Electrical connector block

Abstract

A connector block for connecting drop wires to conductors of a multi-conductor cable is disclosed. The connector block includes a housing having plural apertures therethrough and individual terminal modules which are insertable into the housing. The terminal modules may be inserted into the housing in plural different orientations to permit insertion of the drop wire from different directions, Each individual terminal module establishes electrical connection between a drop wire pair and a pair of conductors of the multiconductor cable.

I claim: 
     
       1. An electrical connector block for electrically connecting plural pairs of conductors of a multiconductor cable to plural pairs of drop wires comprising: an elongate terminal block housing having a planar surface and plural discrete apertures extending therethrough; and   a plurality of identical electrical terminal modules, one module of said plurality insertably mounted in each aperture of said terminal block housing, each terminal module including means for electrically interconnecting one pair of said plural .[.paris.]. .Iadd.pairs .Iaddend.of conductors of said multiconductor cable to one pair of said plural pain of drop wires.   
     
     
       2. An electrical connector block of claim 1 wherein each said electrical terminal module includes: an electrically insulative body; and a pair of elongate electrical contacts supported in said body, said contacts including respective first connection end extents for electrical engagement with respective conductors of said multiconductor cable pair and second connection end extents for removable electrical engagement with respective drop wires of said drop wire pair;   wherein said electrically interconnecting means includes said pair of contacts.   
     
     
       3. An electrical connector block of claim 2 wherein said electrically insulative module body includes: a base having an upper and a lower surface which supports said pair of contacts with said second connection end extents extending from said upper surface and said first connection end extents extending below said lower surface;   a cap secured to said base above said upper surface for movement toward and away from said base;   an intermediate member positioned between said cap and said base, said cap and said intermediate member defining a drop wire support region for supporting said drop wife pair adjacent raid second connection end extents of said pair of contacts; and   securement means for captively securing said intermediate member to said cap for movement therewith and for providing said movable securement of said cap to said base;   whereby movement of said cap toward said base establishes said electrical engagement of said respective second connection end extents with said respective drop wires of said pair and movement of said cap away from said base removes said respective drop wires of said pair from electrical engagement with said respective second connection end extents.   
     
     
       4. An electrical connector block of claim 3 wherein said securement means includes an externally screw-threaded bolt supported by said cap and wherein said base includes an internally screw-threaded bolt support for screw-accommodation with said bolt. 
     
     
       5. An electrical connector block of claim 4 wherein said cap is cup-shaped, having a op wall and a depending side wall, said bolt passing through said top wall thereof. 
     
     
       6. An electrical connector block of claim 5 wherein intermediate member is captively supported within said cup-shaped cap by said bolt. 
     
     
       7. An electrical connector block of claim 6 wherein said cap side wall includes a pair of openings therethrough adjacent said intermediate member, said openings providing access to said drop wire support region. 
     
     
       8. An electrical connector block of claim 7 wherein said contact second end extends include insulation displacement elements. 
     
     
       9. An electrical connector block of claim 8 wherein said contacts include a probe arm extending through said intermediate member, said arm being externally electrically accessible. 
     
     
       10. An electrical connector block of claim 9 wherein said base, said cap and said intermediate member are generally cylindrical in shape and where said housing apertures are circular so as to accommodate said module. 
     
     
       11. A connector block assembly for electrically connecting a conductor of a multiconductor cable to a drop wire, said connector block comprising: an elongate housing having opposed longitudinal walls and a planar surface extending therebetween, said housing including plural apertures through said planar surface; and   at least one connector module insertably supportable in one of said housing apertures;   said module including;   and elongate electrical contact having a first connection end for electrical engagement with said conductor of said multiconductor cable and an opposed second connection end for electrical engagement with said drop wire;   an elongate insulative body supporting said electrical contact, said body having an upper end adjacent said second connection end of said contact, a lower end and an elongate front wall portion extending therebetween; said front wall portion including a drop wire entry opening adjacent said upper end for insertable receipt of said drop wire and for providing drop wire access to said second connection end of said contact; and   positioning means for supporting said connector module in said housing aperture in plural different positions, each said position differing in the location of said drop wire entry opening with respect to the longitudinal walls of said housing.   
     
