Telecommunications access apparatus

• US 4,273,957 A
• Filed: 06/06/1979
• Issued: 06/16/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William J. Kolling Jr
• Original Assignee: William J. Kolling Jr
• Inventors: Kolling, William J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brigance, Gerald L.
• Application Number:
  US06/045,996
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 179/1 PC, 179/91 R, 339/119 C, 339/122 R, 339/123, 339/126 R, 339/150 T, 339/156 R, 339/166 R, 339/177 R, 339/186 R, 339/186 M, 339/193 R, 339/211, 174/53, 174/55, 174/56, 174/58, 174/59
• US Class Current: 439/535
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0293 Terminal boxes for telephone sets

Abstract

A modular communications access apparatus which permits untrained personnel to quickly and properly convert a passive junction box which contains a telecommunications cable to an active junction box with a wall-mounted telecommunications socket, includes a first keyed socket connected to selected conductors of the in-wall telecommunications cable and an associated attachment structure. The attachment structure, designed to be connected by the untrained personnel, includes an active face plate having a centrally located and an outwardly oriented telecommunications socket, an electrical connection means affixed to an inner side of the face plate and plug engageable with the keyed socket affixed to the telecommunications cable as well as an attachment means to retain the attachment structure adjacent the junction box when the installation is completed.

Claims

1. A modular communication access apparatus to attach a selected telecommunication device to a telecommunication line, having at least two conductors, which has been brought to a junction box mounted in a supporting wall, the apparatus comprising:

a first keyed socket having a plurality of socket terminations, of a first selected shape and size each operatively attached to one of the conductors in the telecommunications cable;

a mechanical support member having a body portion and an attachment portion, said body portion being capable of receiving and clamping said first keyed socket and said attachment portion being rigidly affixable to an interior region of the junction box mounted in the wall;

an attachment structure having;

a face plate; and

, an outwardly oriented second keyed, socket, affixed to said face plate, said second keyed socket having a selected number of socket terminations of a selected size and shape different from said selected size and shape of said socket terminations of said first socket; and

a low power telecommunications wire of a selected length and a selected number of conductors, said selected number of conductors of said low-power telecommunications wire being operatively connected, at a first end, to said selected number of said socket terminations in said second keyed socket in said face plate;

said selected number of conductors of said low-power telecommunications wire being connected, at a second end, to a selected set of plug terminations in a keyed plug of a selected body size and shape; and

a face plate retaining means attached to said face plate and operative to removably affix said attachment structure to the junction box mounted in the wall;

said body of said keyed plug being removably insertable into said first keyed socket with said plug terminations conductively engaging said socket terminations of said first keyed socket so as to provide a selected number of electrical paths between the telecommunications cable within the junction box, said low-power telecommunications wire and said selected number of socket terminations in said outwardly oriented second socket in order that a selected telecommunications device may be plug-connected thereto and access the telecommunications line in the box.

2. A modular telecommunication access apparatus for the purpose of attaching a selected telecommunications device to a telecommunication line, having at least two conductors, which has been brought to a junction box mounted in a wall, the apparatus comprising:

a first keyed multi-conductor socket having a selected number of socket terminations of a first selected size and shape, each operatively connectable to one conductor in the telecommunications cable such that each said connection between each said socket termination and the respective conductor in the communications cable is suitable for reliably conducting low power communications signals therebetween;

a unitized attachment structure having a face plate with an outwardly oriented keyed telecommunications socket of a second selected size and shape into which the selected telecommunications device may be plugged;

said telecommunications socket having a selected number of telecommunications socket terminations;

a low-power electrical connection means of a selected length and a selected number of conductors, said selected number of conductors of said low-power connection means being operatively connected, at a first end, to said selected number of said telecommunications socket terminations in said telecommunications socket in said face plate;

said selected number of conductors of said low-power electrical conduction means being formed, at a second end, to a keyed plug of a selected body size and shape;

a face plate retaining means attached to said face plate and operative to removably affix said attachment structure to the wall-mounted box;

said body of said keyed plug being removably insertable into said first keyed socket with only one orientation so as to provide a selected number of electrical connections between the telecommunications cable within the junction box, said low power electrical connection means and said selected number of telecommunications socket terminations in said outwardly oriented keyed telecommunications socket in order that a selected telecommunications device may be plug-connected thereto and access the telecommunication line in the box.

3. A modular apparatus capable of providing a rapid connection to a pre-wired low power communications cable, having a plurality of conductors, brought to a junction box, mounted in a wall the apparatus comprising:

a first keyed, multiconductor, self-contained electrical connection means, connectable to selected members of the plurality of conductors of the communications cable located within the junction box such that each said connection between each said conductor in said electrical connection means and the respective conductor in the communications cable is suitable for reliably conducting low power communications signals therebetween;

a unitized attachment structure having a face plate,

an inwardly oriented, keyed second electrical connection means having a first plurality of contacts, operatively attached to an interior side of said face plate,

an outwardly oriented, keyed third electrical connection means having a second plurality of contacts, operatively connected to a front side of said face plate;

selected members of said first plurality of contacts being electrically connected to selected members of said second plurality of contacts;

said first and said second keyed electrical connection means being slidably engageable with only one orientation so as to provide a rapidly connectable set of parallel, low power, electrically conducting paths between the selected members of the plurality of conductors of the communications cable and said selected members of said second plurality of contacts in said third electrical connection means, a selected communications device being plug connectable to said second plurality of contacts of said third electrical connection means to access the communications cable.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 including further,

an attachment means affixed to said face plate cooperative with the junction box mounted in the wall to retain said attachment structure substantially adjacent to a front surface of the junction box.

5. In a pre-wired low power communications system having a plurality of wall mounted junction boxes, each with an access aperture a selected distance from a front surface of the adjacent wall, interconnected by a low power communications cable having a selected number of conductors, a connection apparatus, for the purpose of converting selected, passive, junction boxes each covered by a passive face plate blocking access to the communications cable in the respective junction box, to active junction boxes in order to connect selected communications devices into the communications system, the connection apparatus comprising:

a plurality of first keyed, low power multi-connector sockets, each having a first selected shape with a selected socket configuration including a first set of selectively arranged socket contacts, said contacts of each said socket are connectable to selected conductors in the low-power cable at selected intervals along the cable before or after the cable is installed in the wall and each said socket is locatable within a respective wall-mounted box;

a plurality of unitized, modular access devices each comprising;

an active plate of a size and shape corresponding substantially to the size and shape of each of the passive faced plates;

an outwardly oriented, second, keyed, low-power multi-conductor communications socket centrally located on an outwardly oriented surface of said active face plate with a set of socket contacts having a selected arrangement different from said first set of socket contacts;

an inwardly oriented, keyed multi-conductor low-power commmunications plug of a selected shape and configuration including a set of selectively arranged plug contacts;

an electrical connection means affixed to an inwardly oriented surface of said active face plate with said electrical connection means operable to electrically connect selected ones of said conductors of said second multi-conductor socket to selected ones of said plug contacts of said multi-conductor plug;

said keyed, low power communications plug being receivable by a said one of said first, keyed, low power multi-conductor, sockets located within a selected member of the plurality of junction boxes with said plug contacts engaging said socket contacts of said first, keyed, socket, so as to operatively electrically connect selected members of the selected number of conductors in the low-power communications cable to selected conductors of said second multi-conductor communications socket so as to permit a selected communications device, plugged into said second communications, socket, to access the communication system through the respective active junction box;

whereby a passive junction box can be converted to an active junction box by removing the associated passive face plate and connecting said keyed plug to a said first keyed socket located within the junction box.

6. The connection apparatus according to claim 5 having further an attachment means affixed to said active face plate, said attachment means cooperating with the selected junction box to retain said modular access device adjacent the junction box.

7. The connection apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said attachment means comprises:

a first and a second elongated member each attached at a first end to said inwardly oriented surface of said active face plate and said first and second members each cooperating with the respective junction box to retain said modular access device adjacent the box.

8. The connection apparatus according to claim 6 wherein each of said first, keyed low-power multi-conductor sockets comprises:

an elongated body portion with an interior boring partially therethrough, a key slot selectively located on said interior boring with said set of selectively arranged socket contacts being located adjacent said interior boring, with each of said socket contacts electrically connected to a selected conductor in the telecommunications cable.

9. The connection apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said electrical connection means comprises:

a rigid cylindrical structure rigidly attached at a first end to said inwardly oriented surface of said face plate with said low-power communications plug rigidly affixed to a second end thereof and including a set of electrical conductors encapsulated within said rigid cylindrical structure and operative to connect selected ones of said plug contacts to selected ones of said contacts in said second, outwardly oriented, communications socket.

10. In a pre-wired low power communications system having a plurality of wall mounted junction boxes, each with an access aperture a selected distance from a front surface of the adjacent wall, interconnected by a low power communications cable having a selected number of conductors, a connection apparatus, for the purpose of converting selected, passive, junction boxes each covered by a passive face plate blocking access to the telecommunications cable in the respective junction box, to active junction boxes in order to connect selected communications devices into the communications system, the connection apparatus comprising:

a plurality of first keyed, low power multi-conductor sockets, each having a first selected shape with a selected socket configuration including a first set of selectively arranged socket contacts attachable to selected conductors in the low-power telecommunications cable at selected intervals and each locatable within a respective wall-mounted box;

a plurality of modular access devices each comprising;

an active plate of a size and shape corresponding substantially to the size and shape of each of the passive face plates;

an outwardly oriented, second, keyed, low-power multi-conductor communications socket centrally located on an outwardly oriented surface of said active face plate with a set of socket contacts having a selected arrangement different from said first set of socket contacts;

an inwardly oriented, keyed multi-conductor low-power communications plug of a selected shape and configuration including a set of selectively arranged plug contacts;

an electrical connection means affixed to an inwardly oriented surface of said active face plate with said electrical connection means operable to electrically connect selected ones of said conductors of said second multiconductor socket to selected ones of said plug contacts of said multi-conductor plug;

said keyed, low power communications plug being receivable by a said one of said first, keyed, low power multiconductor, sockets located within a selected member of the plurality of junction boxes with said plug contacts engaging said socket contacts of said first, keyed socket, so as to operatively electrically connect selected members of the selected number of conductors in the low-power communications cable to selected conductors of said multiconductor communications socket so as to permit a selected communications device, plugged into said second communications socket, to access the communication system through the respective active junction box;

whereby a passive junction box can be converted to an active junction box by removing the associated passive face plate and connecting said keyed plug to said keyed socket attached to the communication cable;

an attachment means affixed to said active face plate, said attachment means cooperating with the selected junction box to retain said modular access device adjacent the junction box;

said attachment means comprises a first and a second concave, elongated, spring member each attached at a first end to said inwardly oriented surface of said active face plate.

11. The connection apparatus according to claim 10 wherein each of said elongated spring members has a V-shaped portion at said first end;

an annular ring of a selected diameter affixed to said inwardly oriented surface of said active face plate and operative to receive said V-shaped portion of each of said spring members and cooperative with said inwardly oriented surface to lockingly retain each said spring member with an orientation substantially perpendicular to said inwardly oriented surface.

12. A modular communication access apparatus to attach a selected telecommunication device to a telecommunication line, having at least two conductors, which has been brought to a junction box mounted in a supporting wall, the apparatus comprising:

a first keyed socket having a plurality of socket terminations of a selected size and shape, each said socket termination is operatively attachable to a selected one of the conductors in the telecommunications line before the line is intalled in the wall; and

a one-piece attachment structure having;

a face plate; and

, an outwardly oriented second keyed, socket, affixed to said face plate, said second keyed socket having a selected number of socket terminations of a selected size and shape;

a selected number of low power conductors, said selected number of conductors being operatively connected, at a first end, to said selected number of said socket terminations in said second keyed socket in said face plate, and at a second end, to a selected set of plug terminations in a keyed plug of a selected body size and shape; and

a face plate retaining means attached to said face plate and operative to removably affix said attachment structure to the junction box mounted in the wall;

said body of said keyed plug being removably insertable into said first keyed socket with said plug terminations conductively engaging said socket terminations of said first keyed socket so as to provide a selected number of electrical paths between the telecommunications line and said first keyed socket within the junction box and said selected number of socket terminations in said outwardly oriented second socket in order that a selected telecommunications device may be plug-connected thereto and access the telecommunications line in the box.

13. The modular communications apparatus according to claim 12 wherein:

said plurality of socket terminations in said first keyed socket has a first selected size and shape and,

said selected number of socket terminations of said second keyed socket have a second selected size and shape, with

said first size and shape being different from said second size and shape.

14. A modular communication access apparatus to attach a selected telecommunication device to a telecommunication cable, having at least two conductors, which has been brought to a junction box, the apparatus comprising:

a first self-contained, keyed, socket with a first plurality of selectively arranged, adjacent socket terminations connectable to selected conductors in the telecommunication cable before the cable is installed, said connections between said socket terminations and the selected conductors are adapted to reliably transmit low power communication signals therebetween;

an attachment structure having

a face plate,

a second keyed socket with a second plurality of selectively arranged socket terminations attached to said face plate and accessible at a first surface of said face plate;

means for connection attached to a second surface of said face plate, and means for connection includes a plurality of selectively arranged, adjacent, plug terminations corresponding to said arrangement of said socket terminations of said first socket, each of said plug terminations of said means for connection is electrically connected to a selected one of said socket terminations of said second socket, and

said means for connection is removably insertable, with only a selected orientation, into said first keyed socket and said plug terminations conductively engage said socket terminations of said first socket so as to provide a selected number of electrical paths between selected conductors in the telecommunications cable within the junction box, and said socket terminations in said second socket in order that a plug attached to a selected telecommunications device may be inserted, with only a selected orientation into said second keyed socket and be connected to the selected conductors in the telecommunication cable.

15. The telecommunications access apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said first socket is a substantially cylindrical keyed socket adapted to be attached to the telecommunication cable before the cable is installed and further adapted to extend into the junction box through an opening in the rear thereof.

16. The telecommunications access apparatus according to claim 15 wherein:

said means for connection includes a cylindrical, insulating, member attached to said second surface at a first planar end and from which said adjacent plug terminations extend at a second planar end.

17. A modular communication access apparatus to attach a selected communication device to a communication line, having at least two conductors, which has been brought to a junction box mounted in a supporting wall, the apparatus comprising:

a first keyed socket with a unitized self-contained housing which supports a plurality of socket terminations, of a first selected shape and size, each said socket termination is connectable to one of the conductors in the communications cable before the cable is installed and said housing is then insertable into the junction box through an opening therein;

a mechanical support member adapted to receive and clamp said first keyed socket to an interior region of the junction box mounted in the wall; and

unitized attachment means having;

a face plate and an outwardly oriented second, keyed socket affixed to said face plate, said second keyed socket having a selected number of socket terminations of a selected size and shape different from said selected size and shape of said socket terminations of said first socket; and

a low power means for electrical connection of a selected length with a selected number of conductors, each said selected conductor of said low-power means for electrical connection is connected, at a first end, to a selected one of said socket terminations in said second keyed socket in said face plate;

said selected conductors of said low-power means for electrical connection are connected, at a second end, to a selected set of plug terminations in a keyed plug of a selected body size and shape;

said body of said keyed plug being removably insertable into said first keyed socket with said plug terminations conductively engaging said socket terminations of said first keyed socket so as to provide a selected number of electrical paths between the communications cable within the junction box and said selected number of socket terminations in said outwardly oriented second socket in order that a selected communications device may be plug-connected thereto and access the communications line in the box.

18. A modular communication access apparatus to attach a selected communication device to a communication line, having at least two conductors, which has been brought to a junction box mounted in a supporting wall, the apparatus comprising:

a first keyed socket with a substantially enclosed self-contained housing which supports a plurality of socket terminations, of a first selected shape and size, each said socket termination is connectable to one of the conductors in the communications cable such that each said connection between each said socket termination and the respective conductor in the communications cable is suitable for reliably conducting low power communications signals therebetween;

a mechanical support member adapted to support said first socket within an interior region of the junction box mounted in the wall; and

unitized attachment means having;

a face plate and an outwardly oriented second, keyed, socket affixed to said face plate, said second keyed socket having a selected number of socket terminations of a selected size and shape different from said selected size and shape of said socket terminations of said first socket; and

a selected set of plug terminations in a keyed plug of a selected body size and shape, each said plug termination in said keyed plug is electrically connected to a respective one of said socket terminations in said second keyed socket;

said body of said keyed plug is removably insertable into said first keyed socket with only one orientation such that said plug terminations conductively engage said socket terminations of said first keyed socket so as to provide a selected number of electrical paths between the communications cable within the junction box and said selected number of socket terminations in said outwardly oriented second socket in order that a selected communications device may be plug-connected thereto and access the communications line in the box.

19. The modular communication access apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said first keyed socket is adapted to be attached to the communications cable before the cable is installed.