US5588869A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Telecommunications terminal block
Assignee: Tyco International Ltd Bermuda
•
Filing: 1995-05-01
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Granted: 1996-12-31
•
Expires: 2015-05-01
Abstract
Abstract A terminal block for interconnecting conductors in telecommunications circuits is disclosed. The terminal block allows a plurality of telecommunication wires to be progressively connected to a connector member. The terminal block includes a conductor transporting driver module having passageways that customer wires and service wires are inserted into and a connector chamber housing two insulation displacing connector members for the tip and ring lines. Wires are connected to the connector member progressively through a cyclical motion of the driver module relative to the connector members along a path of travel having an angle relative to a mounting surface which facilitates easy access to both wires and a threaded fastener actuating the driver module even in the most demanding telecommunications housing environments.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael L. Jensen
- 👤 George D. Summers, Jr.
- 👤 Thomas M. Baum
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 20:09
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R4/00; H01R4/24; H01R4/2416; H01R4/242; H01R4/2425; H01R4/2429; H01R4/2433; H01R4/2404; H01R4/2408; H04; H04Q; H04Q1/00; H04Q1/02; H04Q1/023; H04Q1/028; H04Q1/14; H04Q1/141; H04Q1/142; H01R13/00; H01R13/66; H01R13/665; H01R13/6666
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A telecommunications terminal block for interconnecting first wires and a second wire, comprising: a base; a connector member carried by said base, said connector member having one or more first wire receiving means for receiving and establishing electrical connection with respective ones of said first wires, and also having a second wire receiving means for receiving and establishing electrical connection with said second wire; wire termination means mounted upon and movable at an angle within the range of approximately 300°-75° relative to a bottom plane of said base for effecting progressive electrical connection of desired ones of said first wires to said connector member without disconnecting the electrical connection of any other of said first wires which were previously connected to said connector member by said wire termination means and disconnecting the electrical connection of said second wire to said connector member; and drive means for imparting such movement to said wire termination means, said drive means being accessible from a direction oblique to the direction from which said wires access said wire receiving means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
A telecommunications terminal block for interconnecting first wires and a second wire, comprising: a base; a connector member carried by said base, said connector member having one or more first wire receiving means for receiving and establishing electrical connection with respective ones of said first wires, and also having a second wire receiving means for receiving and establishing electrical connection with said second wire; wire termination means mounted upon and movable at an angle within the range of approximately 300°-75° relative to a bottom plane of said base for effecting progressive electrical connection of desired ones of said first wires to said connector member without disconnecting the electrical connection of any other of said first wires which were previously connected to said connector member by said wire termination means and disconnecting the electrical connection of said second wire to said connector member; and drive means for imparting such movement to said wire termination means, said drive means being accessible from a direction oblique to the direction from which said wires access said wire receiving means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A terminal block as in claim 1, wherein said first wires are customer wires, and said second wire is a service wire.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A terminal block as in claim 1, wherein said first wires and said second wire are insulated and said connector member is an insulation displacing connector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A terminal block as in claim 1, wherein said drive means includes a threaded fastener.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A terminal block as in claim 1, and further including a surge protector within said base.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
180 words
A telecommunications terminal block for interconnecting first wires and a second wire, comprising: a base: a connector member carried by and extending upwardly from said base, said connector member having one or more first wire receiving means for receiving and establishing electrical connection with respective ones of said first wires, and also having a second wire receiving means for receiving and establishing electrical connection with said second wire; wire termination means mounted upon and movable relative to said base for effecting progressive electrical connection of desired ones of said first wires to said connector member without disconnecting the electrical connection of any other of said first wires which were previously connected to said connector member by said wire termination means, and disconnecting the electrical connection of said second wire to said connector member, said wire transporting means including a connector chamber housing said connector member and said connector chamber having an open test port adjacent an upper end thereof; and a conductive extension element electrically connected to said connector member and extending therefrom to a location adjacent said test port.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
180 words
A telecommunications terminal block for interconnecting first wires and a second wire, comprising: a base: a connector member carried by and extending upwardly from said base, said connector member having one or more first wire receiving means for receiving and establishing electrical connection with respective ones of said first wires, and also having a second wire receiving means for receiving and establishing electrical connection with said second wire; wire termination means mounted upon and movable relative to said base for effecting progressive electrical connection of desired ones of said first wires to said connector member without disconnecting the electrical connection of any other of said first wires which were previously connected to said connector member by said wire termination means, and disconnecting the electrical connection of said second wire to said connector member, said wire transporting means including a connector chamber housing said connector member and said connector chamber having an open test port adjacent an upper end thereof; and a conductive extension element electrically connected to said connector member and extending therefrom to a location adjacent said test port.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A terminal block as in claim 6, wherein said conductive extension element is connected to said test port.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A terminal block as in claim 6, wherein said first wires are customer wires, and said second wire is a service wire.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A terminal block as in claim 6, wherein said first wires and said second wire are insulated and said connector member is an insulation displacing connector.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
