Filter and jack mounting housing

• US 6,186,826 B1
• Filed: 01/21/2000
• Issued: 02/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Communications Systems Incorporated (Pineapple Energy LLC)
• Original Assignee: Communications Systems Incorporated (Pineapple Energy LLC)
• Inventors: Weikle, Owen B.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, TULSIDAS C
• Application Number:
  US09/489,174
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 439/533, 439/535, 439/536, 439/545
• US Class Current: 439/536
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/506 assembled by snap action of the parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6395 for wall or panel outlets
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45

Abstract

A communication line adapter assembly is used for converting an existing wall phone mounting plate into a filtered outlet jack for use with DSL lines. The adapter has a housing that fits over the existing studs of a wall plate for a wall phone, and has a spring loaded latch which latches the assembly in position when the adapter housing is mounted over the existing studs. The latch holds the head of a stud from being removed by preventing sliding of the stud along the mounting slots in the direction for release. A filter is carried on the adapter housing, and a cover plate that replicates the positioning of the telephone wall mounting studs is mounted over the adapter housing.

Claims

1. An adapter for mounting onto existing studs on a wall cover plate for a communication jack comprising a housing having a mounting wall, the mounting wall having a first keyhole slot adjacent one end thereof, and a second open ended slot formed at a second end of the wall, the keyhole slot and second slot being aligned and spaced a selected distance apart, and a spring finger latch aligned with the second slot and having a latch dog extending toward the slot, the latch dog having a shoulder facing toward the keyhole slot.

2. The adapter of claim 1 wherein said spring finger latch is an integrally molded with the housing.

3. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the housing defines a recess with the mounting wall forming a wall of the recess, a frame plate supported on the housing spaced from the mounting wall, a communication line input connector and a communication line output connector, a filter circuit board connected between the input and output connectors, the recess being of size to receive the filter circuit board.

4. The adapter of claim 3, and a cover plate overlying the frame plate, said frame plate having threaded openings for telephone mounting studs that pass through the cover plate.

5. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the housing has a frame plate thereon, a communication jack mounted on the frame plate, a communication plug on the mounting wall for coupling to an external communication line, a filter circuit carried in the housing and coupled between the plug and the jack, the jack being connected to the circuit board and protruding from the housing.

9. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a frame plate, the modular jack being mounted on the frame plate and protruding through an aperture in the cover plate and positioned at a known location between the studs of the cover plate.

6. A filter and jack mounting bracket comprising an adapter housing having a wall that is generally planar and which has a keyhole slot at one end thereof, and a open ended slot at an opposite end thereof, said housing having a recess for receiving a circuit board, and a cover plate supported relative to the housing, said cover plate having a pair of studs extending therefrom that are positioned and spaced to support a wall telephone, and a latch associated with the open ended slot for latching a stud positioned in the open ended slot to prevent removal of the stud from the open ended slot.

7. The assembly of claim 6 and a modular plug carried by the housing, a modular jack mounted on the housing to extend out from the cover plate, a filter carried in the housing, the filter being connected to wires from the modular plug and being connected to the modular jack.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein said modular plug is slidably mounted in an aperture on a rear wall of the housing.