US4874330A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Capacity modular plug
Assignee: ABB Installation Products International LLC
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Filing: 1989-03-03
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Granted: 1989-10-17
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Expires: 2009-03-03
Abstract
Abstract An improved modular plug which permits a normal 6-position plug to accommodate 8 conductors, and a normal 8-position plug to accommodate 10 conductors, without increasing the overall outer width thereby remaining in compliance with FCC regulations. A pair of grooves are formed into the side walls of the cable-receiving cavity to accommodate the extra conductors.
Inventors
- 👤 II Stephen B. Bogese
- 👤 Charles E. Hall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 02:30
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R24/00; H01R24/60; H01R24/62; H01R4/00; H01R4/24; H01R4/2404
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
243 words
In a modular plug characterized by a unipartite rigid dielectric housing having a free end for insertion in a mating modular jack, a movable locking tab extending angularly rearwardly from the free end of the housing and adapted to mate with a tab-receiving latch in the modular jack, a cable input end for receiving a multi-conductor cable having an outer jacket, a terminal receiving side having plurality of slots for receiving substantially planar contact terminals having insulation-piercing tangs at the lower portion thereof for terminating the conductors of the cable and an upper portion for making electrical contact with the spring contact members of the mating modular jack, a cable receiving cavity defined by first and second substantially planar side walls and top and bottom walls, said cavity including a forward region that is insertable into the mating modular jack and a rear region that is not normally insertable into the mating modular jack, said cavity including in the forward region thereof a plurality of conductor-receiving troughs. the improvement which comprises first and second conductor-receiving grooves formed in the first and second side walls of the cavity of said housing, said grooves each extending longitudinally in said side walls and being substantially parallel to the conductor-receiving troughs; said grooves each sized to receive one of the conductors of said multi-conductor cable, the number of conductors which can be received in the cavity being greater than the number of troughs formed in said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
243 words
In a modular plug characterized by a unipartite rigid dielectric housing having a free end for insertion in a mating modular jack, a movable locking tab extending angularly rearwardly from the free end of the housing and adapted to mate with a tab-receiving latch in the modular jack, a cable input end for receiving a multi-conductor cable having an outer jacket, a terminal receiving side having plurality of slots for receiving substantially planar contact terminals having insulation-piercing tangs at the lower portion thereof for terminating the conductors of the cable and an upper portion for making electrical contact with the spring contact members of the mating modular jack, a cable receiving cavity defined by first and second substantially planar side walls and top and bottom walls, said cavity including a forward region that is insertable into the mating modular jack and a rear region that is not normally insertable into the mating modular jack, said cavity including in the forward region thereof a plurality of conductor-receiving troughs. the improvement which comprises first and second conductor-receiving grooves formed in the first and second side walls of the cavity of said housing, said grooves each extending longitudinally in said side walls and being substantially parallel to the conductor-receiving troughs; said grooves each sized to receive one of the conductors of said multi-conductor cable, the number of conductors which can be received in the cavity being greater than the number of troughs formed in said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The improved modular plug as set forth in claim 1, wherein said grooves extend longitudinally in said side walls in said forward region and said rear region.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The improved modular plug as set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing includes protrusion means formed on an outer wall thereof for keying said plug to a particular keyed jack.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improved modular plug as set forth in claim 1, wherein said rear region of said plug is of a greater width than said forward region.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improved modular plug as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plurality of conductor-receiving troughs and said first and second grooves lie in a plane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The improved modular plug as set forth in claim 5, wherein all of said troughs are positioned between said first and second grooves.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The improved modular plug as set forth in claim 6, wherein the width of said free end of said housing is approximately 0.380 inch, the number of said troughs is six, and said cavity is capable of accommodating up to eight conductors from the cable.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The improved modular plug as set forth in claim 6, wherein the width of said free end of said housing is approximately 0.460 inch, the number of troughs is eight, and said cavity is capable of accommodating up to ten conductors from the cable.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The improved modular plug as set forth in claim 1, wherein said rear region of said cavity is of sufficient dimensions to accommodate the cable with its outer jacket, while a portion of said forward region is only of sufficient dimensions to accommodate the conductors of the cable.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improved modular plug as set forth in claim 9, wherein said forward region includes a transition section at the rear thereof to couple to said rear region.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
