Connector for mass termination of flat multiple wire cable

Abstract

The combination of a flat multi-wire cable and a connector means for terminating such cable wherein a portion of the cable near the end thereof is stripped of insulation with a short section of unstripped cable between the stripped portion and the end of the cable. Wires designated as signal wires in the stripped portion are severed near the short insulated section thereof after which the short insulated section and the remaining unsevered wires, designated as ground wires, are folded back over the undisturbed insulated cable, thereby leaving the severed signal wires extending outward and over two parallel rows of first slotted contacts secured in a first housing section. By an appropriate tool the extended signal wires are simultaneously inserted in said first slots in parallel manner and without solder. A second housing section is installed over the first housing section to retain the first contacts in said first slots. Said second housing section contains two parallel rows of second slotted contacts positioned over the first two rows of contacts and over which the end of the cable being terminated is folded to bring said ground wires over and subsequently secured in the slots of the second contacts, also by an appropriate tool. The main body of the cable is then folded back over the secured ground wires after which a third housing section, which is a cap, is installed thereover. Each of the second slotted contacts has a tab formed thereon which can be a cantilevered spring contact and which can be either removed or which can make an electrical connection with one of the first contacts positioned therebelow. No soldering is needed nor is any spreading of the wires required although such spreading can be done, if desired.