Termination of an insulated electrical conductor

Claim 2

A termination of a conductor and a terminal comprising: an electrical conductor having insulation therearound and extending to an end exposed at an end of the insulation, the conductor having a selected transverse dimension, and a terminal having a termination end, said termination end having at least a pair of cutting edges aligned with said conductor, said cutting edges being spaced closer together than said selected transverse dimension, said cutting edges being sliced into the end of the conductor a selected axial distance and receiving a first portion of said conductor between said cutting edges and outer portions of said conductor along outer surfaces of the termination end of the terminal.

Claim 3

The termination of claim 1 wherein outer surfaces of said terminal are angled to diverge away from said termination end.

Claim 4

The termination of claim 1 wherein said termination end has a frustoconical outer profile.

Claim 5

The termination of claim 1 wherein said conductor is flat.

Claim 6

The termination of claim 1 wherein said end of the conductor is recessed from the end of the insulation and exposed at an inner end of an opening aligned with the conductor.

Claim 9

The method of terminating a conductor and a terminal of claim 6 further including the step of providing an opening in said insulation and aligned with said conductor such that the end of the conductor is exposed at a base of said opening.

Claim 10

An assembly of the type used to connect two electrical articles, at least one of which is an elongate strip having conductors extending therethrough and exposed at an end surface thereof, said assembly including a housing having a mating face and at least two terminals disposed therein, the terminals having connecting sections exposed along said mating face, said assembly and strip being securable by a fastening member, the assembly being characterized in that: said elongate strip includes an opening extending thereinto from said end surface aligned with each said elongate conductor and exposing an end thereof, each said conductor end being thus recessed from the end surface of said elongate strip; and an electrical terminal is disposed in each said opening such that an inner end thereof is in electrical engagement with the respective conductor and a mating end of said terminal extends from said end surface for engagement with said terminals of said connector, said terminal including a termination end having at least a pair of cutting edges aligned with said conductor, slicing said conductor a selected axial distance and receiving a first portion of said conductor between said cutting edges and outer portions of said conductor along outer surfaces of the termination end of the terminal.

Claim 11

An assembly of the type used to connect two electrical articles, at least one of which is an elongate strip having conductors extending therethrough and exposed at an end surface thereof, said assembly including a housing having a mating face and at least two terminals disposed therein, the terminals having connecting sections exposed along said mating face, said assembly and strip being securable by a fastening member, the assembly being characterized in that: said elongate strip includes an opening extending thereinto from said end surface aligned with each said elongate conductor and exposing an end thereof, each said conductor end being thus recessed from the end surface of said elongate strip; and an electrical terminal is disposed in each said opening such that an inner end thereof is in electrical engagement with the respective conductor and a mating end of said terminal extends from said end surface for engagement with said terminals of said connector, said terminal including a termination end having at least a pair of cutting edges aligned with said conductor, slicing said conductor a selected axial distance and receiving a first portion of said conductor between said cutting edges and outer portions of said conductor along outer surfaces of the termination end of the terminal.

Claim 12

The assembly of claim 8 wherein outer surfaces of said terminal are angled to diverge away from said termination end.

Claim 13

The assembly of claim 8 wherein said termination end has a frustoconical outer profile.

Claim 14

The assembly of claim 8 wherein said conductor is flat.