Electrical connector for interconnecting parallel multiconductor cables

An electrical connector for interconnecting parallel multiconductor cables includes a housing having a first cable receiving section for receiving a parallel multiconductor main cable and a second cable receiving section for receiving a parallel multiconductor branch cable respectively. Contact members each extend through the housing and have terminal portions projecting from the first and second cable receiving sections so that the main and branch cables are press fitted into the terminal portions. A pair of covers are attached to the housing and each have cable receiving sections pressing the main and branch cables against the first and second cable receiving sections respectively in the condition that the covers are attached to the housing. The housing is engaged with each cover in a state that each cover has been attached to the housing. Each cover is held in a provisional engagement state in which each cover is away from the housing by a predetermined distance, in a process that the covers are attached to the housing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to an electrical connector for electrically 
interconnecting parallel multiconductor main and branch cables together. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
A control unit and a plurality of input and output units are interconnected 
together by cables for the purpose of factory automation, for example, so 
that signals are transmitted between the control unit and each of the 
input and output units. The number of cabling equal to the number of the 
input and output units is required in this regard. Accordingly, as the 
number of the input and output units is increased, cabling becomes more 
troublesome and a space for cabling becomes larger. 
In view of the above problem, the prior art has recently provided for 
signal transmission systems with saved cabling wherein the minimum number 
of signal lines is employed for the signal transmission between the 
control unit and the input and output units. FIG. 38 illustrates one of 
such signal transmission systems. One end of a flat four-wire main cable 2 
is connected to a control unit 1. Electrical connectors 4 are provided for 
electrically connecting one ends of branch cables 3 to the main cable 2 
respectively. Address units 5 are connected to the other ends of the 
branch cables 3 respectively. A plurality of input or output units 6 or 7 
are connected to each address unit 5. 
When data is delivered from the control unit 1 to each output unit 7, the 
control unit 1 delivers to the address unit 5 a data signal representative 
of output data and address data of the output unit 7 to which the output 
data is to be supplied. The address unit 5 specifies the output unit 7 to 
which the output data is to be supplied, on the basis of the address data 
of the data signal delivered thereto. The address unit 5 then delivers the 
output data to the specified output unit 7. On the other hand, when 
inputting data from each input unit 6, each address unit 5 delivers a data 
signal with address data to the control unit 1. The control unit 1 
specifies the input unit 6 from which the data has been input, on the 
basis of the address data of the data signal supplied thereto from the 
address unit 5. 
The main and branch cables 2, 3 are interconnected by the connector 4 in 
the following manner. The main cable 2 is cut off at a desired branch 
point. Both cut ends of the main cable 2 are connected to a connecting 
member and then, another connecting member is attached to the end of the 
branch cable 3. These two connecting members are interconnected together 
by a further another connecting member. Accordingly, the main cable 2 
needs to be cut off at the number of times corresponding to the number of 
the branch cables 3, and three connecting members are required at each 
branch point. Consequently, cabling becomes troublesome and the number of 
the connectors connecting between the main and branch cables is increased 
with the result of increase in the cost for the factory automation. 
To solve the above-described drawback, Japanese Unexamined Patent 
Application Publication No. 3-171572 discloses an electrical connector for 
interconnecting flat multiconductor cables.. The disclosed connector 
electrically connects between an intermediate portion of a flat 
multiconductor main cable 2 and a branch cable 3, as shown in FIGS. 39 to 
41. The intermediate portion of the main cable 2 is placed on the upper 
face of a housing 8. In this state, an upper pressing member 9 is pressed 
from upward and a lower pressing member 10 is pressed from below. 
Consequently, the main and branch cables 2, 3 are press fitted into 
concave portions of connecting members 11 projecting from the upper and 
bottom faces of the housing 8, thereby being electrically connected to the 
connecting members 11, respectively. The main and branch cables 2, 3 are 
thus connected electrically together. 
In the above-described conventional construction, however, the main cable 2 
needs to be positioned on the housing 8 and then, the upper pressing 
member 9 needs to be pressed against the housing 8 when the branch of the 
main cable 2 is attached to the housing 8. The housing 8 sometimes slips 
out of the branch position of the main cable 2 while the upper pressing 
member 9 is being pressed. This reduces the working efficiency for 
connection and reliability in the connection. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical 
connector for interconnecting parallel multiconductor cables, wherein the 
connecting work can be performed with ease and reliability when the main 
and branch cables are interconnected together. 
The present invention provides an electrical connector for interconnecting 
parallel multiconductor cables, comprising a housing with opposite sides 
having a first cable receiving section for receiving a parallel 
multiconductor main cable and a second cable receiving section for 
receiving a parallel multiconductor branch cable respectively. A plurality 
of contact members each extend through the housing. Each contact member 
has terminal portions projecting from the first and second cable receiving 
sections so that the main and branch cables are press fitted into the 
terminal portions in an electrically conductive state respectively. A pair 
of covers are attached to the housing. The covers have cable receiving 
sections pressing the main and branch cables against the first and second 
cable receiving sections respectively when the covers are attached to the 
housing. Engagement means is provided for engaging the housing with each 
cover in a state that each cover has been attached to the housing. The 
engagement means holds each cover in a provisional engagement state 
wherein each cover is away from the housing by a predetermined distance, 
when the covers are attached to the housing. 
When having been attached to the housing of the above-described connector, 
the covers are fixed to the housing by the engagement means, whereupon the 
main and branch cables are press fitted into the contact members. Thus, 
the main and branch cables are electrically interconnected through the 
contact members. 
Since the connector is slidable relative to the main and branch cables in 
the provisional engagement state in the above-described construction, the 
cables can be attached to the connector with ease. 
The above-described construction may be modified so that the engagement 
means holds each cover in first and second provisional engagement states 
in turn when the covers are attached to the housing. Each cover is away 
from the housing by different distances in the first and second 
provisional engagement states. The connector can be set to be movable 
relative to the main and branch cables in the first provisional engagement 
state. The connector is semifixed to the cables in the second provisional 
engagement state. Consequently, positioning the cables and attaching them 
to the housing can be performed with further ease. 
In a preferred form, the housing is formed into the shape of a square 
block. The first and second cable receiving sections are disposed to 
receive the main and branch cables respectively when the main and branch 
cables intersect each other. The contact members are arranged to be 
located on a diagonal of the first and second cable receiving sections. 
The cutting edges of the terminal portions on the respective first and 
second cable receiving sections intersect each other. 
In another preferred form, the housing is formed into the shape of a square 
block, and the first and second cable receiving sections are disposed to 
receive the main and branch cables respectively when the main and branch 
cables intersect each other. Each contact member has terminal portions at 
both ends thereof respectively and a connecting portion having a width 
smaller than the terminal portions and connecting between the terminals. 
The housing has a plurality of attachment portions each comprising a 
through-hole into which the connecting portion of the contact member is 
inserted so that the connecting portion is located on a diagonal of the 
first and second cable receiving sections of the housing. The housing 
further includes first and second engagement walls engaging the respective 
terminal portions of the contact member so that the first and second 
engagement walls are away from each other by 90 degrees, and a plurality 
of attachment portions each including first and second receiving portions 
preventing the respective terminal portions of each contact member from 
moving axially of each contact member when the terminal portions of each 
contact member are engaged with the first and second engagement walls 
respectively. Each cover has grooves the terminal portions of each contact 
member invade when the covers have been attached to the housing. 
When attached to the housing in the above-described construction, each 
contact member is inserted into the through hole of the attachment portion 
so that the connecting portion of the contact member is located in the 
hole. Each contact member is then twisted such that the terminal portions 
thereof are engaged with the first and second engagement walls 
respectively. Consequently, the terminal portions of each contact member 
are received by the first and second receiving faces respectively, whereby 
the axial movement of each contact member is prevented.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with 
reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a housing 21 formed 
of an insulating material has a first cable receiving section 22 on its 
lower face and a second cable receiving section 23 on its upper face. The 
cable receiving sections 22, 23 has a plurality of parallel positioning 
grooves 22a and 23a respectively. Each groove 22a, 23a has an arc cross 
section. A plurality of contact members 24 each formed from a copper alloy 
are provided by way of injection molding so as to project from the 
respective grooves 22a, 23a. Each contact member 24 has generally V-shaped 
cutting portions 24a in both ends thereof and slits 24b contiguous thereto 
respectively, as shown in FIG. 4. The cutting portions 24a and the slits 
24b of each contact member 24 are exposed out of the housing 21. The 
contact members 24 are disposed so that the adjacent contact members 24 
can be prevented from interfering with each other. 
The housing 21 has a plurality of engagement projections 25 and 26 formed 
on opposite sides thereof so as to assume predetermined locations 
respectively. More specifically, two projections 25 have inclined lower 
faces respectively in the housing 21 shown in FIG. 2. One projection 26 is 
disposed between the projections 25 to be located higher than the 
projections 25 and has an inclined upper face. A wall 27 extends across 
one ends of the positioning grooves 23a of the second cable receiving 
sections 23. The first cable receiving section 22 has no such wall. 
A cover 29 is attached to the first cable receiving section 22 so that a 
main cable 28 is held therebetween. Another cover 31 is attached to the 
second cable receiving section 23 so that a branch cable 30 is held 
therebetween. Since the covers 29, 31 have the same construction, only the 
cover 29 will be described. Referring to FIG. 5, the cover 29 has a cable 
receiving section 32 formed in the inside thereof. The cable receiving 
section 32 includes a plurality of parallel positioning grooves 32a each 
having an arc cross section. Two engagement pieces 33 project upwardly 
from one side wall of the cover 29. One engagement piece 33 projects 
upwardly from the central opposite side wall of the cover 29. Each 
engagement piece 33 is formed to fit with the housing 21. Each engagement 
piece 33 has an upper first engagement hole 34 and a lower second 
engagement hole 35. The thickness of each engagement piece 33 is reduced 
in the inside of the portion of the first engagement hole 34 as compared 
with the portion of the second engagement hole 35. The cover 29 has a slit 
36 extending across the positioning grooves 32a and positioned so as to 
correspond to the contact members 24 and the wall 27 of the housing 21. 
Assembly of the connector will now be described. First, the cable wires 28a 
of the flat multiconductor main cable 28 are placed on the respective 
positioning grooves 32a of the cable receiving section 32 of the cover 29. 
When the housing 21 is thrust against the cover 29 from above, the 
engagement pieces 33 of the cover 29 are pressed by the inclined faces of 
the corresponding engagement projections 25 of the housing 21 such that 
the engagement pieces 33 are elastically deformed. When the housing 21 is 
further thrust against the cover 29, the engagement projections 25 are 
engaged with the first engagement holes 34 respectively. 
Subsequently, the end of the branch cable 30 is caused to abut against the 
wall 27 of the second cable receiving section 23 of the housing 21, and 
the cable wires 30a of the branch cable 30 are positioned in the 
respective grooves 23a. In this state, the cover 31 is thrust against the 
second cable receiving section 23 of the housing 21. Thrusting is 
completed when the engagement projections 26 formed on the housing 21 have 
been engaged with the first engagement holes 34 of the engagement piece 33 
of the cover 31 respectively. Consequently, the connector is in the state 
of a provisional engagement wherein the covers 29, 30 are away from the 
housing 21 by a predetermined distance as shown in FIG. 6. 
Since the covers 29, 30 are each away from the housing 21 in the 
above-described provisional engagement state, the main and branch cables 
29, 30 are slightly held between the distal ends of the contact members 24 
and the respective covers 29, 31. Thus, the main and branch cables 28, 30 
are slidable relative to the housing 21 provisionally engaged with the 
covers 29, 30. Consequently, when slidably moved relative to the main 
cable 28, the housing 21 can be positioned so that the main cable 28 
assumes a desired position. 
After the housing 21 has been positioned relative to the main cable 28, the 
covers 29, 31 are pressed against the housing 21 with a tool such as 
pliers. With attachment of the covers 29, 31 to the housing 21, the first 
engagement holes 34 of the engagement pieces 33 of the covers 29, 31 are 
disengaged from the respective engagement projections 25, 26 of the 
housing 21. Subsequently, the second engagement holes 35 are engaged with 
the engagement projections 25, 26 respectively. Consequently, the covers 
29, 31 are completely engaged with the housing 21 to be integrated 
therewith, as shown in FIG. 7. In this operation, the main and the branch 
cables 28, 30 are pressed hard against the contact members 24 by the cable 
receiving sections 32 of the covers 29, 31. The cable wires 28a, 30a of 
the main and branch cables 28, 30 are guided from the cutting portions 24a 
into the slits 24b of the contact members 24. Sheaths of the cable wires 
28a, 30a are pressed and partially torn by the respective contact members 
24 such that exposed wires are press fitted into the respective slits 24b. 
Consequently, the cable wires 28a, 30a are electrically connected by the 
contact members 24 and accordingly, the main and branch cables 28, 30 are 
electrically interconnected. The movement of the contact members 24 
relative to the cable wires 28a, 30a is allowed by slits 36 formed to 
correspond to the contact members 24 respectively. 
According to the above-described embodiment, the engagement projections 25, 
26 are formed on the opposite sides of the housing 21. The first and 
second engagement holes 34, 35 are formed in the engagement pieces 33 of 
the respective covers 29, 31. In attachment to the housing 21, the covers 
29, 31 are held in the provisional engagement state prior to the complete 
engagement. The covers 29, 31 are away from the housing 21 by the 
predetermined distance in the provisional engagement state. The housing 21 
is slidably moved relative to the main cable 28 in the provisional 
engagement state, so that the housing 21 can be positioned relative to the 
main cable 28. In this state, the main and branch cables 28, 30 can be 
reliably interconnected by the contact members 24. Furthermore, since the 
covers 29, 31 and the housing 21 are integrated in the provisional 
engagement state, the housing 21 can be easily positioned relative to the 
main cable 28. In the prior art, however, the pressing members need to be 
pressed upon the positioning of the main cable relative to the housing. 
Thus, the connecting work can be performed with ease and reliability as 
compared with the prior art. Additionally, transverse movement of the main 
and branch cables 28, 31 are limited by the cutting portions 24a of the 
contact members 24 and the positioning grooves 32a of the cable receiving 
sections 32 of the respective covers 29, 31. Consequently, the covers 29, 
31 can be attached to the housing 21 with further ease. 
The wall 27 is formed on one end of the housing 21 and one end of the 
branch cable 30 is caused to abut against the wall 27 in the foregoing 
embodiment. Alternatively, the wall 27 may be eliminated and the middle 
portion of the branch cable 30 may be connected to the middle portion of 
the main cable 28. 
Blades may be provided instead of the cutting portions 24a of the contact 
member 24 so that the sheaths of the main and branch cables 28, 31 are cut 
and torn by the blades. Although the contact members 24 are provided by 
way of the injection molding in the foregoing embodiment, they may be 
fitted with the housing 21, instead. The engagement projections 26 formed 
on the opposite sides of the housing 21 are located higher relative to the 
other engagement projections 25 in the foregoing embodiment. They may be 
located at the same height by changing the thickness of the housing 21, 
covers 29, 31, the length of each engagement piece 33, the positions of 
the first and second engagement holes 34, 35 and the like. Additionally, 
engagement pieces each having first and second engagement holes may be 
formed integrally with the housing 21 and each of the covers 29, 31 may be 
provided with engagement projections. 
FIGS. 8 to 24 illustrate a second embodiment of the invention. Referring to 
FIGS. 9 and 10, the housing 37 comprises the first and second cable 
receiving sections 38 and 39 formed to be opposite to each other, 
respectively. The housing 37 has finest, second and third ridges 40, 41 
and 42 formed on each side of the housing 37 to extend transversely 
therealong with predetermined spaces. The housing 37 further has two guide 
portions 43 formed on each side thereof to extend across the ridges 40-42. 
Each guide portion 43 projects outwardly of each side of the housing 37. 
Guide walls 44 are formed on ends of the side walls of the housing 37 to 
rise vertically from the first and second cable receiving sections 38, 29 
respectively, as viewed in FIGS. 9 and 10. The two guide walls 44 rising 
from the second cable receiving section 39 are coupled by a cable guide 45 
opposite to the second cable receiving section 39. The cable guide 45 has 
a cable receiving section 46 (see FIG. 21) opposite to the second cable 
receiving section 39 and inclined inwardly. The housing 37 is provided 
with a plurality of contact members 47. 
Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, each contact member 47 has two terminal 
portions 47a formed in the upper and lower ends thereof respectively, as 
viewed in FIG. 11. Each terminal portion 47a has a V-shaped cutting 
portion 47a1 and a slit 47a2 contiguous to the cutting portion 47a1. Each 
contact member 47 has saw-toothed engagement teeth 47b formed on the 
central opposite sides thereof. Each contact member 47 further has a 
columnar convex portion 47c formed on its one side to be upwardly 
eccentric to the center or the center of gravity thereof. When mounted on 
the housing 37 by an automatic mounting machine, the contact members 47 
are hung on the convex portions 47c thereof by the machine for the purpose 
of conveying the contact members. Since the convex portion 47c is 
eccentric to the center of the contact member 47, its self weight causes 
the same to turn by 180 degrees if the contact member 47 is hung on the 
convex portion 47c upside down by the automatic mounting machine, so that 
the contact members 47 are arranged in its normal row even when the 
contact members 47 are hung upside down by the mounting machine. The 
contact members 47 arranged by the automatic mounting machine are press 
fitted into attachment holes 48 formed in the housing 37. FIGS. 13 and 14 
show one of the attachment holes 48. The attachment hole 48 includes small 
width portions into which the engagement teeth 47b are press fitted 
respectively. The attachment hole 48 further includes concave portions 48a 
into which the convex portions 47c are escaped respectively. 
Referring now to FIGS. 15 and 16, each cover 49 includes the cable 
receiving section 50 and grooves 51 extending across the cable receiving 
section 50. The contact members 47 can be inserted into the grooves 51. An 
engagement piece 52 projects from the central portion of one of opposite 
side ends of the cover 49. A pair of engagement pieces 53 are formed on 
the other side end of the cover 49. The engagement piece 52 has on the 
distal end an engagement claw 52a extending inwardly. Each engagement 
piece 53 also has on the distal end an engagement claw 53a extending 
inwardly. The engagement piece 52 further has on the middle outer face an 
engagement projection 54 extending outwardly. The engagement pieces 53 
away from each other are coupled by an engagement wall 55. The engagement 
wall 55 has in the central inner face a concave portion 56 formed to 
correspond to the configuration of the engagement piece 52. The concave 
portion 56 has in its distal end an inclined face 56a formed to correspond 
to the configuration of the engagement projection 54. The cover 49 has a 
generally semicylindrical expanded portion 57 on the outer face thereof. 
In the second embodiment, the engagement means is comprised of the 
engagement piece 52 and engagement projection 54 of each cover 49, the 
first to third ridges 40-42 and engagement wall 55 of the housing 37. The 
guide means is comprised of the engagement pieces 52, 53 of each cover 49 
and the guide portions 43 and guide walls 44 of the housing 37. 
The connection of the main and branch cable wires to the connector will be 
described. In a first attachment step, the main cable 28 is placed on the 
cable receiving section 50 of one of the covers 49, and the housing 37 is 
slightly thrust into the cover 49 from above with the guide portions 43 
being slid on the engagement pieces 52, 53. Thrusting is interrupted when 
the engagement claws 52a, 53a of the engagement pieces 52, 53 of the cover 
49 have been engaged with the first ridges 40 of the housing 37. 
Consequently, the cower 49 is away from the housing 37 by the 
predetermined distance. This state is referred to as a first provisional 
engagement state as shown in FIG. 8. In the first provisional engagement 
state, a gap is defined between the cable receiving section 50 of the 
cover 49 and the ends of the contact members 47 projecting from the first 
cable receiving section 38 of the housing 37. The gap has a larger 
diameter than each cable of the main cable 28. Accordingly, the housing 37 
can be moved along the main cable 28. 
Subsequently, the branch cable 30 is caused to pass over the contact 
members 47 projecting from the second cable receiving section 39 of the 
housing 37 and is then inserted into the cable receiving section 46 of the 
cable guide 45. The branch cable 30 having inserted into the cable 
receiving section 46 is placed on the contact members 47 by the self 
weight and held thereon, as shown in FIG. 21. Furthermore, the distal end 
of the branch cable 30 is bent downward along the cable receiving section 
46. The elasticity causes the branch cable 30 to press against the cable 
receiving section 46 such that the branch cable 30 is held on the cable 
guide 45 and the contact members 47. Since the cable receiving section 46 
is inclined inwardly, the branch cable 30 can be reliably held on the 
cable guide 45 even if it has a relatively smaller cable diameter. The 
other cover 49 is attached to the housing 37 from above to cover the 
second cable receiving section 39, and the engagement claws 52a, 53a of 
the engagement pieces 52, 53 of the cover 49 are engaged with the third 
ridges 42 of the housing 37. Consequently, the cover 49 is in the first 
engagement state wherein it is away from the housing 37 by the 
predetermined distance. The main and branch cables 28, 30 can be moved 
relative to the connector when each cover is in the first engagement 
state. Accordingly, the position of the connector relative to main and 
branch cables 28, 30 is adjusted. 
In a subsequent second attachment step, the covers 49 provisionally in 
engagement with the housing 37 are pressed hard to come near to each 
other. Then, the engagement piece 52 of each cover 49 invades the concave 
portion 56 of the engagement wall 55 of the counterpart cover 49 and the 
side of the housing 37, as shown in FIG. 19. Furthermore, the engagement 
claws 52a, 53a of the engagement pieces 52, 53 escape from the first and 
third ridges 40, 42 and then engage the second ridges 41 respectively. 
Since the engagement projection 54 of the engagement piece 52 of each 
cover 49 abuts against the inclined face of the engagement wall 55 of the 
counterpart cover 49, further movement of each cover 49 is prevented. 
Consequently, each cover 49 assumes a second provisional engagement state 
wherein each cover 49 is away from the housing 37 by a predetermined 
distance. In the second provisional engagement state, the gap between the 
cable receiving section 50 of each cover 49 and the end of the contact 
members 47 is set so as to be slightly smaller than the diameters of the 
main and branch cables 28, 30. Accordingly, the cutting portions 47a of 
the contact members 47 have slightly thrust into the main and branch 
cables 28, 30, whereby each cable 28, 30 is in a state of provisional 
fixation to the connector. Consequently, when the pressing against each 
cover 49 is released, the connector can be prevented from moving relative 
to the main cable 28 and the brain cable 30 can be prevented from falling 
out of the connector. 
In the second provisional engagement state, a transversely extending window 
58 is defined between the cable guide 45 of the housing 37 and the cover 
49 by the guide walls 44 so as to be located to correspond to the distal 
end of the branch cable 30. The operator can look through the window 58 to 
see whether the branch cable 30 has been reliably held in the connector or 
not. 
In a third or final attachment step, the covers 49 provisionally secured to 
the housing 37 are pressed with a tool such as pliers, as shown in FIG. 
23. Since each cover 49 has the expanded portion 57 on the central outer 
face, pressing force applied to each cover 49 is received on the expanded 
portion 57 thereof. Accordingly, although large pressing force is usually 
applied to the central portion of each cover 49, it can be reliably 
attached to the housing 37. Furthermore, the engagement piece 52 of each 
cover 49 is guided in the state that it is held between the guide portions 
43 of the housing 37. The engagement pieces 53 of each cover 49 hold the 
guide portion 43 therebetween and slide on the guide walls 44 when they 
are guided. Consequently, each cover 49 is guided only in the direction 
that it is attached to the housing. 
When having passed the engagement wall 55 of the counterpart cover 49, the 
engagement projection 54 of each cover 49 engages the end face of the 
engagement wall 55, and the claw 52a of the engagement piece 52 of each 
cover 49 engages the third or first ridge 40 or 42 which is farthest away 
therefrom, as shown in FIG. 20. Consequently, each cover 49 is secured in 
the state that it is attached to the housing 37. Since the main and branch 
cables 28, 30 are pressed against the cable receiving sections 50 of each 
cover 49 are held between the cutting portions 47a1 of the contact members 
47. Then, the sheaths of the cables 28, 30 are torn by the cutting 
portions 47a1 of the contact members 47 and then, the inner conductors are 
press fitted into the slits 47a2, whereby the main and branch cables 28, 
30 are interconnected. 
FIG. 17 illustrates the condition where the contact member 47 has been 
press fitted into the housing 37 and the covers 49 have been completely 
attached to the housing. In this condition, a part of each terminal 
portion 47a of the contact member 47 has invaded the groove 51 of the 
cover 49. The length L1 between the distal end of the terminal portion 47a 
of the contact member 47 and the bottom of the groove 51 of the cover is 
set to be smaller than the distance L2 that the cable 28 or 30 invades the 
slit 47a2 of the contact member 47. 
According to the second embodiment, each cover 49 is held in the first 
provisional engagement state in the first attachment step. The main and 
branch cables 28, 30 are slidable relative to the connector in the first 
attachment step. Thereafter, each cover 49 is held in the second 
provisional engagement state in the second attachment step. The cables 28, 
30 are provisionally secured to the connector in the second attachment 
step. Then, the cables 28, 30 are completely secured to the connector in 
the electrically conductive state in the third attachment step. As the 
result of the above-described three attachment steps, the cables 28, 30 
can be positioned and attached to the connector easily and reliably. 
The guide portions 43 and the guide walls 44 are provided on the sides of 
the housing 37. The engagement pieces 52, 53 of each cover 49 are guided 
along the guide portions 43 and the guide walls 44 when the covers 49 are 
attached to the housing 37. Consequently, the covers 49 can be reliably 
attached to the housing 37 without any inclination relative to the housing 
37 even when the resistance force the main and branch cables 28, 30 
receive from the contact members 47 is not uniform. Furthermore, since 
each cover 49 has the expanded portion 57 receiving the pressing force 
applied thereto, each cover 49 can be attached to the housing 37 with a 
general purpose tool such as the pliers. Consequently, specific jigs or 
tools are not necessitated and accordingly, the working efficiency can be 
improved. Furthermore, since the distal end of the branch cable 30 is held 
by the cable guide 45 of the housing 37, the branch cable 30 need not be 
held by hand so as not to move back when each cover 49 is attached to the 
housing 37. As a result, the working efficiency can be further improved. 
Since the connector is connected across the main cable 28, a parallel 
multiconductor cable need to be used as the main cable 28. On the other 
hand, a cabtire cable extending out of a control device such as an address 
unit is sometimes used as the branch cable 30. Positioning the parallel 
multiconductor cable relative to the housing 37 is easy because it 
comprises a plurality of cables integrated. However, when the cabtire 
cable is used as the branch cable 30, it is difficult to hold all the 
cables of the cabtire cable by hand because they are separated from one 
another. 
In the second embodiment, however, the distal end of the branch cable 30 is 
held by the cable guide 45. Accordingly, the branch cable 30 can be easily 
held by the cable guide 45 even when the cabtire cable is used as the 
branch cable 30. Moreover, the branch cable 30 can be reliably held by the 
cable guide 45 even when the number of cables of the branch cable 30 is 
smaller than that of cables of the main branch 28. Consequently, a variety 
of types of cables can be used as the branch cable 30. 
The window 58 is defined in the connector when the covers 49 have been 
attached to the housing 37. Since the position of the distal end of the 
branch cable held by the cable guide 45 can be checked through the window 
58, the branch cable 30 can be reliably connected to the connector. 
A difference may arise between the pressing force of the main cable 28 and 
that of the branch cable 30 when the main and branch cables 28, 30 are 
crimped to the terminal portions 47a of the contact members 47. In such a 
case, force would act on one or more contact members 47, causing them to 
move in the direction in which they fall out of the housing 37, as shown 
in FIG. 24. In the second embodiment, however, the length L1 between the 
distal end of the terminal portion 47a of the contact member 47 and the 
bottom of the groove 51 of the cover 49 is set to be smaller than the 
distance L2 that the cable 28 or 30 invades the slit 47a2 of the contact 
member 47. Accordingly, if the contact member 47 moves in the direction 
that it falls out of the housing 37, the distance that the branch cable 30 
is press fitted into the slits 47a2 of the contact member 47 to be thereby 
crimped thereto is shortened by the distance L1. Consequently, the branch 
cable 30 crimped to the slit 47a2 of the terminal portion 47a can be 
prevented from getting out of place. 
FIG. 25 illustrates a modified form of the contact member 47. In the 
modified form, the contact member 47 has two protrusions 47d formed above 
the top engagement teeth 47b on opposite sides thereof respectively. When 
the contact member 47 has been press fitted into the attachment hole 48, 
the protrusions 47d are engaged with the peripheral edge of the attachment 
hole 48 so that the contact member 47 is prevented from further moving in 
the direction that it is press fitted into the attachment hole 48. 
Consequently, only the gap between the contact members 47 and one of the 
covers 49 disposed at the side opposite to the protrusions 47d need to be 
controlled. That is, in the construction as shown in FIG. 17, the contact 
members 47 having press fitted into the housing 37 may move in both 
directions. Accordingly, the gaps between each end of the contact members 
47 and each cover 49 need to be controlled. However, in the 
above-described modified form, only the gap between one end of each 
contact member 47 and one end of the cover 49 located at the side opposite 
to the protrusions 47d need to be controlled. 
The contact member press fitted into the housing 37 can be positioned by 
the protrusions 47d with high precision in the modified form. 
Consequently, no specific machine need not be employed for positioning the 
contact members 47 relative to the housing 37. 
The convex portion 47c of the contact member 47 may be eliminated. The 
engagement tooth 47b of the contact member 47 may be changed into another 
contour. 
FIGS. 26 to 34 illustrate a third embodiment of the invention. In the third 
embodiment, the connector connects the main and branch cables so that they 
intersect each other. 
FIGS. 27 and 28 show the upper side and underside of the housing 59 of the 
connector respectively. The housing 59 is formed generally into the shape 
of a square block and has first and second cable receiving sections 60 and 
61 in the underside and the upper side respectively. The first, second and 
third ridges 62, 63 and 64 each serving as the engagement means are formed 
on both ends of the opposite sides of the housing 59. Engagement 
protrusions 65 each serving as the engagement means are formed on the 
central portions of each side of the housing 59. A wall 66 is formed on 
one end of the second cable receiving section 61. The contact members 67 
each formed of a flat plate of a copper alloy are disposed along a 
diagonal of each cable receiving section 60, 61 in a twisted state, as 
will be described in detail later. 
