CABLE ADAPTERS FOR MODULAR PLUGS

Abstract: Cable adapters for modular connectors. Devices the purpose of which is to fill the difference in volume between the, for given modular plugs, specified wires and thinner wires, to guide said wires into position under the terminals prior to terminating, and to guide/position cable and wires as well as to ensure that the cable adapter, with cable and wires, is inserted correctly into the connector.

Description: CABLEADAPTERSFORMODULARPLUGS The invention relates to devices, named cable adapters, for the posi- tioning of the isolated conductors in cables having several conductors during the termination of the conductors af said cables. (In the follow¬ ing "isolated conductors" shall be referred to as "wires") The devices makes it possible to terminate cables having wires thinner than those specified for a given modular connector. Devices positioning the wires from a cable in recesses or slots in or¬ der to secure said wires during termination are known. Such devices are known from e.g. US papers 3.816.818, 4.068.912 and 4.632.486. In relation to the termination - in modular connectors according to FCC-68 - of cables having wires thinner than those specified for the con¬ nectors, it is known to encase the end of the cable with its exposed wires in plastic in a way that the difference in volume is filled, and the wires may be positioned under the terminals of the connector. By the invention it is accomplished that the cable adapters may be found as ready made parts, to be utilised by anybody anywhere. By the invention a more reliable termination is furthermore accom¬ plished, and the cost per termination is reduced by 15-40 times, compared to the above mentioned plastic encasing, depending on the art and shape of the tools, and the production volume. Thus the user is not dependent on the above mentioned plastic encasing said encasing being costly and calling for the necessary machinery. Furthermore it is time consuming and difficult to position the cable and its wires prior to the encasing and to keep them in position in the en- casing tool during encasing. The position of the wires is thus not always precise and the wires are not always centred in the encasing. Said condi¬ tions causes a relatively high number of faulty terminations, the risk of failure at the end user, and high cost. The aforementioned advantages are obtained in that the cable adapter consists of at least two adjoining tubular pieces, the outer dimensions of which are ekvivalent to that specified for the wires for a given con¬ nector, and the inner dimensions of which are ekvivalent to the thinner wires in question; so that the cable adapter fills out the difference in volume between the specified wires and the thinner wires. The thinner wires emerging from a cable, the mantle of which have been stripped, are threaded through the "tubes" of the cable adapter and trimmed along the edge of the adapter. Cable and cable adapter are then pushed into a connector in a way that the adapter containing the wires is placed underneath the terminals of the connector, and the terminals pressed into position, through the cable adapter and the isolation around the conductors, in a suitable hand tool or press. In further embodiments the cable adapter is complemented by further parts for guiding and/or positioning cable and wires and/or for the cor¬ rect insertion of the cable adapter, with wires and cable, into a connec¬ tor for termination. Said further parts may physically be part of the ca¬ ble adapter or may be independent parts, and may - apart from the above mentioned primary functions - have further functions. In many cases it will not be possible to place cable and cable adapter - or to place them correctly - in a given connector without complementing the "tube" shaped adapter with parts for guiding/positioning cable and wires and/or with parts for the correct insertion of cable and cable adapter under the terminals. Said further parts may - depending on the given connector and the cable to be terminated - be physically connected to the "tube" shaped adapter. In other cases - depending on the given connector and the cable to be terminated - they will have to be separate parts. Said parts may have different physical shapes and may - apart from the above mentioned primary functions - have other functions such as the relief of cables, the pulling out of connectors, identification, colour coding, fixation, etc. FIG. 1 Shows, by way of example, a modular connector according to FCC-68. FIG: 2A Shows a cable adapter with, by way of example, 6 "tubes". FIG. 2B Shows, by way of example, a 6 pole FCC-68 connector with cable and cable adapter. FIG. 3A Shows, by way of example, a "further" part being physically connected to the "tube" shaped adapter. FIG. 3B Shows, by way of example, a "further" part not being physically connected to the "tube" shaped adapter. FIG. 1 Shows, by way of example, a 6 pole modular connector (male part) with lock, according to FCC-68 (Federal Communication Commission- 68). The connector is terminated as follows: a flat cable (1), specified for the application, is stripped so that the wires are laid bare. The stripped cable is pushed into the connector in a way that the bared wires are guided into position underneath the terminals (2). The terminals are then pressed into position with a suitable tool. At the same time the fixation (3) is pressed into the mantle of the cable and locked. Connectors of this sort are made for flat cables with defined dimensions and wires (0,9mm) laying side by side in the cables. As modular connectors has won increasing popularity, the need to be able to use them with other cables than those specified has arisen. Especially it would be to great advantage to be able to utilise said connectors to¬ gether with thin round cables having wires thinner than those specified. This is not possible right away, as wires thinner than those specified and not lying side by side in the cable not will be guided into position under the terminals as the cable is pushed into the connector. FIG. 2A shows the herein described cable adapter hawing, by way of ex¬ ample, 6 "tubes". The adapter makes it possible to utilise non-specified cables including round cables having wires thinner than those specified. The thinner wires emerging from a cable, the mantle of which have been stripped, are threaded through the "tubes" of the cable adapter and trimmed along the edge of the adapter. FIG. 2B shows, by way of example, a round cable with cable adapter, pushed into a 6 pole FCC-68 connector in a way that the adapter, contain¬ ing the wires is placed underneath the terminals of the connector, and the terminals pressed into position, through the cable adapter and the isolation around the conductors, in a suitable hand tool or press. FIG. 3A shows, by way of example, a "further" part being physically connected to the "tube" shaped adapter. In many cases it will not be possible to place cable and cable adapter "tube" shaped adapter with parts for guiding/positioning cable and wires and/or with parts for the correct insertion of cable and cable adapter under the terminals. Said further parts may - depending on the given con- nector and the cable to be terminated - be physically connected to the "tube" shaped adapter. FIG. 3B shows, by way of example, a "further" part not being physically connected to the "tube" shaped adapter. In other cases - depending on the given connector and the cable to be terminated - they will have to be separate parts. Said parts may have different physical shapes and may - apart from the above mentioned pri¬ mary functions - have other functions such as the relief of cables, the pulling out of connectors, identification, colour coding, fixation, etc.

Claims: Claims: CLAIM 1: Fig. 2A Devices for the positioning of the isolated conductors in cables having at least two wires during the termination of the conductors of said cables, CHARACTERISED in that the devices, herein named cable adapters, consists of at least two adjoining tubular pieces, the outer dimensions of which are ekvivalent to that specified for the wires for a given con- nector, and the inner dimensions of which are ekvivalent to the thinner wires being utilised, so that the cable adapter fills out the difference in volume between the specified wires and the thinner wires. CLAIM 2: Fig. 3A & B Devises as in claim 1, CHARACTERISED by being complemented by further parts for guiding and/or positioning cable and wires and/or for the cor¬ rect insertion of the cable adapter, with wires and cable, into a connec¬ tor for termination. Said further parts may physically be part of the ca¬ ble adapter or may be independent parts, and may - apart from the above mentioned primary functions - have further functions.

Inventors: FORCHHAMMER JEPPE, FORCHHAMMER, JEPPE
Applicants: FORCHHAMMER JEPPE, PARTAGON TRADE AB, FORCHHAMMER, JEPPE
Application year: 1993
Main classification: H01R4
IPC codes: H01R4, H01R13, H01R24