Coupler connector and cable terminator with side contacts

• US 10,476,197 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2018
• Issued: 11/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Belden Canada ULC (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Belden CDT (Canada) Inc. (Belden Inc.)
• Inventors: Fontaine, Marc, Plamondon, Jean-Sebastien, Siev, Virak, Desrochers, Alain, Milette, Luc, Beauregard, Francois
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilman, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US16/219,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20190115682A1
• Time in Patent Office: 334 Days
• Field of Search: 439354
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/506 assembled by snap action of the parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/514 composed as a modular blocks or assembly, i.e. composed of co-operating parts provided with contact members or holding contact members between them
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6272 comprising a single latching arm
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/633 for disengagement only in combination with safety switch H01R13/7132
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/005 Intermediate parts for distributing signals
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/2404 the contact members having teeth, prongs, pins or needles penetrating the insulation
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/01 for connecting unstripped conductors to contact members having insulation cutting edges

Abstract

An assembly comprising a cable terminator comprising a wire guide, a cube shaped securing cap comprising an open end for installation over the wire guide, and pairs of piercing contacts for piercing respective conductors of the cable. When assembled, an outer end of each of the piercing contacts is exposed on an outer surface of a respective securing cap sidewall. The assembly also comprises a coupler connector comprising one of a modular (for example RJ-45 compatible) socket or a modular (for example RJ-45 compatible) plug, a rearward surface comprising a cable terminator receiving socket, wherein pairs of contacts are exposed along at least one side wall of the socket, and further wherein each of a plurality of the tines in the modular socket or the terminal contacts of the plug is interconnected with a respective one of the contacts.

Claims

1. An apparatus for guiding conductors of a cable from a pre-termination position to a termination position comprising:

a conductor guide member configured to guide the pair of conductors of the cable from the pre-termination position to the termination position;

a securing member configured to engage the conductor guide member so as to secure the pair of conductors of the cable in the termination position;

wherein the conductor guide member includes an inner entry opening portion configured to receive respective entry portions of the pair of conductors of the cable when the pair of conductors of the cable is in the pre-termination position;

wherein the conductor guide member includes an outer exposed guide slot portion configured to receive respective end portions of the pair of conductors of the cable when the pair of conductors of the cable is in the termination position;

wherein the outer exposed guide slot portion of the conductor guide member is configured to receive a pair of piercing contacts and allow each of the pair of piercing contacts to pierce each respective end portion of the pair of conductors when the pair of conductors is in the termination position;

wherein each of the pair of piercing contacts include an exposed piercing contact end portion that is configured to be exposed so as to be allowed to be electrically terminated to a termination member when the securing member engages the conductor guide member and secures the pair of conductors of the cable in the termination position;

wherein the conductor guide member is configured to guide the pair of conductors of the cable from the pre-termination position, where the respective entry portions of the pair of conductors extend through the inner entry opening portion toward a forward direction, and the termination position, where the respective end portions of the pair of conductors are guided by the outer exposed guide slot portion toward a rearward direction opposite the forward direction;

wherein the inner entry opening portion of the conductor guide member is configured to maintain the respective entry portions of the pair of conductors of the cable in parallel to each other when the pair of conductors of the cable are guided from the pre-termination position to the termination position;

wherein the outer exposed guide slot portion of the conductor guide member is configured to maintain the respective end portions of the pair of conductors of the cable in parallel to each other when the pair of conductors of the cable are guided from the pre-termination position to the termination position;

wherein the securing member is configured to extend at least partially over the conductor guide member when the respective end portions of the pair of conductors of the cable is in the termination position so as to maintain the pair of conductors in the termination position so that the respective end portions of the pair of conductors can be terminated;

wherein the outer exposed guide slot portion of the conductor guide member is configured to extend toward a radially outward direction away from the inner entry opening so as to guide respective medial portions of the pair of conductors of the cable toward the radially outward direction when the pair of conductors of the cable are guided from the pre-termination position to the termination position;

wherein the pair of conductors of the cable comprises a first pair of conductors, the respective entry portions comprises first respective entry portions of the first pair of conductors of the cable, and the respective end portions comprise first respective end portions of the first pair of conductors of the cable;

