Jack and connector

Claim 2

A jack adapted for connection to a printed circuit board or the like for a modular plug connector having cord shield terminating contact means, comprising: a jack housing formed of a plurality of jack parts adapted to lockingly interfit with each other to define an elongated receptacle for receiving the modular plug connector, the receptacle having an entrance opening at one longitudinal end of the housing; a first one of said plurality of jack parts constituting a grounding and shielding part formed of electrically conductive material and having top, bottom and side walls defining a closed, sleeve-like member, each of said walls having a longitudinally extending inner surface at least a substantial portion of which bounds said plug receptacle such that a substantial portion of the length of said elongated receptacle is bounded on all of its sides by the electrically conductive material of said grounding and shielding part; and a plurality of jack contacts, each contact having a first pin portion including a pin part extending externally of the housing adapted for connection to a printed circuit board or the like and a second contact portion extending into said receptacle adapted for engagement by a contact of the modular plug connector.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 wherein said top and bottom walls of said grounding and shielding part have outer surfaces, and wherein said jack housing has a height dimension substantially equal to the distance between said outer surfaces of said top and bottom walls.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said jack contacts includes at least one additional portion and wherein each of said additional contact portions are fully enclosed within said jack housing.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 1 wherein said top, bottom and side walls of said grounding and shielding part substantially surround said plug receiving receptacle on all of its sides substantially over its length.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 1 wherein a second one of said plurality of jack parts constitutes a contact guide part having top, bottom, rear and front surfaces, said bottom and rear surfaces constituting portions of a bottom and a rear surface of said jack housing respectively, and jack contact guide means formed in said contact guide part for receiving and guiding corresponding portions of respective jack contacts.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 5 wherein said jack contact guide means include a plurality of bores, each opening at said top surface of said contact guide part for receiving said pin portion of a respective jack contact, a plurality of grooves formed in said top surface, each groove communicating with a respective bore for receiving a first additional bridging portion of a respective jack contact, and a plurality of first slots formed at said front surface, each of said first plurality of slots communicating with a respective groove for receiving and guiding a second additional guide portion of a respective jack contact.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 6 wherein said contact guide part further includes a shelf portion extending from said front surface, a plurality of second slots formed in said shelf portion, each second slot aligned in common plane with a corresponding one of said first slots for receiving and guiding a third additional terminal stop portion of a respective jack contact.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 7 wherein a third one of said jack parts constitutes a contact stop part having a flange portion which overlies end regions of said second slots to capture said terminal stop portions of said jack contacts in said second slots.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 5 wherein said contact guide part includes a pair of longitudinally extending rails, each rail extending transversely from a respective side surface of said contact guide part, and wherein a pair of longitudinally extending channels are formed in said inner surfaces of said side walls of said grounding and shielding part, each channel receiving a respective one of said rails.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 1 further including means for electrically connecting said grounding and shielding part to ground upon connection of said jack to a printed circuit board or the like.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 10 wherein said ground connecting means include at least one ground contact having a first portion defining a pin extending externally of the housing for connection to ground through a printed circuit board or the like and a second portion in electrical engagement with said grounding and shielding jack part.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 11 wherein a second one of said plurality of jack parts constitutes a contact guide part, said contact guide part having a bore. formed therethrough opening onto a surface thereof and a groove formed in said surface communicating with said bore, said bore receiving said first portion of said ground contact and said groove receiving said second portion of said ground contact, and wherein said grounding and shielding jack part includes a grounding portion having a surface overlying said contact guide part surface and electrically engaging said first portion of said ground contact.

Claim 14

The combination of claim 5 wherein one of said plurality of jack parts constitutes a contact fixing part including a planar portion overlying said top surface of said contact guide part to confine the jack contact portions within said guide means.

Claim 15

The combination of claim 13 further including means for mounting said contact fixing part on said contact guide part in precise fixed mutual relationship to form a sub-assembly.

Claim 16

The combination of claim 14 wherein said mounting means include projections formed on one of said contact fixing and contact guide parts and openings formed on the other of said contact fixing and contact guide parts adapted to receive said projections.

Claim 17

The combination of claim 14 further including latching means formed on said contact fixing part and grounding and shielding part for connecting said sub-assembly of said contact fixing and contact guide parts to said grounding and shielding part.

Claim 18

The combination of claim 13 wherein said contact fixing part includes an upper planar portion adapted to fit within a notch formed in said top wall of said grounding and shielding part, said upper planar portion having a top surface substantially coplanar with said top surface of said grounding and shielding part.

Claim 19

The combination of claim 17 wherein said contact fixing part includes a lower planar portion having a forward surface and further including a plurality of keys extending from said forward surface into said plug receiving receptacle, each key being situated in one of two alternate positions.

Claim 20

The combination of claim 2 wherein said height dimension of said jack is not greater than about .375 inches.

Claim 21

The combination of claim 1 wherein a second one of said plurality of jack parts constitutes a contact guide part having top and front surfaces, a plurality of bores each opening at said top surface of said contact guide part and receiving a pin portion of a respective one of said jack contacts, a plurality of grooves formed in said top surface, each groove communicating with a respective bore and extending to said front surface of said contact guide part, and a plurality of guide slots formed at said front surface of said contact guide part, each guide slot aligned with a respective one of said grooves, and wherein each of said jack contacts includes a jack guide portion situated in a respective one of said guide slots, a jack bridging portion situated in a respective groove interconnecting said pin and guide portions and forming substantially right angles therewith, and wherein said jack contact portion extends from an end of a respective jack guide portion forming an angle greater than about 90° therewith.

Claim 22

The combination of claim 20 wherein said angle formed between said jack contact and jack guide portions is in the range of between about-97° and 112°.

Claim 23

The combination of claim 21 wherein said angle is about 105°.

Claim 24

The combination of claim 20 wherein each jack contact further includes a terminal stop portion and said contact guide part further includes a plurality of second guide slots, each of said second guide slots receiving a terminal stop portion of a respective jack contact, and means for capturing each of said terminal stop portions in a respective second slot.

Claim 25

The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said jack contacts is formed of conductive sheet material.

Claim 26

The combination of claim 24 wherein at least said contact portion of each jack contact is coined.

Claim 27

A jack adapted for connection to a printed circuit board or the like for a modular plug connector having cord shield terminating contact means, comprising: a jack housing formed of a plurality of jack parts adapted to lockingly interfit with each other to define an elongated receptacle for receiving the modular plug connector, the receptacle having an entrance opening at one longitudinal end of the housing; a first one of said plurality of jack parts constituting a grounding and shielding part formed of electrically conductive material and having top, bottom and side walls defining a closed, sleeve-like member, each of said walls having a longitudinally extending inner surface at least a substantial portion of which bounds said plug receptacle such that a substantial portion of the length of said elongated receptacle is bounded on all of its sides by the electrically conductive material of said grounding and shielding part; said top and bottom walls of said grounding and shielding part having outer surfaces, and wherein said jack housing has a height dimension substantially equal to the distance between said outer surfaces of said top and bottom walls; each of said jack contacts including at least one additional portion and wherein each of said additional contact portions are fully enclosed within said jack housing; said top, bottom and side walls of said grounding and shielding part substantially surrounding said plug receiving receptacle on all of its sides substantially over its length; and means for electrically connecting said grounding and shielding part to ground upon connection of said jack to a printed circuit board or the like.

Claim 28

A jack adapted for connection to a printed circuit board or the like for a modular plug connector having cord shield terminating contact means, comprising: a jack housing formed of a plurality of jack parts adapted to lockingly interfit with each other to define an elongated receptacle for receiving the modular plug connector, the receptacle having an entrance opening at one longitudinal end of the housing; a first one of said plurality of jack parts constituting a grounding and shielding part formed of electrically conductive material and having top, bottom and side walls defining a closed, sleeve-like member, each of said walls having a longitudinally extending inner surface at least a substantial portion of which bounds said plug receptacle such that a substantial portion of the length of said elongated receptacle is bounded on all of its sides by the electrically conductive material of said grounding and shielding part; said top and bottom walls of said grounding and shielding part having outer surfaces, and wherein said jack housing has a height dimension substantially equal to the distance between said outer surfaces of said top and bottom walls; each of said jack contacts including at least one additional portion and wherein each of said additional contact portions are fully enclosed within said jack housing; said top, bottom and side walls of said grounding and shielding part substantially surrounding said plug receiving receptacle on all of its sides substantially over its length; and means for electrically connecting said grounding and shielding part to ground upon connection of said jack to a printed circuit board or the like.

Claim 29

The combination of claim 26 wherein a second one of said plurality of jack parts constitutes a contact guide part having top, bottom, rear and front surfaces, said bottom and rear surfaces constituting portions of a bottom and a rear surface of said jack housing respectively, and jack contact guide means formed in said contact guide part for receiving and guiding corresponding portions of respective jack contacts.

Claim 30

The combination of claim 27 wherein one of said plurality of jack parts constitutes a contact fixing part including a planar portion overlying said top surface of said contact guide part and overlying portions of said jack contacts received in said jack contact guide means to confine the jack contact portions within said guide means.

Claim 31

A jack adapted for connection to a printed circuit board or the like for a modular plug connector having cord shield terminating contact means, comprising: a jack housing formed of a plurality of jack parts adapted to lockingly interfit with each other to define an elongated receptacle for receiving the modular plug connector, the receptacle having an entrance opening at one longitudinal end of the housing; a first one of said plurality of jack parts constituting a grounding and shielding part formed of electrically conductive material and having top, bottom and side walls defining a closed, sleeve-like member, and wherein said top, bottom and side walls of said grounding and shielding part substantially surround said plug receiving receptacle on all of its sides substantially over its length; and a plurality of jack contacts, each contact having a first pin portion including a pin part extending externally of the housing adapted for connection to a printed circuit board or the like and a second contact portion extending into said receptacle adapted for engagement by a contact of the modular plug connector.

Claim 32

A jack adapted for connection to a printed circuit board or the like for a modular plug connector having cord shield terminating contact means, comprising: a jack housing formed of a plurality of jack parts adapted to lockingly interfit with each other to define an elongated receptacle for receiving the modular plug connector, the receptacle having an entrance opening at one longitudinal end of the housing; a first one of said plurality of jack parts constituting a grounding and shielding part formed of electrically conductive material and having top, bottom and side walls defining a closed, sleeve-like member, and wherein said top, bottom and side walls of said grounding and shielding part substantially surround said plug receiving receptacle on all of its sides substantially over its length; and a plurality of jack contacts, each contact having a first pin portion including a pin part extending externally of the housing adapted for connection to a printed circuit board or the like and a second contact portion extending into said receptacle adapted for engagement by a contact of the modular plug connector.

Claim 33

A modular plug connector for terminating a shielded cord, the cord having a plurality of insulated conductors enclosed within an outer jacket and a conductive shield situated between the jacket and conductors and surrounding the latter, comprising: a dielectric housing having a top wall, an opposed terminal-receiving bottom wall and a pair of opposed side walls, said walls having respective outer surfaces, a forward free end and a rearward cord receiving end having a cord entrance opening formed therein opening into a cord-receiving cavity formed within the housing, said cord-receiving cavity having a forward conductor-receiving portion and a rearward jacket-receiving portion, a plurality of contact terminal-receiving slots formed in said terminal-receiving bottom wall communicating with said conductor-receiving portion of said cord-receiving cavity for receiving flat contact terminals adapted to electrically engage respective ones of the cord conductors: and shield terminating contact means for electrically engaging said cord shield and adapted to come into electrical engagement with a part of a jack formed of electrically conductive material upon insertion of the modular plug connector into the jack, said shield terminating contact means including a member formed of electrically conductive sheet material including an outer portion overlying a region of the outer surface of at least one of said top, bottom and side walls, and a contact portion integral with said outer portion extending into said cord-receiving cavity through opening means formed in one of said housing side walls.

Claim 34

A modular plug connector for terminating a shielded cord, the cord having a plurality of insulated conductors enclosed within an outer jacket and a conductive shield situated between the jacket and conductors and surrounding the latter, comprising: a dielectric housing having a top wall, an opposed terminal-receiving bottom wall and a pair of opposed side walls, said walls having respective outer surfaces, a forward free end and a rearward cord receiving end having a cord entrance opening formed therein opening into a cord-receiving cavity formed within the housing, said cord-receiving cavity having a forward conductor-receiving portion and a rearward jacket-receiving portion, a plurality of contact terminal-receiving slots formed in said terminal-receiving bottom wall communicating with said conductor-receiving portion of said cord-receiving cavity for receiving flat contact terminals adapted to electrically engage respective ones of the cord conductors: and shield terminating contact means for electrically engaging said cord shield and adapted to come into electrical engagement with a part of a jack formed of electrically conductive material upon insertion of the modular plug connector into the jack, said shield terminating contact means including a member formed of electrically conductive sheet material including an outer portion overlying a region of the outer surface of at least one of said top, bottom and side walls, and a contact portion integral with said outer portion extending into said cord-receiving cavity through opening means formed in one of said housing side walls.

Claim 35

The combination of claim 30 wherein said shield terminating contact means includes a collar-like member and wherein said outer portion includes top, bottom and side portions overlying regions of the outer surfaces of said housing top, bottom and side walls respectively to thereby surround the circumference of said housing.

Claim 36

The combination of claim 30 wherein said contact portion of said shield terminating contact means includes a contact strip portion extending through a slot formed in one of said housing side walls into said cord-receiving cavity, said strip portion being situated contiguous with a surface defining said cord-receiving cavity.

Claim 37

The combination of claim 30 wherein said outer portion of said shield terminating contact means is formed as a collar-like member with transverse free end regions thereof captured in a slot formed in one side wall of said housing and wherein said outer portion of said collar-like member includes top, bottom and side portions overlying regions of the outer surfaces of said housing top, bottom and side walls respectively to thereby surround the circumference of said housing, and wherein said contact portion of said shield terminating contact means includes a contact strip portion extending into said cord-receiving cavity through a slot formed in the other one of said housing side walls.

Claim 38

The combination of claim 30 further including substantially transversely extending latch means formed in one of said top and bottom walls of said housing at a location substantially aligned with the location in said cord-receiving cavity into which said contact portion of said shield terminating contact means extends, said latch means connected to said housing by frangible means to allow said latch means to be driven into said cord-receiving cavity.

Claim 39

The combination of claim 30 wherein said outer portion of said shield terminating contact means includes at least one of top and bottom portions overlying regions of the outer surfaces of said housing top and bottom walls respectively, and spring means formed in said outer portion for urging against said part of a jack formed of electrically conductive material upon insertion of the modular plug connector into the jack whereby electrical engagement between said shield terminating contact means in said jack part is reliably obtained.

Claim 40

The combination of claim 31 wherein leaf-spring means are formed in at least one of said top and bottom portions of said collar-like member, said leaf spring means including a rearwardly extending segment of said outer portion bent outwardly with respect to said outer portion.

Claim 41

The combination of claim 31 wherein outwardly projecting dimples are formed in at least one of said top and bottom portions of said collar-like member.

Claim 42

The combination of claim 30 wherein a pair of elongate latching members are integrally joined to said housing at the outer surfaces of respective ones of said side walls thereof, said latching members being joined to said side walls at locations adjacent to said rearward cord receiving end of said housing and extending forwardly toward said forward free end thereof.

