CA2487568A1 - Connector assembly - Google Patents

Connector assembly Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2487568A1
CA2487568A1 CA002487568A CA2487568A CA2487568A1 CA 2487568 A1 CA2487568 A1 CA 2487568A1 CA 002487568 A CA002487568 A CA 002487568A CA 2487568 A CA2487568 A CA 2487568A CA 2487568 A1 CA2487568 A1 CA 2487568A1
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CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
connector assembly
terminals
twisted pairs
conductors
housing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
CA002487568A
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French (fr)
Other versions
CA2487568C (en
Inventor
Luc Milette
Michel Bohbot
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Belden Canada ULC
Original Assignee
Nordx/Cdt Inc.
Luc Milette
Michel Bohbot
Belden Cdt (Canada) Inc.
Belden Canada Inc.
Belden Canada Ulc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from CA 2449528 external-priority patent/CA2449528A1/en
Application filed by Nordx/Cdt Inc., Luc Milette, Michel Bohbot, Belden Cdt (Canada) Inc., Belden Canada Inc., Belden Canada Ulc filed Critical Nordx/Cdt Inc.
Priority to CA2487568A priority Critical patent/CA2487568C/en
Publication of CA2487568A1 publication Critical patent/CA2487568A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2487568C publication Critical patent/CA2487568C/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Abstract

A connector assembly for interconnecting an end of a cable comprising one or more twisted pair conductors, each of the conductors enveloped in an insulating covering, with the bifurcated contacts of a connecting block. The assembly comprises an insulated housing and a plurality of non-contacting conductive terminals disposed in the housing. Each of the terminals comprises a blade exposed along a front face of the housing and adapted to be inserted into one of the bifurcated contacts, and a piercing mechanism comprising at least one tooth. Each of the conductors is terminated by one of the terminals, the teeth puncturing the insulated covering of a free end of the conductor thereby bringing the terminal into conductive contact with the conductor.

Claims (100)

1. A connector assembly for interconnecting an end of a cable comprising one or more twisted pair conductors, each of the conductors enveloped in an insulating covering, with the bifurcated contacts of a connecting block, the assembly comprising:
an insulated housing; and a plurality of non-contacting conductive terminals disposed in said housing, each of said terminals comprising a blade exposed along a front face of said housing and adapted to be inserted into one of the bifurcated contacts and a piercing mechanism comprising at least one tooth;
wherein each of the conductors is terminated by one of said terminals, said teeth puncturing the insulated covering of a free end of the conductor thereby bringing said terminal into conductive contact with the conductor.
2. The connector assembly of Claim 1, wherein said blades are arranged in parallel and evenly spaced.
3. The connector assembly of Claim 2, wherein said front face is substantially flat and said blades intersect said flat face substantially at right angles.
4. The connector assembly of Claim 1, wherein said blades comprise a chamfered forward edge.
5. The connector assembly of Claim 1, wherein said piercing mechanism is a tri-point mechanism.
6. The connector assembly of Claim 1, wherein each of said terminals is fabricated from a single piece of conductive material.
7. The connector assembly of Claim 1, wherein said blades are fabricated from nickel plated phosphorous bronze.
8. The connector assembly of Claim 1, wherein said blades are adapted for movement in a direction perpendicular to said front face.
9. The connector assembly of Claim 1, wherein the assembly meets category 6 performance specifications.
10. The connector assembly of Claim 8, further comprising a biasing mechanism for biasing said blades towards said front face.
11. The connector assembly of Claim 3, wherein said front face is adapted and said blades are spaced for interconnection with a BIX type connection block.
12. The connector assembly of Claim 3, wherein said front face is adapted and said blades are spaced for interconnection with a 110 type connection block.
13. The connector assembly of Claim 3, wherein said front face is adapted and said blades are spaced for interconnection with a KRONE type connection block.
14. The connector assembly of Claim 2, wherein a pair of adjacent terminals terminate the conductors of a twisted pair.
15. The connector assembly of Claim 14, wherein a spacing between said blades of said terminal pair is equal to or greater than a spacing between said piercing mechanisms of said terminal pair.
16. The connector assembly of Claim 14, wherein each of said terminals further comprises a conductive strip interconnecting said blade and said piercing mechanism.
17. The connector assembly of Claim 16, wherein said conductive strip is attached to an end of said blade.
18. The connector assembly of Claim 17, wherein the cable comprises at least two twisted pairs of conductors and wherein adjacent pairs of terminals are arranged such that said conductive strips are attached at opposite ends of said blades.
19. The connector assembly of Claim 1, wherein the cable comprises at least two twisted pairs of conductors.
20. The connector assembly of Claim 19, wherein the cable comprises four twisted pairs of conductors.
21. The connector assembly of Claim 19, wherein at least two of said twisted pairs cross one another between the cable end and said terminals and further comprising a wire guide between the cable end and said plurality of conductive terminals, said guide comprised of a plurality of guideways, one guideway for guiding each of the twisted pairs such that, at a point of intersection, the crossing twisted pairs are substantially at right angles.
22. The connector assembly of Claim 21, further comprising a spacer between the crossing twisted pairs at said point of intersection.
23. The connector assembly of Claim 22, further comprising a spacer between the crossing twisted pairs at said point of intersection.
24. The connector assembly of Claim 23, wherein said spacer comprises a shrink tube surrounding at least one of the twisted pairs.
25. The connector assembly of Claim 23, wherein said spacer is fabricated from a shielding material.
26. The connector assembly of Claim 21, wherein said guideways are channels.
27. The connector assembly of Claim 26, wherein the twisted pairs are retained in said channels by a filler material.
28. The connector assembly of Claim 27, wherein said filler material is plastic.
29. The connector assembly of Claim 21, wherein said guideways each comprise an inlet and an outlet and wherein a spacing and positioning of said inlets relative to one another is adapted to substantially maintain a spacing and positioning of the twisted pairs as they exit the end of the cable.
30. The connector assembly of Claim 15, wherein said insulated housing further comprises a series of apertures in a rear face thereof arranged in pairs, each pair of said apertures adapted for receiving the conductor free ends of a twisted pair, and wherein a spacing between each aperture of an aperture pair is substantially the same as said piercing mechanism spacing.
31. The connector assembly of Claim 30, wherein said piercing mechanism spacing is substantially the same as a spacing between the conductors of a twisted pair.
32. The connector assembly of Claim 30, wherein said pairs of apertures are evenly distributed between along said rear face.
33. The connector assembly of Claim 32, wherein alternating ones of said aperture pairs are staggered along said rear face.
34. The connector assembly of Claim 29, wherein said insulated housing further comprises a series of apertures in a rear face thereof arranged in pairs, each of said pairs positioned at one of said guideway outlets.
35. The connector assembly of Claim 1, wherein each of said terminals further comprises a securing mechanism for retaining said terminal in said housing.
36. The connector assembly of Claim 35, wherein said securing mechanism comprises a serration which grips said housing.
37. A conductive terminal for terminating a conductor enveloped in an insulated covering and providing interconnection with a connector block comprising at least one bifurcated contact, the terminal comprising:
a contact blade adapted for insertion between the bifurcated contact;
and a piercing contact mechanism comprising at least one tooth, said tooth adapted for puncturing the insulated covering thereby bringing the terminal into conductive contact with the conductor.
38. The terminal of Claim 37, wherein said piercing contact mechanism is a tri-point mechanism.
39. The terminal of Claim 37, wherein the terminal is fabricated from a single piece of conductive material.
40. The terminal of Claim 37, wherein the terminal is fabricated from nickel plated phosphorous bronze.
41. The terminal of Claim 37, wherein said contact mechanism is a punch through mechanism.
42. The terminal of Claim 37, wherein the conductor is retained by said piercing contact mechanism substantially parallel to a surface of said blade.
43. The terminal of Claim 37, wherein said a forward edge of said blade is chamfered.
44. The terminal of Claim 37, further comprising a conductive strip interconnecting said blade and said piercing mechanism.
45. The terminal of Claim 44, wherein said conductive strip is attached to an end of said blade.
46. A patchcord for interconnecting a first connector block comprising a series of bifurcated connectors with a device, the patchcord comprising:
a cable comprising at least one twisted pair of conductors;
a first connector assembly adapted for interconnecting a first end of said cable with the bifurcated connectors of the first connecting block, the first connector assembly comprising:
an insulated housing; and a plurality of non-contacting conductive terminals disposed in said housing, each of said terminals comprising a blade exposed along a front face of said housing and adapted to be inserted into one of the bifurcated contacts, and a piercing mechanism comprising at least one tooth;
wherein each of the conductors is terminated by one of said terminals, said teeth puncturing the insulated covering of a free end of the conductor thereby bringing said terminal into conductive contact with the conductor.
47. The patchcord of Claim 46, wherein the device comprises a second connector block comprising at least one bifurcated connector, and wherein a second end of said cable is exposed to reveal said twisted pairs, at least one of said twisted pair conductors inserted into one of the bifurcated connectors.
48. The patchcord of Claim 46, wherein the device comprises a second connector block comprising a series of bifurcated connectors, the patchcord further comprising a second connector assembly adapted for interconnecting a second end of said cable with the bifurcated connectors of the second connecting block, the second connector assembly comprising:
an insulated housing; and a plurality of non-contacting conductive terminals disposed in said housing, each of said terminals comprising a blade exposed along a front face of said housing and adapted to be inserted into one of the bifurcated contacts, and a piercing mechanism comprising at least one tooth;
wherein each of the conductors is terminated by one of said terminals, said teeth puncturing the insulated covering of a free end of the conductor thereby bringing said terminal into conductive contact with the conductor.
49. The patchcord of Claim 46, wherein said cable comprises at least two twisted pairs of conductors.
50. The patchcord of Claim 49, wherein said cable comprises four twisted pairs of conductors.
51. The patchcord of Claim 46, wherein the device comprises a socket and further comprising a plug terminating a second end of said cable, said plug adapted for insertion into the socket.
52. The patchcord of Claim 51, wherein the socket is an RJ-45 socket and said plug is an RJ-45 plug, said cable comprising four twisted pairs of conductors.
53. The patchcord of Claim 49, wherein at least two of said twisted pairs cross one another between said first cable end and said terminals and further comprising a wire guide between said first cable end and said plurality of conductive terminals, said guide comprised of a plurality of guideways, one guideway for guiding each of said twisted pairs such that, at a point of intersection, said crossing twisted pairs are substantially at right angles.
54. The patchcord of Claim 53, wherein said guideways each comprise an inlet and an outlet and wherein a spacing and positioning of said inlets is adapted to substantially maintain a spacing and positioning of said twisted pairs as they exit said first cable end.
55. The patchcord of Claim 46, wherein the patchcord meets category 6 performance specifications.
56. A wire guide for interposition between an end of a cable, the cable comprised of at least two twisted pairs of conductors, and a plurality of connector terminals, at least two of the twisted pairs crossing between the cable end and the terminals, the wire guide comprising:
at least two guideways, wherein each of the twisted pairs is inserted into a respective one of said guideways;
wherein said guideways guide each of the twisted pairs such that at a point of intersection the crossing twisted pairs are maintained substantially at right angles.
57. The wire guide of Claim 56, wherein each of said guideways comprises an inlet and an outlet and wherein a spacing and positioning of said inlets is adapted to substantially maintain a spacing and positioning of the twisted pairs as they exit the cable end.
58. The wire guide of Claim 56, wherein the cable comprises four twisted pairs, wherein said wire guide comprises four of said guideways and wherein said wire guide further comprises a substantially flat dividing layer, two of said guideways positioned on a first side of said dividing layer and two of said guideways positioned on a second side of said dividing layer.
59. The wire guide of Claim 58, wherein said guideways on said first side of said dividing layer are intersecting guideways.
60. The wire guide of Claim 59, wherein said guideways on said second side of said dividing layer are non-intersecting guideways.
61. The wire guide of Claim 56, wherein each of said guideways comprises a channel.
62. The wire guide of Claim 61, wherein each of said channels comprises a pair of opposed cable retaining protrusions moulded in opposing sidewalls thereof.
63. The wire guide of Claim 56, wherein a spacer is inserted between the crossing twisted pairs at said point of intersection.
64. The wire guide Claim 63, wherein said spacer comprises a sheath covering at least one of the crossing twisted pairs at said point of intersection.
65. The wire guide of Claim 56, wherein the wire guide is fabricated from a shielding material.
66. The wire guide of Claim 56, wherein the wire guide is fabricated from a non-conductive material.
67. A method for adapting an end of a cable comprised of a plurality of twisted pairs of conductors, each of the conductors enveloped in an insulating covering and having a free end, for interconnection with the bifurcated conductors of a connecting block, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a connector assembly comprising a plurality non-contacting conductive terminals disposed in an insulated housing, each of said terminals comprising a blade exposed along a front face of said housing and adapted for insertion into the bifurcated conductors, and a piercing mechanism having at least one tooth;
inserting the free end of each of the conductors into said housing; and for each terminal/conductor pair, puncturing the insulating covering the free end of each of the conductor with said piercing mechanism teeth thereby bringing said terminal into conductive contact with the conductor.
68. The method of Claim 67, wherein each of said piercing mechanisms is a tri-point mechanism.
69. The method of Claim 67, wherein at least two of the twisted pairs of conductors cross between the cable end and said terminals, and further comprising the step of retaining the crossing twisted pairs at a point of intersection substantially at right angles.
70. The method of Claim 69, further comprising the step of maintaining a gap between the crossing twisted pairs at said point of intersection.
71. The method of Claim 69, wherein said gap maintaining step comprises covering at least one of the crossing twisted pairs at least at said point of intersection in a sheath.
72. The method of Claim 69, further comprising the steps of placing a wire guide between said cable end and said connector assembly, said wire guide comprised of a plurality of guideways, and inserting one of said twisted pairs in a respective one of said guideways, said guideways guiding the twisted pairs such that the crossing twisted pairs are maintained substantially at right angles at a point of intersection.
73. The method of Claim 72, wherein each of said guideways comprises a channel and further comprising the step following said inserting step of filling said channels with a channel filler material.
74. The method of Claim 67, wherein said insulated housing is comprised of a first part and a second part, said first part adapted to be assembled with said second part.
75. The method of Claim 74, wherein prior to said puncturing step said terminals are arranged in said first part and the conductors are arranged in said second part of said housing, and wherein said puncturing step comprises assembling said parts wherein, during assembly, said piercing mechanisms puncture said insulated coverings thereby interconnecting each of said terminals with a respective one of the conductors.
76. A method for adapting an end of a cable comprised of a plurality of twisted pairs of conductors, each of the conductors enveloped in an insulating covering and having a free end, for interconnection with the bifurcated conductors of a connecting block, the method comprising the steps of:
providing an insulated housing;
providing a plurality of terminals, each of said terminals comprised of a blade adapted for insertion into the bifurcated conductors and a piercing mechanism having at least one tooth; and for each free end, arranging the free end within said housing so the free end is substantially in parallel to the other free ends and, using one of said terminals, puncturing the insulating covering of the free end with said piercing mechanism teeth thereby interconnecting said terminal with the conductor;
wherein once assembled, said blades are exposed along a front face of said housing.
77. The method of Claim 76, wherein each of said piercing mechanisms is a tri-point mechanism.
78. The method of Claim 76, wherein said housing further comprises a series of guideways accessible through a rearward face of said housing, and said arranging step comprises inserting the free end into a respective guideway.
79. The method of Claim 78, wherein said housing further comprises a series of slots accessible through a first surface of said housing, one of said slots intersecting each of said guideways, and wherein said puncturing step comprises inserting one of said terminals into one of said slots.
80. The method of Claim 79, wherein said first surface is substantially perpendicular to said front face and said rearward face.
81. The method of Claim 79, wherein each of said terminals further comprises a securing mechanism and said puncturing step further comprises retaining said terminal in said slot.
82. The method of Claim 81, wherein said securing mechanism comprises a serration and said retaining step comprises embedding said serrations in said housing.
83. The method of Claim 79, wherein said housing further comprises a second series of guideways accessible through said rearward face and a second series of slots accessible through a second surface of said housing, one of said second series of slots intersecting each of said second series of guideways, and wherein said puncturing step further comprises inserting one of said terminals into each of said second series of slots.
84. The method of Claim 83, wherein said housing is generally box shaped and said second surface is arranged opposite to said first surface.
85. The method of Claim 76, wherein at least two of the twisted pairs of conductors cross between the cable end and said terminals, and further comprising the step of retaining the crossing twisted pairs at a point of intersection substantially at right angles.
86. The method of Claim 85, further comprising the step of maintaining a gap between the crossing twisted pairs at said point of intersection.
87. The method of Claim 86, wherein said gap maintaining step comprises covering at least one of the crossing twisted pairs at least at said point of intersection in a sheath.
88. An adaptor for interconnecting a cable terminated with a connector plug comprising a plurality of conductive contacts with the bifurcated contacts of a connecting block, the adaptor comprising:
an insulated housing;
a socket moulded in a first surface of said housing, said socket adapted to receive the connector plug and comprising a plurality of conductive elements disposed therein, wherein when the plug is inserted into said socket the contacts move into electrical contact with said elements; and a plurality of non-contacting conductive terminals disposed in said housing, each of said terminals comprising a blade exposed along a second surface of said housing and adapted to be inserted into one of the bifurcated contacts;
wherein each of said terminals is in conductive contact with one of said conductive elements.
89. The adaptor of Claim 88, further comprising a conductor enveloped in an insulating covering and having a free end in conductive contact with each of said conductive elements and wherein each of said terminals further comprises a piercing mechanism having at least one tooth, and wherein, for each terminal/conductive element pair, said teeth puncture said insulated covering of said free end thereby bringing said terminal into conductive contact with the conductive element.
90. The adaptor of Claim 89, comprising at least four terminal/conductive element pairs and wherein said conductors are arranged in twisted pairs.
91. The adaptor of Claim 90, wherein at least two of said twisted pairs cross one another between said conductive elements and said terminals, and further comprising a wire guide between said conductive elements and said terminals, said guide comprised of a plurality of guideways, one guideway for guiding each of said twisted pairs such that, at a point of intersection, the crossing twisted pairs are substantially at right angles.
92. The adaptor of Claim 88, wherein the adaptor meets category 6 performance specifications.
93. The adaptor of Claim 88, wherein said socket is an RJ-45 socket comprising eight (8) conductive elements and further comprising eight (8) conductive terminals.
94. A connector assembly for interconnecting an end of a cable comprising at least two twisted pair conductors, each of the conductors enveloped in an insulating covering and having a free end, with the bifurcated contacts of a connecting block, the assembly comprising:
an insulated housing; and a plurality of pairs of adjacent non-contacting conductive terminals disposed in said housing, each of said terminals comprising a blade and a conductive strip attached substantially at right angles towards one end of said blade, wherein said blades are exposed along a front face of said housing;
wherein each of the free ends of a twisted pair of conductors is in conductive contact with a second end of said conductive strips of a terminal pair, and wherein the conductive strips of adjacent terminal pairs are attached towards different ends of said blades.
95. The connector assembly of Claim 94, wherein said blades are arranged in parallel and evenly spaced.
96. The connector assembly of Claim 95, wherein said front face is substantially flat and said blades intersect said flat face substantially at right angles.
97. The connector assembly of Claim 94, wherein a piercing mechanism comprising at least one tooth is formed in each of said second ends of said conductive strips, said teeth puncturing the insulated covering of said conductor free ends thereby bringing said terminals into conductive contact with the conductors.
98. The connector assembly of Claim 97, wherein a spacing between said blades of said terminal pairs is equal to or greater than a spacing between said piercing mechanisms of said terminal pairs.
99. The connector assembly of Claim 94, wherein at least two of said twisted pairs cross one another between the cable end and said terminals and further comprising a wire guide between the cable end and said plurality of conductive terminals, said guide comprised of a plurality of guideways, one guideway for guiding each of the twisted pairs such that, at a point of intersection, the crossing twisted pairs are substantially at right angles.
100. The connector assembly of Claim 94, wherein the assembly meets category 6 performance specifications.
CA2487568A 2003-11-14 2004-11-12 Connector assembly Active CA2487568C (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA2487568A CA2487568C (en) 2003-11-14 2004-11-12 Connector assembly

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US51962503P 2003-11-14 2003-11-14
CA2,449,528 2003-11-14
US60/519,625 2003-11-14
CA 2449528 CA2449528A1 (en) 2003-11-14 2003-11-14 Connector
CA2487568A CA2487568C (en) 2003-11-14 2004-11-12 Connector assembly

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2487568A1 true CA2487568A1 (en) 2005-05-14
CA2487568C CA2487568C (en) 2011-07-12

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2017091908A1 (en) * 2015-12-04 2017-06-08 Belden Canada Inc. Cable assembly tool
CN111370896A (en) * 2018-12-25 2020-07-03 富士康(昆山)电脑接插件有限公司 Electric connector and combination thereof

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2017091908A1 (en) * 2015-12-04 2017-06-08 Belden Canada Inc. Cable assembly tool
US10250000B2 (en) 2015-12-04 2019-04-02 Belden Canada Inc. Cable assembly tool
CN111370896A (en) * 2018-12-25 2020-07-03 富士康(昆山)电脑接插件有限公司 Electric connector and combination thereof
CN111370896B (en) * 2018-12-25 2024-02-20 富士康(昆山)电脑接插件有限公司 Electric connector and combination thereof

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2487568C (en) 2011-07-12

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