Abstract:
A connector electrically connects corresponding conductors of at least first and second cables. The connector comprises a connecting portion into which the conductors of the first and second cables are inserted opposing one another to electrically connect corresponding conductors of each cable. A positive terminal and a negative terminal terminate and electrically connect corresponding conductors of each cable.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   The present application relates to electric connectors. It finds particular application in conjunction with lighting systems and will be described with a particular reference thereto. However, it is to be appreciated that the following also relates to electrical systems and the like. 
   Insulation displacement connectors (IDC) are used to interconnect conductors which have a wire surrounded by an outer insulating layer. These devices typically include a central body or housing having one or more channels for receiving the conductors, and a metallic contact element such as U-element which provides the electrical connection between the conductors. As the U-element contacts the insulated conductor, the inner walls of the U-element penetrate the outer insulating layer and make contact with the metal wire. 
   Typically, to connect multi-conductor parallel cables by using commercially available IDC splice connectors the wires are cut and separated. Corresponding cut and separated wires from the two cables are inserted into the connector. The connection is terminated separately for each pair of corresponding wires. Thus, this process must be completed for each set of wires to be connected using a different connector each time. 
   Other known connectors require a similar process but can connect multiple wires together through an intermediate connecting part so the whole connection requires three separate assemblies, e.g., for three sets of wires. 
   Such termination procedures are complex and labor intensive. In addition, the miniature lighting products use miniature IDC connectors. When the connectors mentioned above scaled down, they often become fragile and break easily. 
   BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
   A connector for electrically connecting corresponding conductors of at least first and second cables is disclosed. The connector comprises a connecting portion into which the conductors of the first and second cables are inserted opposing one another to electrically connect corresponding conductors of each cable. A positive terminal and a negative terminal terminate and electrically connect corresponding conductors of each cable. 
   In accordance with another aspect, an insulation displacement connector (IDC) for electrically connecting insulated cables which each includes electric conductors is disclosed. A main body includes first and second hinging members. A positive terminal and a negative terminal electrically connect pairs of wires of corresponding conductors by insulation displacement method when the first and second hinging members are snapped closed. 
   In accordance with another aspect, an insulation displacement connector (IDC) for electrically connecting at least first and second cables each cable having parallel electric wires insulated from one another by a layer of insulative material is disclosed. A connecting portion includes wire receiving slots and wire aligning members, into which wire receiving slots the wires surrounded by the insulative material are inserted. A positive terminal and a negative terminal each has a bifurcated end and is oriented toward a corresponding wire receiving slot. Each bifurcated end pierces the insulative layer of a respective wire and establishes electrical contact with the respective wire. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic illustration of an assembled connector; 
       FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic illustration of a connector; 
       FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic illustration of a detail of connector; 
       FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic illustration of another detail of a connector; 
       FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic illustration of another embodiment of an assembled connector; and 
       FIG. 6  is a diagrammatic illustration of a detail of the connector of  FIG. 5 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an electrical connector  8 , such as an insulation displacement connector (IDC), includes a housing or main body  10  which is made of, for example, a soft plastic material such as insulating polypropylene or nylon. The main body  10  receives conductors  12 ,  14  of first and second multi-conductor parallel cables  16 ,  18  on opposing sides  20 ,  22 . In one embodiment, the first multi-conductor parallel cable  16  includes a first positive wire  24 , a second positive wire  26  and a negative wire  28  disposed between the first and second positive wires  24 ,  26 . Likewise, the second multi-conductor parallel cable  18  includes a first positive wire  30 , a second positive wire  32  and a negative wire  34  disposed between the first and second positive wires  30 ,  32 . Each wire  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34  is surrounded by a layer  38  of insulating material or sheath. Such cable construction with two positive wires disposed on the outside of the cable and the negative wire disposed in between the positive wires affords polarity insensitive connection. E.g., the cables are orientation insensitive which substantially simplifies installation. Of course, it is contemplated that the first and second cable can have any number of wires, such as one, two, four, five, six and the like. 
   The main body  10  includes a connecting portion  40  including wire receiving slots  42  of substantially circular geometry, in which conductors  12 ,  14  of the first and second cables  16 ,  18  are arranged. The connecting portion  40  retains and aligns the corresponding wires to be connected. Nubs  44  assist in retaining the conductors  12 ,  14 . As explained in detail below, a first hinging portion or section  46  including substantially circular wire slots  48  and a hinge  50  mechanically snaps onto the first cable  16 . A second hinging portion or section  52  including substantially circular wire slots  54  and a hinge  56  mechanically snaps onto the second cable  18  so that corresponding pairs of wires  24 ,  30 ;  26 ,  32 ;  28 ,  34  make electrical contact. 
