Electrical connectors

Claim 1

An electrical connector having an insulation body, a closure member and an insulation displacement contact member carried within the insulating body, the contact member formed at one end with an insulation displacement terminal projecting from the insulating body, the closure member and the body being relatively movable to cause the closure member to cover the insulation displacement terminal, the closure member having a first passage for guidance of an insulated conductor wire within a certain range of outside diameters into and beyond a wire terminal position within the closure member, the closure member also formed with: (a) entry and exit passages for the insulation displacement terminal, the entry and exit passages aligned across the first passage; and (b) a second passage for guidance of an insulated wire within another and smaller range of outside diameters, the second passage being of smaller cross-sectional area than the first passage, extending at an angle to the first passage towards the wire terminal position and having an opening into the first passage to direct the smaller diameter wire across the exit passage and through the terminal position, said opening of the second passage being sufficiently close to the terminal position to produce a bend in the smaller diameter wire adjacent to the terminal position so as to stiffen the wire in the terminal position.