Distribution frames and electrical connectors

Claim 2

A distribution frame comprising: a substantially planar main frame structure having a front; a plurality of pairs of mounting means carried by one region of the structure, the mounting means extending forwardly of the structure and each pair comprising two spaced latches for holding between them a cross-connect connector in a position forwardly of the main frame structure; another region of the structure formed with mounting apertures for securing multiple contact connectors to the structure with the multiple contact connectors facing forwardly of the structure for attachment to them of mating connectors at the front of the structure, the mounting apertures lying spaced apart side-by-side in a row; and a holding bar for the mating connectors, the holding bar having a connector holding portion located across the front of the frame structure and two end arms extending at an angle to the holding portion, the holding bar pivotally mounted to the frame structure by pivotal reception of the end arms into the frame structure so as to move the connector holding portion into and out of a mating connector holding position directly in front of and spaced from the apertures.

Claim 3

A frame according to claim 1 including abutment means on the frame structure, the abutment means during movement of the bar into the holding position, resiliently moving the end arms away from one another until they pass over the abutment means and resiliently return towards each other so that the abutment means normally holds the bar in the holding position.

Claim 4

A distribution frame assembly comprising: a substantially planar main frame structure having a front; a plurality of pairs of mounting means carried by one region of the structure, the mounting means extending forwardly of the structure and each pair comprising two spaced mounting latches; a plurality of cross-connect connectors held by the pairs of mounting latches, one cross-connect connector between the mounting latches of each pair with each cross-connect connector held spaced forwardly from the front of the main frame structure and having two rows of insulation displacement terminals with one row facing rearwardly and the other row facing forwardly of the connector; a plurality of multiple contact connectors mounted side-by-side in a row through apertures in another region of the main frame structure, the multiple contact connectors facing forwardly of the structure for attachment to them of mating connectors at the front of the structure, the multiple contact connectors interconnected to the rearwardly facing rows of insulation displacement terminals of the cross-connect connector by insulated electrical conductors extending from the rear of the multiple contact connectors; and a holding bar for retaining the mating connectors connected to the multiple contact connectors, the holding bar having a connector holding portion located across the front of the frame structure and two end arms extending at an angle to the holding portion, the holding bar pivotally mounted to the frame structure by pivotal reception of the end arms into the frame structure so as to move the connector holding portion into and out of a mating connector holding position in which the holding portion is disposed across the front of the frame structure and spaced from the multiple contact connectors so as to engage and hold the mating connectors in position when the mating connectors are electrically connected to the multiple contact connectors.

Claim 5

A distribution frame assembly comprising: a substantially planar main frame structure having a front; a plurality of pairs of mounting means carried by one region of the structure, the mounting means extending forwardly of the structure and each pair comprising two spaced mounting latches; a plurality of cross-connect connectors held by the pairs of mounting latches, one cross-connect connector between the mounting latches of each pair with each cross-connect connector held spaced forwardly from the front of the main frame structure and having two rows of insulation displacement terminals with one row facing rearwardly and the other row facing forwardly of the connector; a plurality of multiple contact connectors mounted side-by-side in a row through apertures in another region of the main frame structure, the multiple contact connectors facing forwardly of the structure for attachment to them of mating connectors at the front of the structure, the multiple contact connectors interconnected to the rearwardly facing rows of insulation displacement terminals of the cross-connect connector by insulated electrical conductors extending from the rear of the multiple contact connectors; and a holding bar for retaining the mating connectors connected to the multiple contact connectors, the holding bar having a connector holding portion located across the front of the frame structure and two end arms extending at an angle to the holding portion, the holding bar pivotally mounted to the frame structure by pivotal reception of the end arms into the frame structure so as to move the connector holding portion into and out of a mating connector holding position in which the holding portion is disposed across the front of the frame structure and spaced from the multiple contact connectors so as to engage and hold the mating connectors in position when the mating connectors are electrically connected to the multiple contact connectors.