Patch connector

Claim 2

A patch connector for terminating at least a pair of wires and for accessing at least a pair of terminals extending outwardly from a terminal block comprising: housing means having a first mateable housing portion hingedly connected at a first end by hinge means to a first end of a second mateable housing portion and including means for attaching said first and second mateable housing portions, said housing means defining a front face and a rear face, said front face being formed by the mating of said first end of said first mateable housing portion to said first end of said second mateable housing portion; at least a pair of cavities in each of said first and second housing portions, said pairs of cavities in said first housing portion communicating with respective pairs of cavities in said second housing portion to define at least a pair of electrical connector clip chambers; a discrete electrical connector clip in each of said electrical connector clip chambers, each connector clip being adapted to terminate wire wherein said hinge means connecting said first and second mateable housing portions is transverse to the wire to be terminated; support means for supporting and aligning said connector clips in said chambers; said front face of said housing means having at least a pair of apertures, each of said apertures communicating with said chambers, each of said apertures being large enough to receive a terminal extending from a terminal block and permit electrical contact between the terminal and a respective connector clip; and said rear face having at least one opening therethrough, said opening communicating with said chambers.

Claim 3

The patch connector of claim 1 wherein: said means for attaching said first and second mateable housing portions comprise snap action connecting means.

Claim 4

The patch connector of claim 2 wherein said snap action connecting means includes: a pair of resilient slotted latch means attached to one of said first or second housing portions and extending outwardly thereof; and a pair of extensions on the other of said first or second housing portions wherein when said resilient latch means contacts said extensions, said latch means will be urged outwardly from said housing means and wherein said extensions will be received by and retained in the slots of said latch means.

Claim 5

The patch connector of claim 3 including: a pair of channels oppositely disposed on opposed sides of said extensions, said channels being sized to received said latch means.

Claim 6

The patch connector of claim 1 wherein: said housing means has a substantially rectangular configuration.

Claim 7

The patch connector of claim 1 wherein each electrical connector clip comprises: a pair of oppositely disposed arms connected at a base and extending therefrom, said extended arms converging to a point whereupon said arms diverge and terminate at an entrance section, said entrance section being adapted to receive a terminal from the terminal block and effect electrical and mechanical connection therewith.

Claim 8

The patch connector of claim 6 wherein said base of each connector clip includes at least one stripping slot.

Claim 9

The patch connector of claim 6 wherein said support means for supporting and aligning said clips comprise: at least a pair of support members in said pairs of cavities, said support members extending upwardly therefrom, said support members having an outer configuration corresponding to the configuration of the space defined between said base and said arms of said connector clips.

Claim 10

The patch connector of claim 8 wherein said space defined between said base and arms of said connector clips is arcuate; and wherein said support members have an arcuate configuration.

Claim 11

The patch connector of claim 8 including: longitudinal alignment ridges in said cavities and extending from each of said support members toward said front face of said housing means.

Claim 12

The patch connector of claim 8 wherein said base of each connector clip includes a pair of oppositely disposed stripping slots and further including: rib means in said cavities extending from said support members toward said rear face of said housing means, said rib means adapted for engagement with said stripping slots.

Claim 13

The patch connector of claim 10 wherein said base of each connector clip includes a pair of oppositely disposed stripping slots and further including: rib means in said cavities extending from said support members toward said rear face of said housing means, said rib means adapted for engagement with said stripping slots.

Claim 14

The patch connector of claim 12 wherein: said rib means are in alignment with said alignment ridges.

Claim 15

The patch connector of claim 1 including: a recess portion in each of said housing portions, said recess portions being positioned between said cavities and said opening in said rear face of said housing means, said recess portions in said housing portions cooperating to define an interior recess.

Claim 16

The patch connector of claim 14 including: at least a pair of slots in at least one of said housing portions for connecting said interior recess to said connector clip chambers.

Claim 17

The patch connector of claim 14 including: strain relief means in said recess portions.

Claim 18

The patch connector of claim 16 wherein said strain relief means comprises: a protrusion extending from one of said recess portions.

Claim 19

The patch connector of claim 17 wherein: said protrusion has a ramp configuration.

Claim 20

The patch connector of claim 17 wherein: said protrusion has a flattened top.

Claim 21

The patch connector of claim 1 wherein: said rear face has at least two openings therethrough, said two openings being adapted for receiving electrical wiring.

Claim 22

The patch connector of claim 8 wherein: one of said pair of support members includes an extension member whereby said extension member acts as a block to selected terminals from a terminal block and thereby effects polarization.

Claim 23

The patch connector of claim 1 including: electrical wires having a first end and a second end being positioned at said first end through said opening in said rear face and being electrically connected to said connector clips.

Claim 24

The patch connector of claim 22 wherein: said electrical wires are jacketed.

Claim 25

The patch connector of claim 22 including: modular plug means electrically connected to said second end of said electrical wires.

Claim 26

The patch connector of claim 22 wherein said rear face includes a plurality of openings and wherein: said electrical wires are positioned through each of said openings.

Claim 27

The patch connector of claim 1 wherein: said housing means has a one piece construction.

Claim 28

The patch connector of claim 26 wherein: said housing means is molded.

