CA1079376A - Insulation piercing type electrical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The invention is directed toward an improved electrical connector of the type having insulation-piercing contact portions mounted in a first body portion for receiving insulated conductors forced therein during an insertion operation. The connector has a second body portion with means defining a plurality of conductor holding means aligned with respective ones of the contact portions to receive and hold the conductors for insertion.

Description

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This invention relates to techniques ~or simultaneously inserting a pl~lrality o~ insulated conductor~ in respective insulation-piercing contacts o~ an electrical connector, and more particularly to techniques ~or handl.ing insulated conductor~
prior to and during insertion, inc].uding -transporting7 separating, cutting and positioning and aligning the conductors with respect to respecti~e insulation-piercing contacts o~ an electrical connector.
The termination of insulated conductors i~ insulation~
piercing contacts is generally well known in the art and covers a wide variety of techniques including the grasping o~ conductors between the ~ingers and ~orcing the same between coplanar slightly spaced -tines, ~or example, o~ a terminal and machine insertion o~
one or a plurality o~ conductors into respective insulation-piercing contacts. The prior art has, however, failed to provide a simple, yet e~ective, technique and corresponding apparatus for handling the conductors prior to insertion, handling being here intended to~include a variety o~ operations such as separating and guiding of conductors, transporting o~ conductors in a spaced relationship, cutting o~ the conductors and alignment o~ the con-ductors with respect to connector channels having insulation-- pie~cing contacts therein,.. an~ the attendant.scheduling and.
cooperation o~ such functions to attain a terminated conductor in a simple and economical manner.
Apparatus has been constructed which does provide ~or the separation OI' ~anning o~ conductors ~or splicing and ~or disposItio~- relat:iv~--termina~-apparatu~r~ -~et-,t his--structur~-is either complex in nature~ or not easily adapted to continuous termination operations on a mass scale.
It is al principle object o~ the present invention to provide terminati.on techniques including method and apparatus `~ *or simultaneously terminating a plurality o~ insulated electrical , , 1 ~k '`'' ~': ` f, :
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conductors in respectlve insulation-pierclng contacts o~ an electrical connector wherein the conductors are simply and easily handled with respect to transporting, separating, routing, cutting and aligning the conductors with respect to ch~nnels o~
an electrical connector which have the contacts disposed therein.
Another object o~ the invention is to provide a method and apparatus ~or adapting one connector construction to termi-nation apparatus designed for another connector construction, These and other objects are realized through the pro-vision o~ apparatus and attendant procedures which may employcombinations o~ the a~orementioned operations. The invention is realized in an embodiment wherein a connector supporting structure is ~ixedly mounted with respect to a base and a conductor sup-porting structure is mounted above the connector supporting struc-ture. In this embodiment, a first cutting member is rotated to a position parallel to the connector and slightly above the lower ends of the individual channels. Wi-th the conductors vertically disposed along side the respective grooves and draped over the first cutting member, a second cutting member is rotated to cooper-ate with the first cut$ing member to sever the conductors. Theconductor insertion membersS in this embodiment, are carried on a mechanism-which is rotated to each side o~ the connector ~or forcing the conductors into respective contacts.
In another embodiment o~ the invention, the first ~, cutting member is fixed parallel to the connector and the second ~cutting member is rotated to cooperate with the first cutting member to sever t~e conductors.
The co3nductor supportin~ structure is separable ~rom .; . -the res$ o~ the apparatus and comprises a comb-like structure having a slot extending through the comb teeth ~or receiving a conductor separation and spacing member. For positioning con-ductors along a pair o~ spaced parallel channels on each side of ;

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. . . -~7~93~'6 a connector the comb teeth have a depth greater th~n the desired conductor separatlon and receive two conductors therebet~een, The width of the separation and spacing member is dimensioned approx-imately the desired spacing between two rows o~ conductors, i,e,, the width of the connector, and disposed between the conductors to prevent them from being displaced toward each other, The separation and spacing member is also a part o~ a conductor clamping mechanism which includes a wire having a slidable pivotal connection at one end of the separation member and ~ releasably engageable hook for connection to the other end o~ the separation member as the wire embraces the conductors positioned on the side of the outermost portions of the comb teeth, A second embodiment of a conductor supporting structure adapts a connector of one construction for termination by apparatus designed for a dif~erent connector construction. This structure, hereinafter called an "adapter" engages the conrlector by means o~
a complementary ridge and slot mechanism and is designed to be a permanent part of the terminated connector. As will be evident from the detailed description of the adapter, it may be used alone or in connection with the above-described conductor supporting structure.
The conductor supporting structures provi~e several advantages. First of all, the conductors can be separated and held therein at a location adjacent or remote from the work station, whichever may be more ad~antageous in connection with the particular o~erall assembly process. Secondly~ the conductors may be cut to the appropriate length at such different locations, thereby obviating the necessity for cutting the conductors at work stations. In addition, when it is more desirable to separate and hold the conductors at a different location, the con~uctors may be easily transported in a separated, spaced relationship to the work station.

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In another embodiment of the invenl.ion, th~ connector suppor-ting structure includes a pair of spaced combs and a con-nector alignment stop lor positioning -the connector 90 tha-t its contact channels are ali~ned with -the slots between the comb teeth. The suppor-ted conductors dress in-to the combs and are cut during insertion by an edge on the individual insertion mem-bers and the rear edge of the slots between the comb teeth.
The invention is particularly directed toward an improved electrical connector of the type wherein a plurali-ty of insulation-piercing contact portions are mounted in and open late-rally of a rear end of a first shaped body portion for receiving insulated conductors forced therein during an inser-tion operation, the improvemen-t comprising: a strain relief adapter body portion adapted to couple to the first body portion including means defin-ing a plurality of conduc-tor holding means aligned with respective ones of the contact portions to receive and hold the conductors prior to insertion and to provide strain relief after insertion, and having a shape complementary to and for engaging with the first body portion.
20 .Other objects, features and advantages of the invention, its organization, construction and operation will be best under-stood from the following detailed description of a preferred embo-diment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, on which:
FIG~ 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of the invention with a stationary connector supporting structure, a detachably mounted conductor supporting structure, a rotatable cutting mechanism for cutting the conductors, and an insertion mechanism is rotatably mounted for rotation to an insertion position;
FIGo 2 is an elevational view of the apparatus of FIG l;

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FIG. 3 is a sectional view o~ the apparatus o~ FIG, 1 taken generally along the line III-III;
FIG. 4 illustrates a conductor holder Lor use with the apparatus o~ the invention;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along the line V-V of FIG, 4;
FIG. 6 is a plan view o~ another embodiment o~ the invention;
FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken generally along the line VII-VII oi FIG, 6;
FIG, 8 is a side elevation o~ an insertion member which may be employed in practicing the present invention;

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~7~3~o~6 FIG 9 is a top view o~ another embodiment o~ a con-ductor insertion apparatus having cooperable ~ixed and rotatable cutting members;
FIG 10 is a ~ront view, in section, o~ the apparatus o~ FIG. 9;
FIG 11 is a side view, in somewhat o~ a diagrammatic form, o~ the cutting members o-~ the appara-tus illustrated in FIG 9;
FIG 12 is an elevationa]. view, partially in section, 10 of an adapter according to the invention, shown mounted on a connector;
FIG. 13 is a top view of the apparatus o~ FIG 12;
FIG 14 is a more detailed showing o~ the channel and contact structure o~ the connector o~ FIGS~ 12 and 13; and FIG 15 is a sectional view taken along the line XV-XV of FIG 13 Referring to FIGS 1-3, a terminating apparatus 10 is illustrated for terminating the individual conduc-tors 13 of a cable 11 in insulation-piercing contacts disposed in respective channels 17 of an electrical connector 15. The apparatus 10 generally comprises a base 12, a connector support 14 mounted on the-base-l~, and a conductor--suppor-t-mounted on the base 12 which includes a front support member 16, a rear support member 18 and a co~ductor holder 20 connected to the front and rear sup-port members 16 and 18 ~or holding the conductors 13 in a spaced relationship corresponding to the spacing o* the connector channel 17.
The apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1 3 is symmetrical with respect to each side of the connector 15; there~ore, equi-valent structure has been given the same re~erence characters.
On each side o~ the apparatus 10 there is provided a first cutting arm 22 and a second cutting arm 24 which are rotatably carried on , . , ' - - ~ - , : . . .

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the rear support member 18 ~or rotation about an a~is de~ined by a pin 32 to a location parallel to and adjacent the connector 15, The front support member 16 is provided wi-th a recess 34 ~or receiving the distal ends of the cutting arms 22, 24 in -the po-sition parallel to the connector 150 The connector is positioned between a pair o~ guide members 28 carried on the connector support 14 and has its end in abutment with an adjustable screw 30 -for proper alignment and positioning.
The apparatus 10 is prov:ided with an insertion mechanism which comprises a pair of cooperable parts 26 and 27, The in-sertion mechanism part 26 includes a pair of spaced arms 36, 38 which are pivotally carried on a pin 40 between the ~ront and rear support members 16 and 18. The free ends of the arms 36 and 38 have an insertion tool 42 connected therebetween including a plurality o~ insertion blades 44 which are aligned with the - individual conductors 13 and channels 17. The insertion mechanism part 26 further includes a projection 46 which is part of a toggle mechanism which will be discussed in detail below.
The insertion mechanism 27 is constructed quite similar to the part 26 and comprises a pair of spaced arms 48 and 50 which are carried for rotation between the front and rear support mem-: bers 16 ànd 18 by a pin 52. An insertion tool 54 having a plural-ity of insertion members or blades 56 is carried between the spaced arms 48 and 50. A cam pin 59 is connected between another pair o~ spaced arms 57 and 5~ which are pivotally connected to th~ insertion tool 54. This structure also forms a part o~ the toggle mechanism ~herein the insertion mechanism parts 26 and 27 : are rotated toward each other to a position for conductor insertion, : 30 the spaced arms 57 and 58 receive the projection 46 therein with the cam pin 59 against the outer surface of the projection and a downward pressure is applied to the handle 55 to ~orce the parts ,-- 6 ~ . :-. .

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26 and 27 toward each other. (FIG, 3), Re~erring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the conductor holder 20 is illustrated in greater detail as comprising a comb structure advantageously ~ormed, such as by molding, from a pair o~ gener-ally ~lat members 60 and 70. When in an assembled condition by means of bonding, riveting or the like, the member 60 provides a generally planar upper sur~ace 62 and the member 70 has a similar sur~ace 72, At the joint between these members they are provided with a mirror construction including respective flat sur~ace portions 64, 74, a trough-like sur~ace 66, 76, and a pair o~
generally ~lat sur~aces 68 and 7~, As can be seen in FIG, 5, the sur~aces 64 and 74 are mating sur~aces while the sur~aces 66, 76, 68, 78 are spaced sur~aces which de~ine a key-hole shaped slot 80 which extends the length o~ the conductor holder 20, The slot 80 therefore includes an enlarged portion 82 generally in the center of the holder and a portion 84 which extends laterally of the holder to an outer edge.
The Joined members 60 and 70 are provided with a plural-ity of teeth 86 having conductor receiving spaces 8~ therebetween, To hold a plurality o~ conductors in parallel rows and in an aligned and spaced relationship, the holder 20 is provided with a conductor separation and spacing apparatus 100 which includes ;~ an elongate portion 102 for extending between the rows of con-ductors and through the enlarged slot portion 82 which extends . through all of the teeth 86, a pointed nose portion 104 having : a detent 106 therein, a handle portion 108 having a hilt 110 for abutting the end o~ the comb structure, and a slot 112 in the handle 108. A pLn 114 extends into the slot 112 and lies within an elongate recessed portion 116 o~ a wire 118, The wire 118 includes a handle portion 122 ~or moving the recessed portion : longitudinally :relative the pin 114 to engage and disengage a hook 120 ln the detent 106.

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The clepth o~ the slots 88 between the teeth 86 is greater than the required spacing o~ conductor rows. The teeth 86 are spaced such that the spaces 88 therebetween equal the spacing o~ the connector channels 17. The transverse dimension o~ the portion 102 is approximately equal to the spacing o~ the conductor rows and conductor receiving spaces 124 and 126 are de~ined by the depth of $he slots 88, the transverse dimension o~ the elongate portion 102 and the clamping ef-~ect o~ the wire 118, At the start o~ the termination process, a row o-~ con-ductors is disposed in the respective comb space portions 126 ln accordance with a desired conductor alignment schedule, the member 100 is inserted through the enlarged slot portion 82, the next row o~ conductors is dressed between the teeth S6 according to the conductor termination schedule and the wire 118 is pivoted into a clamping relationship with the outermost conductors and has its hook 120 releasably engaged within the detent 106, The plurality of conductors, which may be in the ~orm o~ a cable, is then~~easily ~ransported from~one location-to another with the individual conductors disposed in the desired spaced relationship, With the conductors clamped in the holder 20 9 the holder : . 20 is positioned on top of and connected to the front and rear support members 16 and 18 in FIG, lo Any suitable connection means may be provided for this purpose. In the particular example illustrated in FIGo 17 a pair of undercut members 90, 92 having an L-shaped cross section in each vertical direction are provided to receive the corners of the holder 20 at the ~ront support :~ member 16,~ A pair---of-spaced-members--94-and 96 are provided on the upper surface o~ the rear support member ~or receiving the holder 20 therebetween. Inasmuch as viewed ~rom the right hand 30 side of FIG. 1, the undercut members on th~ ~ront support member ~ and the spa¢ed members on the rear support member are suf~icient .
: to~ align and ho1d the loaded conductor holder 20 during the in-: ` - 8 - --... . ~

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~9376 ser-tion operation.
In the overall operation, the conductors are dressed into the holder 20 as previously described, A connector is positioned between the guide members 28 and in abutment with the adjustable screw 30 on the connector support 14 and the conductor support member 16, respectively, The cutting arms 22 are rotated so as to be positioned immedia-tely adjacent and parallel to the connector, Next, the holder 20 carrying the separated and spaced conductors is connected to the front and rear support members 16 and 18 so that the conductors lie parallel the connector channels 17 and are draped over the cutting arms 22, The cutting arms 24 are then rotated to the same positions as -the cutting arms 22 thereby severing the conductors to predetermined lengths, The arms 22 and 24 are then rotated to the rear and out of the path of the insertion mechanism parts 26 and 27, Insertion of the conductors is then performed, wherein each insertion member 44, 56 presses a respective conductor into a respective insulation-piercing contact with the operation o~ the toggle mechanism previously described, ~' 20 Referring now to FIGS, 6 and 7, another embodiment o~
the invention is illustrated wherein a terminator apparatus 130 includes a base 132, front and rear support members mounted on the base 132, a connector support 140 mounted on the base 132 and ~; an insertion mechanism 26, 27 rotatably carried between the front , and rear supports 134 and 138, It is readily apparent that the insertion mechanism and the conductor holder and its connecting mechanism with-respect to ;:
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: - the front and rear support members 134 and 138 is the same as was :~ deser1bed above in reference to FIGS. 1-3, Therefore, this appa-30 ratus will not be further discussed.
~, , .~ The front support member 134 includes an adjustable stop serew 136 which functions ror adjustably aligning a connector -~ _ g _ ' ' ~' , :

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as in the previous embodiment. In this embodlment, however, the connector support 140 is provided wLth a pair o~ L-shaped combs which are secured to the support member 140 by machine screws 144 or the like. As can be seen in the drawing, the combs 142 each include a vertical portion 146 and a horizontal portion 148, and the combs are dimensioned and mounted in a spaced relationship to provide a slot 150 therebe-tween for receiving an electrical connector which is supported on the support member 140. The combs 142 each include a plurality o~ conductor receiving slots 152 each having a sharp rear edge 154 which functions as a first cutting member, As in -the previous embodiment, the conductor holder is mounted on the ~ront and rear support members 134, 138 and the individual conductors are disposed in a depending relationship adjacent respective contact channels of the electrical connector, In this particular embodiment, rather than extending across a movable cutting arm, the individual conductors dress into the slots 152 which are also aligned with the connector channels, The cutting operation is per~ormed by the individual conductor insertion blades, For example, as illustrated in FIG, 8, a con-ductor insertion blade 44 includes an edge for engaging and ; pressing a free-ended conductor into an insulation-piercing con-tact. For use as a cutting member in cooperation with the cutting edge 154 o~ a comb slot 152, the insertion blade 44 is provided with a lower sharp edge 128 which e~ects cutting o~ a conductor immediately prior to 1nsertion o~ the same into an insulation-piercing contact,, ReferrLng to FIGS, 9, 10 and 11, another embodiment of a terminating apparatus is generally illustrated at 160 as com-prising a base 12, a connector support 14 mounted on the base 12, and a pair of cooperable insertion parts 26 and 27 mounted on the base 12 as in the previously descri~ed termination apparatus o~

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FIGS 1~3, 6 and 7 The connector support 14 o~ the termination apparatus 160 carries a pair o~ spaced cutting members 162 and 164 having respective cutting edges 166 and 1~8 The cutting members 162 and 164 receive a connector -therebetween and the individual conductors are draped over the cutting edges and through -the slots o~ a pair o~ combs 142, which may be provided, if desired, as described in connection with FIGS 6 and 7. The cutting members 162 and 164 are spac0d so as to receive there-between, and respectively adjacent thereto, a cooperable rotatably ~¦ 10 mounted cutting member J A pair of cutting members 170 and 172 have respective cutting edges 174 and 176 and are carried on respective members ¦ 178 and 180 which are rotatably mounted on the rear support member 138.at 182 and 184 ~or rotation in a vertical plane and are con-. nected together by a transverse member 186 which carries a handle 188 The rotatable members 178 and 180 have the inside ~aces thereof recessed to provide respective shoulders 190 and 192 which engage the upper surface of the cutting members 162 and 164 and ac$ as stops.
A cable clamp may be mounted on the rear support 138 so . that the cable extends between the rotatable cutting members 170 and.l72. - In addition,..and as in the previously discussed embodi-I ments, mounting apparatus may be provided on the ~ront and rear supports ~or receiving a conductor holder, such as the holder 20 l~ illustrated in FIG 4. In addition, a connector adapter may be l utilized with, or in place of, the conductor holder as set forth below.
~i It is highly desirable for an operator to have flexibil-ity with respect to both termination apparatus and the type of . .
~` 30 connector which may be served by the termination apparatus. It is therefore advantageous to terminate one type o~ connector cons-3 truction ~ith apparatus designed for another type of connector . .

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structure, and to be able to per~orm such termination in a simple and economical mann~r. In view o~ this, FIGS, 12-15 illustrate techniques for adapting one type o~ connector construction ~or termination by apparatus designed ~or another type o~ connector construction, Referring to FIGS. 12-15, an adapted connector 194 is illustrated as comprising a connector 196 having a construction that is different from the construction o~ connectors ordinarily terminated by the above-described apparatus and will hereina~ter be referred to as a "foreign" connector.
The foreign connector 196 includes a plurality o~ pro-jections 198 which mount insulation-piercing portions 200 o~ the electrical contacts therebe-tween, The connector 196 also includes a projecting ridge 202 which extends substantially the length of the contact mounting part of the connector. A plurality o~ pro-jections define a plurality of conductor gripping grooves 206 which are aligned with respective ones of the contact portions 200 when the adapter is mounted on the foreign connector, The grooves 206 extend, at their distal ends, toward an elongate slot 210 and communicate therewith by way of groove extensions 208 which, as will be detailed below, aid in positioning the indivi-dual conductors, The adapter 204 includes an elongate slot 212 which receives the projection 202 of the foreign connector 196 when the adapter 204 is mated with the connector, The adapter~204 also includes surfaces 214 at each end thereof to engage complementary suPfaces 216~of~~the foreign connector 196 and align the grooves and contacts.
The adapter illustrated in FIGS. 12-15 has, as mentioned 30 above, the primary purpose of adapting a foreign connector to the termination apparatus designed for other connectors and to provide ~the forelg~ connector, by means o~ -the gripping grooves 206, with ,:
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strai~ relief not heretofore available adjacent the contacts o~
such a construction, Re~lecting for a moment, however 7 to the holder 20 illus-trated in FIG. ~, it is readily apparent that the holder 20 and the adapter 20~ have common ~eatures, namely, the separation and holding o~ the conductors in a predetermined, spaced relationship in accordance ~ith the spacin~ of the con-nector contacts. There~ore, it is readily apparent that the adapter 204 may also be dressed at a separa-te 7 remote station and the conductors held thereby tr,ansported to the work station in a spaced relationship, In view of the above-described structures, the presellt invention exhibits a variety o~ techniques ~or terminating elec-trical connectors. The methods ~or terminating connectors may include the utilization o~ a holder, such as the holder 20, to position separated conductors adjacent respective insula-tion-piercing portions o~ contacts and their associated strain`relie~
groove structure, whether such groove structure is constituted as part of a connector or as a part o~ a foreign connector adapted ~or termination by apparatus such as disclosed herein, The adapter itself, however, may be utilized in the same manner as the conductor holder of FIG. 4; however 7 instead o~ mounting such a holder on the termination apparatus, the adapter engages and becomes a part o~ the ~oreign connector.
Because of all o~ the various possibilities ~or ter-minating conductors, several basic methods of termination, some of which have been set forth above, become evident to those skilled in the art, Some of these methods are set forth below in the following examples.
First of all, the holder 20 may be utilized with each 30 of the -termination apparatus disclosed herein, Depending on the particular connec:tor, it may or may not be necessary to dress the individual conductors into the distal ends o~ the channel grooves ~: .

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prior to insertion, Also, depending on which type o~ cutting mechanism is used, the conductors may be cut to length at various stages during the -termination procedure, For example, the appa-ratus o~ FIGS, 1 and 2 provide ~or cut-ting, if the conductors have not been previously cut, as a separate step prior to inser-tion. On the other hand, the apparatus illustrated in FIGS, 6 and 7 provide conductor cutting contemporaneously during the insertion operation. The apparatus of FIGS. 9 and 10, again provide for conductor cutting as a separate step prior to insertion, The conductors may be cut by a separate mechanism, prior to receipt thereof at the work station, particularly when a holder or adapter is utilized, The cu-tting operation may be performed before or after-*he cond.uctor-s-.-are.placed in a holder or adapter,-depending on which procedure is most advantageous in the overall -termination procedure, Two o~` the methods disclosed herein, and the apparatus attendant thereto, may be combined to advantage in some instances to form a composite method, For example, the conductors may be dressed into a holder and cut to length at a ~irst station and . transported to a second station where the holder is mounted over a foreign connector having an adapter applied thereto, The indi-vidual conductors, may then be dressed into the adapter, in situa-tions requiring such a step, before the conductors are inserted into the respective aligned grooves and insulation-piercing con-tact portions, ~: In view of the ~oregoing, it is readily apparent that the provision of different configurations o~ terminating apparatus J
conductor holders and/or connector adapters, provides a great deal oi-flexibility for an operator in terminating free-ended insulated conductors in electrical connectors, particularly where a large number of conductors are involved and the termina-tion process is ~ ~ .

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a field operation.
Certain modifications o~ the termination apparatus di~-cussed above has proven advantageous in certain applications~ For example, in applications where -there is concern with respect to clearance between the insertion parts 26 and 27 and the respective stationary cutting members 162 and 164, the stationary cutting members may be constructed to rotate to and away ~rom the cutting position. In this type o~ construction, the stationary cutting members are provided with upwardly extending ears which are rotatably connected at 182 and 184, The forward ends o-f the members 178 and 180 carry respective spring latches, each o~ which is mounted in a yieldable inter-ference relationship with the ~or-ward ends of -the respective other cutting members so as to engage the respective ends and pivot those cutting members clear of the insertion parts a~ter a cutting operation. Each o~ the springs may include a ~irst portion ~or connection to the respective rotatable member, a second portion perpendicular thereto for em-bracing the outer ~ree end of the cooperable and now rotatable cutting member, a third portion perpendicular to the second portion and parallel to the first portion -for engaging the lower edge o~
j the cooperable cutting member when it is in the cutting position, and a fourth and inclined portion which is cammed by the end o~
the cooperable cutting member as the rotatable members are rotated downwardl~ to perform the cutting operation. As the junction of , ~he third and ~ourth portions pass the lower edge of the ~orward ; end of the cooperable cutting member, $he spring embraces the end of the-~cooperable cutting member and carries it in the opposite direction as the handle is rotated upwardly, ., Although the invention has been described by reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many other changes and modi~ications o~ the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing irom the spirit and scope of , ~ - 15 -. ` .

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1~7~6 the invention, It is there~ore intended to include within the patent warranted hereon all such changes and modi-~ications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope o~ this contribution to the art.

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Claims (3)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An improved electrical connector of the type wherein a plurality of insulation-piercing contact portions are mounted in and open laterally of a rear end of a first shaped body portion for receiving insulated conductors forced therein during an inser-tion operation, the improvement comprising: a strain relief adapter body portion adapted to couple to the first body portion including means defining a plurality of conductor holding means aligned with respective ones of the contact portions to receive and hold the conductors prior to insertion and to provide strain relief after insertion, and having a shape complementary to and for engaging with the first body portion.

2. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, com-prising cooperable means on said first and adapter body portions defining the complementary shapes of and providing for engagement of said body portions in a predetermined alignment with respect to each other.

3. The electrical connector as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said cooperable means comprises: a slot in one of said body portions, and a ridge on the other of said body portions for engagement in said slot to cooperably position said body portions for alignment of the conductors and the contact portions.