GB2141592A - Telephone subset line connector arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

A wall-mounted telephone subset line connector (Fig. 1) includes a planar plinth (2) on which is mounted a connector (9) having contact elements arranged parallel to the plinth and arranged to slidably receive a counterpart. The counterpart (22) may be incorporated in the base plate (18) of a wallphone (Fig. 8). The base plate includes hooks (28,29) to engage apertures (4,5) in the plinth (2). <IMAGE>

Description

SPEC:FICATION Telephone subset line connector arrangement This invention relates to a telephone subset line connector and in particular to a plug and socket arrangement for terminating at least a pair of conductors of an exchange line on a fixed connector element thereof and releasably coupling the terminated conductors to either the line cord of a table mounting subset or the line terminals of a wall mounting subset via the mating connector element.

Hitherto the installation of table mounting subsets and wall mounting subsets obviously required different procedures and different ancillary components. The table mounting subset required the installation of a fixed terminal block arrangement in which the terminated cable conductors were coupled to the line cord conductors of the subset. The terminal block arrangement was commonly a plug/socket. The wall mounting subset, on the other hand, required the installation of a metal mounting plate fixed to a wall surface, the subset was attached to the mounting plate and the cable conductors terminated on terminals mounted in the subset.

Furthermore, in either case, standard mounting brackets and boxes used in the building industry for the installation of electrical wiring outlets in buildings cannot be readily utilised for the installation of the aforementioned telephone subsets, particuiarly the wall mounting subset.

The present invention seeks to provide a telephone subset line connector arrangement which permits a virtual common installation procedure for hoth table and wall subsets as well as providing the necessary mechanical mounting for the wall mounting subset.

In addition the present invention seeks to provide a telephone subset line connector arrangement which may readily utilise standard electric mounting components used in the building industry.

The present invention still further seeks to provide a wall mounting telephone subset base plate incorporating a connector and mounting arrangement for attaching a subset onto a mounting line com ector and at the same time coupling the subsets circuitry to the cable connectors terminated on the line connector.

According to the first aspect of the present invention there is provided a telephone subset line connector for coupling line conductors to either a table mounting or wall mounting subset, comprising a first planar base member upon whose surface is mounted a housing having at least one aperture in a side wall thereof communicating with a plurality of first contact elements which extend towards the aperture in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the base member, which first contact elements are arranged to slidably receive, via the aperture(s), and contact second contact elements associated with the table mounting or wall mounting subset, the first connector element including termination means for connecting cable conductors to the first contact elements.

Preferably the first connector member is in the form of a generally rectangular box shaped housing having a plurality of apertures in one side thereof which conuaunicate with resilient first contact elements arranged to slidably receive and contact second contact pin elements of the mating second connector element.

It is also preferable that the planar support member includes a pair of spaced bore holes for accommodating two fixing screws for fixing the said support member directly onto a wall surface or to a standard bracket or box set in the wall surface.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a wall mounting telephone subset base for co-operating with the line connector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising a second planar member a surface of which interfaces with a wall and which includes an upper and lower part, the second planar member including a receptacle having a second aperture which communicates with the surface of the second planar member for receiving the housing of the connector, wherein a plurality of second contact elements are fixedly disposed within the receptacle each of which element extends towards said lower part and lies in a plane substantially parallel to the second planar member, wherein the receptacle and second contact elements are arranged such that when the first connector element is mated with the second contact elements the subset base is supported thereby.

Preferably, the subset base includes additional support means such as, for example, hook means attached to the planar member and located for co-operation with slot means in the planar support member of the line connector when the first connector element mates with the plurality of contact elements.

Screws could also be used as additional support means.

In order that the invention and its various other features may be understood more easily, some embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example only with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a line connector arrangement constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top view of the line connector arrangement of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side view of the line connector of Figure 1.

Figures 4 and 5 are end views of the line connector shown in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a top view of the line connector arrangement of Figure 1 with the cover of the connector element removed.

Figure 7 is a view of the outer side of the wall mounting subset base of the present invention.

Figure 8 is a cross section of the subset base of Figure 7.

Referring to Figures 1-6 there is shown a telephone subset line-connector arrangement 1, comprising a rectangular plate measuring approximately 11.5cm x 7cm of plastics material having a top part from whose surrounding edge extends a 0.5cm plinth 3. Top part 2 and plinth 3 define a space (not shown) therebetween. Part of plinth 3 includes two apertures 4 and 5 for co-operating with supporting hooks mounted on the subset base hereinafter described. Top part 2 includes two screw holes 6 and 7 spaced 8.5 cm from each other. A box shaped connector socket housing 9 having a cover plate 10 is mounted on top part 2. Cover plate 10 is mounted on top part 2. Cover plate 10 is removably secured to said housing 9 by screw 11.The connector socket housing 9 contains three pairs of resilient contact springs 1 2 for contacting contact pins of a mating connector hereinafter described.

