Universal miniature connector for plural conductors

Claim 2

Apparatus for connecting two insulated conductors comprising: indexing means comprising: first wire slot means, first vertically yielding wire confining means in line with said first wire slot means, well means between said first wire slot means and said first wire confining means, connector module means comprising: second wire slot means, top snubbing means and bottom snubbing means, double-ended conductive means mounted with its second end disposed across said second wire slot means, means for mounting said connector module means on said indexing means so that said conductive means first end extends into said well means and across said first wire slot means, said bottom snubbing means forcing an insulated conductor against said first wire confining means, and cap means comprising: second vertically yielding wire confining means, and means for mounting said cap on said block means, said top snubbing means forcing an insulated conductor against said second wire confining means.

Claim 3

ApparaTus for connecting two insulated conductors comprising: indexing means comprising: first horizontally yielding wire slot means, first vertically yielding wire confining means in line with said first wire slot means, well means between and extending below said first wire slot means and said first wire confining means, connector module means comprising: second horizontally yielding wire slot means, top snubbing means and bottom snubbing means, double-ended slotted beam connector means mounted behind both said snubbing means with the beam second end slot disposed across said second wire slot means, means for mounting said connector module means on said indexing means so that said beam first end slot extends into said well means across said first wire slot means so that said bottom snubbing means forces an insulated conductor against said first wire confining means causing the latter to resiliently yield; first stuffing means for forcing an insulated conductor into said first wire slot means, and cap means comprising: second wire stuffing means for forcing an insulated conductor into said second wire slot means, second vertically yielding wire confining means in line with said second wire slot means, snubbing means for mounting said cap means on said connector module means so that said top snubbing means forces an insulated conductor against said second wire confining means causing the latter to resiliently yield.

Claim 4

ApparaTus for connecting two insulated conductors comprising: indexing means comprising: first horizontally yielding wire slot means, first vertically yielding wire confining means in line with said first wire slot means, well means between and extending below said first wire slot means and said first wire confining means, connector module means comprising: second horizontally yielding wire slot means, top snubbing means and bottom snubbing means, double-ended slotted beam connector means mounted behind both said snubbing means with the beam second end slot disposed across said second wire slot means, means for mounting said connector module means on said indexing means so that said beam first end slot extends into said well means across said first wire slot means so that said bottom snubbing means forces an insulated conductor against said first wire confining means causing the latter to resiliently yield; first stuffing means for forcing an insulated conductor into said first wire slot means, and cap means comprising: second wire stuffing means for forcing an insulated conductor into said second wire slot means, second vertically yielding wire confining means in line with said second wire slot means, snubbing means for mounting said cap means on said connector module means so that said top snubbing means forces an insulated conductor against said second wire confining means causing the latter to resiliently yield.

Claim 5

Apparatus for connecting at least one or more wires of a first group respectively to one or more wires of a second group, comprising: indexing means comprising: first wire slot means defined by adjacent flexible arms for receiving a first wire from said first group, first cantilever beam means mounted in line with said first slot means, and well means between and extending below said slot means and said beam means, connector module means comprising: second wire slot means defined by adjacent flexible arms for receiving a second wire from said second group, a top snubbing brace and a bottom snubbing brace, double-ended slotted conductive means mounted behind and crosswise of said braces, with its second end slot facing said second wire slot means, means for mounting said connector module means on said indexing means so that said conductive means first end extends into said well means with its first end slot facing said first wire slot means and so that said bottom brace snubs said first wire when disposed in said first wire slot means against the yielding said first beam means, and first wire stuffing means for forcing said first wire into said first slot means, and cap means comprising: second wire stuffing means for forcing said second wire into said second wire slot means when disposed therein, second cantilever beam means mounted in line with said second wire stuffing means, and means for mounting said cap means on said connector module means so that said top brace snubs said second wire against the yielding said second cantilever beam means.

Claim 6

Apparatus for connecting at least one or more wires of a first group respectively to one or more wires of a second group, comprising: indexing means comprising: first wire slot means defined by adjacent flexible arms for receiving a first wire from said first group, first cantilever beam means mounted in line with said first slot means, and well means between and extending below said slot means and said beam means, connector module means comprising: second wire slot means defined by adjacent flexible arms for receiving a second wire from said second group, a top snubbing brace and a bottom snubbing brace, double-ended slotted conductive means mounted behind and crosswise of said braces, with its second end slot facing said second wire slot means, means for mounting said connector module means on said indexing means so that said conductive means first end extends into said well means with its first end slot facing said first wire slot means and so that said bottom brace snubs said first wire when disposed in said first wire slot means against the yielding said first beam means, and first wire stuffing means for forcing said first wire into said first slot means, and cap means comprising: second wire stuffing means for forcing said second wire into said second wire slot means when disposed therein, second cantilever beam means mounted in line with said second wire stuffing means, and means for mounting said cap means on said connector module means so that said top brace snubs said second wire against the yielding said second cantilever beam means.

Claim 7

Apparatus pursuant to claim 2 wherein said indexing means further comprises: an interior floor, upright spaced teeth rising from said floor between said wire confining means, and means mounting said wire confining means above said floor for yielding movement toward said floor.

Claim 8

Apparatus pursuant to claim 4, wherein each said first wire confining means comprises a cantilever beam suspended from an interior support and extending over said floor beyond said teeth.

Claim 9

Apparatus pursuant to claim 5, wherein said connector module means further comprises: an interior floor, and upright teeth rising from said floor with spaces thereinbetween each corresponding to a respective said second wire slot means.

Claim 10

Apparatus pursuant to claim 6, wherein each said second wire confining means comprises a cantilever beam suspended from an interior point in said cap and wHerein said cap means further comprises cavities between each two adjacent said cantilever beams to accommodate said connector module teeth when said cap is mounted on said connector module means.

Claim 11

Apparatus pursuant to claim 2, wherein each said first and said second wire slot means comprise adjacent horizontally yielding arms each rigidly supported at a top and a bottom end so that the presence therebetween of an insulated conductor of greater diameter than the nominal arm separation causes the arms to retract at the contact zone and elsewhere to grippingly close over said conductor.

Claim 12

Apparatus pursuant to claim 7, wherein each said first and said second wire slot means comprises adjacent horizontally yielding arms each rigidly supported at a top and a bottom end so that the presence therebetween of an insulated conductor of greater diameter than the nominal arm separation causes the arms to retract at the contact zone and elsewhere to grippingly close over said conductor.

Claim 13

Apparatus pursuant to claim 9 wherein the top of each said arm curves outwardly at said slot entrance to form a wide-mouthed slot entrance.

Claim 14

Apparatus pursuant to claim 2, wherein each said first wire confining means comprises a cantilever beam suspended from a support adjacent said well and said indexing means further comprises: an interior floor, upright spaced teeth rising from said floor the backs of adjacent said teeth defining an extension of said well, said cantilever beam being suspended freely between adjacent said teeth outwardly above said interior floor, thereby to grippingly accommodate different conductor gauges with varying degrees of deflection of said beam.

Claim 15

Apparatus pursuant to claim 3, wherein said double-ended slotted conductive means further comprises a central narrow waist section and said apparatus further comprises means for effecting bridging connection of one or more wires of a third group to respective ones of said central narrow waist sections.

Claim 16

Apparatus pursuant to claim 3, wherein said connector module means further comprises: upper and lower side rails extending outwardly respectively from said top and bottom snubbing braces and defining therebetween an elongated exterior surface, and slot means through said exterior surface, each extending to a point adjacent the central section of a respective one of said double-ended slotted conductive means, thereby to provide additional electrical access from without said apparatus to each said conductive means.

Claim 17

Apparatus pursuant to claim 13 wherein said central section of each said slotted conductive means comprises a narrow waist, said rails each include latching holes, and said apparatus further comprises bridge connector means comprising a bridging block, and double-ended slotted contact elements mounted in said block for engagement of first end slots with respective said narrow waists.

Claim 18

Apparatus pursuant to claim 14 wherein said bridge connector means further comprises third wire slot means defined by adjacent flexible arms, the second said end slots of said slotted conductive means facing said third wire slot means.

Claim 19

Apparatus pursuant to claim 15, wherein said bridge connector means further comprises: upright teeth with spaces therebetween, each space corresponding to a respective said third wire slot means, and a third snubbing brace disposed outwardly of said teeth, and second cap means comprising: third wire stuffing means each for forcing a wire to be connected to a respective said contact element second end slot into a respective said third wire slot means, and third cantilever beam means mounted in line with said third wire stuffing means, and means for mounting said cap means on said bridge connector means so that said third snubbing brace snubs said wires against said third cantilever beam means.

Claim 20

Apparatus pursuant to claim 16 wherein said bridge connector means further comprises latching nub means for engaging said latching holes in each said rail.

Claim 21

Apparatus pursuant to claim 6, wherein the teeth of said indexing means and said connector module means are alternately flat-topped and peak-topped.

Claim 22

Apparatus pursuant to claim 4, wherein said index strip teeth further comprise latching nubs and said lower brace further comprises corresponding latching holes for grippingly engaging said nubs thereby to snap-mount said index strip means on said connector module means.

Claim 23

nodule means. pursuant to claim 6, wherein said connector module means teeth further comprise latching nubs and said cap means comprises an exterior forward wall with corresponding latching holes for grippingly engaging said last-named nubs thereby to snap-mount said cap on said connector module means.

Claim 24

Apparatus pursuant to claim 4 wherein said index strip comprises a vertical female guide slot in each of its two end walls for sliding engagement with a male guide member of an assembly tool.

Claim 25

Apparatus pursuant to claim 21 wherein said connector module means and said cap means each comprise a vertical female guide slot in each of their respective two end walls for sliding engagement with a said assembly tool male guide member.

Claim 26

Apparatus pursuant to claim 22 wherein said connector module means further comprises a horizontal female guide slot in each of its said two end walls for sliding engagement with said assembly tool male guide member.

Claim 27

Apparatus pursuant to claim 3, wherein said connector module means comprises open chambers substantially surrounding each said conductive means first end slot, and viscous encapsulating means filling said chamber.

Claim 28

Apparatus pursuant to claim 24 wherein said cap means comprises open chambers adjacent each said second wire stuffing means, and viscous encapsulating means filling each said chamber.

Claim 29

Apparatus pursuant to claim 3, wherein said means for mounting said connector module means on said indexing means comprises: a platen extending outwardly from the exterior side of said adjacent flexible arms of said index strip means, said platen having an edge notch therein, plural receiving slots extending downwardly from said platen, each slot having narrow entrance wings and relatively wider recesses therebeneath, and plural correspondingly shaped legs extending from the lower edge of said connector module, each for snapping engagement with one of said index strip receiving slots.

Claim 30

Apparatus pursuant to claim 26, wherein said means for mounting said cap means and said connector module means comprise a platen extending outwardly from the exterior side of said adjacent flexible arms of said connector module means, said platen having an edge notch therein, plural receiving slots extending downwardly from said platen, each slot having narrow entrance wings and relatively wide recesses therebeneath; and plural correspondingly shaped legs extending from a lower edge of said cap means each for snapping engagement with one of said connector module means receiving slots.

Claim 31

Apparatus pursuant to claim 12, wherein said conductive means comprises bifurcated end portions defining an entrance to each said end slot, said end portions having a relatively wide entrance that tapers to the entrance width of said end slot, the latter having a relatively narrow entrance width and a converging taper, the thickness of said conductive means being substantially reduced at each said bifurcated end portion.

Claim 32

Apparatus pursuant to claim 28, wherein each said conductive means end slot extends toward said waist section a substantial distance, the width of said conductive means being undiminished along all of said substantial distance.

Claim 33

Apparatus pursuant to claim 18 further comprising color coding of the peak-topped teeth of said index strip means and of said connector block means.

Claim 34

Apparatus pursuant to claim 3, wherein said top and bottom snubbing braces each comprise inwardly facing bevel surfaces for effecting bending coNtact with insulated conductors.

Claim 35

Apparatus pursuant to claim 23, wherein said cap means comprises a flat roof and said flat roof includes an indentation along and inwardly of an entire edge, said indentation comprising a bearing and guide surface for receiving a compression element of an assembly tool.