Electrical interface assembly

• US 8,283,562 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2010
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Clifton, Christopher, Jones, Dean L., Mitchell, Philip S., Myers, David, Pruett, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Jinhee
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, BINH BACH THANH
• Application Number:
  US12/696,787
• Publication Number:
  US 20110155412A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 174/50, 174/58, 174/59, 174/520, 174/559, 174/480, 174/66, 174/67, 439/535, 248/906, 220/4.02, 333181-185, 361/600, 361/724, 361/730, 361/752, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 312/223.3, 312/223.6
• US Class Current: 174/59
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1235 Collapsible supports; Means for erecting a rigid antenna
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0004 comprising several parts forming a closed casing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49018 with other electrical component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49194 Assembling elongated conductors, e.g., splicing, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49959 Nonresilient fastener

Abstract

An electrical interface assembly configured to be supported within a wall of a mobile structure. The electrical interface assembly includes a frame having spaced apart inner and outer supports. Panels including electrical connectors are removably supported by the inner and outer supports.

Claims

1. An electrical interface assembly configured to be supported within a wall of a mobile structure, the electrical interface assembly comprising:

a housing comprising a plurality of opposing walls comprising a top, bottom and two side walls, said plurality of walls enclose a cavity and have a first opening formed by a housing edge section of said walls;

a frame including an outer support and an inner support spaced apart from the outer support, wherein said frame assembly is positioned within said housing and coupled to said walls of said housing, said outer support is recessed within said housing such that it is set back from said first opening;

an exterior panel supported by the outer support and including at least one electrical connector;

a first plurality of couplers removably coupling the exterior panel to the outer support;

an outer electromagnetic interference gasket positioned intermediate the exterior panel and the outer support;

an interior panel supported by the inner support and including at least one electrical connector;

a second plurality of couplers removably coupling the interior panel to the inner support;

an inner electromagnetic interference gasket positioned intermediate the interior panel and the inner support;

a cable electrically coupled intermediate the at least one electrical connector of the exterior panel and the at least one electrical connector of the interior panel;

at least one first hinge adapted to move about a first axis of rotation, wherein said first hinge further comprises a structure that includes a spring or lever detent structure which releasably locks said hinge assembly in a plurality of positions comprising a first and second position;

a cover adapted to fit into said first opening in said housing with a gap of less than a quarter of an inch between an edge section of said housing'"'"'s walls and said cover, said cover is pivotably coupled to the housing by said at least one first hinge;

a plurality of second hinges, said hinge is spring loaded to apply a force to rotate said hinge around a second axis of rotation from a first position to a second position wherein said first and second axis of rotation are substantially orthogonal to each other;

a first side wing pivotably coupled to a side wall of said housing by at least one said second hinge and a second side wing pivotably coupled to an opposing side wall of said housing in spaced relation to said first side wing, said first and second side wings comprise a substantially triangular and planar body extending between a first side and a second side with an apex at an upper end and a base at a lower end, the first side includes a substantially flat edge, while the second side includes an angled edge section, comprising a lip or flange extending away from the body, said base section includes a cut-out or notch defining opposing first and second sections of the body comprising a first tab section and second tab section, said notch is configured to provide clearance for a portion of the latching mechanism when the cover and the side wings are positioned to oriented towards each other within said housing; and

a first latch positioned on a first section of said cover configured to releasably secure the cover to the first tab of said first side wing in a third position, said first coupler is also positioned and configured to releasably secure the cover to the lip or flange of said first side wing in proximity to said second tab on said second side of said first side wing in a fourth position, wherein said third position is a closed position that is substantially parallel to a plane defined by said first opening;

wherein the outer frame includes an upper frame member coupled to a lower frame member, the upper frame member angled relative to the lower frame member.

2. The electrical interface assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame is adapted to be supported by a wall of a mobile shelter.

3. The electrical interface assembly of claim 2, wherein the frame includes a flange for mounting to the wall.

4. The electrical interface assembly of claim 1, wherein the exterior panel includes a plurality of electrical jacks.

5. The electrical interface assembly of claim 4, further comprising removable caps covering at least some of the electrical jacks.

6. The electrical interface assembly of claim 4, wherein the electrical connector is a telephone connector receptacle.

7. The electrical interface assembly of claim 4, wherein the interior panel includes a plurality of electrical connectors.

8. The electrical interface assembly of claim 7, wherein the electrical connectors include category 5 cable couplers.

17. The electrical interface assembly of claim 1, wherein said substantially triangular and planar body of said first and second side wings is substantially formed in an acute triangle shape.

18. The electrical interface assembly of claim 1, wherein said substantially triangular and planar body of said first and second side wings is substantially formed in an obtuse triangle shape.

19. The electrical interface assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer frame further includes a deflector planar section adapted to convey water or contaminants incident on said deflector away from said lower frame towards said first opening and is operably coupled below the lower frame member and is angled relative thereto, said deflector planar section extends down to said bottom wall and terminates in substantially close proximity to said housing edge section formed by said bottom wall.

20. The electrical interface assembly of claim 1, a second coupler positioned on a second section of said cover configured to releasably secure the cover to the first tab of said second side wing in said third position, said first coupler is also positioned and configured to releasably secure the cover to the lip or flange of said second side wing in proximity to said second tab on said second side of said second side wing in said fourth position.

9. A method of installing a signal entry panel, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a support including an outer support and an inner support spaced apart from the outer support, said support further comprising an upper section, a lower section, and first and second opposing side sections, wherein said opposing side sections are on opposite sides of said outer support and said upper section and lower section are above and below said outer support;

positioning an electromagnetic interference gasket adjacent the outer support;

positioning an outer signal entry panel adjacent the outer support with the electromagnetic interference gasket intermediate the signal entry panel and the outer support, the outer signal entry panel including at least one electrical connector;

securing a plurality of couplers to the signal entry panel for releasably coupling the signal entry panel to the outer support;

positioning an inner signal entry panel adjacent the inner support, the inner signal entry panel including at least one electrical connector;

electrically coupling the outer signal entry panel with the inner signal entry panel;

providing a cover adapted and sized to cover said outer support and outer signal entry panel;

providing at least one first hinge adapted to releasably lock and rotate round a first axis, said at least one first hinge is coupled to upper section of said support and to a first section of said cover;

providing a first and second side wing having a body formed into substantially a triangular shape and further comprising a base section opposing an apex of said triangular shape, said first side wing is coupled to said first opposing side section of said support with at least one spring loaded second hinge, said second side wing is coupled to said second opposing side section of said support with at least one said spring loaded second hinge, said base section of said first and second side wings further comprising a cut out section forming a first and second tab section on opposing side areas of said base section, said first tab is formed with substantially a planar form, said base section further comprises a flange which is in proximity to said second tab and extends away from a plane defined by said body; and

providing a first latch positioned on second section of said cover, said first latch is configured to releasably secure the cover to the first tab of said first side wing when said first side wing and said cover is in a first configuration, said first latch is also positioned and configured to releasably secure the cover to the flange of said first side wing when said second side wing and said cover are in a second configuration.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

releasing a plurality of couplers from the outer signal entry panel;

removing the outer signal entry panel from the outer support;

positioning a substitute signal entry panel adjacent the outer support; and

securing the plurality of couplers to the substitute signal entry panel for releasably coupling the signal entry panel to the outer support.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein a chamber is defined between the outer support and the inner support, the chamber being positioned within the wall of a mobile structure.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of electrically coupling includes extending a cable from between the outer signal entry panel and the inner signal entry panel through the chamber.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of electrically coupling external communication equipment to the at least one electrical connector of the outer signal entry panel.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of pivoting said cover upwardly to provide access to the outer signal entry panel.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein said second hinge is adapted to apply a rotational force around a second axis and position said first and second wings perpendicular to said cover when said cover is in said first position.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing a second latch positioned on a third section of said cover, said second latch is configured to releasably secure the cover to the first tab of said first side wing when said first side wing and said cover is in said first configuration, said second latch is also positioned and configured to releasably secure the cover to the flange of said second side wing when said second side wing and said cover are in said second configuration.