US5546267A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Communication circuit protector
Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
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Filing: 1994-12-08
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Granted: 1996-08-13
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Expires: 2014-12-08
Abstract
Abstract A communication circuit protector is provided for use with connector blocks in telecommunication equipment. The circuit protector includes a uniquely-designed two-piece interfitting housing for accommodating a variety of protector circuits to provide different kinds of over-voltage and/or overcurrent protection while using the same housing. The housing is adapted to plug-in or to be inserted into the connector clips of a Krone-style terminal block. The side of the housing is provided with means for retaining a side ground contact which is connectible to one of the grounding tab members of the grounding bar of the connector block. In a preferred embodiment, the protector circuit includes a diode bridge rectifier, a pair of voltage suppressors, and a pair of sneak current fuses.
Inventors
- 👤 Bjarne Frederiksen
- 👤 Mohammad Masghati
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 18:09
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q1/00; H04Q1/02; H04Q1/14; H04Q1/146; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/66; H01R13/665; H01R13/6666; H01R9/00; H01R9/22; H01R9/24; H01R9/2425; H01R9/2441; H01R13/46; H01R13/502; H01R13/506; H01R2201/00; H01R2201/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A circuit protector for protecting equipment against overvoltage and overcurrent conditions, comprising: a housing comprising an upper body portion and a lower body portion; voltage limiting means and current limiting means for disposition within said upper body portion of said housing for protecting equipment against overvoltage and overcurrent conditions, respectively; first contact means for disposition within said housing for establishing electrical contact with said current limiting means and said voltage limiting means when overvoltage and overcurrent protection is to be provided in connection with said equipment, and for establishing electrical contact with said current limiting means when only overcurrent protection is to be provided in connection with said equipment; and second contact means for disposition within said housing for establishing electrical contact with said voltage limiting means when only overvoltage protection is to be provided in connection with said equipment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 words
A circuit protector for protecting equipment against overvoltage and overcurrent conditions, comprising: a housing comprising an upper body portion and a lower body portion; voltage limiting means and current limiting means for disposition within said upper body portion of said housing for protecting equipment against overvoltage and overcurrent conditions, respectively; first contact means for disposition within said housing for establishing electrical contact with said current limiting means and said voltage limiting means when overvoltage and overcurrent protection is to be provided in connection with said equipment, and for establishing electrical contact with said current limiting means when only overcurrent protection is to be provided in connection with said equipment; and second contact means for disposition within said housing for establishing electrical contact with said voltage limiting means when only overvoltage protection is to be provided in connection with said equipment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
A circuit protector as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said second contact means comprises a pair of vertically extending leg portions disposed substantially parallel to each other, a pair of horizontally extending portions disposed substantially parallel to each other and respectively connected to said pair of vertically extending leg portions, and a loop portion integrally connecting said pair of horizontally extending portions together.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A circuit protector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing includes a pair of co-mating front and back halves.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A circuit protector as claimed in claim 3, wherein: each one of said front and back halves of said housing includes handle means formed upon its top surface for facilitating handling, installation, and removal of said circuit protector with respect to said equipment being protected.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A circuit protector as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: a side ground contact disposed upon an external side wall of said housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A circuit protector as claimed in claim 5, further comprising: mounting means comprising fingers and tabs disposed upon said external side wall of said housing for retaining said side ground contact thereon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A circuit protector as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said voltage limiting means comprises a pair of voltage suppressors; and said current limiting means comprises a pair of sneak current fuses.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A circuit protector as claimed in claim 7, further comprising: a diode bridge rectifier electrically connected to said pair of voltage suppressors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A circuit protector as claimed in claim 7, wherein: said first contact means comprises a horizontal body portion, a lower leg portion, an upper leg portion, and an arcuate-shaped fuse-engaging portion, all integrally connected together.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
A circuit protector as claimed in claim 9, wherein: said lower body portion of said housing includes chamber means and a stem portion extending downwardly from said chamber means, said stem portion having a pair of opposed U-shaped recesses for retaining said lower leg portion of said first contact means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A circuit protector as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said voltage limiting means comprises a pair of voltage suppressors; and said current limiting means comprises a pair of sneak current fuses.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A communication circuit protector as claimed in claim 11, further comprising: a diode bridge rectifier electrically connected to said pair of voltage suppressors.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
64 words
A circuit protector as set forth in claim 11, wherein: said second contact means comprises a pair of vertically extending leg portions disposed substantially parallel to each other, a pair of horizontally extending portions disposed substantially parallel to each other and respectively connected to said pair of vertically extending leg portions, and a loop portion integrally connecting said pair of horizontally extending portions together.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A communication circuit protector as claimed in claim 11, wherein said housing means includes a pair of co-mating front and back halves.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
A communication circuit protector as claimed in claim 14, wherein: each one of said front and back halves of said housing means includes handle means formed upon its top surface for facilitating handling, installation, and removal of said circuit protector with respect to said connector block operatively associated with said telecommunication equipment being protected.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
A circuit protector as set forth in claim 11, further comprising: a side ground contact disposed upon an external side wall of said housing means for connection to one of a plurality of grounding tab members provided upon a grounding bar operatively mounted upon said connector block.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
A communication circuit protector as claimed in claim 13, further comprising: mounting means comprising fingers and tabs disposed upon said side wall of said housing means for retaining said side ground contact thereon.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
A communication circuit protector as claimed in claim 11, wherein: said voltage limiting means comprises a pair of voltage suppressors; and said current limiting means comprises a pair of sneak current fuses.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
A communication circuit protector as claimed in claim 18, wherein: said first contact means comprises a horizontal body portion, a lower leg portion, an upper leg portion, and an arcuate-shaped fuse-engaging portion, all integrally connected together.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
52 words
A communication circuit protector as claimed in claim 19, wherein: said lower terminal portion of said housing means includes chamber means and a stem portion extending downwardly from said chamber means, said stem portion having a pair of opposed U-shaped recesses for retaining said lower leg portion of said first contact means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-08-13 | 2000-02-12 | 2000-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-08-13 | 2004-02-12 | 2004-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-08-13 | 2008-02-12 | 2008-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |