AU5009099A - Communications line connection device - Google Patents

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Details of Associated Provisional Application(s) No(s): MADISON TECHNOLOGIES PTY LTD David Thomas Alexander Redfern Larry Vincent O'Toole

INTELLPRO

Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 7, Reserve Bank Building 102 Adelaide Street BRISBANE, QLD, 4000 (GPO Box 1339, BRISBANE, 4001) COMMUNICATIONS LINE CONNECTION DEVICE Australian Patent Application No. PP6239 filed 30 September 1998.

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: COMMUNICATIONS LINE CONNECTION DEVICE TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to a communications line connection device for connecting at least one communications service provider line and at least one subscriber line, and in particular but not limited to a communications line connection device having a communications service provider line connection module for connection to at least one service provider line and at least one subscriber line connection module for connection to at least one subscriber **equipment.

10 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Present wiring arrangement for telephone, cable TV and other communications service providers has the service provider lines terminating at an external wall of a building and a subscriber line connecting to each of the provider lines. Each subscriber line terminates at a socket connector for connection to a subscriber equipment and the socket connector is normally fixed to a wall in a room in the building. If more socket connectors are required then a line is looped from one socket connector to another socket connector.

In this wiring arrangement, if one of the upstream looping lines breaks subsequent subscriber equipment will not be able to receive signals from the service provider lines and will therefore be inoperable.

This wiring arrangement generally requires longer looping lines between socket connectors than direct connections from the service line terminal, especially where socket connectors are in opposite corners of the building.

It is therefore desired to have a connection device where all socket connectors are directly connected thereto. That is, a generally star of Y connection arrangement.

OBIECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to alleviate to at least some degree one or more of the prior art disadvantages OUTLINE OF THE INVENTION .r In one aspect therefore the present invention resides in a communications ine connection device for connecting at least one communications service provider 10 line to at least one subscriber line. The connection device comprises a casing °"having wal Is defining a chamber therein, a service provider line connection module and at least one subscriber line connection module positioned in the chamber.

'The provider connection module has one or more pair of connectors for connection with wires of said at least one service provider line and one or more pair of connectors for connection with jumper wires. The or each subscriber connection module has at least one pair of first connectors for connection to the jumper wires, at least one pair of second connectors for connection to paired wires of said at least one subscriber line, and connection paths for connecting the first and second connectors.

In preference at least one first opening is provided in the casing so that the or each service provider lines can enter the chamber through the first opening(s).

The casing may also have at least one second opening so that the or each subscriber lines can enter the chamber through the second opening(s).

Preferably the first and second openings are arranged in one wall of the casing and the service connector module is positioned adjacent to said one wall.

The device may have a mounting plate arranged in the chamber for mounting the service provider connection module and the or each subscriber connection module.

The mounting plate preferably includes fixing means for removably fixing the service provider modules and the or each subscriber connection module *-thereon.

The connection paths may be arranged so that a pair of the first connectors are connected to a corresponding pair or a plurality of pairs of the second connectors.

In preference the connection paths are formed on a printed circuit board.

It is also preferred that at least a part of the first and second connectors is formed on the printed circuit board.

The casing may have a cover movable between an open position for access 9 to the chamber and to a closed position for closing access to the chamber.

A latching or locking arrangement may be provided for maintaining the cover in the closed position.

Desirably the casing has a removable blocking plate arranged for blocking access to the service provider module. The blocking plate may be formed as a part of the cover or a separate part movable independently of the cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the present invention can be more readily understood and put into practical effect the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate non limiting embodiments of the invention, and wherein: Figure 1 is a plan view of the device according to one embodiment of the present invention with its cover in an open position; Figure 2 is a schematic view showing the mounting arrangement for the connection modules; Figure 3 shows the device shown in Figure 1 with line wires connected in place; and Figure 4 shows a plan view of the device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 15 Referring to the drawings and initially to Figure 1 there is shown a communications line connection device 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The device 10 has a casing body 12, a cover 14 hingedly fixed to the body 12, and service provider line connection module 16 and an array of six subscriber line connection modules 18 fixed to a mounting plate 20 positioned in a chamber 22 in the body 12.

As can be seen more clearly in Figure 2, the provider connection module 16 has slots 24 for cooperating with upturned tangs 26 on the mounting plate 20 when 6 fixing the module 16 on the plate 20. The plate 20 also has L-shaped support parts 28 and a T-shaped support part 30 arranged to support an array of 3 x 2 subscriber connection modules 18 which are fixed thereto by screws 32.

As can be seen each module 18 has opposed first and second connectors 44, 52 mounted on a printed circuit board 60 which has connection paths (not shown) arranged for connecting the connectors 44, 52.

Referring again to Figure 1 and also to Figure 3, the provider line connection I*II module 16 has 8 pairs of service line connectors 36 and 8 pairs of corresponding connectors 38 for jumper wires 34. Holes 13 are formed in one end wall of body 12 for lines to enter and exit the chamber.

As shown service lines 40 having 3 pairs of wires 42 are connected to service connectors 36 labelled for lines 1 to 3.

The jumper wires 34 connect the corresponding jumper connectors 38 for lines 1 to 3 to the first connector pair 44 of each of three separate subscriber connection module 18.

Each subscriber connection module 18 as connected allows up to four subscriber equipment to be connected to each service provider line 1,2 3 by means of pairs of wires 48 of subscriber lines 50 connected to second connector pairs 52.

The device 10 as described above allows direct connection of each connection socket (not shown) for a subscriber equipment to a pair of second connectors 52 i a star or Y wiring arrangement. Printed circuit paths (not shown) on the board 60 connects each service line to any of the four available equipment sockets.

Figure 4 shows an embodiment where the casing 12 is relatively larger and has room for expansion. The modules, 16 and 18 are also arranged off the wall when the openings are located.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the present invention many variations and modifications thereto will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the invention as herein set forth.

Claims (11)

1. A communications line connection device for connecting at least one communications service provider line to at least one subscriber line, the connection device comprises a casing having walls defining a chamber therein, a service provider line connection module and at least one subscriber line connection module positioned in the chamber; the provider connection module having one or more pair of connectors for connection with wires of said at least one service provider line and one or more pair of connectors for connection with jumper wires; the or each subscriber connection module having at least one pair of first connectors for connection to the jumper wires, at least one pair of second connectors for connection to paired wires of said at least one subscriber line; and connection paths for connecting the first and second connectors.

2. The connection device according to claim 1 wherein at least one first opening is provided in the casing so that the or each service provider lines can enter the chamber through the first opening(s).

3. The connection device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the casing may also have at least one second opening so that the or each subscriber lines can enter the chamber through the second opening(s).

4. The connection device according to claim 3 wherein the first and second openings are arranged in one wall of the casing and the service connector module is positioned adjacent to said one wall. The connection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the device having a mounting plate arranged in the chamber for mounting the service provider connection module and the or each subscriber connection module.

6. The connection device according to claim 5 wherein the mounting plate including fixing means for removably fixing the service provider module and the or each subscriber connection module thereon.

7. The connection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the connection paths are arranged so that a pair of the first connectors are connected to a corresponding pair or a plurality of pairs of the second connectors. 10 8. The connection device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the S"connection paths are formed on a printed circuit board.

9. The connection device according to claim 8 wherein at least a part of the first and second connectors is formed on the printed circuit board. °ole 9 The connection device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the r4 15 casing having a cover movable between an open position for allowing access to the chamber and to a closed position for closing access to the chamber.

11. The connection device according to claim 10 wherein a latching or locking arrangement is provided for maintaining the cover in the closed position.

12. The connection device according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the casing having a removable blocking plate arranged for blocking access to the service provider module.

13. The connection device according to any one of claims 10 to 12 wherein the blocking plate is formed as a part of the cover or a separate part movable independently of the cover.

14. A communications line connection device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. DATED this 2 2 nd day of September 1999 MADISON TECHNOLOGIES PTY LTD S 10 By their Patent Attorneys INTELLPRO a.