Electrical connectors and housings therefore

Claim 2

An electrical connection comprising mating pin and receptacle terminals, each terminal having a contact portion, and wire barrel portion, said contact portion of said pin terminal comprising a cylindrical member including a rounded nose portion and having a pair of resilient cantilever retaining wings struck out of opposite sides thereof with the free ends of said wings extending toward the wire barrel portion, a pair of stop ears struck outwardly from opposite sides of an intermediate portion connecting said contact and wire barrel portions, said contact portion of said receptacle member comprising a cylindrical member receiving said pin terminal contact portion and having a pair of resilient cantilever wings struck out of opposite sides thereof with the free ends of said wings extending toward the wire barrel portion, a pair of stop ears struck outwardly from opposite sides of an intermediate portion connecting said contact and wire barrel portions, the wire barrel portion of each terminal comprising a conductor barrel adjacent said intermediate portion, a conductor insulation barrel spaced from said conductor barrel, and stabilizing means located between said conductor barrel and said conductor insulation barrel.

Claim 3

An electrical connection as set forth in claim 1 wherein said stabilizing means comprises a generally cylindrical ring member substantially in axial alignment with said contact portions.

Claim 4

A multipart connector housing of dielectric material comprising a first half and a second half, each half having a plurality of cavities extending therethrough from front to back, each cavity adapted to receive and hold an electrical connector, said second half comprising at least a first piece and a second piece each piece containing a plurality of said cavities, said first half including facing channels located on opposite sides of said first half, and ribs located on opposite sideS of said first and second pieces, said ribs located, respectively, in said channels when front faces of said pieces are mated with a corresponding front face of said first half, said first and second pieces each having integral therewith a hood portion extending beyond said front face and telescopically receiving therein said first half, said first and second pieces being mateable with said first half either singlely or together, respective cavities in each half being in axial alignment upon mating of said halves.

Claim 5

A multipart connector housing of dielectric material comprising a first half and a second half, each half having a plurality of cavities extending therethrough from front to back, each cavity adapted to receive and hold an electrical connector, said second half comprising at least a first piece and a second piece each piece containing a plurality of said cavities, said first half including facing channels located on opposite sides of said first half, and ribs located on opposite sideS of said first and second pieces, said ribs located, respectively, in said channels when front faces of said pieces are mated with a corresponding front face of said first half, said first and second pieces each having integral therewith a hood portion extending beyond said front face and telescopically receiving therein said first half, said first and second pieces being mateable with said first half either singlely or together, respective cavities in each half being in axial alignment upon mating of said halves.

Claim 6

A multipart connector housing as set forth in claim 3 wherein said first housing half has recessed portions in said front face interconnecting adjacent cavities, said recessed portions having located therein bus bar means.

Claim 7

An electrical connector assembly comprising a first molded connector housing comprising a block having a plurality of contactreceiving cavities extending therethrough from the rearward face thereof to the mating face thereof, two additional molded connector housings, each of said additional housings having contact receiving cavities extending therethrough from the rearward faces thereof to the mating faces thereof, the total number of said cavities in said additional connectors being no greater than the number of cavities in said first connector, said first connector having a pair of arms integral therewith on opposite sides thereof, said arms extending forwardly past said mating face of said first connector housing, said arms having generally channel shaped cross-sections, the said channel-shaped cross-sections of said arms being opposed to each other, each of said two additional connector housings having a pair of ribs integral therewith and extending therefrom past the mating faces of said additional connectors, the thickness of each of said ribs being substantially one half of the distance between the sidewalls of said channel-shaped cross-sections, and said ribs on each of said additional connector housings being separated by a distance equal to the distance between said channel-shaped arms whereby, either of said additional connectors housings can be mated with said first connector housing upon movement of either of said additional housings into engagement with said first connector housing with entry of said ribs into said channels.

Claim 8

An electrical connector assembly comprising a first molded connector housing comprising a block having a plurality of contactreceiving cavities extending therethrough from the rearward face thereof to the mating face thereof, two additional molded connector housings, each of said additional housings having contact receiving cavities extending therethrough from the rearward faces thereof to the mating faces thereof, the total number of said cavities in said additional connectors being no greater than the number of cavities in said first connector, said first connector having a pair of arms integral therewith on opposite sides thereof, said arms extending forwardly past said mating face of said first connector housing, said arms having generally channel shaped cross-sections, the said channel-shaped cross-sections of said arms being opposed to each other, each of said two additional connector housings having a pair of ribs integral therewith and extending therefrom past the mating faces of said additional connectors, the thickness of each of said ribs being substantially one half of the distance between the sidewalls of said channel-shaped cross-sections, and said ribs on each of said additional connector housings being separated by a distance equal to the distance between said channel-shaped arms whereby, either of said additional connectors housings can be mated with said first connector housing upon movement of either of said additional housings into engagement with said first connector housing with entry of said ribs into said channels.

Claim 9

An electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said additional connector housings has a hood extending forwardly from its mating face, said hoods being adapted to extend over portions of said first connector when said additional connectors are mated with said first connector.