Abstract: A tool for inserting wires into more than one type of insulation displacement connector comprises a stepped locating device such that a first portion (230) locates in one connector type and a second portion is of a width (W) suitable to locate in a further connector type.

Abstract: A stuffer cap for an insulation displacement connector comprises a base, a pair of end walls, a pair of side wall and intermediate walls parallel to the end walls. The end walls each have a recess in which is arranged an outwardly extending latch which has a contact point for engaging with a ledge on the connector housing, a contact surface and an engaging point which snaps into a recess in the housing to retain the cap in position. In one embodiment, recesses in the edges of the side walls are replaced by apertures enabling removal of wires with the stuffer cap. In a further embodiment hooks are provided in the recesses which are resilient in the direction of wire insertion and rigid in the direction of wire extraction. In a further embodiment the latch extends inwards and engages with the ledge adjacent that on which the outwardly extending latch engages.

Abstract: An insulation displacement contact comprises first and second contact portions each of which comprises a cantilevered split beam. The upper split beam, which receives insulated wires, comprises a pair of tynes which are folded about the axis of a slot separating the tynes such that the internal angle between the tynes is approximately 90.degree.. The width of the times is larger than that of prior art devices resulting in increased stiffness and the length of the tynes is sufficiently long to receive two wires therebetween.The contacts are mounted in a housing which includes a plurality of teeth provided with means for retaining lugs on the end of the tynes to ensure bowed opening of the tynes on insertion of a wire. The contacts are arranged along the central axis of the housing such that the folded tynes of alternate contacts extend on opposite sides of the central axis.

Abstract: A communications connector sub-assembly comprises a body (10) defining a plurality of parallel grooves (37) each receiving a jack contact (30). The body includes one or more insulation displacement connectors (14, 16) which have insulation displacement contacts (12) anchored therein. The insulation displacement contacts are connected to the jack contacts through a printed circuit board (24). The anchoring of the insulation displacement contacts in the body secures the PCB to the body to give a complete sub-assembly. Side walls (44) are provided to surround and protect free ends (36) of the jack contacts from mechanical damage.

Abstract: In a fiber optic connector element two or more fiber optic cables are each terminated in a ferrule whose end contains a beam expanding lens. The ferrules are tapered and each of them fits into a correspondingly tapered hole in an insert within the body of the connector element. The ends of the ferrules are substantially in the same plane and are adjacent to a transparent window which is mounted in a bezel surrounding the insert. When two such connector elements are mated, their windows are close to each other and parallel to each other, and each ferrule in one element is optically aligned with a ferrule in the other element. The casings and bodies of the connector elements may be constructed hermaphroditically.