Connector assembly for undercarpet cable

Claim 1

An electrical connector for undercarpet flat and flexible cable that includes one or more flat electrical conductors contained in a flexible sheath of insulating material, comprising; a planar metal plate having a plurality of lands raised in relief, an insulative terminal block constructed to overlie selected lands of the plate with an undercarpet flat and flexible cable interposed between the block and the selected lands overlaid by the block, mounting feet projecting from the block and constructed for locked registration with selected lands of the plate, the block having terminal receiving cavities extending from one side of the block to a second side, electrical terminals in the cavities of the block, the terminals having electrical receptacle portions opening toward the first side of the block and conductor terminating portions emerged from the cavities and overlying against the second side of the block, lances on the conductor terminating portions, the lances facing outwardly away from the second side of the block, a conductive fastener carried by the block and constructed to mechanically secure in one of the lands overlaid by the block and apply the block and the overlaid lands in clamped relationship on the cable, the block urging the lances of the conductor terminating portions to penetrate through a layer of cable insulation and penetrate into respective flat conductors of the cable, that is interposed between the block and the overlaid lands of the plate, thereby to establish electrical connections between the lances and the respective flat conductors, the conductive fastener constructed further to mechanically secure in one flat conductor of the cable, a cover having a hollow interior receiving the block therein, and fasteners carried by the cover and constructed to secure in selected lands of the plate.