CA1161917A - Modular block base and bracket assembly - Google Patents
Modular block base and bracket assemblyInfo
- Publication number
- CA1161917A CA1161917A CA000375071A CA375071A CA1161917A CA 1161917 A CA1161917 A CA 1161917A CA 000375071 A CA000375071 A CA 000375071A CA 375071 A CA375071 A CA 375071A CA 1161917 A CA1161917 A CA 1161917A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- mounting
- bracket
- side walls
- recesses
- spaced
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Landscapes
- Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
Abstract
Abstract of the Disclosure:
A modular block, base and bracket assembly is presented for effecting electrical interconnections. The bracket is configured to receive one entire block and part of another block so that brackets can be mounted in series whereby three blocks can be mounted on two brackets.
A modular block, base and bracket assembly is presented for effecting electrical interconnections. The bracket is configured to receive one entire block and part of another block so that brackets can be mounted in series whereby three blocks can be mounted on two brackets.
Description
g l 7 MODULAR BLOCK BASE AND BRACKET ASSEMBLY
Background of the Invention:
This invention relates to the field of terminal blocks, bases and brackets for electrical interconnectionO
More particularly, this invention relates to the field of terminal blocks and brackets used in effecting electrical interconnections in communications systems, particularly telephone communication systems.
Blocks, brackets, and block and bracket assemblies are, of course, well known in the telephone interconnect field. The typical approach is to design a bracket to either be wall mounted or to be mounted on a specific frame, and the bracket is typically designed to receive a single block. Greater flexibility of block and bracket arrangements-is highly desirable.
Summary of the Invention:
The bracket of the present invention is configured so that it can be mounted on frames of several different telephone s~stems; and it also can be wall or grid mounted;
and it can be mounted in a horizontal or vertical orienta-tion. The bracket of the present invention is alsoconfigured so that it mounts one entire block plus part of another block. Accordingly, the brackets are arranged in linear arrays so that two adjacent brackets receive and mount three blocks, or more than three blocks depending on the size and configuration of the blocks.
-- la -In accordance with a particular e~bodiment of the invention there is provided a mounting bracket for termi-nal blocks. The bracket includes a rear mounting surface and a pair of spaced apart side walls extending from the mounting surface. Three spaced recesses are disposed in the top surface of each of the side walls, and three tabs project inwardly on each of the side walls. A plurality of notches in each of the side walls terminate in a bevelled surface on the inner surface of the side wall.
Brief Description of the Drawings:
.
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several FIGURES:
FIGUR~ 1 is a perspective showing of the bracket of the present invention;
FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the bracket of FIGURE l;
FIGURE 3 is a side elevation~view of the bracket of FIGURE l;
FIGURE 3a shows an end view of the bracket of FIGURES 2 and 3;
FIGURE 4 shows a pair of brackets in an array, with blocks;
FIGURE 5 shows details of a modular arrangement of block, mounting base and bracket;
lS FIGURE 6 shows a mounting base for use with the bracket of the present invention;
FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of the base of FIGURE 6; and FIGURE 8 is a side elevation view of the base of FIGURE 6.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment:
Referring first to FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 3a, the mounting bracket 10 of the present invention has a mounting surface which is in the form of a "I" having a center strut 12 with end wings 14 and 16. Mounting holes 18 and 20 are formed in the center strut and end wings, respectively, so that bracket 10 can be mounted on a variety of standard mounting frames, such as Bell System mounting frames, independent telephone company mounting frames, or International Telephone and Telegraph "L" frames, or to walls or grids.
A pair of side walls 22 and 24 extend from the outer ends of the wings perpendicular to the plane of the mounting surface of bracket 10. These side walls are identical mirror images, so that details of only one wall will be described. The top surface of each side wall has a series of three recesses, 26, 28 and 30, each of which has a hole in the base to receive a threaded fastener for mounting of blocks. Tabs 32, 34 and 36 project inwardly from the side walls At each of the recesses 26, 28 and 30, and these tabs serve to lock into engagement with holes in a mounting base for a block (to be described hereinafter~
to lock a mounting base to the bracket. Each side wall also has a series of four openings or notches 38, and each opening or notch 38 terminates in a bevelled surface 40 on the inner wall of the hracke-t. The openings or notches 38 and bevelled surfaces 40 serve to receive a screwdriver or similar instrument to wedge the side walls 22 outwardly to disassemble a mounting base from the bracket if it is desired to remove a moun-ting base and block from a previously assembled configuration of block, base and bracket.
