Electrical connector

Claim 2

In an electrical connector for attachment to the end of an electrical cable, the improvement which comprises: a. a split body formed of an insulating material; b. said body being split along its longitudinal axis into two complementary parts and having an opening at a rear end thereof to receive an electrical cable; c. said tWo parts of the body having opposing surfaces adapted to be brought into engagement with each other; d. fastening means located along opposite sides of said body for securing the two parts of the body together; and e. strain-relief means carried by and located within said body adjacent the opening in the rear end thereof for engagement with the cable received therein; f. said relief means exerting a predetermined clamping force on the cable when the two parts of the body are brought into engagement; wherein: g. the strain-relief means includes cable-clamping members carried by the two parts of the split body; h. said cable-clamping members having opposing spaced surfaces for receiving and clamping a cable therebetween; i. at least one of said clamping members is capable of being placed in different positions in one part of the body with the spacing between the clamping surfaces of said members being different in each of said different positions; and wherein: j. said one cable clamping member has an H-shape having legs with clamping surfaces at the ends thereof; k. said H-shaped member including a bar connecting said legs with said bar being offset relative to the ends of the legs.

Claim 3

An electrical connector for attachment to an end of an electrical cable, which comprises: a. split body of insulating material; b. said body having upper and lower parts and opposing surfaces extending along opposite side edges thereof with opening at front and rear ends thereof; c. a contact-carrying insert of insulating material located within said body with a front end of said insert being fitted in the opening at the front end of the split body; d. a plurality of spaced contact elements carried by said insert; e. said contact elements having exposed portions on the front end of said insert; f. a wiring terminal carried by each of said contact elements at a rear end of said insert for connection of a conductor wire of an electrical cable thereto; g. strain-relief means carried by the split body at the opening in the rear end thereof for engagement with an electric cable extending into the body through said rear opening; and h. means for securing the two parts of the split body together with the opposing side edges thereof being in engagement and with the strain-relief means being in engagement with the electrical cable; i. said securing means being located along opposite sides of the split body and remote from the exposed portions of the contact elements; wherein: j. said strain-relief means includes a pair of spaced cable-engaging members carried by each part of the split body; k. said pair of cable-engaging members having spaced opposing surfaces for reception of the cable therebetween; l. one of said cable-engaging members being an H-shaped member having a pair of legs and a bar extending between and connecting said legs at a point offset relative to a center of said legs; m. a support formed in one part of the body and engaging with the connecting bar of said H-shaped member; n. said H-shaped member being reversible relative to said support whereby the opposing surfaces of the cable-engaging members are spaced by different distances in different positions of the H-shaped member on said support.

Claim 4

An electrical connector for attachment to an end of an electrical cable, which comprises: a. split body of insulating material; b. said body having upper and lower parts and opposing surfaces extending along opposite side edges thereof with opening at front and rear ends thereof; c. a contact-carrying insert of insulating material located within said body with a front end of said insert being fitted in the opening at the front end of the split body; d. a plurality of spaced contact elements carried by said insert; e. said contact elements having exposed portions on the front end of said insert; f. a wiring terminal carried by each of said contact elements at a rear end of said insert for connection of a conductor wire of an electrical cable thereto; g. strain-relief means carried by the split body at the opening in the rear end thereof for engagement with an electric cable extending into the body through said rear opening; and h. means for securing the two parts of the split body together with the opposing side edges thereof being in engagement and with the strain-relief means being in engagement with the electrical cable; i. said securing means being located along opposite sides of the split body and remote from the exposed portions of the contact elements; wherein: j. said strain-relief means includes a pair of spaced cable-engaging members carried by each part of the split body; k. said pair of cable-engaging members having spaced opposing surfaces for reception of the cable therebetween; l. one of said cable-engaging members being an H-shaped member having a pair of legs and a bar extending between and connecting said legs at a point offset relative to a center of said legs; m. a support formed in one part of the body and engaging with the connecting bar of said H-shaped member; n. said H-shaped member being reversible relative to said support whereby the opposing surfaces of the cable-engaging members are spaced by different distances in different positions of the H-shaped member on said support.

Claim 5

An electrical connector as defined in claim 2, which includes: a. interengaging members formed on one part of the split body and the contact-carrying insert for retaining the insert in said one part of the body during assembly of the connector.

