GB2475490A

GB2475490A - Electrical connector with pivoting wire fixture

Info

Publication number: GB2475490A
Application number: GB0920220A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gary Flynn
Original assignee: GFI CABLES Ltd
Current assignee: GFI CABLES Ltd
Priority date: 2009-11-18
Filing date: 2009-11-18
Publication date: 2011-05-25
Also published as: GB0920220D0

Abstract

An electrical connector for terminating a plurality of wires comprises: a connector body 11 with plural insulation displacement contacts 13, 13a; a yoke 1 with a plurality of grooves, each groove adapted to receive an insulated wire 10; and retaining means for securing the wires 10 within the grooves. The yoke 1 is pivotally connected to the connector body 11 and the grooves are arranged such that each wire 10 is terminated to a separate insulation displacement contact (IDC) 13, 13a when the yoke is pivoted to a closed position. The retaining means may be a lid 5 which may be pivotally connected to the yoke 1 and which may have a plurality of projections which engage the wires to prevent longitudinal movement. The lid 5 may have holes through which the insulation displacement contacts 13, 13a pass when the yoke 1 is closed. The grooves may be arranged in parallel pairs, wherein each pair merges into a single channel and the distance between adjacent grooves may differ to minimise crosstalk. The groove may be visually distinguishable to correctly locate the wires, The insulation displacement contacts 13, 13a may be connected to connection wires which may form a further connection to the electrical contacts of a plug or socket which is integral to the connector body 11.

Description

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Known electrical connectors for use in a communications system have insulation displacement contacts which can be terminated to individual wires in the system. The wires must be driven into the contacts with some force so that the insulation on each wire will be pierced by its contact and the contact will electrically engage the conductive core of the wire. A problem with these connectors is that a substantial force is required to drive the fixture toward the contacts, and use of a tool to drive the fixture is often required.

A solution of the art has been the use of a connector having a pivoting fixture with holes into which the insulated wires are inserted. Termination of the wires is effected by pivoting the fixture onto the body of the connector, which forces the wires into the blades of insulation piercing contacts. The pivoting fixture assists in providing additional leverage to allow the wires to be forced onto the insulation displacement contacts. Such a device is known from US5947761.

A problem with this connector is that it requires individual wires to be threaded into the pivoting fixture. For pairs of wires, this is not usually a problem, but for larger numbers considerable manual dexterity is required.

The present invention addresses this and other problems of the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect, the invention provides an electrical connector for terminating a plurality of wires, the connector comprising: i) a connector body comprising a plurality of insulation displacement contacts; ii) a yoke pivotally connected to the connector body, the yoke provided with a plurality of grooves, each groove adapted to receive an insulated wire; and iii) retaining means for securing the wires within the grooves; the grooves being arranged such that each wire becomes terminated to a separate insulation displacement contacts when the yoke is pivoted to a closed position.

Insulation displacement contacts are known, and represent a means of directly contacting to an insulated wire. The contact is in the form of a metal leaf defining a slit. When an insulated wire is inserted into the slit, the edges of the slit cut through the insulation to connect the underlying wire. Such contacts are generally used for rapid connection of insulated cables and the like.

Where required, the body may also define a hole for accepting other electrical components, such as a capacitor.

In some embodiments, the connector is a telephone socket.

In other embodiments, the electrical connector may be a telephone plug. Such connectors may be used as telephone adapters. The body may be integrally formed as a plastics moulding. A face plate may be provided as a separate component.

For a better understanding of the invention, and purely by way of example, a specific embodiment will now be described with reference to the drawings.

N THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a plan view of yoke according to one embodiment of the invention Figure 2 is a section view of a yoke and lid according to one embodiment of the invention Figure 3 is a section view of a yoke with lid positioned according to one embodiment of the invention Figure 4 is a perspective view of an electrical connector according to the invention, with the yoke in an open configuration Figure 5 is a sectional view of an electrical connector according to the invention, with the yoke in a closed configuration Figure 6 is a plan view of the lid element according to the invention Figure 7 is a plan view of an alternative yoke according to another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to Figure 1, the yoke (1) of the invention has a generally flat face, with a series of parallel grooves (2) running from a first end of the yoke to a point along part of the length of the face. The yoke is fiwther provided with a pair of outwardly pointing, cylindrical projections (3) which project from sidewalls adjoining the face.

Also projecting from the sidewalls are four sloping projections (4). As can be seen in figure 2, the grooves are frustocylindrical (i.e. form a cylindrical segment) in nature.

Referring to Figure 2, insulated wire (9) is of a similar diameter to the groove (2), but requires the application of a slight force to snap the wire (9) into the groove (2).

Thus, in operation, the user lays an insulated wire (9) along the length of a groove, applies a downward force, and the wire is retained in the groove by the width of the groove opening being smaller than the diameter of the wire (9). A retained wire is shown at (10). The user then repeats the process for each insulated wire (9) emerging, for example, from a telecoms or data cable (12). The placing and snapping into the grooves of each wire in turn is operationally much more straightforward than threading the wires simultaneously into a plurality of holes, and thus makes the connector of the invention suitable for use by laypersons as well as professional electricians.

When all the wires (10) have been located in their relevant grooves (2), lid member (5) is affixed to secure them. Lid (5) is provided with a back of approximately the same proportions as the grooved face of yoke (1), the back having an inner face provided with a series of projections (8), and lid sidewalls (7) which project perpendicular to the back. Lid sidewalls (7) are provided with inward-facing recesses (6), which mate with sloping projections (4) provided on yoke (1) to snap fit yoke (1) and lid (5) together. This is illustrated in figure 3. Projections (8) grip the insulated wires (10), and retain them securely in position.

As illustrated in Figure 6, lid (5) is provided with two rows (16), (16a) of holes, which pass through the lid. Each hole aligns above a groove (2) and a contained wire (10) when the lid (5) is snapped into position over the yoke (1) The overall arrangement of the connector prior to terminating wires (10) is shown in Figure 4. Yoke (I) receives wires (10) emerging from cable (12) as set out above, and these are retained by the lid (5) which is securely mated with the yoke (1).

Projections (3) engage with sockets provided on the inner faces of lugs (14) which project upwardly from the top face of the connector body (11). This enables the yoke/lid assembly to pivot relative to the connector body (11) about point (14).

Connector body is provided with two rows of insulation displacement contacts (1 3a), (13). Each insulation displacement contact is positioned to pass through a corresponding hole (16), (16a) provided in lid (5) when yoke/lid assembly is pivoted shut. :is

The closed electrical connector is shown in Figure 5. Pivoting of the yoke/lid assembly towards the connector body (11) allows insulation displacement contacts (13a), (13) to pass through holes (16), (16a) in the lid (5), and forces wires (10) between the blades of the insulation displacement contacts (13a), (13), causing an electrical connection to be formed. Insulation displacement contacts (13 a), (13) are attached to further connection wires, and emerge from the connection body as cable (15).

The retaining means is preferably a lid. However, in alternative embodiments, the retaining means may be a gripping element, such as deformable jaws.

In the embodiment illustrated in the Figures, the lid is a separate component.

However, it may be integrally formed with the yoke, and close by pivoting relative to it.

Preferably, the grooves are arranged in pairs. More preferably, the distance between a groove and the other groove in the pair is different from the distance between that groove and the adjacent groove of an adjacent pair. This arrangement leads to minimization of cross-talk.

In some embodiments, the wires to be connected are provided as twisted pairs. In this arrangement, it is desirable to maintain the twist for as far down the length of the wire as possible, as this avoids long parallel stretches of wire, which can result in crosstalk.

For this reason, in a preferred embodiment, each pair of grooves merges into a single channel to maintain the twist into as far as possible. This arrangement is illustrated in Figure 7. Yoke (1) is provided with grooves (2), pairs of which merge into channels (17). A twisted pair of wires (18) fits within the channel (17); individual wires (10) are placed within the grooves (2).

The grooves may be visually distinguishable to facilitate the end user locating each wire in the correct groove. For example, the wires in a telecommunications cable are usually colour coded, and each groove may be painted in the corresponding colour.

Alternatively, the visual identification may be placed on the lid.

The insulation displacement contacts may be connected to connection wires for onward connection to a plug, socket or electrical appliance, Alternatively, the insulation displacement contacts may be connected to a printed circuit board.

Claims

CLAIMSI. An electrical connector for terminating a plurality of wires, the connector comprising: i) a connector body comprising a plurality of insulation displacement contacts; ii) a yoke pivotally connected to the connector body, the yoke provided with a plurality of grooves, each groove adapted to receive an insulated wire; and iii) retaining means for securing the wires within the grooves; the grooves being arranged such that each wire becomes terminated to a separate insulation displacement contacts when the yoke is pivoted to a closed position.
2. An electrical connector according to claim I, wherein the retaining means comprises a lid.
3. An electrical connector according to claim 2, wherein the lid comprises a plurality of projections which engage with the wires to prevent longitudinal movement thereof.
4. An electrical connector according to claim 2 or 3 wherein the lid is pivotally connected to the yoke.
5. An electrical connector according to any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the lid is provided with a plurality of holes, through which the insulation displacement contacts pass when the yoke is closed.
6. An electrical connector according to any preceding claim wherein the grooves are arranged in parallel pairs.
7. An electrical connector according to claim 6 wherein the distance between a groove and the other groove in the pair is different from the distancc between that groove and the adjacent groove of an adjacent pair.
8. An electrical connector according to claim 6 or 7 wherein each pair of grooves merges into a single channel.
9. An electrical connector according to any preceding claim wherein the grooves are visually distinguishable to facilitate the correct location of wires.
10. An electrical connector according to any preceding claim wherein the insulation displacement contacts are connected to connection wires.
11. An electrical connector according to claim 10 wherein the connection wires form a further connection to the electrical contacts of a plug or socket.
12. An electrical connector according to claim 11 wherein the plug or socket is integral to the connector body.