wherein the inner entry opening portion of the conductor guide member is configured to receive the first respective entry portions of the first pair of conductors of the cable when the first pair of conductors of the cable is in the pre-termination position, and the outer exposed guide slot portion is configured to receive the first respective end portions of the first pair of conductors of the cable when the pair of conductors of the cable is in the termination position;

wherein the outer exposed guide slot portion of the conductor guide member comprises a first outer exposed guide slot portion that is configured to receive the first respective end portions of the first pair of conductors of the cable when the first pair of conductors of the cable is in the termination position;

wherein the conductor guide member is configured to guide the first pair of conductors of the cable and a second pair of conductors of the cable from respective pre-termination positions to respective termination positions;

wherein the conductor guide member comprises an outer entry opening portion that is configured to receive second respective entry portions of the second pair of conductors of the cable when the second pair of conductors of the cable is in the termination position;

wherein the outer exposed guide slot portion of the conductor guide comprises a first outer exposed guide slot portion, and the conductor guide member includes a second outer exposed guide slot portion that is configured to receive second respective end portions of the second pair of conductors of the cable when the second pair of conductors of the cable is in the termination position;

wherein the conductor guide member being configured to guide the second pair of conductors of the cable from the pre-termination position, where the second respective entry portions of the second pair of conductors extend through the outer entry opening portion toward a forward direction, and the termination position, where the second respective end portions of the second pair of conductors are guided by the second outer exposed guide slot portion toward a rearward direction opposite the forward direction;

wherein the first outer exposed guide slot portion extends toward a radially outward direction away from the inner entry opening so as to guide first respective medial portions of the first pair of conductors toward the radially outward direction when the first pair of conductors are guided from the pre-termination position to the termination position; and

wherein the second outer exposed guide slot portion extends toward a radially inward direction away from the outer entry opening so as to guide second respective medial portions of the second pair of conductors toward the radially inward direction when the second pair of conductors are guided from the pre-termination position to the termination position.

2. The apparatus of 1, wherein the conductor guide member and the securing member are together configured to form a rectangular shape when the securing member engages the conductor guide member and secures the pair of conductors of the cable in the termination position, and the rectangular shape is configured to fit a termination member so as to allow the termination member to terminate the pair of conductors when the pair of conductors of the cable are in the termination position.

3. The apparatus of 1, wherein the conductor guide member and the securing member are together configured to form a rectangular shape when the securing member engages the conductor guide member and secures the pair of conductors of the cable in the termination position, and the rectangular shape is configured to fit at least partially in a termination member so as to allow the termination member to terminate the pair of conductors when the pair of conductors of the cable are in the termination position.

4. The apparatus of 1, wherein the conductor guide member and the securing member are together configured to form a cubic shape when the securing member engages the conductor guide member and secures the pair of conductors of the cable in the termination position, and the cubic shape is configured to fit a termination member so as to allow the termination member to terminate the pair of conductors when the pair of conductors of the cable are in the termination position.

5. The apparatus of 1, wherein the conductor guide member and the securing member are together configured to form a rectangular shape when the securing member engages the conductor guide member and secures the pair of conductors of the cable in the termination position so as to allow a termination member to at least partially fit around the rectangular shape and terminate the pair of conductors when the pair of conductors of the cable are in the termination position.

6. The apparatus of 1, wherein the conductor guide member and the securing member are together configured to form a cubic shape when the securing member engages the conductor guide member and secures the pair of conductors of the cable in the termination position so as to allow a termination member to at least partially fit around the cubic shape and terminate the pair of conductors when the pair of conductors of the cable are in the termination position.

7. The apparatus of 1, wherein the conductor guide member and the securing member are together configured to form a cubic shape when the securing member engages the conductor guide member and secures the pair of conductors of the cable in the termination position, and the cubic shape is configured to fit at least partially in a termination member so as to allow the termination member to terminate the pair of conductors when the pair of conductors of the cable are in the termination position.

8. The apparatus of 1, wherein the outer exposed guide slot portion of the conductor guide member includes a centerline of the outer exposed guide slot portion and a raised ridge portion extending along the centerline so as to maintain the respective end portions of the pair of conductors of the cable in parallel to each other when the pair of conductors of the cable are guided from the pre-termination position to the termination position.