Claim 43

A modular plug connector for terminating a cord having a plurality of insulated conductors and closed within an outer jacket, comprising: a dielectric housing having a top wall, an opposed terminal-receiving bottom wall and a pair of opposed side walls, a forward free end and a rearward cord receiving end having a cord entrance opening formed therein opening into a cord-receiving cavity formed within the housing, said cord-receiving cavity haviag a forward conductor-receiving portion and a rearward jacket-receiving portion, a plurality of contact terminal-receiving slots formed in said terminal-receiving bottom wall communicating with said conductor-receiving portion of said cord-receiving cavity for receiving flat contact terminals adapted to electrically engage respective ones of the cord conductors; and a pair of opposed channels formed in said side walls of said housing, said channels opening into said cord-receiving cavity and extending continuously from the cord entrance opening through said conductor-receiving portion of said cavity.

Claim 44

A modular plug connector for terminating a cord having a plurality of insulated conductors and closed within an outer jacket, comprising: a dielectric housing having a top wall, an opposed terminal-receiving bottom wall and a pair of opposed side walls, a forward free end and a rearward cord receiving end having a cord entrance opening formed therein opening into a cord-receiving cavity formed within the housing, said cord-receiving cavity haviag a forward conductor-receiving portion and a rearward jacket-receiving portion, a plurality of contact terminal-receiving slots formed in said terminal-receiving bottom wall communicating with said conductor-receiving portion of said cord-receiving cavity for receiving flat contact terminals adapted to electrically engage respective ones of the cord conductors; and a pair of opposed channels formed in said side walls of said housing, said channels opening into said cord-receiving cavity and extending continuously from the cord entrance opening through said conductor-receiving portion of said cavity.

Claim 45

The combination of claim 39 wherein the cross-section of one of said channels differs from the cross-section of the other one of said channels.

Claim 46

A modular plug connector terminating a shielded cord, comprising: a cord having a plurality of insulated conductors enclosed within an outer jacket and a conductive shield situated between the jacket and conductors and surrounding the latter; a modular plug connector including a dielectric housing having a top wall, an opposed terminal-receiving bottom wall and a pair of opposed side walls, said walls having respective outer surfaces, a forward free end and a rearward cord-receiving end having a cord entrance opening formed therein opening into a cord-receiving cavity formed within the housing, said cord-receiving cavity having a forward conductor-receiving portion and a rearward jacket-receiving portion; an end portion of said cord having the jacket removed therefrom to expose a portion of said conductive shield and said conductors; said cord end portion inserted within said cord-receiving cavity; a plurality of flat contact terminals received in a corresponding plurality of contact terminal-receiving slots formed in said terminal-receiving bottom wall, each of said flat contact terminals electrically engaging a respective one of said cord conductors in said conductor-receiving portion of said housing; said exposed portion of said conductive shield being situated in a shield terminating portion of said cord-receiving cavity; and shield terminating contact means for electrically engaging said exposed portion of said conductive shield and adapted to come into electrical engagement with a part of a jack formed of electrically conductive material upon insertion of the modular plug connector into the jacks, said shield terminating contact means including a member formed of electrically conductive sheet material including an outer portion overlying a region of the outer surface of at least one of said top, bottom and side walls, and a contact strip portion integral with said outer portion extending into said shield-terminating portion of said cord-receiving cavity through opening means formed in one of said housing side walls.

