Abstract:
Plug and jack connector assemblies ( 20, 24 ) having internal shields ( 34, 108 ) separating pairs of connections, and grounding arrangements insuring continuity of ground between the mated assemblies. Within each assembly an interior shield comprises a unitary conductive member having a cross-shaped cross section dividing the interior of the assembly into quadrants. The assemblies are adapted to make eight separate connections, divided into pairs, for use with cabling made up of four twisted pairs ( 44 ). Each set of two connections is disposed within one of the quadrants defined by the interior shield, so that it is isolated from all the other connection pairs. The plug connector assembly includes a grounding bracket ( 32 ) securely attached to the outer shield ( 42 ) of its associated cable ( 22 ). The grounding bracket securely engages the conductive housing ( 102 ) of the mating jack connector assembly, which in turn is in contact with the outer shield ( 114 ) of its associated cable ( 26 ). In an alternate embodiment, the jack connector assembly is modified for use as a right angled circuit board mounted jack.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a connector assembly terminating a shielded cable and, more particularly, to an improved grounding bracket for use in such an assembly which engages the shield of the cable and provides continuity of that shield with a shield of a complementary mating connector assembly. 
     Local area networks interconnecting computers in a workplace are becoming more prevalent. One of the factors limiting the speed with which the computers can communicate over the network is the type of transmission medium connecting the computers to the network. For reasons of economy, twisted pair shielded cable has been developed that provides a sufficiently high data transfer rate. One such proposed type of cable is known as Category  7  twisted pair cable. Category  7  cable includes four pairs of individually insulated wires which are twisted together with a very tightly controlled twist specification. Each twisted pair is covered with its own individual conductive shield. All of the pairs are then bundled together and covered with a common shield. Typically, both the individual shields and the common shield are grounded. The common shield is covered with an outer plastic protective jacket. 
     When two such cables are connected together, or when connections are made from computers or network hubs to a cable, in order to insure good shielding qualities, especially at high frequencies, it is necessary to have good quality connections between the cable shields and the connectors, and also between mating connectors. 
     It would therefore be desirable to have a grounding bracket for a shielded cable connector which results in the aforedescribed good quality shield connections. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention, a grounding bracket for a shielded cable connector uses a crimped spring loaded cantilevered beam to insure a good ground connection at the cable/connector interface. A split ring, with the braided shield of the cable folded back over the ring, is used underneath the spring contacts to support the cable braid and maintain good electrical contact. When the grounding bracket is crimped, the split ring contracts until it bottoms out—then the grounding bracket is able to tightly clamp against the braid. Stored elastic energy in the cantilever arms of the bracket maintain a good ground connection and tightly clamp the cable for strain relief. Individual parts of the bracket are crimped to conductively engage each of the individual twisted pair shields to the bracket, again insuring good grounding at high frequencies. 
     In accordance with an aspect of this invention, the grounding bracket is provided with structure adapted for conductive engagement with a conductive shield portion of a complementary mating connector. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing will be more readily apparent upon reading the following description in conjunction with the drawings in which like elements in different figures thereof are identified by the same reference numeral and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a connected cable plug connector assembly and cable jack assembly incorporating elements of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of the plug connector assembly shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an isometric view, partially cut away, of the grounding bracket of the plug connector assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with a cable prepared for assembly thereto; 
     FIG. 3A is an isometric view of an alternate embodiment of the grounding bracket shown in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the assembled grounding bracket, interior shield, circuit board contacts and cable of the plug connector assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded isometric view of the jack connector assembly shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is an isometric view, partially cut away, showing the assembly of a cable to the interior shield member of the jack connector assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 5; 
     FIG. 7 is an isometric view showing the assembly of the contact members within the contact housings to the cable and interior shield member shown in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 8 is a rear isometric view of the contact housing shown in FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is a rear isometric view of a contact member for use with the contact housing shown in FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross sectional view through the contact housing shown in FIG. 8, showing a pair of contact members of the type shown in FIG. 9 prior to termination to a pair of wires; 
     FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 after the pair of contact members have been terminated to a pair of wires; and 
     FIG. 12 is an isometric view showing the interior of a jack connector assembly similar to that shown in FIG. 5 but adapted for use as a right angled jack connector assembly for installation to a printed circuit board. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a plug connector assembly, designated generally by the reference numeral  20 , terminating a cable  22  and matingly engaged with a jack connector assembly, designated generally by the reference numeral  24 , terminating a cable  26 . Illustratively, each of the cables  22 ,  26  includes eight individually insulated wires arranged as four twisted pairs, with each twisted pair being surrounded by a respective conductive shield of the type known as “Mylar foil”, which is a laminate of a thin Mylar sheet with a thin coating of aluminum on one side. This Mylar foil is wrapped around its respective twisted pair with the aluminum foil being exposed on the outside. Surrounding the four twisted pairs is a woven copper braided shield, typically connected to ground. Optionally, a Mylar foil shield may cover the four twisted pairs underneath the braided shield. In this case, the aluminum side of the Mylar foil would again be on the outside. Covering the braided shield is an outer plastic jacket. The foregoing cable is conventional and forms no part of the present invention. 
     The purpose of the plug connector assembly  20  and the jack connector assembly  24  is to interconnect respective ones of the twisted pairs within the cables  22  and  26  and to maintain continuity of the grounded shields between the cables  22  and  26  when they are so interconnected. The plug connector assembly  20  is designed for factory assembly, whereas the jack connector assembly  24  may be assembled in the field by a technician. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the components making up the plug connector assembly  20  include an outer insulative housing  28 , a pair of insulative sliding latch members  30 , a conductive grounding bracket  32 , a conductive interior shield member  34 , and a pair of circuit boards  36 ,  38  which function as contact terminals for the plug connector assembly  20 . Each of the circuit boards  36 ,  38  has deposited thereon, in a suitable manner, four elongated conductive contact traces. Thus, on the upper surface of the circuit board  36 , are the conductive traces  36 - 1  and  36 - 2 . Similarly, on the upper surface of the circuit board  38  are the conductive traces  38 - 1  and  38 - 2 . On the opposed lower surfaces (not shown) of the circuit boards  36 ,  38  are a pair of similar contact traces (not shown) directly opposed to the contact traces on the upper surfaces of the boards. Thus, the circuit boards  36 ,  38  together provide eight contact traces, one for each of the wires in the cable  22 . 
     As shown in FIG. 3, the cable  22  has an outer insulative jacket  40  surrounding a conductive braided shield  42  and a plurality of twisted pairs  44 , illustratively four in number, each covered by its own Mylar foil shield  46 . Although not shown, the twisted pairs  44  may all be covered with a common Mylar foil shield immediately inward of the braided shield  42 . To terminate the cable  22  to the plug connector assembly  20 , the outer jacket  40  is cut away circumferentially and covered at its end by a conductive split ring  48 . Preferably, the ring  48  is split in a zig zag pattern which has been found to decrease the electrical radio frequency leakage. The braided shield  42  (and also the common Mylar foil shield if present) is folded back over the split ring  48  and any excess thereof is trimmed away. Thus, the four twisted pairs  44 , each of which comprises a pair of individually insulated wires twisted tightly together and surrounded by its own Mylar foil shield  46 , have a certain minimum length, required for termination, exposed and extending forwardly out of the cut end of the cable  22 . 
     The bracket  32  is a unitary conductive member, illustratively cut and formed from a sheet of copper alloy plated with tin-lead. As shown, the bracket  32  is formed into an overall U-shape having a closed curved end  50  and a pair of substantially straight and spaced apart portions  52 ,  54  extending from the closed curved end  50  each to a respective one of a pair of opposed ends. The closed curved end  50  is formed by a pair of curved bars  56 ,  58  which are spaced to form an elongated opening  60  between them. The opening  60  is centered at the mid point of the closed curved end  50  and is symmetrical about that mid point, with an enlarged central opening  62  (as best shown in FIG. 3A) defined by opposed generally arcuate surfaces of the bars  56 ,  58 . The central opening  62  is sized to accept therein an end portion of the cable  22  with the braided shield  42  overlying the split ring  48 . The elongated opening  60  extends at each of its ends partially into a respective one of the pair of straight portions  52 ,  54 . 
     When assembling the cable  22  to the grounding bracket  32 , as will be described, the end portion of the cable  22  with the braided shield  42  overlying the split ring  48  is inserted into the enlarged central opening  62 . Opposing crimp forces, as indicated by the arrows  64  (FIG. 4) are applied to the curved bars  56 ,  58  near the ends of the opening  60 , illustratively at the junctures of the closed curved end  50  with the straight portions  52 ,  54 . The bars  56 ,  58  act as spring loaded cantilever beams and this crimping causes the bars  56 ,  58  to engage the braided shield  42  and compress the split ring  48  so as to clamp the grounding bracket  32  to the braided shield  42  while leaving stored elastic energy in the bars  56 ,  58 . The central opening  62  provides good contact with the braided shield  42  around a substantial portion of the circumference of the braided shield  42 . In the situation where a common Mylar foil shield is folded back to overlie the braided shield  42 , the crimping forces will cause the bars  56 ,  58  to break through the thin foil and contact the braided shield  42 . 
     The forward ends of each of the straight portions  52 ,  54 , of the bracket  32  are formed with structure adapted for conductive engagement with a conductive housing (or shield portion) of the complementary mating jack connector assembly  24 , as will be described. Preferably, this structure includes four or more parallel spaced fingers  66  on the straight portion  52  and four or more opposed parallel spaced fingers  68  on the straight portion  54 . The spacing between the fingers  66  and the fingers  68  is slightly less than the outer dimension of the conductive housing of the mating jack connector assembly  24 , which is receivable between the fingers  66  and the fingers  68 . Accordingly, each of the fingers  66 ,  68  is formed at its distal end with a camming surface  70 ,  72 , respectively, which cooperate with the forward end of the conductive housing of the jack connector assembly  24  to move each of the fingers  66 ,  68  outwardly as that conductive housing is received between the fingers  66  and the fingers  68 . 
     As previously described, each of the four twisted pairs  44  is covered by a respective Mylar foil shield  46 . For optimum grounding, it is desired that these shields  46  be conductively engaged by the grounding bracket  32 . Accordingly, the grounding bracket  32  further includes four arms  74  (one for each of the four twisted pairs  44 ) extending each from a respective one of the straight portions  52 ,  54 . Each of the arms  74  is formed at its distal end to provide a pair of spaced apart portions adapted to accept a respective one of the twisted pairs  44  therebetween. The spaced apart arm portions may subsequently be crimped together to conductively engage the Mylar foil shield  46  of the respective twisted pair  44 . As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the arms  74  is oval-shaped, i.e. rolled at its distal end into opposed relation with an intermediate portion of the arm  74  to form the pair of spaced apart portions. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3A, the distal end of each of the arms  76  of the grounding bracket  32 ″ is forked to form the pair of spaced apart portions between which may be inserted a respective twisted pair  44 . 
     The conductive shield member  34  functions to shield the twisted pairs  44  from each other after removal of their respective Mylar foil shields  46 . Preferably, the shield member  34  is formed as a unitary member, either of metal or of a plastic material which is subsequently metal-plated. As shown in FIG. 2, the shield member  34  includes four planar walls  78 ,  80 ,  82  and  84  which are connected together along a line  86  which extends from the cable receiving end to the forward mating end of the plug connector assembly  20 . The walls  78 ,  80 ,  82 ,  84  extend radially outward from that line  86  so as to form a plurality of angular sectors therebetween. Preferably, the walls  78 ,  80 ,  82 ,  84  are equiangularly spaced to define four equal quadrants, with a respective one of the four twisted pairs  44  extending within each quadrant. The wall  78  is sized for a tight fit in the space  88  between the two central ones of the fingers  66  of the grounding bracket  32  and the wall  82  is sized for a tight fit in the space  90  between the two central ones of the fingers  68  of the grounding bracket  32 . Accordingly, the shield  34  is in conductive engagement with the grounding bracket  32 . 
