US3801873A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Main distribution frame-mounted central office subscriber carrier channel unit shelf
Assignee: AG Communication Systems Corp
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Filing: 1972-10-04
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Granted: 1974-04-02
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Expires: 1992-10-04
Abstract
Abstract This shelf is set inside a main distribution frame (MDF) between horizontal crossbars thereof. The shelf is supported by a pair of flanges that project from the top thereof and rest on adjacent horizontal crossbars. The flanges are offset from each other so that identical shelves can be mounted side-by-side in adjacent openings between crossbars of the MDF. The top of the shelf is shaped to form a neck section that hangs over the horizontal mounting bar on the front of the MDF for supporting the shelf and a vertical faceplate. Several compartments are formed inside the shelf by longitudinal ribs. Pairs of vertically aligned opensided and closed-sided retainer sockets in each compartment are attached to the top and bottom inside walls of the shelf at the back thereof. Each pair of sockets receives mounting tabs on a printed-circuit card connector that is held in place by a flexible retainer arm which snaps into a locking position when the connector tabs are forced into the sockets. A major portion of the bottom of the shelf is open at the front thereof for loading individual subscriber carrier channel units into the compartments. Each channel unit includes openings in the back and top front thereof and a printed circuit card that plugs into an associated connector at the back of the shelf. Openings in the back of the shelf and the bottom and top thereof near the neck section form a chimney that draws air through and cools the channel units. Grooves are provided adjacent the openings in the top wall of each compartment for snap-locking the channel units into the shelf. Wires from the connectors are ducted through cable troughs on the side of the shelf to the front thereof. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a line terminal block is connected to the faceplate so that it is aligned with a horizontal mounting bar when the shelf is set in an MDF.
Inventors
- 👤 G Stumpf
- 👤 D Tweed
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 17:43
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q1/00; H04Q1/02; H04Q1/14; H04Q1/035; H04Q1/06; H04Q1/066
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
A shelf for receiving a plurality of individual plug-in central office subscriber carrier channel unit covers and for mounting inside a telephone central office main distribution frame (MDF) between adjacent horizontal crossbars thereof, said shelf comprising a top wall, a pair of opposing side walls, a rear wall proximate one end of said top wall and the shelf at the back of the latter, a bottom wall opposing said top wall proximate the one end of the latter, means for connecting said walls together so as to form a rigid receptacle, a front section connected to the other end of said top wall, said front section comprising an upright front plate, and a shoulder forming an open neck between said front plate and said side and top walls, said shoulder being dimensioned for supporting the shelf in an MDF with the front plate in front of, and the shoulder resting on, a horizontal mounting bar on the front of an MDF, and first and second flanges projecting beyond associated side walls for resting on adjacent horizontal crossbars of an MDF to support the shelf when it is mounted in an MDF.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
A shelf for receiving a plurality of individual plug-in central office subscriber carrier channel unit covers and for mounting inside a telephone central office main distribution frame (MDF) between adjacent horizontal crossbars thereof, said shelf comprising a top wall, a pair of opposing side walls, a rear wall proximate one end of said top wall and the shelf at the back of the latter, a bottom wall opposing said top wall proximate the one end of the latter, means for connecting said walls together so as to form a rigid receptacle, a front section connected to the other end of said top wall, said front section comprising an upright front plate, and a shoulder forming an open neck between said front plate and said side and top walls, said shoulder being dimensioned for supporting the shelf in an MDF with the front plate in front of, and the shoulder resting on, a horizontal mounting bar on the front of an MDF, and first and second flanges projecting beyond associated side walls for resting on adjacent horizontal crossbars of an MDF to support the shelf when it is mounted in an MDF.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The shelf according to claim 1 including means for compartmentalizing the inside of the shelf, each of the compartments dimensioned for receiving an individual pluggable channel unit cover.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
The shelf according to claim 2 wherein said bottom wall extends over only a small portion of the bottom of the shelf proximate the back of the latter, the bottom of the shelf being open over the major portion of its lenghT at the front thereof for pluggably inserting individual channel unit covers into the shelf from the bottom-front of the latter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The shelf according to claim 3 wherein a slot is cut in the top wall in each compartment at the front of the shelf.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
The shelf according to claim 4 wherein a slot is formed in said rear wall in each compartment, the openings in said bottom and top walls forming a chimney through which warm air produced in the shelf in channel units is forced out the top slots by cooler air drawn in at the bottom opening and rear slots.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The shelf according to claim 5 including means in each of the compartments for receiving opposing ends of an elongated electrical printed circuit connector and snap-locking the connector in the compartment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
The shelf according to claim 6 wherein said last-named receiving means comprises first and second sockets each having an open end, one wall of one of said sockets being open, said sockets being securely mounted in the compartment proximate the back of the shelf with the open ends of said sockets facing each other for receiving opposite ends of a connector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The shelf according to claim 7 including a flexible member rigidly secured in the shelf and being bent away from its normal position when ends for a connector are forced into open ends of associated sockets, said flexible member snapping back to its normal position to hold the connector ends in said associated sockets.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The shelf according to claim 8 wherein the one wall is a side wall of one of said sockets.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The shelf according to claim 8 wherein the one wall is a front wall of one of said sockets.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
62 words
The shelf according to claim 6 wherein said last-named receiving means comprises a first socket having closed sides and an open end and a second socket having one open side and an open end securely mounted in the compartment proximate the back of the shelf with the open ends of the sockets facing each other for receiving opposite ends of a connector.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
The shelf according to claim 11 including a flexible member rigidly secured in the shelf and being bent away from its normal position when ends of a connector ends are forced into open ends of associated sockets, said flexible member snapping back to it normal position to hold the connector ends in said associated sockets.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
