Conductor holding block for an electrical connector

Claim 1

An electrical connector for terminating discrete insulated electrical conductors of a multi-conductor cable comprising: an electrically insulative connector housing; plural electrical contacts supported in said housing, said contacts having insulation displacing contact portions for effecting insulation displacing electrical connection with said conductors; a conductor holding block having plural conductor receiving passages for individually accommodating said conductors and plural contact slots in individual communication with said conductor receiving passages for accommodating said insulation displacing contacts portions; said holding block being movably supported by said housing for movement from a conductor receiving position permitting unrestricted insertion of said conductors into said passages to a termination position wherein said insulation displacing electrical connection is effected; and said holding block and said housing including cooperative securement elements for frictionally supporting said holding block with respect to said housing at continuous positions between said conductor receiving position and said termination position, one of said continuous positions defining a temporary conductor support position for retentively supporting said conductors against said insulation displacing contact portion without effecting said insulation displacing connection, said connector housing including an extending member and said holding block including a channel for frictional receipt of said extending member, wherein said extending member includes opposed sidewalls and wherein said channel includes channel walls having opposed inwardly directed ribs, said ribs being dimensioned for frictional engagement with said sidewalls of said extending member.