FR2484759A1 - Jack and path cord connector assembly - provides patch field and monitoring connections using appropriate interconnections between PCB and contact springs - Google Patents

Abstract

The socket jack comprises a printed circuit board or card and circuit- making contact springs. The contact springs contact and coact with printed circuit conductors or elements on the printed circuit board to establish mutually insulated normal through circuits or current conducting paths each terminating at opposite ends in two terminals. The terminals of the normal through circuits are adapted to be connected to electrical equip. or electrical circuits located outside the jack. The contact springs are actuable by reception of a patch cord plug in the jack to open or break the normal through circuits so disconnecting the terminals of the normal through circuits from the second terminals. The normal through circuits may terminate at opposite ends in a pair of multi-terminal connectors. These multi-terminal connectors may be mounted directly on the printed circuit board. The invention may be used for interconnecting circuits of computers on data communication equip. like modems.

Description

Electric jack with plug and switching cord and its manufacturing process.

 The present invention relates to electrical switching and connection equipment and relates particularly to electrical jacks as well as to connectors of switch cord plugs.

Prior to the present invention, various electrical jacks have been used to interconnect multiple terminal electrical circuits such as data communications equipment and computers or other equipment producing and using signals. In the manufacture of jacks of this type, it is common practice to use discrete wiring components with contacts that can be actuated by a plug to complete the various current conducting circuits through the jack. Such designs of electrical jacks are described in US Patent No. 3,692,966.

 Instead of discrete wiring components, it has been proposed to use printed circuits formed on wafers.

However, these proposals lead to designs of large jacks, bulky and expensive, comprising many parts. The present invention has none of these drawbacks and provides additional advantages and improvements which will appear during the description which follows.

The multi-terminal jack conforming to the general means of the present invention mainly comprises a printed circuit board and a selected multiplicity or number of circuit establishment contact springs. The contact springs come into contact and cooperate with the conductors or elements of the printed circuit located on the printed circuit board so as to establish a multiplicity of normally closed switching circuits or mutually isolated current conducting circuits and each terminating at their ends opposite by first and second terminals.

The terminals of normally closed switching circuits are suitable for connection to electrical equipment or to electrical circuits located outside the jack. The contact springs can be actuated by inserting a plug of switching cord into the jack so as to open the normally closed switching circuits so as to electrically disconnect the first terminals of the normally closed switching circuits from the second terminals of the circuits. normally closed.

 Normally closed circuits can advantageously terminate at their opposite ends by a pair of multi-terminal connectors. These multi-terminal connectors can, if desired, be mounted directly on the above-mentioned printed circuit board.

 The printed circuit board extends to a hollow, one-piece jack body and is removably attached to that body. The body of the jack delimits the plug receiving cells and is designed so that it can be conveniently and economically molded in one piece from a suitable material insulating from electricity.

In accordance with the present invention, the arrangement and structure of the printed circuit and contact springs of the jack assembly are such that the only discrete electrically conductive components in the entire jack assembly are the springs contact themselves and the terminal connections of the multi-terminal connectors mentioned above.

According to another important characteristic of the present invention, the contact springs are trapped and held in place by cooperating surfaces present on the body of the jack molded in one piece and on the printed circuit board without being fixed to any part. of this jack.

Due to the above-mentioned structure of the jack, the only fixing elements required in the complete jack set according to the present invention are those required for fixing the printed circuit board to the body of the jack and those essential for mounting the multi-terminal connectors mentioned previously on the printed circuit board in the embodiments where the connectors are supported by the printed circuit board itself. In the illustrated embodiments, the printed circuit board is rigidly fixed to the body of the jack only by two suitable fixing elements such as a pair of bolts.

According to yet another characteristic of the present invention, the new structure and arrangement of the jack body and the contact springs allows easy installation of the contact springs. In addition, the contact springs can be dismantled and replaced without having to disassemble other parts of the jack, and also without having to loosen or disassemble the fasteners or unsolder connections in the jack assembly.

 The above jack design also simplifies the assembly of the component parts of the jack. In particular, the assembly is carried out by first introducing the printed circuit board into the one-piece body and fixing the body and the printed circuit board to each other using the fixing means mentioned above. above. Then, the contact springs are assembled simply by introducing them through one or more windows or openings made in the body of the jack and placing them in their operating position.

 In the first illustrated embodiment, the contact springs are divided into two sets actuated independently.

One of these sets of contact springs is directly attacked and deflected by the body of a telephone cord plug when it is inserted into one of the cells of the jack so as to electrically disconnect the terminals of one of the connectors multi-terminal terminals on the other multi-terminal connectors. The other set of contact springs is directly attacked and deflected by the body of the switch cord plug when it is introduced into a second socket of the jack so as to also electrically disconnect the multi-terminal connectors one the other. This particular design eliminates the need for separate mechanisms actuated by the plugs and of the type which transmits a movement to actuate the contacts in the jack.

 In the second illustrated embodiment of the jack according to the present invention, a flap bears against the contact springs and extends into the two jack cells mentioned above in a position where it is itself encountered by a plug. switching cord which rotates it when said plug is inserted into one of the two cells.

The pivoting of the flap deflects the contact springs to their circuit opening positions. This simple flap structure simplifies the printed circuit block and reduces the number of contact springs required compared to the first embodiment illustrated.
According to another characteristic of the present invention, each of the contact springs of the jack is permanently bent towards itself so as to form two spring branches which act independently of one another. One of the spring branches is pushed by the fact that it bears against
a surface of the body of the jack so as to bear fixedly against a contact area of the printed circuit.

The other branch of the spring is arranged so as to be deflected between a circuit open position and a circuit closed position and is normally biased in its circuit closed position where its free end bears against another zone of PCB contact. The spring branch which can be deflected is arranged and deflected in such a way that it rubs against its associated contact zone when it separates therefrom when it is raised or when it meets it when it is lowered. Friction of the contact area in this way ensures good low resistance electrical contact between the deflectable contact spring arm and the contact area.

 According to yet another characteristic of the present invention, interaction means are provided on the body of the switch cord plug and on the branch of contact spring which can be deflected, mentioned above, for locking or blocking so releasable the power cord plug in an active position in the electric jack.

This exceptional locking design eliminates the need for separate mechanisms of the type used to releasably hold the switch cord plug in its active position plugged into the jack.

 According to yet another feature of the present invention, the body of the switch cord plug is provided with a new cable anchoring structure which removes mechanical stress and which resists pulling or twisting of the switch cord cable.

In view of the above, a general aim or objective of the present invention is to provide a new electric jack which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a new electric jack, produced in a compact and efficient manner, comprising a relatively small number of parts and easy to assemble.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new electric jack which requires no fixing element, no welded connection or other similar means for retaining in place inside the body of the jack the contact springs establishing, c that is to say closing the circuits.

 Another object of the present invention is to provide a new electrical jack arrangement in which all of the electrically conductive components form part of a printed circuit except the contact springs themselves and the connection terminals for connection to electrical connectors.

 Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new arrangement of electric jack which allows easy mounting and dismounting of the contact springs of the jack.

 Another object of the present invention is to provide a new electrical jack arrangement in which the contact springs establishing the circuits are directly attacked to be deflected by the body of a telephone cord plug when inserting this plug into the jack.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a novel electrical jack arrangement in which a swivel lamella or flap is attacked by the body of the switch cord plug upon insertion of this plug into the jack so that the contact springs are deflected to their circuit opening positions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new electric jack in which the parts of the contact springs which can be deflected are pushed and deflected
in such a way that they rub against their associated fixed contact zones when they separate by lifting themselves up or when they meet them by lowering themselves.

 Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new set of electrical jack and switching cord plug, which assembly has interaction means located on the contact springs of the jack and on the insulating body of the plug releasably locks the plug in its operating position in the jack.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a switch cord plug with a new arrangement eliminating the mechanical stresses of the switch cord cable.

Other objects of the present invention will appear on reading the description given below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
FIG. 1A is a general diagram showing the electric jack of the present invention as well as the switching arrangement and the control connections which it makes it possible to establish;
FIGS. 1B and 1C are general diagrams of the circuit incorporated in one of the embodiments of the jack of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the electric jack shown in Figure 1B;
Figure 3A is a left side elevation view of the electric jack shown in Figure 2;
Figure 3B is an enlarged partial view of the jack arrangement shown in Figure 3A;
Figure 4 is a right side elevation view of the electric jack shown in Figure 2;
Figure 5 is a rear elevational view of the electric jack shown in Figure 2;
Figure 6 is a top plan view of the electric jack shown in Figure 2;
Figure 7 is a section through 7-7 of Figure 3A;
Figure 8 is a section similar to Figure 7 but showing one of the switch cord plugs inserted into the highest cell among the cells of the jack assembly;
Figure 9 is a section through 9-9 of Figure 3A;
FIG. 10 is a section similar to FIG. 9, but showing one of the plugs of the switching cord inserted into the intermediate receptacle for receiving the string of the jack assembly;
FIG. 11 is a section made by 11-11 of FIG. 3A and illustrating the switching cord plug inserted into the lowest socket of the plug receiving receptacles of the jack assembly;
Figures 12A and 12B are sections through 12A-12A and 12B-12B respectively of Figure 3A;
Figure 13 is a left side elevational view of the printed circuit board shown in Figures 2-6;
Figure 14 is a right side elevational view of the printed circuit board shown in Figures 2-6;
Figure 15 is a front end elevation view of the switch cord plug shown in Figures 8, 10 and II;
Figure 16 is a side elevational view of the switch cord plug shown in Figure 15;
Figure 17 is a top plan view of the switch cord plug shown in Figure 15;
Figure 18 is a section through 18-18 of Figure 16;
FIGS. 19A and 19B are views in internal elevation of the complementary half-bodies of the plug shown in FIG. 15;
Figure 20 is a side elevational view showing the profile of one of the contact springs illustrated in the. Figure 3;
Figure 21 is a partial view of the contact spring as seen in 21--21 of Figure 20 ;;
FIG. 22A is a left elevation view of a second embodiment of an electric jack comprising additional general means of the present invention;
Figure 22B is a partial enlarged view of the embodiment shown in Figure 22A;
Figure 23 is a right side elevational view of the electric jack shown in Figure 22A;
Figure 24 is a section through 24-24 of Figure 22A;
Figure 25 is a section similar to Figure 24, but showing a switch cord plug inserted into the uppermost socket of the three plug receiving receptacles in the jack assembly;
Figure 26 is a section through 26-26 of Figure 22A;
Figure 27 is a section similar to Figure 26, but showing a switch cord plug inserted into the middle socket or plug receiving intermediate socket of the jack assembly;
Figure 28 is a section through 28-28 of Figure 22A;
Figure 29 is a section through 29-29 of. Figure 22A;
Figure 30 is a plan view showing the outer side of one of the flaps intended to come to bear against the contact springs;
Figure 31 is a plan view showing the interior side of one of the flaps;
Figure 32 is a left side elevational view of the printed circuit board shown in Figure 22A;
Figure 33 is a right elevation view of the printed circuit board shown in Figure 22A; and
Figures 34 and 35 show circuit diagrams
for the jack design shown in Figures 22A-33.

 Referring to the drawings, it can be seen that one of the embodiments of an electric jack assembly comprising various general means of the present invention is generally referenced by 50 in FIGS. 1 to 6 and is adapted to be used with one or more switch cords to establish selected connections for the purpose of establishing communications. A suitable structure of a switching cord is shown at 51 in Figure 1 and is shown to include, generally, a pair of plugs or connectors 52 and 53 which are interconnected by a multi-conductor cable 54 .