Referring to FIGURES 6, 7 and 8, the mounting base 42 of the present invention is shown; and a base and block are shown mounted on the bracket 10 of the present inven-tion in FIGURE 5. The mounting base 42 has a bottom surface 44. The bottom surface 44 of the mounting base has a series of four generally rectangular openings 48 into which can be mounted and secured unitary connectors .*_ such as Amphenol connectors for prewired connection to connector elements such as "66" type clips in a block to be mounted. The mounting base 42 also has a pair of end walls 50 and a pair of side walls 52. Each side wall 52 has a pair of openings or notches 54, and each side wall also has a pair of bevelled recesses 56.
As shown in FIGURE 5, a retainer plate `58 is fastened to the top of the mounting base, and the retainer cooperates with the openings or notches 54 to form locking notches for engagement with the tabs, such as tabs 32 and 34, of the bracket. The bevelled recesses 56 serve as camming surfaces. When the mounting base is inserted into the bracket to complete an assembly, such as shown in FIGVRE 5, the bevelled recesses 56 engage the -tabs 32 and 3~ to cam the side walls of the bracket outward so that the mounting base and block can be inserted into the bracket. As the mounting base moves further downward into the bracket, -the fQ~d ~
t 1~917 tabs 32 and 34 on the side walls of the bracket then engage the opening 54 formed ~etween the side walls of the mounting base and the retainer plate 58 to lock the base and block to the bracket.
Referring to FIGURE 5, an assembly is shown where an "M" type block 60 having "~6" type connectors 62 is shown mounted on a bracket of the presen~ invention along with a base 42 of the present invention. Retainer plate 58 is mounted to bracket 60 by suitable fasteners in a manner known in the art to retain an array of connectors 62. Retainer plate 58 is mounted to mounting base 42 by screw fastener 64 at four corners of the retainer plate. Retainer plate 58 has four wings 66 (two on each side) which fit into the mating recesses 26 and 28 on the side walls of the mounting bracket. The wings 66 have through holes to receive threaded fasteners (not shown) which will be threaded into the holes in the bases of recesses 26 and 8 to lock the retainer plate to the mounting bracket. Thus, the assembly o the block 60, the retainer plate 48 and the mounting base 42 are secured to the bracket in two ways, i.e., by the screw fasteners which engage the wings of the retainer plate to the side walls of the bracket and by the tabs on the side walls of j the bracket which engage the recesses 54 formed between the side walls of the base and the retainer plate. Also~
it will be noted that a modular assembly of a retainer plate and block can be secured to the mounting bracket even if a mounting base is not present, since the screw fastener engagement between the wings of the mounting plate and the recesses of the bracket side walls effect a secure mechanical connection.
Referring now to FIGURE 4, an illustration is shown of an array of the modular block and bracket structure of the present invention. FIGURE 4 shows a pair oE
brackets 10 mounted in a horizontal linear array, with the left bracket having a block (shown as a larger block than that in FIGURE 5) and retainer plate at the let - end of the bracket, and the ri~ht bracket being shown with ~ 16~9~7 ..
a similar mounting block and retainer plate at the right end of the bracket. As can best be seen in FIGU~ES 1, 2 and 3, the spacing between the recesses 26, 28 and 3n is not equal.
Recess 28 is spaced relatively far from recess 26 and rela-tively close to recess 30. The spacing between recesses 26and 28 is predetermined so as to be appropriate to receive the wings ~6 of the retainer plate for use in this modular assembly. The two bracke-ts shown in FIGURE 4 are arrayed so that they are rotated 180 with respect to each other. That is, the recesses 30 of each bracket are positioned at the adjacent ends of the brackets when they are aligned in the array. Another mounting block and retainer plate assembly may then be positioned between the blocks shown in FIGURE 4 so that the wings 66 of that third block and retainer plate assembly engage the recesses 30. In this way, three of the blocks may be mounted on two of the brackets, thus effecting considerable savings as well as ease of installation. In order to insure proper spacing between the adjacent brackets in the FIGURE 4 configuration, an appropriate retainer plate may be mounted with its wings in the recesses 30 to provide a mounting template to determine the proper spacing between the brackets. Alternatively, a supplemental spacer may be placed between the brackets to set the spacing.
When unitary connectors are mounted in the openings 48 of mounting base 42, the connectorized cables (cable and hood connector, not shown) which mates with the unitary connector will be in the space between center strut 12 of bracket 10 and the bottom of base 42. If the cables are mated to unitary connectors in the two center openings 48, strut 12 3~ prevents any disengagement (accidental or otherwise) of the cable or hood from the unitary connector. In order to prevent disengagement of the cable and hood from unitary connectors mounted in the outer openings 48, a pair of wings 12(a) extend from strut 12. These wings will overlap the cable and hood mated to unitary connectors in the outer openings 48 of the base 42. The wings 12(a) are shown in FIGURE 2.
~ ~6~917 , "
While preferred embodiments have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it will be under-stood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.
Background of the Invention:
This invention relates to the field of terminal blocks, bases and brackets for electrical interconnectionO
More particularly, this invention relates to the field of terminal blocks and brackets used in effecting electrical interconnections in communications systems, particularly telephone communication systems.
Blocks, brackets, and block and bracket assemblies are, of course, well known in the telephone interconnect field. The typical approach is to design a bracket to either be wall mounted or to be mounted on a specific frame, and the bracket is typically designed to receive a single block. Greater flexibility of block and bracket arrangements-is highly desirable.
Summary of the Invention:
The bracket of the present invention is configured so that it can be mounted on frames of several different telephone s~stems; and it also can be wall or grid mounted;
and it can be mounted in a horizontal or vertical orienta-tion. The bracket of the present invention is alsoconfigured so that it mounts one entire block plus part of another block. Accordingly, the brackets are arranged in linear arrays so that two adjacent brackets receive and mount three blocks, or more than three blocks depending on the size and configuration of the blocks.
-- la -In accordance with a particular e~bodiment of the invention there is provided a mounting bracket for termi-nal blocks. The bracket includes a rear mounting surface and a pair of spaced apart side walls extending from the mounting surface. Three spaced recesses are disposed in the top surface of each of the side walls, and three tabs project inwardly on each of the side walls. A plurality of notches in each of the side walls terminate in a bevelled surface on the inner surface of the side wall.
Brief Description of the Drawings:
.
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several FIGURES:
FIGUR~ 1 is a perspective showing of the bracket of the present invention;
FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the bracket of FIGURE l;
FIGURE 3 is a side elevation~view of the bracket of FIGURE l;
FIGURE 3a shows an end view of the bracket of FIGURES 2 and 3;
FIGURE 4 shows a pair of brackets in an array, with blocks;
FIGURE 5 shows details of a modular arrangement of block, mounting base and bracket;
lS FIGURE 6 shows a mounting base for use with the bracket of the present invention;
FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of the base of FIGURE 6; and FIGURE 8 is a side elevation view of the base of FIGURE 6.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment:
Referring first to FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 3a, the mounting bracket 10 of the present invention has a mounting surface which is in the form of a "I" having a center strut 12 with end wings 14 and 16. Mounting holes 18 and 20 are formed in the center strut and end wings, respectively, so that bracket 10 can be mounted on a variety of standard mounting frames, such as Bell System mounting frames, independent telephone company mounting frames, or International Telephone and Telegraph "L" frames, or to walls or grids.
A pair of side walls 22 and 24 extend from the outer ends of the wings perpendicular to the plane of the mounting surface of bracket 10. These side walls are identical mirror images, so that details of only one wall will be described. The top surface of each side wall has a series of three recesses, 26, 28 and 30, each of which has a hole in the base to receive a threaded fastener for mounting of blocks. Tabs 32, 34 and 36 project inwardly from the side walls At each of the recesses 26, 28 and 30, and these tabs serve to lock into engagement with holes in a mounting base for a block (to be described hereinafter~
to lock a mounting base to the bracket. Each side wall also has a series of four openings or notches 38, and each opening or notch 38 terminates in a bevelled surface 40 on the inner wall of the hracke-t. The openings or notches 38 and bevelled surfaces 40 serve to receive a screwdriver or similar instrument to wedge the side walls 22 outwardly to disassemble a mounting base from the bracket if it is desired to remove a moun-ting base and block from a previously assembled configuration of block, base and bracket.
