Abstract: A modular adapter (30) includes a housing (33) having a plug end portion ) and a jack end portion (35). The jack end includes two stacked jack cavities (54-54'). Each of the jack cavities has a stepped portion (75) depending from the ceiling on each side of the centerline of the cavity. The stepped portions in each cavity are spaced apart a sufficient distance to receive a locking tab (41) of a modular plug (31) which is inserted into the cavity. The plug may be a six or an eight conductor plug. A first group of contact elements (36--36) extend from retroflexed end portions in one of the jack cavities into cells formed in the plug end portion. An additional two contact elements (37--37) comprising a second group have retroflexed end portions on one side of one jack cavity and extend to center positions in the other jack cavity.

Abstract: A plurality of lengths (52--52) of wires (54--54) are advanced along parallel paths and clamped after which each length is formed into a retroflexed configuration at a wire-forming station (50). The partially formed lengths of wire are stored in a nest of a transport device (115) and severed from supplies (56--56) of the wires. Then the transport device is moved to deliver the partially formed wires from the wire-forming station to an assembly station (60). Forces are applied to the partially formed wires to hold an upper portion of each compressed toward a lower portion to allow end portions of each to be moved into guide channels of a plastic housing (32) having a plug end (34) and a jack end (36) which includes stacked cavities (38, 39). Portions of tooling (241,242) inserted into the jack end provide guide paths for the end portions of the wires during their movement into the housing and to the jack end.

Abstract: A connector system of this invention is used to splice conductors of at least two groups. The system includes a base (60) having a plurality of tubular, rigid metallic contact elements (62--62) positioned in apertures (110--110) that are formed in two rows along the base. Each aperture falls in an associated groove of a plurality of parallel grooves formed transversely of the rows of the apertures. Conductors (51--51) of a first group are positioned in the grooves of the base. Then, the base is provided with a cover and the contact elements are moved in their apertures to cause the conductors to be moved into slots in the contact elements, to penetrate the cover and to sever excess end portions of the conductors. The walls of the slots are adapted to establish electrical engagement with the conductors that are moved thereinto. The cover is removed, and a carrier having a plurality of grooves in which are positioned conductors of a second group that are to be spliced to the first is assembled to the base.

Abstract: A wall outlet (20), which facilitates the interconnection of lengths of inside wiring to a network interface device, includes provisions for receiving a modular plug (31) which terminates a cord (32) that is connected to customer station equipment. The wall outlet includes a tricoupler (30) and a cover (25). The tricoupler includes a housing (80) having first and second generally opposed plug-receiving cavities (82, 83) and a third cavity (87). A plurality of metallic wire-like contact elements (90-90) are disposed in the housing of the tricoupler and are engaged by blade-like terminals (60-60) of modular plugs which are inserted into the cavities. The cover includes latching tabs (164-164) which are adapted to be received in grooves (163-163) of the tricoupler housing to secure the tricoupler to the cover.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for forming wire-like contact elements within a plastic housing (32) to form a coupler (35). Each of a plurality of leading end portions of wire supplies (61-61) is moved into a cavity at one end (38) of the plastic housing which is held in a nest (55), through one aligned passageway and into a cavity at the opposite end (37). The cavities are designed to receive modular plugs, the terminals of which are connected by the coupler. The leading end portions of the wires are formed into a retroflexed configuration (41) by tooling (57) which remains in the cavity at the opposite end (37) while the wire lengths in the housing are severed from their supplies adjacent to the cavity at the one end (38). Additional tooling (59) is moved to engage the newly formed trailing end portions of the wires and to bend them to have a retroflexed configuration (43) with free ends being disposed between partitions.

Abstract: A telephone station adapter includes a well-known ribbon-type connector having a modular jack at one end and supported from a hood which covers the connector and the jack. Because of testing procedures and because of the need to rearrange connections of conductors to contact elements of the ribbon-type connector, it becomes necessary to remove the hood without damaging it. This is accomplished with the tool of this invention in which the connector is supported in such a way that relative motion may be caused between it and a hood-removal portion of the tool. The hood-removal portion of the tool includes a portion which cams apart end sidewalls of the hood to disengage detents thereof from a body of the connector. The tool also includes a separating portion which causes the hood to be moved away from the connector once it has been disengaged and a prong which is moved into a cavity of the jack to hold the connector in engagement with a supporting surface while the hood is being removed.