EP0345988A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Connecting block construction
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1989-05-31
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-05-31
Abstract
Abstract An easily assembled connecting block provides interconnection between modular plugs and insulated telephone wires or the like. The connecting block includes: (i) a metallic lead frame (150) comprising a number of flat elongated conductive elements (151,152) that terminate in closely spaced flat wires (153) at one end thereof, (ii) an equal number of metallic connectors (140) that electrically couple to the conductive elements (151,152) of the lead frame (150) and further provide at least two pairs (141,142) of opposing contact fingers for insulation displacement; and (iii) a dielectric block (120,130) for receiving the closely spaced wires within a jack housing (130) contained therein and for supporting the metallic lead frame (150). In one embodiment the connectors are an integral part of the lead frame (450) itself and are "sandwiched" between a pair of dielectric blocks (420,460), each block having a plurality of corresponding slots (421,461) for guiding wires into the region between opposing contact fingers (451) of the connectors.
Inventors
- 👤 W. John Denkmann
- 👤 Leonard Hugh Drexler
- 👤 Ronald Herbert Guelden
- 👤 William Tracy Spitz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 02:40
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R24/00; H01R24/60; H01R24/62; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/02; H04M1/0293; H01R13/00; H01R13/46; H01R13/502; H01R13/506; H01R9/00; H01R9/22; H01R9/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A connecting block comprising: a metallic lead frame (150) having a plurality of flat elongated conductive elements (151,152), said conductive elements (151,152) terminating in closely spaced flat wires (153) at one end of said lead frame (150); a plurality of metallic connectors (140) of generally flat elongated construction, each connector (140) including at least two pairs of opposing, insulation-displacing contact fingers (141,142) integral with, and extending upwardly from, a common region (143) thereof, each common region (143) engaging one of the conductive elements (151,152) at the other end of the lead frame (150); a dielectric block (120) which holds the metallic lead frame (150) and contains the upwardly extending contact fingers (141,142) of the connectors (150); and a dielectric jack housing (130), adapted to receive a modular telephone plug inserted therein, and which contains the closely spaced flat wires (153) of the lead frame (150).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
A connecting block comprising: a metallic lead frame (150) having a plurality of flat elongated conductive elements (151,152), said conductive elements (151,152) terminating in closely spaced flat wires (153) at one end of said lead frame (150); a plurality of metallic connectors (140) of generally flat elongated construction, each connector (140) including at least two pairs of opposing, insulation-displacing contact fingers (141,142) integral with, and extending upwardly from, a common region (143) thereof, each common region (143) engaging one of the conductive elements (151,152) at the other end of the lead frame (150); a dielectric block (120) which holds the metallic lead frame (150) and contains the upwardly extending contact fingers (141,142) of the connectors (150); and a dielectric jack housing (130), adapted to receive a modular telephone plug inserted therein, and which contains the closely spaced flat wires (153) of the lead frame (150).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The connecting block of claim 1 wherein the common region (143) of each metallic connector (140) includes a downwardly extending pair of contact fingers (144) which engage one of the conductive elements (151,152) of the lead frame (150).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The connecting block of claim 1 wherein the common region of each metallic connector is an integral part of one of the conductive elements of the lead frame (450).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The connecting block of claim 1 wherein said dielectric block (120) includes at least one terminal strip (121) which contains the upwardly extending pairs of insulation displacing contact fingers (141,142), the terminal strip (121) including one slot (126) for each pair of contact fingers (141,142) for guiding wires into contact with said contact fingers (141,142).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
The connecting block of claim 1 wherein said dielectric block (120) includes at least one terminal strip (121) which comprises a plurality of cavities which contain said connectors (140) placed therein, each cavity being electrically insulated from the others and each cavity including an aperture (126,127) at one end thereof which receive one of the connectors (140).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The connecting block of claim 5 wherein each cavity of said terminal strip (121) further includes a pair of slots at the other end thereof for guiding wires into contact with the insulation displacing contact fingers (141,142) of the connector (140) contained within the cavity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The connecting block of claim 1 wherein the dielectric block (120) includes a pattern of grooves on one side thereof that substantially conforms to the shape of the lead frame (150), the pattern of grooves receiving and holding the lead frame (150) in a fixed position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The connecting block of claim 7 wherein the dielectric jack housing (130) includes a plurality of comb-like teeth (136), cooperating with said pattern of grooves on the dielectric block (120), separating the closely spaced flat wires (153) from each other and holding them in a fixed relation to each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The connecting block of claim 8 wherein the jack housing (130) and the dielectric block (120) include means (134,124) which mechanically interlock to form a single unit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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