As can be seen in FIG. A, the jack assembly 50 is advantageously provided with two multi-terminal connectors 56 and 57 intended to ensure connections with external circuits or electrical equipment. Each of these connectors is provided with a multiplicity of mutually isolated pins or terminals and can advantageously be of the EIA standardized type (acronym meaning Association des Industries Electroniques). It will be understood that another connector design could be used in place of connectors 56 and 57.

In the jack arrangement 50, the connector 56 is adapted to be connected by a suitable arrangement 63 of connector and cable to a chosen electrical circuit A, for example a computer, the connector 57 is adapted to be connected by another arrangement 65 of cable and connector to another electrical circuit B, for example a data transmission terminal or modem.

Referring to FIG. 1B, it can be seen that the jack 50 is provided with a multiplicity of mutually isolated current conducting circuits or paths. These mutually isolated circuits terminate at their opposite ends by the terminals of the connectors 56 and 57 and comprise a contact establishment means or switching means which is normally closed and which can be actuated selectively, this means being intended to electrically connect the connector 56 terminals to connector 57 terminals. In this embodiment, the switching means or contact forming means of the jack assembly comprises two sets of contact springs, one of the sets being referenced 64 and the other sets being referenced 66 .

The contact set 64 AressorX cooperate with fixed contacts (which will be described later) so as to establish a first group of contact sets 67 normally closed. In a similar manner, the contact springs of the clearance 66 cooperate with fixed contacts (which will be described later) so as to establish a second group of contact sets 68 normally closed. Thanks to this constructive arrangement, each terminal of the connector 56 is normally connected by means of two normally closed contact sets, connected in series to a different terminal among the terminals of the connector 57 so as to establish the current conducting paths between the circuits A and B. Only three of these current conducting paths are shown in FIG. 1B to simplify the diagram of the interior circuit of the jack.

 The jack 50 comprises three cells 70, 71 and 72 plug receivers, the first two of these cells being used for switching connections in a corneaiitation zone and the third of these cells being used for a control connection without switching as in the embodiments described in US patent application No. 650 019 of January 18, 1976.

Mutually isolated circuits or circuit connections, established between connectors 56 and 57, are considered to be normally closed circuits, in the sense that contacts 67 and 68 are normally closed to complete or establish circuit connections between the terminals of the connectors 56 and 57 when no switch cord plug is inserted in one or the other of the two cells 70 and 71 plug receivers. The circuits A and B are therefore electrically connected by these circuit connections when no switch cord plug is inserted in either of the sockets 70 and 71.

The contact springs of the clearance 64 are activated when a switch cord plug is inserted into the socket 70 so as to open the contacts 67. In a similar manner, the contact springs of the clearance 66 are actuated when the contact is pressed a plug of switching cord in the socket 71, so as to open the contacts 68. Consequently, the insertion of a plug of switching cord in one and / or the other of the cells 70, 71 receptors of plug opens the normally closed circuits between connectors 56 and 57, which has the effect of electrically disconnecting the connectors 56 and 57 from one another and, consequently, of electrically disconnecting the circuits A and B.

As in the structure described in the patent application
US supra no. 650 019, up to three switching cords 51 can be used with jack 50 to selectively establish various connections in a switching area. One example of the use of three switch cords is shown in Figure 1A where the switch cords are indicated by PC-1, PC-2 and PC-3, respectively. In this example, the PC-1 switching cord is shown "plugged in" in circuit C, and the PC-2 switching cord is shown "plugged in" in circuit D.

Inserting the free plug of the switching cable
PC-1 in cell 70 electrically disconnects circuit A from circuit B and completes the circuit connections which electrically connect circuit C to circuit A. The insertion of the free plug of the PC-2 switching cord into the cell 71 electrically disconnects circuit B from circuit A and completes the circuit connection which electrically connects the circuit
D at circuit B.

 A plug in the control position socket 72 ensures the establishment of control or interconnection connections for picking up the signals or the voltages or currents present at the terminals of the connector 57 without opening normally closed circuits and also without modifying the circuit connections of the switching zone which may have been established by plugging in one and / or the other of the cells 70 and 71. This connection of control or interconnection circuit is established by inserting one of the plugs of the PC-3 switching cord in socket 72 and inserting the other plug of the PC-3 switching cord into a jack 78 which is electrically connected to suitable equipment for controlling or using signals as indicated in 81 on Figure lA. Control equipment may include a voltmeter or an oscilloscope.

 In addition to the connectors 56 and 57 and the sets of contact springs 64 and 66, the jack arrangement shown in Figures 2-6 mainly comprises a hollow contact body or bolier 82, the jack arrangement shown in the figures 2-6 mainly comprises a hollow body or housing 82 and a set 84 of printed circuit. Body 82 is molded in one piece from a suitable electrically insulating material and has a rectangular configuration. As can be seen, the body 82 is open at its two ends and has parallel upper and lower walls 86 and 87 as well as parallel side walls 88 and 89 extending between the upper and lower walls 86 and 87. The openings formed in the body at its front and rear ends are rectangular and aligned.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the body 82 comprises parallel internal partitions 90 and 91 extending internally from the edge or front face of the body and crossing the space
inside the body 82 between the side walls 88 and 89.

The partitions 90 and 91 are integral with the side walls 88 and 89 to which they are perpendicular and extend parallel to the upper and lower walls 86 and 87 of the body of the jack. The walls 90 and 91 divide the open front end of the body 82 into three segments of equal dimensions so as to delimit or form plug receptacles 70-72 in the jack arrangement 50.

More specifically, the cell 70 is formed and delimited by the upper wall 86, the partition 90 and the parts of the side walls 88 and 89 which extend between the walls 86 and 90, the cell 71 is formed and delimited by the partitions 90 and 91 and the parts of the side walls 88 and 89 which extend between the partition 90 and 91, and the cell 72 is formed and delimited by the partition 91 and the side wall 87 as well as by the parts of the wall lateral of the body which extend between the walls 91 and 87. It will be understood that, thanks to this structure, the cells 70, 72 open at the front end of the body 82 have equal dimensions, have the same extent and open at their rear ends inside the body 82.

The cells 70-72 form a straight row between the upper and lower walls of the body and are each made so as to accommodate or slide the same type of switch cord plug. In the present embodiment, it will be noted that the cells 70-72 have a rectangular configuration and not round as is the case in the electrical jacks described in the patent application.
US supra No. 650,019.

 Referring to Figures 3,4,13 and 14, it can be seen that the block or assembly 84 of printed circuit 84 comprises a printed circuit board 94 comprising a first printed circuit design 96 formed or applied appropriately on one of the faces of the board and a second drawing 98 of a printed circuit suitably formed or applied to the other face of the wafer. In addition to the printed circuit board 94, the printed circuit block also includes a pair of additional or overlayed boards 99 and 100 mounted on opposite sides of the printed circuit board 94. Although both sides of the printed board 94 circuit boards are used in this embodiment to establish the various circuit connections in the jack arrangement, it will be understood that the various general means of the present invention can be used in an electric jack structure in which only one side of the printed circuit board is used and not the other.

The printed circuit board 94 can be formed from a suitable electrically insulating material and extends into the interior of the body 82 through the rear open end of the body so as to extend in parallel to the side walls 88 and 89 of the body and midway between these walls. The upper and lower edges of the printed circuit board 94 are slidably housed in guide grooves 102 and 104 with a flat bottom and opening inside the body in an opposite manner. The grooves 102 and 104 are formed on the inner faces of the upper and lower walls 86 and 97 respectively.

As can be seen, the plate 94 projects rearwards from the body 82 so that its rear end is external to the body. The connectors 56 and 57 are advantageously removably mounted using screws 105 on the rear end part of the plate 94 outside the body 82.

To guide and retain the printed circuit board 94, the body 82 has internal reinforcement ribs 106, 107, 103, 109, 110 and 111 which form an integral part of it. The ribs 106-108 are integral with the side walls 88 and extend inward from these walls, and the ribs 109-111 are integral with the side wall 89 and extend inward from this wall so that the ribs 109-111 are aligned with the ribs 106-108 respectively. The end faces of the ribs 106-108 are spaced equidistant from the opposite end faces of the ribs 108-111. The printed circuit board 94 is slidably received between the first set of ribs 106-108 and the another set of ribs lC9-111, as we can see.

 The printed circuit board 94 is rigidly but removably fixed to the body 82 only by two fixing elements 114 and 116 each consisting of a screw and a nut. The screw of the fixing element 114 extends through a hole 118 which is formed through the side wall 88, the ribs 106 and 108 and the side wall 89. The screw of the fixing element 116 extends through another hole 120 which is formed through the side wall 88, the ribs 107 and 110 and the side wall 89. The axes of the holes 118 and 120 are spaced parallel and extend perpendicular to the side walls 88 and 89.

The side walls 88 and 89 of the body 82 are flexible enough to bend slightly when the nut of the fastening elements 34 and 11o is used in order to lock in its position the printed circuit board 94 in the body 82 between two opposite sets of ribs of said body. The fasteners 114 and 116 are the only mechanical elements that are used in the complete jack arrangement with the exception of those that are used to removably mount the connectors 56 and 57 on the printed circuit board. This constructive arrangement simplifies and reduces the expenses occasioned by the assembly of the constituent parts of the jack arrangement 50.

 As can be seen in Figures 5,7 and 9, the jack arrangement 50 may be provided with a rear closure plate 119 for the body 82. The plate 119 is molded from a suitable insulating material of electricity and is housed without play with a tight fit between the side walls 88 and 89 so as to rest against the rear edges of the walls 86 and 87. The plate 119 closes the open rear end of the body 82 and has a longitudinal slot 121 through which extends the printed circuit board 94. Preferably, the plate 119 is fixed to the rear end of the body 82 using an adhesive or by adhesion. Thanks to this constructive arrangement, the plate 119 is mounted on the body 82 without the use of mechanical fixing elements of any type.

As can be seen in FIGS. 13 and 14, the front edge of the printed circuit board 94 located in the body 82 is notched so as to have two slots 122 and 124 which open out towards the front and which are intended to housing the rear end portions of partitions 90 and 91, respectively. The slots 122 and 124 divide the front edge portion of the printed circuit board 94 into three segments 126, 127 and 128 which extend forward. The segments 126-128 protrude forward into the cells 70-72, respectively, and lie in a common plane which cuts the body 82 and the cells 70-72 in a median manner parallel to the side walls 88 and 89 of the body.

The switch cord plugs 52 and 53 have the same structure as that shown in Figures 15-17. Each of these plug-in connector type plugs comprising a hollow insulating body 130, a first set of elastic contact elements 134, and a second set of elastic contact elements 136. As can be seen, the body 130 comprises an end 137 which is open and rectangular and which is intended to receive a printed circuit board. The contact elements 134 and 136 are mounted in the body 132 and are arranged in two rows spaced apart in parallel so as to delimit an inlet opening outwards and intended to receive any of the segments 126-128 of printed circuit board depending on the socket in which the plug is inserted. It will be understood that the structure of the plug and of the electric jack is such that any of the plugs 52 or 53 can be inserted in one of the slots 70-72 of the jack
In each switching cord plug, the contact elements are mutually isolated from one another. The contact elements of the plug 52 are individually connected by separate conductors of the cable 54 to corresponding contact elements of the plug 53, whereby separate paths, current conductors and mutually isolated, are established between the contact elements corresponding cards.

 To establish circuit contact with the elastic contact elements 134 of one or other of the switch cord plugs 52 and 53, the printed circuit drawing 96 of one of the faces of the printed circuit board 94 includes a set of fingers (see FIG. 13) constituted by a first set of contact fingers 138, a second set of contact fingers 139, and a third set of contact fingers 140. The fingers 138-140 of the same extent are arranged in parallel to each other in a straight row and extend rearward from the front edge of the printed circuit board 94. As can be seen, the fingers 138 are formed on the printed circuit board segment 126, the fingers 139 are formed on the printed circuit board segment 127 and the fingers 140 are formed on the printed circuit board segment 128 .

 If not wishes to use the two sides of the printed circuit board 94 as well as all the elastic contact elements of each of the switching cord plugs, the printed circuit drawing 98 present on the right side of the printed circuit board 94 also includes a set of fingers corresponding to the set of fingers just described for the left side of the printed circuit board 94. More particularly, the set of printed fingers present on the right side of the printed circuit board 94 includes a first set of contact fingers 141 corresponding to fingers 138, a second set of contact fingers 142 corresponding to fingers 139 and a third set of contact fingers 143 corresponding to fingers 140, as can be seen in FIGS. 1A and 14.

The fingers 141-143 of the same extent are arranged in a rectilinear row and extend rearward from the front arm of the printed circuit board 94. As for the arrangement of fingers 138-140, the fingers 141 are arranged on the segment 126 of printed circuit board, the fingers 142 are arranged on the segment 127 of printed circuit board and the fingers 143 are arranged on the segment 128 of printed circuit board.

If both sides of the printed circuit board 94 are used, the terminals of the connector 56 can be divided into a first set referenced 146 and a second set referenced 147.

Likewise, the terminals of connector 57 can be
divided into a first set referenced 148 and a second set referenced 149.

Each of the fingers 138 is connected by a separate printed circuit conductor 152 (FIG. 1B) to a different terminal among the connector terminals 146 and each of the fingers 141 located on the opposite side of the printed circuit board is connected by a conductor separate 155 (Figure 1C) of the printed circuit at a different terminal among the connector terminals 147.

Similarly, each of the fingers 139 is connected by a separate printed circuit conductor 153 (Figure 1B) to a different terminal among the connector terminals 148, and each of the fingers 142 is connected by a separate conductor 156 (Figure 1C ) of a printed circuit at a different terminal among the connector terminals 149.

In the present embodiment, each of the fingers 140 is connected by a separate conductor 154 (FIG. 1B) of the printed circuit to a different terminal among the connector terminals 148 and each of the fingers 143 is connected by a separate conductor 157 (FIG. 1C ) of a printed circuit at a different terminal among the connector terminals 149.

 To establish the current conductor circuits between the fingers 140 and the conductor terminals 148 with minimal use of the printed circuit conductor, each of the printed circuit conductors 157 can be connected to a different conductor among the printed circuit conductors 153. Likewise each of the printed circuit conductors 157 can be connected to a point of a different conductor among the printed circuit conductors 156 (FIG. 1C) so as to reduce the extent of the tracks forming the printed circuit conductors in the drawings of the printed circuit board.

According to the conductive drawing used for the printed circuits, each of the printed circuit conductors 152-157 can be divided into different segments, some of these extending on one side of the board 94 and the others extending on the on the other side of the wafer 94 in order to avoid interference between the various conductors is printed circuits.

 It will be understood that any geometric configuration or arrangement of the printed circuit conductors 152-157 can be used in conjunction with the general means of the present invention, that shown in the drawings being given purely by way of illustration.

From the above description, it can be seen that the insertion of one of the plugs 52 or 53 of the switching cord into the socket 70 in the manner shown in FIG. 8 results in the establishment of a contact. electric between each of the contact elements 134 of the plug and a different finger among the fingers 138 so as to thus ensure the electrical connection of each of the contact elements 134 with a different terminal among the connector terminals 146.

The insertion of one of the plugs 52 or 53 into the socket 70 also results in the establishment of an electrical contact between each of the contact elements 136 of the plug and a different finger among the fingers 141, which has the effect of electrically connecting each of the contact elements 136 to a different terminal among the connector terminals 147.

 The insertion of one of the plugs 52 or 53 of switching cord in the cell 71 in the manner shown in FIG. 10 likewise results in the establishment of an electrical contact between each of the contact elements 54 of plug and a different finger among the fingers 139 so as to thus electrically connect the contact elements 134 of the plug to a different terminal among the contact terminals 148. The insertion of one of the plugs 52 or 53 into the socket 71 also results in the establishment of an electrical contact between each of the plug contact elements 136 and a different finger among the fingers 142, which has the effect of electrically connecting each of the contact elements 136 to a different terminal among connector terminals 149.

The insertion of one of the plugs 52 or 53 into the socket 72 in the manner shown in FIG. 11 results in the establishment of an electrical contact between each of the plug contact elements 134 and a different must among the fingers 140 as well as between each of the plug contact elements 136 and a different finger among the fingers 143. As a result, each of the plug contact elements 134 is electrically connected to a different terminal among the connector terminals 148 and that each of the twine contact elements 136 is electrically connected to a different terminal among the connector terminals 149
In the present embodiment, the set G4 of contact springs comprises a first group of COlltifCt springs 160 and a second group of contact springs 162. As can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, these two groups of springs contact are arranged on opposite sides of the printed circuit board 94 poer cooperate with the socket 70. In a similar manner, the set 66 of contact springs comprises a first group of contact springs 161 and a second group of contact springs 163 disposed respectively on the opposite sides of the printed circuit board 94 to cooperate with 1 cell 71
On one side of the printed circuit board 94, the printed circuit design includes a first set or group of zones or bands 166 for the contact springs 160 and a second set or group of zones or contact strips 167 for the springs Contact areas 161. In addition to the contact areas 166 and 167, contact areas are formed on an additional printed circuit board 170 which is part of the arrangement 99 of additional board. More particularly, the printed circuit formed on the additional plate 170 comprises a first set or group of contacts 172 for the contact springs 160 and a second set or group of contact zones 173 for the contact springs 161.

In addition to the board 170, the arrangement 99 of additional boards also includes an insulating board 176.

The insulating plate 176 is glued or rigidly fixed in any other way to one of the sides of the printed circuit board 94-. The plate 170 is glued or rigidly fixed in any other way to the other side of the insulating board 176 so that the insulating board 176 is located between the main printed circuit board 94 and the additional board 170 so as to electrically insulate the printed circuit drawing on the additional board 170 of the printed circuit applied directly to the printed circuit board 94.

 The areas 166 and 167 of the printed circuit are spaced apart and are arranged in a rectilinear row along an intermediate part of the plate 94 between the row of fingers 138 and 139 and the terminals for the connectors 56 and 57. L the arrangement 99 of additional pad is arranged between the row of contact area 166 and. 167 and the row of fingers 138 and 139. The contact zones 172 and 173 are arranged in parallel and form a rectilinear row which is located between the row of fingers 138 and 139 and the row of contact area 166 and 167.

 As can be seen in FIGS. 1B and in FIG. 13, each of the contact zones 166 forms a part of a different conductor among the conductors 152 of the printed circuit, and each of the contact zones 167 forms a part of a different conductor among the printed circuit conductors 153 and each of the contact zones 167 forms a part of a different conductor among the printed circuit conductors 153.

Each of the contact springs 160-163 has a rear part 180 and an end 182 of the circuit opening capable of bending. The rear part 180 of each contact spring 160 is fixedly pressed against a different contact area among the contact areas 166 and establishes electrical contact with this area. Likewise, the rear part 180 of each contact spring 161 bears fixedly against a different contact zone among the contact zones 167 and establishes electrical contact with this zone.

 The end 182 of the circuit opening which is capable of being deflected and which each contact spring 160 includes is normally biased so as to bear against a different contact zone among the contact zones 172 of the additional plate 170 and make electrical contact with that area. The ends, capable of being deflected, of the springs 160 and the contact zones 172 form the sets of contacts 67 normally closed. Each contact spring 160 is therefore normally arranged and biased so as to bear against a different contact area among the contact areas 166 and against a different contact area among the contact areas 172 so as to establish a connection between these areas. circuit likely to be open.

The end 182 which can be deflected and which includes each contact spring 161 is normally stressed. so as to bear against a different contact zone among the contact zones 173 of the additional plate 170 and thus establishes an electrical contact with this zone so as to thus form the contact sets 68 normally closed.

Each contact spring 161 is therefore normally arranged and biased so as to bear against a different contact area among the contact areas 167 and against a different contact area among the contact areas 173 so as to establish a connection between these areas circuit likely to be opened.

The printed circuit design on the additional board 170 also includes a multiplicity of printed circuit leads i86. Each of the contact zones 172 is connected by a different conductor among the printed circuit conductors 186 to a different contact zone among the contact zones 173. The contact springs 160 are in electrical contact with the contact zones 172 when no plug switching cord has not been inserted into the socket 70 and the contact springs 161 are in electrical contact with the contact zones 173 when no switching cord plug has been inserted into the socket 71.

From the above description, it will be understood that the design of the circuit comprising the conductors 152, the contact zones 170, the contact springs 160, the contact zones 172, the conductors 186 of the additional wafer printed circuit, the zones contact 173, the contact springs 161, the contact areas 167 and the printed circuit conductors 153 establishes a multiplicity of mutually insulated current conducting circuits each of which comprises two sets of contacts 67 and 68 connected in series. Each of the connector terminals 146 is connected, by a different circuit among these current conductor circuits, to a different terminal among the connector terminals 148. Furthermore, it can be seen that each of these current conductor circuits extends from the one of the connector terminals 146 to one of the connector terminals 148, passing through one of the contact zones 166, one of the contact springs 160, one of the contact zones 172, one of the printed circuit conductors 186, one of the contact areas 173, one of the contact springs 161, one of the contact areas 167 and one of the printed circuit conductors 153.

 The arrangement 100 of additional boards located on the right side of the printed circuit board 94 is identical to the arrangement 99 located on the opposite side of the printed circuit board. Therefore, the same references are used to denote the same? constituent elements of the additional wafers, except that the references used for the constituent parts of the arrangement 100 of additional wafers have the suffix "a" to distinguish them from the references used for the constituent parts of the arrangement 99 of additional wafers.

In addition to the contact zones 172a and 173a of the additional board, the printed circuit drawing located on the right side of the printed circuit board 94 has two sets of contact areas 166a and 167a as can be seen, for example , in Figure 1C. The areas 166a and 167a correspond respectively to the areas 166 and 167. The arrangement of the contact areas 166a and 167a and the fingers 141 and 142 as well as the contact areas 172a and 173a of the additional plate is identical to the arrangement described above for contact areas 166, 167, 172 and 173, and fingers 138 and 139. In addition, the structure and arrangement of contact springs 162 and 163 corresponds to that just described for contact springs 160 and 161 located on the opposite side of the printed circuit board 94
The rear part of each contact spring 162 rests against a different contact zone among the contact zones 166a and establishes electrical contact with this zone, as can best be seen in FIGS. 7 and 9. In a way similar,
the rear part of each of the contact springs 163 rests against a different zone among the contact zones 167a and establishes electrical contact with this zone.

The end which can be deflected and which includes each of the contact springs 162 is normally stressed so
to lean against a different contact zone among the contact zones 172a of the additional plate and establish an electrical contact with this zone in such a way that each pair mutually in contact with the ends of contact springs liable to be deflected and contact zones of the additional plate form a normally closed contact set corresponding to contact 67.

Similarly, the end -which can be deflected and which each of the contact springs 163 comprises is normally biased so as to bear against a different contact area among the contact areas 173a of the additional pad and was an electrical contact with this zone so that each pair of mutually contacting the ends of the contact springs and the additional pad contact zones form a normally closed contact set corresponding to the normally closed contact 68 described above.

 As for the circuit connections established by the contact springs 160 and 161, the contact springs 162 are in electrical contact with the contact zones 172a when no plug of switching cord has been introduced into the socket 70 and the contact springs 163 are in electrical contact with the contact zones 173a when no co-location cord plug has been introduced into the cell 71. As can be seen, each of the contact zones 166a forms a part of a different trace among the traces or conductors 155 of printed circuit and each of the contact zones 167a forms part of a different trace among the traces 156 of printed circuit.

 From the above description, it can be seen that the circuit design comprising the conductors 155, the contact zones 166a, the contact springs 162, the contact zones 172a, the additional wafer printed circuit conductors 186a, the zones contact 173a, the contact springs 173, the contact springs 167a and the printed circuit conductors 156, establish a multiplicity of mutually isolated circuits or current conducting paths, each comprising two sets of normally closed contacts, connected in series. Each of the connector terminals 147 is connected by a different circuit among these current conducting circuits to a different terminal among the connector terminals 149.

As will be described in more detail below, the springs 160 and 162 are arranged in the body 82 in such a way that they are encountered by one of the plugs 52 or 53 of switching cord when one introduces that -this in the cell 70 to lift the ends 182 of said springs away from the contact zones 172 and 172a of additional plates, so as to open or break the normally closed circuit connections between connectors 56 and 57 and to disconnect thereby electrically the connector 56 terminals of the connector 57 terminals. The introduction of the plug into the socket 70 also establishes the circuit connections described above between the contact elements 134 and 136 of the switching cord and the terminals of the connector 56 via the series of fingers and of the printed circuit conductors located on the printed circuit board 94.

Similarly, the contact springs 161 and 163 are arranged on the body 82 in such a way that they are encountered by one of the plugs 52 or 53 of the switching cord when it is introduced into the socket. 71 to lift the ends which can be deviated from the springs 161 and 163 by moving them away from their associated contact zones 173 and 173a, so as to open or thus break the circuit connection between the connectors 56 and 57 and to disconnect electrically from this does the connector 56 terminals of the connector 57 terminals.

The introduction of the plug into the socket 71 further establishes the electrical circuit connections described above between the contact elements 134 and 136 of the switch cord plug and the terminals of the connector 57 by means of the series of fingers. and printed circuit conductors on the printed circuit board 94.

As can be seen in Figures 7, 8 and 20, each of the contact springs 160 has an identical structure and can be formed from any suitable flat elastic metallic material. Each of the springs 160 is curved backwards on itself so as to form two separate spring branches 190 and 191 which are connected to each other by a curved intermediate front part or nose 192. The branch 190 of spring ends with the free end 180 of contact establishment and the branch 191 of the spring ends with the other end 182 of contact establishment. When the parts are assembled, the spring branch 191 is located between the spring branch 190 and the printed circuit board 94 and the free ends 180 and 182 are spaced from each other as shown.

 The spring branch 190 is a little longer than the spring branch 191 so as to extend beyond the free end of the latter. In Figure 20, we see the spring 160 in its relaxed state, not deflected and not bent.

Referring again to FIG. 20, it can be seen that the spring 160 is formed from three spaced rectilinear segments 194, 195 and 196 and three strongly bent, curved or offset parts 197, 198 and 199. The straight segment 194 of spring s' extends between the intermediate spring portion 192 and the offset portion 197. The offset portion 197 connects the straight segments 194 and 195 to each other and provides an offset transition between these segments. The offset portion 198 mutually connects the straight segments 195 and 196 spring and provides an offset transition between these segments, and the offset portion 199 mutually connects the spring segment 196 and the straight end 180 of contact establishment and provides an offset transition between this segment and this end. provided by offset parts 197-199 bend the branch
190 spring in a common direction towards branch 191
spring as shown.

The spring branch 191 is formed of two essentially straight segments 200 and 201 and a strongly bent, curved or offset transition 202 between the segments 200 and 201 so as to bend the staircase 191 towards the branch 190. The spring segment 200 is located between the front or nose portion 192 and the transition 202, and the spring segment 201 is located between the transition 202 and the end 182 of contact establishment, which is rounded or curved as shown. Each of the ends 180 and 182 of contact establishment is preferably forked to form two branch parts of the same extent which can be deflected independently, as shown in FIG. 19B.

The springs 161-163 have the same structure as that which has just been described for the spring 160. Consequently, the same references have been used to designate the same parts of the springs 160-163.

 As can be seen in FIGS. 3A and 4, the body 82 of the jack is provided with four windows or openings 210, 211, 212 and 213 having the same dimensions and intended to receive the springs 160, 161, 162 and 163, respectively . your windows 210 and 211 are formed in the side wall 89 and are aligned in such a way that the window 210 opens into the cell 70 and the window 211 opens into the cell 71.

 The windows 212 and 213 are located on the side of the body 82 opposite the side where the windows 210 and 211 are located and are formed in the side wall 88 at places where the window 212 coincides with the window 210 and opens into the cell 70 and the window 213 coincides with the window 211 and opens into the cell 71.

The axis of each socket 70-72 plug receptor can be considered to be at the midpoint of the socket at equal distance from the corners of the socket. These axes of the plug receiving cells are spaced parallel and are contained in a common plane extending parallel to the side walls 88 and 89 of the jack body and medially cutting the printed circuit board 94 parallel to the side faces carrying the printed circuits . As will be described in more detail below, the arrangement of the springs 160-163 is symmetrical with respect to this plane.

As can be seen in FIGS. 3Aw 7 and 8, the body 82 comprises a spring support shoulder 216 s1 extending along the front edge surface 214 of the window 210 which is closest to the front face of the window. body 82, this shoulder coming from a recess or offset of this surface towards the inside.

 The front parts or nose 192 of the springs 160 are housed on the shoulder 216. Thanks to this arrangement, the ends of the spring arms 191 which merge with the front parts 192 are supported on the shoulder 216.

As can be seen, the springs 160 extend, parallel to the front edge 214 of the window and to the shoulder 216, rearward from this edge and from this shoulder. The springs 160 are held in this mutually spaced and parallel arrangement where they are not in contact with each other by a first set of spacer ribs 218, a second set of spacer ribs 219 and a third set spacing ribs 220. The ribs 218 s1 extend rearward from the edge 214 of the window parallel along the shoulder 216. The front parts adorn 192 of the springs 160 are located between the ribs 218 as shown.

 The ribs 219 also form an integral part of the body 82 on the inside of the side wall 89 and extend rearward from the rear edge of the window 210, as can best be seen in FIG. 7. The ribs 220 extend along a groove 222 which is shallow and which is formed in the rear plate 119 and open into the slot 121 of the rear plate.

Referring to Figures 3, 7 and 12, it can be seen that the segment 194 of each of the springs 160 crosses the window 210 and extends in a plane which is approximately level with the external surface of the side wall 89 up to at a point just in front of the rear edge surface 224 of the window 210. The offset parts 197 of the springs 160 pass through the window 210 and penetrate into the body 82 so that the segments 196 of the spring are at the inside the body 82 and s1 extend rearwardly relative to the window 210 while the spring segments 190 coincide with the window 210 and are, therefore, exposed, for access, on the outside of the jack 50 As can be seen, the spring segments 195 are located between the ribs 219 and are therefore spaced apart by these ribs.

The transition parts 199 offset the ends 180 of contact establishment inwards in the direction of the printed circuit board 94 and in the opposite direction from the side wall 89 of the body of the jack. The end portions 180 of the springs 160 extend through the grooves to
open ends delimited by the ribs 220 so as to be between the ribs 220 in contact with the contact zones 166.

As can be seen in FIG. 7, the internal sharp edge of the jack formed by the rear marginal surface 224 of the window bears against the junction or elbow 226 which is formed between the transition part 119 and the segment 195 in each of the contact springs 160, so as to flex or deflect each branch 190 of contact spring inwardly toward the printed circuit board 94, whereby the flat end 180 of contact establishment of each branch 190 spring is pushed elastically against its associated contact area 166 of the printed circuit board. It can be seen from the above that the pushing or bending force exerted by the edge 224 of the window of the body of the jack on each branch 190 of contact spring is located at a point between the opposite ends of branch 190 of contact spring.

 Referring again to FIG. 7, it is noted that the ends 180 of contact spring extend beyond the rear plate 119 so that the rear plate 119 traps the ends 180 of spring in the grooves delimited by the ribs 220.

 From the position of its end on the shoulder 216, the branch 191 of each spring 160 passes through the window 210 and the socket 70 to a position where its end 182 of contact establishment bears against its contact area 166 in rear of the cell 70. It will be noted that the additional or covering plates 170 and 170a are arranged inside the body 82 behind the cells 70-72.

As can be seen in Figure 7, only two contact points are established between each of the spring arms 191 and the remainder of the jack arrangement 50. One of these points is the fulcrum between the front end of the spring branch -191 and the shoulder 216. The other contact point is at the curved end 182 of contact establishment or the end of contact establishment bears against its associated contact zone 172 on the additional plate 170 inside the body 82. Between these two contact points, each spring branch 191 can flex or bend freely in both directions, that is to say either in a direction where it approaches the plate 94, or in a direction where it moves away from this plate. The distance between the shoulder 216 and the plane containing the contact zones 172 of the additional plate is smaller than the corresponding projected dimension between the opposite exnSmites of each branch 191 of the contact spring when the latter is in its unbound and unreflected state. Thanks to this constructive arrangement and thanks to the two contact points, described above, of the spring branch, the intermediate part of the spring branch 192 being between the end 182 and the other end located in the front part. or nose 192 can flex or bend slightly inward away from the spring branch 190 and closer to the printed circuit board 94.

 When one of the plugs 52 or 53 of the switching cord is inserted into the plug receiving socket so that the segment 126 of the edge of the printed circuit board comes to lodge therein, the front edge 228 of the outer corner of the rectangular insulating body 130 of the plug comes to bear against the spring desbranchesl91 segments 200 and slides along these segments which has the effect of deflecting these spring branches 191 in the direction opposite to the bending represented in FIG. 7, thanks to to which the intermediate parts of the spring branches 191 yield, that is to say, bend, first, before the ends of contact spring 182 lift them from their respective contact zongde 172. This results in a friction action or scanning, as will be explained in detail below. As the insertion movement of the switch cord plug continues, the front edge 228 of the body of the plug moves along the segments 200 of the spring branches 191 so as to impart a lifting movement to these branches. thereby causing the ends 182 of the spring branch to lift away from their contact wings 172. This lifting of the ends 182 of the contact spring electrically disconnects the contact springs 160 from the contact zones 172.

As can be seen, each spring branch 191 bends in the region where it connects to the front part 192 as it moves away from the plate 94 as a result of its lifting by the cord plug. switching.

Because the spring arms 191 normally deflect toward the printed circuit board 94 when no switch cord plug is inserted into the socket 70 and because the intermediate portions of the spring arms 191 are pushed by the switch cord plug before their contact establishment ends 182 are separated from their contact area as lifted up the contact establishment ends 182 slide slightly forward on their respective contact areas 172 before be separated so that they rub against them and, therefore, clean them during the operation which moves, by lifting them, the contact spring branches from the contact areas. the switching cord plug of the socket 70, the contact spring ends 182 are lowered and come to bear initially against their respective contact areas 172 then, as and as the switch cord plug is further extracted, the flexion of the legs 191 of the contact springs increases toward the printed circuit board. This has the effect that the ends 182 of the contact springs slide backwards over the contact zones 172, whereby a continuation of the friction action is obtained so that the contact zones are cleaned. Consequently, the introduction and the extraction of one of the plugs 52 or 53 of switching cord has the effect of causing the branches 191 of contact spring to sweep their respective contact zones 172.

The ribs 220 retain the ends 180 of the contact springs by preventing them from moving laterally. The fact that the edge 224 of the window bears against the elbows 226 of the spring branches 190 limits the movement of the contact springs 160 backwards and prevents these springs from moving outward through the window 210, which has the consequence of preventing them from leaving through this opening.

The fact that the front parts or nose 192 are supported on the shoulder 216 prevents the contact springs 160 from moving inward. The marginal surface 214 of the window limits the movement of the contact springs 160 forwards towards the front of the body 82.

Rather than being fixed using any means such as a fixing element or welded connections, it can be seen from the above description that the contact springs 160 are trapped, it is that is to say held in place, by the fact that they bear separably against bearing surfaces of the various parts of the body 82 and of the printed circuit board 9t mentioned above. This exceptional arrangement simplifies the structure of the jack, avoids the need for fixing elements and welded connections
additional for mounting the contact springs and, furthermore, simplifies the assembly and disassembly of the contact springs.

For example, any of the contact springs 160 can easily be removed by simply lifting and elevating the front portion 192 first out of the window 210 so as to release the edge 214 of the adjacent window and then pulling the spring contact forward so as to slide it out of the body through the window 210. The contact spring 160 is introduced until it takes its operating position in the body 82 simply by reversing the operation mentioned above.

 Thanks to the arrangement and the structure described above, the assembly of all of the constituent parts of the jack is also simplified as will be described in more detail below.

 The ribs 218-220 act so as to suitably align the contact springs 160 with their respective contact zones 166 and 172. The ribs 219 and 220 further act so as to guide the contact springs when they are introduced into the body 82 through window 210.

 It will be noted that, for each contact spring 160, the bending or deflection of the spring branch 190 does not result in a bending or deflection of the spring branch 191.

The two spring branches therefore act independently of one another.

 Spacer ribs, window shoulders for supporting the springs, and grooves in the back plate which correspond respectively to the ribs 218-220, the shoulder 216 and the grooves 272 are provided for each of the three remaining sets of spring springs. contact 161-163 and are produced as the rib, the window shoulder and the back plate groove which have just been described for the contact springs 160 are produced.

Consequently, identical references have been used to designate the ribs, the support shoulders and the back plate grooves for the springs 160-163, except
that (a) the reference numbers used for the ribs, the shoulders or the grooves for the contact springs 161 are followed by the suffix a and (b) the reference numbers used for the spacing ribs, the support shoulders and the grooves for the contact springs 162 are followed by the suffix ~, and (c) the reference numbers used for the spacing ribs, the support shoulders and the grooves for the contact springs 163 are followed by the suffix c so as to distinguish
thus from one another the various groups of reference numerals.

The configurations of the 210-213 windows or openings are also identical. Consequently, the same reference numerals have been used to designate the front and rear edges of the four windows, except that the reference numerals used to designate the edges of window 211
are followed by the suffix a, the numerical references used
to designate the edges of window 212 are followed by
suffix b and the references used for the edges of
windows 213 are followed by the suffix c.

The springs 161 are kept parallel at some distance from each other and in appropriate alignment with their
associated contact zones 167 and 173 by ribs 218a,
219a and 220a in the same way as just described
for springs 160. Similarly, springs 162
are kept parallel at some distance from each other
and in proper alignment with their associated contact areas
166a and 172a by ribs 218b, 219b and 220b of the same
as described above for springs 160.

Likewise, the springs 163 are held parallel to
some distance from each other and in proper alignment
with their associated contact zones 167a and 173a by
ribs 218c, 219é, 220c in the same manner as that described
above for springs 160.

The springs 161-163 are arranged and assembled in the same manner as that described above for the springs
contact 160. In particular, the springs 161 are received in the window 211, the springs 162 are received in the
window 212 and the springs 163 are received in the window
213.

Because they are made and arranged in the same way as the springs 160, the branches 190 and 191 of the
contact springs 161-163 are stressed and deflected in the same way as just described for the springs
160. In addition, when a cord plug is inserted
switching in the socket 70, the branches 191 of the springs
162 are raised to their circuit open position
together with the arms 191 of the springs 160 and the
same way as that just described for
springs 160. When inserting a cord plug
coenmutation in cell 71, branches 191 of springs
161 and 163 are raised simultaneously until their
circuit open position as described above
for springs 160.

Because the springs 161-163 are made in the same way as the springs 160 and because they are arranged and assembled in the body 82 in the same way as that described above for the springs 160, it will be understood that the same friction action of the contact zones which has been described previously for the springs 160 also takes place with the springs 161-163.

 As can be seen in FIG. 7, the springs 160 and 162 are arranged symmetrically around a plane cutting medially the cells 70-72 and containing the printed circuit board 94. Thanks to this arrangement, the branches 191 of the contact springs 160 and the branches 191 of the contact springs 162 converge towards one another in a direction extending towards the rear plate 119 so as to thus define a "mouth" diverging outwards and intended to receive the front part or nose of the body 130 of the switching cord plug when this is introduced into the zone 70. The springs 161 and 163 are arranged symmetrically in the same way in cell 71.

 It will be understood that, by virtue of the aforementioned symmetrical arrangement of the springs 160 and 162 in the cell 70, when one of the plugs 52 or 53 is introduced into the cell 70, the front corners or edges 228 and 229 of the body 130 of the plug bear, concomitantly, against the arms 191 of springs on either side of the printed circuit board 94 and therefore move the parts of the arms 191 of the springs 160 and 162 located in the area 170 of so as to simultaneously lift said legs 191 of the springs 160 and 162 by moving them away from their respective contact zones located on the additional plate.

 If the body 130 of the switching cord plug is continued to be moved inward, it follows that the front end of the body 130 of the plug comes to bear against the offset parts 202 of the springs 160 by pushing them to in the manner of a cam and by causing the elbows 230 of these offset parts 202 to slide over the body 130 of the plug along its external lateral face 232 to a position where said corner coincides with a straight groove 234, flat, shallow bottom which opens outwards and which is formed in the external lateral face 232 and extends perpendicular to the branches 191 of the contact springs.

 At the same time as the body 130 of the plug bears against the offset parts 202 of the springs 160, it also comes to bear against the offset parts 202 of the springs 162, which has the effect of pushing them in the manner of a cam and d 'bring the elbows 230 of the springs 162 to slide on the body 130 of the plug along its other lateral face 233 to a position where said elbows coincide with another shallow groove 235 with a flat bottom which opens towards the outside and which is formed in the lateral face 233 and corresponds to the groove 234.

When the switching cord plug is completely inserted into the socket 70 to its active circuit establishment and circuit opening position, the elastic force of the branches 191 of the springs 160 elastically pushes the elbows 230 of these branches in the groove 234 of the body of the plug. At the same time, the elastic force of the branches 191 of the springs 162 resiliently pushes the elbows 230 of these branches into the groove 235 of the body of the plug on the opposite side of this body. The fact that the elbows 230 of the spring branches are housed in the grooves 234 and 235 of the body of the plug on either side of this body has the effect of elastically and releasably locking the switch cord plug in its active inserted position inside the plug receiving socket. It will therefore be understood that the means of interaction taking the form of the elbows 230 of the contact springs and the grooves 234 and 235 of the body of the plug establish a locking or blocking of the type ensured by a click mechanism in order to retain releasably the switch cord plug in its fully inserted position in the socket 70.

The application of an external force to remove from the plug socket 70 which has been introduced therein, has the consequence that the elbows 230 of the springs 160 and 162 slide on the edges of their associated grooves 234 and 235 of the body of the plug thereby bending the branches 191 of the springs 160 and 162 so as to release the plug for its extraction from the socket 70 of the jack. When the switching cord plug is extracted from the socket 70, the branches 191 of the springs 160 and 162 tilt, that is to say bend, again inwards in the direction of the plate 94 printed circuit board, which causes the contact ends 182 to come to bear against their respective contact areas by lowering.

 The printed circuit board 94 and the contact springs 160-163 are assembled with the body 82 by first placing the rear plate 119 on the open rear of the body 82 and then inserting the printed circuit board 94 by making it slide through the slot 121 in the body 82. Then, the fixing elements 114 and 116 are put in place to fix the printed circuit board 94 to the body 82. When these operations have been carried out, the contact springs 160 are assembled with the body of the jack and the printed circuit board simply by inserting them and sliding them through the window 160 to their operating position shown in the figures. The springs 161-163 are assembled in the same manner as that described above with regard to the springs 160 to complete the assembly of the component parts of the jack.

As can best be seen in FIG. 10, the contact springs 161 and 163 also establish a releasable blocking with one of the plugs 52 or 53 of switching cord when this is introduced into the socket 71 of the same like the one just described with regard to contact springs 160 and 162.

As can be seen in FIG. 8, the marginal surfaces which are oriented towards the front and which comprise the spacing ribs 219, 219a, 219b and 219c lie in a common plane normally intersecting the longitudinal axes of the cells 70 and 71 card receivers. The marginal surfaces which are oriented towards the front and which comprise the ribs 219 and 219a are indicated at 237 and limit the forward movement of one of the plugs 52 or 53 of switching cord in the cell 70 so thus defining the rear end of this cell 70.

 As can be seen in FIG. 10, the marginal surfaces which are oriented towards the front and which comprise the ribs 219b and 219c are indicated at 239 and similarly limit the inward movement of one of the cards 52 or 53 of switching cord in the cell 71 so as to thus define the rear end of this cell 71.

 It will be understood that a monobloc and multilayer printed circuit board comprising alternating layers of insulating material and printed circuits can be used in place of the arrangements 99 and 100 of additional boards and the printed circuit board 94 to form combinations or designs of printed circuits described above.

 It will be noted that, in practice, some of the segments of the conductors 186 of the additional wafers extend along the underside of the wafer 170 to avoid interference between the printed circuits of the additional wafer. It is the same for the conductors of the additional wafer 170a.

It can also be seen from the above description that the electric jack of the present invention has a relatively small number of parts, that it is made in a compact and efficient manner so as to form a block of relatively small size, that '' It is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to assemble and provides positive and reliable circuit closing and opening operations for sure when a switching cord plug is inserted into one or more of the three cells switch cord plug receivers. In addition, it will be noted that various characteristics of the present invention can be used with one and / or the other of the cells 70 and 71 receptors of switching cord plugs independently of the cell 72 ensuring control and not a switching.

