Abstract:
In the field of telecommunication and data transmission, a jack support structure for fixing a plurality of modular telecommunications jacks on a patch panel. The jack support structure has at least two parallel rows of jack cavities, and fixing means for fixing the jack support structure on a patch panel, characterized by the fixing means being positioned only between two adjacent rows.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to a structure to fix jacks on a patch panel in telecommunication and data transmission applications. 
         [0003]    2. Background 
         [0004]    Patch panels are employed in telecommunication systems to enable the interconnections provided by a system to be changed as required. A patch panel typically has connector ports on the front side into which so-called patch cords can be plugged as required, and connector ports at the rear of the panel into which longer and more permanent cables are usually connected. Patch panels are often arranged on racks so that the connector ports on the front side of the panel are exposed and readily accessible. The connector ports at the rear of the panel may be accessible from the rear of the rack but, if that is difficult or impossible, provision must be made for access from the front of the panel. The connector ports of patch panels are typically equipped with jacks, which are fixed to the patch panels, and into which plugs at the end of patch cords can be plugged from the front of the patch panel. 
         [0005]    Patch panels that are mounted to any standardized network rack and utilize one rack space are known in the telecommunications industry. A growing number of subscribers and a growing number of telecommunications services that are being offered require more and more interconnections, whereas the physical cabinet space available to accommodate patch panels remains limited. 
         [0006]    Generally, telecommunication jacks are fixed to patch panels indirectly, in that a jack is fixed to a jack support structure which, in turn, is fixed on a patch panel. Such support structures often provide space for several jacks, one location for a jack often being shaped like a cavity. 
         [0007]    There have been proposals for jack support structures in which jack cavities are arranged in rows, including a structure described in U.S. Patent Publication 2009/0034226A1 (Tyco), for example, which structure comprises a housing having a plurality of jack cavities and associated jack latch openings, where the housing is configured to be mated with a patch panel. That document also refers to a module assembly, wherein jack cavities are arranged in an upper row and a lower row. It further describes a latch mechanism on the housing for latching the module into the patch panel. The latch mechanism may optionally be releasably latched to the patch panel. 
         [0008]    European Patent Publication EP 1465438 A1 (Panduit) describes a patch panel comprising, inter alia, a frame and a faceplate mountable into a rear side of the frame, where the faceplate has a plurality of modules, each having at least one modular jack retention latch. Faceplate retention latches allow the faceplate to be snap mounted into the rear side of the frame. 
         [0009]    European Patent Publication EP 0 863 583 describes a socket of the modular jack type having insulation displacement contacts, a termination pusher for receiving strands of a cable and plugging in the rear of the socket, which is equipped with two jaws for receiving the pusher, which bring the pusher closer to the position of complete plug-in on the rear of the socket. 
         [0010]    Known jack support structures with multiple rows of jack cavities can be fixed on patch panels using fixing means positioned either above and below the rows of jack cavities, i.e. in two different—horizontal—planes, or at the right end and at the left end of the rows, i.e. in two different—vertical—planes. The fixing means occupy space in each plane and, once mounted, they occupy space on the front surface of a patch panel in two planes. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0011]    Because space in many telecommunication wiring cabinets is precious, it is desirable to minimize the space which a jack support structures occupies on the front surface of a patch panel. The present invention seeks to address this need. 
         [0012]    The present invention provides a jack support structure for fixing a plurality of modular telecommunications jacks on a patch panel, wherein the jack support structure comprises at least two parallel rows of jack cavities, and fixing means for fixing the jack support structure on a patch panel, characterized by the fixing means being positioned only between two adjacent rows of jack support structures. 
         [0013]    In the context of the present patent application, a jack cavity is a single opening in a jack support structure that can accommodate one modular telecommunications jack or a plurality of modular jacks. A jack cavity need not completely surround the accommodated jack(s) on all sides. 
         [0014]    A jack support structure in accordance with the invention is fixed by fixing means positioned between two adjacent rows of jack cavities. No fixing means are present at the side of rows of jack cavities, and no fixing means are present above the top row or below the bottom row of jack cavities. In other words, no fixing means are required that are not positioned between the rows, which would otherwise occupy space that could not be used for placing jacks. The structure thereby occupies less space on the front surface of a patch panel to which it is fixed, and allows for a higher density of jack cavities on the front surface of the patch panel. Because the density of jacks on a patch panel can be increased, more modular telecommunications jacks can be fixed on a given patch panel front surface. 
         [0015]    In a jack support structure according to the present invention, the fixing means may be releasable to allow the jack support structure to be removed from a patch panel. This arrangement is advantageous, because it enables easier and faster replacement, inspection or relocation of already-installed jack support structures. The simple release and removal of the jack support structure allows for installation of a new jack or new jacks in jack support structures which were not fully populated during initial installation of the patch panel. After installation of the new jack(s), the support structure can then be re-fixed to the patch panel. The ability to add jacks after initial patch panel installation allows a telecommunication company to defer costs until such time as a service connection is actually needed. 
         [0016]    Fixing means may, for example, be one or more clips, screws, hooks, staples, rivets, latching mechanisms, fasteners, holders, thread mechanisms, magnetic mechanisms, or attachment assemblies. 
         [0017]    In a jack support structure in accordance with the present invention, the jack cavities of one row may be aligned with the jack cavities of at least one other row, such that their edges are essentially in the same position, as measured in a direction along a row. This alignment can allow for a high density of jacks on the patch panel, and may permit a jack support structure to be manufactured from identical sub-modules, making manufacture and assembly of the jack support structure more cost-effective. 
         [0018]    A jack cavity that does not completely surround the accommodated jack(s) on all sides may allow for easier installation of jacks or facilitate installation of jacks from the front side of a patch panel that are already connected to wires. 
         [0019]    A jack support structure in accordance with an aspect of the invention may comprise a release actuator operable to release the jack support structure from the patch panel. A release actuator can be designed to provide for quick and reliable release of the jack support structure. An example of a release actuator is a button for manually disengaging fixing means, like, for example, a resilient latch, which fixes the jack support structure to the patch panel. 
         [0020]    A jack support structure in accordance with a further aspect of the invention may comprise a release actuator which may comprise two arms, such that the jack support structure is released when both arms are moved towards each other. An advantage of this arrangement is that there is essentially no resulting force on the jack support structure when releasing it by pushing the two arms towards each other. 
         [0021]    A jack support structure comprising a release actuator may further comprise a movable inhibitor that, in a first position on the support structure, inhibits actuation of the release actuator, and, in a second position on the support structure, allows actuation of the release actuator. A movable inhibitor with two functional positions can prevent inadvertent, unintentional actuation of a release actuator, for example in small wiring cabinets, and thus protect the integrity of the communication system. A movable inhibitor having a first position on the support structure for inhibiting and a second position on the support structure for allowing actuation is further beneficial in that the inhibitor does not need to be removed from the jack support structure for inhibiting or allowing actuation. This avoids the problem of the inhibitor being lost, for example in the clutter of cables and equipment that is typical of many wiring cabinets. 
         [0022]    The movable inhibitor may be operable to be manually rotated from the first position to the second position and/or from the second position to the first position. Manual rotation is a simple, cost-effective and space-saving manner of actuating the inhibitor. 
         [0023]    The inhibitor may have an indicia-receiving surface. The option to apply indicia to an element of the jack support structure saves space on the patch panel front surface because no separate indicia-bearing elements, which might occupy some of that precious space, need to be provided. It also allows for more efficient installation because the indicia need only be applied after initial installation of jacks and patch cables. 
         [0024]    A jack support structure according to another aspect of the present invention may have a contact for electrically connecting a conductive part of a modular telecommunications jack to a conductive part of the patch panel. Such a contact may be instrumental in providing electrical ground to each jack and in achieving a considerable reduction in undesired electrical cross-talk between telecommunication lines and their associated jacks and plugs. The contact may be used for grounding or shielding or both. A contact on the jack support structure is further advantageous in that it may provide a defined zero voltage to the jack. There may be one contact for each jack cavity of a jack support structure, there may be one contact for a plurality of jack cavities of a jack support structure, or there may be one contact for all jack cavities of a jack support structure. 
         [0025]    A contact as described above may have a first arm for contacting a jack in the jack support structure, and a second arm for contacting a patch panel to which the jack support structure is fixed. This shape may facilitate manufacturing and assembly of a jack support structure according to the present invention, because only one part needs to be fixed to the jack support structure. 
         [0026]    The contact may be accommodated in a central wall between adjacent rows of jack cavities. Accommodating the contact in a central wall of a jack support structure can help to increase the jack density on a patch panel, because no extra space is required to accommodate the contact. 
         [0027]    A modular telecommunications jack may be fixable to the jack support structure according to another aspect of the present invention by inserting the jack into the jack support structure from a rear side of the jack support structure which side faces the interior of a patch panel on which the jack support structure is to be fixed. A benefit of this feature is that a jack can be fixed to the jack support structure while the jack is connected to wires at its rear end, which may make maintenance and repair quicker and more cost effective. 
         [0028]    A jack support structure according to a further aspect of the present invention may comprise two central walls, located between two adjacent rows of jack cavities, the central walls having major surfaces that are parallel to each other and parallel to the rows, the walls being suitably spaced to receive, in the space between them, a flat support element of a patch panel to which the jack support structure is to be fixed, whereby the central walls limit the movement of the jack support structure relative to the flat support element in a direction perpendicular to the major surfaces of the walls. 
         [0029]    The central walls may thereby facilitate space-saving, yet stable fixing of the jack support structure to a patch panel. To that end, the central walls may be spaced such that the open distance between them is essentially equal to the thickness of a flat support element of the patch panel, to which the jack support structure is to be fixed. When the jack support structure is fixed, one central wall is located adjacent to one major surface of the flat support element, and the other central wall is located adjacent to the opposite major surface of the flat support element. This arrangement can help obtaining a tight fit and a secure fixation of the jack support structure to the patch panel and can contribute to achieving a high density of jacks on a patch panel. 
         [0030]    In a combination of a jack support structure in accordance with the invention and a patch panel, the patch panel may comprise a flat support element that fits between two adjacent rows of jack cavities of the jack support structure. Thereby it provides a means to fix the jack support structure to the patch panel. The flat support element may be the only element of the patch panel that is used to fix jack support structures to the patch panel, thus making it unnecessary to provide further fixing elements on the patch panel, which facilitates higher density of jacks on the patch panel, and may save cost and weight of the patch panel, because only one support element is required. 
         [0031]    The flat support element may have at least one recess in an edge, defining the location of the jack support structure(s) fixed thereon. The flat support element may have two types of recesses. One type of recess may be suitable for guiding a jack support structure when it is fixed to the patch panel, and the other type of recess may be suitable for securely fixing a jack support structure to the patch panel. Alternatively, a single type of recess may be suitable both for guiding a jack support structure when it is inserted into the patch panel and for securely fixing a jack support structure to the patch panel. 
         [0032]    The jack support structure may be fixed on a patch panel by inserting the jack support structure into the patch panel in a direction towards the interior of the patch panel. Insertion of the jack support structure in a direction towards the interior of the patch panel, like, for example, from the front side of the patch panel is advantageous for installation, repair, and service, as the front side of a patch panel is often better accessible than its rear side, where only little space may remain between the cabinet wall and the racks containing patch panels. 
         [0033]    In a further aspect, the invention provides a wire termination tool for securing a plurality of wires, held in a wire organizer of a modular jack, to respective insulation displacement contacts of the jack, the tool comprising a cavity shaped to receive the modular jack, and first and second levers, pivotably-movable over the cavity from opposite sides thereof, whereby, when the jack is located in the cavity and the levers are pivoted towards each other, the levers exert a force on the wire organizer to press it into the jack body and thereby push the said wires into the respective insulation displacement contacts. 
         [0034]    The termination tool facilitates reliable, simple and quick termination of wires in the jack. The termination can be done manually by pressing the levers together in one movement. The tool can be operated with a single hand. The tool can be used many times. It makes a termination mechanism on individual jacks obsolete, which may save manufacturing cost. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0035]    The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the following Figures illustrating, by way of example, particular embodiments of the invention. 
