Insulation displacement connector terminal block

Claim 2

A connector for connecting at least one insulated conductor comprising: (a) a connector block, said block comprising: (i) a base, (ii) at least one projection extending upwardly from said base, said projection having at least side walls and a top, (iii) an aperture extending downwardly in said projection from said top, said aperture accommodating an insulation displacing connector having bifurcating means for displacing insulation of an insulated conductor inserted in said means, said insulation displacing bifurcating means opening to said top when said connector is inserted in said aperture; (b) actuator means for slidably fitting into said aperture, said actuator means being U-shaped and comprising: (i) a cap, (ii) first and second flat elongate projections extending outwardly from said cap, said projections being parallel to each other and forming a hollow space therebetween sufficient to allow said bifurcating means to fit into said hollow space when said actuator means is slidably fitted into said aperture, (iii) a circular opening included in each of said projections, said opening of sufficient diameter to allow an insulated conductor to be slid therein, said bifurcating means displacing insulation of an insulated conductor slid through each of said flat elongate projections opening when said actuator means is slidably fitted into said aperture sufficiently such that said bifurcating means comes into contact with said conductor, said projections interacting with said side walls to allow said actuator means to be slidably fitted into said aperture.

Claim 3

The connector of claim 1 wherein said circular opening in each of said projections is near said cap.

Claim 4

The connector of claim 1 wherein said aperture extends downwardly a distance sufficient such that said insulation displacing bifurcating means is below said top.

Claim 5

The connector of claim 1 wherein said insulation displacing bifurcating means projects above said top when said connector is inserted in said aperture.

Claim 6

The connector of claim 1 wherein said side walls include therein channels and said projections include means complementary thereto, said channels and said complementary means interacting to allow said actuator means to be slidably fitted into said aperture.

Claim 7

A connector for connecting at least one insulated conductor comprising: (a) a connector block, said block comprising: (i) a base, (ii) at least one projection extending upwardly from said base, said projection having at least side walls and a top, (iii) an aperture extending downwardly in said projection from said top a distance sufficient to accommodate an insulation displacing connector having bifurcating means for displacing insulation of an insulated conductor inserted in said means, said distance such that said insulation displacing bifurcating means is below said top when said connector is inserted in said aperture; (b) actuator means for slidably fitting into said aperture, said actuator means being U-shaped and comprising: (i) a cap, (ii) first and second flat elongate projections extending outwardly from said cap, said projections being parallel to each other and forming a hollow space therebetween sufficient to allow said bifurcating means to fit into said hollow space when said actuator means is slidably fitted into said aperture, (iii) a circular opening included in each of said projections, said opening of sufficient diameter to allow an insulated conductor to be slid therein, said bifurcating means displacing insulation of an insulated conductor slid through each of said flat elongate projections opening when said actuator means is slidably fitted into said aperture sufficiently such that said bifurcating means comes into contact with said conductor, said projections interacting with said side walls to allow said actuator means to be slidably fitted into said aperture.

Claim 8

A connector for connecting at least one insulated conductor comprising: (a) a connector block, said block comprising: (i) a base, (ii) at least one projection extending upwardly from said base, said projection having at least side walls and a top, (iii) an aperture extending downwardly in said projection from said top a distance sufficient to accommodate an insulation displacing connector having bifurcating means for displacing insulation of an insulated conductor inserted in said means, said distance such that said insulation displacing bifurcating means is below said top when said connector is inserted in said aperture; (b) actuator means for slidably fitting into said aperture, said actuator means being U-shaped and comprising: (i) a cap, (ii) first and second flat elongate projections extending outwardly from said cap, said projections being parallel to each other and forming a hollow space therebetween sufficient to allow said bifurcating means to fit into said hollow space when said actuator means is slidably fitted into said aperture, (iii) a circular opening included in each of said projections, said opening of sufficient diameter to allow an insulated conductor to be slid therein, said bifurcating means displacing insulation of an insulated conductor slid through each of said flat elongate projections opening when said actuator means is slidably fitted into said aperture sufficiently such that said bifurcating means comes into contact with said conductor, said projections interacting with said side walls to allow said actuator means to be slidably fitted into said aperture.

Claim 9

The connector of claim 6 wherein said circular opening in each of said projections is near said cap.

Claim 10

The connector of claim 6 wherein said side walls include therein channels and said projections include means complementary thereto, said channels and said complementary means interacting to allow said actuator means to be slidably fitted into said aperture.

Claim 11

A connector for connecting at least first and second insulated conductors comprising: (a) a connector block, said block comprising: (i) a base, (ii) at least first and second projections extending upwardly from said base, each of said projections having at least side walls and a top, (iii) first and second apertures extending downwardly in said projections from said top, said first aperture being associated with said first projection and said second aperture being associated with said second projection, each of said apertures accommodating an associated one of first and second insulation displacing connectors, each of said connectors having bifurcating means for displacing insulation of an insulated conductor inserted in said means, said insulation displacing bifurcating means opening to said top when said connectors are inserted in an associated one of said first and second apertures; (b) actuator means for slidably fitting into said first and second apertures, said actuator means being C-shaped and comprising: (i) a cap, (ii) a first actuator arm comprising third and fourth flat elongate projections extending outwardly from said cap, said first and second projections being parallel to each other and forming a hollow space therebetween sufficient to allow said bifurcating means of said first connector to fit into said hollow space when said actuator means is slidably fitted into said apertures, (iii) a second actuator arm comprising first and second flat elongate projections extending outwardly from said cap, said third and fourth projections being parallel to each other and forming a hollow space therebetween sufficient to allow said bifurcating means of said second connector to fit into said hollow space when said actuator means is slidably fitted into said apertures, (iv) a circular opening included in each of said projections of each of said first and second actuator arms, said opening of sufficient diameter to allow an associated one of said first and second insulated conductors to be slid therein, said bifurcating means displacing insulation of an insulated conductor slid through each of said flat elongate projections opening when said actuator means is slidably fitted into said first and second apertures sufficiently such that said bifurcating means comes into contact with said conductor, said first and second arms interacting with said side walls of said first and second apertures to allow said actuator means to be slidably fitted into said apertures.

Claim 12

A connector for connecting at least first and second insulated conductors comprising: (a) a connector block, said block comprising: (i) a base, (ii) at least first and second projections extending upwardly from said base, each of said projections having at least side walls and a top, (iii) first and second apertures extending downwardly in said projections from said top, said first aperture being associated with said first projection and said second aperture being associated with said second projection, each of said apertures accommodating an associated one of first and second insulation displacing connectors, each of said connectors having bifurcating means for displacing insulation of an insulated conductor inserted in said means, said insulation displacing bifurcating means opening to said top when said connectors are inserted in an associated one of said first and second apertures; (b) actuator means for slidably fitting into said first and second apertures, said actuator means being C-shaped and comprising: (i) a cap, (ii) a first actuator arm comprising third and fourth flat elongate projections extending outwardly from said cap, said first and second projections being parallel to each other and forming a hollow space therebetween sufficient to allow said bifurcating means of said first connector to fit into said hollow space when said actuator means is slidably fitted into said apertures, (iii) a second actuator arm comprising first and second flat elongate projections extending outwardly from said cap, said third and fourth projections being parallel to each other and forming a hollow space therebetween sufficient to allow said bifurcating means of said second connector to fit into said hollow space when said actuator means is slidably fitted into said apertures, (iv) a circular opening included in each of said projections of each of said first and second actuator arms, said opening of sufficient diameter to allow an associated one of said first and second insulated conductors to be slid therein, said bifurcating means displacing insulation of an insulated conductor slid through each of said flat elongate projections opening when said actuator means is slidably fitted into said first and second apertures sufficiently such that said bifurcating means comes into contact with said conductor, said first and second arms interacting with said side walls of said first and second apertures to allow said actuator means to be slidably fitted into said apertures.

Claim 13

The connector of claim 9 wherein said circular opening in each of said projections is near said cap.

Claim 14

The connector of claim 9 wherein each of said apertures extends downwardly a distance sufficient such that said insulation displacing bifurcating means is below said top.

Claim 15

The connector of claim 9 wherein said insulation displacing bifurcating means projects above said top when each of said connectors is inserted in said aperture.

Claim 16

The connector of claim 9 wherein said side walls include therein channels and said arms include means complementary thereto, said channels and said complementary means interacting to allow said actuator means to be slidably fitted into said apertures.