High-density cable connector

Claim 1

In an electrical connector including an insulated support and further including a plurality of substantially parallel spaced-apart contacts, wherein each contact has an elongated body longitudinally of the contact, wherein each contact further has a terminating portion formed integrally with the body of the contact at one end thereof and extending above and substantially at right angles thereto, such that a conductor may be joined with the terminating portion of the contact during a conductor-termination operation, wherein the elongated bodies of the contacts have respective top surfaces lying substantially in a given plane, and wherein adjacent respective contacts are staggered longitudinally thereof, the improvement wherein the terminating portion of each contact has a pair of cutouts, one on each side of the elongated body of the contact, such that a pair of laterally-extending ears is formed on each terminating portion, each of the ears having a bottom surface which is elevated above and generally parallel to the plane of the respective top surfaces of the elongated bodies of the respective contacts, such that the respective adjacent contacts are moved closer together for an increased circuit density, and the insulated support having respective ledges upon which the bottom surfaces of the ears are supported, thereby providing superior dielectric qualities, and thereby substantially preventing the terminating portions of the respective contacts from moving during the conductor-termination operation.