the grooves of said female portion projecting into said first opening means and being adapted to be connected to electrical wires, and said base portion including second opening means extending therethrough and spaced from said first opening means, said second opening means communicating with the recess formed in said male portion, the terminal plates disposed within the grooves of said male portion projecting into said second opening means and being adapted for connection to electrical wires.