Combination telephone network interface and cable television apparatus and cable television module

Claim 2

Apparatus for interconnecting incoming cable television signals to at least one television set, comprising: cable television module means including an electrically conductive ground bracket for being mounted to telephone network interface apparatus for connecting at least one incoming telephone line to at least one telephone subscriber's line, said telephone network interface apparatus including a base, a telephone company compartment portion, a telephone subscriber compartment portion and first ground connecting means for being connected to earth ground; said ground bracket including a first ground bracket portion and a second ground bracket portion, upon said ground bracket being mounted to said base of said telephone network interface apparatus, said first ground bracket portion residing in said telephone company compartment portion and said second ground bracket portion residing in said telephone subscriber compartment portion; said module means further including at least first coaxial cable connector means mounted to said first ground bracket portion and for being connected to a first coaxial cable carrying the incoming cable television signals, and at least second coaxial cable connector means mounted to said second ground bracket portion and for being connected to a second coaxial cable for carrying the incoming cable television signals to the television set, and interconnecting means interconnecting said first and second coaxial cable connector means to transmit the incoming cable television signals from said first coaxial cable connector means to said second coaxial cable connector means; said module means further including second ground connecting means connected to said ground bracket and for being connected to said first ground connecting means to connect said ground bracket and said first and second coaxial cable connector means to earth ground; and mounting means for mounting said ground bracket to said telephone network interface apparatus.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the telephone network interface apparatus includes terminal means mounted in said telephone subscriber compartment portion for being connected to the telephone subscriber's line, and wherein said module means further includes electrical insulation means mounted to and covering at least a portion of said second ground bracket portion to substantially prevent electrical contact between said terminal means and said ground bracket.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said second ground bracket portion includes at least an upper portion perpendicular to said first and second ground bracket portions upon said ground bracket being mounted to said base of said telephone network interface apparatus, and wherein said insulation means includes a cover of electrically insulative material covering said upper portion and mounted to said second ground bracket portion.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the telephone company compartment portion and the telephone subscriber compartment portion are generally separated by a dividing line, wherein the telephone network interface apparatus further includes first and second upwardly retaining members, said first retaining member generally disposed along said dividing line and said second retaining member spaced from said first retaining member and disposed generally parallel thereto and residing in said telephone subscriber compartment portion, wherein said mounting means include first and second engaging members provided on said cover of electrically insulative material for engaging said first and second retaining members to mount said second bracket portion in said telephone subscriber compartment portion and an outwardly extending tab provided on said first ground bracket portion for receiving a threaded member to mount said first ground bracket portion in said telephone company compartment portion.

Claim 6

Coaxial cable module for connecting coaxial cable signals from a signal source to a receiver of said coaxial cable signals, comprising: a generally longitudinally extending, electrically conductive ground bracket including first and second end portions; at least first coaxial cable connector means mounted to said first ground bracket portion and for being connected to a first coaxial cable carrying said coaxial cable signals and at least second coaxial cable connector means mounted to said second ground bracket portion for being connected to a second coaxial cable for carrying the coaxial cable signals to said receiver; interconnecting means interconnecting said first and second coaxial cable connector means to transmit the coaxial cable signals from said first coaxial cable connector means to said second coaxial cable connector means; and mounting means for mounting said ground bracket to support means for supporting said coaxial cable module.

Claim 7

Coaxial cable module for connecting coaxial cable signals from a signal source to a receiver of said coaxial cable signals, comprising: a generally longitudinally extending, electrically conductive ground bracket including first and second end portions; at least first coaxial cable connector means mounted to said first ground bracket portion and for being connected to a first coaxial cable carrying said coaxial cable signals and at least second coaxial cable connector means mounted to said second ground bracket portion for being connected to a second coaxial cable for carrying the coaxial cable signals to said receiver; interconnecting means interconnecting said first and second coaxial cable connector means to transmit the coaxial cable signals from said first coaxial cable connector means to said second coaxial cable connector means; and mounting means for mounting said ground bracket to support means for supporting said coaxial cable module.

Claim 8

The coaxial cable module according to claim 5 wherein said coaxial cable module further includes electrical insulation means mounted to and covering at least a portion of said second ground bracket portion to substantially prevent electrical contact between said second ground bracket portion and another electrically conductive member mounted to said support means.

Claim 9

The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said second ground bracket portion includes at least an upper portion perpendicular to said first and second ground bracket portions upon said ground bracket being mounted to said base of said telephone network interface apparatus, and wherein said insulation means includes a cover of electrically insulative material covering said upper portion and mounted to said second ground bracket portion.

Claim 10

Coaxial cable module for connecting coaxial cable signals from a signal source to a receiver of said coaxial cable signals, comprising: a ground bracket for being connected to earth ground; at least first and second coaxial cable connector means, one of said coaxial cable connector means mounted to and electrically connected to said ground bracket and for being connected to a first coaxial cable carrying said coaxial cable signals from said signal source and the other of said coaxial cable connector means for being connected to a second coaxial cable for carrying said coaxial cable signals to said receiver; interconnecting means interconnecting said first and second coaxial cable connectors to transmit said coaxial cable signals from said coaxial cable connector means connected to said first coaxial cable to said coaxial cable connector means connected to said second coaxial cable and for electrically interconnecting said other coaxial cable connector means to said one coaxial cable connector means to electrically connect said other coaxial cable connector means to said one coaxial cable connector means and thereby to said ground bracket; and mounting means for mounting said ground bracket to support means for supporting said coaxial cable module.

Claim 11

Coaxial cable module for connecting coaxial cable signals from a signal source to a receiver of said coaxial cable signals, comprising: a ground bracket for being connected to earth ground; at least first and second coaxial cable connector means, one of said coaxial cable connector means mounted to and electrically connected to said ground bracket and for being connected to a first coaxial cable carrying said coaxial cable signals from said signal source and the other of said coaxial cable connector means for being connected to a second coaxial cable for carrying said coaxial cable signals to said receiver; interconnecting means interconnecting said first and second coaxial cable connectors to transmit said coaxial cable signals from said coaxial cable connector means connected to said first coaxial cable to said coaxial cable connector means connected to said second coaxial cable and for electrically interconnecting said other coaxial cable connector means to said one coaxial cable connector means to electrically connect said other coaxial cable connector means to said one coaxial cable connector means and thereby to said ground bracket; and mounting means for mounting said ground bracket to support means for supporting said coaxial cable module.

Claim 12

The coaxial cable module according to claim 8 wherein said coaxial cable module further includes a cover of electrically insulative material mounted to and covering at least a portion of said ground bracket.

Claim 13

Combination apparatus for interconnecting at least one incoming telephone company line with at least one telephone subscriber line and for interconnecting incoming coaxial cable signals with a receiver of said incoming coaxial cable signals, comprising: a housing; telephone connecting apparatus mounted in said housing and for interconnecting said incoming telephone company line with said telephone subscriber line, and said telephone connecting apparatus including first ground connecting means for connecting said telephone connecting apparatus to earth ground; coaxial cable signal connecting apparatus mounted in said housing and for connecting said incoming coaxial cable signals to said receiver; and second ground connecting means for connecting said coaxial cable connecting apparatus to said first ground connecting means to connect said coaxial cable connecting apparatus to earth ground.

Claim 14

Combination apparatus for interconnecting at least one incoming telephone company line with at least one telephone subscriber line and for interconnecting incoming coaxial cable signals with a receiver of said incoming coaxial cable signals, comprising: a housing; telephone connecting apparatus mounted in said housing and for interconnecting said incoming telephone company line with said telephone subscriber line, and said telephone connecting apparatus including first ground connecting means for connecting said telephone connecting apparatus to earth ground; coaxial cable signal connecting apparatus mounted in said housing and for connecting said incoming coaxial cable signals to said receiver; and second ground connecting means for connecting said coaxial cable connecting apparatus to said first ground connecting means to connect said coaxial cable connecting apparatus to earth ground.

