Abstract: A wire connecting system which includes a pair of mating connectors for effecting electrical cross connections between a first set of of conductors and a second set of conductors is presented. The two mating connectors are known by the terms "wiring block" and "connecting block" wherein the wiring block provides evenly spaced receptacles for the first wire conductors that hold them in alignment for engagement with a plurality of insulation penetrating slotted beam contacts carried by the connecting block. The plurality of insulation penetrating slotted beam contacts housed by the connecting block are double ended such that, once the first set of wire conudctors are terminated, a second set of wire conductors are then indexed and retained by the connecting block for subsequent termination to the opposing ends of the insulation penetrating contacts by a tool or end cap designed for such a purpose.

Abstract: A test probe adapter for mounting on a bridge clip carrier or the like is presented. The test probe adapter includes an insulative housing having a pair of conductive test posts extended outwardly from the top and bottom of the housing. Attached to the bottom of each test post is a spring-loaded test probe mechanism which terminates at a probe tip. The test adapter further includes opposed biased hinged levers. These levers each terminate at a shoulder which is adapted for grasping and retaining the flattened top portion of a handle on a bridge clip carrier or the like.

Abstract: A dual modular jack adapter for insertion directly on a telephone terminal block of the type having a plurality of connectors extending therefrom (i.e., type 66 terminals) is presented. The dual modular jack adapter is comprised of a compact insulative housing having a plurality of apertures therethrough, each aperture leading to a cavity having a plurality of connector clips therein. The connector clips accessible on the front surface are preferably quick connect type connector clips held in place by a snap on connector clip carrier. The connector clips are connected via wire conductors, which enter through slots in the base of the snap on connector clip carrier, to dual standard modular jacks for access of test phones or other auxilliary equipment. The present invention may be configured for any size modular jack including 2, 4, 6 or 8 wire jacks. The whole unit can be assembled by snapping the separate pieces together.

Abstract: An electrical connector which is particularly useful in conjunction with printed circuit boards is presented. The connector is easy to assemble and therefore entails relatively low manufacturing costs. The connector of this invention is also easy to operate, permits a multiplicity of wiring changes over the product life and takes up very little area on the printed circuit board. In accordance with the present invention, the electrical connector is comprised of three main insulative component parts including a housing, a cover received in the housing and a screw mechanism which is captured in the cover and which functions to raise and lower the cover within the housing. The connector of this invention additionally includes a plurality of electrically conductive insulation displacement (IDC) type terminals which are received through the housing and which cooperate with appropriate openings in the cover.

Abstract: A combined transient voltage and sneak current protector is presented. The protector device comprises a two-piece substantially rectangular insulative housing. The housing has four spaced and aligned openings at the bottom thereof for receiving upstanding terminals from a terminal block. The interior of the housing is loaded with four contact members which are adapted to effect electrical connection with a three element surge suppressor (e.g. transistor) and a pair of small cylindrical fuse elements. Each of the four contact members include a female connector communicating with the four aligned openings in the housing. The housing interior also includes a ground contact which electrically connects to the middle element on the surge suppressor. The ground contact passes through a lateral opening in the housing for mating with a novel plug-on grounding bus connector.

Abstract: A combined transient voltage and sneak current protector is presented. The protector device comprises a two-piece substantially rectangular insulative housing. The housing has four spaced and aligned openings at the bottom thereof for receiving upstanding terminals from a terminal block. The interior of the housing is loaded with four contact members which are adapted to effect electrical connection with a three element surge suppressor (e.g. transistor) and a pair of small cylindrical fuse elements. Each of the four contact members include a female connector communicating with the four aligned openings in the housing. The housing interior also includes a ground contact which electrically connects to the middle element on the surge suppressor. The ground contact passes through a lateral opening in the housing for mating with a novel plug-on grounding bus connector.

Abstract: A patch block and bracket assembly is presented. The patch block includes a front face which houses a plurality of modular jacks. Each modular jack is prewired to one or more telephonic elecetrical connectors mounted on the base of the unit. The unitary electrical connector can be interfaced with a mating connector from a satellite piece of equipment. An advantage of this invention is the easy access to a modular jack hook up from several pieces of satellite equipment. The patch block is also used as a modular jack patching device which allows for the administration of wiring moves and changes without special personnel training or technical expertise.

Abstract: The patch connector comprises separable upper and lower housing portions and a double detent structure for joining the two oppositely disposed housing portions. The housing portions are snapped together to define a housing having exposed contacts on a front face thereof for accessing terminals from a terminal block; and at least one opening on the back face thereof for entry and exit of a cable or individual wires. The interior of the housing is provided with structure for retaining isolated electrical connector clips. Among other applications, the patch connector may be used as a means to electrically connect multiple insulated wires on terminals of a terminal block.