Referring to FIGURES 6, 7 and 8, the mounting base 42 of the present invention is shown; and a base and block are shown mounted on the bracket 10 of the present inven-tion in FIGURE 5. The mounting base 42 has a bottom surface 44. The bottom surface 44 of the mounting base has a series of four generally rectangular openings 48 into which can be mounted and secured unitary connectors .*_ such as Amphenol connectors for prewired connection to connector elements such as "66" type clips in a block to be mounted. The mounting base 42 also has a pair of end walls 50 and a pair of side walls 52. Each side wall 52 has a pair of openings or notches 54, and each side wall also has a pair of bevelled recesses 56.
As shown in FIGURE 5, a retainer plate `58 is fastened to the top of the mounting base, and the retainer cooperates with the openings or notches 54 to form locking notches for engagement with the tabs, such as tabs 32 and 34, of the bracket. The bevelled recesses 56 serve as camming surfaces. When the mounting base is inserted into the bracket to complete an assembly, such as shown in FIGVRE 5, the bevelled recesses 56 engage the -tabs 32 and 3~ to cam the side walls of the bracket outward so that the mounting base and block can be inserted into the bracket. As the mounting base moves further downward into the bracket, -the fQ~d ~
t 1~917 tabs 32 and 34 on the side walls of the bracket then engage the opening 54 formed ~etween the side walls of the mounting base and the retainer plate 58 to lock the base and block to the bracket.
Referring to FIGURE 5, an assembly is shown where an "M" type block 60 having "~6" type connectors 62 is shown mounted on a bracket of the presen~ invention along with a base 42 of the present invention. Retainer plate 58 is mounted to bracket 60 by suitable fasteners in a manner known in the art to retain an array of connectors 62. Retainer plate 58 is mounted to mounting base 42 by screw fastener 64 at four corners of the retainer plate. Retainer plate 58 has four wings 66 (two on each side) which fit into the mating recesses 26 and 28 on the side walls of the mounting bracket. The wings 66 have through holes to receive threaded fasteners (not shown) which will be threaded into the holes in the bases of recesses 26 and 8 to lock the retainer plate to the mounting bracket. Thus, the assembly o the block 60, the retainer plate 48 and the mounting base 42 are secured to the bracket in two ways, i.e., by the screw fasteners which engage the wings of the retainer plate to the side walls of the bracket and by the tabs on the side walls of j the bracket which engage the recesses 54 formed between the side walls of the base and the retainer plate. Also~
it will be noted that a modular assembly of a retainer plate and block can be secured to the mounting bracket even if a mounting base is not present, since the screw fastener engagement between the wings of the mounting plate and the recesses of the bracket side walls effect a secure mechanical connection.
Referring now to FIGURE 4, an illustration is shown of an array of the modular block and bracket structure of the present invention. FIGURE 4 shows a pair oE
brackets 10 mounted in a horizontal linear array, with the left bracket having a block (shown as a larger block than that in FIGURE 5) and retainer plate at the let - end of the bracket, and the ri~ht bracket being shown with ~ 16~9~7 ..
a similar mounting block and retainer plate at the right end of the bracket. As can best be seen in FIGU~ES 1, 2 and 3, the spacing between the recesses 26, 28 and 3n is not equal.
Recess 28 is spaced relatively far from recess 26 and rela-tively close to recess 30. The spacing between recesses 26and 28 is predetermined so as to be appropriate to receive the wings ~6 of the retainer plate for use in this modular assembly. The two bracke-ts shown in FIGURE 4 are arrayed so that they are rotated 180 with respect to each other. That is, the recesses 30 of each bracket are positioned at the adjacent ends of the brackets when they are aligned in the array. Another mounting block and retainer plate assembly may then be positioned between the blocks shown in FIGURE 4 so that the wings 66 of that third block and retainer plate assembly engage the recesses 30. In this way, three of the blocks may be mounted on two of the brackets, thus effecting considerable savings as well as ease of installation. In order to insure proper spacing between the adjacent brackets in the FIGURE 4 configuration, an appropriate retainer plate may be mounted with its wings in the recesses 30 to provide a mounting template to determine the proper spacing between the brackets. Alternatively, a supplemental spacer may be placed between the brackets to set the spacing.