9. The apparatus of 1, wherein the conductor guide member further includes a rounded portion configured to extend between the inner entry opening portion and the outer exposed guide slot portion so as to guide the pair of conductors of the cable from the pre-termination position to the termination position.

10. The apparatus of 1, wherein the conductor guide member further includes a rounded portion configured to extend between the inner entry opening portion and the outer exposed guide slot portion so as to maintain the respective entry portions of the pair of conductors of the cable in parallel to each other when the pair of conductors of the cable are guided from the pre-termination position to the termination position.

11. An apparatus for guiding conductors of a cable from a pre-termination position to a termination position comprising:

a conductor guide member configured to guide the pair of conductors of the cable from the pre-termination position to the termination position;

a securing member configured to engage the conductor guide member so as to secure the pair of conductors of the cable in the termination position;

wherein the conductor guide member includes an inner entry opening portion configured to receive respective entry portions of the pair of conductors of the cable when the pair of conductors of the cable is in the pre-termination position;

wherein the conductor guide member includes an outer exposed guide slot portion configured to receive respective end portions of the pair of conductors of the cable when the pair of conductors of the cable is in the termination position;

wherein the outer exposed guide slot portion of the conductor guide member is configured to receive a pair of piercing contacts and allow each of the pair of piercing contacts to pierce each respective end portion of the pair of conductors when the pair of conductors is in the termination position wherein each of the pair of piercing contacts include an exposed piercing contact end portion that is configured to be exposed so as to be allowed to be electrically terminated to a termination member when the securing member engages the conductor guide member and secures the pair of conductors of the cable in the termination position; and

wherein the conductor guide member is configured to guide the pair of conductors of the cable from the pre-termination position, where the respective entry portions of the pair of conductors extend through the inner entry opening portion toward a forward direction, and the termination position, where the respective end portions of the pair of conductors are guided by the outer exposed guide slot portion toward a rearward direction opposite the forward direction.

12. The apparatus of 11, wherein the inner entry opening portion of the conductor guide member is configured to maintain the respective entry portions of the pair of conductors of the cable in parallel to each other when the pair of conductors of the cable are guided from the pre-termination position to the termination position.

13. The apparatus of 11, wherein the outer exposed guide slot portion of the conductor guide member is configured to maintain the respective end portions of the pair of conductors of the cable in parallel to each other when the pair of conductors of the cable are guided from the pre-termination position to the termination position.

14. The apparatus of 11, wherein the securing member is configured to extend at least partially over the conductor guide member when the respective end portions of the pair of conductors of the cable is in the termination position so as to maintain the pair of conductors in the termination position so that the respective end portions of the pair of conductors can be terminated.

15. The apparatus of 11, wherein the outer exposed guide slot portion of the conductor guide member is configured to extend toward a radially outward direction away from the inner entry opening so as to guide respective medial portions of the pair of conductors of the cable toward the radially outward direction when the pair of conductors of the cable are guided from the pre-termination position to the termination position.

16. The apparatus of 11, wherein the pair of conductors of the cable comprises a first pair of conductors, the respective entry portions comprises first respective entry portions of the first pair of conductors of the cable, and the respective end portions comprise first respective end portions of the first pair of conductors of the cable.

17. The apparatus of 16, wherein the inner entry opening portion of the conductor guide member is configured to receive the first respective entry portions of the first pair of conductors of the cable when the first pair of conductors of the cable is in the pre-termination position, and the outer exposed guide slot portion is configured to receive the first respective end portions of the first pair of conductors of the cable when the pair of conductors of the cable is in the termination position.

18. The apparatus of 17, wherein the outer exposed guide slot portion of the conductor guide member comprises a first outer exposed guide slot portion that is configured to receive the first respective end portions of the first pair of conductors of the cable when the first pair of conductors of the cable is in the termination position.

19. The apparatus of 16, wherein the conductor guide member is configured to guide the first pair of conductors of the cable and a second pair of conductors of the cable from respective pre-termination positions to respective termination positions.

20. The apparatus of 19, wherein the conductor guide member comprises an outer entry opening portion that is configured to receive second respective entry portions of the second pair of conductors of the cable when the second pair of conductors of the cable is in the termination position.