     
       12. A connector block assembly of claim 11 wherein said connector module is supportable in said housing aperture in a first position wherein said front wall portion is positioned adjacent one of said longitudinal walls of said housing whereby said drop wire is insertable into said drop wire entry opening in a first direction perpendicular to said one longitudinal side wall 13. 
     
     
       13. A connector block assembly of claim 12 wherein said connector module is supportable in said housing aperture in a second position, wherein said front wall portion is positioned adjacent to the other of said longitudinal walls of said housing, whereby said drop wire is insertable into said drop wire entry opening in a said direction perpendicular to said other longitudinal side wall and opposite first direction. 
     
     
       14. A connector block of claims 12 or 13 wherein said connector module is generally cylindrical in shape and said housing aperture is circular being defined by an extending annular housing wall, and wherein said positioning means includes: diametrically opposed keys on said connector module and said annular housing wall includes diametrically opposed key receiving slots, said key receiving slots adapted to receive said keys upon insertion of said connector module in said aperture in either said first or said second positions. .Iadd.   
     
     
       15.  An electrical connector block, comprising: (a) a housing arrangement defining an interior compartment for receipt of conductors of a multiconductor cable;   (b) first and second electrical contact members supported by said housing arrangement, each said contact member having a first contact disposed in said interior compartment and a second contact situated exteriorly of said housing arrangement; and   (c) a closure for enclosing said second contacts of said first and second electrical contact members, said closure having an interior compartment and defining first and second drop wire entry apertures in an exterior surface thereof and a drop wire support member interiorly in registry with said first and second apertures, said drop wire support member defining contact member passages therethrough enabling electrical engagement of said second contacts with drop wires disposed on said drop wire support member. .Iaddend..Iadd.16. An electrical connector block of claim 15, further including a gel disposed in said closure interior compartment. .Iaddend..Iadd.17. An electrical connector block of claim 15, wherein said closure defines a further aperture in an exterior surface thereof and further including a member disposed in said further aperture and operable for effecting electrical connection of drop wires disposed on said drop wire support member respectively to said second contacts of first and second electrical contact members. .Iaddend..Iadd.18. An electrical connector block of claim 17, wherein said closure apertured exterior surfaces are mutually perpendicular. .Iaddend..Iadd.19. An electrical connector block of claim 17, wherein said operable member comprises an   
     
     
        exteriorly threaded member. .Iaddend..Iadd.20.  An electrical connector block of claim 15, wherein each of said first and second contact members includes a probe contact and wherein said closure defines respective exteriorly-accessible probe passages communicating with said probe contacts. .Iadd.21. An electrical connector block of claim 20, wherein said probe passages are perpendicular to said contact support member. .Iaddend..Iadd.22. An electrical connector block of claim 15, wherein said closure includes a contact enclosing housing bounding said closure interior compartment and wherein said contact enclosing housing and said dropwire support member are respective separately fabricated elements. .Iaddend..Iadd.23. An electrical connector block of claim 22, wherein said contact enclosing housing defines a further aperture in an exterior surface thereof, said connector block further including a member disposed in said further aperture and operable for displacing said contact enclosing housing relative to said housing arrangement for effecting electrical connection of drop wires disposed on said drop wire support member respectively to said second contacts of first and second electrical contact members. .Iaddend..Iadd.24. An electrical connector block, comprising: (a) a housing arrangement defining an interior compartment for receipt of conductors of a multiconductor cable;   (b) first and second electrical contact members supported by said housing arrangement, each said contact member having a first contact disposed in said interior compartment and a second contact situated exteriorly of said housing arrangement;   (c) a closure for enclosing said second contacts of said first and second electrical contact members, said closure having an interior compartment and defining first and second drop wire entry apertures in an exterior surface thereof; and   (d) a gel disposed in said closure interior compartment, said closure interior compartment defining interior surfaces therein extending from said second contacts of said first and second contact elements to said first and second drop wire entry apertures. .Iaddend..Iadd.25. An electrical connector block of claim 24, wherein said interior surfaces extend also interiorly in said closure interior compartment of said second contacts of said first and second contact elements. .Iaddend..Iadd.26. An electrical connector block of claim 24, wherein said closure defines a further aperture in an exterior surface thereof and further including a member disposed in said further aperture and operable for effecting electrical connection of drop wire respectively to said second contacts of first and second electrical contact members. .Iaddend..Iadd.27. An electrical connector block of claim 26, wherein said closure apertured exterior surfaces are mutually perpendicular. .Iaddend..Iadd.28. An electrical connector block of claim 26, wherein said operable member comprises an exteriorly threaded member. .Iaddend..Iadd.29. An electrical connector block of claim 24, wherein each of said first and second contact members includes a probe contact and wherein said closure defines respective exteriorly-accessible probe passages communicating with said probe contacts. .Iaddend..Iadd.30. An electrical connector block of claim 29, wherein said probe passages communicate with said interior surfaces. .Iaddend..Iadd.31. An electrical connector block of claim 30, wherein said probe passages are perpendicular to said interior surfaces. .Iaddend..Iadd.32. An electrical connector block of claim 24, wherein said closure includes a contact enclosing housing bounding said closure interior compartment and wherein said contact enclosing housing and said interior surfaces are respective separately fabricated. .Iaddend..Iadd.33. An electrical connector block of claim 32, wherein said contact enclosing housing defines a further aperture in an exterior surface thereof, said connector block further including a member disposed in said further aperture and operable for displacing said contact enclosing housing relative to said housing arrangement for effecting electrical connection of drop wires respectively to said second contacts of first and second electrical contact members. .Iaddend..Iadd.34. An electrical connector block of claim 24, wherein said second contacts of said first and second electrical contact members are insulation displacement contacts. .Iaddend..Iadd.35. An electrical connector block, comprising:   (a) a housing arrangement defining an interior compartment for receipt of conductors of a multiconductor cable;   (b) first and second electrical contact members supported by said housing arrangement, each said contact member having a first contact disposed in said interior compartment and a second contact situated exteriorly of said housing arrangement, each of said first and second contact members including a probe contact;   (c) a closure for enclosing said second contacts of said first and second electrical contact members, said closure having an interior compartment and defining first and second drop wire entry apertures in an exterior surface thereof, said closure including cylindrical surfaces therein extending from said second contacts of said first and second contact members to said first and second drop wire entry apertures, said closure defining respective exteriorly-accessible probe passages communicating with said probe contacts, each of said probe passages communicating with said cylindrical surface for supporting said drop wires; and   (d) a gel disposed in said closure interior compartment. .Iaddend..Iadd.36. In an electrical connector block having a housing arrangement defining an interior compartment for receipt of conductors of a multiconductor cable and first and second electrical contact members supported by said housing arrangement, each said contact member having a first contact disposed in said interior compartment and both a second contact and a probe contact situated exteriorly of said housing arrangement, the improvement comprising a closure for enclosing said second and probe contacts of said first and second electrical contact members, said closure having an interior compartment containing a gel and defining first and second drop wire entry apertures in a first exterior surface thereof and defining first and second probe entry apertures in a second exterior surface thereof, said closure further defining respective first and second interior surfaces extending from said first and second drop wire entry apertures to said second contacts of said first and second contact members and respective first and second probe passages extending from said first and second probe entry apertures to said first and second interior surfaces. .Iaddend..Iadd.37. The invention claimed in claim 36 wherein said first and second interior surfaces extend also interiorly in said closure compartment of said second contacts of said first and second contact elements. .Iaddend..Iadd.38. The invention claimed in claim 36, wherein said closure defines a further aperture in an exterior surface thereof and further including a member disposed in said further aperture and operable for effecting, electrical connection of drop wires inserted into said closure through said first and second drop wire entry openings to said second contacts of said first and second contact members. .Iaddend..Iadd.39. The invention claimed in claim 38, wherein said operable member comprises an exteriorly threaded member. .Iaddend..Iadd.40. The invention claimed in claim 39, wherein said closure includes a contact enclosing housing and a member defining said first and second interior cylindrical surfaces, said housing and said member defining said first and second interior cylindrical surfaces being separately fabricated. .Iaddend.