Claim 15

Combination apparatus for connecting at least one incoming telephone line to at least one telephone subscriber's line and for connecting incoming coaxial cable signals to a receiver of the coaxial cable signals, comprising: telephone network interface apparatus for connecting at least one incoming telephone line to the at least one telephone subscriber's line, said telephone network interface apparatus including a telephone company compartment portion, a telephone subscriber compartment portion, first ground connecting means for connecting said telephone network interface apparatus to earth ground, first coaxial cable access means for permitting at least a first coaxial cable carrying the incoming coaxial cable signals to be inserted therethrough and into said telephone company compartment portion, and second coaxial cable access means for permitting at least a second coaxial cable connected to the receiver of the coaxial cable signals to be inserted therethrough and into said telephone subscriber compartment portion to carry the coaxial cable signals to the receiver; coaxial cable module means mounted to said telephone network interface apparatus and including first and second module portions generally residing respectively in said telephone company compartment portion and said telephone subscriber compartment portion and said first and second module portions respectively disposed generally adjacent to and spaced from said first and second coaxial cable access means; first coaxial cable connector means mounted to said module means and second coaxial cable connector means mounted to said module means, said first coaxial cable connector means for being connected to said first coaxial cable and said second coaxial cable connector means for being connected to said second coaxial cable; interconnecting means interconnecting said first and second coaxial cable connector means to carry said incoming coaxial cable signals from said first coaxial cable connector means to said second coaxial cable connector means; second ground connecting means for being connected to said first ground connecting means to connect said first and said second coaxial cable connector means to earth ground; and mounting means for mounting said coaxial cable module means to said telephone network interface apparatus.

Claim 16

Combination apparatus for connecting at least one incoming telephone line to at least one telephone subscriber's line and for connecting incoming coaxial cable signals to a receiver of the coaxial cable signals, comprising: telephone network interface apparatus for connecting at least one incoming telephone line to the at least one telephone subscriber's line, said telephone network interface apparatus including a telephone company compartment portion, a telephone subscriber compartment portion, first ground connecting means for connecting said telephone network interface apparatus to earth ground, first coaxial cable access means for permitting at least a first coaxial cable carrying the incoming coaxial cable signals to be inserted therethrough and into said telephone company compartment portion, and second coaxial cable access means for permitting at least a second coaxial cable connected to the receiver of the coaxial cable signals to be inserted therethrough and into said telephone subscriber compartment portion to carry the coaxial cable signals to the receiver; coaxial cable module means mounted to said telephone network interface apparatus and including first and second module portions generally residing respectively in said telephone company compartment portion and said telephone subscriber compartment portion and said first and second module portions respectively disposed generally adjacent to and spaced from said first and second coaxial cable access means; first coaxial cable connector means mounted to said module means and second coaxial cable connector means mounted to said module means, said first coaxial cable connector means for being connected to said first coaxial cable and said second coaxial cable connector means for being connected to said second coaxial cable; interconnecting means interconnecting said first and second coaxial cable connector means to carry said incoming coaxial cable signals from said first coaxial cable connector means to said second coaxial cable connector means; second ground connecting means for being connected to said first ground connecting means to connect said first and said second coaxial cable connector means to earth ground; and mounting means for mounting said coaxial cable module means to said telephone network interface apparatus.

Claim 17

The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said coaxial cable module means includes a ground bracket comprising said second ground connecting means and a cover, said ground bracket including first and second portions generally residing respectively in said telephone company compartment portion and said telephone subscriber compartment portion, wherein said second coaxial cable connector means is mounted to said second portion of said ground bracket, and wherein said cover is mounted to said second portion of said ground bracket and resides in said telephone subscriber compartment portion.

Claim 18

The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said first coaxial cable connecting means is mounted to said first portion of said ground bracket and reside in said telephone company compartment portion.