21. The apparatus of 20, wherein the outer exposed guide slot portion of the conductor guide comprises a first outer exposed guide slot portion, and the conductor guide member includes a second outer exposed guide slot portion that is configured to receive second respective end portions of the second pair of conductors of the cable when the second pair of conductors of the cable is in the termination position.

22. The apparatus of 21, wherein the conductor guide member is configured to guide the second pair of conductors of the cable from the pre-termination position, where the second respective entry portions of the second pair of conductors extend through the outer entry opening portion toward a forward direction, and the termination position, where the second respective end portions of the second pair of conductors are guided by the second outer exposed guide slot portion toward a rearward direction opposite the forward direction.

23. The apparatus of 21, wherein the first outer exposed guide slot portion extends toward a radially outward direction away from the inner entry opening so as to guide first respective medial portions of the first pair of conductors toward the radially outward direction when the first pair of conductors are guided from the pre-termination position to the termination position.

24. The apparatus of 21, wherein the second outer exposed guide slot portion extends toward a radially inward direction away from the outer entry opening so as to guide second respective medial portions of the second pair of conductors toward the radially inward direction when the second pair of conductors are guided from the pre-termination position to the termination position.

25. The apparatus of 11, wherein the conductor guide member and the securing member are together configured to form a rectangular shape when the securing member engages the conductor guide member and secures the pair of conductors of the cable in the termination position, and the rectangular shape is configured to fit a termination member so as to allow the termination member to terminate the pair of conductors when the pair of conductors of the cable are in the termination position.

26. The apparatus of 11, wherein the conductor guide member and the securing member are together configured to form a rectangular shape when the securing member engages the conductor guide member and secures the pair of conductors of the cable in the termination position, and the rectangular shape is configured to fit at least partially in a termination member so as to allow the termination member to terminate the pair of conductors when the pair of conductors of the cable are in the termination position.

27. The apparatus of 11, wherein the conductor guide member and the securing member are together configured to form a cubic shape when the securing member engages the conductor guide member and secures the pair of conductors of the cable in the termination position, and the cubic shape is configured to fit a termination member so as to allow the termination member to terminate the pair of conductors when the pair of conductors of the cable are in the termination position.

28. The apparatus of 11, wherein the conductor guide member and the securing member are together configured to form a rectangular shape when the securing member engages the conductor guide member and secures the pair of conductors of the cable in the termination position so as to allow a termination member to at least partially fit around the rectangular shape and terminate the pair of conductors when the pair of conductors of the cable are in the termination position.

29. The apparatus of 11, wherein the conductor guide member and the securing member are together configured to form a cubic shape when the securing member engages the conductor guide member and secures the pair of conductors of the cable in the termination position so as to allow a termination member to at least partially fit around the cubic shape and terminate the pair of conductors when the pair of conductors of the cable are in the termination position.

30. The apparatus of 11, wherein the conductor guide member and the securing member are together configured to form a cubic shape when the securing member engages the conductor guide member and secures the pair of conductors of the cable in the termination position, and the cubic shape is configured to fit at least partially in a termination member so as to allow the termination member to terminate the pair of conductors when the pair of conductors of the cable are in the termination position.

31. The apparatus of 11, wherein the outer exposed guide slot portion of the conductor guide member includes a centerline of the outer exposed guide slot portion and a raised ridge portion extending along the centerline so as to maintain the respective end portions of the pair of conductors of the cable in parallel to each other when the pair of conductors of the cable are guided from the pre-termination position to the termination position.

32. The apparatus of 11, wherein the conductor guide member further includes a rounded portion configured to extend between the inner entry opening portion and the outer exposed guide slot portion so as to guide the pair of conductors of the cable from the pre-termination position to the termination position.

33. The apparatus of 11, wherein the conductor guide member further includes a rounded portion configured to extend between the inner entry opening portion and the outer exposed guide slot portion so as to maintain the respective entry portions of the pair of conductors of the cable in parallel to each other when the pair of conductors of the cable are guided from the pre-termination position to the termination position.

34. An apparatus for guiding a pair of conductors of a cable from a pre-termination position to a termination position comprising:

a conductor guide configured to guide a pair of conductors of a cable from the pre-termination position to the termination position;

a securing device configured to engage the conductor guide so as to secure the pair of conductors of the cable in the termination position;

wherein the conductor guide includes an inner entry portion configured to receive respective entry portions of the pair of conductors of the cable when the pair of conductors of the cable is in the pre-termination position;

wherein the conductor guide includes an outer exposed guide portion configured to receive respective end portions of the pair of conductors of the cable when the pair of conductors of the cable is in the termination position;

wherein the outer exposed guide portion of the conductor guide is configured to receive a pair of piercing contacts and allow each of the pair of piercing contacts to pierce each respective end portion of the pair of conductors when the pair of conductors is in the termination position; and

wherein the conductor guide is configured to guide the pair of conductors of the cable from the pre-termination position, where the respective entry portions of the pair of conductors extend through the inner entry portion toward a forward direction, and the termination position, where the respective end portions of the pair of conductors are guided by the outer exposed guide portion toward a rearward direction opposite the forward direction.

35. The apparatus of 34, wherein the inner entry portion comprises an opening configured to encircle the respective entry portions of the pair of conductors of the cable when the pair of conductors of the cable is in the pre-termination position.

36. The apparatus of 34, wherein the outer exposed guide portion comprises an open slot configured to receive respective end portions of the pair of conductors of the cable from an inward radial direction relative to a longitudinal direction of the conductor guide when the pair of conductors of the cable is guided to the termination position.

37. The apparatus of 34, wherein the outer exposed guide portion comprises a side opening portion configured to receive respective end portions of the pair of conductors of the cable from an inward radial direction relative to a longitudinal direction of the conductor guide when the pair of conductors of the cable is guided to the termination position.

38. The apparatus of 34, wherein each of the pair of piercing contacts include an exposed piercing contact end portion that is configured to be exposed so as to be allowed to be electrically terminated to a termination member when the securing device engages the conductor guide and secures the pair of conductors of the cable in the termination position.

39. The apparatus of 34, wherein the inner entry opening portion of the conductor guide is configured to maintain the respective entry portions of the pair of conductors of the cable in parallel to each other when the pair of conductors of the cable are guided from the pre-termination position to the termination position.

40. The apparatus of 34, wherein the outer exposed guide portion of the conductor guide is configured to maintain the respective end portions of the pair of conductors of the cable in parallel to each other when the pair of conductors of the cable are guided from the pre-termination position to the termination position.

41. The apparatus of 34, wherein the securing device is configured to extend at least partially over the conductor guide when the respective end portions of the pair of conductors of the cable are in the termination position so as to maintain the pair of conductors in the termination position so that the respective end portions of the pair of conductors can be terminated.

42. The apparatus of 34, wherein the outer exposed guide portion of the conductor guide is configured to extend toward a radially outward direction away from the inner entry opening so as to guide respective medial portions of the pair of conductors of the cable toward the radially outward direction when the pair of conductors of the cable are guided from the pre-termination position to the termination position.

43. The apparatus of 34, wherein the pair of conductors of the cable comprises a first pair of conductors, the respective entry portions comprises first respective entry portions of the first pair of conductors of the cable, and the respective end portions comprise first respective end portions of the first pair of conductors of the cable.

44. The apparatus of 43, wherein the inner entry opening portion of the conductor guide is configured to receive the first respective entry portions of the first pair of conductors of the cable when the first pair of conductors of the cable is in the pre-termination position, and the outer exposed guide portion is configured to receive the first respective end portions of the first pair of conductors of the cable when the pair of conductors of the cable are in the termination position.

45. The apparatus of 44, wherein the outer exposed guide portion of the conductor guide comprises a first outer exposed guide portion that is configured to receive the first respective end portions of the first pair of conductors of the cable when the first pair of conductors of the cable is in the termination position.

46. The apparatus of 43, wherein the conductor guide is configured to guide the first pair of conductors of the cable and a second pair of conductors of the cable from respective pre-termination positions to respective termination positions.

47. The apparatus of 46, wherein the conductor guide comprises an outer entry opening portion that is configured to receive second respective entry portions of the second pair of conductors of the cable when the second pair of conductors of the cable is in the termination position.

48. The apparatus of 47, wherein the outer exposed guide portion of the conductor guide comprises a first outer exposed guide portion, and the conductor guide includes a second outer exposed guide portion that is configured to receive second respective end portions of the second pair of conductors of the cable when the second pair of conductors of the cable are in the termination position.