236 words
A telecommunications terminal block for interconnecting first wires and a second wire, comprising: a base; a connector member carried by and extending upwardly from said base, said connector member having one or more first wire receiving means for receiving and establishing electrical connection with respective ones of said first wires, and also having a second wire receiving means for receiving and establishing electrical connection with said second wire; a wire transporting driver module mounted upon said base for movement between a lower position adjacent said base, an upper position distal from said base, and a wire receiving position intermediate said lower position and said upper position; said driver module having driver means for electrically connecting and disconnecting said first wires and said second wire to said connector member; and wherein in said upper position of said driver module said driver means disconnects the electrical connection of all of said first wires and said second wire to said connector member, in said wire receiving position said driver means disconnects the electrical connection of said second wire to said connector member and any of said first wires having an electrical connection which was previously established with said connector member by said driver module remain in electrical connection with said connector member, and in said lower position of said driver module said driver means electrically connects each of said first wires and said second wire to said connector member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
236 words
A telecommunications terminal block for interconnecting first wires and a second wire, comprising: a base; a connector member carried by and extending upwardly from said base, said connector member having one or more first wire receiving means for receiving and establishing electrical connection with respective ones of said first wires, and also having a second wire receiving means for receiving and establishing electrical connection with said second wire; a wire transporting driver module mounted upon said base for movement between a lower position adjacent said base, an upper position distal from said base, and a wire receiving position intermediate said lower position and said upper position; said driver module having driver means for electrically connecting and disconnecting said first wires and said second wire to said connector member; and wherein in said upper position of said driver module said driver means disconnects the electrical connection of all of said first wires and said second wire to said connector member, in said wire receiving position said driver means disconnects the electrical connection of said second wire to said connector member and any of said first wires having an electrical connection which was previously established with said connector member by said driver module remain in electrical connection with said connector member, and in said lower position of said driver module said driver means electrically connects each of said first wires and said second wire to said connector member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
A terminal block as in claim 10, further including position signaling means associated with said wire transporting driver module for notifying a craftsperson when said wire transporting driver module is in said wire receiving position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A terminal block as in claim 10, wherein said driver means includes a threaded fastener.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A terminal block as in claim 12, wherein said threaded fastener only moves said wire transporting driver module between said lower position and said wire receiving position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A terminal block as in claim 13, wherein said wire transporting driver module may be manually moved between said wire receiving position and said upper position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
172 words
A telecommunications terminal block for interconnecting first wires and a second wire, comprising: a base; a connector member carried by and extending upwardly from said base, said connector member having one or more first wire receiving means for receiving and establishing electrical connection with respective ones of said first wires, and also having a second wire receiving means for receiving and establishing electrical connection with said second wire; wire termination means mounted upon and movable relative to said base between first and second positions for effecting progressive electrical connection of additional ones of said first wires to said connector member without disconnecting the electrical connection of any other of said first wires which were previously connected to said connector member by said wire termination means, and in said second position disconnecting the electrical connection of said second wire to said connector member; and said wire termination means being movable to a third position which disconnects the electrical connection of all of said first wires and said second wire from said connector member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
172 words
A telecommunications terminal block for interconnecting first wires and a second wire, comprising: a base; a connector member carried by and extending upwardly from said base, said connector member having one or more first wire receiving means for receiving and establishing electrical connection with respective ones of said first wires, and also having a second wire receiving means for receiving and establishing electrical connection with said second wire; wire termination means mounted upon and movable relative to said base between first and second positions for effecting progressive electrical connection of additional ones of said first wires to said connector member without disconnecting the electrical connection of any other of said first wires which were previously connected to said connector member by said wire termination means, and in said second position disconnecting the electrical connection of said second wire to said connector member; and said wire termination means being movable to a third position which disconnects the electrical connection of all of said first wires and said second wire from said connector member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
A terminal block as in claim 15, wherein said first wires are customer wires, and said second wire is a service wire.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
A terminal block as in claim 15, wherein said first wires and said second wire are insulated and said connector member is an insulation displacing connector.
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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) | 1999-12-31 | 2000-07-01 | 2000-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-12-31 | 2004-07-01 | 2004-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-12-31 | 2008-07-01 | 2008-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |