Super connector for connecting flat ribbon cables
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsRichard F. Frankeny, Karl Hermann, Ronald E. Hunt, Verlon E. Whitehead
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A connector for connecting large numbers of contact points on a flat ribbon cable to corresponding contact points on a second flat ribbon ribbon cable is described. The connector is a rigid clamping device which encompasses the cables where they join and through the use of springs and force spreaders the connections at the cable interface are completed. The connections of the cables are disposed within a chamber within the connector and rigidly clamped to prevent movement or separation of the connections.
Claims16
A connector for electrically joining two electrical cables comprising:
- a frame comprising a rigid member having an exterior and having a long axis disposed transverse to an axis of conductors of said cables, said rigid member comprising a pair of retaining members forming a chamber extending transverse to said long axis;
- at least one slot communicating with said chamber and said exterior;
- force spreading means for equalizing forces on said cables insertable within said chamber and disposed on at least one side of said cables;
- spring means disposed on said frame and rigidly attached thereto;
- force transmission means projecting through said frame intermediate said force spreading means and said spring means for transmitting spring force to said force spreading means;
- relief means for relieving forces from said spring means against said force spreading means, thereby permitting insertion of said cables and said force spreading means into said chamber, application of said force to said cable ends to connect said conductors on said cables, and relieving said force to permit removal of said cable ends from said connector.
A connector for electrically joining two electrical cables comprising:
- a frame comprising a rigid member having an exterior and having a long axis disposed transverse to an axis of conductors of said cables, said rigid member comprising a pair of retaining members forming a chamber extending transverse to said long axis;
- an end retainer engaging said retaining means for preventing spreading of said retaining means;
- at least one slot communicating with said chamber and said exterior;
- force spreading means for equalizing forces on said cables insertable within said chamber and disposed on at least one side of said cables;
- spring means disposed on said frame and rigidly attached thereto;
- force transmission means projecting through said frame intermediate said force spreading means and said spring means for transmitting spring force to said force spreading means;
- relief means for relieving forces from said spring means against said force spreading means, thereby permitting insertion of said cables and said force spreading means into said chamber, application of said force to said cable ends to connect said conductors on said cables and relieving said force to permit removal of said cable ends from said connector.
A connector for electrically joining two electrical cables comprising:
- a frame comprising a rigid member having an exterior and having a long axis disposed transverse to an axis of conductors of said cables, said rigid member comprising a pair of retaining members forming a chamber extending parallel to said long axis, said retaining members extending one on each side of said cables and disposed parallel to said axis of said chamber;
- force spreading means for equalizing forces on said cables insertable within said chamber and disposed on at least one side of said cables;
- spring means disposed on said frame and further engageable with said force spreading means;
- relief means for relieving forces of said spring means, thereby permitting positioning of said cables and said force spreading means in said chamber, application of said force to said cables to connect said conductors on said cables, and relieving said force to permit removal of said cable ends from said connector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.