Apparatus for selectively interconnecting the conductors of a plurality of multi-conductor cables

Claim 2

In combination, a plurality of multi-conductor cables having conductors, and apparatus for selectively interconnecting said conductors, said apparatus comprising: a printed circuit board having conductors on one side thereof, said conductors of said cables being electrically connected to said conductors on said board, terminal junction modules mounted on the other side of said board, said terminal junction modules having first contact terminals therein, said contact terminals in each module having portions extending through said board and being electrically connected to said conductors on said board, and interconnection conductors having second contact terminals on their ends, said second terminals being selectively mated with said first terminals, thereby to selectively interconnect the conductors of said cables.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conductors on said circuit board extend to the edge portions thereof, and said cables have circuit board edge portion connectors on the ends thereof to connect said cable conductors with said board conductors.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a second printed circuit board is disposed in substantially parallel spaced apart relationship with said first-mentioned circuit board, said second circuit board having conductors on one side thereof that faces in the same direction as said one side of said first-mentioned circuit board, the conductors of said cables being electrically connected to the conductors of said circuit boards, and said terminal junction modules being mounted on the other sides of said first-mentioned and said second circuit boards with said first contact terminals having portions extending through the board on which each module is mounted and being electrically connected to said conductors on said board.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein one of said boards has openings therein through which the modules mounted on the other board can extend, whereby all of said moldules are accessible from one direction.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said opening means comprises a plurality of openings through said one board which accommodate modules mounted on the other board.

Claim 7

In combination a pluralIty of multi-conductor cables having conductors, and apparatus for selectively interconnecting said conductors, said apparatus comprising: first and second printed circuit boards disposed in substantially parallel spaced-apart relationship, one side of each of said boards having conductors thereon, said conductors extending to the edge portions of said boards, said sides facing in the same direction, said cables having printed circuit board connectors on the ends thereof, said connectors being connected to said boards whereby the conductors in said cables are electrically connected to said conductors on said boards, terminal junction modules on the other sides of said boards, one of said boards having opening means thereon whereby all of said modules are accessible from one direction, said terminal junction modules having first contact terminals therein, said contact terminals in each module having portions extending through the board on which each said modules is mounted and electrically connected to said conductors on said printed circuit boards, and interconnection conductors having second contact terminals on their ends, said second terminals being selectively mated with said first terminals, thereby to selectively interconnect the conductors of said cables.

Claim 8

In combination a pluralIty of multi-conductor cables having conductors, and apparatus for selectively interconnecting said conductors, said apparatus comprising: first and second printed circuit boards disposed in substantially parallel spaced-apart relationship, one side of each of said boards having conductors thereon, said conductors extending to the edge portions of said boards, said sides facing in the same direction, said cables having printed circuit board connectors on the ends thereof, said connectors being connected to said boards whereby the conductors in said cables are electrically connected to said conductors on said boards, terminal junction modules on the other sides of said boards, one of said boards having opening means thereon whereby all of said modules are accessible from one direction, said terminal junction modules having first contact terminals therein, said contact terminals in each module having portions extending through the board on which each said modules is mounted and electrically connected to said conductors on said printed circuit boards, and interconnection conductors having second contact terminals on their ends, said second terminals being selectively mated with said first terminals, thereby to selectively interconnect the conductors of said cables.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a junction box in which said circuit boards are mounted, said junction box having receptacles mounted thereon receiving said multi-conductor cables and supporting said circuit boards.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said receptacles are removably mounted on said junction box.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the edge portions of said circuit boards are provided with first apertured terminal portions that are electrically connected to said board conductors, and said connectors extend through said apertured terminal portions into engagement therewith.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein each of said connectors comprises a receptacle having a plurality of sockets therein, and wire members electrically connected to said sockets and extending through said first apertured terminal portions into electrical contact therewith, said wire members serving to retain each receptacle on the adjacent circuit board.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said conductors of said multiconductors cables have terminals on the ends thereof which are received in the sockets of said receptacles.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein groups of said modules are mounted on the other sides of said boards by support brackets which retainably receive said groups of modules therein.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein each of said brackets comprises a generally U-shaped side wall terminating in inwardly extending flanges which engage and retain an adjacent module in said bracket, and wherein a pair of inwardly extending flanges is provided on opposite upper end portions of said side wall, said last-mentioned flanges engaging recessed portions in adjacent modules to retain them within said bracket.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said opening means in one of said boards are a plurality of openings therein that receive therethrough terminal junction modules mounted on the other of said boards.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said circuit boards are of substantially identical construction and are arranged in reverse end-to-end relation with respect to each other.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein each of said terminal junction modules comprises a body portion having a plurality of sockets therein, and said second contact terminals on said interconnection conductors comprise contact pins removably receivable within said module sockets.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein each of said module sockets comprises flexible and resilient receptacle means for releasably engaging said contact pins on said interconnection conductors.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein each of said circuit boards comprises apertured terminal portIons, and wherein said portions of said first contact terminals are connected to said terminal portions to electrically connect said modules to said conductors on said boards.