Connector and adapter system

A protective enclosure for a connector assembly of the type comprising a plurality of connector elements each having a fastener receiving aperture extending therethrough, said connector elements being stacked in at least one stack with said fastener receiving apertures of each stack in alignment for receiving a fastener to secure said stacked connector elements to said enclosure, said enclosure comprising:

• mounting means including a generally planar mounting member having predetermined arrays of individual punch-outs formed as prestressed areas of said mounting member for enabling securance of said mounting member to any one of plurality of electrical connector boxes each having a predetermined, distinctive array of plural mounting points corresponding to said predetermined arrays of said individual punch-outs and including a metal reinforcing strip having a plurality of apertures, each aperture being adapted for receiving a fastener disposed through said fastener receiving apertures in said stacked connector elements, each of said apertures in said strip being spaced from one another sufficiently to receive respective stacks of connector elements with the fastener receiving apertures of the connector elements of each stack and respective apertures being aligned to receive respective fasteners for securing said stacks of connector elements to said mounting members;
• and
• cover means having plural side walls and a top portion defining a receiving cavity of a depth corresponding to the thickness of said stacked connector elements for coacting with said planar mounting member to form an enclosure about said connector assembly.

In an electrical connector assembly of the type including a pair of individual connectors each having an input side and an output side, said connectors being oriented in spaced relation with their input sides confronting each other and their output sides facing in opposed directions, an input cable, conductor means electrically connecting said input cable to said input side of said individual connectors, and means positioned between said individual connectors for supporting said connectors in spaced relation and enclosing said conductor means;

• the improvement wherein:
• said supporting and enclosing means are formed with a pair of opposed substantially planar exterior walls extending across said space between said individual connectors, and has an aperture formed therein which extends entirely through said supporting and enclosing means in a direction substantially perpendicular to said pair of planar walls for receiving an elongated fastener element, whereby said connector assembly may be stacked wall-to-wall with a second connector assembly of like construction, or mounted flush against a mounting surface, and secured thereto by means of said fastener element, while said output sides are both accessible to the mating connectors of respective output cables without interference from said second connector assembly, or from said mounting surface, against which said first connector assembly may be stacked or mounted;
• and
• said supporting and enclosing means comprises a block of rigid polymeric material engulfing said connector input sides, said conductor means, and the adjacent end of said input cable whereby to provide strain relief therefor;
• said fastener-receiving aperture extending through said rigid block and being surrounded by said polymeric material whereby to isolate said conductor means from said fastener element when the latter is received within said aperture.