Importance

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Abstract

An insulation displacement contact for a two wire termination connection strip includes first and second generally planar leaf elements, each having longitudinal centerlines lying in a common longitudinal plane. The longitudinal plane is perpendicular to both of the leaf elements. The first leaf element is formed with a first leaf longitudinal slot defined by a first leaf relieved edge located on a first side of the longitudinal plane, and a first leaf opposed cutting edge which is spaced from the first leaf relieved edge in a direction towards the first leaf longitudinal centerline. The second leaf element is formed with a second leaf longitudinal slot defined by a second leaf relieved edge and a second leaf opposed cutting edge, with the second leaf relieved edge located on the second side of the longitudinal plane and the second leaf opposed cutting edge being spaced from the second leaf relieved edge in a direction towards the first leaf longitudinal centerline. The first and second leaf longitudinal slots define a tortuous path for receiving two insulated wires, with the cutting edges cutting through the insulation of the two insulated wires to make electrical contact and the relieved edges defining open regions which receive portions of the insulation of the insulated wires which are displaced from the wires, such that insulation displaced from the first wire does not interfere with placement of the second wire. The insulation displacement contacts are preferably employed with a connector block having an insulation-displacement-contact-receiving cavity defined by first and second pairs of generally parallel walls having a generally parallelogram cross section. The first pair of parallel walls are generally perpendicular to the longitudinal plane, while the second pair of parallel walls are generally sized and shaped to create back-up portions which back up the first and second leaf cutting edges when the contact is inserted into the cavity, such that the first and second cutting edges are moved towards the relieved edges and are substantially fixed against in-plane motion. The special shape for the insulation-displacement-contact-receiving cavity assists in preventing springing of the contact when the second wire is inserted.

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First Claim