Electrical connector block

Claim 2

An electrical connector block for electrically connecting plural pairs of conductors of a multiconductor cable to plural pairs of drop wires comprising: an elongate terminal block housing having a planar surface and plural discrete apertures extending therethrough; and a plurality of identical electrical terminal modules, one module of said plurality insertably mounted in each aperture of said terminal block housing, each terminal module including means for electrically interconnecting one pair of said plural paris of conductors of said multiconductor cable to one pair of said plural pairs of drop wires.

Claim 3

An electrical connector block of claim 1 wherein each said electrical terminal module includes: an electrically insulative body; and a pair of elongate electrical contacts supported in said body, said contacts including respective first connection end extents for electrical engagement with respective conductors of said multiconductor cable pair and second connection end extents for removable electrical engagement with respective drop wires of said drop wire pair; wherein said electrically interconnecting means includes said pair of contacts.

Claim 4

An electrical connector block of claim 2 wherein said electrically insulative module body includes: a base having an upper and a lower surface which supports said pair of contacts with said second connection end extents extending from said upper surface and said first connection end extents extending below said lower surface; a cap secured to said base above said upper surface for movement toward and away from said base; an intermediate member positioned between said cap and said base, said cap and said intermediate member defining a drop wire support region for supporting said drop wire pair adjacent said second connection end extents of said pair of contacts; and securement means for captively securing said intermediate member to said cap for movement therewith and for providing said movable securement of said cap to said base; whereby movement of said cap toward said base establishes said electrical engagement of said respective second connection end extents with said respective drop wires of said pair and movement of said cap away from said base removes said respective drop wires of said pair from electrical engagement with said respective second connection end extents.

Claim 5

An electrical connector block of claim 3 wherein said securement means includes an externally screw-threaded bolt supported by said cap and wherein said base includes an internally screw-threaded bolt support for screw-accommodation with said bolt.

Claim 6

An electrical connector block of claim 4 wherein said cap is cup-shaped, having a top wall and a depending side wall, said bolt passing through said top wall thereof.

Claim 7

An electrical connector block of claim 5 wherein intermediate member is captively supported within said cup-shaped cap by said bolt.

Claim 8

An electrical connector block of claim 6 wherein said cap side wall includes a pair of openings therethrough adjacent said intermediate member, said openings providing access to said drop wire support region.

Claim 9

An electrical connector block of claim 7 wherein said contact second end extents include insulation displacement elements.

Claim 10

An electrical connector block of claim 8 wherein said contacts include a probe arm extending through said intermediate member, said arm being externally electrically accessible.

Claim 11

An electrical connector block of claim 9 wherein said base, said cap and said intermediate member are generally cylindrical in shape and wherein said housing apertures are circular so as to accommodate said module.

Claim 12

A connector block assembly for electrically connecting a conductor of a multiconductor cable to a drop wire, said connector block comprising: an elongate housing having opposed longitudinal walls and a planar surface extending therebetween, said housing including plural apertures through said planar surface; and at least one connector module insertably supportable in one of said housing apertures; said module including; and elongate electrical contact having a first connection end for electrical engagement with said conductor of said multiconductor cable and an opposed second connection end for electrical engagement with said drop wire; an elongate insulative body supporting said electrical contact, said body having an upper end adjacent said second connection end of said contact, a lower end and an elongate front wall portion extending therebetween; said front wall portion including a drop wire entry opening adjacent said upper end for insertable receipt of said drop wire and for providing drop wire access to said second connection end of said contact; and positioning means for supporting said connector module in said housing aperture in plural different positions, each said position differing in the location of said drop wire entry opening with respect to the longitudinal walls of said housing.

Claim 13

A connector block assembly for electrically connecting a conductor of a multiconductor cable to a drop wire, said connector block comprising: an elongate housing having opposed longitudinal walls and a planar surface extending therebetween, said housing including plural apertures through said planar surface; and at least one connector module insertably supportable in one of said housing apertures; said module including; and elongate electrical contact having a first connection end for electrical engagement with said conductor of said multiconductor cable and an opposed second connection end for electrical engagement with said drop wire; an elongate insulative body supporting said electrical contact, said body having an upper end adjacent said second connection end of said contact, a lower end and an elongate front wall portion extending therebetween; said front wall portion including a drop wire entry opening adjacent said upper end for insertable receipt of said drop wire and for providing drop wire access to said second connection end of said contact; and positioning means for supporting said connector module in said housing aperture in plural different positions, each said position differing in the location of said drop wire entry opening with respect to the longitudinal walls of said housing.

Claim 14

A connector block assembly of claim 11 wherein said connector module is supportable in said housing aperture in a first position wherein said front wall portion is positioned adjacent one of said longitudinal walls of said housing whereby said drop wire is insertable into said drop wire entry opening in a first direction perpendicular to said one longitudinal side wall 13.

Claim 15

A connector block assembly of claim 12 wherein said connector module is supportable in said housing aperture in a second position, wherein said front wall portion is positioned adjacent to the other of said longitudinal walls of said housing, whereby said drop wire is insertable into said drop wire entry opening in a said direction perpendicular to said other longitudinal side wall and opposite first direction.

Claim 16

A connector block of claims 12 or 13 wherein said connector module is generally cylindrical in shape and said housing aperture is circular being defined by an extending annular housing wall, and wherein said positioning means includes: diametrically opposed keys on said connector module and said annular housing wall includes diametrically opposed key receiving slots, said key receiving slots adapted to receive said keys upon insertion of said connector module in said aperture in either said first or said second positions.