Cover device

Claim 1

A connector for releasably engaging and electrically contacting a flat cable having a plurality of conductors, comprising a housing of electrically insulating material having at least one aperture at a first end for receiving the conductors of said flat cable, said housing also having disposed therein a plurality of contact elements for electrically contacting respective ones of said cable conductors, a cover member for engaging said flat cable prior to insertion of said conductors into said housing, said cover member adapted for releasable attachment with or without said cable to said housing and for releasable engagement and electrical contact of said cable conductors with the contact elements of said housing, said cover member including at least one pair of arms having first ends extending toward and adapted to releasably attach to said connector housing in only one polarity and second ends extending in an opposite direction and adapted to be manipulated to release said first ends from said housing, at least one pair of locking lips disposed between and extending in the same direction as the second ends of said arms, said locking lips having locking lobes at their free ends to engage at least one pair of apertures on said flat cable in only one polarity when the flat cable is inserted into said cover member, and wherein placing said cover member on said first end of the housing so as to move said first ends of the arms to a first position along said housing will latch the cover member to the housing and will lockingly engage and electrically contact each of the cable conductors with a respective contact element of said housing, and wherein further movement of said cover member so as to move said first ends of the arms of the cover member to a second position which will disengage each of said cable conductors from its respective contact element, thus releasing and permitting removal of said cover member and cable from said housing.