Dynamic contact orienting universal circuit grabber

• Main Author: Roberts, Joseph A
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 29.06.2004

The invention relates generally to multi-terminal or multi-contact electrical connectors to connect electrical contacts of various shapes. The invention relates more specifically to electrical connectors of the insulation piercing, gas tight electrical connection type to quickly and inexpensively interconnect a wide variety of contacts to conventional flexible circuit, tape cable or encapsulated round wire harness. Most specifically the invention relates to an electrical connector that terminates more than twice the number of contacts per inch than a conventional insulation displacing connector and eliminates the expense of soldering, crimping or welding usually associated with the attachment of a connector contact to an interconnect circuit. The invention is an electrical connection system that releasably connects the circuit paths of a flexible conductive circuit to a printed circuit board having a corresponding row of contacts, without the need for soldering, crimping or welding operations, or extensive preparation of the flexible circuit before connection. One embodiment has a least one spring contact formed in a cover; at least one rotatable cam; and a base. The cover and base snap together to house the rotatable cam(s). The connection is made by feeding the circuit into a slot in the cam, then rotating the cam to bring the circuit into contact with the spring contact which has a tapered insulation plane that pierces and peels back the dielectric covering of the conductive circuit to make a direct metal to metal, gas tight contact between the deflectable contact and the conductors of the conductive circuit.