Multi-contact connectors for closely spaced conductors

Claim 1

A multi-contact electrical connector receptacle of the type comprising a one piece insulating housing having a mating face, a rearward face, first and second oppositely directed sidewalls and oppositely directed endwalls extending between the faces, a hood extending forwardly beyond and surrounding, the mating face, the hood having a free edge which is spaced from the mating face, a plurality contact receiving cavities in the housing, the cavities being in side-by-side relationship in a row which extends between the housing endwalls, a receptacle terminal in each of the cavities, the hood being dimensioned to receive a connector plug having plug terminals therein which are mated with the receptacle terminals when the plug is inserted into the hood, the connector receptacle being characterized in that: the receptacle terminals are flat stamped terminals having a thickness which is equal to the thickness of the stock metal from which the terminals were stamped, the cavities extend inwardly from the first sidewall towards the second sidewall, the cavities being spaced from the mating face and being spaced from the rearward face. each of the cavities has an associated individual recess and an associated individual opening in the hood, the recesses extending in the one sidewall from their associated cavities to, and intersecting, the mating face, the openings extending from their associated recesses towards the free edge of the hood, each of the terminals has a body portion which is contained in one of the cavities and a cantilever spring arm which extends through the associated recess and into the associated opening, each cantilever spring arm having a free end which is spaced from the mating face and which is normally disposed within the hood whereby the free ends of the cantilever spring arms will engage, and establish electrical contact with, contact portions of plug terminals when a complementary plug connector is inserted into the hood.