Claim 29

A patch connector comprising: housing means having a first mateable housing portion hingedly connected to a second mateable housing portion and including means for attaching said first and second mateable housing portions, said housing means defining a front face and a rear face; at least a pair of cavities in each of said first and second housing portions, said pairs of cavities in said first housing portion communicating with respective pairs of cavities in said second housing portion to define at least a pair of electrical connector clip chambers; an electrical connector clip in each of said electrical connector clip chambers; support means for supporting and aligning said connector clips in said chambers; said front face of said housing means having at least a pair of apertures, each of said apertures communicating with said chambers, said rear face having at least one opening therethrough, said opening communicating with said chambers; wherein each electrical connector clip comprises a pair of oppositely disposed arms connected at a base and extending therefrom, said extended arms converging to a point whereupon said arms diverge and terminate at an entrance section, said entrance section being adapted to receive a terminal from a terminal block and effect electrical and mechanical connection therewith; wherein said support means for supporting and aligning said clips comprises at least a pair of support members in said pairs of cavities, said support members extending upwardly therefrom, said support members having an outer configuration corresponding to the configuration of the space defined between said base and said arms of said connector clips; and longitudinal alignment ridges in said cavities and extending from each of said support members toward said front face of said housing means.

Claim 30

A patch connector comprising: housing means having a first mateable housing portion hingedly connected to a second mateable housing portion and including means for attaching said first and second mateable housing portions, said housing means defining a front face and a rear face; at least a pair of cavities in each of said first and second housing portions, said pairs of cavities in said first housing portion communicating with respective pairs of cavities in said second housing portion to define at least a pair of electrical connector clip chambers; an electrical connector clip in each of said electrical connector clip chambers; support means for supporting and aligning said connector clips in said chambers; said front face of said housing means having at least a pair of apertures, each of said apertures communicating with said chambers, said rear face having at least one opening therethrough, said opening communicating with said chambers; wherein each electrical connector clip comprises a pair of oppositely disposed arms connected at a base and extending therefrom, said extended arms converging to a point whereupon said arms diverge and terminate at an entrance section, said entrance section being adapted to receive a terminal from a terminal block and effect electrical and mechanical connection therewith; wherein said support means for supporting and aligning said clips comprises at least a pair of support members in said pairs of cavities, said support members extending upwardly therefrom, said support members having an outer configuration corresponding to the configuration of the space defined between said base and said arms of said connector clips; and longitudinal alignment ridges in said cavities and extending from each of said support members toward said front face of said housing means.

Claim 31

The patch connector of claim 28 wherein said base of each connector clip includes a pair of oppositely disposed stripping slots and further including: rib means in said cavities extending from said support members toward said rear face of said housing means, said rib means adapted for engagement with said stripping slots.

Claim 32

The patch connector of claim 29 wherein: said rib means are in alignment with said alignment ridges.

Claim 33

A patch connector comprising: housing means having a first mateable housing portion hingedly connected to a second mateable housing portion and including means for attaching said first and second mateable housing portions said housing means defining a front face and a rear face; at least a pair of cavities in each of said first and second housing portions, said pairs of cavities in said first housing portion communicating with respective pairs of cavities in said second housing portion to define at least a pair of electrical connector clip chambers; an electrical connector clip in each of said electrical connector clip chambers; support means for supporting and aligning said connector clips in said chambers; said front face of said housing means having at least a pair of apertures, each of said apertures communicating with said chambers, said rear face having at least one opening therethrough, said opening communicating with said chambers; wherein said electrical connector clip comprises a pair of oppositely disposed arms connected at a base and extending therefrom, said extended arms converging to a point whereupon said arms diverge and terminate at an entrance section, said entrance section being adapted to receive a terminal from a terminal block and effect electrical and mechanical connection therewith; wherein said support means for supporting and aligning said clips comprises at least a pair of support members in said pairs of cavities, said support members extending upwardly therefrom, said support members having an outer configuration corresponding to the configuration of the space defined between said base and said arms of said connector clips; wherein said base of each connector clip includes a pair of oppositely disposed stripping slots; and rib means in said cavities extending from said support members toward said rear race of said housing means, said rib means adapted for engagement with said stripping slots.

Claim 34

A patch connector comprising: housing means having a first mateable housing portion hingedly connected to a second mateable housing portion and including means for attaching said first and second mateable housing portions said housing means defining a front face and a rear face; at least a pair of cavities in each of said first and second housing portions, said pairs of cavities in said first housing portion communicating with respective pairs of cavities in said second housing portion to define at least a pair of electrical connector clip chambers; an electrical connector clip in each of said electrical connector clip chambers; support means for supporting and aligning said connector clips in said chambers; said front face of said housing means having at least a pair of apertures, each of said apertures communicating with said chambers, said rear face having at least one opening therethrough, said opening communicating with said chambers; wherein said electrical connector clip comprises a pair of oppositely disposed arms connected at a base and extending therefrom, said extended arms converging to a point whereupon said arms diverge and terminate at an entrance section, said entrance section being adapted to receive a terminal from a terminal block and effect electrical and mechanical connection therewith; wherein said support means for supporting and aligning said clips comprises at least a pair of support members in said pairs of cavities, said support members extending upwardly therefrom, said support members having an outer configuration corresponding to the configuration of the space defined between said base and said arms of said connector clips; wherein said base of each connector clip includes a pair of oppositely disposed stripping slots; and rib means in said cavities extending from said support members toward said rear race of said housing means, said rib means adapted for engagement with said stripping slots.