Claims
- 1. A multi-conductor flat cable connector comprising:
- a base carrying a plurality of insulation stripping contact elements which extend from one surface of said base for making electrical connection to conductors of a said flat cable, said base being formed centrally at each end with a generally rectangular cover guide extending perpendicularly from said one surface,
- a cover on said base formed at its ends to slidably mate with said cover guides on said base,
- latching means on said cover including a pair of resilient metal latching legs, one extending from each end of said cover,
- means for latching said latching legs to said base in an open position permitting a said flat cable to be inserted between said cover and said contact elements and for latching said latching legs to said base in a closed position whereat conductors of a said cable are connected by said contact elements, and
- a pair of shearable latch stops, one at each end of said base, positioned to be contacted by portions of said latching legs when said connector is in an open position and shearable by said latching legs when said base and cover are forced together to move them to their closed position carrying the conductors of a said cable into said contact elements.
- 2. The connector of claim 1 wherein said latching legs are part of a generally U-shaped metal latching clip which extends over said cover from end to end.
- 3. The connector of claim 2 wherein said cover is recessed centrally at its ends to receive said rectangular cover guides of said base, said latching legs extend over the exterior of said cover guides and said latch stops are positioned one on the exterior of each said cover guide to be contacted by the ends of said latching legs when said connector is in an open position.
- 4. The connector of claim 3 wherein said cover guides are each externally formed with a slot extending from top to bottom to define guides for the legs of said latching clip.
- 5. The connector of claim 4 wherein said latching means comprises wedge shaped teeth on said cover guides within said slots at the lateral edges thereof and edge tabs on each leg of said latching clip mating with said teeth.
- 6. The connector of claim 5 wherein there are two pairs of said teeth on each of said cover guides, each pair of teeth being laterally aligned at opposite edges of a said slot in a said cover guide, and wherein there are two pairs of said edge tabs on each leg of said latching clip, each pair of tabs being laterally aligned at opposite edges of a leg of said clip.
- 7. The connector of claim 1 wherein each said latching leg is formed with a longitudinally extending aperture into which a pair of opposed shearing ears extend from the longitudinal edges thereof and wherein said latch stops each comprise a pair of knobs which said ears contact to hold said connector in an open position and through which said ears shear when said base and cover are forced together to move them to their closed position.
- 8. The connector of claim 7 wherein said means for latching said latching legs to said base comprises the end of the aperture in each said latching leg farthest from said cover engaging a first lobe on said base in said open position and a second lobe on said base in said closed position.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 44,909 filed June 4, 1979 now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (12)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
44909 |
Jun 1979 |
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