Installation of electrical connectors on wires intermediate the ends thereof

Claim 2

A multi-contact electrical connector and a plurality of electrical conductors, said connector having a plurality of electrical contact terminals therein, said conductors being connected intermediate their ends to said contact terminals, said connector comprising an insulating housing having a rearward side and a mating side, said contact terminals extending through said housing from said rearward side to said mating side, each of said contact terminals having a plate-like conductor receiving portion, said plate-like portions being proximate said rearward side and standing free from and extending parallel to, said rearward side, each of said plate-like portions having a free end and having conductor-receiving slot means extending therein from said free end, each of said conductors having an intermediate portion extending through said slot means of one of said plate-like portions thereby to electrically connect said conductors to said terminals, and cover means removably secured to said rearward side, said cover means having an opening therein which is spaced from said rearward side and having internal groove means adjacent to said rearward side, said plate-like portions of said terminals extending into said internal groove means, thereby to maintain said conductors in said slot means, said cover means having edge portions which are proximate to, and spaced from, said rearward side, said conductors extending through said opening to said platelike portions, through said slots, and between said rearward side and said edge portions of said cover means then from said connector.

Claim 3

A multi-contact electrical connector and a plurality of electrical conductors, said connector having a plurality of electrical contact terminals therein, said conductors being connected intermediate their ends to said contact terminals, said connector comprising an insulating housing having a rearward side and a mating side, a plurality of contact-receiving cavities extending through said housing from said rearward side to said mating side, said contact terminals being in said cavities, each of said terminals having a plate-like conductor receiving portion, each of said plate-like portions extending from, and standing free on, one surface portion of said rearward side and each of said plate-like portions being spaced from, and extending substantially parallel to, a second surface portion of said rearward side, said second surface portion extending normally of said one surface portion, said plate-like portions being in side-by-side coplanar relationship and forming a row, said plate-like portions having free ends and having conductor-receiving slots extending into said free ends towards said one surface portion, cover means removably secured to said rearward side, said cover means having a central opening therein which is spaced from said plate-like portions of said terminals and having internal groove means adjacent to said one surface portion, said plate-like portions of said terminals being received in said groove means, said cover means having edge portions which are proximate to, and spaced from, said second surface portion, said conductors extending through said central opening into said cover means, through said conductor receiving slots in said plate-like portions, then between said edge portions of said cover means and said second surface portion of said rearward side and then from said connector whereby, said cover means maintains said conductors in said conductor-receiving slots and said conductors are clamped between said edge portions of said cover means and said second surface portion.

Claim 4

A multi-contact electrical connector and a plurality of electrical conductors, said connector having a plurality of electrical contact terminals therein, said conductors being connected intermediate their ends to said contact terminals, said connector comprising an insulating housing having a rearward side and a mating side, a plurality of contact-receiving cavities extending through said housing from said rearward side to said mating side, said contact terminals being in said cavities, each of said terminals having a plate-like conductor receiving portion, each of said plate-like portions extending from, and standing free on, one surface portion of said rearward side and each of said plate-like portions being spaced from, and extending substantially parallel to, a second surface portion of said rearward side, said second surface portion extending normally of said one surface portion, said plate-like portions being in side-by-side coplanar relationship and forming a row, said plate-like portions having free ends and having conductor-receiving slots extending into said free ends towards said one surface portion, cover means removably secured to said rearward side, said cover means having a central opening therein which is spaced from said plate-like portions of said terminals and having internal groove means adjacent to said one surface portion, said plate-like portions of said terminals being received in said groove means, said cover means having edge portions which are proximate to, and spaced from, said second surface portion, said conductors extending through said central opening into said cover means, through said conductor receiving slots in said plate-like portions, then between said edge portions of said cover means and said second surface portion of said rearward side and then from said connector whereby, said cover means maintains said conductors in said conductor-receiving slots and said conductors are clamped between said edge portions of said cover means and said second surface portion.

Claim 5

An electrical connector and a plurality of electrical conductors as set forth in claim 2, said cover means being bipartite and being assembled to said rearward side from opposite directions.

Claim 6

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 3, said connector having a second row of said plate like portions which is spaced from, and parallel to, said row, said plate-like portions in said second row being coplanar with said plate-like portions in said row and said plate-like portions in said second row being oppositely directed with respect to said plate-like portions in said row, said cover member having additional internal groove means and edge means for said second row of plate-like portions.

Claim 7

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 3, said connector having an additional row of plate-like portions which extends parallel to, and is coplanar with, said row, an additional one surface, an additional second surface, an additional groove means in said cover member, and an additional edge in said cover member, sAid additional surfaces, groove means, and edge being structurally related to said additional row of plate-like portions in the manner of the relationship of said surfaces, groove means, and edge to said row.

Claim 8

A multi-contact electrical connector and a plurality of electrical conductors, said connector having a plurality of electrical contact terminals therein, said conductors being connected intermediate their ends to said contact terminals, said connector comprising an insulating housing having a rearward side and a mating side, said rearward side having a rearwardly extending rib, said rib having laterally oppositely facing surfaces, said contact terminals being arranged in two parallel spaced-apart rows, said terminals extending through said housing from said rearward side to said forward side, each of said terminals having a conductor-receiving plate-like portion, said plate-like portions in said two rows extending from said oppositely facing surfaces and being in side-by-side co-planar relationship, said plate-like portions being spaced from laterally extending surface portions of said rearward side which extend normally of said oppositely facing surfaces, cover means removably secured to said rearward side, said cover means having an opening therein which is in alignment with, and spaced from, said rib, and said cover means having conductor clamping portions which are spaced from said laterally extending surface portions, said conductors extending through said opening to said plate-like portions, and between said edge portions of said cover means and said laterally extending surfaces and laterally from said connector in opposite directions.

Claim 9

A multi-contact electrical connector and a plurality of electrical conductors, said connector having a plurality of electrical contact terminals therein, said conductors being connected intermediate their ends to said contact terminals, said connector comprising an insulating housing having a rearward side and a mating side, said rearward side having a rearwardly extending rib, said rib having laterally oppositely facing surfaces, said contact terminals being arranged in two parallel spaced-apart rows, said terminals extending through said housing from said rearward side to said forward side, each of said terminals having a conductor-receiving plate-like portion, said plate-like portions in said two rows extending from said oppositely facing surfaces and being in side-by-side co-planar relationship, said plate-like portions being spaced from laterally extending surface portions of said rearward side which extend normally of said oppositely facing surfaces, cover means removably secured to said rearward side, said cover means having an opening therein which is in alignment with, and spaced from, said rib, and said cover means having conductor clamping portions which are spaced from said laterally extending surface portions, said conductors extending through said opening to said plate-like portions, and between said edge portions of said cover means and said laterally extending surfaces and laterally from said connector in opposite directions.