49. The apparatus of 48, wherein the conductor guide is configured to guide the second pair of conductors of the cable from the pre-termination position, where the second respective entry portions of the second pair of conductors extend through the outer entry opening portion toward a forward direction, and the termination position, where the second respective end portions of the second pair of conductors are guided by the second outer exposed guide portion toward a rearward direction opposite the forward direction.

50. The apparatus of 48, wherein the first outer exposed guide portion extends toward a radially outward direction away from the inner entry opening so as to guide first respective medial portions of the first pair of conductors toward the radially outward direction when the first pair of conductors are guided from the pre-termination position to the termination position.

51. The apparatus of 48, wherein the second outer exposed guide portion extends toward a radially inward direction away from the outer entry opening so as to guide second respective medial portions of the second pair of conductors toward the radially inward direction when the second pair of conductors are guided from the pre-termination position to the termination position.

52. The apparatus of 34, wherein the conductor guide and the securing device are together configured to form a rectangular shape when the securing device engages the conductor guide and secures the pair of conductors of the cable in the termination position, and the rectangular shape is configured to fit a termination member so as to allow the termination member to terminate the pair of conductors when the pair of conductors of the cable are in the termination position.

53. The apparatus of 34, wherein the conductor guide and the securing device are together configured to form a rectangular shape when the securing device engages the conductor guide and secures the pair of conductors of the cable in the termination position, and the rectangular shape is configured to fit at least partially in a termination member so as to allow the termination member to terminate the pair of conductors when the pair of conductors of the cable are in the termination position.

54. The apparatus of 34, wherein the conductor guide and the securing device are together configured to form a cubic shape when the securing device engages the conductor guide and secures the pair of conductors of the cable in the termination position, and the cubic shape is configured to fit a termination member so as to allow the termination member to terminate the pair of conductors when the pair of conductors of the cable are in the termination position.

55. The apparatus of 34, wherein the conductor guide and the securing device are together configured to form a rectangular shape when the securing device engages the conductor guide and secures the pair of conductors of the cable in the termination position so as to allow a termination member to at least partially fit around the rectangular shape and terminate the pair of conductors when the pair of conductors of the cable are in the termination position.

56. The apparatus of 34, wherein the conductor guide and the securing device are together configured to form a cubic shape when the securing device engages the conductor guide and secures the pair of conductors of the cable in the termination position so as to allow a termination member to at least partially fit around the cubic shape and terminate the pair of conductors when the pair of conductors of the cable are in the termination position.

57. The apparatus of 34, wherein the conductor guide and the securing device are together configured to form a cubic shape when the securing device engages the conductor guide and secures the pair of conductors of the cable in the termination position, and the cubic shape is configured to fit at least partially in a termination member so as to allow the termination member to terminate the pair of conductors when the pair of conductors of the cable are in the termination position.

58. The apparatus of 34, wherein the outer exposed guide portion of the conductor guide includes a centerline of the outer exposed guide portion and a raised ridge portion extending along the centerline so as to maintain the respective end portions of the pair of conductors of the cable in parallel to each other when the pair of conductors of the cable are guided from the pre-termination position to the termination position.

59. The apparatus of 34, wherein the conductor guide further includes a rounded portion configured to extend between the inner entry opening portion and the outer exposed guide portion so as to guide the pair of conductors of the cable from the pre-termination position to the termination position.

60. The apparatus of 34, wherein the conductor guide further includes a rounded portion configured to extend between the inner entry opening portion and the outer exposed guide portion so as to maintain the respective entry portions of the pair of conductors of the cable in parallel to each other when the pair of conductors of the cable are guided from the pre-termination position to the termination position.

61. An apparatus for guiding a pair of conductors of a cable from a pre-termination position to a termination position comprising:

a conductor guide portion configured to guide the pair of conductors of the cable from the pre-termination position to the termination position;

a securing portion configured to engage the conductor guide portion so as to secure the pair of conductors of the cable in the termination position;

wherein the conductor guide portion includes an inner entry portion configured to receive respective entry portions of the pair of conductors of the cable when the pair of conductors of the cable is in the pre-termination position;

wherein the conductor guide portion includes an outer exposed guide portion configured to receive respective end portions of the pair of conductors of the cable when the pair of conductors of the cable is in the termination position; and

wherein the conductor guide portion is configured to guide the pair of conductors of the cable from the pre-termination position, where the respective entry portions of the pair of conductors extend through the inner entry portion toward a forward direction, and the termination position, where the respective end portions of the pair of conductors are guided by the outer exposed guide portion toward a rearward direction opposite the forward direction.