   With continuing reference to  FIG. 2  and further reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a first or positive terminal or terminals  60  includes first or positive conductive insulation piercing members, or prongs  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  that are arranged in a substantially fixed manner in slots, openings or voids  70  and protrude into the wire receiving slots  42 . Likewise, a second or negative terminal or terminals  80  includes second or negative conductive insulation piercing members, or prongs  82 ,  84  that are arranged in a substantially fixed manner in slots, openings or voids  86  and protrude into the wire receiving slots  42 . The positive and negative terminals  60 ,  80  include retaining features  88  such as spring back retaining features which when engaged with corresponding voids (not shown) in the main body  10 , position the positive and negative terminals  60 ,  80  in substantially fixed manner within the main body  10 . 
   Each prong  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68 ,  82 ,  84  includes a corresponding bifurcated or V-shaped end  90 ,  92 ,  94 ,  96 ,  98 ,  100  which extends out of the corresponding terminal  60 ,  80  toward the wire receiving slots  42 . The first hinging portion  46  snaps onto the connecting portion  40  with the conductors  12  of the first cable  16  arranged in the wire receiving slots  42 . The ends  90 ,  92 ,  98  of the prongs  62 ,  64 ,  82  push the conductors  12 , puncture the insulating material layer  38  of the conductors  12  and electrically contact the wires  24 ,  26 ,  28 . The snapping connection includes an engagement of a first engaging member or clip  110  of the first hinging section  46  with a matching recess or void  112  of the connecting portion  40  to secure the first hinging section  46  onto the connecting portion  40 . Likewise, the second hinging portion  52  snaps onto the connecting portion  40  with the conductors  14  of the second cable  18  arranged in the wire receiving slots  42 . The ends  94 ,  96 ,  100  of the prongs  66 ,  68 ,  84  push the conductors  14 , puncture the insulating material layer  38  of the conductors  14  of the second cable  18  and electrically contact the wires  30 ,  32 ,  34 . The snapping connection includes an engagement of a second engaging member or clip  114  of the second hinging section  52  with a recess or void (not shown) of the connecting portion  40  to secure the second hinging section  52  onto the connecting portion  40 . As a result, the first positive prongs  62 ,  66  provide the electrical connection between the first positive wires  24 ,  30 , the second positive prongs  64 ,  68  provide the electrical connection between the second positive wires  26 ,  32 , and the negative prongs  82 ,  84  provide an electrical connection between the negative wires  28 ,  34  of the first and second cables  16 ,  18 . Of course, it is contemplated that a different number of terminals and/or prongs can be used. For example, the illustrated embodiment can have two positive terminals and one negative terminal to achieve the polarity insensitive design. 
   In one embodiment, each bifurcated end  90 ,  92 ,  94 ,  96 ,  98 ,  100  defines a gap  120  sized to receive the respective conductor  12 , 14  of one of the first and second cable  16 ,  18 . In one embodiment, each conductor  12 ,  14  includes multiple strands of wire surrounded by the insulation layer  38 . The wire compressively squeezes into the gap  120  of the end  90 ,  92 ,  94 ,  96 ,  98 ,  100  of one of the prongs  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68 ,  82 ,  84  when the first or second hinging section  46 ,  52  is snapped in place onto the connecting portion  40 . 
   In this manner, a miniature robust IDC connector is provided which includes a body having two living hinges and two terminals. The living hinges push the wires into the static terminal creating IDC connection. Such miniature connector can be assembled without special tools and, for example, placed in a tight spot or connect a miniature LED light. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the conductors  12 ,  14  of the first and second cables  16 ,  18  are received into the wire receiving slots  42 . The connecting portion  40  retains and aligns the corresponding wires to be connected. The positive terminals  60  is supported by a first terminal holder  200  arranged in the connecting portion  40  and includes the first or positive conductive prongs  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  that protrude into the wire receiving slots  42 . Likewise, the negative terminals  80  is supported by a second terminal holder  202  arranged in the connecting portion  40  and includes the negative conductive insulation piercing prongs  82 ,  84  that protrude into the wire receiving slots  42 . 
   Each prong  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68 ,  82 ,  84  includes a corresponding bifurcated or V-shaped end  90 ,  92 ,  94 ,  96 ,  98 ,  100  which extends out of the corresponding terminal  60 ,  80  toward the receiving slots  42 . The electrical connection between corresponding wires of the first and second cables  16 ,  18  is achieved by squeezing the first and second terminal holders  200 ,  202  toward one another onto the main body  10 . The squeezing of the first and second terminal holders  200 ,  202  results in bifurcating the ends connecting to the conductors  12 ,  14  of the corresponding first and second cables  16 ,  18  thus connecting respective pairs of wires. The terminal holders  200 ,  202  retain the terminals  60 ,  80  and interface to the main body to provide proper alignment and retention of the terminals to the main body. The terminal holders  200 ,  202  can also have features to position the wire during termination and have voids to retain the gel for moisture protection. The connector is scalable for the size of the wires, the number of conductors to be connected, and which wires are to be connected. The end result is a small compact IDC splice connection usable with miniature LED lights, for example, that is placed over the wires to be connected and is terminated by squeezing the connection with a standard pair of pliers. 
   Optionally, the main body  10  includes multiple voids to be filled with a dielectric gel that provides moisture resistance to the critical areas where the terminals connect to the wire and to each other. 
   The exemplary embodiment has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the exemplary embodiment be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.