Modular plug with automatically staggered wires

• US 5,906,503 A
• Filed: 12/06/1996
• Issued: 05/25/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pauduit Corporation
• Inventors: Vanderhoof, Russell, Wiencek, Donald, Jenner, Royal
• Primary Examiner(s): Bradley, Paula
• Assistant Examiner(s): WITTELS, DANIEL NMN
• Application Number:
  US08/760,932
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 439/418, 439/425, 439/676
• US Class Current: 439/418
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/675 with contacts having at least a slotted plate for penetration of cable insulation, e.g. insulation displacement contacts for round conductor flat cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6463 using twisted pairs of wires
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/04 for network, e.g. LAN connectors

Abstract

A modular plug connector that achieves category 5 cross talk performance is constructed with substantially parallel conductor positioning channels situated in a pair of spaced apart planar arrays to position individual conductors for termination by a plurality of flat insulation displacement contacts. A plurality of conductor guide ramps are formed such that upon insertion of the individual conductors, alternating conductors will be guided into their respective spaced apart array.

Claims

1. A connector for terminating a plurality of conductors of a plurality of conductor pairs, comprising:

a connector housing having a rear cable receiving opening formed by a top wall, a bottom wall and a pair of opposing side walls;

a plurality of conductor positioning channels situated within the housing and formed having a pair of spaced apart upper and lower planar arrays; and

guide means integral with the housing for guiding the plurality of conductors respectively into the upper and the lower planar arrays of conductor positioning channels.

2. A connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein the guide means includes a plurality of ramp surfaces disposed on the top wall and aligned with respective conductors of the plurality of conductors for positioning said conductors within the lower planar array.

3. A connector in accordance with claim 2 wherein the top ramp surfaces are aligned with alternating conductors.

4. A connector in accordance with claim 2, further including alignment means for maintaining the alignment of the conductors into the respective ramp surfaces during insertion.

5. A connector in accordance with claim 2, wherein the bottom wall includes ramp surfaces aligned with the upper planar array of conductor positioning channels.

6. A connector for terminating a plurality of conductors of a plurality of a conductor pairs, comprising:

a connector housing having a rear cable receiving opening formed by a top wall, a bottom wall and a pair of opposing side walls;

a plurality of conductor positioning channels situated within the housing and formed having a pair of spaced apart upper and lower planar arrays; and

a plurality of ramp surfaces aligned with the plurality of conductors for positioning the conductors into the respective spaced apart planes of conductor positioning channels.

7. A connector in accordance with claim 6, wherein the ramp surfaces are disposed on both the top and bottom walls.

8. A connector in accordance with claim 7 wherein the top ramp surfaces are aligned with alternating conductors.

9. A connector in accordance with claim 7, further including alignment means for maintaining the alignment of the conductors into the respective ramp surfaces during insertion.

10. A connector in accordance with claim 7, wherein the bottom wall includes ramp surfaces aligned with the conductor positioning channels of the upper planar array.