Cam-actuated terminal connector

Abstract

A connector for removably joining a plurality of electrical terminals to a flat cable. The connector has a housing containing two eccentric cams mounted on separate, parallel axes. The cams are spring biased to a closed position wherein the adjacent surfaces are relatively close together and are rotatable by a push-button actuated release mechanism to an open position wherein the surfaces are relatively far apart. An end of the flat cable is stripped of insulation to expose the conductors and is inserted through an aperture in the housing and between the adjacent surfaces of the cams from a first direction. The plurality of terminals is inserted through a second aperture and between the adjacent surfaces of the cams from the opposite direction into overlapping relationship with the flat cable. A ridge projecting from the surface of the first cam engages a trough formed in the surface of the second cam when the cams are in the closed position to clamp the terminals into contact with the respective conductors of the cable. Any tension on the cable tends to rotate the cams to clamp even more tightly on the cable and terminals so that it is very difficult to pull the cable out of the connector. The terminals and/or cable are easily removed from the connector by depressing the push-button release mechanism.