           [0036]    In the drawings: 
           [0037]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of jack support structures according to the invention, fixed on a patch panel; 
           [0038]      FIG. 2  shows one of the jack support structures of  FIG. 1  in greater detail, with the inhibitor removed; 
           [0039]      FIG. 3  shows a cross section of one of the jack support structures of  FIG. 1 , taken in the plane of the flat support element of the patch panel; 
           [0040]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a jack support structure according to the invention, with a modular jack fixed to it, also showing release actuators and the inhibitor bearing indicia; 
           [0041]      FIG. 5   a  is a perspective view of a jack support structure according to the invention comprising a contact in accordance with an aspect of the invention; 
           [0042]      FIG. 5   b  shows the contact of  FIG. 5   a  in greater detail; 
           [0043]      FIG. 5   c  is a detailed perspective view of two contacts, similar to the one of  FIG. 5   b , and how they are accommodated in central walls of a jack support structure; 
           [0044]      FIG. 6   a  is a schematic front view of a jack support structure according to the invention, comprising two rows of jack cavities and the location of a fixing means between the rows; 
           [0045]      FIG. 6   b  is another schematic front view of an alternative jack support structure according to the invention; 
           [0046]      FIG. 7   a  is a perspective view of recesses in the flat support element in a patch panel, by which jack support structures can be fixed to the patch panel; 
           [0047]      FIG. 7   b  is a perspective view of similar recesses, but having an alternative shape; 
           [0048]      FIG. 8   a  is a perspective view of the wire termination tool in accordance with an aspect of the invention in an open position; 
           [0049]      FIG. 8   b  shows, in perspective view, the tool of  FIG. 8   a  with a jack inserted and a wire organizer; 
           [0050]      FIG. 8   c  is another perspective view of the tool and jack of  FIG. 8   b , with the wire organized partly inserted and the tool almost closed; 
           [0051]      FIG. 8   d , in a similar view, shows the tool with the wire organized fully inserted into the jack, and the actuators reopened; 
           [0052]      FIG. 9  is a more detailed perspective view of the wire organizer of  FIG. 8   b ; and 
           [0053]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the part of the jack of  FIG. 8   b  comprising the insulation displacement contacts. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0054]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of two jack support structures  10  according to the present invention, both jack support structures  10  being fixed to a patch panel  20 . Each jack support structure comprises four jack cavities  30  containing respective modular jacks  40 . In use, the patch panel  20  is mounted on a rack (not shown) commonly used in the industry today. Conventional racks, usable with the patch panels described herein can include a standard 19-inch equipment rack, a standard 23-inch equipment rack, a European-standard rack or other standard racks used around the world. Several patch panels  20  can be disposed in a stack within a rack with other similar panels, so that the jacks  40  are accessible at the front side  50  of the patch panel to receive patch cords for the purpose of making connections to cables incoming to the jacks from the rear side  90  of the patch panel. 
         [0055]    The patch panel  20  and the jack support structures  10  will now be described in greater detail. The patch panel  20  has, on its front side  50 , two flanges  60  disposed on either side of the patch panel  20  for attachment of the patch panel  20  to a rack (not shown). Side walls  70  connect the flanges  60  to a rear wall  80 , which is located at a rear side  90  of the patch panel. Openings  100  in the rear wall  80  allow cables (not shown) to enter the patch panel  20  from the rear side  90 , so that they can be connected to the modular jacks  40 . The patch panel  20  has a central support element  110 , mounted at the center height of the patch panel  20 , halfway between a top edge  120  and a bottom edge  125  of the side walls  70 . The support element  110  is also attached to the rear wall  80  of the patch panel  20 . The flanges  60 , side walls  70  and central support element  110  are made from sheet metal and are electrically conductive, such that they are suitable for grounding purposes. 
         [0056]    The central support element  110  has, at its front edge, recesses  130 ,  140 , that are suitably shaped to mate with corresponding fixing means of the jack support structures  10 . These fixing means will be explained in more detail below. In this embodiment of the invention, there are two types of recesses: each recess  130  is of the first type and has, at its front end, two retention noses  150 . The corresponding fixing means on a respective jack support structure  10  comprise latches  300 , visible in  FIG. 3 , which engage with the retention noses  150  on the front edge of a flat support element when the jack support structure  10  is fixed on the patch panel  20 . The retention noses  150  and the latches  300  cooperate to prevent accidental slipping of the jack support structure  10  out of the recess  130  towards the front side  50  of the patch panel  20 . 
         [0057]    Each recess  140  is of the second type and has no retention noses at its front end. 
         [0058]    Recess  140  guides the jack support structure  10  when the support structure  10  is inserted into patch panel  20  from the front side  50  of the patch panel  20 . The recess  140  interacts with support struts  275  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) in the jack support structure  10 . One recess  140  accommodates one strut  275  of a first jack support structure  10  and one strut  275  of a second jack support structure  10 , adjacent to the first jack support structure  10 . The recess  140  has an essentially rectangular shape. It extends in its long direction from the front side  50  of patch panel  20  towards the rear side  90 . Its width is smaller than its length, and its long axis is parallel to side wall  70 . The depth of recesses  130  and  140 , i.e. their respective extension towards the rear side  90 , determines the position of the jack support structure  10  in the front/back direction of the patch panel  20 . 
         [0059]    The flat support element  110  forms an installation platform for the jack support structures  10 . Because the flat support element  110  is connected to the side walls  70  and to the rear wall  80  of the patch panel  20 , it also provides mechanical stability to the entire patch panel  20  against bending or torsion and can assist in counteracting any detrimental effect that the openings  100  in the rear wall  80  may have on the strength of the patch panel. 
         [0060]    The jack support structures  10  each comprise an upper row and a lower row of jack cavities  30 , wherein the upper row has two cavities  30  and the lower row has two cavities  30 . The two rows of jack cavities  30  are parallel to each other. One jack support structure  10  has an outer frame comprising a top wall  160 , a bottom wall  170 , and two parallel side walls  180 . The top wall  160  and the bottom wall  170  are oriented parallel to each other and parallel to flat support element  110 , when the jack support structure  10  is fixed on the patch panel  20 . The jack support structure  10  further has a separating wall  190  that extends from the top wall  160  to the bottom wall  170  and is parallel to the side walls  180 . 
         [0061]    Modular jacks  40  are mounted in each of the jack cavities  30 . The jack cavities  30  are oriented such that the modular jacks  40  are mounted symmetrically with respect to the plane separating the two rows of jack cavities  30 , i.e. the jacks  40  in the lower row of each jack support structure are mounted “upside down” with respect to the jacks  40  in the upper row. 
         [0062]    Each of the jack cavities  30  shown is shaped to receive an RJ45-type jack. Each jack cavity  30  actually envelops an RJ45-type jack  40 . In the top right jack cavity  30 , about two thirds of the jack  40  are visible, including its front surface. About one third of the jack is enveloped by the side wall  180 , the top wall  160 , the separating wall  190  and an upper central wall  200  of jack cavity  30 . 
         [0063]    Each jack support structure  10  has two central walls  200 ,  210 , arranged horizontally, parallel to each other and parallel to the top wall  160  and to the bottom wall  170  of the jack support structure  10 . The upper central wall  200  forms the bottom wall of the two jack cavities  30  in the upper row of jack cavities  30  of jack support structure  10 , and similarly the lower central wall  210  forms the top wall of the two jack cavities  30  in the lower row of jack cavities  30 . The central walls  200  and  210  are thus arranged between the upper row and the lower row of jack cavities  30 , and will be disposed one on either side of the flat support element  110  of the patch panel  20 , when the jack support structure  10  is fixed thereon. The central walls  200 ,  210  thereby limit the movement of the jack support structure  10  in an up-down direction relative to the flat support element  110 . 
         [0064]    Arranged between the central walls  200  and  210  are the above-mentioned fixing means, described in more detail below, that fix the jack support structure  10  on the central support element  110  of the patch panel  20 . 
         [0065]    Jacks  40  are held in a jack support structure  10  by respective jack latches  220 . Two jack latches  220  extend rearwardly from the top wall  160  of the jack support structure  10  for the jack cavities  30  in the top row, as shown in  FIG. 4 , and two jack latches  220  extend rearwardly from the bottom wall  170  for the jack cavities  30  in the bottom row. The jack latches  220  are flat, resilient, and essentially parallel to the top and bottom walls  160 , and each is positioned centrally with respect to the jack cavity  30  to which it belongs. When a jack  40  is inserted into a jack cavity  30  from the rear of the support structure  10 , a notch in the jack  40  engages with a latching hook  315  on the respective jack latch  220  and fixes the jack  40  in its position relative to the jack cavity  30  and the jack support structure  10 . Each jack latch  220  can be flexed slightly to disengage it from the jack  40 , so that the jack  40  can be removed from the jack cavity  30  by pulling it out towards the rear. 
         [0066]    The fixing means for fixing the jack support structures  10  to the patch panel  20  are not visible in  FIG. 1  (and will be described in  FIG. 3 ), because each fixing means (and an associated release actuator, to be described below) is covered by a movable inhibitor  230 . Inhibitor  230  extends over the full width of a jack support structure  10 . It has, in the middle and at its respective side ends, three arms  240 , each of which is rotatably attached to a respective wall  180 ,  190  of jack support structure  10  by a hinge  250 . The arms  240  at the outer ends of the inhibitor  230  are rotatably attached to the side walls  180  of the jack support structure  10 , and the arm  240  in the middle of the inhibitor  230  is rotatably attached to the separator wall  190 , which provides a hinge hole  260  for that purpose. The inhibitor  230  is shown in  FIG. 1  in its first position, from which it can be manually rotated upwards about the hinges  250  into a second position shown in  FIG. 4 . in which it allows actuation of the release actuator arm  270 . 
         [0067]    In the first position of inhibitor  230 , its front surface  235  is oriented essentially in a plane parallel to the plane defined by flanges  60  of the patch panel  20 , when the jack support structure  10  is mounted on patch panel  20 . In the second position of inhibitor  230 , its front surface is oriented essentially at an angle of about 45° with respect to the plane defined by flanges  60 , as defined by rotation about hinges  250 . 
         [0068]    The front surface  235  of the inhibitor  230  is an indicia-receiving surface that, in  FIG. 4 , is shown provided with indicia. Typically, in practice, the indicia will comprise some text and a number that can uniquely identify each jack cavity  30 . The indicia-receiving surface  235  of inhibitor  230  may be suitable for being written upon with regular lo pens or pencils. Alternatively, or in addition, it may be suitable for being printed upon, for example using inkjet, screen printing, or pad printing techniques and materials, or it may be suitable for receiving an adhesive label. 
         [0069]    In  FIG. 2  the jack support structure  10  according to the present invention is shown in greater detail, as fixed on patch panel  20 . For clarity, the inhibitor  230  has been removed. A hinge hole  260  is now visible, which, as shown in  FIG. 1 , accommodates the hinge  250  of the inhibitor  230 . Two arms  270  of a release actuator are now partly visible, each of them having, at its respective front end, a handle  280  which enables easy and reliable manual operation of the actuator as described below. The arms  270  extend from the front towards the rear of the jack support structure  10 , as shown in the cross section in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0070]    The release actuator arms  270  form part of the fixing means of the jack support structure  10 . They are positioned between the central walls  200  and  210  of the support structure, and consequently they are positioned between the upper row and the lower row of jack cavities  30 . Each of the arms  270  protrudes from the front of the jack support structure  10  so that they are easily accessible. 
         [0071]    Each of the release actuator arms comprises a latch  300  (visible in  FIG. 3 ) that engages with one of the retention noses  150  of the respective recess  130  in the central flat support element  110  of the patch panel  20 . When both release actuator arms  270  are pressed towards each other by manually pushing their respective handles  280  towards each other, the respective latches  300  are disengaged from retention noses  150 , and the same handles  280  can then be used to pull the jack support structure  10  away from the patch panel  20  in a forward direction, indicated by the arrow  290  in  FIG. 2 . The release actuator arms  270  are resilient, such that they return to their original position when they are released. The arms  270  may, for example, be made of a resilient polymeric material. 
         [0072]    Each side wall  180  of a jack support structure  10  comprises, on its inner surface, a longitudinal support strut  275 . It extends from the front of jack support structure  10  towards its rear. Support strut  275  is located in that part of each side wall  180 , where this side wall  180  engages with the recess  140  of the central flat support element  110 . It also provides guidance to the jack support structure  10  when it is inserted into the central flat support element  110 . The spacing of recesses  140  on the central support element  110  is chosen such that the support strut  275  on one side of a jack support structure  10  fits snugly into a first recess  140 , and simultaneously support strut  275  on the opposite side of a jack support structure  10  fits into a second recess  140 . The support struts  275  limit the amount of side-to-side movement of the jack support structure  10  relative to the central flat support element  110  of the patch panel  20 , when the jack support structure  10  is fixed on patch panel  20 . 
         [0073]    A cross section in the central plane of the jack support structure  10 , fixed to the flat support element  110  of a patch panel  20 , and its fixing means is shown in  FIG. 3 . In the normal positions of the release actuator arms  270 , i.e. when they are not pressed towards each other, their respective latches  300  engage with the retention noses  150  of the recess  130  in the central support element  110  of the patch panel  20  as already described. The cross section of each latch  300  is shaped triangularly such as to facilitate easy insertion of the release actuator arms  270  between the retention noses  150  into the recess  130 . At a certain depth of insertion, by virtue of the resilience of the release actuator arms  270 , the latches  300  engage behind the respective retention noses  150 . Due to the triangular shape of the latches  300 , the release actuator arms  270  can not be pulled out of the recess  130  without pushing them towards the center line of recess  130 , thereby disengaging the latches  300  from the retention noses  150 . 
