Terminal box for underground conductors

Claim 2

Apparatus comprising a multicomponent housing, said housing having at least one part which is movable to expose the interior of the housing, a panel pivotably connected to said housing, said panel being inside the housing and dividing the interior of the housing into a first chamber and a second chamber, means for grounding said panel in all pivotable positions of said panel, said grounding means including a first member on said panel and a second member in said housing, and spring means biasing said first member into contact with said second member.

Claim 3

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first and second members are on one side of said panel, and said movable part of the housing is on the other side of said panel.

Claim 4

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including a bracket in said housing for supporting wiring, said bracket being secured to said housing, said second member being a flange connected to said bracket.

Claim 5

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said housing is an elongated housing including a channel-shaped portion which cooperates with said movable part to define an enclosure for electrically conductive wiring.

Claim 6

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said panel pivots about a horizontal axis substantially in the center of the housing so that the first and second chambers are substantially equal.

Claim 7

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said spring means is a leaf spring on said panel, and a pin extends through said first and second members.

Claim 8

A terminal box for telephone wiring comprising a housing having a channel-shaped portion and a removable cover, said channel-shaped portion including a rear wall and side flanges extending toward the cover, a panel dividing said housing into first and second chambers, said panel being parallel to the rear wall in one of its positions, means pivotably connecting said panel to said housing, a first electrically conductive member on said panel, a second electrically conductive member supported by said housing adjacent the pivotable axis of said panel, and spring means biasing said first and second members into contact in all pivotable positions of said panel.

Claim 9

A terminal box for telephone wiring comprising a housing having a channel-shaped portion and a removable cover, said channel-shaped portion including a rear wall and side flanges extending toward the cover, a panel dividing said housing into first and second chambers, said panel being parallel to the rear wall in one of its positions, means pivotably connecting said panel to said housing, a first electrically conductive member on said panel, a second electrically conductive member supported by said housing adjacent the pivotable axis of said panel, and spring means biasing said first and second members into contact in all pivotable positions of said panel.

Claim 10

A terminal box in accordance with claim 7 including a bracket in the housing below the elevation of said axis, said second member being electrically coupled to said bracket.

Claim 11

A terminal box in accordance with claim 7 including means on said panel for securing an electrically conductive device thereon.

Claim 12

A terminal box in accordance with claim 7 wherein said pivotable axis is adjacent one side edge of said panel, means adjacent an opposite side edge of said panel For latching said panel to said housing whereby the panel is parallel to said rear wall of the housing and substantially equidistant from the rear wall and the cover.

Claim 13

A terminal box in accordance with claim 7 including a bracket fixedly secured to said housing rear wall below the elevation of said axis, said second member being connected to said bracket, said bracket having a guide portion, at least one cable support bracket adjustably supported on said guide portion in a manner so that it may be spaced at varied distances from said rear wall of said housing.

Claim 14

A terminal box in accordance with claim 7 wherein said means pivotably connecting said panel to said housing includes only one pin member supported by said panel and extending through a hole in said second member.

Claim 15

A terminal box for telephone wiring comprising a housing having a channel-shaped portion and a removable cover, said channel-shaped portion including a rear wall and side flanges extending toward the cover, said housing having a hood at one end and being open at its other end, a panel substantially centrally located within said housing and dividing the housing into first and second chambers, said panel being generally parallel to the rear wall in one of its positions, means pivotably connecting an edge portion of said panel to said housing, a first electrically conductive member on said panel, a second electrically conductive member supported by said housing adjacent the pivotable axis of said panel, spring means on said panel biasing said first and second members into contact at all pivotable positions of the panel, an electrically conductive bracket in said housing, said second member being connected to said bracket, said bracket having a guide portion, and a cable support bracket adjustably positionable at different locations along the length of said guide portion.

Claim 16

A terminal box for telephone wiring comprising a housing having a channel-shaped portion and a removable cover, said channel-shaped portion including a rear wall and side flanges extending toward the cover, said housing having a hood at one end and being open at its other end, a panel substantially centrally located within said housing and dividing the housing into first and second chambers, said panel being generally parallel to the rear wall in one of its positions, means pivotably connecting an edge portion of said panel to said housing, a first electrically conductive member on said panel, a second electrically conductive member supported by said housing adjacent the pivotable axis of said panel, spring means on said panel biasing said first and second members into contact at all pivotable positions of the panel, an electrically conductive bracket in said housing, said second member being connected to said bracket, said bracket having a guide portion, and a cable support bracket adjustably positionable at different locations along the length of said guide portion.

Claim 17

A terminal box in accordance with claim 13 wherein said spring means is a leaf spring made from spring steel.

Claim 18

A terminal box in accordance with claim 13 including a splice support bracket secured in said housing first chamber and having a projection extending toward said rear wall so that the up and down portions of an unassigned loop will be on opposite sides of said projection, said splice support bracket being made from an electrically non-conductive plastic material.