# US 2016/0261081 A1 · Notched contact for a modular plug > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0261081 A1 - Document ID: US20160261081A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/004,115 - Filed: 2016-01-22 - Published: 2016-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-12 - Assignees: CommScope Technologies LLC; CommScope Connectivity Spain, S.L. - Applicants: CommScope Technologies LLC; CommScope Connectivity Spain, S.L. - Inventors: Joseph Edward Geniac; William Joseph Peteritas; Mark William Neff; Longinos de Dios - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160261081A1 ## CPC - H01R 4/26: Connections in which at least one of the connecting parts has projections which bite into or engage the other connecting part in order to improve the contact ({H01R4/188, H01R4/203, H01R4/5075 take precedence}; using shape memory materials H01R4/01) - H01R 4/2425: Flat plates, e.g. multi-layered flat plates - H01R 13/26: Pin or blade contacts for sliding co-operation on one side only {(for modular jack type connectors H01R24/62)} - H01R 13/627: Snap or like fastening - H01R 13/6272: {comprising a single latching arm} - H01R 24/64: for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45 - H01R 43/16: for manufacturing contact members, e.g. by punching and by bending - H01R 43/20: for assembling or disassembling contact members with insulating base, case or sleeve - H01R 2107/00: Four or more poles - H01R 2201/04: for network, e.g. LAN connectors - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract A metallic contact for insertion into a modular telecommunications plug includes a generally planar body defining a top end, a bottom end, a front end, a rear end, and a length extending from the front end to the rear end. The bottom end is at least partially defined by a blade for piercing an insulation of a wire positioned within the plug. At least a portion of the top end is configured to electrically contact a conductor of a jack that receives the plug. The top end is defined at least in part by a first engagement surface that is separated from a second engagement surface by a notch. An uppermost portion of the first engagement surface defines a first push surface that is generally at the same height as a second push surface defined by an uppermost portion of the second engagement surface. The notch is defined by a front vertical wall spaced from a rear vertical wall, wherein the front vertical wall is positioned at a distance of at least half the length of the contact from the front end of the contact. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A metallic contact configured for insertion into a modular telecommunications plug, the contact comprising: a generally planar body defining a top end, a bottom end, a front end, a rear end, and a length extending from the front end to the rear end, wherein the bottom end is at least partially defined by a blade for piercing an insulation of a wire positioned within the plug and at least a portion of the top end is configured to electrically contact a conductor of a jack that receives the modular telecommunications plug; the top end defined at least in part by a first engagement surface that is separated from a second engagement surface by a notch, wherein an uppermost portion of the first engagement surface defines a first push surface that is generally at the same height as a second push surface defined by an uppermost portion of the second engagement surface; the notch defined by a front vertical wall spaced from a rear vertical wall, wherein the front vertical wall defining the notch is positioned at a distance of at least half the length of the contact from the front end of the contact. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The contact of claim 1, further comprising at least two blades for piercing the insulation of a wire positioned within the plug. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The contact of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first engagement surface defines a rounded portion transitioning from the front end of the contact to the first push surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The contact of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the second engagement surface defines a rounded portion transitioning from the rear end of the contact to the second push surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The contact of claim 1, wherein the first and second push surfaces are generally flat surfaces perpendicular to the front and rear vertical walls of the notch. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The contact of claim 1, wherein the notch is generally square-shaped. ### Claim 7 A modular telecommunications plug for connection to a jack, the modular telecommunications plug comprising: a housing defining a latch for snap-fit engagement with the jack, the housing further defining a front termination end and a rear cable receiving end, the front termination end configured to house a plurality of wires of a telecommunications cable to be inserted into the housing from the rear cable receiving end along a cable insertion direction, the front termination end also including a plurality of contacts configured to engage the plurality of wires in a direction generally perpendicular to the cable insertion direction; each of the contacts comprising: a generally planar body defining a top end, a bottom end, a front end, a rear end, and a length extending from the front end to the rear end, wherein the bottom end is at least partially defined by a blade for piercing an insulation of a wire positioned within the plug and at least a portion of the top end is configured to electrically contact a conductor of a jack that receives the modular telecommunications plug; the top end defined at least in part by a first engagement surface that is separated from a second engagement surface by a notch, wherein an uppermost portion of the first engagement surface defines a first push surface that is generally at the same height as a second push surface defined by an uppermost portion of the second engagement surface; the notch defined by a front vertical wall spaced from a rear vertical wall, wherein the front vertical wall defining the notch is positioned at a distance of at least half the length of the contact from the front end of the contact. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The modular telecommunications plug of claim 7, wherein the plug is a registered jack type modular plug. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The modular telecommunications plug of claim 7, wherein each contact includes at least two blades for piercing the insulation of a wire positioned within the plug. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The modular telecommunications plug of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the first engagement surface defines a rounded portion transitioning from the front end of the contact to the first push surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The modular telecommunications plug of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the second engagement surface defines a rounded portion transitioning from the rear end of the contact to the second push surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The modular telecommunications plug of claim 7, wherein the first and second push surfaces are generally flat surfaces perpendicular to the front and rear vertical walls of the notch. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The modular telecommunications plug of claim 7, wherein the notch is generally square-shaped. ### Claim 14 A telecommunications cable assembly comprising: a modular telecommunications plug for connection to a jack, the modular telecommunications plug comprising a housing defining a latch for snap-fit engagement with the jack; a telecommunications cable defining a cable jacket surrounding a plurality of insulated wires coupled to the housing, wherein a plurality of contacts of the modular telecommunications plug engage the wires of the telecommunications cable coupled to the housing; each of the contacts comprising: a generally planar body defining a top end, a bottom end, a front end, a rear end, and a length extending from the front end to the rear end, wherein the bottom end is at least partially defined by a blade for piercing an insulation of a wire coupled to the plug and at least a portion of the top end is configured to electrically contact a conductor of a jack that receives the modular telecommunications plug; the top end defined at least in part by a first engagement surface that is separated from a second engagement surface by a notch, wherein an uppermost portion of the first engagement surface defines a first push surface that is generally at the same height as a second push surface defined by an uppermost portion of the second engagement surface; the notch defined by a front vertical wall spaced from a rear vertical wall, wherein the front vertical wall defining the notch is positioned at a distance of at least half the length of the contact from the front end of the contact. ### Claim 15 A method of manufacturing a metallic contact for a modular plug comprising the steps of: stamping a contact from a planar metallic sheet, wherein the contact includes a body defining a top end, a bottom end, a front end, a rear end, and a length extending from the front end to the rear end, wherein the bottom end is configured to at least partially define a blade for piercing an insulation of a wire and the top end is defined at least in part by a first engagement surface that is separated from a second engagement surface by a notch, wherein an uppermost portion of the first engagement surface defines a first push surface that is generally at the same height as a second push surface defined by an uppermost portion of the second engagement surface, the notch being defined by a front vertical wall spaced from a rear vertical wall, wherein the front vertical wall defining the notch is positioned at a distance of at least half the length of the contact from the front end of the contact; and coating at least a portion of the top end of the contact with a precious metal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A method according to claim 15, further comprising stamping a plurality of the contacts from a planar metallic sheet. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) A method according to claim 15, wherein the precious metal includes gold. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) A method according to claim 15, wherein the precious metal includes palladium nickel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) A method according to claim 15, further comprising coating the first engagement surface including the first push surface and the second engagement surface including the second push surface with the precious metal. ### Claim 20 A modular telecommunications plug for connection to a jack, the modular telecommunications plug comprising: a housing defining a latch for snap-fit engagement with the jack, the housing further defining a front termination end and a rear cable receiving end, the front termination end configured to house a plurality of wires of a telecommunications cable to be inserted into the housing from the rear cable receiving end along a cable insertion direction, the front termination end also including a plurality of contacts configured to engage the plurality of wires in a direction generally perpendicular to the cable insertion direction; each of the contacts comprising: a generally planar body defining a top end, a bottom end, a front end, a rear end, and a length extending from the front end to the rear end, wherein the bottom end is at least partially defined by a blade for piercing an insulation of a wire positioned within the plug and at least a portion of the top end is configured to electrically contact a conductor of a jack that receives the modular telecommunications plug; the top end defined at least in part by a first engagement surface that is separated from a second engagement surface by a notch, wherein an uppermost portion of the first engagement surface defines a first push surface that is generally at the same height as a second push surface defined by an uppermost portion of the second engagement surface; wherein the first engagement surface is closer to the front termination end than the second engagement surface; wherein the second engagement surface is closer to the rear cable receiving end than the first engagement surface; wherein the first engagement surface is longer than the second engagement surface. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The modular telecommunications plug of claim 20, wherein the plug is a registered jack type modular plug. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The modular telecommunications plug of claim 20, wherein each contact includes at least two blades for piercing the insulation of a wire positioned within the plug. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The modular telecommunications plug of claim 20, wherein at least a portion of the first engagement surface defines a rounded portion transitioning from the front end of the contact to the first push surface. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The modular telecommunications plug of claim 23, wherein at least a portion of the second engagement surface defines a rounded portion transitioning from the rear end of the contact to the second push surface. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The modular telecommunications plug of claim 20, wherein the notch is defined by a front vertical wall spaced from a rear vertical wall, wherein the front vertical wall defining the notch is positioned at a distance of at least half the length of the contact from the front end of the contact, wherein the first and second push surfaces are generally flat surfaces perpendicular to the front and rear vertical walls of the notch. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) The modular telecommunications plug of claim 20, wherein the notch is generally square-shaped. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) The modular telecommunications plug of claim 20, wherein the notch defines a front end, wherein the front end of the notch is positioned at a distance of at least half the length of the contact from the front end of the contact. ### Claim 28 (depends on 20) The modular telecommunications plug of claim 20, wherein the first and second push surfaces are generally flat surfaces generally parallel to the cable insertion direction.