Claim 6

An electrical connector for attachment to an end of an electrical cable, which comprises: a. a split body of insulating material; b. said body having upper and lower parts and opposing surfaces extending along opposite side edges thereof with opening at front and rear ends thereof; c. a contact-carrying insert of insulating material located within said body with a front end of said insert being fiTted in the opening at the front end of the split body; d. a plurality of spaced contact elements carried by said insert; e. said contact elements having exposed portions on the front end of said insert; f. a wiring terminal carried by each of said contact elements at a rear end of said insert for connection of a conductor wire of an electrical cable thereto; g. strain-relief means carried by the split body at the opening in the rear end thereof for engagement with an electric cable extending into the body through said rear opening; and h. means for securing the two parts of the split body together with the opposing side edges thereof being in engagement and with the strain-relief means being in engagement with the electrical cable; i. said securing means being located along opposite sides of the split body and remote from the exposed portions of the contact elements; wherein: j. the contact-carrying insert includes a block of insulating material for supporting the spaced contact elements therein; k. said block containing spaced recesses in a rear end thereof; l. each of said recesses being shaped to receive an end of one of the contact elements and the wiring terminal attached thereto; m. said block also having side openings communicating with said recesses and the wiring terminals therein; n. a cover attached to and extending over the rear end of said block and the ends of the contact elements; o. said cover having spaced openings therein aligned with the wiring terminals for the introduction of bare ends of conductor wires therethrough.

Claim 7

An electrical connector for attachment to an end of an electrical cable, which comprises: a. a split body of insulating material; b. said body having upper and lower parts and opposing surfaces extending along opposite side edges thereof with opening at front and rear ends thereof; c. a contact-carrying insert of insulating material located within said body with a front end of said insert being fiTted in the opening at the front end of the split body; d. a plurality of spaced contact elements carried by said insert; e. said contact elements having exposed portions on the front end of said insert; f. a wiring terminal carried by each of said contact elements at a rear end of said insert for connection of a conductor wire of an electrical cable thereto; g. strain-relief means carried by the split body at the opening in the rear end thereof for engagement with an electric cable extending into the body through said rear opening; and h. means for securing the two parts of the split body together with the opposing side edges thereof being in engagement and with the strain-relief means being in engagement with the electrical cable; i. said securing means being located along opposite sides of the split body and remote from the exposed portions of the contact elements; wherein: j. the contact-carrying insert includes a block of insulating material for supporting the spaced contact elements therein; k. said block containing spaced recesses in a rear end thereof; l. each of said recesses being shaped to receive an end of one of the contact elements and the wiring terminal attached thereto; m. said block also having side openings communicating with said recesses and the wiring terminals therein; n. a cover attached to and extending over the rear end of said block and the ends of the contact elements; o. said cover having spaced openings therein aligned with the wiring terminals for the introduction of bare ends of conductor wires therethrough.

Claim 8

An electrical connector as defined in claim 4, wherein: a. each of the wiring terminals includes a terminal screw which is accessible through one of the openings in the block; and b. a slider element of a conductive material carried by said screw; c. said slider element being slidably movable into clamping engagement with a bare end of the conductor wire under pressure exerted thereon by the screw.

Claim 9

In an electrical connector for attachment to an end of an electrical cable, the improvement which comprises: a. a split body of insulating material, b. said body being formed in two parts and having a cable-receiving opening at a rear end thereof; c. a pair of inwardly extending spaced cable-clamping members formed in a first part of the body adjacent said cable-receiving opening; d. a rib-like support formed in a second part of the body and extending inwardly therefrom at a point spaced from the cable-receiving opening; and e. an H-shaped cable-clamping member having a connecting bar seated on said rib-like support and being reversible relative to said support; f. said connecting bar extending between a pair of spaced legs and being offset relative to the center of said legs; g. said legs having ends disposed in opposing spaced relation to opposing ends of the cable-engaging members in the first part of the body; h. the spacing between the ends of said legs and the ends of the opposing members being different in each of the positions of the H-shaped member on the rib-like support.

Claim 10

In an electrical connector for attachment to an end of an electrical cable, the improvement which comprises: a. a split body of insulating material, b. said body being formed in two parts and having a cable-receiving opening at a rear end thereof; c. a pair of inwardly extending spaced cable-clamping members formed in a first part of the body adjacent said cable-receiving opening; d. a rib-like support formed in a second part of the body and extending inwardly therefrom at a point spaced from the cable-receiving opening; and e. an H-shaped cable-clamping member having a connecting bar seated on said rib-like support and being reversible relative to said support; f. said connecting bar extending between a pair of spaced legs and being offset relative to the center of said legs; g. said legs having ends disposed in opposing spaced relation to opposing ends of the cable-engaging members in the first part of the body; h. the spacing between the ends of said legs and the ends of the opposing members being different in each of the positions of the H-shaped member on the rib-like support.

