DK141187C

1401383 Electric couplings AMP Inc 20 March 1973 [8 April 1972 (2)] 13307/73 Heading H2E An insulating housing 20 with a hinged lid 24 encloses an insulation-piercing contact member 2, Fig. 1, which connects together two insulated wires W1, W2, and severs redundant end portions P of both wires. The slotted contact portions 4 are linked by an integral metal bridge 10, which rests upon a rib 26 upstanding from the housing floor 28. The lid 24 has rib portions 36, 40, which serve to force the uncut wires into the insulation-piercing slots 14, merely by closing the lid, when also the rib portions 38 enter the housing end slots 34, and co-operate with blade edges 16 to sever both wires. The lid is retained closed by an integral latch tongue 42 which engages the housing wall recess 46. In another embodiment, Fig. 5 (not shown), external projections (50) retain wires in slots 34 during assembly, and transverse strengthening ribs (51) are added to lid 24.