US4596904A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Test apparatus for telephone lines
Assignee: JOHN F MCCARTHY Inc A PA CORP
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Filing: 1984-05-25
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Granted: 1986-06-24
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Expires: 2004-05-25
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for testing modular telephone cables in an unenergized multiline distribution system including a multiline trunk cable and one or more connected individual line cables. The apparatus includes a power unit with circuitry connecting one or more of the wires of an individual telephone line cable with battery or other current source and an indicator unit having a plurality of indicating devices such as incandescent lights or, preferably, light emitting diodes and circuitry connecting each potentially active wire in the trunk cable with one of the indicating devices. By various circuit schemes, identification of the individual line wires in the trunk cable, polarity of the connection and continuity of the wires between the end units can be determined from the indicating devices.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank Messenger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 11:36
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/22; H04M3/26; H04M3/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
A system for identifying individual telephone lines in an unenergized telephone signal distribution system including a trunk cable containing a multiplicity of wire pairs forming at least portions of a plurality of individual telephone lines, each line comprising a plurality of the wire pairs, the trunk cable having a multiline connector at one end thereof electrically connected with the wires at the trunk cable and an individual line connector at a remaining end electrically connected with the wire pairs on one line of the cable comprising: a source of electric current; first circuit means for electrically connecting said source in a circuit with wires of the individual line at said remaining end of the trunk cable; a plurality of electric current indicator means; and second circuit means for electrically connecting each indicator means in a circuit with a different line at the one end of the cable whereby said source forms a circuit with only the one indicator means connected with said one line.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
164 words
A system for identifying individual telephone lines in an unenergized telephone signal distribution system including a trunk cable containing a multiplicity of wire pairs forming at least portions of a plurality of individual telephone lines, each line comprising a plurality of the wire pairs, the trunk cable having a multiline connector at one end thereof electrically connected with the wires at the trunk cable and an individual line connector at a remaining end electrically connected with the wire pairs on one line of the cable comprising: a source of electric current; first circuit means for electrically connecting said source in a circuit with wires of the individual line at said remaining end of the trunk cable; a plurality of electric current indicator means; and second circuit means for electrically connecting each indicator means in a circuit with a different line at the one end of the cable whereby said source forms a circuit with only the one indicator means connected with said one line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said source supplies direct current.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said first circuit means connects the direct current source in the circuit between the two wires of one wire pair of the one line.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 3 wherein each indicator means comprises: a plurality of light-emitting devices; and wherein said second circuit means connects each device in a circuit across a different wire pair of the line connected with the indicator means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said first circuit means simultaneously connects said source between the two wires of each wire pair of the one line.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
172 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said remaining end of said cable terminates in a multiline connector offering electrical connections with each wire of said multiplicity of wire pairs and further comprising: a like multiplicity of light emitting diodes which includes said plurality of diodes; reciprocal multiline connector means adapted for coupling with said multiline connector and electrically connecting each of said multiplicity of light emitting diodes with a different wire pair of the cable through said second circuit means; and wherein said second circuit means and said diodes are arranged such that one diode is oriented across each wire pair of the one line to pass said direct current when said multiline connector and said multiline reciprocal multiline connector means are connected in a predetermined orientation and at least one diode of the plurality is connected across at least one wire pair of the one line in an orientation not to pass said direct current when said multiline connector and said reciprocal multiline connector means are connected in a reversed orientation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 5 wherein at least one light-emitting device in each indicating means is a light-emitting diode brightening only when a direct current passes through the diode in a predetermined direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
162 words
The system of claim 7 wherein: said source has two poles; said first circuit means includes a reciprocal individual line connector adapted for mating with said individual line connector to connect one wire of each wire pair of only the one line to one pole of the current source and the remaining wire of each wire pair of only the one line to the remaining pole; and said second circuit means includes a reciprocal multiline connector adapted for mating with said multiline connector to connect each of said diodes across a different wire pair of the trunk cable in a manner such that all diodes of the indicating means of the one line will pass current when the connection between said multiline line connector and said reciprocal multiline connector is in a predetermined orientation and only a subset of the diodes of an indicating means will pass current when said connection between said multiline connector and said reciprocal multiline connector is reversed.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
230 words
A system for testing the continuity of a telephone line having a plurality of unenergized wire pairs comprising: a first device comprising: current means having two poles for supplying a source of direct electric current; and first circuit means for simultaneous connecting said current means across the two wires of each said wire pair at one end of the line, one wire of each wire pair to one pole of the current means and the remaining wire of each wire pair to the remaining pole; wherein said remaining end of the telephone line terminates in a connector presenting connections with each wire of the wire pairs of the line and with a multiplicity of other wires of other lines; and a second device comprising: a like plurality of current indicating light emitting diodes; and second circuit means for connecting each current indicating light emitting diode in a separate circuit with said current means across a separate wire pair of the line at the remaining end of the line and including adapter means for connecting said second circuit means and said diodes with said connector, said second circuit means connecting said diodes so that all are arranged to pass current when the adapter is connected in a first orientation, and less than all of the diodes are arranged to pass the current when the adapter is connected in some other orientation.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
230 words
A system for testing the continuity of a telephone line having a plurality of unenergized wire pairs comprising: a first device comprising: current means having two poles for supplying a source of direct electric current; and first circuit means for simultaneous connecting said current means across the two wires of each said wire pair at one end of the line, one wire of each wire pair to one pole of the current means and the remaining wire of each wire pair to the remaining pole; wherein said remaining end of the telephone line terminates in a connector presenting connections with each wire of the wire pairs of the line and with a multiplicity of other wires of other lines; and a second device comprising: a like plurality of current indicating light emitting diodes; and second circuit means for connecting each current indicating light emitting diode in a separate circuit with said current means across a separate wire pair of the line at the remaining end of the line and including adapter means for connecting said second circuit means and said diodes with said connector, said second circuit means connecting said diodes so that all are arranged to pass current when the adapter is connected in a first orientation, and less than all of the diodes are arranged to pass the current when the adapter is connected in some other orientation.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
138 words
A system for identifying individual lines in an unergized signal wire distribution system including a trunk cable containing a multiplicity of wire pairs forming at least portions of a plurality of individual lines, each line two or more of the wire pairs of the trunk cable, comprising: a first hand-held unit including a like plurality of electric current indicator means and first circuit means adapted for electrically connecting each indicator means in a circuit with a separate line of a trunk cable; and a second hand-held unit including a source or electric current and second circuit means adapted for electrically connecting said source of electric current in a circuit with only one of the plurality of lines through said trunk cable whereby said source forms a circuit with only the one indicator means connected with said one line.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
138 words
A system for identifying individual lines in an unergized signal wire distribution system including a trunk cable containing a multiplicity of wire pairs forming at least portions of a plurality of individual lines, each line two or more of the wire pairs of the trunk cable, comprising: a first hand-held unit including a like plurality of electric current indicator means and first circuit means adapted for electrically connecting each indicator means in a circuit with a separate line of a trunk cable; and a second hand-held unit including a source or electric current and second circuit means adapted for electrically connecting said source of electric current in a circuit with only one of the plurality of lines through said trunk cable whereby said source forms a circuit with only the one indicator means connected with said one line.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4326162A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-06-23 | 1989-12-23 | 1990-06-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-06-23 | 1993-12-23 | 1994-06-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-06-23 | 1997-12-23 | 1998-06-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |