Low profile telecommunications jack with lamp switch

Claim 2

A telecommunications apparatus for use with a signal lamp, the apparatus comprising: a jack including: jack body defining an IN port, an OUT port and a MONITOR port, and the ports being aligned along a vertical line with the OUT port positioned above the IN port and the MONITOR port positioned above the OUT port; a set of IN port spring contacts for contacting a plug inserted in the IN port; a set of OUT port spring contacts for contacting a plug inserted in the OUT port; a set of MONITOR port spring contacts for contacting a plug inserted in the MONITOR port; and a lamp switch for activating and de-activating the signal lamp, the lamp switch being positioned below the MONITOR port spring contacts and above the OUT port spring contacts.

Claim 3

The telecommunications apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lamp switch is a normally closed switch.

Claim 4

The telecommunications apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a spacer that engages at least one of the MONITOR port spring contacts and that holds the lamp switch in an open position when no plug is inserted in the MONITOR port.

Claim 5

The telecommunications apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the spacer is mounted on one of the MONITOR port spring contacts.

Claim 6

The telecommunications apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the lamp switch includes upper and lower spring contacts, and wherein the spacer is mounted on the lower spring contact.

Claim 7

The telecommunications jack of claim 3 , wherein the lamp switch defines upper and lower spring contacts, wherein the upper spring contact defines an opening, and wherein the spacer extends through the opening in the upper spring contact to engage the lower spring contact.

Claim 8

The telecommunications jack of claim 3 , wherein the lamp switch defines upper and lower spring contacts, wherein the lower spring contact includes an end portion having a portion that extends upwardly toward the MONITOR port spring contacts, and wherein the spacer is positioned between the end portion and one of the MONITOR port spring contacts.

Claim 9

The telecommunications jack of claim 3 , wherein the end portion of the lower spring contact includes an upper extension and a platform, and wherein the spacer is supported on the platform.

Claim 10

The telecommunications jack of claim 1 , wherein the lamp switch includes an upper spring contact and a lower spring contact, and wherein the jack includes an intermediate member that extends from one of the MONITOR port spring contacts to the lower spring contact for controlling whether the lamp switch is open or closed.

Claim 11

The telecommunications jack of claim 9 , wherein the intermediate member includes a link that pulls the lamp switch closed when a plug is inserted in the MONITOR port.

Claim 12

The telecommunications jack of claim 1 , further comprising a ramp structure positioned adjacent the MONITOR port for closing the lamp switch when a plug is inserted in the MONITOR port.

Claim 13

The telecommunications jack of claim 11 , wherein the lamp switch includes upper and lower spring contacts, and wherein the ramp structure is connected to the upper contact spring.

Claim 14

A telecommunications jack comprising: a jack body defining first, second and third ports positioned such that the second port is generally between the first and third ports; a first set of spring contacts positioned adjacent the first port; a second set of spring contacts positioned adjacent the second port; a third set of spring contacts positioned adjacent the third port; and a lamp switch positioned between the second and third sets of spring contacts.

Claim 15

A telecommunications jack comprising: a jack body defining first, second and third ports positioned such that the second port is generally between the first and third ports; a first set of spring contacts positioned adjacent the first port; a second set of spring contacts positioned adjacent the second port; a third set of spring contacts positioned adjacent the third port; and a lamp switch positioned between the second and third sets of spring contacts.

Claim 16

The telecommunications jack of claim 13 , wherein the first, second and third sets of springs are connected to the jack body.

Claim 17

The telecommunications jack of claim 13 , wherein the first, second and third sets of springs are arranged in a stacked relationship.

Claim 18

The telecommunications jack of claim 13 , wherein the first port is an IN port, the second port is an OUT port, and the third port is a MONITOR port.

Claim 19

The telecommunications apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the lamp switch is a normally closed switch.

Claim 20

The telecommunications apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising a spacer that engages at least one of the spring contacts of the third set of spring contacts, and that holds the lamp switch in an open position when no plug is inserted in the MONITOR port.

Claim 21

The telecommunications jack of claim 13 , wherein the lamp switch includes a first spring contact and a second spring contact, and wherein the jack includes an intermediate member for controlling whether the lamp switch is open or closed, the intermediate member extending from one of the spring contacts of the third set of spring contacts past the first spring contact to the second spring contact.

Claim 22

The telecommunication jack of claim 19 , wherein the intermediate member includes a link that pulls the lamp switch closed when a plug is inserted in the third port.

Claim 23

The telecommunications jack of claim 16 , further comprising a ramp structure positioned adjacent the MONITOR port for closing the lamp switch when a plug is inserted in the MONITOR port.

Claim 24

The telecommunications jack of claim 21 , wherein the lamp switch includes first and second spring contacts, and wherein the ramp structure is connected to one of the contact springs of the lamp switch.

Claim 25

A telecommunications apparatus comprising: A. a chassis having oppositely positioned first and second sides; B. a plurality of signal lamps positioned at the first side of the chassis; C. an IN/OUT panel including an array of IN and OUT connection locations positioned at the second side of the chassis; D. a cross-connect panel including an array of cross-connect connection locations positioned at the second side of the chassis; E. a plurality of jacks mounted in the chassis, each of the jacks including: i) ajack body defining a first port, a second port and a third port; ii) a first set of spring contacts positioned adjacent the first port; iii) a second set of spring contacts positioned adjacent second port; iv) a third set of spring contacts positioned adjacent the third port; and v) a lamp switch positioned between the second and third sets of spring contacts; F. the first sets of spring contacts being electrically connected to the cross-connect panel and the IN/OUT panel; G. the second sets of spring contacts being electrically connected to the cross-connect panel and the IN/OUT panel; H. the third sets of spring contacts being electrically connected to corresponding ones of the second sets of spring contacts such that signals transmitted through the second sets of spring contacts can be monitored by inserting plugs in the third ports; and I. the lamp switches being electrically connected to the signal lamps such that when each lamp switch is closed, a corresponding one of the light emitting diodes is activated, each lamp switch being configured to close when a plug is inserted in a corresponding one of the third ports.

Claim 26

A telecommunications apparatus comprising: A. a chassis having oppositely positioned first and second sides; B. a plurality of signal lamps positioned at the first side of the chassis; C. an IN/OUT panel including an array of IN and OUT connection locations positioned at the second side of the chassis; D. a cross-connect panel including an array of cross-connect connection locations positioned at the second side of the chassis; E. a plurality of jacks mounted in the chassis, each of the jacks including: i) ajack body defining a first port, a second port and a third port; ii) a first set of spring contacts positioned adjacent the first port; iii) a second set of spring contacts positioned adjacent second port; iv) a third set of spring contacts positioned adjacent the third port; and v) a lamp switch positioned between the second and third sets of spring contacts; F. the first sets of spring contacts being electrically connected to the cross-connect panel and the IN/OUT panel; G. the second sets of spring contacts being electrically connected to the cross-connect panel and the IN/OUT panel; H. the third sets of spring contacts being electrically connected to corresponding ones of the second sets of spring contacts such that signals transmitted through the second sets of spring contacts can be monitored by inserting plugs in the third ports; and I. the lamp switches being electrically connected to the signal lamps such that when each lamp switch is closed, a corresponding one of the light emitting diodes is activated, each lamp switch being configured to close when a plug is inserted in a corresponding one of the third ports.