Field installable modular telephone connector

Claim 2

An electrical connector for connecting conductors of a multiconductor cable with plugs or jacks having contacts in modular telephone configuration, comprising: (a) a base having first and second compartments and a channel for residence of said cable conductors, said channel communicating with and separating said first and second compartments; (b) a housing in each compartment supporting a plurality of contacts, each contact having a first end portion in modular telephone configuration and facing outwardly of said compartments for connection with said plugs or jacks and a second end portion of insulation-displacing type, in electrical engagement with a selected conductor of said cable each of said housings being selectively insertable in one of said base compartments; (c) means retaining each of said housings in said base; and (d) means holding said cable in a fixed position relative to said base.

Claim 3

The connector claimed in claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprises a fold section defining said channel, said base being folded about said fold section such that the housings in said first and second compartments are disposed in abutting relation and further including means for holding said base in such folded condition.

Claim 4

The connector claimed in claim 1, wherein said holding means includes a collar attached to said base and securement means attaching said cable to said collar.

Claim 5

The connector claimed in claim 3, wherein said collar is semicircular in configuration and integrally secured to said base, and wherein said securement means comprises a cable tying strap secured tightly about a portion of said cable and said collar.

Claim 6

The connector claimed in claim 1, wherein said retaining means comprises a plate member secured to said base and in abutting relation to said housings.

Claim 7

The connector claimed in claim 5, wherein said plate member includes means for mounting said connector.

Claim 8

An electrical connector for connecting conductors of a multiconductor cable with plugs or jacks having contacts in modular telephone configuration, comprising: (a) a base having a plurality of compartments, each compartment having first and second openings, respectively for receiving said plug or jack and selected conductors of said cable and a channel adjacent said second openings of said compartment for residence of said cable; (b) a plurality of electrical contacts having first end portions for external electrical engagement and second end portions of insulation-displacing type; (c) a housing in each said compartment and supporting contacts with said contact first end portions in modular telephone configuration and in facing relation to said first opening of said compartment and with said contact second end portions in electrical engagement with said conductors in said compartment, said housing being insertable in said base compartments to urge said second end portions into insulation-displacing electrical connection with said conductors; and (d) a conductor support member insertable in said base and defining a set of guides for disposition of conductors of said cable in preselected pattern, said base and said conductor support member having cooperative means for facilitating movement of said conductor support member relative to said base.

Claim 9

An electrical connector for connecting conductors of a multiconductor cable with plugs or jacks having contacts in modular telephone configuration, comprising: (a) a base having a plurality of compartments, each compartment having first and second openings, respectively for receiving said plug or jack and selected conductors of said cable and a channel adjacent said second openings of said compartment for residence of said cable; (b) a plurality of electrical contacts having first end portions for external electrical engagement and second end portions of insulation-displacing type; (c) a housing in each said compartment and supporting contacts with said contact first end portions in modular telephone configuration and in facing relation to said first opening of said compartment and with said contact second end portions in electrical engagement with said conductors in said compartment, said housing being insertable in said base compartments to urge said second end portions into insulation-displacing electrical connection with said conductors; and (d) a conductor support member insertable in said base and defining a set of guides for disposition of conductors of said cable in preselected pattern, said base and said conductor support member having cooperative means for facilitating movement of said conductor support member relative to said base.

Claim 10

An electrical connector for use with plugs having contacts in modular telephone configuration, comprising: (a) a base having oppositely extending first and second compartments separated by a fold section, each compartment having an opening distal from said fold section and a set of guides for disposition of conductors of a multiconductor cable in preselected pattern, said fold section providing for residence of said conductors between and outwardly of said compartments; (b) a plurality of contact means for interconnecting said plug contacts with said conductors, said contact means comprising a plurality of contacts having first end portions for engagement with said plug contacts and second end portions of insulation-displacing type; and (c) a housing in each said compartment and supporting one of said contact means with said contact first end portions in modular telephone configuration adapted to receive one of said plugs and in facing relation to such opening of said compartment and with said contact second end portions in electrical engagement with said conductors in said compartment, said base being folded about said fold section and secured in such folded configuration, the housings in said first and second compartments thus being disposed in abutting relation.

