Patent ID: 8298019

Claim:
A housing for connecting a plurality of branch lines to the fanned out insulated conductors of an intermediate portion of a cable from which the outer sheath layer has been removed, comprising: (a) a rectangular base member ( 2 ) having a horizontal bottom wall, and opposed pairs of vertical side and end walls extending upwardly from said bottom wall to define an open-topped base chamber, said end walls containing first openings ( 7 a ) for receiving spaced insulated portions of the cable on opposite sides of the cable intermediate portion when the cable intermediate portion is arranged in said base chamber; (b) a plurality of electrical devices ( 5 ) arranged in said chamber, said electrical devices having insulation piercing contacts in electrical engagement with said insulated conductors, respectively; (c) a plurality of interchangeable cover members ( 3 a - 3 g ) each adapted for seating on said base member to close said base chamber, each of said cover members including side, end and top walls defining a cover chamber, at least one of said base and cover walls containing an outlet opening ( 7 b ) for receiving outlet branch lines connected with said electrical components, respectively; and (d) an electrical component ( 9 ; 13 , 15 ; 17 ; 22 ) mounted in said cover chamber for connection with at least some of said electrical devices.