         [0074]    Both release actuator arms are attached, at their respective rear sections  310 , to the separating wall  190  of the jack support structure  10 . The separating wall  190  has a tapered front edge in the region between the central walls  200 ,  210 , to provide additional space for pressing the release actuator arms  270  together, when the jack support structure  10  is to be released from the patch panel  20 . 
         [0075]    In this exemplary embodiment, the fixing means comprises the structure consisting of the two rear sections  310 , the two release actuators  270 , the two latches  300 , and the two handles  280 . The fixing means can comprise other combinations of elements. 
         [0076]      FIG. 4  is a three-dimensional view of a jack support structure  10  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , but with only one jack  40  mounted in the jack support structure  10 . The jack support structure  10  has two rows of jack cavities  30 , each row comprising two jack cavities  30 , with one modular jack  40  fixed in the top right jack cavity  30 , and with the inhibitor  230  being in its second position in which it allows actuation of the release actuator  270 . 
         [0077]    In this Figure, the jack latch  220  of the bottom left jack cavity  30  is visible. It can be seen that the latching hook  315  has a triangular cross section and is shaped like a ramp, the vertex of the ramp being oriented parallel to the front edge of the bottom wall  170 . As already mentioned, the latching hook  315  engages with a corresponding notch (not visible) in a modular jack  40  when this jack  40  is inserted into the jack cavity  30  from the rear side of jack support structure  10 . Once engaged, the latch  220  and the latching hook  315  keep the modular jack  40  in its position relative to the jack support structure  10  and prevent it from slipping out of its jack cavity  30  towards the rear side. 
         [0078]    Longitudinal grooves  320  in the separator wall  190  extend from the rear end of wall  190  towards the front side of separator wall  190 , but they end a short distance behind the front surface of wall  190 . Their purpose is to provide a certain degree of resilience to the separator wall  190 . 
         [0079]    Each jack cavity  30  has a plug latch groove  330 . For the jack cavities  30  of the top row, the latch groove  330  extends from the front surface of the top wall  160  towards the rear end of the jack cavity  30 . For the jack cavities  30  of the bottom row, the latch groove  330  extends from the front surface of the bottom wall  170  towards the rear end of the jack cavity  30 . Each latch groove  330  is wide enough to accommodate the latch which forms part of a standard RJ45 plug (not shown) when the RJ45 plug is inserted into a jack  40 . 
         [0080]    The inhibitor  230  can be swung around an axis parallel to its width direction, into an angular position in which it inhibits actuation of the release actuator arms  270 , and into another angular position in which it allows actuation of the release actuator arms  270 .  FIG. 4  shows the inhibitor  230  in the position in which it allows actuation of release actuator arms  270 . In this position, the handles  280  are accessible from the front side of the jack support structure  10  so that they can be manually operated. In the other position, in which the inhibitor  230  prevents actuation, the inhibitor  230  is positioned in front of the handles  280 , so that these are not accessible from the front side of the jack support structure  10  and can not be manually operated. 
         [0081]    The arms  240  and hinges  250  of the inhibitor are typically made of a resilient polymeric material. Each side arm  240  is thinner than the respective side wall  180  is, so that it can be accommodated in a hinge recess  340  formed in the side wall  180 , both in the first and in the second position of inhibitor  230 , as well as in the transition between these positions. In the area of a hinge recess  340 , the respective side wall  180  is thinner. This is beneficial in that the overall width, as measured sideways, of the jack support structure  10 , comprising inhibitor  230 , is kept small, which contributes to keeping the size of the jack support structure  10  small in a horizontal direction, thereby allowing for a higher density of jack cavities  30  and thus of jacks  40  in that direction of a patch panel  20 . 
         [0082]      FIG. 5   a  is a perspective view of the rear side of a jack support structure  10  mounted on a patch panel, in an embodiment of the invention where the jack support structure has a contact  350  (shown separately in  FIG. 5   b ). The contact  350  has two arms  360 ,  361 , protruding from a support bar  380 . It is attached to the rear end of upper central wall  200  of the jack support structure  10  such that one arm  360  of contact  350  is located above the upper central wall  200 , and the other arm  361  (not visible in  FIG. 5   a ) is located below the upper central wall  200 , and between the central flat support element  110  of the patch panel  20  and the upper central wall  200 . Contact  350  is clipped into a suitably shaped recess  370  of the upper central wall  200 , as shown in more detail in  FIG. 5   c.    
         [0083]    Contact  350  provides an electrically conductive connection between the central support element  110  of the patch panel  20  and the jack  40 , when the jack  40  is inserted into jack cavity  30 . This conductive connection is obtained by virtue of the contact  350  being entirely or partly conductive or having a conductive surface, and by the contact  350  being in electrical contact with the central support element  110  with one of its arms  360 ,  361 , and being also in electrical contact with the jack  40  with its other arm  361 ,  360 , these arms being conductively connected by the support bar  380 . 
         [0084]      FIG. 5   a  shows, for clarity, only one empty jack cavity  30  and one contact  350 , that provides electrical contact between central support element  110  and a jack  40  that is inserted into this jack cavity  30 . However, all jack cavities  30  of jack support structure  10  are equipped with respective contacts  350 . In other embodiments of the invention, only a subset of jack cavities  30  may have contacts  350 . 
         [0085]      FIG. 5   b  shows that the contact  350  is essentially U-shaped, with its two arms  360 ,  361  protruding generally perpendicularly from its support bar  380 . The first arm  360  is shaped such as to extend out of the plane defined by the flat support bar  380  in one direction, whereas the second arm  361  is shaped such as to extend out of the plane defined by the support bar  380  in the opposite direction. 
         [0086]    The contact  350  is resilient, such that when one arm  360 ,  361  is forced towards the plane defined by support bar  380 , it strives to return into its original position. When a jack  40  is inserted into a jack cavity  30  equipped with contact  350 , a part of the first arm  360  touches jack  40 , that part is a contact area  390  of the first arm  360  and of contact  350 . Similarly, when a jack  40  is inserted into a jack cavity  30  equipped with contact  350 , the contact area  391  of the second arm  361  and of the contact  350  touches the central support element  110  of the patch panel  20 . The contact areas  390 ,  391  of the contact  350  are conductively connected with each other, by virtue of the contact  350  being entirely conductive. The contact  350  can, for example, be made from bronze and can have a tin surface plating. 
         [0087]      FIG. 5   c  is an enlarged perspective view of the rear side of the jack support structure  10 , where respective contacts  350  are attached to the upper central wall  200  and the lower central wall  210 . The upper central wall  200  is provided with a recess  370 , into which the contact  350  is inserted from the rear side of the jack support structure  10 , and which holds it in place. A latch  372  prevents the contact  350  from being removed unintentionally. The latch  372  is comprised in the jack support structure  10 . It is resilient and mechanically engages with the contact  350  once contact  350  is fully inserted into recess  370 . 
         [0088]    The contacts  350  are accommodated almost completely in the wall  200  and the wall  210 , respectively. Only the raised portions in the vicinity of the respective contact areas  390 ,  391  stick out, as long as no jack  40  has been inserted into the respective jack cavity  30 . When a jack  40  is inserted into the jack cavity  30 , a part of the jack&#39;s outer surface slides over the contact area  390  or  391 , thereby establishing an electrical contact between the jack  40  and the contact  350 , and presses the respective arm  360 ,  361  which it contacts into the respective recess  370  of the respective central wall  200 ,  210  of jack support structure  10 . 
         [0089]    Similarly, when the jack support structure  10  is inserted into the central support element  110  of the patch panel  20 , the respective contact surfaces  390 ,  391  of the arms  360 ,  361  of the contacts  350  slide over the surface of the central support element  110 , thereby establishing an electrical contact between the central support element  110  and the contact  350 , and the central support element  110  presses the respective arm  360 ,  361  which it contacts into the respective recess  370  of the respective central wall  200 ,  210  of the jack support structure  10 . 
         [0090]    The visible contact area  390  on the upper arm  360  of the upper contact  350 , attached to the upper central wall  200 , contacts a jack  40  (not shown) when the jack  40  is inserted into the upper jack cavity  30 , whereas the contact area  391  on the lower arm  361  of the upper contact  350  (not visible in this Figure) contacts the central support element  110  (not shown) of the patch panel  20 . Likewise, the visible contact area  390  on the upper arm  360  of the lower contact  350 , attached to the lower central wall  210 , contacts the central support element  110  (not shown) of the patch panel  20 , whereas the contact area  391  on the lower arm  361  of the lower contact  350  (not visible in this Figure) contacts the jack  40  (not shown) when that jack  40  is inserted into the lower jack cavity  30 . 
         [0091]    The embodiment shown in  FIG. 5   a  helps minimizing the space required by a jack support structure  10  on the front of a patch panel  20  by having the fixing means exclusively located in the space between the two rows of jack cavities  30 . No fixing means are located above the upper row of jack cavities  30  or below the lower row of jack cavities  30 , which reduces the amount of space required in a vertical direction on the front of a patch panel  20 . Accommodating further elements of the jack support structure  10  like the jack latches  220  and the contacts  350  such that they do not protrude from the contour of the jack support structure  10  defined by the walls  160 ,  170 ,  180  of the jack support structure supports this objective. 
         [0092]    The jack cavities  30  can be arranged in different ways in a jack support structure  10  according to the present invention.  FIG. 6   a  is a schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of the invention, where a jack support structure  10  comprises two rows  400   a ,  400   b,  of jack cavities  30 , each row  400   a,    400   b  comprising two jack cavities  30 . The upper row  400   a  comprises the jack cavities  30   a  and  30   b,  the lower row  400   b  comprises the jack cavities  30   c  and  30   d.  A fixing means  410  is arranged between the upper row  400   a  and the lower row  400   b  of jack cavities  30 . The fixing means  410  may comprise, for example, a release actuator arm  270 , shown in  FIG. 2 . The jack cavities  30   a,    30   b,  of the upper row  400   a  are aligned with the jack cavities  30   c,    30   d  of the lower row  400   b.    
         [0093]      FIG. 6   b  shows an example of a single jack support structure  10  according to the present invention, as seen from the front, which has four rows  401   a,    401   b,    401   c  and  401   d  of jack cavities  30 . These four rows  401   a,    401   b,    401   c  and  401   d  are oriented vertically. The fixing means  410  are positioned only between the two adjacent rows  401   b  and  401   c.    
         [0094]    The embodiments shown in  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b  help minimizing the space required by a jack support structure  10  on the front of a patch panel  20  by having the fixing means  410  exclusively located between two specific rows  400 ,  401  of jack cavities  30 , because this arrangement allows keeping the space between other rows  400 ,  401  small, since no fixing means need to be accommodated between those other rows  400 ,  401 . 
         [0095]    In order to strengthen the fixation of the jack support structure  10  to the patch panel  20 , several fixing means may be accommodated between two specific rows  400 ,  401  of jack cavities  30 , without this requiring additional space on the front of the patch panel  20 . 
         [0096]      FIG. 7   a  is a detailed view of the recesses  130  and  140  of the central support element  110  of the patch panel  20 . The basic functionality of these recesses  130 ,  140  has been discussed in the context of  FIGS. 1 and 3  above. Both sides of the jack support structure  10  are guided by recesses  140  of the first type, so that the jack support structure  10  is attached to the flat support element  110  in a total of three recesses: one recess of the first type, two of the second type. In other embodiments of the invention, the jack support structure  10  may be attached to the flat support element  110  in less than three recesses. 
         [0097]    A second exemplary type of recess  460  is shown in  FIG. 7   b . The recess  460  has two retention noses  470 , which can interact with the latches  300  of the release actuator arms  270  of the jack support structure  10 , as explained above in the context of  FIG. 3 . In a rear part  480 , the recess  460  is linearly-shaped to guide the jack support structure  10  as it is fixed on the patch panel  20 . In this embodiment, the jack support structure  10  is attached to the patch panel  20  in a single recess  460 , which provides for both longitudinal guidance and a releasable fixing. As a skilled person understands, the jack support structure  10  will be shaped appropriately to mate with recess  460 . 
         [0098]    Both in  FIG. 7   a  and in  FIG. 7   b , the recesses  130 ,  140 ,  460 ,  480  in the central support element  110  guide a jack support structure  10  when it is inserted into patch panel  20 . Guiding in an up-down direction, indicated by arrow C, is provided by the same recesses  130 ,  140 ,  460  and their interaction with the central walls  200 ,  210  of the jack support structure  10 . The height of the open space between the upper central wall  200  and the lower central wall  210  corresponds essentially to the thickness of the flat central support element  110 . If the open space between the central walls  200 ,  210  is only marginally higher than the thickness of the element  110 , the jack support structure  10  will have a tight fit in an up-down direction with the flat support element  110 . 
         [0099]    In order to increase the density of modular jacks  40  on the front surface of a patch panel  20 , it is desirable to minimize the space between the upper central wall  200  and the lower central wall  210 . However, this would require the flat support element  110  of the patch panel  20  to be thinner. A thinner support element  110  provides less mechanical support to the jack support structures  10  fixed to it, and to the jacks  40 , plugs and cables fixed directly or indirectly to the flat support element  110 . Hence the skilled person will carefully select the thickness of the flat support element  110  and the material it is made of. 
         [0100]      FIG. 8   a  is a 3-dimensional representation of the rear side of a termination tool  700 , which allows for quick, reliable connection of electrical wires to electrical contacts of a telecommunications jack  40 . The tool  700  can be used repeatedly to terminate wires on jacks  40 , or, in other words, to securely connect wires mechanically and electrically to contacts in jack  40 . 
         [0101]    The tool  700  comprises a body  710  and two actuators  800 ,  800 ′. Body  710  comprises side walls  720 , top wall  730  and bottom wall  740 . These walls  720 ,  730 ,  740  form a cavity  750 , suitably shaped to accommodate a telecommunications jack  40 , for example a jack of the familiar RJ45 type. Although the tool  700  shown in this Figure has an essentially rectangular cavity  750  to accommodate an RJ45 type jack, the cavity  750  may have other shapes, for example a round shape or an oval shape, to accommodate other types of jacks  40 . 
         [0102]    The walls  720 ,  730  and  740  extend far enough from their respective front ends  760  to their back ends  770  to envelope a jack  40  to a large extent of the length of jack  40 , as measured from front to back, for example, to more than half of the length of the jack  40 . The cavity  750  formed by walls  720 ,  730 ,  740 , is shaped suitably and has dimensions suitable to envelope jack  40  tightly, but without limiting the movement of jack  40  in the front—back direction, indicated by arrow  780 . 
         [0103]    The walls  720 ,  730 ,  740  have tapered edges at their respective rear ends  770  in order to facilitate manual introduction of a jack  40  into the cavity  750 . The front of cavity  750  may be open or it may be closed by a wall (not shown). It is advantageous for the tool to have its cavity  750  closed by a wall on its front side, because this allows the jack  40  to be inserted into the cavity  750  of tool  700  from the rear side of the tool, until the front of the jack  40  abuts the front wall of the cavity  750 . In this position, jack  40  is in a well-defined position relative to the tool  700  and its elements, which makes the operation of the tool  700  more convenient and more reliable. 
         [0104]    Each side wall  720  provides two hinge studs  790  for pivotable attachment of two actuators  800 ,  800 ′ to the body  710  of the tool  700 . 
         [0105]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8   a , the actuator  800  and the actuator  800 ′ have an identical shape. For this reason, only actuator  800  will be described in detail. 
         [0106]    Actuator  800  comprises side walls  820 ,  830 , each having a respective circular hole  840  for engagement with a respective hinge stud  790 , such that the actuator  800  can be pivoted around the axis defined by the hinge studs  790  with which it is engaged. It can be pivoted sufficiently to enable jack  40  to be inserted into cavity  750  from the rear side of tool  700 . The actuator  800  further comprises a back wall  850 , attached to the side walls  820  and  830 . The back wall  850  provides a semi-circular recess  860 , through which those wires (not shown) can enter the tool that are to be connected to the contacts of the jack  40 . 
         [0107]    The actuator  800  comprises a bottom wall  870  (not visible in  FIG. 8   a ) which is attached to walls  820 ,  830  and  850 . In the open position of the tool, shown in  FIG. 8   a , the walls  820 ,  830 ,  850  and  870  of actuator  800  form an open trough. Inside this trough, a longitudinally extending lever  880  is arranged that protrudes perpendicularly from wall  870 . The lever has a lateral width that corresponds to the width of a surface on a wire organizer  950  which is part of jack  40  after installation, and which serves to push wires into the contacts of jack  40  ( FIGS. 8   b  and  8   c  explain this mechanism in more detail). The front surface  890  of lever  880  is flat and smooth, so that it can easily slide over the corresponding sliding surface  980 ,  980 ′ of the wire organizer  950 . The lever  880  is firmly attached to wall  870  at its one end. Lever  880  is supported, at its back side, by an interior wall  900 , which extends from side wall  820  to side wall  830  and is parallel to the back wall  850 . The interior wall  900  has a central recess  905 , aligned with the recess  860 , to allow those wires  965  to enter the tool  700  and the jack  40  that are to be connected to the contacts of jack  40 , both in the open and in the closed position of tool  700 . 
         [0108]    The levers  880  and  880 ′, respectively, are displaced laterally from the center of the interior wall  900 , such that each of them is aligned with the respective corresponding sliding surfaces  980 ,  980 ′ of the wire organizer  950 , that will be discussed in detail below. 
         [0109]    The distance between the interior wall  900  and the pivot hinge hole  840  is chosen such that the tool  700  can only be brought into its closed position if the wire organizer  950  has been pushed deep enough into the body  960  of jack  40  for the wires  965  to be securely connected to the contacts of jack  40 . If the wire organizer  950  has not been inserted deeply enough into the body  960  of jack  40 , the interior wall  900  and the lever  880  prevent complete closing of the tool  700 . 
         [0110]    The tool  700  is, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8   a , to be brought from its open position into its closed position manually. An operator, a technician, or the like, is required to insert wires  965  into the wire organizer  950 , insert the body  960  of a jack  40  into the tool  700  while the tool  700  is in its open position, manually insert the wire organizer  950  partly into body  960  of jack  40 , and manually pivot the actuators  800  and  800 ′ towards each other simultaneously, thus bringing the tool  700  into its closed position and thereby inserting the wire organizer  950  into the body  960  of jack  40 , whereby the wires  965  are securely connected to respective contacts in the jack  40 . 
         [0111]    In order to facilitate the pivoting of the actuator  800  and thus the closing of the tool  700 , the actuator  800  is equipped with a grip element  910  located close to the end of the actuator  800  which is opposite to its hinged end. The grip element  910  is an essentially plate-like, flat element, connected with the bottom wall  870  or forming one part with it, and located on the side of the bottom wall  870  opposite to the side to which the lever  880  is attached. It may be advantageous to arrange the grip element  910  centrally over the lever  880 , as this arrangement avoids distortion of the tool  700  when pressure is exerted on the grip element  910  to close the tool  700 . In its plane, the grip element  910  may extend in one or more directions beyond the trough formed by the walls  820 ,  830 ,  850  and  870  of the actuator  800 . 
         [0112]      FIG. 8   b  shows the tool  700  in its open position, with the body  960  of the telecommunications jack  40  inserted into the cavity  750  of the tool  700 . The wires  965  are inserted into the wire organizer  950 . The wire organizer  950  is not inserted into the body  960  of the jack  40 . The wire organizer  950  has latch protrusions  990 ,  990 ′ located on opposite sides of the wire organizer  950 . The latch protrusions  990 ,  990 ′ have a triangular cross section, which allows for secure and irreversible engagement with corresponding elastic latches  1000 ,  1000 ′ on the jack body  960 . The positions of the latch protrusions  990 ,  990 ′ in the direction indicated by the arrow  780  is chosen such that they can engage with respective latches  1000 ,  1000 ′ only when the wire organizer  950  has been completely inserted into the body  960  of the jack  40 . 
         [0113]      FIG. 8   c  shows the termination tool  700  in its open position, with a telecommunications jack  40  inserted into the cavity  750  of the tool  700 . For clarity, only one actuator  800 ′ is shown. This Figure shows details of the rear portion of the jack  40 . The wire organizer  950  is partly inserted into the body  960  of the jack  40 . The wires  965  enter the jack  40  through a circular wire opening  970  at the back of the jack  40 . The wire organizer  950  has two sliding surfaces  980 ,  980 ′, one located on one side of the opening  970 , the other one located on the opposite side of the opening  970  (only the sliding surface  980 ′ being visible in  FIG. 8   c ). They are located symmetrical to each other with respect to an axis in the orientation of arrow  780  through the center of the opening  970 . The sliding surface  980 ′ is mechanically contacted by the front surface  890 ′ of the lever  880 ′, whereas the sliding surface  980  is mechanically contacted by the front surface  890  of the lever  880  (not visible in this Figure), when the actuators  800  and  800 ′ are pivoted towards each other into the closed position of the tool  700 . 
         [0114]    The interaction between a sliding surface  980 ,  980 ′ and the respective lever front surface  890 ,  890 ′ is both a sliding and a pushing interaction. Upon transition of the tool  700  from its open position into its closed position, the middle part of the lever  880 ′, located approximately half-way along the lever  880 ′ between its one end attached to wall  870  and its other end, will first contact the sliding surface  980 ′, push the wire organizer  950  slightly deeper into the body  960  of the jack  40 . As the tool  700  is closed further, the contact point between the lever  880 ′ and the sliding surface  980 ′ will be closer to the wall  870  and the wire organizer  950  will enter deeper into the body  960  of jack  40 . When tool  700  is in its fully-closed position (shown in  FIG. 8   d ), wire organizer  950  is inserted deep enough into body  960  of the jack  40  so that the latch protrusion  990 ′ engages with the elastic latch  1000 ′ and the other latch protrusion  990  (not visible) engages with the other elastic latch  1000 , so as to fix the wire organizer  950  in its fully-inserted position. 
         [0115]    It has been mentioned above that the actuators  800  and  800 ′ of the tool  700  have an identical shape in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 8   a - 8   d.  As the actuator  800  is arranged opposite to actuator  800 ′, and their respective pivot axes are parallel and located close to each other, the lateral offset of the position of the levers  880  and  880 ′ implies that they push the wire organizer  950  into the body of the jack  40  in different sliding surfaces  980 ,  980 ′ respectively, which are located symmetrically around the central axis of the jack  40 . The wire organizer  950  is thus pushed evenly into the body of the jack  40 , avoiding canting and jamming. 
         [0116]    By pivoting both actuators  800  and  800 ′ towards each other completely, i.e. by bringing the tool  700  from an open position into a closed position, the levers  880 ,  880 ′ contact the respective sliding surfaces  980 ,  980 ′ with their respective front surfaces  890 ,  890 ′, and as the tool  700  closes completely, the levers  880 ,  880 ′ press the wire organizer  950  into the body  960  of the jack  40 , which in turn presses the wires  965  into respective slits of insulation displacement contacts (not shown), thereby establishing a secure connection with the contacts of the jack  40 . 
         [0117]      FIG. 8   d  shows the tool  700  and the jack  40 , connected to wires  965 , after actuation of the tool. For clarity of the Figure, the actuators  800 ,  800 ′ have been re-opened. The Wire organizer  950  is fully pushed into body  960  of jack  40 , and elastic latches  1000 ,  1000 ′ are engaged with latch protrusions  990 ,  990 ′, respectively, thus securing wire organizer  950  relative to body  960  of jack  40 . In this situation, wires  965  are securely connected to respective insulation displacement contacts  1150  (not visible) in jack  40 . 
         [0118]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the wire organizer  950  of a modular jack  40 , holding the wires  965  in place. The wires  965  enter the wire organizer  950  through its wire opening  970  (not visible in this Figure). Each wire has an insulating sheath  1050  and a conductive strand  1060 . The inner space of the wire organizer  950  is surrounded by walls  1080 . Two of these have recesses  1100 , each of which holds the end of one wire  965  in place by engaging with the insulating sheath  1050  of the wire  965 . When the wire organizer  950 , with the wires  965  held in place in it, is pushed into the body  960  of the jack  40 , the part of each wire  965 , next to the recess  1100  by which it is held in place, is pushed into an insulation displacement contact  1150  of the modular jack  40 , whereby each wire  965  is secured to a respective insulation displacement contact  1150  and an electrical contact is established between the conductive strand  1060  of the wire  965  and the insulation displacement contact  1150 . 
         [0119]    The wire organizer  950  is made from a polymeric, non-conductive material. Those walls  1080  having recesses  1100  for holding wires  965  in place are provided with indicia  1110  which serve to indicate the different wire locations. 
         [0120]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a part of the jack  40 , showing the insulation displacement contacts  1150  in the body  960  of the jack  40 , to which the wires  965  are secured when the wire termination tool  700  pushes the wire organizer  950  into the body  960  of the jack  40 . When the levers  880 ,  880 ′ of tool  700  have pushed the wire organizer  950  completely into the body  960  of the jack  40  so that the wires  965  have been secured to respective insulation displacement contacts  1150 , the two latches  1000 ,  1000 ′ of the jack  40  engage with the respective latch protrusions  990 ,  990 ′ of the wire organizer  950  to secure the wire organizer  950  relative to the jack body  960 .