Wire-connecting blocks

Claim 1

Apparatus for interconnecting a plurality of groups of wire comprising in combination: an insulative indexing strip comprising a body portion with a flattop floor, two parallel rows of corresponding teeth, the teeth in each row spaced apart to form fanning slots, the corresponding teeth pairs being held in close proximity by separators, each separator rising from a level below said top floor and terminating below the ends of said teeth, adjacent said separators and their respective teeth forming a well; and a connector block comprising a body member with a flattop floor, two rows of corresponding teeth extending vertically from said floor, the teeth in each row being spaced by amounts equal to the spacing between the teeth in said index strip; corresponding ones of the teeth in said connector block rows being joined in a narrow spacing by a separator; said block body further comprising a groove formed by the sides of said teeth in a first one of said teeth rows, said groove culminating in a base below said floor level; said block further comprising a top row of oblong locking slots disposed directly beneath the fanning slots formed by said teeth row opposite to said first teeth row; a connector pin comprising first and second beveled and tapered insulation-piercing ends, and first and second oppositely directed arms extending from opposite faces of said pin; the arms of each said pin engaging respectively the said groove base and said oblong slot above said base thereby to lockably engage in said connector; the top end of each said pin being disposed below the tops of said connector block teeth, and the bottom end of each said pin protruding beyond said connector block body; and said body further comprising first and second legs spaced apart, each said leg including an inwardly directed vertical guide member, said guide members engaging the index strip fanning slots when said block is placed upon said strip, and further comprising a bottom row of cylindrical slots through each said leg of said connector block, said bottom slots being spaced to align with the centers of said index strip teeth when said block is on said strip; and said index strip teeth each further including an outwardly extending nub for engagement with said connector block bottom slots, engagement occurring when the bottom ends of said connector block legs are spaced slightly above the top floor of said index strip, and each index strip further comprises first and second outwardly slanting legs running the entire length of said strip; and wherein said apparatus further comprises a baseplate with inverted V-grooves in parallel relation adapted to receive said strip legs; first and second baseplate mounting brackets each said bracket comprising a pair of legs and an upwardly extending flange; and each flange including a fanning strip and a plurality of downwardly extending spaced guide slots extending below the level of said baseplate, said baseplate further comprising a plurality of inwardly extending guide slots in alignment with the guide slots of said flange, the base slots and corresponding flange slots being adapted to receive telephone line wires for dressing across the teeth of said index strips mounted in said baseplate.