Universal mounting frame and system for telephone distribution equipment

Claim 1

A metallic universal mounting frame and system for telephone distribution equipment comprising, in combination: a. a plurality of uniform length parallel vertically positioned laterally aligned and evenly spaced bar members secured to a base means; b. a plurality of horizontally disposed stiffening bars removably secured at evenly spaced vertical intervals to said vertical bar members; c. a plurality of shelf bar members of uniform length horizontally mounted at evenly spaced vertical interavals along each vertical bar member, each shelf bar member being rigidly secured intermediate its length to the vertical bar member on which it is mounted and having an aperture proximate each shelf bar member end; d. a plurality of bracket mounting lugs secured to selected shelf bar member ends, each said lug providing a mounting connection configuration compatible with a corresponding mating bracket connection; e. a plurality of terminal block mounting brackets detachably secured by mating connection means to selected ones of said mounting lugs and being adapted for either horizontal or vertical orientation and having appropriate mounting apertures disposed on opposed mounting surfaces provided thereon enabling horizontal or vertical mounting of end mounting terminal blocks interchangeably between selected similarly horizontally or vertically oriented adjacent brackets; f. a plurality of stiffening members of uniform length each comprising a relatively short narrow bar having a central body portion including a plurality of apertures and having parallel and laterally offset end portions each provided with an aperture adapted to receive appropriate screw means for detachably securing each said stiffening member between selected said mounting brackets, said central body portion being adapted for securement in either an inward or outward extending mode in relation to the mounting surface of said brackets whereby mounting in an inward extending mode enables end mounting of a terminal block directly to a selected pair of brackets with said stiffening member providing stiffening support only, and whereby in an outward extending mode enables center mounting of a terminal block directly on said stiffening member; g. protector mounting bar means vertically positioned and removably secured to the ends of selected vertically adjacent said shelf bar members, each protector mounting bar means providing a continuous uniform clamp surface for the length thereof; h. protector mounting clamp means adapted to engage a selected said clamp surface and removably secure protectors onto said protector mounting bar means at any selected vertical position thereon; and i. adjustable guard rail means extending substantially the length of a given row of vertical bar members and being detachably secured to selected said vertical bar members.