Panel yoke

Claim 2

A yoke for mounting a modular housing in a panel, said panel having a first aperture defined therein, comprising: plate means for covering the first aperture, said plate means including a front surface and a back surface and defining a second aperture therethrough wherein the second aperture is a rectilinear aperture defined by first and second pairs of opposed straight sides and wherein the back surface of the plate includes first and second recessed portions defined on opposite sides of the first pair of sides of the second aperture for increasing flexibility of the panel and includes first and second raised shoulder portions defined on opposite sides of the second pair of sides of the second aperture; first snaplocking means for snaplockedly securing said plate means to said panel; locating means extending rearwardly from the back surface of the plate means, for aligning the modular housing with the second aperture, said locating means allowing both axial and second snaplocking means for snaplockedly securing said modular housing against the back surface of the plate means, said second snaplocking means comprising a pair of resiliently defeatable cantilevered hooks extending rearwardly from the back surface of the plate means on opposite sides of the second pair of opposed sides of the second aperture.

Claim 3

The yoke of claim 1, wherein each of the hooks extends rearwardly to a back end, and wherein the means for snaplockedly securing the plate means to the panel comprises: a pair of opposed resiliently defeatable gripper arms, each extending obliquely forwardly and outwardly from the back end of one of said hooks.

Claim 4

The yoke of claim 2, wherein each of the gripper arms further comprises tooth means for contacting the panel to grip the panel.

Claim 5

The yoke of claim 1, wherein each of the hooks comprises: a side panel extending laterally from a first lateral edge to a second lateral edge along one of the sides of the second pair of opposed sides of the second aperture and extending rearwardly from the back surface of the plate means to a back edge; and a ridge extending along the back edge of the panel.

Claim 6

The yoke of claim 4, wherein the ridge comprises incline means for guiding the modular housing between the side panels during axial insertion of the modular housing and limit means for engaging the housing to prevent axial movement of the housing relative to the panel means.

Claim 7

The yoke of claim 4, wherein said at least one each side panel includes incline means for guiding the modular housing between the side panels during lateral insertion of said housing into said yoke.

Claim 8

The yoke of claim 1 wherein said front surface of said plate means includes a recess having a plurality of openings.

Claim 9

The yoke of claim 7 further comprising: insert means disposed in said recess for providing means of identification of these modular jack, said insert means having opposing surfaces receptive to said means of indemnification; and at least one protruding element extending outwardly from opposing sides of said insert means, said protruding elements disposed in said openings of said recess.

Claim 10

The yoke of claim 8 wherein said at least one protruding element comprises: at least two lower protruding elements which function as a hinge.

Claim 11

A yoke for mounting a modular housing in a panel, said panel having a first aperture defined therein, comprising: plate means for covering the first aperture, said plate including a front surface and a back surface and defining a second aperture therethrough, said second aperture being a rectilinear aperture and being defined by first and second pairs of opposed straight sides; locating means for aligning the modular housing with the second aperture, said locating means comprising opposed locating tabs extending rearwardly from the back surface of the plate means on opposite sides of the first pair of opposed straight sides and said locating means allowing both axial and lateral insertion of a modular housing into said yoke; means for snaplockedly securing the modular housing against the back surface of the plate means, said means for snaplockedly securing the modular housing comprising a pair of resiliently defeatable cantilevered hooks extending rearwardly from the back surface of the plate means to a back end on opposite sides of the second pair of straight opposed sides, each of said hooks comprising a side panel extending laterally from a first lateral edge to a second lateral edge along one of the sides of the second pair of straight sides and extending rearwardly from the back surface of the plate means to a back edge and a ridge extending along the back edge of the panel, said ridge comprising incline means for guiding the modular housing between the side panels during axial insertion of the modular housing and limit means for engaging the housing to prevent axial movement of the housing relative to the panel means and wherein the first lateral edge of each side panel includes incline means for guiding the modular housing between the side panels during lateral insertion of the housing into the yoke; and means for snaplockedly securing the plate means to the panel, said means for snaplockedly securing the plate means comprising a pair of opposed resiliently defeatable gripper arms, each extending obliquely forward and outwardly from the back end of one of said hooks.

