Abstract:
A telecommunications/data link and connector assembly is provided including a transmission cable comprising a plurality of transmission lines, a first interface end assembly and a second interface end assembly. The first interface end assembly comprises a first contact alignment body including a line connection end and an opposite end. A first end plurality of contact elements is provided with each of the contact elements being positioned and aligned by the first contact alignment body and extending from adjacent to the line connection end toward the opposite end. Each of the first side contact elements is movable between a contact position and a non-contact position. Each of the first side contact elements includes a contact area and a line connection area for an electrical connection with a line. A first end shield housing is provided wherein the first contact alignment body is disposed in the first end shield housing in a locked position. The contact alignment body may be removed from the first shield upon unlocking. The second interface end assembly has a second contact alignment body including a line connection end and an opposite end. A second end plurality of contact elements is provided with each of the contact elements being positioned and aligned by the second contact alignment body and extending from adjacent to the line connection end toward the opposite end. Each of the second side contact elements is movable between a contact position and a non-contact position, each of the second side contact elements including a contact area and a line connection area for an electrical connection with a line. A second end shield housing is provided wherein the second contact alignment body is disposed in the second end shield housing in a locked position.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to telephone systems and local area network systems and more particularly, to an improved high density connector assembly for use within buildings for supplying a plurality of work areas with a selection of voice and data transmission links. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Commercial space is often provided as open floor areas. These are often divided into work areas (cubicals). The occupant of the commercial space typically determines the most efficient use of the floor space for its own needs and selects how the floor space is to be divided into smaller working areas through the use of portable wall panels and similar structures. So called “systems” furniture is used for dividing large floor spaces into smaller work areas (cubicals). 
     Systems furniture arrangements typically utilize interior upright space-dividing panels which connect together, serially, through two panel straight or angled connections, or through suitable three- or four-panel connections to define a large plurality of individual work areas. Such panels are typically less than floor-to-ceiling height and cooperate with other furniture components to define an equipped work area. 
     Each work area must be supplied with adequate electrical power and communication cabling. Various systems and components have been developed including modular electrical systems which cooperate with and which readily mount on the panels. This allows the panels to be reconfigured and allows the supply of power to the work areas. 
     Systems have been proposed to avoid the use of a large number of conventional four pair communication cables fed through floor conduits or ceiling clearance spaces to the various work areas. Examples of such prior art attempts include the systems and devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,272,277; 5,160,276 and 4,928,303. 
     Numerous systems have been proposed relating to power lines and systems furniture. Many of these systems include features which solve particular problems relating to power transmission and distribution with systems furniture. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,781,609 discloses a multicircuit electrical system which is used with wall panels. The electrical system is a seven conductor system employing three live and three neutral conductors for defining three separate electrical circuits each having a separate neutral. A portable power tap unit (a receptacle unit) can be plugged into the power block for selective engagement with any one of the three circuits. Although this system provides great advantages with regard to power and selecting one of the various circuits at the location, after the wall panels are put into place, using the tap feature, the system involves a great many components and is particular to the power distribution problem. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,370 discloses another electrical system for use with interior space dividing walls. The system is prefabricated and includes elongate harnesses mounted within channels which extend interiorly of the space-dividing members. Adjacent harnesses are electrically joined by flexible electrical jumpers which create plug like connections with power blocks. This system provides significant advantages as to ease of use. However, the system again includes numerous components which adds significant expense. Additionally, the system again includes features which are directed toward power distribution and problems associated with power distribution. 
     SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a high density high performance transmission and connector system for telecommunications and data applications, wherein the connector provides a good physical and electrical connection such that transmission portions can be linked while maintaining high signal quality, even for high frequency applications and which system allows for a simple tapping of signals at the connector. 
