Connector tap-off arrangement for continuous conductors

An electrical connector arrangement for supplying to a plurality of output conductors (70) current that is tapped off from a plurality of insulated input conductors (21), respectively, comprising:

• (a) a rectangular base member (2) having a horizontal upper surface containing a plurality of longitudinally-extending conductor seats (20) for supporting the insulated input conductors, respectively;
• (b) a rigid hollow rectangular support frame (3, 3′) mounted on said base member upper surface and surrounding the space above said conductor seats, said frame having spaced pairs of side and end walls, said frame being formed from an electrical insulating material and contains a plurality of longitudinal chambers (6) extending parallel with and above said conductor seats, respectively, the upper and lower ends of said chambers being open;
• (c) a plurality of rectangular terminal blocks (4) mounted for vertical movement with in said frame chambers above and parallel with said conductor seats, respectively, each of said terminal blocks including:
• (1) a hollow housing (7);
• (2) at least one output terminal (9) mounted in said housing adjacent an access opening contained in said housing;
• and
• (3) an insulation-piercing contact (8) connected with said output terminal and extending downwardly from said housing;
• and
• (d) displacement means (16) for displacing said terminal blocks between elevated disengaged positions spaced above said conductor seats, and lowered engaged positions in which the insulation-piercing contacts are arranged to pierce the insulation layers and electrically engage the input conductors supported by the associated seats, respectively.