CA1113561A - Modular connecting blocks - Google Patents

Abstract

MODULAR CONNECTING BLOCKS

Abstract of the Disclosure A modular connecting block comprising a block of insul-ating material having a plurality of apertures therein, each ap-erture having inserted therein a plurality of flat elongated con-ductive elements, the elements including at least one pair of op-posing contact fingers which protrude upwardly from and are inte-gral with a base portion of the elements, the contact fingers ex-tending through said apertures to allow for connection of wires to the elements, the elements including a tang which is integral with and extends from the base of the element. The modular con-necting block may be prewired and includes a plurality of conduc-tive circuits which connect the tangs to various contact points which are positioned external to the block. In another embodi-ment of the invention the block comprises a parallelepiped hav-ing a projecting edge along the bottom of, one longitudinal side thereof. The projecting edge is interrupted at a predetermined distance from one end thereof by a recess and at the same dis-tance from the other end by a securing protrusion. The width of the recess is at least as great as the width of the securing pro-trusion so that when such two blocks are placed with their pro-jecting edges in face-to-face contact, the protrusion of one will mate with the recess of the other.

Description

mis application is a division of Application Ser. No.
325,871, filed on April 19, 1979.
Background of the Invention (1) Field of the Invention This invention relates to a modular ~uick connect terminal block that is small and easily mounted. More partic-ularly, the invention relates to a quick connect terminal block C~ which may be prewired and used as a junction box for telephones.

(2) Description of the Prior Art Terminal connecting blocks are used extensively in the fields of electronics and communication. For example, they are used by the telephone industry in distribution cabinets for connecting conductors in a cable from an exchange to other conductors extending to various stations within a building.
When a number of telephones are connected in a building, a person installing the telephones must connect an outside cable to conductors extending to various telephones within the building. The present method of installing telephones comprises manually securing the various wires in the outside cable to a distribution cabinet associated with the building. The wires from the telephones within the building are also manually con-nected to the distribution cabinet. In the distribution cabinet, the wires running to the telephones must be connected to the wires from the incoming cable. This type of connection requires a trained telephone installment person who knows which line from the cable to connect to the other lines directed to the tele-phones within the building. It should be understood that this process of connecting the telephones to the cable via distribu-tion cabinet is a time consumins task which is desirable accom-plished by a skilled technician.

One type of terminal connecting block as disclosed inU. S. Patent No. 3,234,498 comprises a plurality of connector elements arranged in spaced side-by-side rows of terminals in a connector block. Each element comprises a plurality of connec-tors joined together at a base portion. Each of the connectorsis of the insulation penetrating type, i.e., the insulation on an electrical connecting,wire is sheared when the wire is in-serted in the conductor. U. S. Patent No. 3,496,522 discloses ' interfitted conducting block modules containing insulation pene-trating clips. The modules are constructed to facilitate piggy-back stacking.
My U. S. Patent No. 3,836,9,42, issued September 17, 1974 discloses and claims a separable electrical connector which permits a large number of additional electrical conductors to be connected to a terminal block containing clip-type electrical i connectors without increasing the size of the block. The sep-arable connector comprises a flat, elongate, electrically con-ductive element and a dielectric retaining member for holding the electrically conductive element in contact with the upper portions of laterally adjacent electrical connectors which pro-ject upwardly from a terminal block. The conductive element comprises a flat base portion and at least one, e.g., one or two, pair of opposing contact fingers which project upwardly '' from the base portion and are integral with the base portion.
The adjacent edge portions of the contact fingers are adapted to receive an electrical conductor therebetween. The retaining member comprises a casing which encloses a portion of the elec-trically conductive element. The top portions of the opposing contact fingers project above the casing so that an electrical conductor may be inserted between the opposing fingers. This device is intended for use only in connection with an already in-stalled connecting block.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a modular quick connect terminal block that may be prewired so that ' 35 the wires of an incoming cable may be quickly mounted to the block in such a manner,that the wires of the cable are associated properly with the various telephones in a building.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a modular quick connect terminal block that is small, easily mounted and can be fit into console wiring where a rack or panel mounted block is very often needed, and which does not require that it be mounted in connection with an already installed connecting block.
In accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention, a modular connecting block of the type which inter-faces between an incoming telephone cable and at least one telephone station including connection wires and which is capable of being prewired, comprises: an upper block portion comprising an insulating material including a plurality of apertures thexein, the apertures having inserted therein a plurality of flat elongated conductive elements, the elements including at least one pair of opposing contact fingers which protrude upwardly from and are integral with a base portion of the element, said contact fingers allowing for the imposi-tion of the station wires, the contact fingers extending through said apertures, each element including a tang which is integral with and which extends from the base of the element, base means including a plurality of connection means for connection to the incoming cable, circuitry means for connecting said connection means to said tangs; and means for securing said upper block to said base.
The invention will be more particularly described ~ with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
; FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a modular block containing a plurality of electrical conductive elements.
FIGU~E 2 is a front elevational view of the block.

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FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view of the block.
FIGURE 4 is a bottom plan view of the block.
- FIGURE 5 is a rear elevational view of the block.
FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of two interconnected blocks secured to a section of a panel.
FIGURE 7 is an end or side elevational view correspond-ing to FIGURE 6.
FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of one of the flat, - elongate electrically conductive elements.
FIGURE 9 shows an upper front perspective view of a prewired modular connecting block.
FIGURE 10 shows-a top plan view of the base shown in FIGURE 9.
FIGURE 11 shows a schematic of an alternative circuit connection for the base shown in FIGURE 10.
C J FIGURE 12 shows a schematic of another alternative cir-cuit connection for the base shown in FIGURE 10.
FIGURE 13 shows a top plan view of a printed circuit board which can be fitted to the circuit block shown in FIGURE 4.
FIGURE 14 shows an upper front perspective view of modular circuit block of the type including a printed circuit board.

Detailed Description of the Invention Turning more particularly to FIG~RES 1-5, there is shown a modular block 10 which may be formed of a suitable di-electric or electrical insulating material such as a phenol-formaldehyde resin or a polyvinyl resin. The block contains a conventional fanning strip 11 which projects upwardly along one longitudinal side of the top 12 of the block 10. The block 10 -contains a number of parallel slots 14 which extend through the main portion of block 10 to but not through the bottom 16. Reg-istering with each slot 14 are three spaced apart openings 18 which extend through the bottom 16.
Each of the slots 14 contains one or two flat, elon-gate electrically conductive elements, shown in detail in 5~.~

FIGURE 8. The elements may be constructed of any suitable resi-lient conducting material such as phosphorbronze, beryllium cop-per or other known metal alloy. Each electrically conductive ele-ment 20 includes at least one pair of opposing contact fingers 23 and 24 which are joined at one end to a base portion 25. Each pair of opposing contact fingers 23 and 24 form a pair of mutu-ally opposed edges which shear the insulation from an electrical conductor inserted therebetween. Between these mutually opposed edges and above the base portion 25 are slots.
Extending perpendicular to the base portion 25 is a tang 26. In the embodiment shown, there is a protuberance 28 on the tang 26 situated just below the bottom of the base portion 25. The protuberance 28 serves to hold the electrically con-ductive element tightly in place in the block 10. Thus, when the electrically conductive element is inserted into the block, the tang 26 is pushed through one of the openings 18 in the bottom 16. The openings 18 are slightly smaller than the diameter of the protuberance 28 and the plastic surrounding the opening 18 is resiliently deformed as the protuberance 28 passes there-through. After the protuberance 28 has passed through the open-ing, the sides of the opening 18 engage the protuberance and hold the conductive element tightly in place. It will be appre-ciated that this means for securing an electrically conductive element in place may be used in other types of blocks wherein ; 25 a tang extends through the base of the block such as shown in Canadian Patent 1,019,041.
Rather than have the conductive elements secured in place by means of the protuberance 28, they may also be held in place by having the openings 18 tightly engage that portion of the tang adjacent the base portion 25.
The tangs 26 provide tails which may be wire wrapped to allow for electrical connection between the tangs. If a wire wrap tail is not required, tangs 26 may be clipped off at the base or at protuberance 28. Alternatively, the electrically con-ductive element 20 may be supplied without tangs 26 in which casethe elements 20 may be held in place by frictional engagement with the sides of the slots 14 at the base area at 25.

_ 5 --.. : -In the embodiment shown, the conductive element com-prises two pairs of fingers joined together at a common ~ase portion 25. However, the pairs of fingers may be independent of one another at base area 25 in which case each pair of fingers S would have a tang extending from the base portion 25 so that there would then be two rows of tangs independent of each other instead of one-as shown in FIGURES 3 and 7.
Each block 10 contains a longitudinally extending front portion 30. Extending the length of the front 30 and located at the bottom thereof is a projecting edge 32. At a predetermined distance from one end of the edge 32 it is interrupted by a recess 34 and~at the same distance from the other end the edge contains a protruding securing means 36 containing a hole 37.
The width of the recess 34 is at least as great as the width of lS the securing means 36 so that when two blocks 10 are placed with C i the projecting edges 32-32 in face-to-face contact, the securing means 36 of one will fit into the recess 34 of the other as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7. As best shown in FIGVRE 2, the top of the securing means 36 is spaced below the top of the edge 32 so that when a screw is placed through the hole 37, the head of the screw will not extend above the top of the edge 32.
The back 38 of the block 30 has a projecting edge 40.
Near each end of the edge 40 are protruding securing means 42 containing holes 44. The block may be secured to a panel 48, shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, by means of screws 50. When two blocks are placed with their projecting edges 32-32 in face-to-face con-tact, with the securing means 36 of one fitting into the recess 34 of the other, there is hereby provided a compact interlocking of the two blocks. Above the facing edges 32-32, there is a channel 52 which provides support for and storage space for a conductor cable and/or electrically conductive wires.
The bottom 16 of the block 10 also contains two rear mounting holes 46 for rack mounting. Thus, these holes may be ~, used to mount the modular blocks of this invention on a panel such as disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 3,846,590, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, or on any other type of panel wherein there is easy access to the back side of ' the panel. These holes are also provided to accept a printed , ~ -- ,.

circuit board that can be screwed on base of block, making contact with preinstalled conductive elements at the tang 26 thus creating a precircuited unit.
This invention fulfills the growing need for quick connect blocks that are small, easily mounted and can be fit into console wiring where a rack or panel mounted block is very often needed. The combination of two of these blocks in inter-locking relationship permits the addition of a maximum number of connectors in a minimum amount of space.
FIGURE 9 shows a prewired modular connecting block 51 including an upper block portion 52 and a base 53. Upper block portion 52 is a block of a type similar to that described with respect to FIGURES 1-8. The circuit block shown in FIGURE 9 differs from the previously described circuit blocks in that the conductive element 20 shown in FIGURE 8 is no longer used.
Rather, circuit block 51 includes at least two rows of indepen-dent elements 54 and 55. If element 20 shown in FIGURE 8 were cut at its base to sever the left hand portion of the element, an independent element such as elements 54 and 55 would be pro-vided. Base 53 includes a plurality of connectors 56, 57, 58 ~ -and 59 which allow for connection of wires from a cable. The base also includes attachment holes 60 and 61 which allow the base 53 to be attached to a supporting surface such as the wall of a building. The opposite side of the base includes secure-ment holes 62 and 63 which serve the same purpose as holes 60 and 61.
As best shown in FIGURE 10, base S3 includes three at-tachment holes 64, 65 and 66 which align with protruding securing means 42 and a securing protrusion 36 which is not shown in FIGURE 9 but which is shown in FIGURE 4. Base 53 includes a rectangular recess 67. Protruding upwardly from recess 67 are two parallel walls 68 and 69 which prevent the movement of the tangs of elements 54 and 55 outwardly with respect to one another when the upper portion 52 is secured to base 53. If the tangs from elements 54 and 55 are allowed to move outwardly with res-pect to one another, the contact fingers of the respective ele-ments may touch, thus making an undesirable electrical contact or short circuit. As shown in FIGURE 10, the tangs of elements 54 and 55 allow for connection of wires by a conventional wire wrap technique. Connectors 56, 57, 58 and 59 are preferably - made of metal and have extending therefrom wires which are wire wrapped to various tangs. It should also be understood that the tangs can be wired with respect to one another in any desired manner. Thus, as can be seen in FIGURES 10, 11 and 12, block 53 can be wired in any manner desired. The abbreviations T, R, L, LG and G as shown in FIGURES 10, 11 and 12, are conventional abbreviations for tip, ring, light, lightground and ground. It should be understood that the circuit patterns shown are exem-plary of the many possible prewired circuit patterns. A techni-cian installing a modular connecting block can choose from any number of different prewired blocks to avoid wiring the bloc~ in the field. Base 53 also includes access gaps 71 and 72 ~hich match with access gaps on the bottom of upper portion 51. Gaps 71 and 72 provide a space for wire wrapped tails.
FIGURE 14 shows a prewired modular connecting block wherein rather than using individual wires to connect the tangs, a printed circuit board is used. The upper portion 52 of the circuit block is modified to provide a gap 73 which allows for tongue 74 of printed circuit board 75 to protrude therethrough.
Printed circuit board 75 fits within the upper portion 52. More particularly, printed circuit board 75 fits within a recess de-fined by an outer edge similar to edge 32 as described with res-pect to FIGURE 4. As shown in FIGURES 13 and 14, printed circuit board 75 includes a plurality of contacts 76, 77, 78 and 79 which may be connected to a cable. Circuit board 75 also in-cludes a plurality of apertures 80 which allow for the interfit-ting of tangs of elements 54 and 55. Connectors 76, 77, 78 and 79 may be connected to the printed circuitry 81 in the patterns shown in FIGURES 11, 12 or 13 or in any other desired pattern.
With the use of printed circuit board 75, securement means 46 as shown in FIGUR~ 4 may be omitted so that a circuit board 75, hav-ing a generally rectangular shape, may be fitted within the recess defined by edge 32 as shown in FIGURE 4.
FIGURE 14 shows a manner in which printed circuit board 75 is secured to upper portion 52. Retainer plate 82 has a gen-erally planar surface which abuts the edge of upper portion 52.

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Retainer plate 82 is provided with securement means 83 which align with securement means 42. When retainer plate 82 is af-fixed to upper portion 52, printed circuit board 75 is firmly maintained in place and connected to elements 54 and 55. With the prewired circuit block shown in FIGURE 14, apertures 72 and 71 may be omitted.
Also, as shown in FIGURE 14, the circuit blocks o the present invention may optionally include cover 84 which is shaped to fit over elements 55 and 56 so as to protect these elements from moisture and debris. Protruding downwardly from cover 84 is a retaining arm 85 which includes retaining lip 86. Retain-ing arm 85 fits-through a-gap similar to the gap 34 shown in FIGURE 4 and retaining lip 86 releasably engages the edge pro-vided by the gap.
,15 While preferred embodiments have been shown and des-( i cribed, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the in-vention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.

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Claims (9)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:-

1. A modular connecting block of the type which inter-faces between an incoming telephone cable and at least one telephone station including connection wires and which is cap-able of being prewired, the block comprising:
an upper block portion comprising an insulating mater-ial including a plurality of apertures therein, the apertures having inserted therein a plurality of flat elongated conduc-tive elements, the elements including at least one pair of op-posing contact fingers which protrude upwardly from and are in-tegral with a base portion of the element, said contact fingers allowing for the imposition of the station wires, the contact fingers extending through said apertures, each element includ-ing a tang which is integral with and which extends from the base of the element;
base means including a plurality of connection means for connection to the incoming cable;
circuitry means for connecting said connection means to said tangs; and means for securing said upper block to said base.

2. A modular connecting block as defined in claim 1 wherein said flat elongated conductive elements have one pair of opposing contact fingers, and said elements are aligned in at least two parallel rows.

3. A connecting block as defined in claim 2 wherein said base includes a recess and said recess has two parallel walls extending therefrom, said walls being adjacent said tangs to prevent outward movement of the tangs with respect to each other.

4. A connecting block according to claim 1 and further including a detachable cover, said cover including downwardly depending retaining arm, and said upper block portion including an aperture adapted to mate with said retaining arm to releas-ably engage said cover.

5. A connecting block according to claim 1 wherein said base includes a printed circuit board.

6. A connecting block according to claim 5 wherein said upper block portion includes an edge defining a recess in the upper block portion, said edge including a gap to allow for the protrusion of a tongue on said printed circuit board, said prin-ted circuit board being fitted within said recess, and said tongue of the printed circuit board extending through the gap of the edge.

7. A connecting block according to claim 6 wherein said elements include one pair of opposing contact fingers and said elements are aligned in at least two parallel rows.

8. A connecting block according to claim 7 and further including a detachable cover, said cover including downwardly depending retaining arm, and-said upper block portion including an aperture adapted to mate with said retaining arm to releas-ably engage said cover.

9. A connecting block according to claim 8 wherein said base includes a recess and said recess has two parallel walls extending therefrom, said walls being adjacent said tangs to pre-vent outward movement of the tangs with respect to each other.