     Each of the wires of each of the twisted pairs  44  is terminated to a respective one of the contact traces on the circuit boards  36 ,  38 . As shown in FIG. 4, the insulated wire  92  has its end  94  bared and connected to the contact trace  36 - 2 , as by soldering or the like. The other wire of that twisted pair is connected to the contact trace on the lower surface of the circuit board  36  directly beneath the contact trace  36 - 2 . Similar connections are made for all of the wires, and the circuit boards  36 ,  38  are then inserted into respective spaces between the fingers  66 , and into slots  96  at the forward ends of the walls  80  and  84  of the shield member  34 . It is noted that only insulative portions of the circuit boards  36 ,  38  contact the shield member  34 . 
     To assemble the plug connector assembly  20 , the cable  22  is inserted through the strain relief  98  into the insulative housing  28  and out the forward mating end of the housing  28 . The outer jacket  40  of the cable  22  is cut, the split ring  48  is placed over the cut end, and the braided shield  42  is folded back over the split ring  48  and trimmed. The cable  22  with the exposed twisted pairs  44  is inserted through the enlarged central opening  62  of the grounding bracket  32 . Each of the twisted pairs  44  is inserted between spaced apart portions of a respective arm  74 . An end portion of the Mylar foil shield  46  is removed from each of the twisted pairs  44  and an end  94  of each of the wires is bared. The bared ends  94  are then connected to respective contact traces on the circuit boards  36 ,  38  which are then slid into respective slots  96  of the shield member  34 . The shield member  34  and the circuit boards  36 ,  38  are then installed in the grounding bracket  32  and the cable  22  is moved so that the split ring  48  with the overlying braided shield  42  is within the enlarged central opening  62  of the grounding bracket  32 . The grounding bracket  32  is then crimped to secure it to the cable  22  and the arms  74  are crimped to engage the Mylar foil shields  46 . The latch members  30  are installed on the housing  28  which is then slid over the assembly of the cable  22  to the grounding bracket  32  and the circuit boards  36 ,  38 . The notches  100  in the walls  80  and  84  of the shield member  34  cooperate with structure (not shown) internal to the housing  28  to lock the assembly in place. As shown in FIG. 5, the components making up the jack connector assembly  24  include an outer conductive split housing  102 , a group of insulative contact housings  104 , a plurality of contact members  106  and a conductive interior shield member  108 . Each of the pieces of the split housing  102  is formed with a latch opening  110  for engagement by a respective one of the latch members  30  of the plug housing  28  when the plug connector assembly  20  and the jack connector assembly  24  are mated, as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     As shown in FIG. 6, the cable  26  is of the same type as the cable  22  and has an outer insulative jacket  112  surrounding a conductive braided shield  114  and a plurality of twisted pairs  116 , each covered by its own Mylar foil shield  118 . Although not shown, the twisted pairs  116  may all be covered with a common Mylar foil shield. To terminate the cable  26  to the jack connector assembly  24 , the outer jacket  112  is cut away circumferentially and covered at its end by a conductive split ring  120 . Preferably, the ring  120  is split in a zig zag pattern which has been found to decrease the electrical radio frequency leakage. The braided shield  114  (and also the common Mylar foil shield if present) is folded back over the split ring  120  and any excess thereof is trimmed away. A ferrule  122  is installed over the folded back braided shield  114 . Thus, the four twisted pairs  116 , each of which comprises a pair of individually insulated wires twisted tightly together and surrounded by its own Mylar foil shield  118 , has a certain minimum length required for termination exposed and extending forwardly out of the cut end of the cable  26 . 
