Electrical connector module

Claim 2

An electrical connector module for connection with a mounting panel for providing electrical access to a circuit, said electrical connector module comprising: a housing constructed of an electrically nonconductive material, said housing having pairs of opposed sidewalls forming a generally square cross-sectional shape, with a wire holding slot formed at one corner of the square to receive an insulated wire, said slot having an end and running generally longitudinally of said housing, the housing also having two flexible retaining extensions which fit into a mounting panel aperture, said housing being hollow to accept a connector element; a tubular cylindrical connector element having a first portion for electrical connection with said circuit and a second portion including an insulation displacement slot substantially aligned with the housing slot for electrical connection with the insulated wire, said first and second portions being electrically connected; and a cooperating cylindrical shoulder and at least two outward projections on the connector element which cooperate so that when the connector element is inserted into the housing, the housing and connector element are fixed to the mounting panel between the shoulder and flexible projections and when the insulated wire is connected to the module, the insulated wire is gripped in said slot of said housing and is received in the insulation displacement slot.

Claim 3

The module of claim 1, wherein said housing includes a wire exit slot diagonally opposite the wire holding slot at a corner of the square cross-section, said wire holding slot is configured to grip an insulated wire inserted therein, and said wire exit slot is configured to allow an insulated wire free clearance when the wire passes therethrough.

Claim 4

An electrical connector module for connection with a mounting panel for providing electrical access to a circuit, said electrical connector module comprising: a housing constructed of an electrically nonconductive material, said housing having pairs of opposed sidewalls forming a generally square cross-sectional shape, with slots formed at opposite corners of the square to receive an insulated wire, said slots having ends running generally longitudinally of said housing, the housing also having two flexible retaining extensions which fit into a mounting panel aperture, one of said slots sized to grip an insulated wire and the other of said slots sized to permit clearance thereof; said housing being hollow to accept a connector element; a tubular cylindrical connector element having a first portion for electrical connection with said circuit and a second portion including an insulation displacement slot substantially aligned with the housing slot for electrical connection with the insulated wire, said first and second portions being electrically connected; retaining means on said connector element which cooperate with said retaining extensions to that when the connector element is inserted in the housing, the housing and connector element are fixed to the mounting panel between the retaining means and the flexible projections, and when the insulated wire is connected to the module, the insulated wire is gripped in said slot of said housing and is received in the insulation displacement slot.

Claim 5

An electrical connector module for connection with a mounting panel for providing electrical access to a circuit, said electrical connector module comprising: a housing constructed of an electrically nonconductive material, said housing having pairs of opposed sidewalls forming a generally square cross-sectional shape, with slots formed at opposite corners of the square to receive an insulated wire, said slots having ends running generally longitudinally of said housing, the housing also having two flexible retaining extensions which fit into a mounting panel aperture, one of said slots sized to grip an insulated wire and the other of said slots sized to permit clearance thereof; said housing being hollow to accept a connector element; a tubular cylindrical connector element having a first portion for electrical connection with said circuit and a second portion including an insulation displacement slot substantially aligned with the housing slot for electrical connection with the insulated wire, said first and second portions being electrically connected; retaining means on said connector element which cooperate with said retaining extensions to that when the connector element is inserted in the housing, the housing and connector element are fixed to the mounting panel between the retaining means and the flexible projections, and when the insulated wire is connected to the module, the insulated wire is gripped in said slot of said housing and is received in the insulation displacement slot.

Claim 6

The module of claim 2 or 3 wherein said connector element includes a cutoff blade substantially aligned with said wire exit slot.

Claim 7

The module of claim 4, wherein said wire holding slot is longer than said wire exit slot to facilitate wire connection and removal of unwanted wire length.