Claim 12

A yoke for mounting a modular housing in a panel, said panel having a first aperture defined therein, comprising: plate means for covering the first aperture, said plate including a front surface and a back surface and defining a second aperture therethrough, said second aperture being a rectilinear aperture and being defined by first and second pairs of opposed straight sides; locating means for aligning the modular housing with the second aperture, said locating means comprising opposed locating tabs extending rearwardly from the back surface of the plate means on opposite sides of the first pair of opposed straight sides and said locating means allowing both axial and lateral insertion of a modular housing into said yoke; means for snaplockedly securing the modular housing against the back surface of the plate means, said means for snaplockedly securing the modular housing comprising a pair of resiliently defeatable cantilevered hooks extending rearwardly from the back surface of the plate means to a back end on opposite sides of the second pair of straight opposed sides, each of said hooks comprising a side panel extending laterally from a first lateral edge to a second lateral edge along one of the sides of the second pair of straight sides and extending rearwardly from the back surface of the plate means to a back edge and a ridge extending along the back edge of the panel, said ridge comprising incline means for guiding the modular housing between the side panels during axial insertion of the modular housing and limit means for engaging the housing to prevent axial movement of the housing relative to the panel means and wherein the first lateral edge of each side panel includes incline means for guiding the modular housing between the side panels during lateral insertion of the housing into the yoke; and means for snaplockedly securing the plate means to the panel, said means for snaplockedly securing the plate means comprising a pair of opposed resiliently defeatable gripper arms, each extending obliquely forward and outwardly from the back end of one of said hooks.

Claim 13

The yoke of claim 10, further comprising means for covering the second aperture.

Claim 14

The yoke of claim 10, wherein the means for covering the second aperture comprises: slot means, defined by said plate means and operatively associated with the second aperture for slidably mounting a door panel; a recessed portion defined in the back surface of the plate means; a door panel slidably received within the slot means, said door panel having a closed portion wherein the door panel covers the second aperture and having an open position wherein the door panel is withdrawn into the recessed portion to uncover the second aperture; and resilient means for urging the door panel into the closed position.

Claim 15

The yoke of claim 10 wherein said front surface of said plate mans includes a recess having a plurality of openings.

Claim 16

The yoke of claim 13 further comprising: insert means disposed in said recess for providing means of identification of said modular jack, said insert means having opposing surfaces receptive to said means of identification; and at least one protruding element extending outwardly from opposing sides of said insert means, said protruding elements disposed in said openings of said recess.

Claim 17

The yoke of claim 14 wherein said at least one protruding element comprises: at least two lower protruding elements which function as a hinge.

Claim 18

A yoke for mounting a housing in panel, said panel having a first aperture defined therein, comprising: plate means for covering the first aperture, said plate means including a front surface and a back surface and defining a second aperture therethrough, said second aperture being defined by first and second pairs of opposed sides; means for snaplockedly securing said plate means to said panel; locating means, extending rearwardly from the back surface of the plate means, for aligning the modular housing with the second aperture, said locating means comprising opposed locating tabs extending rearwardly from the back surface of the plate means on the first pair of opposite sides of the second aperture and said locating means allowing both axial and lateral insertion of the modular housing into said yoke; and means for snaplockedly securing said modular housing against the back surface of the plate means, said means for snaplocking, comprising: a pair of resiliently defeatable cantilevered hooks extending rearwardly from the back surface of the plate means on the second pair of opposite sides of the second aperture, each of said hooks comprising: a side panel extending laterally from a first lateral edge to a second lateral edge along one of the sides of the second pair of opposed sides of the second aperture and extending rearwardly from the back surface of the plate means to a back edge, wherein the first lateral edge of each side panel includes means for guiding the modular housing between the side panels during lateral insertion of said housing into said yoke; and a ridge extending along the back edge of the panel, wherein the ridge comprises incline means for guiding the modular housing between the side panels during axial insertion of the modular housing and limit means for engaging the housing to prevent movement of the housing relative to the panel means.

Claim 19

A yoke for mounting a housing in panel, said panel having a first aperture defined therein, comprising: plate means for covering the first aperture, said plate means including a front surface and a back surface and defining a second aperture therethrough, said second aperture being defined by first and second pairs of opposed sides; means for snaplockedly securing said plate means to said panel; locating means, extending rearwardly from the back surface of the plate means, for aligning the modular housing with the second aperture, said locating means comprising opposed locating tabs extending rearwardly from the back surface of the plate means on the first pair of opposite sides of the second aperture and said locating means allowing both axial and lateral insertion of the modular housing into said yoke; and means for snaplockedly securing said modular housing against the back surface of the plate means, said means for snaplocking, comprising: a pair of resiliently defeatable cantilevered hooks extending rearwardly from the back surface of the plate means on the second pair of opposite sides of the second aperture, each of said hooks comprising: a side panel extending laterally from a first lateral edge to a second lateral edge along one of the sides of the second pair of opposed sides of the second aperture and extending rearwardly from the back surface of the plate means to a back edge, wherein the first lateral edge of each side panel includes means for guiding the modular housing between the side panels during lateral insertion of said housing into said yoke; and a ridge extending along the back edge of the panel, wherein the ridge comprises incline means for guiding the modular housing between the side panels during axial insertion of the modular housing and limit means for engaging the housing to prevent movement of the housing relative to the panel means.

Claim 20

The yoke of claim 16, wherein each of the hooks extends rearwardly to a back end, and wherein the mans for snaplockedly securing the plate means to the panel comprises: a pair of opposed resiliently defeatable gripper arms, each extending obliquely forwardly and outwardly from the back end of one of said hooks.

Claim 21

The yoke of claim 16, wherein each of the gripper arms further comprises tooth means for contacting the panel to grip the panel.

Claim 22

The yoke of claim 16, further comprising means for covering the second aperture.

Claim 23

The yoke of claim 16, wherein the means for covering the second aperture comprises: slot means, defined by said plate means and operatively associated with the second aperture for slidably mounting a door panel; a recessed portion defined in the back surface of the plate means; a door panel slidably received within the slot means, said door panel having a closed portion wherein the door panel covers the second aperture and having an open position wherein the door panel is withdrawn into the recessed portion to uncover the second aperture; and resilient means for urging the door panel into the closed position.

Claim 24

The yoke of claim 16 wherein said front surface of said plate means includes a recess having a plurality of openings.

Claim 25

The yoke of claim 21 further comprising: insert means disposed in said recess for providing means of identification of said modular jack, said insert means having opposing surfaces receptive to said means of identification; and at least one protruding element extending outwardly from opposing sides of said insert means, said protruding elements disposed in said openings of said recess.

Claim 26

The yoke of claim 22 wherein said at least one protruding element comprises: at least two lower protruding elements which function as a hinge.

Claim 27

A yoke for mounting a modular housing in a panel, said panel having a first aperture defined therein, comprising: plate means for covering the first aperture, said plate means including a front surface and a back surface and defining a second aperture therethrough wherein the second aperture is a rectilinear aperture defined by first and second pairs of opposed straight sides and wherein the back surface of the plate includes first and second recessed portions defined on opposite sides of the first pair of sides of the second aperture for increasing flexibility of the panel and includes first and second raised shoulder portions defined on opposite sides of the second pair of sides of the second aperture; means for snaplockedly securing said plate means to said panel; locating means extending rearwardly from the back surface of the plate means, for aligning the modular housing with the second aperture, said locating means allowing both axial and lateral insertion of the modular housing into said yoke; means for snaplockedly securing said modular housing against the back surface of the plate means; means for covering the second aperture, wherein the means for covering the second aperture comprises; slot means, defined by said plate means and operatively associated with the second aperture for slidably mounting a door panel; a recessed portion defined in the back surface of the plate means; a door panel slidably received within the slot means, said door panel having a closed position wherein the door panel covers the second aperture and having an open position the door panel is withdrawn into the recessed portion to uncover the second aperture; and resilient means for urging the door panel into the closed position.

Claim 28

A yoke for mounting a modular housing in a panel, said panel having a first aperture defined therein, comprising: plate means for covering the first aperture, said plate means including a front surface and a back surface and defining a second aperture therethrough wherein the second aperture is a rectilinear aperture defined by first and second pairs of opposed straight sides and wherein the back surface of the plate includes first and second recessed portions defined on opposite sides of the first pair of sides of the second aperture for increasing flexibility of the panel and includes first and second raised shoulder portions defined on opposite sides of the second pair of sides of the second aperture; means for snaplockedly securing said plate means to said panel; locating means extending rearwardly from the back surface of the plate means, for aligning the modular housing with the second aperture, said locating means allowing both axial and lateral insertion of the modular housing into said yoke; means for snaplockedly securing said modular housing against the back surface of the plate means; means for covering the second aperture, wherein the means for covering the second aperture comprises; slot means, defined by said plate means and operatively associated with the second aperture for slidably mounting a door panel; a recessed portion defined in the back surface of the plate means; a door panel slidably received within the slot means, said door panel having a closed position wherein the door panel covers the second aperture and having an open position the door panel is withdrawn into the recessed portion to uncover the second aperture; and resilient means for urging the door panel into the closed position.