Patent Publication Number: US-7896681-B2

Title: RJ modular connector

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional of and claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 12/366,727, filed Feb. 6, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,789,694 which in turn claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/026,856, filed Feb. 7, 2008, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to RJ type modular connectors and tools and methods for using RJ type modular connectors. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The typical process for terminating twisted-pair cables with a modular connector involves first stripping a prescribed portion of the insulating jacket of the cable, exposing the individual pairs of twisted insulated wires. Then, the pairs are untwisted and aligned in a formation consistent with the modular connector&#39;s receiving opening (usually in flat formation). Next, the wires are inserted into the connector, visually inspected, then crimped with a tool specific for this application. 
     Several challenges are often present when terminating twisted-pair cables. One, as described above, the wires typically must be untwisted to some extent before inserting into the connector and terminating. It is difficult to avoid removing too much insulation and/or untwisting too much wire, thus increasing the risk of “cross-talk” (including “near end cross talk”). Additionally, it can be difficult to visually verify the correct position of each wire once inserted into the connector, due to the need to cut the individual wires to a predetermined, very short length. 
     To overcome these challenges, technicians are provided standards to minimize the untwisted portion of the cable and given dimensional guidelines to adhere to. Also, to help visual inspection, the wire pairs are color coded and connectors are typically manufactured out of clear plastic. These measures help; however, difficulties still exist, particularly for lesser experienced technicians. 
     One known connector and associated crimping tool addresses most of these issues by providing a connector that has openings in the front face of the connector such that the wires can extend through it before they are cut off. The outer jacket insulation is removed from an end portion of the cable, leaving much greater lengths of exposed wires. The wires are arranged in an essentially flat configuration and inserted longitudinally into and through the connector, so that the respective wires extend through separate tracks and their end portions protrude from the forward end of the connector. This connector design allows the individual wires to be pulled all the way through the connector. The complementary tool includes a blade that shears the protruding wires flush with the connector in the process of crimping. However, the ends of the sheared wires are left exposed, therefore, subject to “cross-talk”, corrosion, and/or other detrimental effects. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In embodiments of the present invention, an RJ modular connector is provided that has wire channels that slope upward and end at openings in the top of the connector through which the stripped wires extend. In use, the outer jacket insulation is removed from an end portion of the cable, leaving lengths of exposed wires. The length of the exposed wire is unimportant. The wires are arranged in an essentially flat configuration and inserted longitudinally into the connector and then directed upward by the upward slope of the channels, so that the distal ends of the respective wires extend through the top of the connector. The protruding wire ends are then compared with a standard to confirm the correct color identification pattern for them and corresponding wire position. After the comparison is made, the protruding wire ends are crimped/secured and sheared off. Conductive contact blades are inserted, and pierce the wires. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
       Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1A  is a cross-sectional side view of a RJ modular connector, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates the relationship between a contact blade of the connector of  FIG. 1A  and an individual wire of the twisted pair cable; 
         FIG. 1C  is a cross-sectional side view of the connector of  FIG. 1A , illustrating a contact blade in an un-crimped position and typical cable entry; 
         FIG. 1D  is a close-up cross-sectional side view of a portion of the connector of  FIG. 1A , illustrating a contact blade in a crimped position; 
         FIG. 1E  is a cross-sectional side view of a RJ modular connector, in accordance with alternative embodiments of the present invention, illustrating a contact blade in an un-crimped position and an alternate channel configuration; 
         FIG. 1F  is a top view of the connector of  FIG. 1A , illustrating the large channel to receive the unstripped cable and the small channels to receive the stripped wires; 
         FIG. 2A  is a top view of a RJ modular connector, in accordance with alternative embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional side view of the connector of  FIG. 2A , illustrating the top shearing element in a closed/crimped position; 
         FIG. 2C  is a cross-sectional side view of the connector of  FIG. 2A , illustrating the top shearing element in an open/un-crimped position; 
         FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of a RJ modular connector, in accordance with alternative embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side view of a RJ modular connector, in accordance with alternative embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5A  is a cross-sectional side view of a RJ modular connector, illustrating the process of inserting a cable, in accordance with alternative embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional side view of the connector of  FIG. 5A , illustrating an inserted cable; 
         FIG. 5C  is a top view of the connector of  FIG. 5A , illustrating an inserted cable; and 
         FIG. 5D  is a top view of the connector of  FIG. 5A , without a cable. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-5  by way of example, an illustration of one type of device that would benefit from the present invention is provided. In embodiments of the present invention, an RJ modular connector is provided that has wire channels that slope upward and end at openings in the top of the connector through which the stripped wires extend. In use, the outer jacket insulation is removed from an end portion of the cable, leaving lengths of exposed wires. The length of the exposed wire is unimportant. The wires are arranged in an essentially flat configuration and inserted longitudinally into the connector and then directed upward by the upward slope of the channels, so that the distal ends of the respective wires extend through the top of the connector. The protruding wire ends are then compared with a standard to confirm the correct color identification pattern for them and corresponding wire position. After the comparison is made, the protruding wire ends are crimped/secured and sheared off as discussed in more detail below. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1A-C , a modular connector  10  for terminating an insulated cable is illustrated. The insulated cable  26  has a jacket encasing a plurality of insulated wires  28 . The modular connector  10  has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape. The connector has a connector body  12 . Defined within the connector body is an internal cavity, the internal cavity comprising (i) a rearward chamber  18  for receiving a portion of the insulated cable via an opening defined in the rear wall and (ii) a plurality of substantially parallel passages  20  (one of which is illustrated) for receiving the insulated wires. Each of the parallel passages extends from the rearward chamber  18  to a respective one of a plurality of openings  74  (seen more clearly in  FIG. 1F ) defined in the top of the connector body. 
     Also defined within the connector body are a plurality of slots  22 . Each is open to the front wall and to the top of the connector body. Each slot is substantially parallel to the side walls of the connector body. Each slot is configured to receive a respective one of a plurality of conductive contact blades  14  inserted in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the connector. Each conductive contact blade  14  has at least one piercing point (two piercing points are illustrated in the figures). Each slot  22  has an opening  24  to a respective one of the parallel passages to allow the piercing points to reach and pierce a respective insulated wire when the contact blade is fully inserted. 
     As with known modular connectors, the underside of the connector body has a resilient release lever  16 , which is releasably engageable with the jack into which the connector is inserted. 
     In the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 C,  1 E,  2 B, and  2 C, the parallel passages meet the top of the connector body at an angle (which may be, for example, between five degrees and ninety degrees). In such embodiments, the length of each contact blade piercing point is selected such that each piercing point pierces the respective insulated wire to about the same depth. In other words, the length of the piercing points will typically be unequal in such embodiments. This unequal length is most clearly illustrated in  FIG. 1B . 
     In the embodiments illustrated in  FIG. 1D , connector  40  comprises a connector body  42 , in which an internal cavity is defined. The internal cavity of connector  40  comprises (i) a rearward chamber  48  for receiving a portion of the insulated cable via an opening defined in the rear wall and (ii) a plurality of substantially parallel passages  50  (one of which is illustrated) for receiving the insulated wires. In connector  40 , the parallel passages  50  meet the top of the connector body at a substantially perpendicular angle. In such embodiments, the piercing points of the contact blade  44  have substantially equal lengths to enable each piercing point to pierce the respective insulated wire to about the same depth. As with the connector of  FIGS. 1A and 1B , connector  40  of  FIG. 1D  comprises a plurality of slots for receiving contact blades  44 . As with other connectors of this type, connector  40  has a resilient release lever  46 . 
     In the embodiments illustrated in  FIG. 1E , connector  60  comprises a connector body  62 , in which an internal cavity is defined. The internal cavity of connector  60  comprises (i) a rearward chamber  68  for receiving a portion of the insulated cable via an opening defined in the rear wall and (ii) a plurality of substantially parallel passages  70  (one of which is illustrated) for receiving the insulated wires. In connector  60 , the internal cavity has an alternative configuration in which the parallel passages  70  intersect the rearward passage at or near the top of the rearward passage. As with the connector of  FIGS. 1A and 1B , connector  60  of  FIG. 1E  comprises a plurality of slots for receiving contact blades  64 . As with other connectors of this type, connector  60  has a resilient release lever  66 . 
     In embodiments of the invention illustrated in  FIGS. 1A-F ,  2 A-C, and  3 , the wires emerge from the top and a shearing force is applied along the longitudinal axis (see arrow in  FIG. 1A ). The shearing force is applied in this embodiment by a crimping tool (not illustrated) which simultaneously shears the wire ends (such as with a blade  30 ) while crimping a portion of the connector surrounding the cable in order to secure the cable. Contact blades (one for each wire) pierce the insulation of each individual wire (when fully inserted) and provide the electrical connection from the wires to the wall jack. The contact blades are inserted horizontally—parallel to the longitudinal axis into the front face (see arrow in  FIG. 1C ). The crimping tool seats the contact blades into position, driving the prongs into the wire channels and thus into the wires.  FIG. 1C  illustrates a contact blade in a partially inserted, un-crimped position, and  FIG. 1D  illustrates a contact blade in a fully inserted, crimped position. Due to the slope of the inserted wire, the contact blade may have uneven prongs (see  FIG. 1B ).  FIG. 1F  illustrates the large channel that receives the unstripped cable and the small channels that receive the stripped wires, as well as the sockets that receive the contact blades.  FIG. 1F  illustrates eight small channels, but the actual number of small channels will vary depending on the specific cable used and the specific application. 
     In alternative embodiments, the connector includes a sliding mechanism that is slidably engaged with the connector body. The sliding mechanism is configured to cover the plurality of openings defined in the top of the connector body when in a closed position and to enable the free end of each of the insulated wires to protrude from the openings when in an open position. The sliding mechanism may include a shearing edge for shearing the protruding insulated wires when the sliding mechanism is moved from the open position to the closed position.  FIGS. 2A-C  illustrates an embodiment having a sliding top surface, while  FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment with a sliding outer sleeve. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2A-C , connector  80  comprises a connector body  82 , in which an internal cavity is defined. The internal cavity of connector  80  comprises (i) a rearward chamber  88  for receiving a portion of the insulated cable via an opening defined in the rear wall and (ii) a plurality of substantially parallel passages  90  (one of which is illustrated) for receiving the insulated wires. The parallel passages  90  extend from the rearward chamber  88  to the holes  74  in the top of the connector body. Connector  80  has a sliding top mechanism  95 .  FIGS. 2A and 2C  illustrate the sliding mechanism in an open position, while  FIG. 1B  illustrates the sliding mechanism in a closed position. As with the connector of  FIGS. 1A and 1B , connector  80  of  FIGS. 2A-C  comprises a plurality of slots  92  for receiving contact blades  84 . As with other connectors of this type, connector  80  has a resilient release lever  86 . 
     Connector  100  of  FIG. 3  has a sliding outer sleeve  115  that shears the protruding wires and covers the holes. The sleeve  115  partially surrounds at least the top and the side walls of the connector body. As seen in  FIGS. 2B ,  2 C and  3 , the top of the connector body may have a shoulder parallel to the front wall, such that a forward end of the sliding mechanism abuts a vertical portion of the shoulder when the sliding mechanism is in a closed position. 
       FIGS. 2B and 2C  illustrate an exaggerated beveled edge, but only a slightly angled edge is typically required. In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the outer dimensions of the forward end of the connector and the outer dimensions of the sliding outer sleeve are substantially the same, such that a uniform outer surface results when the outer sleeve is slid forward into the closed/crimped position. 
     In the alternative embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the cavities that receive the wires are sloped downward such that the wires protrude from the bottom of the connector. The embodiment of  FIG. 4  has a sliding bottom mechanism  135  that shears the wire ends and covers the holes. In the embodiments illustrated in  FIG. 4 , connector  120  comprises a connector body  122 , in which an internal cavity is defined. The internal cavity of connector  120  comprises (i) a rearward chamber  128  for receiving a portion of the insulated cable via an opening defined in the rear wall and (ii) a plurality of substantially parallel passages  130  (one of which is illustrated) for receiving the insulated wires. In connector  120 , the internal cavity has an alternative configuration in which the parallel passages  130  extend from the rearward passage to the bottom of the connector body. As such, the sliding mechanism  135  of connector  120  is on the bottom of the connector body. As with the connector of  FIGS. 1A and 1B , connector  120  of  FIG. 4  comprises a plurality of slots for receiving contact blades  124 . As with other connectors of this type, connector  120  has a resilient release lever  126  (in this embodiment, the release lever  126  is attached to the sliding mechanism  135 ). 
     In an alternative embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 5A-C , an open channel is formed in the top of the connector to receive the unstripped cable and a number of smaller channels receive the stripped wires. Referring now to  FIG. 5A , connector  140  comprises a connector body  142  in which an open channel  148  is defined within the top of the connector body for receiving the insulated cable  26 . A plurality of parallel passages (not labeled) are defined within the connector body for receiving respective ones of the plurality of insulated wires  28  ( FIG. 5A  illustrates an insulated wire in one of the parallel passages). Each of the parallel passages extend from a respective one of a plurality of openings  180  (in  FIGS. 5C and 5D ) defined in the top of the connector body downward into the connector body. As seen in  FIGS. 5C and 5D , the plurality of openings are adjacent the front end of the open channel. 
     A plurality of slots  142  are defined in the connector body, each slot being open to the front wall and to the top of the connector body and substantially parallel to the side walls. Each slot is configured to receive a contact blade  144 , and each slot has an opening to a respective one of the parallel passages such that the piercing points of the contact blades pierce a respective insulated wire when a respective contact blade is fully inserted. In the embodiment of  FIG. 5A , each slot is configured to receive a contact blade inserted in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the connector (as illustrated by the arrow). Connector  140  has several restrictions  182  formed along the edges of the open channel for frictionally securing the insulated cable in the channel (as illustrated in  FIGS. 5C and 5D ). As with other connectors of this type, connector  140  has a resilient release lever  146 . 
     In one embodiment, the parallel passages extend down into but not all the way through the connector body. In an alternative embodiment (not illustrated), the parallel passages extend from the plurality of openings defined in the top of the connector body downward into and through the connector body and to respective ones of a plurality of openings defined in the bottom of the connector body. In this alternative embodiment, the free end of each of the insulated wires protrudes through a respective one of a plurality of openings defined in the bottom of the connector body prior to being sheared off. In this alternative embodiment, the connector may further comprise a sliding mechanism slidably engaged with the connector body that is configured to cover the plurality of openings defined in the bottom of the connector body when in a closed position and to enable the free end of each of the insulated wires to protrude from the bottom openings when in an open position. The forward end of the sliding mechanism may have a shearing edge for shearing the protruding insulated wires when the sliding mechanism is moved from the open position to the closed position. The sliding mechanism may comprise a sleeve that partially surrounds at least the bottom and the side walls of the connector body. The bottom of the connector body may comprise a shoulder substantially parallel to the front wall, such that a forward end of the sliding mechanism abuts a vertical portion of the shoulder when the sliding mechanism is in a closed position. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5B , connector  160  comprises a connector body  162  in which an open channel  148  is defined within the top of the connector body for receiving the insulated cable  26 . A plurality of parallel passages (not labeled) are defined within the connector body for receiving respective ones of the plurality of insulated wires  28  ( FIG. 5B  illustrates an insulated wire in one of the parallel passages). Each of the parallel passages extend from a respective one of a plurality of openings  180  (in  FIGS. 5C and 5D ) defined in the top of the connector body downward into the connector body. The parallel passages angle downward into the connector body at an angle of between five degrees and ninety degrees. 
     A plurality of slots are defined in the connector body, each slot being open to the front wall and to the top of the connector body and substantially parallel to the side walls. Each slot is configured to receive a contact blade  164 , and each slot has an opening to a respective one of the parallel passages such that the piercing points of the contact blades pierce a respective insulated wire when a respective contact blade is fully inserted. In the embodiment of  FIG. 5B , each slot is configured to receive a contact blade inserted in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the connector (as illustrated by the arrow in  FIG. 5B ). As with other connectors of this type, connector  160  has a resilient release lever  166 . 
     In either the embodiment of  FIG. 5A  or of  5 B, the stripped wires are placed vertically into the parallel passages, each of which is sized to snugly receive a stripped wire. The cable is then lowered into the large open channel while the stripped wires remain in the smaller channels, resulting in the wires being sloped downwardly but not exiting the connector ( FIG. 5B ). The large channel includes restrictions that grab and hold the cable  26 . The contact blades may be inserted horizontally from the front ( FIG. 5A ) or vertically from the top ( FIG. 5B ) and may have uneven prongs due to the slope of the inserted wire ( FIG. 5B ). 
     In embodiments of the invention, the orientation of the contact blades set inward as opposed to downward shorten the distance that the untwisted wires must extend to meet the contact blades, thereby further reducing “cross-talk”. The modular connector as described above may be molded in two or more interlocking sections. 
     Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.