FR2510821A1 - Strip-contact unit assembly design for telecommunication cabling - has complementary snap-fit interconnection system for interlocking rows of contacts - Google Patents

Abstract

The system is based on multiple units consisting of straight rows of contacts (3,4). Each connector in a contact strip has a notch which accepts the wire to be connected. The connectors can be either of the insulator-stripping or wire-wrap types. The strips have either female (39,40) or male-type (39,40) contacts. The strips of contacts are set in moulded blocks having a symmetrical form. They can fit together (33) in the external housing (11) facing either up or down. Profiled connector sections (24) are shaped so that they snap-fit into recesses (9a,10a) of complementary shape. Further contact strips can be filled to these already in place, to form a double-structure by snap-fitting around the notches (22) of the connector sections. The outer housing shells (11) fits into the grooves (5a,5b) moulded in the contact strips by elastic deformation of the outer ridges (15a,15b).

Description

 The present invention relates to connection blocks for telecommunications lines. These connection blocks consist of connection strips, each having internal connection elements ending in connection plugs aligned along two opposite sides of said strips. These connection plugs can be, for example, "insulation displacement" plugs or "wrapper tails". The connection strips are arranged side by side on at least one common support, of generally rectilinear shape, so as to constitute an alignment. The two opposite sides of each strip respectively have at least two identical profiled parts arranged symmetrically with respect to said strip, transversely to said sides. Each profiled part on any one of the two sides is capable of cooperating with a corresponding profile part provided on the common support.

 In known connection blocks of this kind, the connection strips have their two opposite ends which are slidably mounted in rectilinear guides extending over the entire length of the extreme sides of said strips, and they can only be returned from 1800, individually , each in its two guides. It is thus possible to turn over each strip to connect wires in the connection plugs which are located, during operation, on the side of the strip, opposite the operator. This is certainly valid when only a small number of strips must receive wires. Such an individual reversal of the strips is less valid when connections have to be made at the same time on all the strips of a connection block. Indeed, the reinstallation of each strip, individually, after complexion of the wires on its rear side, is relatively long if the strips are brought close to each other because the wires must be introduced first along the strip previously installation or between two previously installed strips This problem seems to have been resolved, in the connection block cited constituting the prior art, by moving the connection strips apart from each other, which has a certain drawback because the size of the connection block, with the same number of connection plugs, is increased.

 The connection block, object of the invention, is characterized in that it comprises at least one intermediate rectilinear support, the first side of which is profiled in the same way as the corresponding common support and cooperates at will with the profiled parts arranged in an alignment, on one of the two sides of the strips, and the second side, opposite to the first, is profiled in the same way as the profiled parts of the strips, so as to be able to cooperate with the profile part correspondent provided on the common support.

 According to certain embodiments, the identical profiled parts on both sides of the connection strips and the second side of the intermediate rectilinear support are hollow profiled, and the profiled parts on the first side of the rectilinear intermediate support and the common support are profiled in relief.

 According to other embodiments, the identical profiled parts on both sides of the connection strips and the second side of the intermediate rectilinear support are profiled in relief, and the profiled parts on the first side of the intermediate rectilinear support and the common support are hollow profiled.

 In both cases, the hollow profiled parts advantageously, but not necessarily, constitute elastically deformable clamps.

Some of the profiled parts, hollow or in relief, are elastically deformable and advantageously comprise a transverse profiled attachment part.

 The present invention proposes to allow the realization of a connection block for telecommunications lines, which, while being very compact and of very simple structure, is capable, not only of allowing the reversal of 1800, individually, of its strips connection, but also to allow the same reversal of the entire block. It is thus possible to make all the necessary connections on the rear side (cable side for example), of all the strips of the same connection block and then to turn said block by performing a single turning operation, practically instantaneous, even if the connection strips, constituting said block, are very close to each other.

 The accompanying drawing illustrates, by way of example, embodiments in accordance with the present invention.

 Fig. 1 shows, in left view of FIG. 3, the first embodiment of the invention, the connection block being in the operating position.