The shelf according to claim 3 wherein the width of each of said flanges is a small fraction of the length of the shelf, said flanges being offset from each other for seating identical shelves in an MDF in adjacent openings between horizontal crossbars.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The shelf according to claim 3 including a line terminal block and means for attaching said block to said front plate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
The shelf according to claim 5 including an upright faceplate having a plurality of apertures therethrough and being secured to said front plate with spaces therebetween, said front plate having a tilted flange in back of at least some of the apertures for enabling threading of wires between said plates and through the some apertures.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The shelf according to claim 15 including a plurality of troughs on the outside surface of one of said side walls for holding wires extending from the back to the front of the shelf.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
The shelf according to claim 16 wherein said faceplate includes a plurality of fingers on the back thereof extending over said front section, said fingers having openings in the ends thereof towards the back of the shelf for holding wires that are threaded through the some apertures.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
The shelf according to claim 5 wherein said compartmentalizing means comprises a plurality of top ribs depending from the inside surface of said top wall and bottom ribs projecting from the inside surface of said bottom wall, each top rib being axially aligned with an associated bottom rib.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The shelf according to claim 5 wherein at least a portion of one of said top and bottom walls is integrally molded as a single part with said rear wall.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
The shelf aCcording to claim 19 including first and second spaced apart guide bars extending traversely in the shelf on the inside surface of the other of said top and bottom walls and receiving said rear wall therebetween for aligning the latter in the shelf.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The shelf according to claim 12 wherein said rear wall is spaced away from the one end of the shelf, and including upright ribs separating adjacent connectors for providing electrical isolation of wires connected thereto.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The shelf according to claim 21 wherein the tops of said upright ribs are spaced from said top wall for threading wires above said rear ribs.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
185 words
A shelf for receiving a plurality of individual plug-in central office subscriber carrier channel unit covers and being mounted inside a telephone central office main distribution frame (MDF) between adjacent horizontal crossbars thereof, said shelf comprising a top wall a pair of opposing side walls, a rear wall proximate one end of said top wall and the shelf at the back of the latter, a bottom wall opposing said top wall proximate the one end of the latter, means for connecting said walls together so as to form a rigid receptacle, a front section connected to the other end of said top wall, said front section comprising an upright front plate, and a shoulder forming an open neck between said front plate and said side and top walls, said shoulder supporting the shelf in said MDF with the front plate in front of and the shoulder resting on a horizontal mounting bar on the front of said MDF, and first and second flanges projecting beyond associated side walls of the shelf and resting on adjacent horizontal crossbars of, and supporting the shelf in said MDF.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
185 words
A shelf for receiving a plurality of individual plug-in central office subscriber carrier channel unit covers and being mounted inside a telephone central office main distribution frame (MDF) between adjacent horizontal crossbars thereof, said shelf comprising a top wall a pair of opposing side walls, a rear wall proximate one end of said top wall and the shelf at the back of the latter, a bottom wall opposing said top wall proximate the one end of the latter, means for connecting said walls together so as to form a rigid receptacle, a front section connected to the other end of said top wall, said front section comprising an upright front plate, and a shoulder forming an open neck between said front plate and said side and top walls, said shoulder supporting the shelf in said MDF with the front plate in front of and the shoulder resting on a horizontal mounting bar on the front of said MDF, and first and second flanges projecting beyond associated side walls of the shelf and resting on adjacent horizontal crossbars of, and supporting the shelf in said MDF.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
87 words
The shelf according to claim 23 including means for compartmentalizing the inside of the shelf, each of the compartments being dimensioned for receiving an individual pluggable channel unit cover; and wherein said bottom wall extends over only a small portion of the bottom of the shelf proximate the back of the latter, the bottom of the shelf being open over the major portion of its length at the front thereof for pluggably inserting individual channel unit covers into the shelf from the bottom front of the latter.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
77 words
The shelf according to claim 24 wherein a slot is formed in the top wall in each compartment at the front of the shelf; and wherein a slot is formed in said rear wall in each compartment, the openings in said bottom and top walls forming a chimney through which warm air produced in the shelf in channel units is forced out the top slots by cooler air drawn in at the bottom opening and rear slots.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
141 words
The shelf according to claim 25 including a plurality of elongated electrical printed-circuit card connectors, and means in each of the compartments receiving opposing ends of one of said connectors and snap-locking said one connector in the compartment, said receiving means comprising first and second sockets each having an open end, one wall of one of said sockets being open, said sockets being securely mounted in the compartment proximate the back of the shelf with the open ends of said sockets facing each other and receiving opposite ends of the one connector; and a flexible member rigidly secured in the shelf and being bent away from its normal position when said one connector ends are forced into open ends of associated sockets, said flexible member snapping back to its normal position to hold said one connector ends in said associated sockets.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
44 words
The shelf according to claim 24 wherein the width of each of said flanges is a small fraction of the length of the shelf, said flanges being offset from each other for seating identical shelves in said MDF in adjacent openings between horizontal crossbars.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
93 words
The shelf according to claim 27 including an upright faceplate having a plurality of fingers on the back thereof extending over said front section, having a plurality of apertures therethrough, and being secured To said front plate with spaces therebetween; said front plate having a tilted flange in back of at least some of the apertures for enabling threading of wires between said plates and through the some apertures; said fingers having openings in the ends thereof towards the back of the shelf for holding wires that are threaded through the some apertures.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
The shelf according to claim 28 including a line terminal block attached to said faceplate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-04-01 | 1977-10-01 | 1978-04-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-04-01 | 1981-10-01 | 1982-04-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-04-01 | 1985-10-01 | 1986-04-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |