Pluggable edge header assembly

Claim 2

A plug for conductively connecting a plurality of flexible conductors to a card edge type connector with a connector housing having a longitudinal opening and carrying a plurality of spaced connector contacts along the opening, said plug comprising: an insulating housing including a shroud defining a connector receiving recess; an elongate, substantially planar beam contained within said recess and spaced proximately from the edge of said shroud and receivable in said generally longitudinal opening of said card edge type connector, said planar beam including a pair of substantially planar surfaces situated substantially parallel to one another on opposite sides of said beam, said substantially planar surfaces being chamfered on one edge to facilitate insertion of said connector contacts into said housing and over said planar beam; said substantially planar surfaces further including a plurality of grooves for receiving and aligning said connector contacts; a plurality of longitudinally spaced access openings in said plug housing generally aligned with the grooves on said beam; a plurality of flexible conductors; and a plurality of longitudinally spaced, removable, electrically conductive contact members each associated with a respective one of said flexible conductors and receivable through said access openings, said contact members being releasably connected to said plug housing and comprising: connecting means for connection to a respective one of said plurality of flexible conductors, said connecting means comprising at least one crimpable member integrally connected to one end of each of said contact members, and a pair of springy fingers having free outer ends and projecting from said connecting means on each of said planar surfaces of said beam in straddling relation to said beam.

Claim 3

The plug according to claim 1 wherein: said contact members are releasably connected to said plug housing by curved portions of the free ends of said fingers which engage said beam.

Claim 4

The plug according to claim 1 wherein: said contact members are releasably connected to said plug housing by at least one resilient lance member integral with a contact finger and resiliently engaging said housing.

Claim 5

The plug according to claim 3 wherein: one end of said lance member is integral with said contact member and a second end of said lance member is spaced outwardly from said contact member for engaging said housing and wherein said first end includes stress relief means.

Claim 6

An electrical connector comprising: a card edge type connector comprising an elongate housing having a plurality of spaced contacts disposed adjacent a generally longitudinal receiving opening; a plug assembly mating with said card edge type connector and including: an insulating housing including a shroud defining a connector receiving recess; an elongate, substantially planar beam contained within said recess and spaced proximately from the edge of said shroud and received in said generally longitudinal opening of said card edge type connector, and including a pair of substantially planar surfaces situated substantially parallel to one another on opposite sides of said beam, said substantially planar surfaces being chamfered on one edge to facilitate insertion of said connector contacts into said housing and over said planar beam, said substantially planar surfaces further including a plurality of grooves for receiving and aligning said connector contacts; a plurality of flexible conductors; a plurality of longitudinally spaced, removable, electrically conductive contact members each associated with a respective one of said flexible conductors, said contact members being releasably connected to said plug assembly housing, said contact members comprising: connecting means for connection to a respective one of said plurality of flexible conductors, said connecting means comprising at least one crimpable member integrally connected to one end of each of said contact members; and a pair of springy fingers having free outer ends and projecting from said connecting means on each of said planar surfaces of said beam in straddling relation to said beam, at least one finger of plural longitudinally spaced pairs of said fingers engaging longitudinally spaced ones of said spaced contacts disposed adjacent said receiving openings of said card edge type connector.

Claim 7

An electrical connector comprising: a card edge type connector comprising an elongate housing having a plurality of spaced contacts disposed adjacent a generally longitudinal receiving opening; a plug assembly mating with said card edge type connector and including: an insulating housing including a shroud defining a connector receiving recess; an elongate, substantially planar beam contained within said recess and spaced proximately from the edge of said shroud and received in said generally longitudinal opening of said card edge type connector, and including a pair of substantially planar surfaces situated substantially parallel to one another on opposite sides of said beam, said substantially planar surfaces being chamfered on one edge to facilitate insertion of said connector contacts into said housing and over said planar beam, said substantially planar surfaces further including a plurality of grooves for receiving and aligning said connector contacts; a plurality of flexible conductors; a plurality of longitudinally spaced, removable, electrically conductive contact members each associated with a respective one of said flexible conductors, said contact members being releasably connected to said plug assembly housing, said contact members comprising: connecting means for connection to a respective one of said plurality of flexible conductors, said connecting means comprising at least one crimpable member integrally connected to one end of each of said contact members; and a pair of springy fingers having free outer ends and projecting from said connecting means on each of said planar surfaces of said beam in straddling relation to said beam, at least one finger of plural longitudinally spaced pairs of said fingers engaging longitudinally spaced ones of said spaced contacts disposed adjacent said receiving openings of said card edge type connector.