Cable clamping insulation displacing electrical connector for multi-conductor flat flexible cable

In combination:

• an electrical connector and a cable clamping assembly;
• said electrical connector comprising a housing member having opposite first and second side surfaces and a plurality of slots extending between said surfaces, a like plurality of contact terminals each mounted in a specific one of said slots, each said contact having a body, at least two tines extending from a first side of said body and defining an insulation displacing conductor engaging slot therebetween, a mating portion extending from another side of said body, said contact terminals being mounted in said housing member with at least said tines extending from said first surface;
• said cable clamping assembly comprising first and second cable engaging members pivotally attached at a first end, latching means at a second end of said members adapted to hold them together in a cable clamping condition, mating faces of said members defining therebetween a plurality of conductor receiving passages, a like plurality of contact terminal passages each traversing a respective one of said conductor receiving passages and extending through said members;
• and
• interengageable means for retaining said cable clamping assembly on said electrical connector,
• whereby upon clamping of a multiple conductor flat flexible cable in said clamping assembly, the conductors thereof are driven to accurately aligned positions and movement of said assembly towards said connector causes said tines to penetrate said contact terminal passages to effect an insulation displacing engagement with respective conductors of said cable.

A method for accurately electrically terminating closely spaced conductors of multi-conductor flat flexible cable of the type having a plurality of conductors in side-by-side parallel spaced relationship within a web of plastic insulating material, said method comprising the steps of:

• clamping the cable between a pair of members hingedly attached at a first end and latchingly secured at the opposite end and having mating faces profiled to define therebetween a plurality of accurately spaced conductor aligning passageways each intersected by a respective slot;
• positioning said clamped cable in parallel spaced relation to one side of a base member having a plurality of contact terminals fixed therein, each with a conductor engaging portion comprising a pair of spaced apart arms having opposite edges defining therebetween a conductor receiving slot, said arms extending normally beyond said one side of said base member;
• and
• moving said clamped cable towards said one side whereby said arms penetrate through said slots to engage in the conductors restrained in said passageways with the conductors being forced into the slot of a respective contact terminal to effect an insulation displacing engagement therebetween.