Claim 11

An electrical connector for use with plugs having contacts in modular telephone configuration, comprising: (a) a base having oppositely extending first and second compartments separated by a fold section, each compartment having an opening distal from said fold section and a set of guides for disposition of conductors of a multiconductor cable in preselected pattern, said fold section providing for residence of said conductors between and outwardly of said compartments; (b) a plurality of contact means for interconnecting said plug contacts with said conductors, said contact means comprising a plurality of contacts having first end portions for engagement with said plug contacts and second end portions of insulation-displacing type; and (c) a housing in each said compartment and supporting one of said contact means with said contact first end portions in modular telephone configuration adapted to receive one of said plugs and in facing relation to such opening of said compartment and with said contact second end portions in electrical engagement with said conductors in said compartment, said base being folded about said fold section and secured in such folded configuration, the housings in said first and second compartments thus being disposed in abutting relation.

Claim 12

The connector claimed in claim 8, wherein said base includes discrete channels for residence of said conductors and discrete pockets registered with said channels for residence of said ends of said contact second end portions.

Claim 13

The connector claimed in claim 9, wherein said base further includes first and second sets of projections at respective different-locations for defining said channels.

Claim 14

The connector claimed in claim 10, wherein each adjacent pair of said first set projections defines a first conductor dressing groove of one of said channels and each adjacent pair of said second set projections defines a second conductor dressing groove of one of said channels, such first groove being of cross-section exceeding the cross-section of such second groove.

Claim 15

The connector claimed in claim 11, wherein said second projection set is disposed closer to said fold section than said first projection set.

Claim 16

The connector claimed in claim 8, wherein said base includes discrete channels for residence of said conductors and discrete pockets registered with said channels for residence of said ends of said contact second end portions.

Claim 17

The connector claimed in claim 13, further including a conductor support member insertable in said base for defining said channels and said pockets.

Claim 18

The connector claimed in claim 14, wherein said base includes ribs in each said compartment, said conductor support member having slots coactive with said ribs to facilitate movement of said insert member in said compartment.

Claim 19

An electrical connector for use with plugs having contacts in modular telephone configuration, comprising: (a) a base having at least one pair of opposedly extending compartments separated by a fold section, each compartment having an opening distal from said fold section and a set of guides for disposition of conductors of a multiconductor cable in preselected pattern, said fold section providing for residence of said conductors outwardly of said compartments; (b) contact means for interconnecting said plug contacts with said conductors, said contact means comprising a plurality of contacts having first end portions for engagement with said plug contacts and second end portions of insulation-displacing type; (c) a housing insertable in each said compartment and having an aperture for receiving an insert member; and (d) an insert member resident in each said housing and supporting said contact means with said first end portions of said contacts supported in modular telephone configuration, said housing terminating said conductors in an insulation displacing manner upon insertion of said housing in said compartment, said base being folded about said fold section and secured in such folded configuration, a pair of said housing thus being disposed in abutting relation.

Claim 20

An electrical connector for use with plugs having contacts in modular telephone configuration, comprising: (a) a base having at least one pair of opposedly extending compartments separated by a fold section, each compartment having an opening distal from said fold section and a set of guides for disposition of conductors of a multiconductor cable in preselected pattern, said fold section providing for residence of said conductors outwardly of said compartments; (b) contact means for interconnecting said plug contacts with said conductors, said contact means comprising a plurality of contacts having first end portions for engagement with said plug contacts and second end portions of insulation-displacing type; (c) a housing insertable in each said compartment and having an aperture for receiving an insert member; and (d) an insert member resident in each said housing and supporting said contact means with said first end portions of said contacts supported in modular telephone configuration, said housing terminating said conductors in an insulation displacing manner upon insertion of said housing in said compartment, said base being folded about said fold section and secured in such folded configuration, a pair of said housing thus being disposed in abutting relation.