Sealed electrical connector employing insulation displacement terminals

Claim 2

An electrical terminal for establishing an insulation displacement electrical connection to two wires and for establishing a disconnectable electrical interconnection between both wires and a mating terminal, the electrical terminal comprising: a stamped and formed member including; a first slotted plate contact in which the slot faces in a first direction; a second slotted plate contact and a second additional slotted plate contact in which slots in the second and second additional slotted plate contacts face in a second direction opposite from the first direction, the second slotted plate contact and the second additional slotted plate contact being intermediate the ends of the terminal in a box section with the second slotted plate contact and the second additional slotted plate contact being located in mutually parallel planes each extending transversely relative to a plane containing the first slotted plate contact; a disconnectable contact section on the end of the terminal opposite from the first slotted plate contact, the second slotted plate contact being between the first slotted plate contact and the disconnectable contact section.

Claim 3

The electrical terminal of claim 1 wherein the second slotted plate contact is laterally offset from a plane containing the first slotted plate contact in a first lateral direction and the disconnectable contact section is offset in an opposite second lateral direction.

Claim 4

The electrical terminal of claim 1 wherein a first additional slotted plate contact is located substantially parallel to the first sloted plate contact.

Claim 5

The electrical terminal of claim 1 wherein the disconnectable contact section comprises a stamped and formed pin receptacle.

Claim 6

An electrical connector comprising: two terminals each having first and second insulation displacement contact means facing in first and second opposite directions and a disconnectable contact section laterally offset from the two insulation displacement contact means; an insulative housing having passages, the terminals extending into the passages with the first insulation displacement contact means on a first side of the housing and with the disconnectable contact section on an opposite second side of the housing, the passages communicating with a cavity on the first side, the housing also having a pocket communicating with the cavity, the pocket comprising means for receiving a leaded component prior to insertion of the terminals into the passages; first wire supporting means for supporting a wire adjacent the first side of the housing and second wire supporting means adjacent each passage, the first wire supporting means comprising means for positioning a wire moved laterally of its axis in the first direction into the first insulation displacement contact means, the second wire supporting means comprising means for positioning a wire for engagement by the second insulation displacement contact means upon movement of portions of the terminals between the disconnectable contact section and the second insulation displacement contact means into the passages in the first direction.

Claim 7

An electrical connector comprising: two terminals each having first and second insulation displacement contact means facing in first and second opposite directions and a disconnectable contact section laterally offset from the two insulation displacement contact means; an insulative housing having passages, the terminals extending into the passages with the first insulation displacement contact means on a first side of the housing and with the disconnectable contact section on an opposite second side of the housing, the passages communicating with a cavity on the first side, the housing also having a pocket communicating with the cavity, the pocket comprising means for receiving a leaded component prior to insertion of the terminals into the passages; first wire supporting means for supporting a wire adjacent the first side of the housing and second wire supporting means adjacent each passage, the first wire supporting means comprising means for positioning a wire moved laterally of its axis in the first direction into the first insulation displacement contact means, the second wire supporting means comprising means for positioning a wire for engagement by the second insulation displacement contact means upon movement of portions of the terminals between the disconnectable contact section and the second insulation displacement contact means into the passages in the first direction.

Claim 8

The connector of claim 5 wherein the second wire supporting means comprises wire support pedestals on opposite ends of the pocket.

Claim 9

The connector of claim 5 further comprising a cover attachable to the insulative housing over the first cavity.

Claim 10

The connector of claim 7 further comprising a mass of sealant in the first cavity surrounding the first insulation displacement contact means and the leaded component.

Claim 11

An electrical terminal for establishing an insulation displacement electrical connection to two wires and for establishing a disconnectable electrical interconnection between both wires and a mating terminal, the electrical terminal comprising: a one piece stamped and formed member including; a first slotted plate contact comprising a pair of first parallel slotted plates each having a slot which faces in a first direction; a second slotted plate contact comprising a pair of second parallel slotted plates each having a slot which faces in a second direction opposite from the first direction, the second pair of slotted plates lying in planes which are transverse to planes occupied by the first pair of slotted plates, the second slotted plate contact being intermediate the ends of the terminals; a disconnectable contact section on the end of the terminal opposite from the first slotted plate contact, the second slotted plate contact being between the first slotted plate contact and the disconnectable contact section, the disconnectable contact section comprising a formed cylindrical section offset from both the first and second slotted plate contacts.

Claim 12

An electrical terminal for establishing an insulation displacement electrical connection to two wires and for establishing a disconnectable electrical interconnection between both wires and a mating terminal, the electrical terminal comprising: a one piece stamped and formed member including; a first slotted plate contact comprising a pair of first parallel slotted plates each having a slot which faces in a first direction; a second slotted plate contact comprising a pair of second parallel slotted plates each having a slot which faces in a second direction opposite from the first direction, the second pair of slotted plates lying in planes which are transverse to planes occupied by the first pair of slotted plates, the second slotted plate contact being intermediate the ends of the terminals; a disconnectable contact section on the end of the terminal opposite from the first slotted plate contact, the second slotted plate contact being between the first slotted plate contact and the disconnectable contact section, the disconnectable contact section comprising a formed cylindrical section offset from both the first and second slotted plate contacts.