Abstract: An electrical connector apparatus (10) is described having a housing with a first end (12) for releasably receiving a terminal end (200) of a jack and a second end (14) for receiving a twisted pair cable (300) having a pair of conductors (301, 302). The housing includes first and second intermediate electrical connectors (70, 80) having first ends (74, 84) for electrically contacting first and second exposed electrical contacts (206, 208) of the terminal end (200) when the terminal end (200) is secured to the housing in predetermined alignment. The first and second intermediate electrical connectors (70, 80) also include second ends (76, 86) having insulation displacement connectors (110) for providing electrical connection between insulation clad conductors (301, 302) of said twisted pair cable (300).

Abstract: An electrical jack (10) for use on a circuit board (47) is disclosed. Jack (10) has vertically stacked receiving passages (14) and (16) for plugs (18) and is protected against dust and other environmental contaminants by a cover (30). Jack (10) includes a common sleeve spring (20) for both plugs (18). First and second switching mechanisms (22, 24) function with lower plug (18), while third and fourth switching mechanisms (26, 28) function with higher plug (18). Lower ring and tip springs (116, 120) provide contact force about orthogonal tension axes. Pairs of retention lugs (122, 164) cooperate to hold jack (10) to circuit board (47).