Electrical connectors – With insulation other than conductor sheath – Metallic connector or contact secured to insulation
Reexamination Certificate
1998-01-26
2001-06-19
Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With insulation other than conductor sheath
Metallic connector or contact secured to insulation
C439S403000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247974
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an electrical connector and more particularly to an improved wire connecting block including a plurality of parallel slotted beam type contacts for a 110-style cross connect system in which the connector structure and manufacturing method provides for an easier to assemble connector having a one piece connector body.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
110-style cross connect wiring systems are well known and are often seen in wiring closets terminating a large number of incoming and outgoing wiring systems. Cross connect wiring systems commonly include wiring strip panels on wiring blocks which terminate individual wires from cables and interconnect with 110-style punch down wire connecting blocks that are subsequently interconnected with patch cord connectors. The 110-style wire connecting blocks have a dielectric housing containing a plurality of double ended slotted beam insulation displacement contacts that interconnect at one end with a plurality of wires on the wiring blocks and a flat beam contact portion of a patch cord connector at the opposite end. While the different existing 110-style wire connecting blocks are generally interchangeable, many of the prior connecting blocks have involved two-piece housing assemblies which are more complicated to make and more difficult to assemble. There are existing 110-style connector designs utilizing a one piece housing such as the electrical connector shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,404 to Reed and assigned to The Whitaker Corporation. However, these designs include draw backs such as requiring additional and more complicated assembly steps. Therefore, improvement in the art of manufacturing 110-style wire connecting blocks is still necessary.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved 110-style wire connecting block.
It is further an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of manufacturing a 110-style wire connecting block.
In general a connecting block of the present invention includes a dielectric housing, and a plurality of slotted beam contacts situated within a plurality of contact receiving slots formed through the housing, wherein the contacts include a pair of sheared tabs opposingly directed to engage against a pair of oppositely directed ledges formed adjacent the contact receiving slots so as to secure said contacts within the housing and is formed by a method including the steps of providing a connector housing having a plurality of contact receiving slots including a first ledge and a second oppositely directed ledge both formed adjacent the contact receiving slots, shearing a pair of oppositely directed tabs on to a single side of a central portion of a planar contact, forming one of the sheared tabs into plane with the contact, inserting said contact into said contact receiving slot of the housing until the remaining tab abuts against the first ledge, and punching through an opening formed in the housing to form the second sheared tab on a second side of the contact in abutting relationship to the second ledge.
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patent: 5409404 (1995-04-01), Reed
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DiPaolo Antonio C.
Jenner Royal
Gushi Ross
McCann Robert A.
Panduit Corp.
Paumen Gary F.
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