     According to the invention, a telecommunications/data link and connector assembly is provided including a transmission cable comprising a plurality of transmission lines, a first interface end assembly and a second interface end assembly. The first interface end assembly comprises a first contact alignment body including a line connection end and an interface end. A first end plurality of contact elements is provided with each of the contact elements positioned and aligned by the first contact alignment body and extending from adjacent to the line connection end toward the interface end. Each of the first side contact elements is movable between a contact position and a non-contact position. Each of the first side contact elements includes a contact area and a line connection area for an electrical connection with a line. A first end shield housing is provided wherein the first contact alignment body is disposed in the first end shield housing in a locked position. The second interface end assembly has a second contact alignment body including a line connection end and an interface end. A second end plurality of contact elements is provided with each of the contact elements being positioned and aligned by the second contact alignment body and extending from adjacent to the line connection end toward the interface end. Each of the second side contact elements is movable between a contact position and a non-contact position, each of the second side contact elements including a contact area and a line connection area for an electrical connection with a line. A second end shield housing is provided wherein the second contact alignment body is disposed in the second end shield housing in a locked position. Each of the first end shield and the second end shield is substantially identical and matable. These end shields are also matable with a first end shield and a second end shield of a substantially identical telecommunications/data link and connector assembly. Contact elements carried by each the contact alignment body are in a contact position when an associated end shield is in a mated position. A tap is provided which is insertable between contact elements for tapping signals carried by the contact elements. 
     The tap includes a tap transmission line and connected contact portions. The tap contact portions make electrical contact with one of a first side plurality of contacts and a second side plurality of contacts elements. 
     A contact displacement means is provided for moving contacts between the contact position and the non-contact position allowing insertion of the tap between the first side plurality of contact elements and the second side plurality of contact elements. The contact displacement means includes a first contact opening device connected to the first side plurality of contact elements. The first contact opening device is engaged by the tap means for moving contacts between the contact position and the non-contact position allowing insertion of the tap between the first side plurality of contacts and the second side plurality of contacts. The contact displacement means preferably also includes a second contact opening device connected to the second side plurality of contacts and a tip of the tap means. The first contact opening device and the second contact opening device are for moving contacts between the contact position and the non-contact position. 
     The invention also includes a process of forming a telecommunications/data link and connector assembly including providing a contact alignment body with grooves for contacts and spaces for receiving wire side contact ends. The contacts are positioned in the grooves with wire contact ends extending into a wire and wire side contact end receiving spaces. A contact displacement member is provided connected to ends of the contacts at the interface end. A wire guide with a plurality of wire channels is also provided. The wire guide has a cable end with a small width and a contact alignment body end with a larger width. The wire guide channels each have a wire path of substantially identical length, extending from the cable side to the contact alignment body side. A cable with wire terminal ends is employed. These wire terminal ends are positioned in the guide channels of the wire guide and a contact portion of the terminal ends extends out of the guide channels. The contact portions are electrically connected with corresponding contacts at wire side ends of the contacts. The cable, the wire guide and the contact displacement assembly are joined by applying an overlay molded housing. The overlay housing is applied by positioning a portion of the cable, the wire guide and a portion of the contact displacement assembly in a mold and injecting material in the mold to form the overlay molded housing. The connected elements with the overlay molded housing forms a single contact displacement assembly. 
     The wire contact ends and the contact wire side ends are preferably electrically connected by ultrasonic bonding (or ultrasonic welding). The contact alignment body preferably includes mold housing receiving sockets for receiving material of the overlay molded housing therein. The overlay molded housing preferably defines support rails. 
     A plurality of the single contact displacement assemblies are provided. These are inserted into a shield element forming a plurality of spaces. The shield element also includes a plurality of alignment portions corresponding to each of the spaces. Two substantially identical shield elements may be mated by connecting the alignment portions. The alignment portions (alignment tabs) are preferably male and female in an alternating arrangement, whereby two shields of substantially identical form are mated by engaging the alignment portions while the shields are facing and one is rotated 180° with respect to the other. 
