GB2156604A - Telephone connector block - Google Patents

Abstract

A telephone connector block comprises quick clip connectors (41) and guide means for conductors passing through a telephone connector block (10) to prevent the conductors from becoming bunched or unidentifiable. The guide means includes a plurality of slidably engaged tray-like elements (27), each providing channels (45) for a plurality of conductors to be connected to terminals in a given horizontal plane, the tray-like elements (27) being serially insertable into corresponding recesses (26) in the block (10) as the block (10) is progressively wired. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Telephone connector block The invention relates generally to the field of telephony, and more particularly to telephone connector blocks incorporating conductor guiding to facilitate the manual wiring of the block during manufacture.

Many recent designs of telephone connector blocks feature a three-sided construction in which a pair of oppositely disposed laterallyfacing surfaces mount protector modules on one surface and wire wrap pins on another. A forwardly facing surface mounts so-called quick clip connectors arranged in horizontal rows of a convenient multiple, typically several hundred pairs which communicate with incoming subscriber circuits. The circuits pass through the protector modules prior to communication with central office equipment.

While quick clip connectors require relatively little surface, and accordingly afford large connector capacity for a fixed given area, there is always present the problem of routing the conductors from the connectors without confusion, and bunching of conductors in critical areas. In the prior art, this has been provided for by an orificed wire guide on either side of the quick clip area through which the conductors are guided externally of the block. This has resulted in bunching of conductors at the area immediately adjacent the orifice, making both installation and identification difficult, with many wiring errors occurring unless great care is taken.

According to the invention there is provided a telephone connector block wherein a first exposed wall mounts a plurality of quick clip connectors for engaging individual subscriber pairs; means are provided for guiding individual pairs of conductors through the block to exit therefrom at identified locations for subsequent external connection, said means including a plurality of guide elements; a plurality of slotted openings in the first exposed wall are disposed between parallel rows of quick clip connectors; the guide elements are of generally planar configuration and are slidably positioned each within a respective one of the slotted openings to extend inwardly from the first exposed wall; each of the guide elements has channels therein to accommodate a single pair of conductors; the block has a second exposed wall disposed at an angle relative to the first exposed wall; the second exposed wall has a second plurality of elongate parallel slotted openings therein lying in co-planar relation relative to the first plurality of slotted openings and the guide elements are positioned with one surface thereof lying within the second plurality of slotted openings so that the guide elements provide continuous channels from the first exposed wall to the second exposed wall, and conductors may be inserted into the channels from either end thereof.

The telephone connector block has the quick clip terminals arranged in rank and file on the first exposed wall and said first wall has elongated recesses therein for the reception of the guide elements. In lieu of the usual laterally positioned orificed guide strips, the guide elements permit a conductor to exist in a laterally positioned wall of the block for further connection in such manner that each conductor is positively identified as a result of provision for a continuous passage through the block. During the wiring procedure, individual conductors are threaded through the guide element, normally in subscriber pairs.

The guides themselves are preferably formed as symmetrical mouldings, with one-half of each channel disposed in a respective moulding.

The invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a telephone connector block according to the invention, partially exploded for purposes of clarity; and Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view corresponding to the upper left hand portion of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, a connector block 10 includes an axially aligned wall 11, supporting a transversely extending member 12, as is known in the art. The axially aligned wall 11, is bounded by first and second lateral sides 1 3 and 14, respectively. The first side 13, includes means for mounting conventional protector modules 15, while the second side 14, mounts known wire wrap pins 16, for connection of conductors to office equipment (not shown).

The transversely extending member 12, is of generally rectangular cross-section, and is bounded by an upper surface 19, a lower surface (not shown), first and second side surfaces 20 and 21, and a forward surface 22, partially enclosed by vertical flanges 23 and 24.

The side surface 21 and the forward surface 22 are segmented, and formed by a plurality of horizontally disposed integrally moulded walls 25, which form horizontally disposed interstices 26 therebetween. Disposed within the interstices 26, are generally planar guide elements 27, each comprising an upper member 28, and a symmetrical lower member 29.

Each of the members 28 and 29, is preferably formed by moulding from synthetic resinous insulative material, and is bounded by an outer planar surface 30, an inner planar surface 31, a front edge 32, an outer side edge 33, an inner side edge 34, and a rear edge 35.

Extending into the outer surface of the member 28 are a plurality of shaped recesses 37, each including a large generally rectangular portion 38, an elongate portion 39, having an enlarged medially disposed portion 40, the recesses 37 corresponding to the overall configuration of a quick clip element 41. The inner surface 31, of each of the members 28-29, is formed to include a plurality of curved channels 45, each having a front end 46 and a side end 47. The channels 45 are open along the entire lengths thereof, and are closed with the placing of the members 28 and 29 in abutted relation.

The quick clip elements 41, are generally conventional, each including a central extension 50, and laterally disposed legs 51, forming resiliently expandable interstices 52, for the reception of a conductor 53 therebetween in well known manner.

During assembly of the block, the guide elements 27, are first placed in juxtaposed relation, and slid into position through the interstices 26. Next the quick clip elements 41, are pushed into position from the forward surface 22, to be retained by the engagement of an enlargement (not shown) in the wider part 40, of the elongate portion 39. Conductors are then threaded in pairs through the side ends 47 of the channels 45 until they exit through the front ends 46, and are then connected to the quick clip elements 41 in known manner.

It will be observed that, unlike earlier constructions, each subscriber pair is confined to a separate channel 45, which is conveniently labelled at the point of entry and/or exit, thus avoiding any possibility of confusion when the conductors are subsequently interconnected to other terminals. Normally, where two wires per subscriber circuit are employed, only alternate channels are employed. In installations requiring four conductors per subscriber circuit, tip conductors may be disposed in one channel, and ring conductors in an adjacent channel.

The construction permits the use of an optional strain relief element 60, in the form of an elongate synthetic resinous strip which overlies the front edge 32, of a guide element 27, to be positioned between upper and lower pairs of quick clip elements 41. As best seen in Fig. 2 each element 60, is bounded by upper and lower surfaces 61 and 62 respectively, an inner surface (not shown), and an outer surface 64, having a plurality of circular bores 65, extending therefrom. The bores are of a diameter slightly less than the thickness of the element, so as to form relatively thin sections 66, which are provided with two part slots 67. When the elements 60 are in position, the slots 67 immediately underly the interstices 52, so that when a conductor 53, is engaged in the interstice, the insulative cover of the same will be wedged into the slot 67, to provide strain relief should the conductor be accidentally pulled or otherwise disturbed.

Claims (5)

1. A telephone connector block wherein- a first exposed wall mounts a plurality of quick clip connectors for engaging individual subscriber pairs; means are provided for guiding individual pairs of conductors through the block to exit therefrom at identified locations for subsequent external connection, said means including a plurality of guide elements; a plurality of slotted openings in the first exposed wall are disposed between parallel rows of quick clip connectors; the guide elements are of generally planar configuration and are slidably positioned each within a respective one of the slotted openings to extend inwardly from the first exposed wall; each of the guide elements has channels therein to accommodate a single pair of conductors; the block has a second exposed wall disposed at an angle relative to the first exposed wall; the second exposed wall has a second plurality of elongate parallel slotted openings therein lying in co-planar relation relative to the first plurality of slotted openings and the guide elements are positioned with one surface thereof lying within the second plurality of slotted openings so that the guide elements provide continuous channels from the first exposed wall to the second exposed wall, and conductors may be inserted into the channels from either end thereof.

2. A telephone connector block according to claim 1, in which each of the individual guide elements is formed by a pair of symmetrically shaped members each including a fractional part of the individual channels enclosed thereby.

3. A telephone connector block according to claim 1 or claim 2, including strain relief means in the form of elongate elements each positioned to overly an exposed edge surface of a respective one of the guide elements and located between adjacent pairs of quick clip elements so as to engage the insulative cover of conductors simultaneously with the engagement of bare conductors with the quick clip elements.

4. A telephone connector block according to claim 3, in which each strain relief element comprises an elongate synthetic resinous moulding of generally strip-like configuration of a thickness corresponding to the distance between pairs of quick clip connector elements positioned in adjacent parallel rows and having a plurality of resiliently expandable slots so positioned adjacent expandable interstices in the quick clip connector elements as to form means for gripping the insulative covers of conductors engaged by the quick clip connector elements.

5. A telephone connector block substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.