Modular jack having connecting cap

The present invention discloses a modular jack for connecting a modular plug, and more particularly, a modular jack with a connection cap which comprises: a plurality of IDC terminals electrically connected to a printed circuit board; a back cover provided with a plurality of penetration grooves so as to support the IDC terminals; and a connection cap for pressurizing and connecting wires to connection slits of the IDC terminals penetrated through penetration grooves of the back covers and protruded outward, the connection cap being provided with terminal insertion grooves for inserting the plurality of IDC terminals and a plurality of wire insertion grooves for coupling wires, the back cover and the connection cap being detachably coupled to a housing. Thus, by inserting wires of a communication line to the wire insertion grooves of the connection cap and then making them close to the rear side of the back cover and coupling them thereto, the wires can be connected to the IDC terminals without any particular working tool.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a modular jack which is connected to a modular plug of a terminal device, and more particularly, to a modular plug with a connection cap which is capable of connecting a wire of a communication line to an IDC terminal of a modular jack without any particular working tool.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, in order to establish a communication by using a terminal device (computer and telephone) capable of data and voice communication, the terminal device should be connected to an incoming communication line. For this, a modular plug is prepared at the terminal device and a modular jack is provided at the end of the incoming communication line.

FIG. 1is an explosive perspective view showing one example of a modular jack according to the conventional art. As shown therein, the conventional modular jack mainly comprises a housing100and a connecting body900coupled to the rear surface of the housing100. The housing100has a plug insertion port110formed on the front surface for inserting a modular plug800and a connecting body coupling portion150formed on the opposite side for inserting a connecting body900. The connecting body900includes an insert200electrically connected to the modular plug800, an IDC type terminal block600with a plurality of IDC terminals mounted thereto and a printed circuit board300on which the insert200and the IDC type terminal bock600are electrically connected and fixed. Further, a connection block700for pressurizing a wire is provided at the rear of the IDC type terminal block600. Accordingly, when the wire of the communication line is connected to the IDC type terminal block600, it is electrically connected with the modular plug800through an IDC terminal, a pattern of the printed circuit board300and the terminal of the insert200to thereby enable communication.

Meanwhile,FIG. 2is an explosive perspective view showing another example of a modular jack according to the conventional art. The modular jack includes an IDC type terminal block600with a plurality of IDC terminals400mounted thereto and a connection block700coupled to the upper side of the IDC type terminal block600. Further, the IDC type terminal block600is formed with IDC terminal insertion grooves610facing each other and having a predetermined angle and a plurality of wire insertion grooves620orthogonal to the IDC terminal insertion grooves610. The connection block700is coupled to the upper side of the IDC type terminal block600and has a rib710formed on the lower part and surface-contacted to both opposite side faces of the upper part of the IDC type terminal block600for pressurizing the wire.

Therefore, when the wire W of the communication line is connected to the IDC type terminal block600, firstly, a plurality of wires W are all inserted into the entrance side of the wire insertion grooves620formed on the upper end of the IDC type terminal block600, and then the connection block700is coupled to the upper part of the IDC type terminal block600, to thereby making the rib710of the connection block700pressurize downward the wires W coming out to both sides of the IDC type terminal block600. Then, as the downwardly pressurized wires W are stripped off by cutters formed on the connection slits of the IDC terminals400, they are coupled and electrically connected to the IDC terminals400.

In this way, the conventional modular jack employs a method of inserting a wire to the IDC type terminal block600, thus the modular jack with the IDC type terminal block600fixed thereto has to be in a free state so as to enable a wire connection work. For example, in the case that a plurality of modular jacks are coupled to a patch panel or an outlet plate or the like, a wire has to be connected only after each of the modular jacks is separated from the patch panel. Thus, it was very difficult to connect a wire to a patch panel or the like that has a plurality of modular jacks closely coupled thereto.

In recent times, however, various kinds of terminal devices are used by simultaneous connection, thus the use of patch panels with a plurality of modular jacks coupled thereto are growing larger and larger. Accordingly, there was a demand for a modular jack of a new type which is capable of performing a wire connection work with ease without separating the modular jack coupled to such patch panel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is designed in consideration of the problems of the prior art, and therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide a modular jack with an IDC terminal connection cap which is capable of easily connecting a wire with hands without using any particular working tool, conveniently connecting a wire even when coupled to a patch panel or the like, and preventing foreign materials from coming into an IDC terminal.

