Abstract: A shielded connector assembly having a snap locking mounting scheme. The assembly includes a panel yoke (2) with snap locking elements (21) for snap lockingly, removably securing the panel yoke (2) in a panel or cover plate. The panel yoke (2) is also constructed to snap lockingly engage a shielding device (30) which in turn is constructed to snap lockingly engage a connector assembly comprising an interconnecting device (61) which may be a printed circuit board (59) including integrally defined reactive elements designed to compensate for reactive imbalance of electrical components connected thereto. A pair of wire termination blocks (70) mounted to a first side of the circuit board are connected by circuitry on the circuit board to a corresponding modular jack (60) mounted on a second side of the circuit board. The reactive elements produce an impedance between selected leads of the modular jack and the wire termination blocks by the circuitry.

Abstract: A snap-on cover assembly is presented to protect and designate connections made in connector block and bracket assemblies of the type used in the telephonic and related data communications industry. Four resilient latches integral with the one piece snap-on cover are insertable in and form a friction fit with the underside surface of four generally rectangular supporting platforms of a 110 type connector block. Removal of the snap-on cover is accomplished by simply pulling the cover from the connector block, and releasing the latches from frictional engagement with the underside surfaces of the aforementioned supporting platforms of the connector block. The cover of this invention is particularly well suited for snap-lock engagement to well-known type "110" terminal blocks. The covers presented are 50 and 100-pair preferred embodiments. The cover provides protection from unauthorized access and any other undesirable contact with the circuitry.

Abstract: An electrically balanced connector assembly is presented. The assembly comprises a circuit board having circuitry thereon including a plurality of plated through holes. The plated through holes being spaced and interconnected in a defined configuration for restoring electrical balance to electrical components connected to the circuit board.

Abstract: The field terminable patch connector of the present invention comprises three separable upper and lower body or housing portions, two of which have a detent structure which permits the three housing portions to be assembled and locked together into a rigid assembly. The third housing portion is a contact insulator which has a multiplicity of slots and protrusions capable of retaining eight contacts for receiving eight conductors of a four pair cable. In addition, a metal shield is provided which fits between both the upper housing portion and contact insulator portion. This metal shield portion shields (e.g., electrically isolates) the four pairs of conductors from one another and is held in position by the same aforementioned detents. When properly field terminated and used with a Category 5 compliant cable, the patch connector of the present invention meets or exceeds the EIA/TIA TSB-36 Category 5 transmission requirements when used with 110 type connector blocks.

Abstract: A snap locking mounting scheme for securing wire connectors is presented. In accordance with the connector mounting scheme, a wire termination assembly is removably secured in a mounting base by a snap locking mechanism. The wire termination assembly includes a mounting strip which is connected to a wire termination block at one end and is snap locked into the mounting base at the other end. The termination assembly further including an interconnecting device (e.g., telecommunication modular jack) connected to the termination block by a plurality of wires.

Abstract: An electrically enhanced wiring block with break test capability employs a printed circuit board which includes integrally defined transmission lines and capacitive elements designed to improve impedance characteristics and electrical balance between interconnected wiring and connecting strips and thereby optimize its transmission performance. The transmission lines consist of impedance controlled circuitry with integral capacitive elements that are provided by means of a novel use of plated through holes. The holes may be sized, spaced and interconnected in various configurations to generate the desired capacitance. Two rows of connecting blocks with a row of connecting strips therebetween are mounted to one side of the circuit board preferably by solderless connectors and are interconnected by circuitry on the circuit board. The capacitive elements are connected between selected leads of the connecting blocks and connecting strips by the impedance controlled circuitry.

Abstract: An electrically balanced connector assembly is presented. The assembly comprises a printed circuit board including integrally defined capacitive elements defined by plated through slots which are designed to compensate for reactive imbalance of electrical components connected thereto. A pair of wire termination blocks mounted to a first side of the circuit board are connected by circuitry on the circuit board to a corresponding pair of modular jacks mounted to a second side of the circuit board. The capacitive elements are connected between selected leads of the modular jacks and the wire termination blocks by the circuitry. The circuit board assembly is mounted in a panel yoke which includes a pair of apertures for allowing access to the modular jacks aligned therein. The apertures and circuit board assembly are orientated to allow connecting modular cords to gravity feed into and from the modular jacks. The panel yoke includes means for snaplockedly securing the panel yoke to a panel or a wall plate.

Abstract: A low cost wire stripping tool is presented which comprises a section to remove a portion of the outer insulation jacket covering two, three or four pairs of a new telephonic cable and a second section of the wire stripping tool which is capable of straightening (or flattening) a twisted pair and then capable of separating the straightened, flattened pair by cutting the webbed section of the individual pair.

Abstract: A fiber optic patch panel for use with fiber optic or other cables is presented. The patch panel includes a fiber management tray, a front connector panel having a plurality of laterally spaced rectangular ports and a pair of mounting slots extending laterally therefrom, a pair of sides extending perpendicularly from the tray along a portion of each lateral edge of the tray, and a back also extending perpendicularly from the tray and along a portion of the back edge. Disposed within the rectangular ports of the front connector panel are modular connector assemblies. A cover may be employed to protect fibers and prevent dust and the like from being deposited and collecting within the tray. A splice tray, which is releasably fastened to the management tray, may also be employed for splicing fiber optic strands.

Abstract: An electrically balanced connector assembly is presented. The assembly comprises a printed circuit board including integrally defined capacitive elements designed to compensate for reactive imbalance of electrical components connected thereto. A pair of wire termination blocks mounted to a first side of the circuit board are connected by circuitry on the circuit board to a corresponding pair of modular jacks mounted to a second side of the circuit board. The capacitive elements are connected between selected leads of the modular jacks and the wire termination blocks by the circuitry. The circuit board assembly is mounted in a panel yoke which includes a pair of apertures for allowing access to the modular jacks aligned therein. The apertures and circuit board assembly are orientated to allow connecting modular cords to gravity feed into and from the modular jacks. The panel yoke includes means for snaplockedly securing the panel yoke to a panel or a wall plate.

Abstract: A wiring block, in accordance with the present invention, comprises a base having at least one wiring strip snap lock mounted thereto and having a leg assembly snap lock mounted at each end of the base. The leg assemblies provide a space behind the wiring block (when mounted) for cables/wires that are to be terminated at the wiring block. The detachable leg assemblies are an important feature of the present invention as they provide for improved cable/wire management during installations, moves and changes, as compared to that of the prior art. The base has openings between selected wiring strips for allowing cables/wires to pass through also improving cable/wire management. Further, the wiring strip includes spaced notches to facilitate wiring thereto.