Claims
- 1. An insert for a jack for use with a plug having plug contacts, the insert comprising:a) a connector mount having a main body including a first side positioned opposite from a second side, the connector mount including: i) a snap-fit connection structure positioned at the main body for securing the connector mount to the jack; ii) a contact spring holder; iii) an insulation displacement terminal housing positioned at the first side of the main body; b) a plurality of contact springs held by the contact spring holder, the contact springs including contact portions positioned at the first side of the main body for engaging the plug contacts of the plug, the contact springs each include a tip positioned at the second side of the main body; c) a plurality of insulation displacement terminals housed by the insulation displacement terminal housing, the insulation displacement terminals each including a tip positioned at the second side of the main body; and d) a circuit board providing electrical connections between the tips of the insulation displacement terminals and the tips of the contact springs, the circuit board being mounted at the second side of the main body.
- 2. The insert of claim 1, wherein the snap-fit connection structure includes two flexible lever members each having a locking tab, and the contact springs are positioned generally in a region between the flexible lever members.
- 3. A jack for use with a mounting fixture having a jack opening, the jack comprising:A) an insert assembly having a plurality of flexible contact springs and a plurality of connection locations linked to the contact springs; B) a jack housing body configured to be mounted within the jack opening of the mounting fixture, the jack housing body including a first retaining structure positioned opposite from a second retaining structure, the first and second retaining structures being positioned to engage a front side of the mounting fixture when the jack housing body is mounted in the jack opening; C) wherein the jack housing body includes a resilient cantilever member having a base end positioned opposite from a free end, the base end being integrally connected with the jack housing body, the cantilever member including a retaining tab positioned near the free end of the cantilever member, the retaining tab being positioned to engage a back side of the mounting fixture when the jack housing body is mounted in the jack opening; D) wherein the jack housing body includes a front portion positioned opposite from a back portion, the front portion defining an inner chamber and also defining front and rear openings for accessing the inner chamber, the front opening comprising a port sized for receiving a plug, and the back portion of the jack housing body defining an open channel that extends in a rearward direction from the front portion, the jack housing body adapted to receive the insert assembly in the open channel, the jack housing body including a base and two opposite facing side walls, the base and the side walls defining at least a portion of the open channel; E) wherein the insert assembly includes locking tabs, the jack housing body including a hole in each of the side walls to receive one of the locking tabs; F) wherein the insert assembly includes outwardly facing slots, the jack housing body including guide rails for receipt in the slots of the insert assembly, wherein the rails are offset from the base so that alignment of the insert assembly within the jack housing body is not dependent on a surface of the insert assembly engaging the base.
- 4. The jack of claim 3, further including a second resilient cantilever member including a retaining tab positioned to engage the back side of the mounting fixture, the second cantilever member positioned on an opposite side of a front of the jack housing body.
- 5. The jack of claim 3, wherein the resilient cantilever member includes a front retaining tab to engage the front side of the mounting fixture.
- 6. The jack of claim 4, wherein the second cantilever member includes an open front end not engageable with the front side of the mounting fixture.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/327,053, filed Jun. 7, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,838, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 09/231,736, filed Jan. 15, 1999, which application(s) are incorporated herein by reference.
US Referenced Citations (50)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0 777 304 |
Jun 1997 |
EP |
2314466 |
Dec 1997 |
GB |
WO 9744862 |
Nov 1997 |
WO |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (2)
Entry |
The Siemon Company Catalog pages—front cover page through p. 1.39, and back cover page, date 1999. |
Panduit Corp., Tinley Park, Illinois, “Panduit® Communication Products”, cover page, pp. 40-49, and back page (1996). |
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09/327053 |
Jun 1999 |
US |
Child |
09/828575 |
|
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09/231736 |
Jan 1999 |
US |
Child |
09/327053 |
|
US |