Insulation displacement contact (IDC) and IDC mounting system

1. An insulation displacement contact (IDC) for being seated in a connector housing having an IDC receiving passage with lower stops and upper locking catches, the insulation displacement contact comprising:

a base portion;

a first IDC arm extending from said base portion and including a lower portion with reduced dimension, a wire cutting/clamping region with an inner surface for insulated wire cutting and clamping, and an upper portion with a hook shaped portion defining a region for introducing wires for termination;

a second IDC arm extending from said base portion and including a lower portion with reduced dimension, a wire cutting/clamping region with an inner surface for insulated wire cutting and clamping, and an upper portion with a hook shaped portion defining a region for introducing wires for termination, each of said first IDC arm and said second IDC being flexible with respect to said base portion whereby said wire cutting/clamping regions cooperate for cutting and clamping insulated wires;

a first upper locator at an exterior surface of said first IDC arm;

a second upper locator at an exterior surface of said second IDC arm;

a first lower locator at an exterior surface of the IDC;

a second lower locator at an exterior surface of the IDC, said first lower locator and said second lower locator contacting the lower stops with said first upper locator engaging a first side upper locking catch and said second upper locator engaging a second side upper locking catch upon inserting the IDC into the IDC receiving passage.

2. An insulation displacement contact according to claim 1 , wherein said base portion includes the first lower locator extending outwardly at a first side and the second lower locator extending outwardly at a second side.

3. An insulation displacement contact according to claim 2 , wherein a first side outer flexing contour is formed between said first IDC arm and said base portion at the first side and a second side outer flexing contour is formed between said second IDC arm and said base portion at the second side.

4. An insulation displacement contact according to claim 3 , wherein a first side inner flexing contour is formed along the inner side of said lower portion with reduced dimension of said first IDC arm, between said wire cutting/clamping region and said first side outer flexing contour, and a second side inner flexing contour is formed along the inner side of said lower portion of said second IDC arm with reduced dimension between said wire cutting/clamping region and said first side outer flexing contour.

5. An insulation displacement contact according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a mounting post portion extending from said base portion in a direction opposite to a direction of extension of said first IDC arm and said second IDC arm, said post for mounting the connector housing relative to a circuit board and electrically connecting the IDC to a circuit trace on the circuit board.

6. An insulation displacement contact and connector housing combination comprising:

a connector housing having an IDC receiving passage with insertion region first side edge and insertion region second side edge defining lower stops and upper locking catches; and

an insulation displacement contact comprising:

a base portion;

a first IDC arm extending from said base portion and including a lower portion with reduced dimension, a wire cutting/clamping region with an inner surface for insulated wire cutting and clamping, and an upper portion defining a region for introducing wires for termination;

a second IDC arm extending from said base portion and including a lower portion with reduced dimension, a wire cutting/clamping region with an inner surface for insulated wire cutting and clamping, and an upper portion defining a region for introducing wires for termination, each of said first IDC arm and said second IDC being flexible with respect to said base portion whereby said wire cutting/clamping regions cooperate for cutting and clamping insulated wires;

an first upper locator at an exterior surface of said first IDC arm;

an second upper locator at an exterior surface of said first IDC arm;

an first lower locator at an exterior surface of the IDC;

an second lower locator at an exterior surface of the IDC, said first lower locator and said second lower locator contacting the lower stops with said first upper locator engaging a first side upper locking catch and said second upper locator engaging a second side upper locking catch upon inserting the IDC into the IDC receiving passage.

7. A combination according to claim 6 , wherein each upper portion includes a hook portion defining a region between the arms for introducing and retaining wires for termination.

8. A combination according to claim 6 , wherein said base portion includes the first lower locator extending outwardly at a first side and the second lower locator extending outwardly at a second side.

9. A combination according to claim 8 , wherein a first side outer flexing contour is formed between said first IDC arm and said base portion at the first side and a second side outer flexing contour is formed between said second IDC arm and said base portion at the second side.

10. A combination according to claim 9 , wherein a first side inner flexing contour is formed along the inner side of said lower portion with reduced dimension of said first IDC arm, between said wire cutting/clamping region and said first side outer flexing contour, and a second side inner flexing contour is formed along the inner side of said lower portion of said second IDC arm with reduced dimension between said wire cutting/clamping region and said first side outer flexing contour.

11. A combination according to claim 6 , further comprising:

a mounting post portion extending from said base portion in a direction opposite to a direction of extension of said first IDC arm and said second IDC arm, said post for mounting the connector housing relative to a circuit board and electrically connecting the IDC to a circuit trace on the circuit board.

12. An insulation displacement contact and connector housing combination comprising:

a connector housing having an IDC receiving passage with insertion region first side edge and insertion region second side edge defining lower stops and upper locking catches; and

an insulation displacement contact comprising:

a base portion;

a first IDC arm extending from said base portion and including a lower portion with reduced dimension, a wire cutting/clamping region with an inner surface for insulated wire cutting and clamping, and an upper portion defining a region for introducing wires for termination;

a second IDC arm extending from said base portion and including a lower portion with reduced dimension, a wire cutting/clamping region with an inner surface for insulated wire cutting and clamping, and an upper portion defining a region for introducing wires for termination, each of said first IDC arm and said second IDC being flexible with respect to said base portion whereby said wire cutting/clamping regions cooperate for cutting and clamping insulated wires; and

snap in connection means for snap in seating in a position and snap in securing of the IDC relative to the connector housing wherein:

said snap in connection means comprises an upper lock locator means and a lower lock locator means

said upper lock locator means comprises a first upper locator at an exterior surface of said first IDC arm and a second upper locator at an exterior surface of said second IDC arm, said first upper locator engaging a first side upper locking catch of said housing and said second upper locator engaging a second side upper locking catch of said housing, upon inserting the IDC into the IDC receiving passage; and

said lower lock locator means comprises a first lower locator at an exterior surface of the first IDC arm and a second lower locator at an exterior surface of the second IDC arm, said first lower locator and said second lower locator contacting lower stops defines by said housing.