Universal adapter and methods of and apparatus for making same

摘要

A modular adapter (30) includes a housing (33) having a plug end portion (34) and a jack end portion (35). The jack end includes two stacked jack cavities (54-54'). Each of the jack cavities has a stepped portion (75) depending from the ceiling on each side of the centerline of the cavity. The stepped portions in each cavity are spaced apart a sufficient distance to receive a locking tab (41) of a modular plug (31) which is inserted into the cavity. The plug may be a six or an eight conductor plug. A first group of contact elements (36-36) extend from retroflexed end portions in one of the jack cavities into cells formed in the plug end portion. An additional two contact elements (37-37) comprising a second group have retroflexed end portions on one side of one jack cavity and extend to center positions in the other jack cavity. Portions of the stepped portions which depend from the ceiling of the one jack cavity are spaced from the sidewall of the housing to allow the end portion of an outermost one of the additional two contact elements and an outermost one of the first group to be formed into a retroflexed configuration. This arrangement allows the forming of end portions of the contact elements in addition to providing suitable guides for the locking tab of a plug which is inserted into the one jack cavity.