Telephone connector

Claim 1

A telephone connector, comprising: a box-shaped body, the body having front, rear and bottom walls, the front wall having a plug inlet formed therein for receiving a comb-tooth shaped plug along an insertion axis and the rear and bottom walls having a holder mounting opening formed therein communicating with the plug inlet, the holder mounting opening defining a rear edge of the bottom wall and a lower edge of the rear wall; a plurality of terminal lead-in grooves through the bottom wall, open at the rear edge thereof and running forwardly, parallel to the insertion axis at predetermined spaced intervals from one another; upwardly opening, lower holding grooves in the bottom wall forming forward extensions of the terminal lead-in grooves; a plurality of upper holding grooves through the rear wall, open at the lower edge thereof and in alignment with the terminal lead-in grooves and the lower holding grooves formed in the bottom wall; pre-shaped, electrically conductive springs, each having a U-shaped main body with first and second free ends, the main body of each of the springs being received into one of the lower holding grooves, the first free end being formed by an unbent extension of the U-shape disposed in a corresponding upper holding groove and forming a conductive portion for contact with an electrode of the plug, the second free end being formed by a bent extension of the U-shape extending downwardly through the corresponding lead-in groove through the bottom wall and forming a connection terminal portion for contact with conductive portions of other electronic parts; and, an L-shaped holder for the springs having a rear side portion and a projecting piece adapted to be locked into a position closing the holder opening to seal the body against dust intrusion, the projecting piece having a free edge pressably engaging the interiors of U-shaped main bodies of the springs and holding the spring in the grooves, whereby a plurality of fully pre-shaped electrical spring contacts may be easily inserted and precisely positioned in the body, and thereafter, positively secured therein.