Telecommunications interface with protector modules

Claim 2

A telecommunications interface for connection between incoming telephone lines and customers equipment, comprising; a base for mounting on a support surface and including terminals for connection of said incoming telephone lines; entry means in said base for said telephone lines to said base; at least one plug-in module connecting to said terminals, the module including a modular jack; protector means in said module; an intermediate cover attached to said base and extending over said module and said terminals, the intermediate cover including an aperture for access to said modular jack; entry means in said intermediate cover for entry of conductors from said customers equipment, said conductors being terminated in d modular plug for insertion in said modular jack; an outer cover extending over said intermediate cover to enclose any modular plug inserted into said modular jack, said outer cover attached to said intermediate cover.

Claim 3

An interface as claimed in claim 1 including two sets of terminals, and two plug-in modules, a module connected to each set of terminals; said intermediate cover including two apertures, one for each module.

Claim 4

An interface as claimed in claim 2, said sets of terminals each connected to a plug-in position, said modules inserted into said plug-in positions in a direction parallel to the plane of the base, each said modular jack having an insertion direction normal to the plane of the base.

Claim 5

An interface as claimed in claim 2, said sets of terminals each connected to a plug-in position, said modules inserted into said plug-in positions in a direction normal to the plane of the base, each said modular jack having an insertion direction normal to the plane of the base.

Claim 6

An interface as claimed in claim 4, said base including a base bottom and a base top connected together and including contact members positioned between said base bottom and said base top, said terminals mounted in said base top and said plug-in positions formed in said base top, said contact members extending between said terminals and said plug-in positions.

Claim 7

An interface as claimed in claim 1, including a forward extending rib along the bottom of the base and a rearwardly extending rib along the bottom of the intermediate cover, the ribs in opposition, a slot extending into each rib from its outer edge, and an elastomeric member extending into each slot, and grooves in the front edges of the ribs for passage of conductors between said ribs.

Claim 8

An interface as claimed in claim 1, including terminals mounted on said intermediate cover for connection of said conductors from said customers equipment, and for connection of one end of an interconnect cable, said interconnect cable having a modular plug at its other end for insertion of the modular jack.

Claim 9

A telecommunications interface for connecting incoming telephone lines and user-provided equipment comprising: base means for supporting said interface on a support surface; terminals formed on said base means and adapted to be respectively electrically connectable to each of said incoming lines; a socket formed on said base means and including terminal apertures respectively electrically connected to each of said terminals; removable plug-in module means including a modular jack and inserted into said socket for supporting said modular jack on said base means and for establishing electrical connections between said terminals and a corresponding terminal in said modular jack; protector means arranged in said plug-in module for protecting said user-provided equipment from damage due to a voltage surge on said incoming telephone lines; an intermediate cover removably attached to said base means and covering said base means and modular jack except for said modular jack; and an outer cover removably attached to said intermediate cover and covering said intermediate cover, said modular jack being adapted to receive conductors electrically connected to said user provided equipment and terminating in a modular plug, said modular plug being received in said modular jack through said intermediate cover before said outer cover is attached to said intermediate cover.

Claim 10

A telecommunications interface for connecting incoming telephone lines and user-provided equipment comprising: base means for supporting said interface on a support surface; terminals formed on said base means and adapted to be respectively electrically connectable to each of said incoming lines; a socket formed on said base means and including terminal apertures respectively electrically connected to each of said terminals; removable plug-in module means including a modular jack and inserted into said socket for supporting said modular jack on said base means and for establishing electrical connections between said terminals and a corresponding terminal in said modular jack; protector means arranged in said plug-in module for protecting said user-provided equipment from damage due to a voltage surge on said incoming telephone lines; an intermediate cover removably attached to said base means and covering said base means and modular jack except for said modular jack; and an outer cover removably attached to said intermediate cover and covering said intermediate cover, said modular jack being adapted to receive conductors electrically connected to said user provided equipment and terminating in a modular plug, said modular plug being received in said modular jack through said intermediate cover before said outer cover is attached to said intermediate cover.

Claim 11

A telecommunications interface as claimed in claim 8, wherein said intermediate cover includes intermediate terminals adapted to receive said conductors, and further comprising an interconnect cable having several wires respectively connected at one end to said terminals and respectively connected at the other end to associated terminals of said modular plug.