Claim 47

A modular plug connector terminating a shielded cord, comprising: a cord having a plurality of insulated conductors enclosed within an outer jacket and a conductive shield situated between the jacket and conductors and surrounding the latter; a modular plug connector including a dielectric housing having a top wall, an opposed terminal-receiving bottom wall and a pair of opposed side walls, said walls having respective outer surfaces, a forward free end and a rearward cord-receiving end having a cord entrance opening formed therein opening into a cord-receiving cavity formed within the housing, said cord-receiving cavity having a forward conductor-receiving portion and a rearward jacket-receiving portion; an end portion of said cord having the jacket removed therefrom to expose a portion of said conductive shield and said conductors; said cord end portion inserted within said cord-receiving cavity; a plurality of flat contact terminals received in a corresponding plurality of contact terminal-receiving slots formed in said terminal-receiving bottom wall, each of said flat contact terminals electrically engaging a respective one of said cord conductors in said conductor-receiving portion of said housing; said exposed portion of said conductive shield being situated in a shield terminating portion of said cord-receiving cavity; and shield terminating contact means for electrically engaging said exposed portion of said conductive shield and adapted to come into electrical engagement with a part of a jack formed of electrically conductive material upon insertion of the modular plug connector into the jacks, said shield terminating contact means including a member formed of electrically conductive sheet material including an outer portion overlying a region of the outer surface of at least one of said top, bottom and side walls, and a contact strip portion integral with said outer portion extending into said shield-terminating portion of said cord-receiving cavity through opening means formed in one of said housing side walls.

Claim 48

The combination of claim 41 wherein said shield terminating contact means includes a collar-like member and wherein said outer portion includes top, bottom and side portions overlying regions of the outer surfaces of said housing top, bottom and side walls respectively to thereby surround the circumference of said housing, and wherein said contact portion of said shield terminating contact means includes a contact strip portion extending through a slot formed in one of said housing side walls into said cord-receiving cavity, said strip portion being situated contiguous with a surface defining said shield terminating portion of said cord-receiving cavity.

Claim 49

The combination of claim 42 further including substantially transversely extending latch means formed in one of said top and bottom walls of said housing at a location substantially aligned with said shield terminating portion of said cord-receiving cavity, said latch means connected to said housing by frangible means to allow said latch means to be driven into said cord-receiving cavity.

Claim 50

The combination of claim 41 wherein a deformable ferrule formed of conductive material surrounds said exposed portion of said conductor shield and is electrically engaged by said contact strip portion.

Claim 51

A cord assembly adapted to be terminated by modular plug connector, the modular plug connector including a dielectric housing having terminal-receiving bottom, tbp and side walls, defining a forward free housing end, a rearward cord-receiving housing end having a cord entrance opening formed therein, and a cord-receiving cavity, said cord-receiving cavity having a forward conductor-receiving portion, and terminal-receiving slots formed in the housing bottom wall communicating with said conductor-receiving portion of said cord-receiving cavity, said cord assembly comprising: a plurality of insulated conductors enclosed within an outer jacket, an end portion of said cord having said outer jacket removed therefrom to expose end regions of said insulated conductors: and a load block having a plurality of parallel bores formed therethrough in a linear array, each bore receiving an end region of a respective insulated conductor, said bores being mutually spaced from each other by a distance equal to the distance between the terminal-receiving slots formed in said housing.

Claim 52

A cord assembly adapted to be terminated by modular plug connector, the modular plug connector including a dielectric housing having terminal-receiving bottom, tbp and side walls, defining a forward free housing end, a rearward cord-receiving housing end having a cord entrance opening formed therein, and a cord-receiving cavity, said cord-receiving cavity having a forward conductor-receiving portion, and terminal-receiving slots formed in the housing bottom wall communicating with said conductor-receiving portion of said cord-receiving cavity, said cord assembly comprising: a plurality of insulated conductors enclosed within an outer jacket, an end portion of said cord having said outer jacket removed therefrom to expose end regions of said insulated conductors: and a load block having a plurality of parallel bores formed therethrough in a linear array, each bore receiving an end region of a respective insulated conductor, said bores being mutually spaced from each other by a distance equal to the distance between the terminal-receiving slots formed in said housing.

Claim 53

The combination of claim 45 wherein said load block includes a pair of opposed transverse edge regions, one transverse edge region of said load block having a configuration which differs from that of the other transverse edge region.

Claim 54

The combination of claim 46 wherein a plurality of parallel channels are formed in said load block, each channel being aligned with a respective one of said conductor receiving bores.