 Fig. 2 shows, also in the left view of FIG. 3, the same first embodiment, the connection block being in the inverted position.

 Fig. 3 shows, in a right view of FIG. 1, partially in section along III-III of FIG. 1, the same first embodiment.

 Fig. 4 partially shows, in section along IV-IV of FIG. 1, the same first embodiment.

 Fig. 5 partially shows, seen in a similar manner to FIG. 1, a second embodiment of the invention.

 As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the connection block is made up of connection strips 1, 1 ', 1 "etc. (fig. 3) arranged side by side, so as to constitute an alignment (fig. 3). The two opposite sides, generally rectilinear in this example, 3 and 4 of each strip 1, 1 ', 1 "etc. have respectively at their respective first ends 3a, 4a (fig. 1), two identical hollow profiled parts, 5a, 6a arranged symmetrically with respect to each strip, and, at their respective second ends 3b, 4b, two profiled parts in hollow, identical 5b, 6b, also arranged symmetrically with respect to each strip. The profiled parts 5a, 6a are identical to the profiled parts 5b, 6b. The profiled parts 5a, 5b are oriented perpendicular to the side 3 of each strip, and the profiled parts 6a, 6b are oriented perpendicular to the side 4 of each strip. The spacing of the profiled parts 5a, 5b is identical to that of the profiled parts 6a, 6b. In this exemplary embodiment, the hollow profiled parts 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b each consist of a slot opening onto the two opposite faces 7 and 8 (fig. 3) of each slide, adjacent to the sides 3 and 4. hollow profiled parts 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b constitute pliers elastically deformable, their outer branch, rexpectively 15a, 15b, 16a, 16b, being elastically deformable towards the outside according to 21 and comprising, for example at its free end, a transverse profiled attachment part constituted by a spout 18 directed towards the inside of said hollow profiled parts.

 The strips 1, 1 ', 1 "... constituting an alignment are held together by two intermediate rectilinear supports 9 and 10 (fig.]).

Each of them has a first longitudinal rib, respectively 9a, 10a, which has a raised profile, conjugated with the hollow profiled parts Sa, 5b, 6a, 6b, and notches 17 whose profile corresponds to that of the spouts 18 .

 The free ends of the outer branches 15a, 15b, 16a, 16b each have a notch 13 (fig. 1) intended to receive the end of a screwdriver for example, when it is desired to deform elastically along said ies said outer branches , to release the spouts 18, from their respective hooking notches 17.

 The second side 9b, opposite to the first 9a, of the diary internal rectilinear support 9 is, only at the two ends of the connection block, in this example, hollow profile at 19 and 20 in the same way as the profiled parts 5a, 6a, so as to be able to cooperate with a common support Ila, of generally rectilinear shape, profiled in relief in the same way as the first side 9a of the intermediate rectilinear support 9. Similarly, the second side lOb, opposite to the first 10a, of the intermediate rectilinear support 10 is, at the two ends of the connection block, hollow profile in 19 and 20 in the same way as the profiled parts 5b, 6b, so as to also be able to cooperate with a second common support 11b, general rectilinear shape, profiled in relief in the same way as the first side 10a of the intermediate rectilinear support. In this example, the two common supports 11a and 11b are parallel to each other and form part of a profiled channel 11 shaped U, inside which is housed for example a cable 12 whose wires are intended to be connected in the plugs arranged along the side 4 of the strips (fig. t and 2).

In this example, the two hollow profiled parts 19 and 20 of each of the second sides 9b and 10b do not have an inner branch but only an outer branch, respectively 19a, 20a, which is elastically deformable towards the outside according to 21 ( fig. 1). Each of the free ends of these outer branches 19a and 20a comprises, towards the inside of the corresponding hollow profiled part, a hooking spout 22 intended to cooperate with a notch 23, of corresponding profile, provided on each common support 11a, iib. The outer branches 19a and 20a are longer than the branches 15a, 15b, 16a, 16b, so that the nozzles 18 of the latter do not cooperate with the notches 23, when the hollow profiled parts 5a, 5b or 6a, 6b cooperate directly with the common supports 11a, 11b (fig. 2). Each free end of the branches 19a and 20a also includes a transverse extension 24 directed towards the outside of the connection block.

 When the two intermediate rectilinear supports 9, 10 have their respective first sides 9a, 10a respectively housed in the hollow profiled parts 6a, 6b (fig. 1 and 2) or 5a, 5b, the spacing between the profiled parts 19, 20 of the first and second intermediate rectilinear support 9 and 10 is identical to that of the profiled parts 5a, 5b or 6a, 6b, and also at the spacing of the two corresponding common supports 11a, lib.

 According to an alternative embodiment, not shown in the drawing, the transverse extension 24 extends over the entire length of each intermediate rectilinear support 9, 10, and notches serving as grommets are formed in the edge of each of these extensions transverse 24, for example at each connection strip 1, 1 ', 1 "...

 The connection strips 1, 1 ′, 1 "... consist for example of two stacked parts 31 and 32, advantageously identical. The contacting sides of these two parts 31 and 32 have a notched profile 33 and are embossed. one inside the other As shown in Fig. 4, the interior of each slot 33 contains a chimney 34 which opens on the two opposite sides 3 and 4 of each strip. Each chimney 34 contains internal connection elements These elements are constituted, for example, in each chimney 34, by an axial conductive strip 35 ending, in this example, by a stripped plug 36 forming part of an alignment of plugs arranged along the second side 4. Each blade 35 cooperates for example with two curved elastic conductive blades 37 and 38 arranged on either side of the blade 35 and ending respectively in self-stripping pins 39 and 40 forming respectively part of two alignments parallels of cards, arranged along the first side 3.

 In this exemplary embodiment, the first side, respectively 9a, iota, of the rectilinear intermediate supports 9 and 10, comprises transverse extensions 41 (FIG. 3) each extending in a chimney 42, of corresponding section, provided at each of the two ends of each strip, through the two stacked parts 31 and 32 of each strip.

The free end 41a of each extension 41 has an axial slot 43 which makes it elastically deformable transversely to said extension 41. Each free end 41a has at least one transverse profiled hooking part. In this example, it comprises two of these profiled parts each constituted by a raised part 44, having the form of two opposite ramps 45 and 46. The two raised parts 44 are housed on either side of the slot constituting each of the hollow profiled part 5a, 5b, in the first part 31 of the strip i.

 In the operating position, the strips 1, 1 ', 1 "occupy the position shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. The two parts 31 and 32 of each strip are connected one inside the other, each blade 35 being connected with blades 37 and 38 (fig. 4). Each strip is threaded by its two ends, respectively on two transverse extensions 41 (fig. 3) each forming part of a rectilinear intermediate support 9, 10, the first sides 9a, 10a of these being housed respectively in the hollow profiled parts 6a, 5b of said strips, each hooking spout 18 being engaged in the corresponding notch 17 of the first part 9a or 10a of the rectilinear intermediate supports 9, 10. The two hollow profiled parts 19, 20 on each of the second sides 9b, 10b of the rectilinear intermediate supports 9, 10 are pressed respectively onto the two common supports lita, 1 lob, each spout 22 being engaged with a notch 23.

 If the operator wants to make the connection between the wires of the cable 12 and the insulation displacement plugs 36 on the second side 4 of a single connection strip I or of a small number of these strips, it is first necessary to return by 180C each of these strips individually. For this, it suffices to introduce a screwdriver blade into each notch 13 provided at the free extremike of the outer branches 16a, 16b, so as to deform these branches towards the outside along 21 and to release the nozzles 18 from their respective notches 17 . Simultaneously a traction following 50 exerted on the strip causes, under the action of the two ramps 46 of each extension 41, the retraction of the two raised parts 44 in the corresponding chimney 42. The strip can thus be released out of the two extensions 41 correspondents. It can then be turned over, its hollow profiled portions Sa and Sb being threaded on the first sides 10a and 9a respectively of the intermediate rectilinear supports, 10 and 9 respectively. The connection of the wires in the plugs 36 can be carried out easily, on the front face of the connection block opposite the profiled channel 11. your strip is then turned 180 a second time, by proceeding as described above, and it occupies again its operating position (fig. 1).

