High density cable connector

A connector for forming a plurality of electrical wiring connections comprising:

• a first mateable coupling member having a flat surface, a plurality of openings in said first member arranged in a predetermined configuration,
• a plurality of headed elements disposed in said plurality of openings, said headed elements adapted to be attached to a plurality of electrical wires,
• a second mateable coupling member provided with a flat surface,
• a set of elongated flexible metal buckling beam elements, said elements each comprised of a laterally flexible electrically conductive wire having a length that is many times its diameter, said wire having an anchoring portion adjacent one end, a long flexible central portion, and an end portion opposite said anchoring portion, on the other end,
• support means on said second member for releasably supporting said set of buckling beam elements in aligned positions relative to said plurality of headed elements on said first member with said buckling beam elements protruding slightly beyond said flat surface, said support means including a means to engage said anchor portions of each of said buckling beams to thereby prevent axial movement, means to support said end portion of each of said buckling beams for longitudinally slideable movement, and an enclosure which allows flexing of the central portion of said buckling beam in a single plane, said enclosure including surfaces at opposite sides of said central portions which block said central portions from flexture in directions transverse to said single plane,
• alignment means for aligning said first member and said second member in mateable relation with the respective flat surfaces in opposed relation and with the protruding ends of said set of beam elements in contact with a plurality of headed elements, and
• securing means for maintaining said first member and second member in mateable relation and with said beam elements in flexed positions.