Modular electrical connection terminal

Claim 1

A modular terminal for electrically connecting electrical conductors of a cable to rigid electrical terminal pins, comprising: a plurality of generally U-shaped individual contacts each having one arm adapted to make contact via self-stripping edges with one electrical conductor and another flat arm adapted to press on and make contact with one of said pins; at least one substantially parallelepipiedal contact support having a top surface and opposed lateral surfaces and further comprising a longitudinal internal groove having longitudinal walls which opens onto said top surface and having a rounded bottom surface, a series of external compartments along each of said lateral surfaces parallel to said internal groove and a series of internal compartments along each of the longitudinal walls of said groove which open onto said bottom surface, each of said external compartments on one side of said groove receiving the arm of one of said contacts adapted to make contact with the electrical conductor and being aligned with one of said internal compartments on the other side of said groove accommodating said flat contact arm extending along the top of said internal compartment and the corresponding pin extending along the bottom of said internal compartment; an insulating member fixed to each contact support and formed with an internal space at the top adapted to house electrical conductors of a cable; and a generally cylindrical rotary cam formed with two diametrically opposed flats separated by part-cylindrical portions, mounted in the groove in each contact support in contact with said flat contact arms and bearing on said rounded bottom surface of said groove, whereby said contacts are pressed simultaneously into contact with respective pins when the part-cylindrical portions of said cam are brought into contact with said flat contact arms.