Free ends of contact springs 1 2 are connected to respective screw terminals 1 3 adjacent a wiring cavity 14 containing an aperture 15 communicating with the aforementioned spaced defined by top part 2 and plinth 3 and through which aperture cable conductors (not shown) are lead for termination under screw terminals 1 3.

Referring to Figures 7 and 8, there is shown a wall mounting subset base 1 6 of plastics material comprising a flat plate 1 7 whose shape is generally trapezoidal having convex sides, and a curved rim 1 8 extending at an obtuse angle therefrom. The uppermost part of base 16, when normally mounted, is indicated generally at 19. A rectangular aperture 20 communicates with a receptacle defined by four side walls 21 and aback wall 22. A connection plug arrangement comprising three flat pins 23, 24 and 25 of insulating material and a locating post 26 of the same material perpendicularly transfix one wall 21 of the receptacle and extend into the receptacle. On opposite sides of each flat pin is disposed a contiguous metal contact strip 27 (Figure 8) which also transfix the one wall 21.

That part of each contact strip extending outside the receptacle forms a terminal post onto which the components of the subsets circuitry is wired.

Two spaced hooks 28 and 29 extend outwardly and downwardly from plate 1 7. The hooks are located such that when the connector plug, formed by the flat pins 23, 24 and 25, contact strips 27 and post 26, mate with the connection socket described hereinbefore they co-operatively engage with apertures 4 and 5 (Figures 1-6) to provide a secure mounting of plate 1 7 onto the line connector.

In use, the line connector is mounted directly onto a wall surface and to which the cable is brought concealed behind the wall or on the surface thereof, or is mounted onto an electrical wiring bracket or box to which the cable is brought via conduit. The conductors of the cable are terminated under appropriate screw terminals. If a wall mounted subset is to be installed, the line connector is mounted such that the contact springs 1 2 lie in the vertical plane and extend upwardly. Thereafter a mating connector plug attached to the line cord of a table mounting subset or the connector plug incorporated in the base plate of a wall mounting subset, as hereinbefore described, may be inserted into the mounted line connector. In the case of a wall mounting subset, the subset is securely mounted on the wall by virtue of the coupled connector elements and the engaged hooks. The distance from the floor at which the line connector is initially mounted will depend on whether the subset to be installed is a table mounting or wall mounting type, or whether it is intended to provide the option of installing either type.

Claims (11)

1. A telephone subset line connector for coupling line conductors to either a table mounting or wall mounting subset, comprising a first planar base member upon whose surface is mounted a housing having at least one aperture in a side wail thereof communicating with a plurality of first contact elements which extend towards the aperture in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the base member, which first contact elements are arranged to slidably receive, via the aperture(s), and contact second contact elements associated with the table mounting or wall mounting subset, the first connector element including termination means for connecting cable conductors to the first contact elements.

2. A telephone subset line connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first planar base member is rectangular, the housing is rectangular and a side of the base member is substantially parallel with a side of the housing.

3. A telephone subset line connector as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the first planar base member is provided with a plinth extending from its surrounding edge.

4. A telephone subset line connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein that part of the plinth extending from an edge of the first planar base member which is parallel to and opposite the side wall is provided with at least one slot for co-operating with hook means provided on a wall mounting telephone subset base.

5. A telephone subset line connector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a top cover plate is removably attached to the housing.

6. A telephone subset line connector substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-6 of the drawings.

7. A wall mounting telephone subset base for co-operating with the line connector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising a second planar member a surface of which interfaces with a wall and which includes an upper and lower part, the second planar member including a receptacle having a second aperture which communicates with the surface of the second planar member for receiving the housing of the connector wherein a plurality of second contact elements are fixedly disposed within the receptacle each of which element extends towards said lower part and lies in a plane substantially parallel to the second planar member, wherein the receptacle and second contact elements are arranged such that when the first connector element is mated with the second contact elements the subset base is supported thereby.

8. A wall mounting telephone subset base as claimed in claim 7, wherein the receptacle is boxshaped.

9. A wall mounting telephone subset base as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein hook means is provided on the second planar member and located for co-operation with at least one slot in the line connector to support the subset base upon coupling the line connector to said subset base.

10. A wall mounting telephone subset base as claimed in claim 9, wherein the hook means comprises two spaced hooks extending outwardly and downwardly from the second planar member.

11. A wall mounting telephone subset base substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.

1 2. A wall mounting telephone subset incorporating a base claimed in any one of claims 7-11.