Insulation displacement connector

A method of placing an electrical cable in electrical communication with a substrate, the method comprising the steps of:

• inserting the electrical cable into a first insulation displacement slot and a first strain relief aperture of an insulation displacement contact, the insulation displacement contact comprising:
• a base configured to be mounted onto the substrate so as to place the insulation displacement contact in electrical communication with the substrate,
• a first arm that extends out with respect to the base, the first arm including first and second opposed portions that face each other so as to define the first insulation displacement slot therebetween, wherein the first strain relief aperture extends through the first arm, and
• at least one stop member spaced from the first arm;
• during the inserting step, causing the first and second portions of the first arm to move away from each other;
• after the causing step, bringing the first and second portions of the first arm against the at least one stop member.

An insulation displacement contact configured to receive an electrical cable, the insulation displacement contact comprising:

• a base configured to be mounted onto a substrate so as to place the insulation displacement contact in electrical communication with the substrate;
• and
• a first arm having an outer region that extends out with respect to the base, and an inner region that extends from the outer region toward the base, wherein the inner region includes first and second portions that define a first insulation displacement contact there between, the outer region defines a strain relief aperture that extends therethrough, and the first insulation displacement slot is configured to receive the electrical cable such that first and second piercing members that at least partially define the first insulation displacement slot is configured to pierce an outer electrically insulative layer of the electrical cable and contact an electrical conductor of the electrical cable that is disposed inside the electrically insulative layer;
• and
• a second arm having an outer region that extends out with respect to the base, and an inner region that extends from the outer region toward the base such that the inner regions are disposed between the outer regions with respect to a longitudinal direction, wherein the inner region of the second arm includes first and second portions that define a second insulation displacement contact therebetween, the outer region of the second arm defines a strain relief aperture that extends therethrough, and the second insulation displacement slot is configured to receive the electrical cable such that first and second piercing members that at least partially define the first insulation displacement slot is configured to pierce the outer electrically insulative layer and contact the electrical conductor.

A method of fabricating an insulation displacement contact, the method comprising the steps of:

• stamping a sheet of metallic stock material;
• bending the sheet along a first bend line so as to define a base of the insulation displacement contact;
• bending the sheet to form a stop member that extends up from the base;
• bending the sheet along a second bend line so as to define an arm that extends from the base;
• and
• bending the sheet along a third pair of bend lines so as to define inner and outer regions of the arm,
• wherein the inner region is aligned with the stop member along a lateral direction and extends toward the base, and the inner region includes first and second portions that are adjacent each other along the lateral direction and face each other so as to define an insulation displacement slot, such that the first and second portions are torsionally movable away from each other in response to insertion of an electrical cable into the insulation displacement slot.

A method of fabricating an insulation displacement contact, the method comprising the steps of:

• stamping a sheet of metallic stock material;
• bending the sheet along a first bend line so as to define a base of the insulation displacement contact;
• bending the sheet for form a stop member that extends up from the base;
• bending the sheet along a second bend line so as to define an arm that extends from the base;
• and
• bending the sheet along a third pair of bend lines so as to define inner and outer regions of the arm, wherein the inner region is aligned with the stop member along a lateral direction, and the inner region includes first and second portions that are adjacent each other along the lateral direction and face each other so as to define an insulation displacement slot, such that the first and second portions are torsionally movable away from each other in response to insertion of an electrical cable into the insulation displacement slot,
• wherein the first bending step comprises punching the sheet so as to create the first stop member that is attached to the base at opposed ends thereof.