Universal telephone test apparatus

Claim 1

In conjunction with a multiple wire pair telephone cable having a first telephone electrical connection block arrangement on one cable end, and a second telephone electrical connection block on the other cable end, with each pair of wire including one wire having a first end electrically connected to a first pin set of the first telephone electrical connection block and the other wire having a first end electrically connected to a second pin set of the first electrical connection block and with each pair of wires including one wire having a second end electrically connected to a first pin set of the second telephone electrical connection block and the other wire having a second end electrically connected to a second pin set of the second electrical connection block, universal telephone test apparatus comprising, in combination: first test jig apparatus; with the first test jig apparatus comprising, in combination: a housing; means, supported by the housing, for receiving and providing electrical connection to a battery; multiple first means, supported by the housing, associated with each of the multiple pairs of wire of the cable for detecting current and for indicating the presence of current; first connection means, supported by the housing, for providing removable, electrical connection between one of the first current detecting and indicating means and the battery means and each of the first and second pin sets of the first telephone electrical connection block for each of the multiple pairs of wire of the cable; second test jig apparatus; with the second test jig apparatus comprising, in combination: a housing; multiple second means, supported by the housing, associated with each of the multiple pairs of wire of the cable for detecting current in a first direction and for indicating the presence of current in the first direction; multiple third means, supported by the housing, associated with each of the multiple pairs of wire of the cable for detecting current in a direction opposite to the first direction and for indicating the presence of current in the direction opposite to the first direction; second connection means, supported by the housing, for removable, electrical connection between one of the second current detecting and indicating means and one of the third current detecting and indicating means, in parallel, and each of the first and second pin sets of the second electrical connection block for each of the multiple pairs of wire of the cable; wherein with the first test jig apparatus electrically connected to the first electrical connection block and the second test jig apparatus electrically connected to the second electrical connection block, when the pairs of wires are correctly electrically connected between the first and second pin sets of the first and second electrical connection blocks, a complete electrical circuit is formed between the first and second test jig apparatuses and the first and second current detecting and indicating means indicate the presence of current and the third current detecting and indicating means does not indicate the presence of current for each of the wire pair correctly electrically connected, when a short exists between the wires of the wire pair, the first current detecting and indicating means indicates the presence of current and the second and third current detecting and indicating means do not indicate the presence of current for each of the shorted wire pair, when the wires of the wire pair are reversed, the first and third current detecting and indicating means indicate the presence of current and the second current detecting and indicating means does not indicate the presence of current for each of the reversed wire pair, and when electrical connection is not made with at least one of the first and second pin sets of the electrical connection blocks or an improper pairing of wires has occurred, none of the first, second, and third current detecting and indicating means indicate the presence of current for each of the incorrectly connected wire pair, wherein the universal telephone testing apparatus allows the simultaneous diagnosis of each of all possible conditions of the electrical connection of each of the pairs of wire of the multiple wire pair cable to the first and second electrical connection blocks; with at least one of the test jig apparatuses further comprises, in combination: at least first auxiliary connector means, supported by the housing; and third connection means, supported by the housing, for providing removable electrical connection between the electrical apparatus of the test jig apparatus, the auxiliary connector means, and the first and second pin sets of the electrical connection blocks; and with at least a part of the third electrical connection means comprising fourth means interrelating with the first connection means including means for providing simultaneous electrical disconnection of the battery means and each of the pin sets of the first telephone electrical connection block and for providing simultaneous electrial isolation of each of the first and second pin sets of the first telephone electrical connection block from each other, with the universal telephone testing apparatus allowing the testing, from a single set up, of at least one and possibly all of: multiple wire pair cable and their correct electrical connection between the pin sets of the first and second telephone electrical connection blocks; telephone base cords having telephone plug connectors on each end for receipt in the first auxiliary connector means of the test jig apparatus allowing simultaneous diagnosis of each of all possible conditions of the electrical connection of each of the pairs of wire of the telephone base cord when the telephone base cord is electrically received within and between the first and second test jig apparatuses; telephones having various styles of plugs, with the telephones electrically connected to selective pin sets of the electrical connection block when electrically received within the first auxiliary connector means of the test jig apparatus without damage to the telephone created by electrical connection to the battery means and allowing testing of multiple telephones at a single location for distribution to locations remote from the electrical connection block; the continuity of a single pair of wires from the multiple wire pair cable and their correct electrical connection between the pin sets of the first and second telephone connection blocks; and the tone testing of a single pair of wires from the multiple wire pair cable and their correct electrical connection between the pin sets of the first and second telephone connection blocks.