Patent ID: 6672893
Filing Date: 2004-01-06
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
A modular terminal block assembly comprising in combination:a first modular shell having a base, and opposing side walls extending downwardly from said base wall, an insulation displacement connector housing mounted to said base and including two chambers in said housing for receiving two insulation displacement connectors, a first connector element at one end portion of said modular shell, a second connector element at a second end portion of said modular shell, and a plurality of partitions extending from each side wall toward the other side wall; a first pair of insulation displacement connectors mounted in said two chambers of said housing of said first modular shell; a second modular shell having a base, and opposing side walls extending downwardly from said base wall, an insulation displacement connector housing mounted to said base wall and including two chambers in said housing for receiving two insulation displacement connectors, a first connector element at one end portion of said second modular shell, a second connector element at a second end portion of said second modular shell, and a plurality of partitions extending from each side wall toward the other side wall, the second modular shell being essentially identical to said first modular shell; a second pair of insulation displacement connectors mounted in said two chambers of said housing of said second modular shell; a first end element having a connector element engageable with one of the connector elements of said first or said second modular shell; a second end element having a connector element engageable with the other of the connector elements of said first or said second modular shell; a universal connector for joining said first and said second modular shells, said universal connector having two complementary connector elements, each to engage one of the connector elements of said first and said second modular shells, and said universal connector also having two pair of parallel extending arms, said arms being disposed parallel to said opposing side walls of said modular shells, and each of said arms being engageable with a partition; first and second activators being operatively engaged with each of the insulation displacement connector housings of said first and said second modular shell for facilitating the connection of electrical conductors with said insulation displacement connectors, said activators including insulative material molded in portions of said activator; a first barrier strip connected to said first modular shell, said first barrier strip having openings and slots for receiving said insulation displacement connectors and said partitions and for allowing the passage of a protective insulative material, said first barrier strip being positioned between said side walls and abutting said insulation displacement connector housing of said first modular shell; a second barrier strip connected to said second modular shell, said second barrier strip having openings and slots for receiving said insulation displacement connectors and said partitions and for allowing the passage of a protective insulative material, said second barrier strip being positioned between said side walls and abutting said insulation displacement connector housing of said second modular shell; insulative material located in said housings of said modular shells and around said insulation displacement connectors above said barrier strips and in said activators, said insulative material allowing for the passage of electrical conductors to and from said insulation displacement connectors; and a protective insulative material located below said barrier strips and between said side walls and above said barrier strips and between said housings and said side walls and around said partitions and said arms of said universal connector, said protective insulative material being harder than said insulative material located in said housing.