Multiple connector insulation displacement contact

#This invention relates to insulation displacement contacts. More particularly, it relates to insulation displacement contacts which are useful in terminating more than a single conductor.

#Insulation displacement contacts which terminate a single insulated conductor have been used for quite some time in the electrical connector industry. In general, an insulation displacement contact includes a bifurcated element having a pair of beams with a pair of closely spaced opposed termination surfaces. The beams separate in a V-shape, like a scissors, during termination. The termination surfaces include knife edge portions for penetrating the insulation of the electrical conductor.

#An example of an insulation displacement contact is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,700 assigned to Bell Telephone Laboratories Incorporated.

#The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may be better understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

#FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the contact of the subject invention after having been stamped, but prior to the bending of the furcations.

#FIG. 2 is a partial front elevational view of the contact of FIG. 1 subsequent to the bending of the furcations and showing a portion of the well of the housing receiving the contact.

#Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, there is provided electrical contact 10 which is shown in a planer condition immediately after stamping, but prior to bending the operation, which will be explained below. Preferably, contact 10 is made from a phosphor bronze alloy, and more preferably, it is made from a beryllium copper alloy. Contact 10 is bifurcated and includes a pair of furcations 12 and 14. Furcation 12 includes elongated cantilevered beam 16 and a simple beam in the form of C-shaped leg 18 connected thereto at two spaced apart locations 19 and 21 on the cantilevered beam. A space 20 is provided between a portion of the leg 18 and beam 16 and between the spaced apart connection points 19 and 21. Furcation 14 is identical to furcation 12 and includes cantilevered beam 22 and a simple beam in the form of C-shaped leg 24. Beams 16 and 22 are integral with one another and merge together in a middle region of the contact generally indicated as 26.

#An elongated stud element 28 extends below the middle region 26. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the major portion of stud element 28 is in the form of a standard insulation displacement contact for terminating a single conductor. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the major portion of stud element 28 is in the form of a post which is to be connected to a substrate such as a printed circuit board.

#Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, leg 18, and thus its major plane is bent approximately 90.degree. with respect to beam 16, and thus its major plane. Likewise, leg 24 is bent approximately 90.degree. with respect to beam 22. The phantom lines 30, 32, 34 and 36, shown in FIG. 1, illustrate the approximate position where the bends occur which are near the places of connection 19 and 21 between the legs and the beams. The beams 16 and 22 as illustrated in FIG. 2 are rotated 90.degree. from their position shown in FIG. 1. After this bending operation, a slot generally indicated as 29 is formed in the contact between the beams 16 and 22.