Combination telephone network interface device and cable TV splitter

• US 6,990,192 B1
• Filed: 11/09/2000
• Issued: 01/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Denovich, Sam, Robertson, James W.
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US09/710,025
• Time in Patent Office: 1,902 Days
• Field of Search: 379/399.01, 379/412, 379/376, 379/397, 439/578, 439/579, 439/580, 439/581, 439/582, 439/583, 439/498, 439/92, 361/602, 361/823, 361/826, 361/827, 361/282
• US Class Current: 379/399.01
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2105/00 Three poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/52 mounted in or to a panel or structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/542 Adapters
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/081 Bases, casings or covers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/104 Switchers or splitters

Abstract

A telephone and cable television network interface device includes a first housing having first and second compartments, a terminal located in the first compartment for connection to telephone service, a terminal, located in the second compartment for connection to a telephone of a telephone service subscriber, a cover for restricting access to the first compartment and a cable television splitter. The splitter is located in the first housing and includes a second housing spanning the first and second compartments. A plurality of coaxial cable connectors, all facing the same direction, are located in the second housing. At least one connector is located in each of the compartments. The first housing includes a plurality of grooves aligned with the coaxial cable connectors. In one embodiment, the longitudinal axis of each of the coaxial cable connectors is located in the same plane. The device may also include a ground bus located in the first housing. The cable television splitter includes a mounting tab securing the splitter to the ground bus.

Claims

1. A telephone and cable television network interface device, including:

a first housing having a first compartment and a second compartment;

a first terminal, located in the first compartment, for connection to telephone service;

a second terminal, located in the second compartment, for connection to a telephone of a telephone service subscriber;

a cover for restricting access to the first compartment by the telephone service subscriber;

a cable television splitter located in the first housing, the splitter including a second housing spanning the first and second compartments; and

a plurality of coaxial cable connectors located in the second housing, at least one of the coaxial cable connectors being located in the first compartment and at least one of the coaxial cable connectors being located in the second compartment, wherein at least one of the coaxial cable connectors in the first compartment and at least one of the coaxial cable connectors in the second compartment face the same direction.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein only one coaxial cable connector is located in the first compartment and at least two coaxial cable connectors are located in the second compartment.

3. A device according to claim 1, further including a plurality of grooves in the first housing and wherein each of the coaxial cable connectors is aligned with one of the grooves.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axis of each of the coaxial cable connectors is located in the same plane.

5. A device according to claim 1, further including a ground bus located in the first housing and wherein the cable television splitter includes a mounting tab securing the splitter to the ground bus.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein the housing includes an opening and the longitudinal axes of the coaxial cable connectors are perpendicular to the plane defined by the opening.

7. A telephone and cable television network interface device, including:

a first housing having a first compartment and a second compartment;

a first terminal, located in the first compartment, for connection to telephone service;

a second terminal, located in the second compartment, for connection to a telephone;

a cover for restricting access to the first compartment;

a cable television splitter located in the first housing, the splitter including a second housing having a first portion located in the first compartment and a second portion located in the second compartment;

at least one coaxial cable connector located in the first portion of the second housing;

a plurality of second coaxial cable connectors located in the second portion of the second housing; and

wherein all of the coaxial cable connectors have a longitudinal axis and the longitudinal axes of all of the coaxial cable connectors are parallel.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein the coaxial cable connectors face the same direction.

9. A device according to claim 7, further including a plurality of grooves in the first housing and wherein each of the coaxial cable connectors is aligned with one of the grooves.

10. A device according to claim 7, wherein the longitudinal axis of each of the coaxial cable connectors is located in the same plane.

11. A device according to claim 7, further including a ground bus located in the first housing and wherein the cable television splitter includes a mounting tab securing the splitter to the ground bus.

12. The device according to claim 7 wherein the housing includes an opening and the longitudinal axes of the coaxial cable connectors are perpendicular to the plane defined by the opening.

13. A telephone and cable television network interface device, including:

a first housing having a first compartment and a second compartment;

a first terminal located in the first compartment for connection to telephone service;

a second terminal located in the second compartment for connection to a telephone;

a cover for restricting access to the first compartment;

an opening in the first housing, the opening defining a plane;

a cable television splitter located in the first housing, the splitter having a second housing spanning the first and second compartments;

at least one coaxial cable connector located in the second housing and in the first compartment;

a plurality of second coaxial cable connectors located in the second housing and in the second compartment; and

wherein at least one of the coaxial cable connectors located in the first compartment and at least one of the coaxial cable connectors located in the second compartment has a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the plane defined by the opening in the first housing.

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein the coaxial cable connectors face the same direction.

15. A device according to claim 13, wherein the longitudinal axis of each of the coaxial cable connectors is located in the same plane.

16. A device according to claim 13, further including a ground bus located in the first housing and wherein the cable television splitter includes a mounting tab securing the splitter to the ground bus.

17. A device according to claim 13, wherein the axes of each of the coaxial cable connectors are parallel.