Insulation displacement connection connector having improved connection features between cover and body thereof

Abstract

An IDC connector ( ) is used for connecting a flat cable ( ) to a header connector ( ) mounted on a PCB ( ). The IDC connector has a cover ( ) forming at each end thereof an outer U-shaped locker ( ) and an inner latch ( ), and a base ( ) receiving a plurality of terminals ( ) therein for terminating the cable. The cover is enagagable with the base at an initial position and a final position. At the initial position, the lockers of the cover engage with projections ( ) of the base with a space between a scalloped bottom face ( ) of the cover and a terminating face ( ) of the base so that the flat cable is movable on the terminating face. At the final position, the inner latches engage with steps ( ) formed by the base and the scalloped bottom face fittingly depresses the flat cable against the terminating face, in which the terminals electrically engage with conductors ( ) in the cable, respectively. The base further has deflectable hooks ( ) at lateral side ends thereof. The hooks ( ) engage with crossbars ( ) of the header connector when the IDC connector mates with the header connector. An excessively inner deflection of the hooks is prevented by an engagement between the hooks and lateral side faces ( ) of the base, and an excessively outer deflection of the hooks is prevented by an engagement between the hooks and the inner latches of the cover.