     As shown in FIG. 6, the cable  26  is initially assembled to the interior shield member  108 . The shield member  108 , like the shield member  34 , functions to shield the twisted pairs  116  from each other after removal of their respective Mylar foil shields  118 . In addition, the shield member  108  insures continuity of ground between the braided shield  114  of the cable  26  and the conductive housing  102  of the jack connector assembly  24 . Accordingly, the shield member  108  preferably is formed as a unitary member, either of metal or of plastic material which is subsequently metal-plated. As shown, the forward end of the shield member  108 , like the shield member  34 , includes four planar walls  124 ,  126 ,  128  and  130  which are connected together along a line and extend radially outward from that line so as to form a plurality of angular sectors therebetween. Like the walls of the shield member  34 , the walls of the shield member  108  are preferably equiangularly spaced to define four equal quadrants, with a respective one of the four twisted pairs  116  and, as will be described hereinafter, a respective pair of the contact members  106  extending within each quadrant. 
     Rearwardly of the walls  124 ,  126 ,  128 ,  130 , the shield member  108  is formed with a central rearwardly extending spike  132  and four rearwardly extending fingers  134 ,  136 ,  138  and  140  surrounding the spike  132  and substantially parallel thereto. The longitudinal axis of the spike  132  is preferably co-linear with the line along which the walls  124 ,  126 ,  128 ,  130  are connected. Forward of the fingers  134 ,  136 ,  138 ,  140 , is a planar plate  142  formed with a plurality of guide slots  144  each aligned with a respective one of the quadrants defined by the planar walls  124 ,  126 ,  128 ,  130 . The slots  144  are sized so that each shielded twisted pair may be inserted in a respective slot  144  with a tight fit. The plate  142  is orthogonal to the spike  132  and the fingers  134 ,  136 ,  138 ,  140  and preferably is made up of four substantially triangular pieces each secured to a respective one of four planar members  146 ,  148 ,  150  and  152  which are, in effect, extensions of respective ones of the planar walls  124 ,  126 ,  128 ,  130 , with the fingers  134 ,  136 ,  138 ,  140  each being effectively an extension of a respective one of the planar members  146 ,  148 ,  150 ,  152  extending rearwardly beyond the planar plate  142 . The planar members  146  and  150 , which are diametrically opposed about the longitudinal axis of the spike  132  and are coplanar with each other, are each formed with a respective transverse cutting slot  154  formed with opposed sharpened edges, illustratively with teeth thereon. 
     To assemble the cable  26  to the shield member  108 , the outer jacket  112  of the cable  26  is cut circumferentially to expose lengths of the twisted pairs  116 . The split ring  120  is then installed over the outer jacket  112  at its cut end and the braided shield  114  is folded over the split ring  120  and trimmed. The ferrule  122  is then placed over the folded over braided shield  114 . The twisted pairs  116  are then spread slightly apart and the spike  132  is pushed into the center of the cable  26  between all of the twisted pairs  116 . This results in the fingers  134 ,  136 ,  138 ,  140  surrounding the ferrule  122 , as best shown in FIG.  7 . The spike  132  insures good conductive engagement between the shield member  108  and all of the Mylar foil shields  118 . In addition, the spike  132  will provide strain relief to the cable  26  when the fingers  134 ,  136 ,  138 ,  140 , are compressed, as will be described. 
     Each of the twisted pairs  116  is then installed transversely into a respective one of the guide slots  144 . The tight fit within the slot  144  provides individual shield grounding for the shielded twisted pair. The twisted pair  116  is then inserted into one or the other of the cutting slots  154 , depending upon which side of the walls  124 ,  128  that twisted pair is. The twisted pair  116  is then rubbed against the sharpened edges of the cutting slot  154 , which nicks the thin Mylar foil shield  118 , allowing it to be removed from the twisted pair  116  at a predetermined location thereon, rearwardly of the walls  124 ,  126 ,  128 ,  130 . The individual wires of the twisted pairs  116  are then each terminated to a respective one of the contact members  106 , as will be described. 