 If the operator wishes to unhook only the first part 31 of the strip, it suffices to pull it along 50 on this part 31, without acting on the notches 13. As in the previous case, the ramps 46 cause the retraction of the raised parts 44 chimney 42, and only the first part 31 of the strip is released. The same first part, or another similar, can be plugged in again by introducing each chimney 42 on a transverse extension 41, the ramps 45 allowing this introduction by bending the two branches constituting each of the two free ends 41a. The elastic conductive strips 35 and 37, 38 are finally connected with each other (fig. 4), and each extension 41, in its chimney 42 (fig. 3).

 If the operator wishes to connect the wires of cable 12 to all the strips 1, 1 ', 1 "... of a block, he can turn the whole block over in a single operation. To do this, press next on 21 the four extensions 24, for example two by two, so as to deform outwards, in the same direction 21, the outer branches 19a, 20a corresponding to each of the two intermediate rectilinear supports 9 and 10.The four nozzles 22 corresponding are thus released from the respective notches 23 provided on the common supports 11a and 11b After turning the entire block of 180, the hollow profiled parts 5a and 5b of all the strips constituting the connection block, are introduced respectively on the profiles in relief of the two common supports llb, lita. The block is thus maintained by the only elastic force exerted by the flexible external branches 15a, 15b of all the strips, without the spouts 18 being able to be engaged with the notches 23 because of the shorter length of the outer branches 15a, 15b. The connection block then occupies the inverted position shown in FIG. 2.

 When the connection is complete, between the wires of the cable i2 and all of the plugs 36, it suffices to move along the whole of the block, to separate the latter from its common supports 11a, 1b, and to replace it, after a new reversal of 1800, in its operating position of fig. 1. The four nozzles 22 are thus found in engagement with the corresponding notches 23. The wires connected to the plugs 36 of the part 32 of the housing are thus housed, like the cable 12, in the U-shaped channel 11. If the connection block is for example used as a protection block or connection strip in a telephone distributor, it is then possible to connect very easily in the plugs 39, 40, the connecting "garters".

 In the present embodiment, the housings of the connection strips 1, 1 ′, 1 "... are advantageously made of thermoplastic material, as well as the two intermediate rectilinear supports 9 and 10. Without departing from the scope of the present invention, each support intermediate rectilinear 9, 10, could, totally or at least in part, be made of an electrically conductive material, as well as at least part of each of its transverse extensions 41, so as to simultaneously constitute a circuit ground for all connection strips.

 Also without departing from the scope of the present invention, the insulation displacement connection plugs 36 and 39, 40 could be replaced by other types of plugs, for example by "wrapper tails". This is the case, for example, for the plugs 39 ′, 40 ′ shown on the right side of FIG. 1, which replace the insulation displacement plugs 39, 40.

 In the second embodiment shown in part in fig.5, the two parts 31 and 32 of the strips are not separable, the internal connection elements not themselves being withdrawable. These internal connection elements can for example be constituted as in certain embodiments described in French patent application No. 80 26 161.

 The transverse extensions of the first embodiment (fig. 1 to 4) are eliminated and replaced, for example each by a centering part 41 'intended to be housed in a correspondingly shaped housing 42' formed at each end of the strip, on the two ends on each side 3 and 4 (fig. 5) thereof.

 In this embodiment, each intermediate rectilinear support, 60, has a first hollow profiled side 61 whose inner branch 65 is flexible and has a notch 66 provided to cooperate with a spout 67 provided on a profiled portion in relief 68 intended to be housed in the first hollow profile side 61. The rigid outer branch 69 of the first hollow profile side 61 supports the centering parts 41 ′ of the connection strips, and comprises, at each of them, an orifice 70 provided for introducing into will a rod intended to locally bend the flexible branch 65 having the notch 66.