When unitary connectors are mounted in the openings 48 of mounting base 42, the connectorized cables (cable and hood connector, not shown) which mates with the unitary connector will be in the space between center strut 12 of bracket 10 and the bottom of base 42. If the cables are mated to unitary connectors in the two center openings 48, strut 12 3~ prevents any disengagement (accidental or otherwise) of the cable or hood from the unitary connector. In order to prevent disengagement of the cable and hood from unitary connectors mounted in the outer openings 48, a pair of wings 12(a) extend from strut 12. These wings will overlap the cable and hood mated to unitary connectors in the outer openings 48 of the base 42. The wings 12(a) are shown in FIGURE 2.
~ ~6~917 , "
While preferred embodiments have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it will be under-stood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.
Claims (11)
- CLAIM 1. A mounting bracket for terminal blocks, the bracket including:
a rear mounting surface;
a pair of spaced apart side walls extending from said mounting surface;
three spaced recesses in the top surface of each of said side walls;
three inwardly projecting tabs on each of said side walls; and a plurality of notches in each of said side walls, each of said notches terminating in a bevelled surface on the inner surface of the side wall. - CLAIM 2. A mounting bracket as in claim 1 wherein:
said three spaced recesses in each side wall are spaced apart unequally. - CLAIM 3. A mounting bracket as in claim 1 wherein:
each of said tabs is aligned with a recess. - CLAIM 4. A mounting bracket as in claim 1 wherein:
said spaced recesses in each side wall form three opposed pairs of recesses;
two of said opposed pairs of recesses are spaced to receive four mounting wings of one retainer plate; and the other pair of opposed recesses is spaced to receive two mounting wings of another retainer plate. - CLAIM 5. A mounting base for a terminal block and bracket assembly, the base including:
a bottom surface;
a plurality of shaped openings in said bottom surface for receiving unitary connectors;
a pair of spaced apart side walls;
a pair of openings in each side wall, each of said openings being adapted to cooperate with a retainer plate to form a locking notch to secure said base to a mounting bracket; and a pair of bevelled surfaces at the bottom of each of said side walls, said bevelled surfaces serving as camming surfaces when mounting said base on a bracket. - CLAIM 6. A mounting base as in claim 4 wherein:
said bevelled surfaces and said openings in said side walls are in alignment. - CLAIM 7. A modular assembly of a mounting bracket and a terminal block, the assembly including:
a mounting bracket having a rear mounting surface;
a pair of spaced apart side walls extending from said mounting surface;
three spaced recesses in the top surface of each of said side walls;
three inwardly projecting tabs on each of said side walls;
a plurality of notches in each of said side walls, each of said notches terminating in a bevelled surface on the inner surface of the side wall; and a retainer plate secured to said bracket, said retainer plate having four mounting wings engaging four of said spaced recesses. - CLAIM 8. A modular assembly as in claim 7, further including:
a mounting base attached to said retainer plate, said mounting base having a bottom surface;
a plurality of shaped openings in said bottom surface for receiving unitary connectors a pair of spaced apart side walls;
a pair of openings in each side wall, each of said openings being adapted to cooperate with said retainer plate to form a locking notch to secure said base to said mounting bracket; and a pair of bevelled surfaces at the bottom of each of said side walls, said bevelled surfaces serving as camming surfaces when mounting said base on said bracket. - CLAIM 9. A modular assembly as in claim 8 wherein:
said three spaced recesses in each side wall of said bracket are spaced apart unequally. - CLAIM 10. A modular assembly as in claim 9 wherein:
each of said tabs in each side wall of said bracket is aligned with a recess. - CLAIM 11. A modular assembly as in claim 10 wherein:
said spaced recesses in each side wall of said bracket form three opposed pairs of recesses;
two of said opposed pairs of recesses are spaced to receive four mounting wings of one said retainer plate; and the other pair of opposed recesses is spaced to receive two mounting wings of another retainer plate.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000375071A CA1161917A (en) | 1981-04-09 | 1981-04-09 | Modular block base and bracket assembly |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000375071A CA1161917A (en) | 1981-04-09 | 1981-04-09 | Modular block base and bracket assembly |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1161917A true CA1161917A (en) | 1984-02-07 |
Family
ID=4119693
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000375071A Expired CA1161917A (en) | 1981-04-09 | 1981-04-09 | Modular block base and bracket assembly |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1161917A (en) |
-
1981
- 1981-04-09 CA CA000375071A patent/CA1161917A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |