Modular interface connector

An electrical connector assembly for selectively interconnecting at least one remote signal station having a predetermined signal characteristic to a central signal processing system comprising:

• an enclosure defined by a plurality of wall members including a bottom wall member and a plurality of sidewall members;
• first multiple contact means disposed within said enclosure and including a first plurality of contact elements electrically engageable with said central signal processing system;
• a support member, including at least one pair of spaced mounting shoulders, releasably mountable within said enclosure spaced from and substantially parallel to the inner surface of one said sidewall member, said one said sidewall member including an opening therein to provide access to said support member;
• second multiple contact means mounted to said support member within said enclosure and including a second plurality of contact elements electrically engageable with said remote signal stations through said opening said second multiple contact means comprising at least one second modular connector component slidably mountable in said support member at any selected position between said shoulders, each said second modular connector component including a cavity for receiving through said opening a first modular connector component electrically connected to at least one said remote signal station, said second plurality of contact elements having active contact portions projecting into each cavity of said one second modular connector component for engagement with the first modular connector component inserted therein, said second modular connector component further including a housing having an aperture therein and a plurality of sidewalls defining said cavity, with said first connector component being insertable into said cavity through said aperture and said opening, first mounting means disposed on opposite sidewalls for slidably mounting said housing between said shoulders and wherein the central axis of said cavity normal to said aperture is aligned substantially perpendicular relative to the plane of said support member, and second mounting means disposed on opposite sidewalls for slidably mounting said housing between said shoulders and wherein the central axis of said cavity is aligned substantially parallel to the plane of said support member;
• a plurality of intermediate multiple contact means disposed within said enclosure, each said intermediate multiple contact means including a third plurality of contact elements;
• at least one impedance network adapted for selective and independent connection to the third plurality of contact elements of one said intermediate multiple contact means;
• and
• circuit means disposed within said enclosure for interconnecting selected ones of said first, second and third plurality of contact elements and for interconnecting a respective given one of said remote signal stations to said central signal processing system as a respective given one of said third plurality of contact elements is coupled to one said impedance network.

A connector assembly for electrically connecting at least one first multi-conductor cable to a plurality of conductors electrically coupled to telephone signal equipment, each said cable terminating in a first modular connector component having a first plurality of contact elements, said assembly comprising:

• an enclosure defined by a plurality of wall members;
• a removable support member disposed within said enclosure and including at least one pair of spaced mounting shoulders;
• at least one second modular connector component slidably mountable in said support member at any selected position between the shoulders of one said pair of shoulders, each said second connector component including a cavity for receiving one said first connector component and a second plurality of contact elements having active contact portions projecting into said cavity for engagement with said first plurality of contact elements when said first connector component is inserted into said cavity, each said second connector component comprises a housing including a front wall having an aperture therein, a back wall and a plurality of said walls defining said cavity, one said first connector component being insertable into said cavity through said aperture, first mounting means disposed on oppositely facing sidewalls for slidably mounting said housing between the shoulders of one said pair of shoulders wherein the central axis of said cavity normal to said aperture is aligned in a first direction relative to the plane defined by said pair of shoulders, and second mounting means disposed on oppositely facing sidewalls for slidably mounting said housing between the shoulders of one said pair of shoulders wherein said central axis is aligned in a second direction relative to said plane and substantially perpendicular to said first direction, said first and second mounting means each including retention means for firmly maintaining said housing in said selected position between said shoulders;
• and
• circuit means for electrically connecting each said second plurality of contact elements to selected ones of said plurality of conductors coupled to telephone signal equipment.

A connector assembly for electrically connecting at least one first multi-conductor cable to a plurality of conductors electrically coupled to telephone signal equipment, each said cable terminating in a first modular connector component having a first plurality of contact elements, said assembly comprising:

• an enclosure defined by a plurality of wall members;
• a removable support member in the form of a printed circuit board disposed within said enclosure and including spaced mounting shoulders;
• at least one second modular connector component slidably mounted in said support member at any selected position between said shoulders, each said second connector component including a cavity for receiving one said first connector component and a second plurality of contact elements having active contact portions projecting into said cavity for engagement with said first plurality of said contact elements when said first connector component is inserted into said cavity;
• and
• circuit means including said printed circuit board for electrically connecting each said second plurality of contact elements to selected ones of said plurality of conductors coupled to telephone signal equipment.

A connector assembly for electrically connecting at least one first multi-conductor cable to a plurality of conductors electrically coupled to telephone signal equipment, each said cable terminating in a first modular connector component having a first plurality of contact elements, said assembly comprising:

• an enclosure defined by a plurality of wall members;
• a removable support member disposed within said enclosure and including at least one pair of spaced mounting shoulders;
• at least one second modular connector component slidably mountable in said support member at any selected position between the shoulders of one said pair of shoulders, each said second connector component including a cavity for receiving one said first connector component and a second plurality of contact elements having active contact portions projecting into said cavity for engagement with said first plurality of contact elements when said first connector component is inserted into said cavity;
• and
• circuit means for electrically connecting each said second plurality of contact elements to selected ones of said plurality of conductors coupled to telephone signal equipment, said circuit means comprising multiple contact means disposed within said enclosure electrically engageable with said plurality of conductors coupled to telephone signal equipment and selectively connected to each said second plurality of contact elements, said support member comprising a printed circuit board having a printed circuit disposed thereon electrically connected to the second plurality of contact elements of said second connector components, and wherein said multiple contact means comprises said printed circuit and a plurality of terminal contact elements disposed on said board electrically connected to said printed circuit, said terminal contact elements being selectively electrically engageable with said plurality of conductors.