236 words
A modular plug for terminating a cable having a plurality of conductors, comprising: a unipartite rigid dielectric housing having a free end for insertion into a mating modular jack; the mating modular jack including a plug-receiving opening with a tab-receiving latch and a plurality of spring contact members in said opening; the plug further comprising: a movable locking tab extending angularly rearwardly from said free end of said housing and adapted to mate with the tab-receiving latch in the modular jack; a terminal receiving side having a plurality of slots; substantially planar contact terminals in said slots and having insulation-piercing tangs at the lower portion thereof for terminating the conductors of the cable and an upper portion for making electrical contact with the spring contact members of the modular jack; a cable-receiving cavity defined by first and second side walls and top and bottom walls; said cavity including a forward region that is insertable into the modular jack and a rear region that is not normally insertable into the modular jack; said cavity including in said forward region thereof a plurality of conductor-receiving troughs, the number of troughs being less than the number of conductors which can be received in the cavity, a conductor-receiving groove extending longitudinally in said first side wall, in at least said forward region of said cable receiving cavity; said groove sized to receive one of the conductors of said multi-conductor cable.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
236 words
A modular plug for terminating a cable having a plurality of conductors, comprising: a unipartite rigid dielectric housing having a free end for insertion into a mating modular jack; the mating modular jack including a plug-receiving opening with a tab-receiving latch and a plurality of spring contact members in said opening; the plug further comprising: a movable locking tab extending angularly rearwardly from said free end of said housing and adapted to mate with the tab-receiving latch in the modular jack; a terminal receiving side having a plurality of slots; substantially planar contact terminals in said slots and having insulation-piercing tangs at the lower portion thereof for terminating the conductors of the cable and an upper portion for making electrical contact with the spring contact members of the modular jack; a cable-receiving cavity defined by first and second side walls and top and bottom walls; said cavity including a forward region that is insertable into the modular jack and a rear region that is not normally insertable into the modular jack; said cavity including in said forward region thereof a plurality of conductor-receiving troughs, the number of troughs being less than the number of conductors which can be received in the cavity, a conductor-receiving groove extending longitudinally in said first side wall, in at least said forward region of said cable receiving cavity; said groove sized to receive one of the conductors of said multi-conductor cable.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The modular plug of claim 11, wherein said grooves extend longitudinally in said side walls in said forward region and said rear region.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The modular plug of claim 11, wherein said housing includes protrusion means formed on an outer wall thereof for keying said plug to a particular keyed jack.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The modular plug of claim 11, wherein said rear region of said plug is of a greater width than said forward region.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The modular plug of claim 11, wherein said plurality of conductor-receiving troughs and said first and second grooves lie in a plane.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The modular plug of claim 15, wherein all of said troughs are positioned between said first and second grooves.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
The modular plug of claim 16, wherein the width of said free end of said housing is approximately 0.380 inch, the number of said troughs is six, and said cavity is capable of accommodating up to eight conductors from the cable.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
The modular plug of claim 16, wherein the width of said free end of said housing is approximately 0.460 inch, the number of said troughs is eight, and said cavity is capable of accommodating up to ten conductors from the cable.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
The modular plug of claim 11, wherein said rear region of said cavity is of sufficient dimensions to accommodate the cable with its outer jacket, while a portion of said forward region is only of sufficient dimensions to accommodate the conductors of the cable.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The modular plug of claim 19, wherein said forward region includes a transition section at the rear thereof to couple to said rear region.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-10-16 | 1993-04-17 | 1993-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-10-16 | 1997-04-17 | 1997-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-10-16 | 2001-04-17 | 2001-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |