Protected telephone network interface device

Claim 2

A jack unit for stackable assembly in telephone network interface apparatus, comprising: a base structure body having generally rectangularly arranged, vertically disposed, integrally formed sides adapted for close side-by-side disposition with correspondingly configured base structure bodies in said telephone network interface apparatus; means for connecting telephone company wiring to said base structure body; means for connecting subscriber wiring to said base structure body; means including a jack for selectively electrically interconnecting said telephone company wiring and said subscriber wiring; means on said base structure body for removable securing it in said telephone network interface apparatus; means forming a protector assembly carried by said base structure body within said vertically disposed sides thereof, said protector assembly including means for protecting said unit against excessive voltages conducted by said telephone company wiring; said protector assembly including switching means and a ground contact operatively connect in parallel with said telephone company wiring for protecting said unit against excessive voltages; said base structure body including an enclosed chamber, defined by the sides of said base structure body; a circuit board mountedly disposed in said chamber; a ground plate secured to said base structure body in spaced relation to said circuit board; and said protector assembly containing conductor pins extending between and connecting said circuit board and said round plate for securing said protector assembly in said chamber.

Claim 3

A jack unit according to claim 1 in which said base structure body includes an enclosed chamber defined by the sides of said base structure body and means for mounting said protector assembly in said chamber.

Claim 4

A jack unit according to claim 2 including a circuit board disposed in said chamber electrically connected to said protector assembly.

Claim 5

A jack unit according to claim 3 including a circuit board disposed in said chamber; and means for securing said protector assembly to said circuit board.

Claim 6

A jack unit according to claim 1 in which said ground plate includes means for attaching said base structure body to said telephone network interface apparatus.

Claim 7

A jack unit according to claim 5 including means for detachably connecting said ground plate to said base structure body.

Claim 8

A jack unit according to claim 1 including means for forming a jack disposed in said base structure body for electrically connecting a telephone service; electrical contact means in said jack; and contact wires extending between and connecting said contact means and said circuit board.

Claim 9

A jack unit according to claim 1 in which said means for connecting subscriber wiring to said base structure body comprises a terminal strip on said base structure body; means for connecting said subscriber wiring to said terminal strip; means for detachably securing said terminal strip to said base structure body; and said securing means comprising means forming wells on one side of said terminal strip and said base structure body; and, projections for reception in said wells formed on the other thereof.

Claim 10

A jack unit according to claim 1 in which said means for connecting subscriber wiring to said base structure body comprises a terminal strip on said base structure; means for connecting said subscriber wiring to said terminal strip, means for detachably securing said terminal strip to said base structure wherein said securing means comprising means forming wells on one side of said terminal strip and said base structure body; and, projections for reception in said wells formed on the other thereof.

Claim 11

A jack unit according to claim 9 in which said wells and said projections are disposed in cooperating longitudinally spaced disposition on said base structure body and said terminal strip respectively; means forming a jack adjacent an end of said base structure body; and, a movable cover connected to said base structure to enclose said terminal strip and said jack, when closed, and to expose said terminal strip and said jack, when open.

Claim 12

A jack unit according to claim 10 including means for hingedly securing said cover to said base structure body.

Claim 13

A jack unit module for use in a telephone network interface device adapted to contain a plurality of such modules in side-by-side stacked array, said module comprising: a body containing a plurality of substantially rectangularly disposed, upstanding, integrally formed sides forming a substantially hollow base structure defining an enclosed chamber therein said sides being configured for close side-by-side disposition with respect to correspondingly configured adjacent base structures in said telephone network interface device; means for mounting said base structure body in said telephone network interface apparatus; means on said base structure body for connecting subscriber wiring thereto; means on said base structure body for connecting telephone company wiring thereto separate from said subscriber wiring; means including a jack formed in said base structure body for selectively electrically interconnecting said subscriber wiring and said telephone company wiring; and means forming a protector assembly disposed in said base structure chamber and having circuit means operative to protect said module against the imposition of excessive voltages; a circuit board mountedly disposed in said base structure chamber; a ground plate attached to said base structure in spaced relation to said circuit board; and said protector assembly containing conductor pins extending between and connecting said circuit board and said ground plate for securing said protector assembly in said chamber.

Claim 14

A jack unit module for use in a telephone network interface device adapted to contain a plurality of such modules in side-by-side stacked array, said module comprising: a body containing a plurality of substantially rectangularly disposed, upstanding, integrally formed sides forming a substantially hollow base structure defining an enclosed chamber therein said sides being configured for close side-by-side disposition with respect to correspondingly configured adjacent base structures in said telephone network interface device; means for mounting said base structure body in said telephone network interface apparatus; means on said base structure body for connecting subscriber wiring thereto; means on said base structure body for connecting telephone company wiring thereto separate from said subscriber wiring; means including a jack formed in said base structure body for selectively electrically interconnecting said subscriber wiring and said telephone company wiring; and means forming a protector assembly disposed in said base structure chamber and having circuit means operative to protect said module against the imposition of excessive voltages; a circuit board mountedly disposed in said base structure chamber; a ground plate attached to said base structure in spaced relation to said circuit board; and said protector assembly containing conductor pins extending between and connecting said circuit board and said ground plate for securing said protector assembly in said chamber.

Claim 15

A jack unit module according to claim 12 in which said ground plate and said circuit board are detachably connected to said base structure.

Claim 16

A jack unit module according to claim 12 in which said ground plate includes means for attaching said base structure to said telephone network interface apparatus.

Claim 17

A jack unit module according to claim 12 in which said protector assembly is a bi-directional voltage sensitive switch containing said conductor pins which include line pins electrically connecting with said telephone company wiring and a ground pin electrically connecting with said ground plate.

Claim 18

A jack unit module according to claim 12 including a terminal strip; means for connecting said subscriber wiring to said terminal strip; a support surface extending between said upstanding sides of said base structure for mounting said terminal strip; and, means for detachably securing said terminal strip to said support surface.

Claim 19

A jack unit module according to claim 12 in which said securing means comprises means forming wells on one side of said terminal strip and said support surface and projections for reception in said wells formed on the other thereof.

Claim 20

A jack unit module according to claim 17 in which said wells are disposed in mutual, longitudinally spaced disposition along said support surface and said projections are cooperatively arranged on said terminal strip; and a movable cover connected to said base structure to enclose said terminal strip and said jack, when closed, and to expose said terminal strip and said jack, when open.

Claim 21

A jack unit module according to claim 18 in which said jack is disposed at one longitudinal end of said body structure and said cover is hingedly connected to said body structure at the other longitudinal end thereof.

Claim 22

A jack unit module for use in a telephone network interface device adapted to contain a plurality of such modules in side-by-side, stacked array, said module comprising: a body formed of electrically non-conductive material containing a plurality of substantially rectangularly disposed, upstanding, integrally formed sides configured for close side-by-side disposition with respect to correspondingly configured adjacent modules in said telephone network interface device, said body having a support surface extending between the upper ends of said sides to define there below a substantially hollow base structure containing an enclosed chamber therein; means forming a jack at one longitudinal end of said body structure for electrically connecting a telephone service; a terminal strip detachably secured to said support surface and containing means for connecting subscriber wiring thereto; means on said body for connecting telephone company wiring thereto; means including a depressible actuator mounted for slidable movement in said terminal strip for selectively interconnecting said telephone company wiring and said subscriber wiring; a movable cover connected to said body to enclose said terminal strip and said jack, when closed, and to expose said terminal strip and said jack, when open; an operator carried by said cover to operate said actuator for electrically connecting said subscriber wiring and said telephone company wiring when said cover is closed and for disconnecting said subscriber wiring and said telephone company wiring when said cover is open; means forming a groundable protector assembly disposed in said chamber for protecting said module against the conduction of excessive voltages by said telephone company wiring; a ground plate in said chamber in substantially spaced, parallel relation to said support surface; a parallelly arranged circuit board between said ground plate and said support surface; a pair of line pins connecting said protector assembly to said circuit board; and, a ground pin connecting said protector assembly to said ground plate.

Claim 23

A jack unit module for use in a telephone network interface device adapted to contain a plurality of such modules in side-by-side, stacked array, said module comprising: a body formed of electrically non-conductive material containing a plurality of substantially rectangularly disposed, upstanding, integrally formed sides configured for close side-by-side disposition with respect to correspondingly configured adjacent modules in said telephone network interface device, said body having a support surface extending between the upper ends of said sides to define there below a substantially hollow base structure containing an enclosed chamber therein; means forming a jack at one longitudinal end of said body structure for electrically connecting a telephone service; a terminal strip detachably secured to said support surface and containing means for connecting subscriber wiring thereto; means on said body for connecting telephone company wiring thereto; means including a depressible actuator mounted for slidable movement in said terminal strip for selectively interconnecting said telephone company wiring and said subscriber wiring; a movable cover connected to said body to enclose said terminal strip and said jack, when closed, and to expose said terminal strip and said jack, when open; an operator carried by said cover to operate said actuator for electrically connecting said subscriber wiring and said telephone company wiring when said cover is closed and for disconnecting said subscriber wiring and said telephone company wiring when said cover is open; means forming a groundable protector assembly disposed in said chamber for protecting said module against the conduction of excessive voltages by said telephone company wiring; a ground plate in said chamber in substantially spaced, parallel relation to said support surface; a parallelly arranged circuit board between said ground plate and said support surface; a pair of line pins connecting said protector assembly to said circuit board; and, a ground pin connecting said protector assembly to said ground plate.

Claim 24

A jack unit module according to claim 20 including means forming a test circuit connected to said circuit board.

Claim 25

A jack unit module according to claim 20 in which said cover is hingedly attached to said base structure at the end opposite that containing said jack.