     As shown in FIG. 7, after the twisted pairs  116  are inserted into the respective guide slots  144  and have their Mylar foil shields cut in the cutting slots  154 , the insulated wires of the twisted pairs  116  are terminated to respective contact members  106  held in the contact housings  104 . The housings  104  are preferably molded of an insulative plastic material and illustratively are molded as units for holding four separate contact members  106 , as two opposed pairs of contact members. For purposes of the present invention, it is only required that the contact housing be molded as a unit to hold a single opposed pair of contact members  106 , but by molding the housings into sets of two opposed pairs, the web  156  joining the two sets of opposed pairs can be formed with spaced apertures  158  which receive therein the notched upper surface  160  of the wall  124  to align and retain the contact housings  104  on the shield member  108 . 
     FIG. 9 illustrates a contact member  106  adapted for use with the contact housing  104 . When the jack connector assembly  24  is designed for terminating four twisted pairs, eight identical contact members  106  are utilized. Accordingly, each contact member  106  includes a major body portion  162  having a forward mating section  164  and a rear section  166 . The forward mating section  164  includes a mating contact engaging region  168  adjacent the rear section  166  and a housing engaging portion  170  at the forward end of the contact member  106 . The mating contact engaging region  168  is adapted to engage a respective conductive trace on a surface of a respective one of the circuit boards  36 ,  38 . At the rearward end of the rear section  166 , the contact member  106  is formed with a terminal portion  172 . The terminal portion  172  includes an insulation displacing plate  174  which is transverse to the rear section  166  and has a slot  176  open to the distal end of the plate  174 . As shown, the slot  176  has an enlarged region  178  open to the distal end of the plate  174  and a smaller insulation displacing region  180  inward of the enlarged region  178 . The slot  176  is dimensioned so that when two laterally adjacent individually insulated wires forming one of the twisted pairs  116  are inserted into the slot  176 , a first of the wires has its insulation displaced and is conductively engaged by the terminal portion  172  within the insulation displacing region  180  of the slot  176 , and the other of the wires is received in the enlarged region  178  of the slot  176  without being conductively engaged by the terminal portion  172 . Preferably, the enlarged region  178  tapers inwardly from the distal end of the plate  174  to the insulation displacing region  180  of the slot  176 . This taper provides a guide surface for the wires entering the slot  176 . 
     As previously mentioned, although the contact housings  104  are shown as being modules for holding four of the contact members  106 , according to the present invention the contact housing  104  is required to be modular for holding two of the contact members  106  in opposed relation to engage opposed contact traces on opposite surfaces of one of the circuit boards  36 ,  38 . Thus, as shown in FIG. 8, the contact housing  104  has an upper housing portion  182  for holding an upper contact member  106  and a lower housing portion  184  for holding a lower contact member  106 , with the space between the upper and lower housing portions  182 ,  184  being sized to receive one of the circuit boards  36 ,  38  therebetween with its upper surface adjacent the upper housing portion  182  and its lower surface adjacent the lower housing portion  184 . The contact housing  104  has a front mating face  186  and an opposed rear face  188 . As best seen from FIG. 10, between the mating face  186  and the rear face  188 , the upper housing portion  182  is formed with an upper contact receiving cavity  190  and the lower housing portion  184  is formed with a lower contact receiving cavity  192 . Each of the housing portions  182 ,  184  is formed with a respective passageway  194 ,  196  extending between the respective contact receiving cavities  190 ,  192  and the space between the housing portion  182 ,  184 . The contact receiving cavities  190 ,  192  are also open opposite the passageways  194 ,  196 , respectively, to allow installation therein of the contact members  106 , as will be described. 
     As best shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the contact receiving cavities  190 ,  192  are offset longitudinally from each other and are arranged to hold respective contact members  106  so that the distal ends of their plates  174  are directed toward each other. Thus, at its rearward end, the upper contact receiving cavity  190  is formed with a channel  198  for the plate  174  of the upper contact member  106  and the lower contact receiving cavity  192  is formed at its rearward end with a channel  200  for the plate  174  of the lower contact member  106 . It is noted that the channel  200  is parallel to and forward of the channel  198  and both of the channels  198 ,  200  intersect a chamber  202  extending into the housing  104  from the rear face  188 . The chamber  202  is sized to receive a pair of individually insulated wires side-by-side with each wire being closer to a respective one of the contact receiving cavities  190 ,  192 , as will be described. 
     At its forward end, the upper contact receiving cavity  190  is terminated by a front wall  204  and a pocket  206  extending into the front wall  204 . Likewise, the lower contact receiving cavity  192  is terminated at its forward end by a front wall  208  and a pocket  210  extending into the front wall  208 . To cooperate with the respective front wall  204 ,  208 , the housing engaging portion  170  of each contact  106  is formed with a projection  212  spaced rearwardly from the front end  214  of the contact member  106  and extending transverse to the forward mating section  164 . 
     To assemble the contact members  106  to the housing  104  and have them each terminate a respective wire of a twisted pair  116 , the contact members  106  are inserted into their respective contact receiving cavities  190 ,  192  from the sides of the cavities  190 ,  192  opposite the passageways  194 ,  196  and with their front ends  214  being inserted into the respective pocket  206 ,  210 . The plates  174  are inserted into the respective channel  198 ,  200 , as shown in FIG.  10 . The projection  212  interferingly engages the respective front wall  204 ,  208 , adjacent the respective pocket  206 ,  210  to limit forward longitudinal motion of the respective contact member  106  within its respective contact receiving cavity  190 ,  192 . That portion of the twisted pair  116  which has been stripped of its Mylar foil shield  118  is maintained with its tight twist to improve transmission properties and is cut to a length where the end of the Mylar foil shield  118  is aligned with a cutting slot  154  and the cut end of the twisted pair  116  is installed in the chamber  202  with its distal end closely adjacent the inner wall  216  of the chamber  202 , as shown in FIG. 
     The plates  174  of the pair of contact members  106  are then moved toward each other, the contact members  106  being pivotable on the respective front wall  204 ,  208  at the juncture of the respective front wall  204 ,  208  and the respective pocket  206 ,  210 , so that the plates  174  move along the respective channels  198 ,  200 . This results in the enlarged region  178  of the slot  176  of the upper contact member  106  passing the upper wire  218  and the enlarged region  178  of the slot  176  of the lower contact member  106  passing the lower wire  220 . Further movement of the contact members  106  causes the insulation displacing region  180  of the slot  176  of the upper contact member  106  to cut through the insulation of the upper wire  218  and engage the inner conductive wire. Likewise, the insulation displacing region  180  of the slot  176  of the lower contact member  106  cuts through the insulation of the lower wire  220  and engages the inner conductive wire. The enlarged region  178  of the slot  176  of the upper contact member  106  receives the lower wire  220  without making electrical contact therewith. Likewise, the enlarged region  178  of the slot  176  of the lower contact member  106  receives the upper wire  218  without making conductive engagement therewith. At the same time, pivoting movement of the contact members  106  causes their mating contact engaging regions  168  to pass through their respective passageways  194 ,  196  for exposure in the space between the upper and lower housing portions  182 ,  184 , for subsequent engagement with respective conductive contact traces on the surfaces of one of the circuit boards  36 ,  38 . 
     To assemble the jack connector assembly  24 , the outer jacket  112  of the cable  26  is cut, the split ring  120  is placed thereover, the braided shield  114  is folded over the split ring  120  and trimmed, and the ferrule  122  is placed over the folded over braided shield  114 . The twisted pairs  116  are inserted through respective guide slots  144  and the cable  26 , with the ferrule  122 , is moved forwardly so that the spike  132  is pressed into the center of the cable between the four twisted pairs  116  and the ferrule  122  abuts the planar plate  142 . The twisted pairs  116  are then each inserted into a respective one of the cutting slots  154  to nick the Mylar foil shield  118 , the forward end of which is then stripped therefrom. The cutting slots  154  are located on the shield member  108  such that if the cable  26  is located correctly at the rear of the shield member  108 , the cutting slots  154  will nick the Mylar foil shield  118  at the correct location for removal, thereby eliminating the need for measuring and a separate tool for nicking. In addition, the twisted pair  116  is allowed to remain together with its twist undisturbed. 
     While maintaining the tight twist of each twisted pair  116 , each twisted pair  116  is cut at a location so that its distal end can be inserted into a respective chamber  202  closely adjacent the inner wall  216 . The contacts  106  are inserted into their respective cavities  190 ,  192  and are pressed together to each conductively engage a respective one of the wires  218 ,  220 . The contact housings  104  are then installed on the forward end of the shield member  108  and the two halves of the split housing  102  are placed over the contact housings  104  and the shield member  108 . Since the contact housings  104  are in respective quadrants defined by the walls  124 ,  126 ,  128 ,  130  of the shield member  108 , each pair of contact members  106  associated with a respective twisted pair  116  is shielded from all the other pairs of contact members  106 . The contact housing  102  is formed with a shoulder  222  which engages the shoulder  224  of the shield member  108  and the shoulders  226  of the contact housings  104  to prevent forward longitudinal movement of the internal assembly. The split housing  102  is formed with internal features (not shown) which interferingly engage the rear of the ferrule  122  to prevent rearward longitudinal movement of the internal assembly. As the two halves of the split housing  102  are assembled together and tightened, by screws or the like (not shown), the fingers  134 ,  136 ,  138 ,  140  are compressed into conductive engagement with the ferrule  122 . The spike  132  provides strain relief for the twisted pairs  116 , prevents crushing of the cable  26 , and is tightly conductively engaged by the Mylar foil shields  118 . The housing  102  is conductive, so that good conductive continuity is attained between the housing  102 , the shield member  108 , and all the shields of the cable  26 . The foregoing assembly is readily accomplished in the field by a technician. 
     When the plug connector assembly  20  is mated with the jack connector assembly  24 , the circuit boards  36 ,  38  enter the spaces between the upper and lower housing portions  182 ,  184  of the contact housings  104  so that the conductive contact traces on opposed surfaces of the circuit boards  36 ,  38  engage respective ones of the mating contact engaging regions  168  of the contact members  106 . At the same time, the fingers  66 ,  68  flank the forward end of the split conductive housing  102 , being spread apart due to the camming action of the forward camming surfaces  70 ,  72 . The resilience of the fingers  66 ,  68  causes them to remain in tight engagement with the conductive housing  102  so that ground continuity is attained between the cables  22  and  26 . 
     FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of a jack connector assembly, without housing, adapted as a right angled jack connector assembly for installation to a printed circuit board. Thus, the assembly shown in FIG. 12 includes the same contact housings  104  mounted to an interior shield member  228  having a forward end substantially the same as the forward end of the shield member  108 . However, there are no cable connections so the contact members of the assembly shown in FIG. 12 do not have an insulation displacing terminal portion  172  as do the contact members  106 . Instead, each of the contact members continues straight out the back of the contact housing  104  and is bent at a right angle at an appropriate distance from the rear face  188  of the contact housings  104  so that it can be secured to a printed circuit board in a conventional manner. However, the shield member  228  includes a planar member  230  which extends orthogonal to the printed circuit board (not shown) to maintain the separation of the pairs of contact members. An insulative plate  232  parallel to the printed circuit board is provided to terminate the shield member  228 . The insulative plate  232  is formed with a plurality of apertures therethrough, each adapted to have a respective one of the contact members extend therethrough. The assembly shown in FIG. 12 has a conductive cover (not shown) which engages the shield member  228 . When the right angled jack connector assembly is installed on a printed circuit board, the insulative plate  232  is directly on the board and the cover is connected to a ground trace on the board. 
     Accordingly, there have been disclosed improved plug and jack connector assemblies which insure internal shielding within the assemblies as well as ground continuity through the mated assemblies. While exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed herein, it is understood that various modifications and adaptations to the disclosed embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art and it is intended that this invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.