Multi-circuit patch plug and jack

Claim 2

A multi-circuit plug-in switching connector comprising a jack defining at least one slot-like socket having a first set of mutually insulated contact elements each disposed in a fixed relation in a single row along one side of said socket, means adapting a portion at least of each of said contact elements of said first set of contact elements for limited movement transversely of said slot-like socket between aligned normal positions cross-wise of said slot-like socket and aligned shifted positions spaced from said normal positions toward said one side of said socket, said jack having a second set of contact elements disposed in a fixed relation in a single row along the other side of said socket opposite each contact of said first set of contact elements and engaged by its opposed contact element of said first set of contact elements when said movable portions of said first set of contacts are in their aligned normal positions; and a patch cord plug in the form of a printed circuit board having a third set of mutually insulated, fixed contact elements arranged in a single row along a face of said printed board in spaced relation similar to and opposed to said first set of contact elements; and coacting means on said plug and socket limiting insertion of said plug into said slot-like socket in a predetermined endwise orientation to effect engagement of the third set of contact elements with said portions of said first set of contact elements to shift them from their normal to their shifted positions and engage each of said first set of contact elements with an aligned one of the contact elements of the third set of contact elements.

Claim 3

The switch connector of claim 1 wherein said jack comprises a main insulating body of generally rectangular configuration having at least one longitudinally directed slot-like through opening in its front face intersecting a rectangular recess opening through its rear face; said first and second set of contact elements are supported respectively by the opposite side walls of an insulating channel body disposed in said rectangular recess with the channel opening facing and longitudinally aligned with said slot-like through opening; and clamp means, overlying a marginal back wall edge of said channel body, is removably fixed to the recess defining end portions of said main insulating body for clampingly retaining said insulating channel body in its longitudinally aligned position relative to said slot-like through opening.

Claim 4

The switch connector of claim 2 wherein said first set of contact elements comprise respective strip-like, spring metal, contact elements having an elongated body return bent upon itself inwardly from one end to form an attachment tab spaced from one face and extending toward said one body end and having its other end oppositely return bent around the bend of said attachment tab to an inclined position relative to said other face to form the limited movement portions of said first set of contact elements and wherein at least one side wall of said insulating channel body is provided with spaced ribs extending from its connecting base wall toward its free edge to define respective spaced inwardly opening passages for receiving the portion of said contact body adjacent said attachment tab, said respective spaced passages adjacent said free edge of said one side wall are provided with axially directed pockets receiving said attachment tabs, the base wall adjacent the opposite ends of said inwardly opening, spaced passages are provided with through slots dimensioned to freely pass said one end of the respective contact bodies to a protruding position beyond said base wall as said attachment tabs are entered into said pockets, and said protruding portion of said contact body adjacent said base wall is deformed by dimpling to provide a locking protuberance to prevent axial retrograde movement of said contact body through said slot and secure said first set of contact elements to said oNe side wall of said insulating channel body whereby a multi-conduit equipment cable associated with said jack may have its conductor leads at the jack solder connected to said protruding ends of said first set of contact elements.

Claim 5

The switch connector of claim 2 wherein said recess defining end portions of said main insulating body are respectively provided with tapped bores adapting said jack for threadedly receiving mounting screws provided to mount the jack on a jack panel board.

Claim 6

The switch connector of claim 2 wherein said printed circuit board patch cord, plug comprises an insulating body of generally rectangular plate-like configuration the opposing marginal faces of which adjacent one edge are provided with lateral directed, longitudinal spaced contact strips disposed to pick up and engage the movable portions of said first set of contacts upon insertion of said plug in a socket of said jack and the opposite corners and midportion of said insulating body adjacent said opposite edge are provided with through passages; a pair of mating, plate-like, metal shielding covers the opposing faces of which are provided with respective generally rectangular recesses defined along their opposite ends and along one side by upstanding abutment ribs of a height greater than the thickness of said insulating body and along the opposite edge by a rib of sufficiently lesser height to provide when assembled an edge opening passage dimensioned to freely pass the major contact bearing area of said insulating body and form a protruding multi-contact bearing plug portion for cooperating insertion and contacting engagement with said jack first set of contact elements, said recesses in opposed relation to said insulating body through passages being formed with respective through apertured lands of a height to grippingly engage the through passage defining areas of said insulating body when matingly assembled to support said printed circuit board plug with its protruding multi-contact bearing plug portion out of contact with said ribs of lesser height; and respective clamp screws entered through the apertures in the lands of one cover plate, the through passages of said insulated body, and threaded into the apertures of the lands in the other cover plate to secure said printed circuit board in clamped sandwiched relation between said cover plates.

Claim 7

The switch connector of claim 5 wherein said upstanding abutment ribs along said one side of said respective cover plates is provided midway of its ends with a longitudinally directed recess intersected midway of its length by a crosswise directed arcuate recess of lesser depth and the patch cord cable, a multi-conductor cable associated with said plug and having its conductor leads at one end exposed and solder connected to respective paired contacts of said printed circuit board plug, is provided inwardly of its exposed conductor leads with an encircling clamp sleeve having a reduced diameter end formed to closely fit said crosswise directed recesses, and provided intermediate its end with an enlarged diameter section having flattened opposite sides to abuttingly contact the bottom walls of said longitudinally directed recess and of a length to dispose its opposite end faces in abutting contact with the side walls of said longitudinally directed recess thereby directly fixedly connecting said patch cord cable to said cover plates so as to relieve said soldered connections of disruptive stresses resulting from pulling and twisting forces applied to the patch cord cable.

Claim 8

The switch connector of claim 3 wherein said jack is provided with an open ended shielding cover the open end of which is of generally rectangular cross section dimensioned to closely enclose said main insulating jack body and the opposite closed end is provided with through aperture means, including a clamp pad fixedly secured thereto and having a clamp face arcuately recessed midway of its ends to form a continuation of the closed end cover aperture, for passing the jack terminaTing end of at least one multi-conductor equipment cable, a matingly arcuately recessed clamp plate, said clamp face of said pad and said clamp plate respectively having screw passages and tapped screw openings disposed at opposite sides of said arcuate recesses, and clamp screws entered through said passages and threaded into said openings to clampingly fix said multi-conductor equipment cable to said shielding cover so as to relieve said soldered connections of disruptive stresses resulting from pulling and twisting forces applied to said equipment cable.

Claim 9

The switch connector of claim 1 wherein said jack comprises a main insulating body of generally rectangular configuration having a pair of side-by-side longitudinally directed slot-like through openings in its front face intersecting a common rectangular recess opening through its rear face; said respective first and second sets of contact elements are supported respectively by the opposite side walls of respective insulating channel bodies disposed in side-by-side spaced relation in said rectangular recess with their respective channel openings facing and longitudinally aligned with a respective one of said slot-like through openings, said second set of contacts comprise the opposite reduced diameter ends of a series of contact pins spanning the space between said respective insulating channel bodies to establish a normal through circuit within the jack between the respective first sets of contacts; and clamp means, overlying the adjacently related marginal back wall edges of said channel bodies, removably fixed to the recess defining end portions of said main insulation body for clampingly retaining said insulating channel bodies in their longitudinally aligned positions relative to said slot-like through openings.

Claim 10

The switch connector of claim 8 wherein said first sets of contact elements comprise respective strip-like, spring metal, contact elements having an elongated body return bent upon itself inwardly from one end to form an attachment tab spaced from one face and extending toward said one end and having its other end oppositely return bent around the bend of said attachment tab to an inclined position relative to said other face to form the limited movement portions of said first sets of contact elements and wherein the remotely related respective side walls of said insulating channel bodies are provided with spaced ribs extending from their respective connecting base walls toward their free edges to define respective inwardly opening passages for receiving the portion of said contact body adjacent said attachment tab, said respective spaced passages adjacent said free edge of said remotely related side walls are provided with axially directed pockets receiving said attachment tabs, the base walls adjacent the opposite ends of said inwardly opening spaced passages are provided with through slots dimensioned to freely pass said one end of the respective contact bodies to a protruding position beyond said base wall as said attachment tabs are entered into said pockets, and said protruding portion of said contact bodies adjacent said base walls are deformed by dimpling to provide a locking protuberance to prevent axial retrograde movement of said contact body through said slots and secure said first sets of contact elements to said remotely related side walls of said respective insulating channel bodies.

Claim 11

The switch connector of claim 9 wherein said second sets of contact elements comprise the reduced diameter ends of respective pin contacts and said other side walls of said insulating channel bodies, the adjacently related side walls, are provided adjacent said base walls and opposite the free ends of said limited movement portions of said first sets of contact elements with through passages for receiving said reduced diameter ends of said pin contacts thereby mounting said pin contacts in spanning relation to the space between said respective insulating channel bodies.