Abstract: A modular connector for field termination of an electrical cable containing a plurality of individually insulated conductors and having a body, a contact carrier in snap-in assembly with the body and a cover assembly for snap-in assembly with the body in the field and including a cover and a cable strain relief member attached to the cover by a living hinge. The cable strain relief member is arranged for snap-in assembly with the body in the field. A stuffing member carried by the cover sets each conductor in an associated contact of IDC type mounted on the contact carrier as the cover is snapped into assembly with the body. A blade mounting on the contact carrier cooperates with a shearing member depending from the cover to trim the free ends of the conductor during cover assembly. Assembly of the cover with the body also applies strain relief to the cable and each of the conductors and also deflects the trimmed conductors away from the shearing blade.

Abstract: A communications outlet having a baseplate assembly for mounting adjacent a wall surface includes bulkhead connectors and at least one modular plug receptacle for terminating optical and electrical cables. A spool barrel on the baseplate provides for the orderly storage of excess fiberoptic cable. The bulkhead connectors are carried by mounting members releasably secured to the baseplate which permits independent access to each terminated cable for movement to a position remote from the outlet to facilitate convenient servicing without risk of damage to the other terminated cables which comprise the outlet system. A cover cooperates with the mounting members to provide an enclosure for containing the terminated cables. An optional faceplate may be used in conjunction with the cover.

Abstract: Novel discrete coaxial cable and coaxial cable assembly constructions are disclosed. One preferred embodiment of the invention is a flat coaxial cable assembly. The invention also provides a novel method for manufacturing the coaxial elements which are the primary structural components of the coaxial cables and assemblies. In this method a signal wire and at least one drain wire are embedded in a minor matrix of dielectric material. A portion of the minor matrix material is peeled or skived away to expose the drain wire or wires. The resulting product is then wrapped in metal foil so that the foil makes electrical contact with the exposed drain wires. This step yields a completed coaxial element. A single element may be embedded in a major matrix of dielectric to yield a coaxial cable or several elements may be so embedded to yield a coaxial cable assembly.

Abstract: There is provided an improved flat electrical communications cable which includes a plurality of coplaner pairs of elongated, insulated conductors. The pairs of conductors are embedded in a jacket which supports the cable and maintains the spacing among the conductors and pairs. The spacing between conductors in a pair is substantially less than the spacing between each adjacent pair. The jacket is thicker in the regions around each pair and thinner in the regions between each pair, thus forming the valleys and ridges on each side of the jacket. An elongated metal shield covers at least one side of the jacket. The shield conforms to and is contiguous with the valleys and ridges resulting in somewhat of a sinusoidal cross-sectional appearance of the shield. Each conductor includes a dual insulation, the inner insulation being made from a flame retardant material and the outer insulation being made from a different material from the jacket.

Abstract: A splice case housing electrical splices between two cables where the splices are immersed in an oil sealant having a specific gravity greater than water. The case includes holes located above the splices for receiving the electrical cables. Since the oil is heavier than water, if water were to enter the splice case, it would be above the oil and splices, thereby causing a hydraulic force on the oil, causing an even more intimate seal of the oil around the splices.