 Compared to the first jack structure embodiment that is described, the embodiment shown in Figures 22A-33 has been modified to eliminate the 99 and 100 sets of additional pads and to halve the number of contact springs in each of the four sets of springs 160-163 without reducing the number of normally closed circuits or current conducting paths in the jack arrangement. This is mainly obtained by providing the second embodiment with a pair of pivoting monobloc flaps 250 and 252 and by modifying the printed circuits present on both sides of the printed circuit board 94 and this in a way that lton will describe in detail below. For the most part, the jack structure shown in Figures 22A-35 is otherwise identical to the jack structure shown in Figures 2-14. This is why the same reference numerals have been used to designate the parts or analogous constituent elements of the two embodiments of jack arrangement, except that the numerical references used to designate the constituent parts of the second embodiment of jack are followed of the prime sign (') to distinguish them from the numerical references used in the first embodiment.

The series of fingers present on the printed circuit board 94 ′ may be identical to the series of fingers 138-143 found on the board 94. Consequently, the same reference numerals have been used to designate the corresponding fingers except that the references numerical designating the fingers on the wafer 94 'are also followed by the prime sign (') to distinguish them from the numerical references used in the first embodiment of jack. The fingers 138'-143 'are arranged in the same manner as that described above with regard to the fingers 138-143. Figures 34 and 35 show only four of the fingers in each of the six sets of fingers 138 ', 139', 140 ', 141', 142 'and 143', together with corresponding numbers of connector terminals and circuit traces printed so as to simplify the circuit diagram.

 In FIGS. 34 and 35, the terminals of the connector 56 'are indicated at 294, 295, 296, 297, 294a, 295a, 296a and 297a, and the terminals of the connector 57' are indicated at 298, 299, 300, 301, 298a, 299a, 300a and 301a. As can be seen in FIG. 34, a printed circuit 303 provides the various circuit connections with the fingers 138'-140 ', the terminals 294-301 of the connector and the contact springs 160' and 161 '. As can be seen in FIG. 35, another printed circuit 303a provides the various circuit connections with the fingers 141 '143', the connector terminals 294-301a and the contact springs 162 'and 163'. The circuits 303 and 303a are applied directly to the wafer 94 '.

Each of the fingers 138 'is connected using a separate printed circuit conductor 290 to a different terminal among the terminals 294-297 of the connector 56'. Similarly, each of the fingers 139t is connected using a separate printed circuit conductor 292 to a different terminal among the terminals 298-301 of the connector 57 '.

In addition to conductors 290 and 292, the printed circuit drawing 303 is provided with a first set of contact zones 306 (indicated individually at 306-1 and 306-2 in FIG. 34), a second set of contact zones 307 (indicated individually in 307-1 and 307-2 in FIG. 34), a third set of contact zones 308 (indicated individually in 308-1 and 308-2 in FIG. 34), and a fourth set of contact zones contact 309 (indicated individually in 309-1 and 309-2 in figure 34). Each of the contact zones 308 forms a part of a different conductor among the conductors 292. Each of the contact zones 307 is connected, by means of a branch of a different conductor among the conductors 290, to a different terminal among connector terminals 294297, as shown
In the simplified diagram represented in FIG. 34, only two of the contact springs 160 ′ and only two of the contact springs 161 ′ are shown, these springs being all that is necessary to establish the four closed circuits normally connecting the four terminals 294 -297 of connector to the respective four terminals 298-301 of connector. The two contact springs 160 ′ shown in FIG. 34 are indicated individually at 160′-1 and 160′-2. Similarly, the two contact springs 161 'shown in Figure 34 are indicated individually at 161'-1 and 161'-2.

The end fb'e or rear part 1811 of the contact spring 160'-1 bears against the contact zone 306-1 and its movable end, that is to say capable of being deflected, 182 'normally bears against the contact zone 308-1, thus completing a normally closed circuit between connector terminals 294 and 298. Similarly, the fixed end 181 'of the contact spring 160la2 bears against the contact area 306-2 and its movable end 182' normally bears against the contact area 308-2, thus completing a normally closed circuit connecting terminals 295 and 299. In a similar way, the fixed end 181 'of the contact spring 161'-1 bears against the contact zone 307-1 and its movable end 182' normally bears against the contact zone 309 -1 so as to normally connect the connector terminal 296 to the connector terminal 300. Similarly, the fixed end 181 'of the contact springs 161'-2 bears against the contact area 307-2 and its movable end 181' normally bears against the contact area 309-2 so as to thus connect normally to each other the connector terminals 297 and 301.

As will be described in more detail below, the flap 250 cooperates with two sets of contact springs 160 ′ and 161 ′ and pivots under the effect of the introduction of a switch cord plug into the one of the cavities 70 ′ and 71 ′ plug receptors so as to deflect the movable ends 182 ′ of the two sets of contact springs 160 ′ and 161 ′ by moving them away from their respective contact zones up to their open position of circuit. As a result, circuit connections between terminals 294-297 and terminals 298301 are open.

 As can be seen in FIG. 34, each of the terminals of the connector 57 ′ can be connected to a different finger from among the fingers 140 ′ using a separate printed circuit conductor 320 so as to thus establish the connection of control circuit similar to that described in connection with the cell 72 of the first embodiment of jack.

As illustrated in FIG. 34, each of the terminals of the connector 56 'is connected to its associated terminal of the connector 57' using a single contact spring and not two contact springs as was the case in the first jack embodiment shown in Figure 1B. As a result, the total number of contact springs 160′-163 ′ can be halved without reducing the number of normally closed circuits or current conducting paths which are provided in the jack for mutually connecting the terminals of the connectors 56 ′ and 57 '. For example, only six of the contact springs 160 'and six of the contact springs 161' are required to establish twelve normally closed circuits in the jack.

 As can be seen from the diagram shown in Figure 34, the various printed circuit conductors 290, 292 and 320 are each divided into different segments, some being arranged on one side of the printed circuit board 94 'and the other being placed on the opposite side of the printed circuit board 94 ', so as to establish the illustrated circuit connections without the various conductors interfering with each other. It will also be understood that any suitable geometric design or combination of printed circuit conductors 290, 292 and 320 can be used in conjunction with the general means of the present invention, the geometric design or combination shown in the figure being given by way of illustration only and not limiting.

 Referring to FIG. 35, it can be seen that the circuit diagram 303a for establishing the various circuit connections with the fingers 141'-143 ', the connector terminals 294a-301a and the contact springs 162' and 163 ' may be the same as the circuit board drawing 303 shown in Fig. 34. Therefore, the like components of the circuit boards 303 and 303a have been identified by like reference numerals, except that the like reference numbers used to identify the components of the printed circuit 303a are followed by the suffix a to distinguish them from the numerical references used jointly with the printed circuit 303.

 From the above, it will be understood that each of the fingers 141 'is connected by means of a separate conductor 290a of printed circuit to a different terminal among the connector terminals 294a-297a and, furthermore, each of the fingers 142 'is connected, using a separate conductor among the conductors 292a, to a different terminal among the connector terminals 298a-301a.

In addition, each of the fingers 143 'is connected, using a separate conductor among the conductors 320a to a different terminal among the connector terminals 298a-301a.

In Figure 35, only two of the contact springs 162 'and only two of the contact springs 163' are shown for simplicity as in the diagram in Figure 34. The two contact springs 162 'illustrated in Figure 35 are indicated individually at 162'-l and 162'-2. Similarly, the two contact springs 163 'illustrated in FIG. 35 are indicated individually at 163'1- and 163'-2.

 As for the circuit description given with regard to FIG. 34, it can be seen in FIG. 35 that the contact spring 162'-l bears against the contact zones 306-la and 308-la, that the contact spring 162'-2 bears against the contact zones 306-2a and 308-2a, that the contact spring 163'-1 bears against the contact zones 307-la and 309-la, and that the contact spring 163'- 2 door against contact zones 307-2a and 309-2a. Each of the connector terminals 294a-297a is connected by a separate spring among these contact springs to a separate spring among these contact springs at terminals 298a-301a, respectively. Each normally closed circuit of the printed circuit drawing 303a therefore contains a single contact spring as is the case with the printed circuit drawing 303.

As will be described in detail below, the flap 252 cooperates with the two sets of contact springs 162 'and 163' and pivots under the effect of the introduction of one of the plugs 52 or 53 of the bead switching in one of the socket 70'-71 'plug receiver so as to deflect the movable ends 182' of the two sets of contact springs 162 'and 163' away from their respective contact zones until their position opening of the circuit. All the circuits normally connecting the terminals of the connectors 56 ′ and 57 ′ are therefore open, that is to say cut, following the introduction of one of the plugs 52 or 53 of switching cord in one of the cells 70 'or 71' plug receiver
In addition, the introduction of one of the switching cord plugs into the socket 70 'results in the electrical connection of each of the plug contact elements 134 and 136 with a different terminal among the terminals of the connector 5G' by through the previously described printed circuit connections. In addition, the introduction of one of the switching cord plugs into the socket 71 'plug receiver results in the electrical connection of each of the contact elements 134 and 136 plug with a different terminal among the terminals of the connector 57 'via the circuit connections in the printed circuits 303 and 303a.

 Referring to FIGS. 22 (A) - (B) and 23, it can be seen that the body 82 ′ is identical to the body 82, except that the pair, described above, of spring receiving windows has been merged, present on the left side, so that they form a single window or opening 254 through the side wall 89 of the body of the jack On the opposite side of the body 82 ′, the previously described pair of windows have also been merged or receiving openings of springs so that they form a single window or opening 256 through the side wall 88 of the body of the jack. The window 254 opens into the recesses 70 'and 71', on one of the sides of the body, and the window 256 also opens into the cells 70 'and 71' on the opposite side of the body of the jack opposite the window 254.

As can be seen in FIG. 22A, the flap 250 is housed in the window 254 and comprises a portion of ribbed bodies 258 and four pairs of pivot fingers 260, 261, 262 or 263 extending from the front edge of the flap . The pivot fingers 260-263 are slidably housed in separate grooves which are formed between the ribs 218 'on the shoulder 216' of the window. The pivot fingers of each pair are spaced from each other by the width of one of the ribs 218 'so as to accommodate one of these ribs. Thanks to this constructive arrangement, the flap 250 can pivot around d 'an axis which normally intersects the ribs 218' and the pivot fingers 260-263 and extends parallel to the front and rear edges of the window 254 as well as to the median planes containing the longitudinal axes of the cells 70; -72 ;.

 The pivot axis of the flap 250 is perpendicular to the springs 160 'and 161'.

In addition to the pivoting fingers 260-263, the flap 250 also includes, integrally, two pairs of guide fingers 264 and 265 which project rearwards from the rearward-facing edge of the body 258 of the flap. slidingly accommodating different ribs among the spacing ribs 219 'of the body of the jack As can be seen in Figures 24-27, the flap 250 can pivot between two positions angularly spaced from one another. In a first position, the flap 250 has pivoted from the inside so as to extend into the cells 70 'and 71'. In the second position, the flap 250 has pivoted outside to a position where it is outside the cells 70 ′ and 71 ′ and approximately level with the external surface of the side wall 89 ′ of the body of the jack. The partition 90 ′ is notched or scalloped at 267 so as to form a hollow region which allows the shutter 250 to pivot as far as the cells 70 ′ and 71 ′ without being hindered. A pair of bars 268 and 270 prevents the shutter 250 from tilting and tilting out of the window 254 at its upper or lower ends when a plug is inserted into one of the cells 70 'or 71'. The bars 268 and 270 can be formed from a suitable electrically insulating material and are suitably supported on the side wall of the body so as to span the window 254 between the front and rear edges 272 and 274 of this window, perpendicularly at these edges.

 As can be seen, the flap 250 extends over the entire length of the window 254 from the upper edge of the latter to its lower edge. In addition, the flap 250 is disposed between the branches 190 'and 191' of the contact springs 60 'and 161'. More particularly, the flap 250 is located between the segments 194 'of the contact springs 160' and 161 'on its outer side and between the segments 200' of the contact springs 160 'and 161' on its inner side.

The side of the flap 250 which is oriented towards the outside may comprise the rectilinear reinforcing ribs 276 which are parallel and spaced apart. When the flap 250 pivots outwards, the rectilinear segments 194 ′ of the springs 160 ′ and 161 ′ are placed between the ribs 276 so as to be thus between these ribs. The pivoting movement of the flap 250 towards the outside does not result in the deflection of the spring arms 190 ′
The inner side of the flap 250 also comprises a group of rectilinear reinforcing ribs 278 spaced and parallel so as to form a group of spaced and parallel ribs 280. The ribs 278 extend parallel to the ribs 276 and to the branches 191 'of the springs. contact 160 and 161wu An opening 282 is formed in the rear end of each of the grooves 280 and is formed through the rear marginal part 284 of the flap.

 The segment 200 'of spring branches of each of the contact springs 160 and 161 is housed in a different groove among the ribs 280 present on the inner side of the flap 250. These segments 200' of spring branches are therefore located between the ribs 278 present on the inner side of the flap 250 and are spaced from each other by these ribs. The spring branch transition part 202 ′ at the rear end of each segment of the spring branch 200 ′ slides slidably through the opening 282 at the end of its associated groove 280. Thanks to this arrangement, the segments 201 'contact springs 160' and 161 'cover the rear marginal part 284 of the shutter and are arranged outside this part, which is behind the rectilinear opening row 282. Thanks to this constructive arrangement, the branches 191 'of the contact springs 160' and 161 'are associated, that is to say engaged mutually, with the flap 250 at its rear edge remote from its pivot axis. The front or nose parts 192 'of the contact springs 160' and 161 extend around the pivoting edge which is oriented towards the front and which comprises the flap 250, as shown.

 In addition to their mutual engagement with the flap 250, the contact springs 160 'and 161' are arranged in the body 82 'and flex in the same manner as that described with regard to the springs 160 and 161 of the first embodiment.

The branches 1918 of the contact springs 160 and 161 'therefore incline or flex normally inwards in the direction of the printed circuit board 94' in the same way as the branches 191 of the springs of the first embodiment. As a result, the segments 201 ′ of the spring arms of the contact springs 160 ′ and 161 ′ bear against the part 284 of the rear edge of the flap 250 so as to resiliently push the flap 250 inwards to the position where it normally extends into the 70 'and 71' plug receptacles when no switch cord plug is in either of the 70 'or 71' receptacles.

The shutter 252 has the same structure as the shutter 250. Consequently, the same reference numerals have been used to designate the similar parts of the two shutters.

 As can be seen in FIG. 23, the flap 252 is arranged and is pivotally mounted in the window 256 in the same manner as that which has just been described with regard to the flap 250. In addition, the arrangement of the flap 252 with respect to the contact springs 162 ′ and 163 ′ is the same as the arrangement which has just been described with regard to the flap 250 and the contact springs 160 ′ and 161 ′. The contact springs 162 'and 163' are arranged in the body 82 'as described in connection with the first embodiment. The pivot axes of the flaps 250 and 252 are parallel and spaced from each other and they are in a common plane normally intersecting the longitudinal axes of the cells 70'-72 '. The partition 90' is notched or notched in 269 so as to delimit a recessed region which allows the flap 252 to pivot in the cells 70 'and 71' without being hindered by the partition.

Thanks to the aforementioned structure, it will be understood that the flap 252 pivots inward under the force exerted by the branches 191 'of the contact springs 162' and 163 'when no plug of switching cord is in one or the other of the cells 70 'and 71'. Consequently, the flaps 250 and 252 converge towards one another in a direction extending towards the rear so as to define an open mouth diverging towards the outside inside the cells 70 ′ and 71 '' in order to accommodate one or the other of the plugs 52 or 53 when it is introduced into one or the other of the cells 70 'or 71'. As can be seen, the flaps 250 and 252 jointly with the associated contact springs are arranged symmetrically on either side of a non-plane containing the longitudinal axes of the cells 70′-72 ′ and medially cutting the board 94 ′ of printed circuits parallel to the sides thereof are oriented opposite and which carry the circuits.

When one or the other of the plugs 52 or 53 of the switching cord is introduced into the cell 70 ′, the front corners or edges 228 and 229 of the body 130 of the plug come concomitantly to control flaps 250 and 252 along the sides thereof which are oriented inward and therefore move along these sides of the flaps 250 and 252 so as to pivot the latter outward in opposite directions by moving them apart on the other to their extreme positions where they are outside the cells 70 'and 71' inside the windows 254 and 256, respectively.

 The outward pivoting movement which is communicated to shutter 250 following the introduction of a switch cord plug into one or other of the cells 70 ′ or 71 ′ takes place against the force of the branches 191 'of the springs 160' and 161 'and causes these branches 191' to flex by lifting them all at the same time and moving them away from their respective contact zones present on the printed circuit board 94 'whereby the connector terminals 294-297 are electrically disconnected from connector terminals 298-301. At the same time, the outward pivoting movement communicated to shutter 252 following the introduction of a switch cord plug into the one or the other of the cells 70 ′ or 71 ′ causes the branches 191 ′ of the contact springs 162 ′ and 163 ′ to flex and lift, separating them from their respective contact zones present on the printed circuit board 94 ′ of a similar way to electrically disconnect the terminals s 294a-297a of connector terminals 298a-301a of connector.

The introduction of one or other of the plugs 52 or 53 of switching cord into one or the other of the cells 70 'or 711 receptors of the plugs consequently results in an electrical disconnection of the terminals of the connector 56 connector terminals 57 '. When the switch cord plug is in its fully inserted position for closing the circuit and opening the circuit inside one or the other of the cells 70 ′ and 71 ′, the flap 250 is located in the window 254 against the lateral face 252 of the body 130 of the plug and the flap 252 is similarly located in the window 256 against the lateral face 233 of the body 130 of the plug.

 When the switch cord plug is removed from the plug receiving socket, the force exerted by the arms 191 'of the springs 160' and 161 'pushes the spring 250 inwards, which causes it to pivot around its pivot axis to its position shown in Figures 24 and 26 where it extends into the cells 70 'and 71'. The extraction of the switching cord plug also results in a pivoting of the flap 252 about its pivot axis under the force exerted by the branches 191 'of the springs 162' and 163 'which thus push the flap 252 to its position where it also extends into the cells 70 ′ and 71 ′ as shown in FIGS. 24 and 26.

 The impact ends, that is to say contact establishment, 182 ′ of the springs 160 ′ -163 ′ rub between their contact zones when they separate by lifting off from these contact zones and also when 'They come to bear by lowering against said contact areas in the same manner as that described in connection with the first embodiment of jack. In addition, the elbows 230 'of the contact springs 160' and 162 'are housed in the grooves 234 and 235 of the body of the plug when one or the other of the plugs 52 or 53 of cord is introduced. switch in the socket 70 'and releasably lock the plug inside the socket 70' in the same manner as that described in connection with the previous embodiment. Similarly, the elbows 230 'of the springs contact 161 'and 163' are housed in the grooves 234 and 235 of the body of the plug when one or the other of the plugs 52 or 53 of switching cord is inserted into the socket 71 ', which has the effect releasably blocking the switch cord plug inside the cell 71 'in the same manner as that described above.

From the above description7 it will be understood that the contact springs 160'-163 'and the flaps 250 and 52 form a switching means in which the contact springs 160'-163' constitute the switching elements and the flaps 250 and 252 constitute actuators intended to actuate the switching elements to bring them to their circuit open position following the introduction of a switch cord plug in one or the other of the cells. 70 'or 71'. In the first jack embodiment, the switching means does not comprise any separate actuator and comprises the contact springs 160-163 which are actuated by direct contact with the insulating body 130 which carries the contacts and which comprises the cord plug. com mutation.

The type of plug used with the jack of the present invention can be referred to as a plug-in connector with a printed circuit board or a plug-in connector with a card. The cooperating ribs and grooves must be formed on the body of the jack and on the switch cord plug in an arrangement such that the plug can only be inserted in a single predetermined orientation into any of the three cells 70 ' -72 'card receivers.

 To assemble the component parts of the jack shown in FIGS. 22A-33, it is first of all possible to assemble or mount the springs 160 ′ and 161 ′ on the flap 250 by "threading" the branches 191 ′ of the springs through the openings 282 The subassembly comprising the shutter 250 and the springs 160 ′ and 161 ′ in a single block is then introduced into the window 254 after the insertion and fixing of the plate 94 ′ in the body 82 ′ so as to position suitably the flap 250 and the springs 160 'and 161' on the body of the jack. The bars 268 and 270 are then mounted in the window 254. The flap 252 and the springs 162 ′ and 163 ′ can be assembled in the same manner as that described above.

 Referring to FIGS. 15-19 (AB), it can be seen that the body 730 of the plug is hollow internally and that it comprises a contact mounting part 330 as well as a part 332 forming a collar and extending cable receiver. backwards from the contact mounting part 330 at the end of the body 130 which is opposite the open end of the body which is intended to receive the printed circuit board or board.

The contacts 134 and 136 are suitably mounted at some distance from each other in the part 330. The multiconductor cable 54 extends coaxially through the part 332 forming a collar so as to ensure the connection of these conductors with the contact elements 134 and 136.

 The collar portion 332 internally comprises a configuration for suppressing cable anchoring tension, this configuration comprising a series of threads 334 and a pair of diametrically opposite grooves 336 and 338 opening out towards the interior. The grooves 336 and 338 as well as the threads 334 are formed on the cable contact periphery of the collar portion 332. As can be seen, the grooves 336 and 338 extend longitudinally relative to the longitudinal axis of the collar portion 332 and, therefore, relative to the axis of the straight portion of the cable housed in the collar portion 332.

 The threads 334 are arranged inside the rear end of the collar part 332 and are arranged between two bore parts 339 and 341 of the roller part 332, these parts being cylindrical smooth, having a uniform diameter and being intended to receive a cable. All of the fi] ets 334 therefore interrupts the passage with a smooth wall through the collar part 332 as can be seen. The diameters of the bore portions 339 and 341 are equal to or greater than the inside crest diameter of the threads 334, but smaller than the inside bottom diameter of the yarns 334.

The internal diameters of the bore portions 339 and 341 can be roughly equal to the pitch circle diameter of the threadas 334.

 As can be seen in FIGS. 15, 17, 18, 19A and 19B, the body 130 of the plug is divided longitudinally into two complementary one-piece halves or shells 340 and 342. The shells 340 and 342 are molded separately from a suitable electrically insulating material and are fixed to each other using suitable fixing means such as sets 344 of screws and nuts. The shells 340 and 342 bear along an interface which is contained in a plane cutting in the middle the parts 330 and 332 and containing the longitudinal axis of the part forming stick 332 so that the two shells form complementary halves of the part 330 and also the complementary halves of the part 332. The threads 334 are therefore divided into two complementary diametrically opposite and semi-cylindrical segments.

 As can be seen in Figures 19A and 19B, the groove 336 intersects the threaded segment 346 and the groove 338 intersects the threaded segment 348. A plane intersecting in the middle both the groove 336 and the groove 338 normally intersects the plane containing the interface between shells 340 and 342.

 The internal diameter of the bore part 339 and the bore part 341 is approximately equal to the external diameter of the cable 54 when the latter is in the uncompressed state. The crest diameter of the threads 334 is therefore significantly less than this outside diameter of the uncompressed cable.

To assemble the constituent parts of the switching cord with the plug structure shown in FIGS. 15-19A, the circuit connections between the conductors of the cable 54 and the contacts 134 and 136 are first established and the part not arranged. stripped of the cable with outer sheath which surrounds it on one of the complementary halves of the storeroom part 332. The two complementary shells 340 and 342 are then securely fixed to one another using screws 344 so firmly blocking the non-stripped part of the cable 54 between the complementary halves of the collar part 332.

Because the peak diameter of the threads 334 is notably smaller than the outside diameter of the cable 54 in the uncompressed state, the deformable plastic sheath of the outside cable (referenced 350 in FIGS. 8 and 10) is deformed , that is to say extruded1 in the grooves, leading to
inside, between the yarns 334 and also in the grooves 336 and 338 opening inwards. The threads 334 therefore grip and anchor the cable 54 in the collar portion 332 so as to resist the tensile forces which can be applied to the cable and pull it out of the body 130 of the plug. The deformation or extrusion of the sheath 350 of the cable in the grooves 336 and 338 provides a locking or anchoring which releases tensions and which resists twisting or rotation of the cable 54 in the collar portion 332. The locking thus established between the sheath of the outer cable and the threads 334 as well as with the grooves 336 and 338 resists any axial extraction of the cable as well as any twisting or rotation of this cable in the collar part 332.

 As explained above, the contact springs 160-163 and 160'-163 'can each be removed individually from their jack arrangements without having to remove any other part, without the 'we do not have to disassemble the jack and without being forced to break any connections such as soldered connections or the like. This special feature of removing contact springs allows instant and easy disassembly of defective springs. This is particularly useful in cases where one or more springs prove to be defective after the assembly has been completed or are damaged during assembly with the other parts of the jack and therefore require replacement before use or shipment of the jack to a customer.

 In practice, wires can be used to connect the various printed circuit conductors (particularly the ends of these conductors) to the terminals of the connectors 56, 57, 56 'and 57' themselves. The parts of the printed circuit conductors which are connected to these wires or to other non-printed circuit terminals are considered to be the terminal parts. The printed circuits described above therefore include various sets of groups of terminal parts, the number of which corresponds to the number of terminals inside the connectors 56, 57, 56 'and 57'.

 It is understood that the foregoing description has been given purely by way of non-limiting illustration and that variants or modifications may be made thereto within the framework of the present invention.

Claims (15)

 1. Electric jack intended for use with a plug-in connector with printed circuit boards (52, 53) comprising a set of contact elements (134, 136) supported in an electrically insulating body, the electric jack, mentioned above being characterized in that it comprises a case (82) delimiting at least one cell (70, 71, 72) intended to slidingly receive said connector, a printed circuit board (94) comprising an end portion s extending into said cell for reception in said plug-in connector when said connector is manually inserted into said cell, a printed circuit placed on said wafer and comprising a set of first terminal parts (166, 167, 306, 307) as well as a set of second terminal parts (172, 173, 308, 309) and a switching assembly normally placed in a state where it cooperates with said printed circuit to electrically connect said first parts fo rmant terminals to the second terminal parts, said printed circuit comprising conductors extending along said end part of the wafer for electrically connecting said contact elements (134, 136) to said first terminal parts when one introduces selectively said connector in said socket to a position where it receives said end portion, said switch assembly extending in said socket and operable upon receipt of said connector in said socket so as to disconnect electrically said first terminal parts of said second terminal parts.  2. Electric jack according to claim 1, characterized in that said switching assembly comprises a set of contact springs (160, 161) which can be deflected in said cell and having portions (230) placed so as to enter into contact and cooperate with a groove (234, 235) of the body of the connector to snap-lock the connector in the socket after insertion of the connector to a predetermined position in the socket. 3. Electric jack according to claim 1, characterized in that said switching assembly comprises a set of contact springs (160, 161) arranged for a deflection between (a) closed circuit positions where they establish contacting contacting portions of the wafer so as to close the circuits which electrically connect said first terminal portions (166, 167) to said second terminal portions (172, 173) and (b) circuit open positions where they electrically disconnect said first terminal parts from said second terminal parts, said contact springs being normally biased towards their circuit closed position and comprising parts (191) which extend in said cells for contact with the connector body so as to be deflected by the latter to their circuit opening position when said connector is slidably inserted tor in said cell.  4. Electric jack according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said switching assembly comprises a set of contact springs (16o ', 161') and an actuator (250, 252), said contact springs being arranged in view of a deviation between (a) closed circuit positions where they establish contact with contact parts of the wafer so as to close the circuits which electrically connect said first terminal parts (306, 307) to said second parts forming terminals (308, 309) and (b) circuit open positions where they do not bear against said contact parts so as to electrically disconnect said first terminal parts from said second terminal parts, and said actuator bearing against said members forming contact springs and being mounted so as to extend in said cells in order to be attacked and moved by said connector body when the l is inserted e connector in said socket for deflecting said contact springs to their circuit open position. 5. Electric jack according to claim 4, characterized in that said actuator (250, 252) is supported on said housing for a pivoting movement between first and second positions angularly spaced from each other, said actuator extending into said socket in said first position so as to be in the path of said connector (52, 53) when said connector is inserted in said socket in order to be thus attacked by said connector body and to be moved by the latter to said second position where it is outside the path of said connector in said cell, said contact springs (160 ', 161') being deflected from their closed circuit position to their position opening of the circuit by the pivoting movement of said actuator from its first position to its second position, and that the contact springs act on said actuator so as to elastically push said action neur to said first position.  6. Electric jack according to claim 5, characterized in that said housing has an opening (254, 256) formed through one of its outer walls and opening into said cell (70 ', 71'), and said actuator (250 , 252) being pivotally supported along an edge of said opening so as to extend into said cell in said first position and to be in said opening on one of the sides of said cell in said second position. 7. Electric jack according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching assembly comprises a set of elastide contact members (160, 161) each comprising a first and a second branch (190, 191), the first branches ( 190) of the elastic members being in contact with one of the first contact-forming parts (166, 167, 306, 307), the second branch (191) of the said elastic members being elastically biased towards closed circuit positions where the said members establish a contact with second contact-forming parts (172, 173, 308, 309) of the wafer so as to complete circuits which electrically connect said first terminal parts to said. second terminal forming parts and said second branch being able to be deflected towards circuit open positions where said members electrically disconnect said first terminal forming parts. said second terminal forming parts, when said connector is received in said cell and the first and second branches of each elastic member form a body with one another at their ends (192) lying opposite the regions where they are in contact with said first and second contacting parts, each elastic member extending in said housing and being bent backwards towards itself in the region where its first and second branches form one with the other so that its second branch (191) is between its first branch - (190) and said plate (94). 8. Electric jack according to claim 7, characterized in that the second branch of each elastic member is supported in said housing in order to flex independently of the first branch of said member.  9. Electric jack according to claim 7, characterized in that the second branch of each elastic member is supported on a surface of said housing in the region (192) where it is connected to its first associated branch and can flex freely along its intermediate region (202) extending between the locations where it rests on said surface of the housing and bears on the second associated part forming contact among the second contact parts, the intermediate region of each of the second branches bending normally towards the wafer and being positioned in order to flex in the opposite direction away from the wafer in response to reception of the connector in said cell, the second branch then being deflected towards its circuit opening position 10. Electric jack according to any one of claims 3 to 9, characterized in that said housing comprises at least one opening (210, 211, 212, 213) which is formed through an outer wall of said housing and which opens into said cell, said elastic stubs being detachably trapped in coincidence with said opening so that they can be removed through the opening.  11. Electric jack according to any one of claims 3 to 10, characterized in that the said spring-forming members are supported in the said housing (82) by being trapped and held in place between the cooperating surfaces of the said housing (82) and of the plate (94) without being fixed either to the housing or to the plate.  12. Electric jack according to any one of claims 3 to 11, characterized in that said spring-forming members are supported in said housing and flex in the latter so that they rub against their associated parts forming contact when separate from said contact parts by lifting and when they come to bear against said contact parts by lowering  13. Electric jack according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that said spring-loaded members comprise portions (230) placed so as to cooperate with a formation (234, 235) on said connector body to releasably lock said connector in said cell when inserting said connector to a position previously selected in said cell.  14. Electric jack intended to be used with a plug-in connector with printed circuit boards (52, 53) comprising a set of contact elements, said electric jack being characterized by the fact that it comprises a housing (82 ') delimiting at least first and second cells (70, 71) each adapted to slide said connector, a printed circuit board comprising. (a) a set of first terminal parts (306), (b) a set of second terminal parts (307), (c) a set of third terminal parts (308) and (c) a set of fourth parts forming terminals (309), a set of first elastic contact members (160 ') arranged for another deviated between (1) closed circuit positions where said members are in contact with first contact parts of said printed circuit and cooperate with said printed circuit so as to electrically connect said first terminal parts to said second terminal parts and (ii) circuit open positions where said members electrically disconnect said first terminal parts from said second terminal parts, and a set of sedonds elastic contact members (161 ') arranged to be diverted between (i) closed positions of the circuit where said members are in contact with the second p artiesdudit printed circuit and cooperate with said printed circuit so as to electrically connect said third terminal parts to said fourth terminal parts and (ii) circuit open positions where said members electrically disconnect said third terminal parts of said fourth forming parts terminals, and an actuator (250, 252) supported on said housing in order to be moved between first and second positions spaced from each other, said first and second elastic members being normally biased towards their closed positions circuit and being encountered by said actuator to be deflected to their circuit open positions by movement of said actuator from said first position to said second position, said actuator extending into said first and second cells so to be encountered by said connector and to be moved by the latter until at said second position upon insertion of said connector into either of said first and second cells, and said printed circuit comprising (a) first conductive means extending to electrically contact said contact elements of said connector and (b) second conductive means for electrically contacting said contact elements upon receipt of said connector in said second cell.  15. Method for manufacturing an electric jack comprising a housing (82) which comprises at least one cell (70, 71, 72) intended to slidely receive a plug-in connector with printed circuit boards (52, 53), a means forming printed circuit board (94) having an end portion extending into said socket to be received in said connector upon insertion of said connector into said socket, and switching means comprising a set of members contact contacts (160, 161) which are normally placed in a state where they cooperate with a printed circuit located on said wafer means for the purpose of electrically connecting two sets of jack terminals to each other and which can be actuated in response to receipt of the connector in said wafer so as to electrically disconnect the two sets of terminals from each other, said method being characterized in that it consists in forming an opening e (210, 211, 212, 213) through an outer wall of said housing (82) to introduce said pad means (94) into said housing (82) and to introduce said elastic members through said opening to positions in said housing or said members are removably trapped by cooperating surfaces located on said housing and on said wafer means.