Miniature connector-modular

Claim 1

A miniature connector comprising, a pair of elongated connector assemblies movable in connecting direction to interfitted position, each connector assembly having a shell envelope including a back plate and a front shell with longitudinally extending end flanges for securing them together, and with a space between the back plate and front shell at a position between the end flanges, of significant dimension in said connecting direction, the front shell having a tubular portion extending in connecting direction, insert means in the shell envelope including a plurality of modules disposed in end-to-end relation together extending at least nearly the longitudinal extent of the tubular portion, the modules having base portions disposed in said space between the back plate and front shell and extending laterally beyond the tubular portion, and having body portions extending into the tubular portion, the modules having aligned grooves in the base portions receiving the adjacent edges of the tubular portion and the latter serving to confine the modules against transverse displacement, said edges of the tubular portion and the back plate clamping the modules therebetween, and the modules in the two connector assemblies being adapted for mounting therein of pin contacts and socket contacts respectively, and being of such pattern of distribution of the contacts that the contacts in the mating modules are respectively aligned in the position of the connector assemblies when interfitted.