     The shields are preferably formed of a plastic with embedded metallic elements. The metallic elements may be for example stainless steel. This provides an important shielding function (shielding one mated contact set from adjacent mated contacts). This advantageously affects the performance of the connector interface ends when they are mated with a substantially identical interface end. 
     After inserting a contact alignment body of each single contact displacement assembly into each space of the shield, the contact alignment bodies are locked into place. When the shields are mated, the contacts are engaged for passing electrical signals. 
     An indicator label element for a first side of the shield is provided and another indicator label element is provided for another side of the shield. Each indicator label element includes receiving grooves for receiving a plurality of the support rails to cooperate with the single contact displacement assemblies and the shield to form a connector block. 
     The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a six circuit contact displacement assembly including two interface ends; 
     FIG. 2A is a left top perspective view of a shield element of the contact displacement assembly of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 2B is a right top perspective view of the shield element of FIG. 2A; 
     FIG. 3A is an enlarged view of the detail A of FIG. 2A; 
     FIG. 3B is an enlarged view of the detail B of FIG. 2B; 
     FIG. 3C is an enlarged view of the detail C of FIG. 2A; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of two shield elements in a position oriented for mating, with the tongue element shown in phantom in the locked mating position; 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded view of an interface end with the tap shown in a position for engagement; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of interface ends of a single contact displacement assembly (CDA), a component of the six circuit CDA of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view of an interface end of the single CDA assembly of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 7B is a top view of a cable with twisted pair wires passing through a wire guide and connecting to contacts of the contact alignment body of an interface end; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the wire guide; 
     FIG. 9A is a perspective view of the contact alignment body with contacts attached to a lead frame and connected contact displacement device being inserted therein, prior to connection with the wires and wire guide; 
     FIG. 9B is a perspective view of the contact alignment body with contacts attached to a lead frame inserted therein, prior to connection with the wires and wire guide; 
     FIG. 9C is a cross sectional view showing the contact alignment body prior to insertion of the contacts; 
     FIG. 9D is a bottom front perspective view showing the contact alignment body before being associated with the contacts and contact displacement device; 
     FIG. 10A is a cutaway view showing a portion of the cable and twisted pair terminal ends; 
     FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view of the cable; 
     FIG. 11 is a interior side front perspective view of the color indicator label of the six circuit contact displacement assembly of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 12 is an interior side front perspective view of the circuit indication label support element of the six circuit contact displacement assembly of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 13A is a left top perspective view of the tap according to the invention; 
     FIG. 13B is a right bottom perspective view of the tap according to the invention; 
     FIG. 13C is a front view of the main tap element, prior to the main tap element being connected with lines of a cable being joined with a tap molded portion; 
     FIG. 14 is a partial side cutaway view illustrating contact between contacts of mated interfaces; and 
     FIG. 15 is a side sectional view showing a mated interface with an inserted tap wherein a line is tapped and a downstream line is disconnected. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention comprises a multi-circuit contact displacement assembly (CDA) generally designated  10 . The assembly includes a fist interface end assembly  6  and an identical (substantially identical, apart from minor tolerance variations) second interface end assembly  8 . Although the interface ends  6  and  8  are identical, they have male and female portions (alignment tabs) whereby they are adapted to be positioned in a mated contact state. Each interface end  6 ,  8  is intended to be used for mating connection with another multi-circuit CDA to provide a linking of transmission lines at the contact interfaces and to provide a tapping region for tapping the lines. The multi-circuit contact displacement assembly  10  is particularly useful when disposed in modular office furniture components such as modular walls used to make office cubicals. A plurality of contact circuit assemblies may be provided in parallel (such as three) for eighteen different single contact displacement assemblies in parallel providing a multiplicity of two pair lines. 
     FIG. 1 shows a six circuit CDA  10  with each interface end ( 6 ,  8 ) having a shield  12  supporting a plurality of contact alignment bodies  14 . As discussed further below, the contact alignment bodies  14  may be snapped into shield  12  where they are retained for providing one connection side at a contact interface. The contact alignment bodies  14  are part of single contact displacement alignment (CDA) assemblies  18 . In the position as shown in FIG. 1, with the single CDAs  18  supported by shield  12 , color indicator label element  16  may be connected to the single CDA assemblies  18 . Additionally, a circuit indicator element  20  may be connected to the single CDA assemblies  18  on a non-tap insertion side of each interface. On a tap side of the interface, the single CDA assemblies  18  are exposed. 
     FIG. 2A shows a left top perspective view of a housing, particularly a shield housing  12 . The shield housing  12  is preferably a unitary molded structure. The shield housing  12  is preferably formed of a plastic with embedded stainless steel fibers or stainless steel elements to provide an electrical shield function. The shield  12  has an upper surface  26 , a tap access side  28 , a non-access side  30  as well as a bottom  32  (see FIG.  1 ). The bottom  32  includes a tongue  34  which provides an engagement function for connection of two interface ends. The tongue includes a tongue bezel  36 . To provide for engagement, each shield includes a male enclosure portion  38  and a female enclosure portion  40  (these are also referred to as alignment tabs). These two enclosure portions mate for connection of two interface ends. The tongue bezel  36  provides for ease of insertion of the tongue  34  between an upper surface of male enclosure portion  38  and an interior surface of upper portion  26 . On the underside or bottom side  32 , the tongue includes an engagement bezel  42  with a locking rear edge. This allows a locking of one interface side by engagement of the engagement bezel  42  with the back edge of upper portion  26  as shown in phantom line in FIG.  4 . The ramp  44  assists in locking the assemblies by providing a friction surface. The stop portion  46  provides a stop function upon contact of the front edge of stop portion  46  with a front edge of the shield upper part  26 . Interface sides of single CDA assemblies  18  are connected to each other via single CDA assembly cable  22 . 
     FIGS. 3A,  3 B and  3 C provide enlarged views of the shield  12 . As seen in FIG. 3A, at the access side  28  tap entry portion  50  delimits an upper edge of one side of a tap slot  56  which will be defined by mated interface ends. At the tap side  28 , the male enclosure portion  38  includes a female recess  52  and a male portion  54 . Male portion  54  is tapered to allow ease of connection of the two parts for mating contact. As can be seen from FIG. 3B, just behind each enclosure portion (both male enclosure portion  38  and female enclosure portion  40 ), the shield  12  has locking slots  57 . These slots  57  are used for fixing the single CDA assemblies  18  to the shield  12 . The shield  12  is shown in a position oriented for mating with another shield  12  in FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 shows a single contact assembly  18  including a single interface element end and portions of the associated cable  22 . Each interface end of the assembly  18  includes an overlay molded housing  58 . This overlay molded housing  58  has a function of joining the various components of each interface end of assembly  18 . The overlay molded housing  58  includes support rails  60 . These are discussed further below. Each assembly  18  also includes a contact alignment body  14  with contacts  62  and contact opening device  66 . Each interface end of the assembly  18  also includes a wire guide  64  (see FIGS. 7A,  7 B and FIG.  8 ). 
     FIG. 7A shows a cross-sectional view of an interface end of assembly  18 , taken just above the contact surface. It can be seen that the overlay molded housing  58  extends into a region of the contact alignment body  14  to connect overlay molded housing  58  and alignment body  14 . In joining with the body  40 , overlay molded housing  58  also houses and surrounds wire guide  64 . Overlay molded housing  58  also extends into the channels  88  which are provided for twisted pair terminal ends  110 . This is discussed further below. 
     FIG. 7B shows a cable  22  with twisted pair terminal ends  110  extending into wire guide  64 . The twisted pair terminal ends  110  also extend into contact alignment bodies  14  where they are connected (and make contact) with contact  62 . The structure shown in FIG. 7B is the single CDA assembly  18  just prior to the application of the overlay molded housing  58 . 
     FIG. 8 shows the wire guide  64  with a variety of channels  63 . These channels  63  are significant as they provide twisted pair channels which are of substantially identical length (from one end to an opposite end). In this way, twisted pair wires  110 , as shown in FIG. 10 can be used which have terminating ends which are of substantially the same length for each twisted pair  110 . This provides a significant advantage as to manufacturing. Wire guide body  64  includes alignment protuberances  92  which facilitate alignment of the wire guide body  64  and the contact alignment body  14  during manufacture. Wire guide body  64  also includes overhang portions  64  which help retain the twisted pair within the channels  63  of wire guide body  64 . 
     FIG. 9B shows the contact alignment body  14  with associated contact elements  62  still connected to a lead frame  73  (the lead frame is subsequently removed) and contact displacement device (or contact displacement device)  66 . As can be seen in FIG. 9A, the contact opening device  66  has a tap cam follower  68  with locking protuberances (or posts)  70  for locking in the contact position. The cam follower  68  includes bezel ramp  72  which allows insertion of the tap  138  and begins movement of the contact opening device  66  for moving contact portion  76  out of engagement as a tap  138  is inserted between contacts of mated interfaces. Each contact element  62  includes a spring portion with bend  74  and barbs  78 . 
     As can be seen in FIGS. 9A and 9D, each contact alignment body  14  has a front end with a receiving region  79  and a similar tap side receiving region  79 ′. These have at their very front edge a engagement bezel  80 . As can be seen from FIGS. 9A and 9D, each bezel  80  is on an upper and lower side of each alignment body  14 . At an upper side of each contact alignment body  14  there is provided a stop edge element  82 . At the back side of contact alignment body  14  there are wire openings  88  as well as alignment slots  90  (see FIG.  9 A). 
     FIG. 9D shows the underside of the contact alignment body  14 . This includes a molded housing receiving space  96 . By viewing FIGS. 9D and 9A, it can be appreciated that the overlap molded housing  58  extends up to the rear side of stop edge  82 , extends into molded housing receiving sockets  86  and into molded housing receiving space  96 , thereby unifying the contact alignment body  14 , the wire guide  64  and the electrically connected contacts and twisted pair terminal ends. This assembly technique has the further advantage that the overlay molded housing  58  (see FIGS. 6,  7 A and  7 B), surrounds the cable jacket  112 , surrounds the twisted pair terminal ends  110  and extends into the terminal end panels of wire guide  64 . Overlay molded housing  58  also surrounds a rear portion of contact alignment body  14  and extends into the molded housing receiving sockets  86 , surrounds the wire contact interface engages the contact barbs  78  and also fills the molded housing receiving space  96 . This results in, among other things, a joining of the cable jacket  112  and the contact alignment body  14  such that there is no strain of the individual twisted pair terminating ends  110  and there is no strain at the contact interface between twisted pair terminating ends  110  and contact elements  62 . 
     An alternative embodiment of the invention may also be provided wherein no wire guide  64  is provided. In this case the pair of terminating ends  110  are welded or otherwise electrically connected and affixed to contact elements  62  and the overlay molded housing  58  is applied. The overlay molded housing  58  provides isolation of the twisted pairs  110 . The alignment slots  90  are not required. 
     FIG. 9C shows a cross-sectional view of the contact alignment body  14 . In this view the receiving region  79 ′ is shown along with the engagement bezel  80 . Further, an alignment region  87  is shown which includes walls and a base support for positioning a contact element  62 . Underneath and behind the stop  82  there is provided a space  89  which communicates with the mold housing receiving socket  86  and also communicates with the wire openings  88 . This space  89  receives the wire side end of contact element  62 . Although space  89  communicates with opening  86  and wire opening  88 , the upper side regions of space  89  are delimited by the plastic (or other suitable material) walls of contact alignment body  14  such that upon insertion of the wire ends of contact elements  62  into space  89 , the barbs  78  engage the contact alignment body housing  14 . The contact element  62  cannot be effectively or easily removed from the contact alignment body  14 , once they are inserted into the space  89 , as the barbs  78  will dig into the plastic contact alignment body housing  14  above space  89 , upon a pulling of the contact element  62  in a removal direction. Specifically, the barbs  78  are angled such that insertion of the wire end into the space  89  is fairly smooth but any retraction of the contact element  62  is effectively prevented as the barbs  78  engage the material of the alignment body  14  delimiting parts of space  89 . 
     FIGS. 10 a  and  10   b  show aspects of the cable  22  for single CDA assembly  18 . The cable  72  includes the cable jacket  112  and the twisted pair terminating ends  110 . FIG. 10 b  shows the relative position of the various twisted pairs  110  and the jacket  112 . 
     FIG. 11 shows the interior side of a color indicator label element  16 . Element  16  includes a rail receiving portion  116  for receiving ends of rails  60  of an interface end of CDA  10 . Each rail  60  is from one single CDA assembly  18 . The rail receiving portion  116  includes a narrow ridge such that element  16  slides on the various rails  60  of the various assemblies  18 . Locking protuberances  122  cooperate with the locking groove  124  formed in overlay molded housing  58  of each interface end of each assembly  18  (see FIG.  7 A). Another locking groove  136  is also provided in each rail  60  of each molded housing  58 . Locking protuberance  122  allows the color indicator label element  16  to slide on the rails  60  of the assemblies  18  and be locked into position. 
     FIG. 12 shows a circuit indicator  20 , which is connected to a plurality of assemblies  18  at one interface end, on a side opposite to an access side. The rails  60  on the access side are used for fixing the tap element  138  as described below. Circuit indicator  20  includes a rail receiving groove  126  with a base. The groove also defines a small dimension gap which allows the groove to be attached by sliding element  20  on to the rail  60  (or snapping it on). A protuberance  128  extends outwardly from the groove base and provides a locking element for extending into locking groove  136  of molded housing  58 . 
     FIGS. 13A and 13B show views of a tap assembly  138 . Several tap assemblies may be used with each mated interface. Each tap  138  is used to tap lines at an interface of contacts of single CDA assemblies  18  of mated interface ends of two CDA assemblies  10 . 
     Each tap assembly  138  includes a body  140  with grasping region. A tap line  142  extends into the body wherein the various wires of tap cable  142  are connected to traces provided in or on a tap slot insertion element  150 . The traces extend to contacts  148 . A plurality of contacts  148  are provided on a contact side  152  of the tap slot insertion element  150 . The tap body  140  is provided with a rail engagement portion  144 . This defines a rail receiving groove  146  for rail  60 . With this structure, the tap assembly  138  may be engaged with mated interface ends and fixed at exposed rail  60  on the tap side of one interface body such as interface body  8  (see FIG.  1 ). 
     As can be seen in FIG. 14, when interface ends are mated, the contacts are in an electrical contacts position with the contact portions  76  in physical contact for providing an electrical connection. As can be seen by comparing FIGS. 3A to FIGS. 3B, each tap slot insertion element  150  includes a contact side  152  and an opposite side  154 . When the tap slot insertion element  150  is inserted into the insertion slot  56  (see FIG.  1  and FIG.  3 A), the tap is positioned for connection of rail engagement portion  144  with the exposed rails  60  of the assemblies  18 , the contacts  148  will connect with contacts  62  at the upstream side of the transmission line (see FIG.  5 ). The down stream side of the transmission line is broken as the contact  62  on the inner side of the interface (in the upstream interface element) is maintained out of contact with the tap due to the camming surfaces of tap cam follower  68  (protuberances  70 , and the surface of tap opposite side  154 ). This state is shown in FIG. 15. A more detailed discussion of a similar contact displacement arrangement is discussed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/651,414 (filed May 22, 1996), which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     The protuberances or posts  70  in the contact opening device  66  are such that the contacts  62  are maintained in a non-contact position while the insertion element  150  is inserted between the contacts. When the tap  138  is properly positioned, the posts or protuberances  70  extend into openings  153 . It is possible to only have openings  153  on the contact side  152  and to not have these on the opposite side  154 . This will maintain one set of contacts  62  in a non-contact position. However, as no contacts  148  are provided on side  154 , holes  153  can be provided on side  154  as well. This allows the contacts to move into a contact position although no electrical contact is made and the down stream line is disconnected. 
     The dimension of the tap slot insertion element  150  and the tap slots  56  defined by engaged parts of shields of mated interface element ends if preferably selected such that very few things can get between the mated interface ends to damage the contact displacement arrangement. The shape of the various portions  50 ,  54  and  52  of the shield  12  facilitates defining a small slot with no other access space on either the non-access side  30  or the access side  28 . 
     FIG. 13C shows a front view of the main tap element  160  prior to overlaying or molding on the tap body  140 . As can be seen, connection points  162  are provided for soldering on, welding or otherwise connecting lines of the tap cable  142 . The tap element  160  is preferably made in the form of a printed circuit board (PCB). The PCB  160  has traces or other appropriate connection lines extending from contact points  162  to contacts  148 . 
     The device is assembled by providing a cable at  22  as shown in FIG. 10 a  and placing twisted pair terminal ends  110  in the channels of the wire guide  64 . As noted, the length of each terminal end  110  is the same. The wire guide is placed into contact with the contact alignment body  14  carrying contacts  62  and contact displacement device  66 . Electrical contact between the terminal ends  110  and the contacts  62  is preferably provided by ultrasonic welding. Other known connections may be provided such as displacement contacts soldering or other joining for electrical contact. Ultrasonic welding is preferred as providing better characteristics including no significant additional resistance. 
     A structure as shown in FIG. 5B results from the above steps. Subsequently, this structure is overlay molded to provide overlay molded housing  58 . When this is provided on both ends of the cable, this results in a single contact displacement assembly  18  as shown in FIG.  4 . The single CDA  18  has two interface ends. One end of contact displacement assembly  18  is inserted in a shield  12 . The other end is inserted in another shield  12 . Engagement bezel  113 , at the base of each contact alignment body  14 , facilitates the insertion of an interface end of assembly  18 . Engagement protuberance  114  has a back edge which provides a locking function upon engagement with locking groove  57  of shield  12  (see FIGS.  3 B and  3 C). 
     On the non-access side, by rails  60 , a circuit indicator  20  may be connected via rails  60  and the connection between groove  124  and protuberance  134 . In a similar manner, two color indicator labels can slide onto rails  60  on each side whereby locking protuberance  122  of each element  16  engages a respective locking groove  124  provided on rails  60 . With these steps taken with regard to each interface element  8  and  6 , an assembly  10  as shown in FIG. 1 is provided. The interface ends of the CDA  10  are identical and each interface element of the assembly  10  may mate with an identical interface element of another identical assembly  10 . 
     Matting of interface ends takes place with the tongue  34  being inserted between the lower surface of the top  26  of shield  12  and the upper surface of male enclosure portion  38 . Each male enclosure portion  38  extends into each female enclosure portion  40  with the various portions  52 ,  54  and  50  at the tap side engaging. When the engagement bezel  42  is positioned such that the back edge engages the back edge of shield top  26 , the interface body of one assembly  10  is connected to the interface body of another assembly  10 . In this position, the contacts  62  are in a contact position such that signals are transmitted downstream. 
     The tap  138  may be inserted on the tap side  28  of the shields of the mated interface ends. The tap may be fixed via rail  60  and engagement part  144 . If the tap is inserted properly, engagement part  144  will connect with rail  60  in the inserted position. This will break the electrical contact between contacts  62  of two interfaces of two assemblies  10 . This will provide a tapping contact via the tap contacts  148 . 
     While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.