Electrical connector

Claim 1

An electrical connector comprising: a plurality of piercing type contacts, each having a contacting section and a piercing member with a piercing slit into which a first conductor is pushed; a plurality of crimping type contacts, each having a contacting section and a pair of clamp tabs to be crimped to secure an exposed wire section of a second conductor; said contacting sections of both said piercing type contacts and said crimping type contacts being made identical in structure; an insulating housing with a plurality of receiving apertures at least two of which are made identical in structure so as to be able to receive said contacting section of each of both said piercing type contacts and said crimping type contacts; said identical receiving apertures each including a resilient latch arm defined by a U-shaped cut on a bottom wall thereof so that it extends forward and first latch means provided on a free end of said latch arm; each said contacting section including a base plate which is sufficiently flat to slide along said bottom wall thereby permitting smooth insertion thereof, a pair of contact pieces extending in places perpendicular to said base plate and bent so as to provide a throat portion, and second latch means provided on a back of said base plate for engagement with said first latch means of said latch arm; and a channel provided on said latch arm extending forward from a rear portion of said latch arm for receiving a rod portion of a contact removing tool to flex downwardly said latch arm, thus releasing said first latch means from said second latch means.