Abstract: A modular jack yoke for use in mounting modular jacks to telephone terminal blocks and the like is presented. The yoke is a rectangular unit of solid construction with apertures at both ends to enable mounting of the yoke to a terminal block and bracket assembly, panel or other flat mounting surface. Located between the mounting apertures are two open areas for receiving modular jacks. The open areas include structure for mating the yoke with modular jacks. This mating structure effects snap locking of the modular jacks into position on the modular jack yoke.

Abstract: A bridge clip carrier comprises a one-piece molded insulative housing having at least two cavities for receiving discrete metal bridge clips which are then snap locked in the cavities. Each cavity has an open ended slot which permits loading of a bridge clip therein and is adpated for receiving a terminal from a terminal block. The cavity further includes stepped-in side portions near the slot which act to narrow the width thereof towards the top of the housing. Each discrete bridge clip is snap locked into a cavity by opposed extensions which mate with pre-existing grooves or windows in the bridge clips. An important feature of the present invention is the presence of apertures on the top face of the housing which expose the bridge clips and which are sized for receiving a suitable test probe. Thus, the bridge clip carrier of the present invention permits ease of testing of the electrical circuits subsequent to installation.

Abstract: The patch connector comprises separable upper and lower housing portions and a double detent structure for joining the two oppositely disposed housing portions. The housing portions are snapped together to define a substantially rectangular housing having two, four, six or eight openings on a front face thereof for accessing terminals from a terminal block; and at least one other opening on the back face thereof for entry and exit of a cable or individual wires. The interior of the housing is provided with cavities for retaining isolated electrical connector clips, these connector clips communicating with the back face opening for electrical and mechanical connection with insulated wire and communicating with the front face opening for electrical and mechanical connection with terminals from a terminal block.

Abstract: A sneak current protector comprises a block of non-conductive, preferably plastic material having at least two slots extending therethrough which are sized to receive adjacent terminals extending from a terminal block, such as 66 type terminals. An opening is provided through the block which is transverse to the slots and which communicates between the slots. A small cylindrical fuse element is loaded into this opening such that the opposed conductive ends of the fuse are exposed within the respective slots. The block is provided with a handle so that the slots of the block may be mounted directly onto a pair of adjacent terminals. During such mounting, the conductive ends of the cylindrical fuse will contact the terminals providing both a bridging function and a current overload protective function.

Abstract: The unassembled patch connector comprises multiple or a single, housing (prefereably molded) having a centrally located hinge or other positive locating features for joining the two oppositely disposed housing portions. The housing portions are snapped together to define a substantially rectangular housing having two, four, six or eight openings on a front face thereof for accessing terminals from a terminal block; and at least one other opening on the back face thereof for entry and exit of a cable or individual wires. The interior of the housing is provided with cavities for retaining isolated conductors, these conductors communicating with the back face opening for electrical and mechanical connection with insulated wire and communicating with the front face opening for electrical and mechanical connection with terminals from a terminal block.

Abstract: A substantially rectangular modular jack connecting block suitable for use in the connection or mounting of terminal equipment using modular plugs, i.e., wall phones and the like, and including separable interior portions and add-on portions which transform the modular jack connecting block to other types of connecting devices suitable for a variety of other connecting applications is presented.

Abstract: An apparatus for releasably securing mating electrical connectors is presented which employs a bracket having an apertured portion which is sized and shaped to circumscribe the mating portions of the connectors. In a first embodiment, the bracket has a pair of opposed arm portions extending therefrom with at least one slot centrally located on one of the arms and a pair of opposed open ended slots on the other arm. A self-locking strap is secured to the centrally located slot. In use, after the bracket has been placed on the first connector and the mating connector is joined thereto, the self-locking strap will be wound tightly around the mating connector through the two open-ended slots; and locked to itself to thereby retain the connectors in the engaged condition. The connectors may be disengaged merely by applying sufficient force to the strap so as to unlock it from itself.

Abstract: An eight wire modular plug capable of insertion into any 6 or 8 wire modular jack is presented. The modular plug comprises eight conductive contacts, each conductive contact respectively attached to a wire leading therefrom, all of which is encased in an insulating housing. The eight wire modular plug housing has a streamlined configuration which permits entry thereof into any 6 or 8 wire modular jack. Thus, the eight wire modular plug provides access to a 6 or 8 wire jack for use with a variety of equipment in the telephonic and related industries.