Cable interconnection assembly

• US 5,895,297 A
• Filed: 02/26/1997
• Issued: 04/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Ivan, William John
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ta, Tho Dac
• Application Number:
  US08/805,632
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 439/76.1, 439/709, 439/712, 439/719, 439/922, 439/49, 439/638, 439/639, 439/59, 379/327
• US Class Current: 439/712
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/00 Coupling parts supported only by co-operation with counterpart
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/2466 using a planar conductive structure, e.g. printed circuit board

Abstract

A connector assembly for non-permanently interconnecting wires from respective cables comprises a box-like structure including a rear wall, side walls and a front wall formed from a plurality of replaceable front wall modules. Connectors at an end of cables extending into the box are removably mounted within respective ones of a plurality of side-by-side slots in the rear wall with the connector terminals facing towards the box front wall. Each front wall module comprises a front wall plate, a printed circuit board including forwardly projecting terminals extending entirely through the front wall plate for being accessible at the front of the box, and a mating connector mounted on the circuit board and having terminals connected, via conductive paths on the circuit board, to the forwardly extending terminals. The printed circuit board is mounted on a rearwardly facing surface of the front wall plate with the mating conductor thereon facing towards, and thus moveable into engagement with a rear wall mounted cable connector, when the wall module is mounted in the assembly box.

Claims

1. A cable interconnection assembly comprising a box including a rear wall, side walls mounted on said rear wall and projecting forwardly thereof, and a composite front wall comprising a plurality of mating front wall modules, said rear wall containing a plurality of side by side parallel first slots and spring latch means associated with each said slot for removably receiving and rigidly retaining therein a cable connector, one of said side walls including a plurality of side-by-side second slots entirely through said one side wall and being aligned with respective ones of said rear wall slots for routing connector terminated cables outwardly from said box, each of said front wall modules comprising an elongated first member for being disposed parallel to said rear wall for forming said composite front wall, each said first member having two oppositely disposed surfaces, one of which faces outwardly of said box when said front wall module is in place on the box and the other of which faces inwardly of said box towards said rear wall thereof, a printed circuit board mounted on said other surface of said first member and including a plurality of electrically conductive paths thereon connected to respective wire terminals mounted on said circuit board and extending therefrom entirely through said first member for being accessible at said outwardly facing surface thereof, and a first connector mounted on said printed circuit board for mating with a cable connector received within said box, said first connector including a plurality of terminals connected to respective ones of said conductive paths for being electrically connected to respective ones of said wire terminals mounted on said circuit board.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first slots are disposed within a forwardly facing surface of said rear wall and extend to a side surface of said rear wall.

3. An assembly according to claim 2 wherein each of two oppositely disposed side walls of said box comprises a plurality of spaced apart members mounted on and projecting forwardly from said rear wall, each of the members of one of said side walls being in coplanar relationship with a corresponding member of the other of said walls, and each pair of corresponding members having grooves therein for sliding fit of side edges of a printed circuit board of a front wall module mounted on said box.

4. A cable interconnection assembly comprising a box including a base member providing a rear wall and side walls mounted on said rear wall and projecting forwardly thereof, and a composite front wall comprising a plurality of mating front wall modules, said rear wall containing a plurality of side by side parallel receptacles, each for removably receiving and rigidly retaining therein a cable connector, one of said base member walls including a plurality of side-by-side first slots entirely therethrough and being aligned with respective ones of said rear wall receptacles for routing connector terminated cables outwardly from said box, each of said front wall modules comprising an elongated first member for being disposed parallel to said rear wall for forming said composite front wall, each said first member having two oppositely disposed surfaces, one of which faces outwardly of said box when said front wall module is in place on the box and the other of which faces inwardly of said box towards said rear wall thereof, a printed circuit board mounted on said other surface of said first member and including a plurality of electrically conductive paths thereon connected to respective wire terminals mounted on said circuit board and extending therefrom entirely through said first member for being accessible at said outwardly facing surface thereof, and a first connector mounted on said printed circuit board for mating with a cable connector received within said box, said first connector including a plurality of terminals connected to respective ones of said conductive paths for being electrically connected to respective ones of said wire terminals mounted on said circuit board.

5. An assembly according to claim 4 wherein said receptacles comprise second slots disposed within a forwardly facing surface of said rear wall.

6. An assembly according to claim 4 wherein each of two oppositely disposed side walls of said box comprises a plurality of spaced apart members mounted on and projecting forwardly from said rear wall, each of the members of one of said side walls being in coplanar relationship with a corresponding member of the other of said walls, and each pair of corresponding members having grooves therein for sliding fit of side edges of a printed circuit board of a front wall module mounted on said box.

7. An assembly according to claim 4 wherein said circuit board is mounted on said first member to extend transversely thereof towards said base member, and said circuit board providing a surface for the mounting of electrical components for electrical interconnections with said conductive paths on said circuit board.