Electrical connector

Abstract

An electrical connector in which preselected terminals are shunted. Contact portions of the terminals are aligned with a shunt bar and are resiliently deformable from positions engaging the shunt bar in an unmated condition of the connector to positions spaced from the shunt bar in a mated condition of the connector by mating engagement with a complimentary connector. The shunt bar comprises a bridge portion from which contact lugs depend spaced asymmetrically along the bridge. Two shunt bars are located in tandem in back-to-back relation in a connector housing so that alternate contact tongues are aligned with respective contact lugs on respective shunt bars.

We claim: 
     
       1. A hermaphroditic electrical connector comprising an insulating terminal housing having a front, mating face and a rear, wire connecting face, a plurality of terminals mounted in the housing with wire connecting portions at the wire connecting face and resilient contact tongues at the mating face, electrical shunt means mounted in the housing aligned with preselected contact tongues, the shunt means comprising two one-piece shunt bars located in tandem relation, each having a bridge portion extending transversely of all the contact tongues and a pair of spaced contact lugs extending from each bridge portion toward respective preselected contact tongues, the contact tongues being resiliently deformable from positions engaging the shunt means in an unmated condition of the connector to positions spaced from the shunt means in a mated condition of the connector by mating engagement with a complementary hermaphroditic connector. 
     
     
       2. An electrical connector according to claim 1 in which the contact tongues are reversely bent with rearwardly extending free ends aligned with the respective contact lugs. 
     
     
       3. An electrical connector as in claim 1 wherein the contact lugs of each shunt bar extend toward alternate contact tongues. 
     
     
       4. An electrical connector as in claim 1 wherein the shunt bars are substantially identical, each shunt bar being oriented 180° from the other. 
     
     
       5. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein the contact lugs on each shunt bar are asymmetrically located along the bridge portion. 
     
     
       6. An electrical connector according to claim 5 in which the bridge portions have coding lugs at their ends and the housing is formed with axially spaced coding slots on respective opposite side walls for receiving the respective lugs. .[.7. A hermaphroditic electric connector for mating with a complementary hermaphroditic electrical connector comprising: an insulating terminal housing having a front, mating face, a rear wire connecting face, and a terminal supporting platform extending between said faces,   a plurality of terminals mounted in the housing with contact portions toward the mating face and wire connecting portions toward the wire connecting face, each contact portion being reversely bent at the mating face to form a resilient contact tongue spaced from said platform and having a free end remote from the mating face, each contact tongue being matable against the contact tongue of the complementary connector to urge the contact tongues in each connector toward respective platforms,   electrical shunt means fixedly mounted in said housing transversely of all said contact portions and disposed adjacent to said contact tongues toward the free ends thereof, said shunt means engaging preselected contact tongues when said connector is in an unmated condition, said shunt means being spaced from said preselected contact portions when said connector is in a mated condition,   conductive electrical shield means assembled to said housing, said shield means having contact portions toward the mating face, said contact portions being matable with complementary contact portions of the electrical shield means in a complementary connector, and   insulating cover means assembled to said housing externally of said shield means..]. .[.8. An electrical connector as in claim 7 wherein said preselected contact tongues are alternate contact tongues..]. .[.9. An electrical connector as in claim 7 wherein all of said contact tongues are engageable by said shunt means when said connector is in an unmated condition..]. .[.10. An electrical connector as in claim 7 wherein the free end of each contact tongue is formed toward the platform to form a step which engages the electrical shunt means..]. .[.11. An electrical connector as in claim 7 wherein each said wire connecting portion comprises a slotted wire receiving barrel portion upstanding from said platform, said connector further comprising a wire stuffer profiled to insert wires into respective barrels, said shield means being assembled to said housing externally of said wire stuffer..]. .[.12. An electrical connector as in claim 7 wherein said shunt means comprises a first one-piece shunt bar having a bridge portion extending transversely of the tongues, said bar having a pair of spaced contact lugs extending toward a first pair of alternate contact tongues, said lugs being in contact with said alternate contact tongues when said connector is in an unmated condition..]. .[.13. An electrical connector as in claim 12 wherein said housing comprises a pair of opposed sidewalls upstanding from opposite side edges of said platform, said sidewalls having a pair of respective opposed slots therein which receive said shunt bar..]. .[.14. An electrical connector as in claim 12 wherein said shunt means comprises a second similar shunt bar located in tandem relation to the first shunt bar, said contact lugs on said second shunt bar being in contact with a second pair of alternate contact tongues..]. .[.15. An electrical connector as in claim 14 wherein said housing comprises a pair of opposed sidewalls upstanding from opposite side edges of said platform, said sidewalls having two pairs of respective opposed slots therein which receive said shunt bars..]. .[.16. An electrical connector as in claim 15 wherein the bridge portions have coding lugs at their ends and each pair of opposed slots is coded to receive the respective shunt bar oriented at   
     
     
        180° from the other shunt bar..]. 17. An electrical connector of the type comprising an insulating housing having a front mating face for mating with a complementary connector and a plurality of terminals mounted thereon, each terminal having a resilient contact tongue extending from proximate the mating face to a free end remote from the mating face, and electrical shunt means fixed in said housing aligned with the free ends of preselected contact tongues, the contact tongues being resiliently deformable from positions engaging the shunt means in an unmated condition of the connector to positions spaced from the shunt means in a mated position of the connector by mating engagement with the complementary connector, characterized in that, the connector is a shielded connector for mating with a complementary hermaphroditic connector, the housing having a rear wire connecting face opposite said front mating face and a terminal supporting platform extending between said faces, each contact tongue being matable against the contact tongue of the complementary connector whereby the contact tongues in each connector are urged toward respective platforms, said shunt means comprising two one-piece shunt bars located in tandem relation, each having a bridge portion extending transversely of all the contact tongues, and disposed above the free ends thereof, and a pair of spaced contact lugs extending from each bridge portion toward respective preselected contact tongues, each shunt bar engaging a pair of preselected contact tongues when said connector is in an unmated condition, each of said shunt bars being spaced from said preselected contact portions when   
     
     
        said connector is in a mated condition. 18. The electrical connector of claim 17 wherein the contact lugs of each shunt bar extend toward 
     
     
        alternate contact tongues. 19. The electrical connector according to claim 17 wherein the contact lugs on each shunt bar are asymetrically located 
     
     
        along the bridge portion. 20. An electrical connector as in claim 19 wherein the shunt bars are substantially identical, each shunt bar being 
     
     
        oriented 180° from the other. .Iadd.21.  An electrical connector comprising an insulative terminal housing having a front mating face and a conductor connecting face, a plurality of terminals mounted in the housing with conductor connecting portions adjacent the conductor connecting face, and resilient contact portions defined by reversely bent portions of the terminals disposed adjacent to the front mating face, with the reversely bent portions extending rearwardly to form terminal free ends, electrical shunt means positioned in the housing between the mating face and the conductor connecting portions and adjacent to said free ends, said shunt means comprising at least two shunts wherein the first shunt commons at least two contact portions leaving at least one intermediate contact portion bridged and at least one further contact portion not shunted, and the second shunt commons the at least one bridged contact portion with the at least one contact portion not shunted by the first shunt, the first and second shunts being in shunted relation when said connector is in an unmated condition, the contact portions being resiliently deformable from positions engaging the shunt means in an unmated condition of the connector to positions spaced from the shunt means in a mated condition of 
     
     
        the connector. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22.  The electrical connector of claim 21 wherein the insulative terminal housing further comprises a terminal support platform adjacent the front mating face with the terminals positioned side-by-side along the terminal support platform, each reversely bent portion forming a contact tongue spaced from said terminal support platform. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. The electrical connector of claim 21 wherein the shunts include contacting portions which extend towards respective preselected contact tongues for engagement therewith in an unmated condition of the connector. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. The electrical connector of claim 23 wherein the shunts are disposed in tandem relation with the contacting portions spaced to contact alternate contact tongues, and bridging portions integral with the contacting portions for bridging over intermediate contact portions. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. The electrical connector of claim 21 wherein the shunt means is stationary relative to the housing. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26. The electrical connector of claim 21 further comprising conductive shield means including an upper shield member overlying the terminals and shunt means, and a lower shield member below and adjacent to the terminal support platform, the shield means having contact portions which are matable with complementary contact portions of the electrical shield means in a complementary connector. 
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.27.  An electrical connector for mating with a complementary electrical connector, comprising: an insulative housing means having a front mating face, a conductor connecting face, and a terminal supporting means adjacent to the front mating face of the insulative housing means, the insulative housing means comprising a base and a cover, and the terminal supporting means comprising a terminal support platform, the base having and open upper face, the terminal support platform being insertable into the open upper face of the base, the cover being assembled to the base over the terminal support platform;   a plurality of terminals positioned side-by-side on the terminal supporting means, the terminals having conductor connecting portions at the conductor connecting face and resilient contact portions at the front mating face, the resilient contact portions being intermatable with like contact portions in a complementary connector; and   electrical shunt means secured in a stationary position relative to the insulative housing means and positioned adjacent to and engaging free ends of the contact portions when the connector is unmated, the free ends being deflectable away from the shunt means when the connector is mated with the complementary connector. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28. The electrical connector of claim 27 wherein the shunt means is insertable through the open upper face of the base. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29. The electrical connector of claim 27 wherein the conductor connecting portions comprise insulation displacement portions integral with the terminals profiled for insertion of the conductors through the open upper face of the base. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30. A hermaphroditic electrical connector for interconnecting to a plurality of insulated conductors of a multiconductor shielded cable, the connector comprising:   an insulative housing means, having a front mating face and a rear face, and further including a terminal support platform as part of the front mating face with a cavity above the terminal support platform being defined by the terminal support platform, two sidewalls, and an upper wall;   a plurality of electrical terminals positioned side-by-side along the terminal support platform, the terminals having wire connecting portions towards the rear face and contact portions reversely bent at the front mating face to form contact tongues which extend towards the rear face to a free end remote from the front mating face for interconnection to like contacts in the matable connector, each free end including a stepped portion which extends rearwardly and has a slope relative to the terminal support platform which is less than the slope relative to the terminal support platform of the associated contact tongue; and   shunt means, comprising two shunting elements, disposed adjacent to the stepped portions of the terminals for commoning preselected terminals, the stepped portions of the electrical terminals of the electrical connector being resiliently biased against the shunting elements to common preselected terminals when the electrical connector is in an unmated position, the electrical connector being matable with an identical connector when the mating faces of the connector and the identical connector are facing each other and rotated 180° relative to each other, the terminal support platform being insertable into the cavity of the identical connector causing respective terminals of the electrical connector and the identical connector to resiliently deform out of contact   
     