Referring now to FIGS. 29 and 30, the cover 68 has a cable receiving 
section 69 formed in the inside thereof. The cable receiving section 69 
has slits 70 formed along a diagonal thereof so that the ends of the 
contact members 67 are allowed to invade them. Engagement legs 71 each 
serving as engagement means are formed on four corners of the cover 68. 
Each engagement leg 71 has an engagement claw 71a formed on a distal end 
thereof to extend inwardly. The engagement legs 71 at a pair of opposite 
sides are coupled by an engagement wall 72 extending along the cable 
receiving section 69. Each engagement wall 72 has a central engagement 
hole 73 and an inclined face 72a formed in the central distal end thereof. 
The cover 68 has on its outer face a semicircular expanded portion 74. 
Structure for attaching the contact members 67 to the housing 59 will be 
described. Referring to FIG. 31, the contact member 67 comprises a pair of 
terminal portions 67a with a larger width and a connecting portion 67b 
having a smaller width and connecting the terminal portions 67a. Each 
terminal portion 67a includes a V-shaped cutting portion 67a1 and a slit 
portion 67a2 contiguous with the cutting portion 67a1. 
Referring to FIG. 32, the housing 59 has an attachment portion 75 including 
a cylindrical through hole 75g extending through the housing 59 and having 
a diameter approximately equal to the width of the connecting portion 67b 
of the contact member 67. The attachment portion 75 further has a pair of 
first receiving faces 75b formed on the first cable receiving section 60 
to be opposite to each other about the hole 75g and a pair of second 
receiving faces 75c formed on the second cable receiving section 61 to be 
opposite to each other about the hole 75g. Each first receiving face 75b 
and each second receiving face 75c are opposite to each other axially of 
the hole 75g. The first and second receiving faces 75b, 75c are formed to 
be depressed from the first and second cable receiving sections 60, 61 
about the hole 75g into a sectorial shape. Each first receiving face 75b 
has a central angle of approximately 40 degrees and each second receiving 
face 75c has a central angle of approximately 130 degrees. A pair of slits 
75a are formed to be opposite about the hole 75g and to be depressed 
outwardly. A pair of convex portions 75f serving as holding means are 
formed on edges of the slits 75a contiguous with the first receiving faces 
75b respectively. The first receiving face 75b has on its end a vertical, 
first engagement wall 75d. The second receiving face 75c also has on its 
end a vertical, second engagement wall 75e. An axial distance between the 
top of the convex portion 75f and the second receiving face 75c is set to 
be approximately equal to the length of the connecting portion 67b of the 
contact member 67. An axial distance between the first and second 
receiving faces 75b, 75c is set to be slightly shorter than the length of 
the connecting portion 67b of the contact member 67, for example, 0.3 mm. 
Attachment of the contact member 67 to the attachment portion 75 will be 
described. First, the contact member 67 is inserted into the hole 75a, as 
shown in FIG. 33A, so that the connecting portion 67b thereof is located 
in the hole 75a, as shown in FIG. 34A. Then, one of the terminal portions 
67a of the contact member 67 projecting from the second cable receiving 
section 61 is twisted in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 33B, whereupon 
the other terminal portion 67a of the contact member 67 gets over the 
convex portion 75f of the first receiving face 75b to thereby abut against 
the first engagement wall 75d, as shown in FIG. 34B. When further twisted 
in the direction of arrow A until a total twist angle of 90 degrees is 
reached, said one terminal 67a passes over the second receiving face 75c 
with said other terminal portion 67a engaged with the first engagement 
wall 75d, thereby abutting against the second engagement wall 75e to be 
engaged therewith, as shown in FIG. 33C. When said one terminal portion 
67a is twisted in the condition that said other terminal portion 67a is in 
engagement with the first engagement wall 75d, force applied to the 
contact member 67 concentrates upon the narrow connecting portion 67b. 
Accordingly, the connecting portion 67b is twisted in the cylindrical hole 
75g such that the length thereof and accordingly, the gap between each 
terminal portion 67a and the adjacent one are shortened. Consequently, the 
terminal portion 67a in engagement with the first engagement wall 75d over 
the convex portion 75f of the first receiving face 75b is held between the 
first engagement wall 75d and the convex portion 75f, as shown in FIG. 
34C. Thus, each terminal portion 67a in engagement with the first and 
second engagement walls 75d, 75f can be prevented from being rotated in 
the direction opposite arrow A when the contact member 67 has inserted 
into the hole 75a and completely twisted. The contact members 67 are thus 
attached to the respective attachment portions 75 in the manner as 
described above. As the result of the above-described attachment, the 
cutting edges of the terminal portions 67a on the respective first and 
second cable receiving sections 60, 61 intersect each other. 
