EP0563996A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Connector module for telephone line junction box and method of protecting a circuit
Assignee: Whitaker LLC
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Filing: 1993-04-02
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-04-02
Abstract
Abstract A protector module (50) includes a housing (52) having cavities (58) into which are inserted surge protector elements (150). Each protector element upon full insertion engages a deflectable contact portion (82) of a first contact member (80) with an active electrode (156) thereof with the first contact member terminated at a second contact section (88) to a line between a central office and the customer, for providing surge protection to that circuit. In one method of connecting a protector module in a circuit, a second contact member (90) is placed within the cavity (58) connected to the customer service line while the first contact member is connected to the associated but separate line to the central office; when a protector (150) is inserted, it urges the deflectable contact portion of the first contact member (80) into engagement with an underlying contact portion (92) of the second contact member (90); when a protector is absent, service to the customer is interrupted until the protector (150) is replaced.
Inventors
- 👤 Harry Milton Capper
- 👤 James William Robertson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 17:48
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/66; H01R13/68; H01R9/00; H01R9/22; H01R9/24; H01R9/2425; H01R9/2441; H04; H04Q; H04Q1/00; H04Q1/02; H04Q1/14; H04Q1/146; H01R13/70; H01R13/703; H01R13/7031; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49124; Y10T29/4913; Y10T29/49139; Y10T29/49169; Y10T29/49204; Y10T29/49208; Y10T29/49222; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/5313; Y10T29/532; Y10T29/53248
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
312 words
A circuit protection module (50) for interposing along an array of conductors (160) and adapted to receive thereinto and contain surge protection elements (150) electrically connectable to respective circuits of said conductors to provide grounding for voltage surges therealong and being of the type having an active electrode (156) exposed along a bottom thereof and a ground electrode (154) therearound spaced a known distance from said active electrode, characterized in that housing means (52) including cavities (58) extending thereinto from an insertion face thereof and adapted to receive thereinto respective ones of said surge protection elements (150), a ground means (54) extending along said insertion face and at least to each said cavity, and said housing means further including at least a first contact member (80) retained in each one of said cavities isolated from said ground means; each said first contact member including first (82) and second (88) contact sections, said first contact section extending upwardly into said cavity (58) and substantially transversely thereacross on a bendable spring arm (84), thereby being adapted to be engaged and deflected downwardly by an active electrode (156) of said protector element (150) upon full insertion of said protector element in said cavity and said second contact section (88) adapted to be electrically connected to a respective said conductor; and said ground means (54) exposed to be electrically engaged by a ground electrode (154) of each said protector element (150) upon full insertion into a respective said cavity and adapted to be connected to external ground means (26), whereby upon connecting a said conductor to said second contact section of said first contact member and securing said protector element fully into a respective said cavity, said first contact section of said first contact member is electrically engaged by said protector active electrode connecting said protector element to said conductor for surge protection of the circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
93 words
The circuit protection module as set forth in claim 1 characterized in that said ground means (54) is a plate secured to said insertion face of said housing means, said plate including annular flanges (66) extending a selected length concentric with respective said cavities and including threaded internal surfaces enabling correspondingly threaded cylindrical portions of said protector elements (150) to be threaded thereinto until said ground electrodes thereof are in electrical engagement with portions of said ground plate adjacent said cavities, whereby said ground plate secures said protector elements in said housing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
The circuit protection module as set forth in claim 2 characterized in that said annular flanges (66) extend into said cavities, and said ground electrodes (154) of said protector elements (150) are annular flanges engageable with an adjacent portion of a top surface of said ground plate upon said protector elements being threaded through said annular flanges and achieving full insertion into said cavity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
The circuit protection module as set forth in claim 2 or 3 characterized in that said annular flanges (66) extend upwardly from said insertion face of said housing means, and said ground electrodes of said protector elements are annular flanges (154) engageable with leading edges of said annular flanges upon said protector elements being threaded through said annular flanges and achieving full insertion into said cavity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The circuit protection module as set forth in claim 2, 3 or 4 characterized in that said ground plate includes a plurality of mounting holes (68) through which extend corresponding embossments (70) of said insertion face of said housing means enabling staking of said embossments for securing said ground plate to said insertion face.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
104 words
The circuit protection module as set forth in any of claims 2 to 5 characterized in that a ground contact member (110) is disposed in at least one said cavity (58) including a spring arm (114) initially spring biased against said first contact section (82) of said first contact member (80) and deflectable out of engagement upon full insertion of a said protector element into said cavity, said ground contact member including a ground section (118) in continuous engagement with said ground plate whereby said first contact member is connected to ground in the absence of a fully inserted protector element in said cavity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
144 words
The circuit protection module as set forth in any of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that and further including at least one second contact member (90) initially electrically isolated from a respective said first contact member (80), each said second contact member including a first contact section (92) disposed below said first contact section (82) of said first contact member (80) and exposed to be engaged thereby upon downward deflection thereof by said protector element electrode, and further including a second contact section (98) adapted to be electrically connected to a portion of said conductor (160) electrically disconnected from said conductor connected to said second contact section of said first contact member, whereby electrical engagement of said second contact member with said first contact member at said first contact section upon protector insertion completes the circuit between said conductor and said conductor portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The circuit protection module as set forth in any of claims 1 to 7 characterized in that said housing bans (52) includes a lid (60) securable thereto for covering said insertion face and sealing said ground means and said protector elements disposed therein.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The circuit protection module as set forth in any of claims 1 to 8 characterized in that said second contact sections (88) of said first contact members (80) are at least exposed along a conductor-connecting face of said housing means (52) permitting respective said conductors to be electrically connected thereto along said conductor-connecting face.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The circuit protection module as set forth in claim 9 characterized in that said second contact sections (88) extend outwardly from said housing means and define insulation displacement slots whereinto said conductor members are insertable for electrical connection therewith.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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