Abstract: An electrical connector for coupling a modular plug connector to a plurality of conductors has a housing with a plug receiving portion and a contact support portion. A plurality of spring contacts, housed within the plug receiving portion, are respectively electrically connected to a plurality of press-fit contacts, housed within the contact support portion. Each of the press-fit contacts are substantially flat with a press-fit tail, a body, and a bifurcated extension aligned colinearly along a longitudinal axis. The press-fit tail is quadrangular, formed with two pairs of indentations, and has substantially equal lengths between midpoints of opposed sides. The press-fit tail is manufactured by punching substantially v-shaped indentations on opposed sides.

Abstract: A communications outlet having a baseplate assembly for mounting adjacent a wall surface includes bulkhead connectors and at least one modular plug receptacle for terminating optical and electrical cables. A spool barrel on the baseplate provides for the orderly storage of excess fiberoptic cable. The bulkhead connectors are carried by mounting members releasably secured to the baseplate which permits independent access to each terminated cable for movement to a position remote from the outlet to facilitate convenient servicing without risk of damage to the other terminated cables which comprise the outlet system. A cover cooperates with the mounting members to provide an enclosure for containing the terminated cables. An optional faceplate may be used in conjunction with the cover.

Abstract: Novel discrete coaxial cable and coaxial cable assembly constructions are disclosed. One preferred embodiment of the invention is a flat coaxial cable assembly. The invention also provides a novel method for manufacturing the coaxial elements which are the primary structural components of the coaxial cables and assemblies. In this method a signal wire and at least one drain wire are embedded in a minor matrix of dielectric material. A portion of the minor matrix material is peeled or skived away to expose the drain wire or wires. The resulting product is then wrapped in metal foil so that the foil makes electrical contact with the exposed drain wires. This step yields a completed coaxial element. A single element may be embedded in a major matrix of dielectric to yield a coaxial cable or several elements may be so embedded to yield a coaxial cable assembly.

Abstract: There is provided an improved flat electrical communications cable which includes a plurality of coplaner pairs of elongated, insulated conductors. The pairs of conductors are embedded in a jacket which supports the cable and maintains the spacing among the conductors and pairs. The spacing between conductors in a pair is substantially less than the spacing between each adjacent pair. The jacket is thicker in the regions around each pair and thinner in the regions between each pair, thus forming the valleys and ridges on each side of the jacket. An elongated metal shield covers at least one side of the jacket. The shield conforms to and is contiguous with the valleys and ridges resulting in somewhat of a sinusoidal cross-sectional appearance of the shield. Each conductor includes a dual insulation, the inner insulation being made from a flame retardant material and the outer insulation being made from a different material from the jacket.

Abstract: There is provided a method for stripping the jacket from a multi-pair flat cable having a plurality of coplanar insulated conductors. Each side of the jacket of the cable is scored near the end to be terminated. The alternate conductors are separated into two groups pointing in two different directions extending a certain distance from the end of the cable. The first group of conductors is pulled in a direction away from the second group, thereby separating one side of the jacket of the cable from the other. Each side of the separated jacket is peeled away from the conductors on both sides of the cable, starting at the scorings and moving away from the end of the cable. The cable conductors may then be readily gang terminated to a connector.