Claim 11

In an electrical connector, the improvement as defined in claim 6 wherein: a. the two parts of the split body having mating faces extending along opposite sides thereof; and b. means located on opposite sides of the split body for bringing the two parts of the body into engagement with each other and simultaneously bringing the opposing surfaces of the cable-clamping members into engagement with the cable; c. said securing means being located along the sides of the split body.

Claim 12

In an electrical connector, the improvement as defined in claim 7 wherein: a. the opening in the rear end of the body is elongated along an axis extending at right angles to the direction in which clamping pressure is applied to the cable.

Claim 13

In an electrical connector for attachment to an insulated cable containing a Plurality of conductors, the combination comprising: a. a split body of insulating material; b. said body being split lengthwise into two complementary parts of arcuate shape and having a passageway extending therethrough with openings at front and rear ends thereof; c. said two parts of the body each carrying a cable-grippin member with opposing surfaces of said members defining an opening at the rear end of the body dimensioned to accommodate a range of cable sizes; d. a contact-carrying insert of insulating material mounted in said passageway at the opening in the front end of the body; e. contacts carried by said insert for connection to each of the conductors contained in the cable; f. said contacts facing the opening in the front end of the body; g. terminal means carried by each of said contacts for connecting one of the conductors of the cable thereto; h. said terminal means being located at a rear end of said insert and being enclosed by said body; i. a retainer plate attached to the rear end of the insert and holding the contacts in place in the insert; j. said retainer plate having conductor receiving openings therein aligned with and providing access to each of said terminal means on the contacts; k. fastening means for securing the two parts of the split body together enclosing the insert and simultaneously gripping the cable between said two parts of the body; l. said fastening means being located along opposing side edges of the two body parts at spaced points located between the front and rear ends thereof; wherein: m. each of the terminal means includes a movable slider for clamping a bare end of a conductor wire in electrical engagement with the contact; and n. an adjustment screw for moving said slider into clamping engagement with the bare end of a conductor wire; o. said adjustment screws being exposed on vertical sides of the insert for adjustment of the sliders.

Claim 14

In an electrical connector for attachment to an insulated cable containing a Plurality of conductors, the combination comprising: a. a split body of insulating material; b. said body being split lengthwise into two complementary parts of arcuate shape and having a passageway extending therethrough with openings at front and rear ends thereof; c. said two parts of the body each carrying a cable-grippin member with opposing surfaces of said members defining an opening at the rear end of the body dimensioned to accommodate a range of cable sizes; d. a contact-carrying insert of insulating material mounted in said passageway at the opening in the front end of the body; e. contacts carried by said insert for connection to each of the conductors contained in the cable; f. said contacts facing the opening in the front end of the body; g. terminal means carried by each of said contacts for connecting one of the conductors of the cable thereto; h. said terminal means being located at a rear end of said insert and being enclosed by said body; i. a retainer plate attached to the rear end of the insert and holding the contacts in place in the insert; j. said retainer plate having conductor receiving openings therein aligned with and providing access to each of said terminal means on the contacts; k. fastening means for securing the two parts of the split body together enclosing the insert and simultaneously gripping the cable between said two parts of the body; l. said fastening means being located along opposing side edges of the two body parts at spaced points located between the front and rear ends thereof; wherein: m. each of the terminal means includes a movable slider for clamping a bare end of a conductor wire in electrical engagement with the contact; and n. an adjustment screw for moving said slider into clamping engagement with the bare end of a conductor wire; o. said adjustment screws being exposed on vertical sides of the insert for adjustment of the sliders.

Claim 15

In an electrical connector for attachment to an electrical cable, the improvement which comprises: a. a split body of generally cylindrical shape formed of an insulating material; b. said body being split along its longitudinal axis into two complementary parts of arcuate shape defining a passageway extending between openings at the front and rear ends of the body; c. said opening at the rear end being shaped to receive an electrical cable containing a plurality of conductors; d. said two parts of the split body having mating side edges extending lengthwise along opposite sides thereof; e. a pair of opposing cable gripping members carried by said body at said opening in the rear end thereof; f. said cable-clamping members having spaced opposing surfaces which define an opening of predetermined size when the mating side edges of the two parts of the body are brought into engagement; g. fastening means located along the mating side edges of the two complementary parts of the split body for securing said parts together and simultaneously bringing the opposing surfaces of the clamping members into predetermined spaced relation; and h. a contact-carrying insert held between said two parts of the body and within said passageway adjacent the opening in the front end of the body; wherein: i. at least one of the cable-clamping members is reversible to different positions in one part of the split body with the opposing surfaces of the cable-clamping members in said different positions defining openings for cables of different sizes; and in which: j. one part of the split body contains an inwardly extending rib adjacent the opening in the rear end of said body; and k. the reversible cable-clamping member has an H-shaped configuration having a bar connecting spaced legs of said H-shape; l. said leg being offset relative to ends of said legs and said H-shaped member being reversibly seated on said rib.

Claim 16

In an electrical connector for attachment to an electrical cable, the improvement which comprises: a. a split body of generally cylindrical shape formed of an insulating material; b. said body being split along its longitudinal axis into two complementary parts of arcuate shape defining a passageway extending between openings at the front and rear ends of the body; c. said opening at the rear end being shaped to receive an electrical cable containing a plurality of conductors; d. said two parts of the split body having mating side edges extending lengthwise along opposite sides thereof; e. a pair of opposing cable gripping members carried by said body at said opening in the rear end thereof; f. said cable-clamping members having spaced opposing surfaces which define an opening of predetermined size when the mating side edges of the two parts of the body are brought into engagement; g. fastening means located along the mating side edges of the two complementary parts of the split body for securing said parts together and simultaneously bringing the opposing surfaces of the clamping members into predetermined spaced relation; and h. a contact-carrying insert held between said two parts of the body and within said passageway adjacent the opening in the front end of the body; wherein: i. at least one of the cable-clamping members is reversible to different positions in one part of the split body with the opposing surfaces of the cable-clamping members in said different positions defining openings for cables of different sizes; and in which: j. one part of the split body contains an inwardly extending rib adjacent the opening in the rear end of said body; and k. the reversible cable-clamping member has an H-shaped configuration having a bar connecting spaced legs of said H-shape; l. said leg being offset relative to ends of said legs and said H-shaped member being reversibly seated on said rib.

Claim 17

In an electrical connector for attachmeNt to an end of an insulated electrical cable, the improvement which comprises: a. a hollow split body formed of an insulating material, b. said body being split along a longitudinal axis into two complementary parts with an opening in a rear end thereof for insertion of an end of an insulated electrical cable into the body; c. said two parts of the body having mating faces on opposite sides of the body which close the sides of the body; d. fastening means located along the opposite sides of the body for securing said two parts together with the mating surfaces thereof in engagement; and e. strain-relief means carried by and located within the body adjacent the opening in the rear end thereof; f. said strain-relief means comprising a cable-clamping member carried by each of the two parts of the split body; g. said cable clamping members having transverse opposing faces spaced for deformable engagement with a range of different cable sizes; h. at least one of said cable-clamping members being movable in one part of the body to different positions relative to the opposing member; i. said movable cable-clamping member being H-shaped; j. said H-shaped member having spaced legs with cable-clamping faces formed at opposite ends of said legs; k. a supporting bar connecting said legs and being offset relative to the ends thereof; l. said bar reversible supporting the H-shaped cable-clamping member with the ends of the legs in different spaced relation relative to the opposing faces of the cable-clamping member in the other part of the body.

Claim 18

In an electrical connector for attachmeNt to an end of an insulated electrical cable, the improvement which comprises: a. a hollow split body formed of an insulating material, b. said body being split along a longitudinal axis into two complementary parts with an opening in a rear end thereof for insertion of an end of an insulated electrical cable into the body; c. said two parts of the body having mating faces on opposite sides of the body which close the sides of the body; d. fastening means located along the opposite sides of the body for securing said two parts together with the mating surfaces thereof in engagement; and e. strain-relief means carried by and located within the body adjacent the opening in the rear end thereof; f. said strain-relief means comprising a cable-clamping member carried by each of the two parts of the split body; g. said cable clamping members having transverse opposing faces spaced for deformable engagement with a range of different cable sizes; h. at least one of said cable-clamping members being movable in one part of the body to different positions relative to the opposing member; i. said movable cable-clamping member being H-shaped; j. said H-shaped member having spaced legs with cable-clamping faces formed at opposite ends of said legs; k. a supporting bar connecting said legs and being offset relative to the ends thereof; l. said bar reversible supporting the H-shaped cable-clamping member with the ends of the legs in different spaced relation relative to the opposing faces of the cable-clamping member in the other part of the body.

Claim 19

In an electrical connector for attachment to an end of an insulated electrical cable, the combination as defined in claim 11 which includes: a. a contact-carrying insert of insulating material secured within said body at an opening at a front end thereof; b. a plurality of spaced contact elements carried by said insert; c. each of said contact elements including a portion exposed through the opening in the front end of the body; d. a wiring terminal carried by each of said contact elements at a rear end of said insert for connection of a conductor wire of an electrical cable thereto; and e. a supporting rib formed in one part of the body; f. said rib engaging with the connecting bar of the H-shaped member and reversibly supporting the H-shaped member in said one part of the body.

Claim 20

In an electrical connector for attachment to an end of an insulated cable, the combination as defined in claim 12, which includes: a. interengaging means formed on one part of the split body and the contact-carrying insert for holding said insert in a fixed position in said one part of the split body during assembly of the two parts of the body.

Claim 21

In an electrical connector for attachment to an end of an insulated electrical cable, the combination which comprises: a. a split body formed of an insulating material; b. said split body including two halves having mating surfaces closing opposite sides of the body and having openings at a front and a rear end thereof; c. a contact-carrying insert secured between the two halves of the body with a front face of the insert aligned with the opening at the front end of the body; d. said insert comprising a block of insulating material and having a plurality of spaced recesses formed therein; e. a contact element having an end slidably fitted into each of said spaced recesses and having an exposed end located at the front face of said block; f. an enlarged wiring terminal carried by each of said contact elements and fitting within said recesses; g. said block having side openings communicating with said wiring terminals; h. a cover plate attached to a rear face of the block and extending over the wiring terminals of the contact elements mounted therein; i. said cover plate containing spaced openings aligned with each of the wiring terminals for introduction of bare Ends of conductor wires into engagement with said terminals; j. strain-relief means carried by the split body at the opening in the rear end thereof for clamping engagement with an end of an insulated electric cable connected to the contact elements and extending into the body through said rear opening; and k. means on opposite sides of the body for securing the two parts of the split body together with the mating surfaces on the side edges thereof in engagement and simultaneously bringing the strain relief means into clamping engagement with the insulated electrical cable.

Claim 22

In an electrical connector for attachment to an end of an insulated electrical cable, the combination which comprises: a. a split body formed of an insulating material; b. said split body including two halves having mating surfaces closing opposite sides of the body and having openings at a front and a rear end thereof; c. a contact-carrying insert secured between the two halves of the body with a front face of the insert aligned with the opening at the front end of the body; d. said insert comprising a block of insulating material and having a plurality of spaced recesses formed therein; e. a contact element having an end slidably fitted into each of said spaced recesses and having an exposed end located at the front face of said block; f. an enlarged wiring terminal carried by each of said contact elements and fitting within said recesses; g. said block having side openings communicating with said wiring terminals; h. a cover plate attached to a rear face of the block and extending over the wiring terminals of the contact elements mounted therein; i. said cover plate containing spaced openings aligned with each of the wiring terminals for introduction of bare Ends of conductor wires into engagement with said terminals; j. strain-relief means carried by the split body at the opening in the rear end thereof for clamping engagement with an end of an insulated electric cable connected to the contact elements and extending into the body through said rear opening; and k. means on opposite sides of the body for securing the two parts of the split body together with the mating surfaces on the side edges thereof in engagement and simultaneously bringing the strain relief means into clamping engagement with the insulated electrical cable.

Claim 23

In an electrical connector for attachment to an end of an insulated electrical cable, the combination as defined in claim 14 wherein: a. each of the wiring terminals includes a terminal screw carried by each of the terminals and being accessible through one of the side openings in the block of insulating material; b. a slider of conductive material attached to and movable with said screw; and c. a fixed member attached to the terminal in opposing relation to the movable slider whereby a bare end of a conductor is clamped between the slider and the fixed member under pressure exerted on the slider through the terminal screw.

Claim 24

In an electrical connector for attachment to an end of an insulated cable containing a plurality of conductors, the combination which comprises: a. a hollow body of insulating material; b. said body being split lengthwise into two complementary parts of arcuate shape and having a passageway extending therethrough with openings at a front end and a rear end thereof; c. said two parts of the body each carrying a cable-gripping member; d. said cable-gripping members having spaced opposed faces defining an opening at the rear end of the body; e. said faces being spaced to receive and deformably engage with a predetermined range of different cable sizes; f. a contact-carrying insert of insulating material mounted in said passageway at the opening in the front end of the body; g. contacts carried by said insert for connection to each conductor contained in a cable with ends of the contacts facing the opening in the front end of the body; h. terminal means carried by each of said contacts for connecting one of the conductors of the cable thereto; i. said terminal means being located at a rear end of said insert and being enclosed by said body; j. said terminal means including a movable slider for clamping a bare end of a conductor wire in electrical engagement with the contact; k. an adjustment screw for moving said slider into clamping engagement with the bare end of the conductor wire; l. said adjustment screws being exposed on vertical sides of the insert for adjustment of the sliders; m. a retainer plate attached to a rear face of the insert and holding the contacts in the insert; n. said retainer plate having conductor receiving openings therein aligned with and providing access to each of the terminal means on the contacts; and o. fastening means on opposite sides of the body for securing the two parts of the body together enclosing the insert and simultaneously gripping the cable between said cable-gripping members; p. said fastening means being located at spaced points between the openings at the front and rear ends of the body.

Claim 25

In an electrical connector for attachment to an end of an insulated cable containing a plurality of conductors, the combination which comprises: a. a hollow body of insulating material; b. said body being split lengthwise into two complementary parts of arcuate shape and having a passageway extending therethrough with openings at a front end and a rear end thereof; c. said two parts of the body each carrying a cable-gripping member; d. said cable-gripping members having spaced opposed faces defining an opening at the rear end of the body; e. said faces being spaced to receive and deformably engage with a predetermined range of different cable sizes; f. a contact-carrying insert of insulating material mounted in said passageway at the opening in the front end of the body; g. contacts carried by said insert for connection to each conductor contained in a cable with ends of the contacts facing the opening in the front end of the body; h. terminal means carried by each of said contacts for connecting one of the conductors of the cable thereto; i. said terminal means being located at a rear end of said insert and being enclosed by said body; j. said terminal means including a movable slider for clamping a bare end of a conductor wire in electrical engagement with the contact; k. an adjustment screw for moving said slider into clamping engagement with the bare end of the conductor wire; l. said adjustment screws being exposed on vertical sides of the insert for adjustment of the sliders; m. a retainer plate attached to a rear face of the insert and holding the contacts in the insert; n. said retainer plate having conductor receiving openings therein aligned with and providing access to each of the terminal means on the contacts; and o. fastening means on opposite sides of the body for securing the two parts of the body together enclosing the insert and simultaneously gripping the cable between said cable-gripping members; p. said fastening means being located at spaced points between the openings at the front and rear ends of the body.

Claim 26

In an electrical connector for attachment to an end of an insulated electrical cable, the improvement which comprises: a. a split body of generally cylindrical shape formed of an insulating material; b. said body being split along a longitudinal axis into two complementary parts of arcuate shape defining a passageway having an opening at a front end and at a rear end thereof; c. said opening at the rear end of the body being shaped to receive an end of an insulated electrical cable containing a plurality of conductors; d. said two parts of the body having mating side faces extending lengthwise along opposite sIdes thereof; e. a pair of opposing cable-gripping members carried by said body at said opening in the rear end thereof; f. said cable-gripping members having spaced opposing surfaces which define an opening of a predetermined size when the mating side faces of the two parts of the body are in engagement; g. one of said cable-gripping members being H-shaped and being reversibly supported in one of the two parts of the body to define openings of different sizes; h. said H-shaped member having spaced legs connected by a bar offset relative to the ends of said legs; i. an inwardly extending rib carried by said one part of the body; j. said rib reversibly engaging with and supporting the offset bar connecting the legs of said H-shaped member; k. fastening means located on opposite sides of the split body for closing the sides of the body and simultaneously bringing the surfaces of the cable-gripping members into said predetermined spaced relation relative to each other; and l. a contact-carrying insert held between said two parts of the body and within said passageway at the opening in the front end of the body.

Claim 27

In an electrical connector for attachment to an end of an insulated electrical cable, the improvement which comprises: a. a split body of generally cylindrical shape formed of an insulating material; b. said body being split along a longitudinal axis into two complementary parts of arcuate shape defining a passageway having an opening at a front end and at a rear end thereof; c. said opening at the rear end of the body being shaped to receive an end of an insulated electrical cable containing a plurality of conductors; d. said two parts of the body having mating side faces extending lengthwise along opposite sIdes thereof; e. a pair of opposing cable-gripping members carried by said body at said opening in the rear end thereof; f. said cable-gripping members having spaced opposing surfaces which define an opening of a predetermined size when the mating side faces of the two parts of the body are in engagement; g. one of said cable-gripping members being H-shaped and being reversibly supported in one of the two parts of the body to define openings of different sizes; h. said H-shaped member having spaced legs connected by a bar offset relative to the ends of said legs; i. an inwardly extending rib carried by said one part of the body; j. said rib reversibly engaging with and supporting the offset bar connecting the legs of said H-shaped member; k. fastening means located on opposite sides of the split body for closing the sides of the body and simultaneously bringing the surfaces of the cable-gripping members into said predetermined spaced relation relative to each other; and l. a contact-carrying insert held between said two parts of the body and within said passageway at the opening in the front end of the body.

Claim 28

In an electrical connector for use with different size electrical cables, the improvement which comprises: a. a hollow body of generally cylinrical shape formed of an insulating material; b. said body having a rear end and a front end and being split along a longitudinal axis into two complementary parts defining a passageway including an opening at said rear end of the body; c. said opening at the rear end being shaped to receive an electrical cable containing a plurality of conductors; d. said two parts of the split body having mating side edges extending lengthwise along opposite sides thereof; e. a pair of opposing rigid cable clamping members carried by said body adjacent said opening in the rear end thereof; f. each of said cable clamping members having at least two longitudinally spaced clamping sections respectively opposing the clamping sections of the other opposing clamping member when the mating side edges of the two parts of the body are in engagement; g. seat means in one of said parts of the split body adjacent the said rear opening thereof for supporting and releasably seating a first of said clamping members in a predetermined position; h. the clamping sections of said other clamping member having a set of gripping surfaces of a given concave shape; i. the said spaced clamping sections of said first clamping member having a plurality of concavely shaped sets of gripping surfaces and being removable from and replacable in said seat means so that a selected one of said concavely shaped sets of gripping surfaces spacedly opposes the said set of gripping surfaces of the said other clamping member with unique spacing to define one of a plurality of different size openings for different size cables; and j. fastening means located along the mating side edges of the two complementary parts of the split body for securing said parts together and simultaneously bringing the opposing gripping surfaces of the clamping members into predetermined spaced relation relative to each other to effect the desired gripping force for any of said different size cables.

Claim 29

In an electrical connector for use with different size electrical cables, the improvement which comprises: a. a hollow body of generally cylinrical shape formed of an insulating material; b. said body having a rear end and a front end and being split along a longitudinal axis into two complementary parts defining a passageway including an opening at said rear end of the body; c. said opening at the rear end being shaped to receive an electrical cable containing a plurality of conductors; d. said two parts of the split body having mating side edges extending lengthwise along opposite sides thereof; e. a pair of opposing rigid cable clamping members carried by said body adjacent said opening in the rear end thereof; f. each of said cable clamping members having at least two longitudinally spaced clamping sections respectively opposing the clamping sections of the other opposing clamping member when the mating side edges of the two parts of the body are in engagement; g. seat means in one of said parts of the split body adjacent the said rear opening thereof for supporting and releasably seating a first of said clamping members in a predetermined position; h. the clamping sections of said other clamping member having a set of gripping surfaces of a given concave shape; i. the said spaced clamping sections of said first clamping member having a plurality of concavely shaped sets of gripping surfaces and being removable from and replacable in said seat means so that a selected one of said concavely shaped sets of gripping surfaces spacedly opposes the said set of gripping surfaces of the said other clamping member with unique spacing to define one of a plurality of different size openings for different size cables; and j. fastening means located along the mating side edges of the two complementary parts of the split body for securing said parts together and simultaneously bringing the opposing gripping surfaces of the clamping members into predetermined spaced relation relative to each other to effect the desired gripping force for any of said different size cables.

Claim 30

The combination as defined in claim 18 wherein said passageway has an opening at the said front end of the body and which includes: a. a contact-carrying insert held between the two parts of the split body at the opening in the front end of said body; and b. electrical contacts carried by said insert whcih are respectively connected to all of the conductors of the cable.

Claim 31

An electrical connector as in claim 18 and further including: means in said split body for gauging the size of an electrical cable to be used in said connector for determining which of said concavely shaped sets of gripping surfaces of said one clamping member is to be selected to oppose the gripping surfaces oF the said other clamping member.