62. The apparatus of 61, wherein the conductor guide portion and the securing portion comprise separate components from each other.

63. The apparatus of 61, wherein the conductor guide portion comprises a conductor guide member, and the securing portion comprises a securing member that is a separate component from the conductor guide member.

64. The apparatus of 61, wherein the outer exposed guide portion of the conductor guide portion is configured to receive a pair of piercing contacts and allow each of the pair of piercing contacts to pierce each respective end portion of the pair of conductors when the pair of conductors is in the termination position.

65. The apparatus of 64, wherein the conductor guide portion is configured to guide the pair of conductors of the cable from the pre-termination position, where the respective entry portions of the pair of conductors extend through the inner entry portion toward a forward direction, and the termination position, where the respective end portions of the pair of conductors are guided by the outer exposed guide portion toward a rearward direction opposite the forward direction.

66. The apparatus of 61, wherein the inner entry portion comprises an opening configured to encircle the respective entry portions of the pair of conductors of the cable when the pair of conductors of the cable is in the pre-termination position.

67. The apparatus of 61, wherein the outer exposed guide portion comprises an open slot configured to receive respective end portions of the pair of conductors of the cable from an inward radial direction relative to a longitudinal direction of the conductor guide portion when the pair of conductors of the cable is guided to the termination position.

68. The apparatus of 61, wherein the outer exposed guide portion comprises a side opening portion configured to receive respective end portions of the pair of conductors of the cable from an inward radial direction relative to a longitudinal direction of the conductor guide portion when the pair of conductors of the cable is guided to the termination position.

69. The apparatus of 64, wherein each of the pair of piercing contacts include an exposed piercing contact end portion that is configured to be exposed so as to be allowed to be electrically terminated to a termination member when the securing portion engages the conductor guide portion and secures the pair of conductors of the cable in the termination position.

70. The apparatus of 61, wherein the inner entry opening portion of the conductor guide portion is configured to maintain the respective entry portions of the pair of conductors of the cable in parallel to each other when the pair of conductors of the cable are guided from the pre-termination position to the termination position.

71. The apparatus of 61, wherein the outer exposed guide portion of the conductor guide portion is configured to maintain the respective end portions of the pair of conductors of the cable in parallel to each other when the pair of conductors of the cable are guided from the pre-termination position to the termination position.

72. The apparatus of 61, wherein the securing portion is configured to extend at least partially over the conductor guide portion when the respective end portions of the pair of conductors of the cable are in the termination position so as to maintain the pair of conductors in the termination position so that the respective end portions of the pair of conductors can be terminated.

73. The apparatus of 61, wherein the outer exposed guide portion of the conductor guide portion is configured to extend toward a radially outward direction away from the inner entry opening so as to guide respective medial portions of the pair of conductors of the cable toward the radially outward direction when the pair of conductors of the cable are guided from the pre-termination position to the termination position.

74. The apparatus of 61, wherein the pair of conductors of the cable comprises a first pair of conductors, the respective entry portions comprises first respective entry portions of the first pair of conductors of the cable, and the respective end portions comprise first respective end portions of the first pair of conductors of the cable.

75. The apparatus of 74, wherein the inner entry opening portion of the conductor guide portion is configured to receive the first respective entry portions of the first pair of conductors of the cable when the first pair of conductors of the cable is in the pre-termination position, and the outer exposed guide portion is configured to receive the first respective end portions of the first pair of conductors of the cable when the pair of conductors of the cable are in the termination position.

76. The apparatus of 75, wherein the outer exposed guide portion of the conductor guide portion comprises a first outer exposed guide portion that is configured to receive the first respective end portions of the first pair of conductors of the cable when the first pair of conductors of the cable is in the termination position.

77. The apparatus of 74, wherein the conductor guide portion is configured to guide the first pair of conductors of the cable and a second pair of conductors of the cable from respective pre-termination positions to respective termination positions.

78. The apparatus of 74, wherein the conductor guide portion comprises an outer entry opening portion that is configured to receive second respective entry portions of the second pair of conductors of the cable when the second pair of conductors of the cable is in the termination position.

79. The apparatus of 78, wherein the outer exposed guide portion of the conductor guide portion comprises a first outer exposed guide portion, and the conductor guide portion includes a second outer exposed guide portion that is configured to receive second respective end portions of the second pair of conductors of the cable when the second pair of conductors of the cable are in the termination position.

80. The apparatus of 79, wherein the conductor guide portion is configured to guide the second pair of conductors of the cable from the pre-termination position, where the second respective entry portions of the second pair of conductors extend through the outer entry opening portion toward a forward direction, and the termination position, where the second respective end portions of the second pair of conductors are guided by the second outer exposed guide portion toward a rearward direction opposite the forward direction.

81. The apparatus of 79, wherein the first outer exposed guide portion extends toward a radially outward direction away from the inner entry opening so as to guide first respective medial portions of the first pair of conductors toward the radially outward direction when the first pair of conductors are guided from the pre-termination position to the termination position.

82. The apparatus of 80, wherein the second outer exposed guide portion extends toward a radially inward direction away from the outer entry opening so as to guide second respective medial portions of the second pair of conductors toward the radially inward direction when the second pair of conductors are guided from the pre-termination position to the termination position.

83. The apparatus of 82, wherein the conductor guide portion and the securing portion are together configured to form a rectangular shape when the securing portion engages the conductor guide portion and secures the pair of conductors of the cable in the termination position, and the rectangular shape is configured to fit a termination member so as to allow the termination member to terminate the pair of conductors when the pair of conductors of the cable are in the termination position.

84. The apparatus of 61, wherein the conductor guide portion and the securing portion are together configured to form a rectangular shape when the securing portion engages the conductor guide portion and secures the pair of conductors of the cable in the termination position, and the rectangular shape is configured to fit at least partially in a termination member so as to allow the termination member to terminate the pair of conductors when the pair of conductors of the cable are in the termination position.

85. The apparatus of 61, wherein the conductor guide portion and the securing portion are together configured to form a cubic shape when the securing portion engages the conductor guide portion and secures the pair of conductors of the cable in the termination position, and the cubic shape is configured to fit a termination member so as to allow the termination member to terminate the pair of conductors when the pair of conductors of the cable are in the termination position.

86. The apparatus of 61, wherein the conductor guide portion and the securing portion are together configured to form a rectangular shape when the securing portion engages the conductor guide portion and secures the pair of conductors of the cable in the termination position so as to allow a termination member to at least partially fit around the rectangular shape and terminate the pair of conductors when the pair of conductors of the cable are in the termination position.

87. The apparatus of 61, wherein the conductor guide portion and the securing portion are together configured to form a cubic shape when the securing portion engages the conductor guide portion and secures the pair of conductors of the cable in the termination position so as to allow a termination member to at least partially fit around the cubic shape and terminate the pair of conductors when the pair of conductors of the cable are in the termination position.

88. The apparatus of 61, wherein the conductor guide portion and the securing portion are together configured to form a cubic shape when the securing portion engages the conductor guide portion and secures the pair of conductors of the cable in the termination position, and the cubic shape is configured to fit at least partially in a termination member so as to allow the termination member to terminate the pair of conductors when the pair of conductors of the cable are in the termination position.

89. The apparatus of 61, wherein the outer exposed guide portion of the conductor guide portion includes a centerline of the outer exposed guide portion and a raised ridge portion extending along the centerline so as to maintain the respective end portions of the pair of conductors of the cable in parallel to each other when the pair of conductors of the cable are guided from the pre-termination position to the termination position.

90. The apparatus of 61, wherein the conductor guide portion further includes a rounded portion configured to extend between the inner entry opening portion and the outer exposed guide portion so as to guide the pair of conductors of the cable from the pre-termination position to the termination position.

91. The apparatus of 61, wherein the conductor guide portion further includes a rounded portion configured to extend between the inner entry opening portion and the outer exposed guide portion so as to maintain the respective entry portions of the pair of conductors of the cable in parallel to each other when the pair of conductors of the cable are guided from the pre-termination position to the termination position.