Multi-input connector

A multi-input connector system, comprising:

• a first connector having a housing;
• and
• a second connector having a housing mating with said first connector housing;
• said first connector further including:
• first, second, third, and fourth terminals disposed in said first connector housing;
• first means for connecting together said first terminal with said second terminal;
• second means for connecting together said third terminal with said fourth terminal;
• said second connector including:
• fifth and sixth, and seventh and eighth terminals disposed in said second connector housing and forming, respectively, first and second terminal groups, where in a first state the first and second connectors are coupled together, said fifth terminal is connected with said first terminal, said sixth terminal is connected with said second terminal, said seventh terminal is connected with said third terminal, and said eighth terminal is connected with said fourth terminal;
• and
• selective connect-and-disconnect means for i) connecting the first terminal group with the second terminal group in a second state wherein the first and second connectors are uncoupled and ii) for disconnecting said first terminal group from said second terminal group in the first state,
• wherein each of said first and second connecting means includes a joint terminal comprising a first male contact having a proximal planar tab end extending to a distal end, a side wall joining said distal end and extending normal to said distal end, a wall plate parallel to said side wall, a planar top plate joining said side wall and said end wall, and a spring piece extending from said top plate to the plane of said first male contact tab end, wherein said first male contact, said side walls said wall plate, said top plate, and said spring piece are formed as a single unit, and a second terminal is disposed parallel to and in the plane of the first male terminal tab end, said second terminal including a contact projection extending from the plane of said first and second terminals and adapted to contact said spring piece.

A multi-input first connector system including a first connector for use with a mating connector, said first connector, comprising:

• a connector housing;
• first and second, and third and fourth terminals, respectively forming first and second pluralities of terminals disposed in said connector housing;
• a first connecting means for connecting together said first plurality of terminals to form a first terminal group, comprising a plate integral with one of said first plurality of terminals and having thereon a spring means for disengageably joining said plate with another terminal of said first plurality of terminals;
• a second connecting means for connecting together said second plurality of terminals to form a second terminal group, comprising a plate integral with one of said second plurality of terminals and having thereon a spring means for disengageably joining said plate with another terminal of said second plurality of terminals;
• and
• selective connect-and-disconnect means for i) joining the first terminal group together with the second terminal group in a first state in which the first connector is uncoupled from the mating connector and ii) for disconnecting said first terminal group from said second terminal group in a second state in which the first connector is coupled together with the mating connector;
• wherein each of said first, second, third, and fourth terminals includes a wire termination portion adapted for connecting said termination to a wire.