Electrical connector having a conductor holding block

Claim 1

An electrical connector for terminating discrete insulated conductors of a multi-conductor cable comprising an electrically insulative connector housing; plural electrical contacts supported in said housing having aligned insulation displacing contact portions; and a conductor holding block movably supported by said housing for movement with respect to said insulation displacing contact portions, said conductor holding block including contact slots for receipt of said insulation displacing contact portions upon movement of said holding block with respect to said housing and conductor receiving passages in communication with said contact slots for receipt of said conductors; said holding block further including a conductor engaging finger extending into each said passage for frictionally supporting said insulated conductors in non-movable disposition within said passages, upon receipt of said contact portions in said slots of said holding block, said housing and said holding block including cooperating multi-positioned securement elements for movably supporting said holding block with respect to said housing in plural positions, said plural positions including: an initial position with said insulation displacing contact portions positioned substantially externally of said slots; an intermediate position with said insulation displacing contact portions partially within said slots and positioned for non-engagement with said conductors; and a final position with said insulation displacing contact portions within said slots and positioned in electrical engagement with said conductors.