Abstract: An optical fiber connection unit has an aperture for mounting to a standard electrical box so that the unit can replace an electrical outlet (power or tele-communications). The unit has a peripheral wall having flanges for easy retention of optical fibers within the unit prior to affixing a cover plate. The cover plate and peripheral wall have discontinuities for passage of optical fibers at the bottom of the unit to connect to optical modules therein. The cover plate has an aperture to allow a standard electrical module to be mounted thereto for provision of both optical and electrical connection.

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: 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: An electrical connection system, for example a dropside patch panel, comprises a mounting rail (12) which receives first connectors (14) arranged with their contacts facing away from the rail (12). Cable introduced between the rail and the connectors is separated into individual conductors which are terminated at contacts (34, 36) via slots (30) in the rail walls. A second connector (16) carries standard data or voice sockets communications (19) which are connected to the first connector via edge contact carrying PCBs (38) which engage in slots (40) in the first connectors.

Abstract: An edge mounted multicontact printed circuit board connector having a body (3) grooved to receive the edge of a cutaway (2) of a printed circuit board (1), the body carrying spaced strip-like resilient contact elements (4) having outward portions (6) which engage respective surface contacts (7) of the circuit board and inward portions (12) which are curved to extend into a cavity (20) of the body for resilient engagement with contacts (11) of a male cable connector (10) when inserted therein.

Abstract: A fascia assembly (10, 20) for an electrical junction housing comprises a fascia (20) with an aperture therein and a connection module (10) having resilient location means (14, 15, 17) adapted to co-operate with the edges of the aperture releasably to locate the module in the aperture with the module flush with the fascia. The module has a plug-receiving aperture (12a) which is shuttered by a shutter (13) on the module.The connection module may carry any desired connector, for example, a socket for a telephone jack plug, and different modules can carry different connector types.