In interconnecting the main and branch cables 76, 77 as shown in FIG. 26, 
the main and branch cables 76, 77 are held between the first and second 
cable receiving sections 60, 61 and the cable receiving sections 69 of the 
covers 68, respectively. In this state, the cover 68 is thrust into the 
housing 59. Then, the engagement claws 71a of the legs 71 of the covers 68 
engage the first ridges 62 of the housing 59. This state is referred to as 
a first provisional engagement state. The positional relations between the 
main and branch cables 76, 77 and the connector can be adjusted in the 
first provisional engagement state. 
The engagement claws 71a of the legs 71 of the covers 68 engage the second 
ridges 63 when the covers are further thrust. This state is referred to as 
a second provisional engagement state. The main and branch cables 76, 77 
can be provisionally fixed to the connector in the second provisional 
engagement state. Then, when the covers 68 are further thrust into the 
housing 59, the engagement claws 71a of the legs 71 get over the third 
ridges 64, and the engagement holes 73 are engaged with engagement 
protrusions 65 of the housing 59 respectively. Consequently, the covers 68 
can be secured to the housing 59. The main and branch cables 76, 77 are 
thus interconnected in the state that they intersect each other. 
According to the third embodiment, the attachment portions 75 are formed 
along the diagonal of each of the first and second cable receiving 
sections 60, 61 of the housing 59. The contact members 67 are attached to 
the respective attachment portions 75 so that the central axes of both 
ends of the terminal portions 67a of each contact member 67 are on the 
same axis. As the result of such locational relation as described above, 
the same covers 68 can be used as those secured to the first and second 
cable receiving sections 60, 61, the number of parts can be reduced as 
compared with the conventional construction in which the contact members 
are attached to the housing by way of the injection molding or fitting. 
Consequently, the manufacturing and controlling costs of the parts can be 
reduced. Furthermore, since the types of the covers need not be identified 
in attachment of them to the housing 59, the working efficiency can be 
improved. 
Since each contact member 67 is twisted for the attachment to the housing 
59, a space occupied by each contact member 67 attached to the housing 59 
is quite small. Consequently, the housing 59 can be rendered small. 
The terminal portions 67a of the contact members 67 are held at both sides 
by the engagement walls 75d, 75e respectively when engaged with them. The 
component of large force is applied to each terminal portion 67a so that 
it is bent when the main and branch cables 76, 77 are press fitted into 
the same. However, the force can be received by the first and second 
engagement walls 75d, 75e . Consequently, the contact members 67 can be 
prevented from buckling and deformation. 
The convex portion 75f formed on the first receiving face 75b of each 
attachment portion 75 may be modified as shown in FIGS. 35A and 35B. As 
shown in FIG. 35A, the face between the top thereof and the first 
receiving face 75b is inclined. The terminal portion 67a thrusts into the 
convex portion 75f more securely when having been completely twisted, as 
shown in FIG. 35B. Accordingly, each contact member 67 can be positioned 
more reliably. 
FIGS. 36, 37A and 37B illustrate a fourth embodiment of the invention. In 
the fourth embodiment, the construction shown in FIG. 36 differs from that 
of FIG. 32 only in that each first receiving face 78b and each second 
receiving face 78c are not opposite to each other axially of the hole 78g 
while each first receiving face 75b and each second receiving face 75c are 
opposite to each other axially of the hole 75g and the convex portion 75f 
is provided in the construction shown in FIG. 32. The portions 78a, 78d, 
78e and 78g in FIG. 36 correspond to the portions 75a, 75d, 75e and 75g in 
FIG. 32 respectively. 
In attaching the contact member 67 to the attachment portion 75 of the 
housing 59, the contact member 67 is inserted into the hole 78a so that 
the connecting portion 67b thereof is located in the hole 78g, as shown in 
FIG. 37A. Then, one of the terminal portions 67a of the contact member 67 
projecting from the first cable receiving section 60 is twisted in the 
direction of arrow A and simultaneously, the other terminal portion 67a of 
the contact member 67 is twisted in the direction opposite arrow A. 
Consequently, said one terminal portion 67a abuts against the first 
engagement wall 78d, engaging it. Said other terminal portion 67a abuts 
against the second engagement wall 78e, engaging it. See FIG. 37B. Since 
the twisting force concentrates upon the narrow connecting portion 67b, it 
is twisted such that the length thereof and accordingly, the gap between 
each terminal portion 67a and the adjacent one are shortened. Thus, when 
the contact member 67 has been completely twisted, the terminal portions 
67a thereof are in engagement with the first and second receiving faces 
78b, 78c and the engagement walls 78d, 78e respectively. Consequently, the 
contact member 67 is prevented from movement in the direction of rotation 
and the axial movement. 
Although the contact member 67 is inserted into the attachment portion 78 
of the housing 59 and then twisted in each of the third and fourth 
embodiments, the contact member 67 having the terminal portions 67b 
previously twisted to intersect each other may be provided in the housing 
59 by the insert molding. Furthermore, means for engaging the covers with 
the housing should not be limited to those described above. 
The foregoing disclosure and drawings are merely illustrative of the 
principles of the present invention and are not to be construed in a 
limiting sense. Various changes and modifications will become apparent to 
those of ordinary skill in the art. All such changes and modifications are 
seen to fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined 
by the appended claims.