To achieve the above object, there is provided a modular jack according to the present invention, comprising: a back cover which is detachably coupled to the rear surface of a housing for receiving a modular plug and provided with a plurality of penetration grooves through which a plurality of IDC terminals are penetrated; and a connection cap which is detachably coupled to the rear surface of the back cover and provided with terminal insertion grooves for inserting the plurality of IDC terminals protruded by penetrating the penetration grooves and a plurality of wire insertion grooves for inserting wires of a communication line, the terminal insertion grooves and the wire insertion grooves orthogonal to each other.

Furthermore, the back cover comprises: two penetration groove blocks which is provided with a plurality of penetration grooves through which the IDC terminals fixed in two lateral rows on the rear surface of the printed circuit board; a back cover main body which is integrally formed to support the two penetration groove blocks; coupling hooks which are protruded forward on both opposite side faces of the back cover main body and detachably coupled to the housing; and guide plates which are protruded rearward on the upper and lower surfaces of the back cover main body and provided on the inner side surface with guide grooves for guiding the connection cap.

Furthermore, the connection cap comprises: a plurality of terminal insertion grooves for inserting the upper end portions of the IDC terminals protruded to the rear side of the penetration groove blocks; two connection blocks which are provided with a plurality of wire insertion grooves formed orthogonal to the terminal insertion grooves so that the wires of the communication line can be inserted into the connection slits of the IDC terminals; a connection cap main body which is integrally formed so as to support the two connection blocks; guide projection which are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the connection cap main body and guided by guide grooves formed on the guide plates of the back cover; and detachable hooks which are integrally formed to the guide projections and detachably coupled to the back cover.

Furthermore, the IDC terminals fixed to the printed circuit board are fixed zigzag so that the distance between the terminals becomes longer, and the penetration grooves of the penetration groove blocks and the terminal insertion grooves of the connection block are formed zigzag so as to correspond to the IDC terminals.

Accordingly, when wires of a communication line are connected to the modular jack according to the present invention, a plurality of wires are all inserted into the entrance sides of the wire insertion grooves formed on the connection cap, and then pressurized so as to be coupled to the rear surface of the back cover of the modular jack connected to a patch panel or outlet plate. Then, as the IDC terminals protruded to the rear side of the back cover are inserted into the terminal insertion grooves formed on the connection cap, the wires are stripped off by cutters of the IDC terminals and electrically connected to the connection slots of the IDC terminals.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Hereinafter, a modular jack of the present invention will be described in more detail referring to the drawings.

Firstly,FIG. 4is a conceptual view schematically showing a penetration groove block and a connection block which are adapted to a modular jack according to the present invention. As shown therein, reference numeral55is a penetration groove block with a plurality of penetration grooves51which a plurality of IDC terminals40are penetrated through, and reference numeral75is a connection block with terminal insertion grooves71which a plurality of IDC terminals40are inserted into and wire insertion grooves73which wires W are inserted into.

Accordingly, when it is desired to connect wires W to the IDC terminals40protruded to the penetration groove block55, firstly, every wire is inserted into the entrance side of the wire insertion grooves73formed on the connection block75, and then pressurized so that the IDC terminals40are inserted into the terminal insertion grooves71of the connection block75. Then, as the wires W are inserted into connection slots41of the IDC terminals, they are stripped off by cutters43formed on the upper end thereof and electrically connected.

In this way, the method of inserting wires into connection block75and connecting them into IDC terminals40of a penetration groove block55can carry out a connection work even in a state that the modular jack (penetration groove block) is not moved in comparison with the conventional method of inserting wires into IDC terminal blocks600and then inserting a connection block700to connect the wires. Thus, the wiring work is made much easier.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a modular jack with an IDC terminal connection cap according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Firstly,FIGS. 5 and 6are explosive perspective views of a modular jack according to this embodiment.FIG. 5is a view when viewed from a front surface andFIG. 6is a view when viewed from a rear surface.FIG. 7is an assembly perspective view of the modular jack.

As shown therein, the modular jack1comprises: a housing10which is provided with a plug insertion port11formed on the front surface; an insert20which is coupled to a coupler formed on the rear surface of the housing10; a printed circuit board30which is electrically connected to the insert20and mounted perpendicular to the rear surface of the housing10; a plurality of IDC terminals40which are electrically connected and fixed to the rear surface of the housing10; a back cover50which is detachably coupled to the rear surface of the housing10and provided with a plurality of penetration grooves51through which the IDC terminals40are penetrated; and a connection cap70which is detachably coupled to the rear surface of the back cover50and formed in a manner that terminal insertion grooves71for inserting the plurality of IDC terminals40protruded rearward through the IDC terminal penetration grooves51and a plurality of wire insertion grooves73for coupling wires are orthogonal to each other.

The above description will be described more concretely with reference toFIG. 6. The housing10has a plug insertion port11formed on the front surface, and the plug insertion port11has an insert coupler13formed on the opposite side of the plug insertion port11and for coupling the insert20and a printed circuit board mounting portion15formed on the rear surface and for mounting a printed circuit board30at an angle. Further, a stopping protuberance16and an elastic hook17detachably coupled to a path panel or outlet plate are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the housing10. In addition, guide grooves18and stopping ridges19for detachably coupling to coupling hooks53of the back cover50are formed on both opposite side faces of the housing10.

The insert20includes eight terminal21arranged in two rows and an insert body23surrounding these terminals. The terminals21at the front end are arranged to be connectable to the terminal of a modular plug80that is inserted into the plug insertion port11of the housing10, and the terminals21at the rear end are electrically connected and fixed to the printed circuit board30.

The printed circuit board30is mounted perpendicular to the printed circuit board mounting portion15formed on the rear surface of the housing10, and has the insert20fixed to the front surface thereof and the IDC terminals40in two lateral rows fixed zigzag to the rear surface thereof. Further, the terminals of the insert20and the IDC terminals40are electrically connected via a PCB pattern (not shown). At this time, the PCB pattern contains capacitance and inductance to reduce cross talk generated from the modular jack. Thus, the IDC terminals40are electrically connected to the modular plug80inserted into the plug insertion port11through the PCB pattern of the printed circuit board and the terminals21of the insert20. Meanwhile, the IDC terminals40are formed with connection slots41and have cutters43formed on the front ends for being able to strip wires.

Continuously, the back cover50is formed with two penetration groove block55with a plurality of IDC terminal penetration grooves51through which the IDC terminals40are penetrated and supported. The penetration groove blocks55are integrally formed on both lateral sides of a front wall54contacted to the rear surface of the housing10to constitute a back cover main body56. On both opposite sides of the back cover main body56, integrally formed are cantilever coupling hooks53capable of coupling to the guide grooves18and the stopping ridges19formed on both opposite sides of the housing10. On the upper and lower surface of the back cover main body56, integrally protruded are guide plates57for guiding and coupling the connection cap70. On the inner side faces of the guide plates57, formed are guide grooves58for guiding the connection cap70and a stopping ridge59for coupling to detachable hooks79of the connection cap70.

The connection cap70includes, as shown inFIG. 5, two connection blocks75formed in a manner that a plurality of terminal insertion grooves71and a plurality of wire insertion grooves73are orthogonal to each other. The two connection blocks75are integrally formed at the left and right of a rear wall74with a cable insertion port77at the center, to thereby form a connection cap main body76. On the upper and lower surface of the connection cap main body76, formed are guide projections78guided by the guide grooves58of the back cover50and the detachable hooks79for detachably coupling to the stopping ridge59formed on the rear ends of the guide plates57.

Therefore, the IDC terminals40fixed to the printed circuit board30are penetratingly coupled to the plurality of penetration grooves51, and then the connection cap70is coupled so as to insert the upper end portions of the IDC terminals40exposed to the rear side of the penetration groove blocks55, to thereby assemble the modular jack1according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, a procedure of connecting wires of a communication line to the modular jack according to the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS.8and9. As shown therein, in order to connect wires of a communication line to the modular jack1, firstly, the connection cap70of the modular jack1is separated from the back cover50, then a cable is inserted via a cable insertion port77of the connection cap70, and then a plurality of wires W are sequentially inserted into the entrance side of the wire insertion grooves73of the connection cap70. Next, the connection cap70gets near to the rear side of the back cover50and coupled thereto. Then, as the IDC terminals40exposed to the rear side of the back cover50are inserted into the terminal insertion grooves71of the connection cap70, the wire are stripped off by the cutters43and electrically connected to the connection slits41. Accordingly, the wires W are electrically connected to the modular plug80that is inserted into to the housing10through the IDC terminals40, the pattern of the printed circuit board30and the terminals of the insert20. Continuously, the wires W laterally protruded are cut out and smoothed, and then, as shown inFIG. 10, a plurality of modular jacks1are disposed in one row to the couplers of a patch panel850. In this way, the modular jack1according to the present invention has the connection cap70integrally disposed to the housing10. Thus, if necessary, even after the disposition, the modular jack1can be substituted or moved with ease.

As seen from above, the modular jack of the present invention can carry out a wire connection work without any particular working tool and enables a jack movement even after being coupled to a patch panel because the connection cap is integrally coupled to the housing.

Furthermore, the modular jack according to the present invention has no risk of loss and prevents foreign materials, such as dust or the like, from being introduced to the IDC terminals since the connection cap is detachably coupled to the back cover.