 The second side 62 of each intermediate rectilinear support 60 has a profile identical to the raised profiled part 68 and a spout 67 'identical to the spout 67. The second raised profiled side 62 is designed to be housed in hollow profiled parts 61 ', provided for example at each of the two ends of the connection block, on each of the two common supports 80. Each hollow profiled part 61' has the same profile as the part 61, a notch 66 'to cooperate with the spout 67 ', and a flexible inner branch 65'. An orifice 70 ', similar to the orifices 79 is provided opposite each branch 65', to allow said branch 65 'to flex at will.

 The two common supports 80 are part of a single profiled channel, as is the case in the first embodiment. All the other constituent elements are identical to those of this first embodiment.

 A single strip can be turned over from 1800 by bending the two inner branches 65 at the level of said strip before, to release the corresponding spouts 67.

 The entire connection block can be returned from 1800 by bending the four branches 65 ′ beforehand, which frees the two intermediate rectilinear supports 60 and the strips which are integral with them.

After reversing the block, these are the four profiled parts in relief 68 of the two strips placed at the ends of the block, which are introduced into the four hollow profiled parts 61 'of the two common supports 80, each spout 67 engaging with a notch 66 '. A bending of the four branches 65 ′ makes it possible to subsequently release the whole of the block in order to carry out a new reversal of the latter, in order to replace it in its operating position of FIG. 5.

 The connection block, object of the invention, can be used in particular as a connection block or strip, in a telephone distributor.

Claims (5)

1. Connection block for telecommunications lines, consisting of re  connection tabs each comprising inter connection elements  nes ending in connection plugs aligned along two  opposite sides of said strips, the connection strips being dis  placed side by side on at least one common support, of general shape  straight, so as to form an alignment, the two opposite sides  of each strip comprising respectively at least two pro parts  identical yarns arranged symmetrically with respect to said strip3  transversely to the said sides, each part has profiled of any one  that on both sides being likely to cooperate with a pro party  corresponding wire provided on the support comm1 l, characterized in that  said connection block comprises at least one rectilinear support inteï ---  medial (9,10; 60), a first side (9a, 10a; 61) of which is profiled  same way as the corresponding common support (1la, îlb; 80) and cooperates  at will with the profiled parts, (5a, 5b or 6a, 6b; 68) available  in an alignment, on one of the two sides (3 or 4) of the strips, and of which  the second side (9b, 10b; 62), opposite the first, is profiled from the ïnê-  me so that the profiled parts (5a, 5b, 6a, 6b; 68) of the strips,  so as to be able to cooperate with the profile-matching part pre-  view on the common support (1la, Ilb; 80). 2. Connection block according to claim 1, characterized in that  certain profiled parts of the first (9a, l0a; 61) or of the second rib  (9b, lOb; 62) of the intermediate rectilinear support (9, 10; 60), and the  parts also identically profiled, respectively of the  common support (1 la, lîb, 80) or strips (1, 1 ', 1 "...) are pro  hollow spun and constitute elastically deformable pliers 3. Connection block according to claim 1, characterized in that  certain profiled parts (5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 19, 20; 65, 65 ') of the re  connection tabs and / or the intermediate rectilinear support and / or the  common support, are elastically deformable and have a part  transverse hooking profile. 4. Connection block according to any one of claims 1 to 3,  in which the strips consist of two parts (31, 32) em  piled whose internal connection elements (35, 37, 38) are detached  nectable, characterized in that the first side (9a, 10a) of the support  intermediate rectilinear (9, 10) has transverse extensions  (41) each extending in a chimney (42) of corresponding section,  provided through the two stacked parts (31, 32) of a strip,  the free end (41a) of each extension (41) being deformable  elastically transversely and comprising at least one profi  transverse hooking strip (44). 5. Connection block according to claim 4, characterized in that a  at least part of the intermediate rectilinear support (9, 10) is formed  killed by an electrically conductive material, as well as a part at  less than each transverse extension (41), so as to constitute if  simultaneously a ground circuit for the connection strips.