Terminal block for printed circuit boards

A terminal block for establishing a connection between one or more conductors and a printed circuit board having a housing (2) of insulating material and screw-operated insulation displacement terminals (3) received in cavities (22) of the housing, the improvement in said terminal block comprising:

• each of said terminals (3) includes a first contact member (4) having an upper portion (5) containing a transverse opening (18) to accommodate one or more conductors, the first contact member (4) further having a lower portion (6) forming a downwardly extending pin, each terminal (3) further including a second contact member (7) forming a cage (8) which has on a top thereof a threaded bore (10) adapted to accept a screw (10), and a transverse opening (17), the upper portion (5) of the first contact member (4) being slidably mounted in the cage (8) of the second contact member (7) with the transverse openings (17, 18) of the first and second contact members (4, 7) being aligned, the pin (6) of the first contact member (4) extending through a base portion (14) of the housing (2) and being adapted for insertion into a plated-through hole of a printed circuit board, one of the transverse openings (17, 18) of the first and the second contact members (4, 7) having at least one insulation displacement slot (20), and the screw (10) resting with its end (12) on the upper portion (5) of the first contact member (4) and when rotated forcing the transverse openings (17, 18) of the first and second contact members (4, 7) out of alignment such that the conductors are forced into the insulation displacement slots (20).