Claim 32

An electrical cable clamp for accommodating an insert of either a male plug or female receptacle type and to which an electrical cable is to be attached through said clamp, said insert being of the type having a front face and an insertable body of predetermined shape extending rearwardly a given distance with that shape and thereafter being increased in size in at least one area and decreased in size in at least a second area containing connections for said cable, said cable clamp comprising: a. a hollow split clamp body of generally cylindrical shape formed of an insulating material; b. said clamp body being split along its longitudinal axis into two complemntary parts defining a passageway extending between openings at the front and rear ends of the body; c. said opening at the rear end being shaped to receive an electrical cable containing a plurality of conductors; d. said two parts of the split body having mating side edges extending legnthwise along opposite sides thereof; e. a pair of opposing rigid cable clamping members carried by said clamp body at said opening in the rear end thereof; f. said cable-clamping members having spaced opposing surfaces which define an opening of predetermined size when the mating side edges of the two parts of the clamp body are brought into engagement; g. said front end opening and passageway being of said predetermined shape adjacent said front end opening for a predetermined distance inwardly and having at least one depression rearwardly thereof to accommodate said one area of increased size of said insert to hold said insert in said clamp body when the said mating side edges of the said two parts of the clamp body are brought into engagement; h. each of said cable-clamping members having at least two spaced clamping sections respectively opposing the clamping sections of the other clamping member when the mating side edges of the two parts of the body are brought into engagement by said fastening means; i. seat means in one of said parts of the split body adjacent the said rear opening thereof for supportingly carrying and releasably seating a first of said clamping members to a predetermined depth; j. the clamping sections of said other clamping member having a set of gripping surfaces of a given concave shape; k. the said clamping sections of said first clamping member having a pluraltiy of concavely shaped sets of gripping surfaces and being removable from and replaceable in said seat means so that a selected one of said concavely shaped sets of gripping surfaces spacedly opposes the said set of gripping surfaces of the said other clamping member with unique spacing to define one of a corresponding plurality of different size openings for different size cables; and l. fastening means located along the mating side edges of the two complementary parts of the split body for securing said parts together and simultaneously bringing the selected opposing surfaces of the clamping members into predetermined spaced relation relative to each other to effect the required gripping force for any of the said different size cables selected.

Claim 33

An electrical cable clamp for accommodating an insert of either a male plug or female receptacle type and to which an electrical cable is to be attached through said clamp, said insert being of the type having a front face and an insertable body of predetermined shape extending rearwardly a given distance with that shape and thereafter being increased in size in at least one area and decreased in size in at least a second area containing connections for said cable, said cable clamp comprising: a. a hollow split clamp body of generally cylindrical shape formed of an insulating material; b. said clamp body being split along its longitudinal axis into two complemntary parts defining a passageway extending between openings at the front and rear ends of the body; c. said opening at the rear end being shaped to receive an electrical cable containing a plurality of conductors; d. said two parts of the split body having mating side edges extending legnthwise along opposite sides thereof; e. a pair of opposing rigid cable clamping members carried by said clamp body at said opening in the rear end thereof; f. said cable-clamping members having spaced opposing surfaces which define an opening of predetermined size when the mating side edges of the two parts of the clamp body are brought into engagement; g. said front end opening and passageway being of said predetermined shape adjacent said front end opening for a predetermined distance inwardly and having at least one depression rearwardly thereof to accommodate said one area of increased size of said insert to hold said insert in said clamp body when the said mating side edges of the said two parts of the clamp body are brought into engagement; h. each of said cable-clamping members having at least two spaced clamping sections respectively opposing the clamping sections of the other clamping member when the mating side edges of the two parts of the body are brought into engagement by said fastening means; i. seat means in one of said parts of the split body adjacent the said rear opening thereof for supportingly carrying and releasably seating a first of said clamping members to a predetermined depth; j. the clamping sections of said other clamping member having a set of gripping surfaces of a given concave shape; k. the said clamping sections of said first clamping member having a pluraltiy of concavely shaped sets of gripping surfaces and being removable from and replaceable in said seat means so that a selected one of said concavely shaped sets of gripping surfaces spacedly opposes the said set of gripping surfaces of the said other clamping member with unique spacing to define one of a corresponding plurality of different size openings for different size cables; and l. fastening means located along the mating side edges of the two complementary parts of the split body for securing said parts together and simultaneously bringing the selected opposing surfaces of the clamping members into predetermined spaced relation relative to each other to effect the required gripping force for any of the said different size cables selected.

Claim 34

An electrical connector as in claim 21 and further including: means in said split body for gauging the size of an electrical cable to be used in said connector for determining which of said different concavely shaped sets of clamping surfaces of said one clamping member is to be selected to oppose the clamping surfaces of the said other clamping member.

Claim 35

An electrical cable clamp as in claim 21 in combination with said insert with said cable clamp and insert having respective cooperating means for releasably holding said insert in proper position in one of said parts of said split clamp body while the other of said parts thereof is placed onto said one part and fastened thereto by said fastening means.