     
        with the shunting elements. .Iaddend. .Iadd.31.  The electrical connector of claim 30 further comprising an upper shield member which is disposed beneath the upper wall and above the terminals and shunt means, and a lower shield member which is disposed below and adjacent to the terminal support platform. .Iaddend. .Iadd.32. The electrical connector of claim 31 wherein the upper shield member includes upper contact portions extending towards the front mating face and the lower shield portion includes lower contact portions extending towards the front mating face, and when in a mated position, the upper contact portions of the connector are commoned to the lower contact portions of the matable identical connector, and the lower contact portions of the connector are commoned to the upper contact portions of the matable identical connector. .Iaddend. .Iadd.33. The electrical connector of claim 30 wherein the sidewalls have front edges which extend at substantially 45° from a position adjacent to the front mating face rearwardly towards the rear face. .Iaddend. .Iadd.34. The electrical connector of claim 33 wherein the terminal support platform extends forwardly of the front edges of the sidewalls, the terminal support platform of the connector being closely toleranced to fit into the cavity and between the front edges of an identical connector aligning the respective terminals of the connector and the identical connector. 
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.35.  A hermaphroditic electrical connector for interconnecting to a plurality of insulated conductors of a multiconductor shielded cable, the connector comprising: an insulative housing means, having a front mating face and a rear face, and further including a terminal support platform as part of the front mating face with a cavity above the terminal support platform being defined by the terminal support platform, two sidewalls, and an upper wall;   a plurality of electrical terminals side-by-side along the terminal support platform, the terminals having wire connecting portions towards the rear face and contact portions defined by reversely bent portions of the terminals disposed at the front mating face for interconnection to matable contacts in the matable connector, and   shunt means, comprising two shunting elements positioned within the housing means and in tandem relationship relative to a longitudinal direction of the terminals and disposed adjacent to free ends of the terminals for commoning preselected terminals, the reversely bent portions of the electrical terminals of the electrical connector being resiliently biased against the respective shunting elements to common preselected terminals when the electrical connector is in a unmated position, the electrical connector being matable with an identical connector when the mating faces of the connector and the identical connector are facing each other and rotated 180° relative to each other, the terminal support platform being insertable into the cavity of the identical connector causing reversely bent portions of respective terminals of the electrical connector and the identical connector to resiliently deform out of contact   
     
     
        with the shunt means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.36.  An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein the bridge portions of the one-piece shunt bars span across all of the contact tongues. .Iaddend. .Iadd.37. An electrical connector according to claim 36 wherein the terminal housing comprises a terminal support platform profiled for positioning said terminals in side-by-side registration along said platform, and a pair of opposed sidewalls upstanding from the terminal support platform with the terminals mounted between the two sidewalls, each sidewall including two inwardly facing vertical slots, forming two opposed pairs of slots for receiving respective shunt bars. .Iaddend. .Iadd.38. The electrical connector of claim 30 wherein the two shunting elements are disposed in a parallel, side-by-side fashion relative to each other, and extend above the terminal stepped portions, transversely thereto. .Iaddend. .Iadd.39. The electrical connector of claim 38 wherein the shunting elements include shunt contacts spaced along the shunting elements to common the preselected terminals. .Iaddend. .Iadd.40. The electrical connector of claim 39 wherein the shunt contacts of a first shunting element are spaced to common the stepped portions of a first pair of alternate contacts with a recessed portion intermediate the shunt contacts to bridge the stepped portion of a first intermediate contact in a noncontacting relation. .Iaddend. .Iadd.41. The electrical connector of claim 40 wherein the shunt contacts of a second shunting element are spaced to common the stepped portions of a second pair of alternate contacts with a recessed portion intermediate the shunt contacts of the second shunting element to bridge the stepped portion of a second intermediate contact in a noncontacting relation, the second intermediate contact being one of the first alternate contacts. .Iaddend. .Iadd.42. The electrical connector of claim 35 wherein the free ends of the terminals are formed as stepped portions which are resiliently biased against the shunting elements, each stepped portion having a slope which is less than the slope of the associated contact 
     
     
        tongue. .Iaddend. .Iadd.43.  The electrical connector of claim 42 wherein the two shunting elements overlie the stepped portions in a spaced apart tandem relation, and in a transverse relation relative to a longitudinal direction of the terminals, a first and second shunting element each having shunt contacts extending towards preselected free ends of the terminals, the shunt contacts in the first and second shunting elements being laterally staggered such that when in the unmated condition, each stepped end is aligned with, and engaged by, only one shunt contact, thereby forming two sets of commoned terminals. .Iaddend.