GB2311421A - Telecommunications connection apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Telecommunications connection apparatus is provided for connecting a telecommunications device to a telecommunications network. The apparatus comprises a rear housing member 1 for mounting on a wall; a front housing member 2 which is releasably connectable to the rear housing member 1 to form a housing and provides access therethrough for at least one jack plug; primary connector means 6, for reception in the housing, for connecting a telecommunications cable to the apparatus to connect the apparatus to the network; at least one jack socket 9, operatively connected with the primary connector means 6 and mountable on the rear housing member 1, for receiving the said at least one jack plug via the front housing member 2 in use to connect a telecommunications device or devices to the network; secondary connector means 7, for reception in the housing, for connecting at least one secondary cable to the apparatus; and switch means comprising a first switch member 8 which is mounted in use on one of the rear and front housing members, and a second switch member 31 which is mounted on the other of the housing members 8, 31, the switch members cooperating on connection of the housing members to effect a connection between the primary and secondary connector means 6, 7 which connection is broken when the housing members are disconnected.

Description

TELECOMMUNICATIONS CONNECTION APPARATUS This invention relates to telecommunications connection apparatus for connecting a telecommunications device to a telecommunications network. In particular, the invention can be applied to telephone jack units for connecting telephone equipment to a telephone network.

Telephone jack units are wall-mountable units for connecting consumer telephone equipment to the network. In a typical consumer telephone system, a primary, or master, jack unit is connected directly to the network, and the master unit is connected to one or more secondary units which are connected to the network via the master unit. Each master and secondary unit provides for connection of one or more local telephones to the network, the telephones being plugged into jack sockets within the units via spring-loaded shutters in the front panels of the units. Access for wiring by the engineer, to connect master units to the network, and by the consumer, to connect secondary units to the master, is gained by removing a front panel of the unit which is normally held in position by screws.

There are numerous existing designs of telephone jack units, and these display a number of disadvantages. Firstly, the internal connection terminals and circuitry in some existing units are protected only by the removable front panel. In this case, in order to connect a secondary unit, the customer must remove the front panel of the master unit to access the connection terminals, thereby exposing not only the secondary line connection terminals but also the primary connection terminals (which are connected to the network line) and network components in the internal circuitry.

There is therefore the possibility that network components will be damaged by the customer, and there is also a danger to the customer from the network supply through contact with the cable connection terminals. The arrangement also allows for a substantial degree of exposure of network components and wiring to adverse environmental conditions, and in particular the arrangement does not reliably counter the problem of possible moisture ingress in use.

A further problem arises from the fact that the cable connection terminals in existing units are mounted on the inside of the front panel of the units. This means that cables cannot be connected with the terminals in their ultimate positions in the assembled unit since the front panel must be removed from the wall-mounted unit for wiring. This makes judging cable lengths difficult and generally results in excess cable being used.

According to the present invention there is provided telecommunications connection apparatus for connecting a telecommunications device to a telecommunications network, the apparatus comprising: a rear housing member for mounting on a wall; a front housing member which is releasably connectable to the rear housing member to form a housing and provides access therethrough for at least one jack plug; primary connector means, for reception in the housing, for connecting a telecommunications cable to the apparatus to connect the apparatus to the network; and at least one jack socket, operatively connected with the primary connector means, for receiving the said at least one jack plug via the front housing member in use to connect a telecommunications device or devices to the network; wherein the primary connector means and the jack socket are mounted on the rear housing member in use.

With this arrangement, cables can be connected to the apparatus with the rear housing member, with the primary and secondary connector means mounted thereon, secured to the wall. Cable connection is therefore easier and wastage of cable can be avoided.

It is preferred that the primary and secondary means, the said at least one jack socket, and the first switch member are mounted on a circuit board for mounting on the rear housing member for the reason given above. The circuit board could be releasably mounted to enable the circuit board to be changed if necessary without removing the rear housing member from the wall. Usually, however, the circuit board will be permanently secured to the housing member.

Advantageously, the apparatus includes a cover which is arranged for reception in the housing and which is releasably connectable to the housing member on which the primary connector means are mounted in use so as to inhibit access to the primary connector means on disconnection of the housing members. Thus, by removing the front housing member, the customer can access the secondary connector means to connect in a secondary line, but cannot access the primary connector means.

The cover is preferably arranged to inhibit access to all electrical components on the circuit board other than the secondary connector means, the said at least one jack socket, and the first switch member. The cover and the housing member to which the cover is releasably connectable are advantageously arranged to form a substantially moisture-proof enclosure for the components on the circuit board to which the cover inhibits access in use.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic exploded view of an embodiment of the invention showing alternative forms of certain elements thereof; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the interior of one of the front housing members shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a further illustration of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the circuit board mounted on the rear housing member; Figure 4 is a partially exploded view of an embodiment of the invention incorporating one of the alternative circuit boards shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a partially exploded view of a further embodiment of the invention incorporating a further circuit board shown in Figure 1; and Figure 6 is an exploded view of a further embodiment of the invention, again showing alternative forms of various elements of the apparatus.

Referring to Figure 1, apparatus embodying the invention comprises a rear housing member, or "backbox", 1, a front housing member, or front panel, 2, a printed circuit board (PCB) 3 having various components mounted thereon, and an engineer's cover 4. The backbox 1 has a recessed area 5 therein for reception of the PCB 3. Figure 3 shows the backbox 1 with the PCB 3 mounted thereon.

Mounted on the PCB 3 are primary connector means in the form of screw terminals 6 for connecting the circuit to the telephone network. Secondary connector means 7 in the form of IDC (insulation displacement connector) terminals are mounted on the circuit board for connection of a secondary cable or cables to connect the apparatus to a secondary unit. Two jack sockets are mounted on the circuit board. A first jack socket 8, which is operatively connected to the primary screw terminals 6, is provided for receiving a jack plug to connect a local telephone to the network in the usual way. A second jack socket 9 forms a first switch member in the connection between the secondary IDC terminals 7 and the primary screw terminals 6. The jack socket 9 is arranged to cooperate with a jack plug on the front panel 2 as will be described further below. The circuitry on the PCB 3 also includes the standard mastering components 10 for effecting the appropriate conversion of the network line signals and customer line signals in use, and a two or three pole GDT (gas discharge tube), or some other form of protective device, for over-voltage protection of the network.

As clearly shown in Figure 3, the backbox 1 defines two cable retaining channels 12 and 13 for passage of the secondary and network cables respectively to the associated terminals 7, 6. Cable access to the retairiing channels 12, 13 is provided by apertures 14 in the lower edge of the backbox 1. For additional wiring flexibility, cable access into the retaining channels 12, 13 may also be provided through the rear of the backbox 1. Two apertures 15a, 15b are provided towards the upper corners of the backbox for receiving screws to mount the backbox on the wall.

As more clearly shown in Figures 1 and 4, two further apertures 16 in the backbox provide alternative screw fixing positions for greater flexibility.

The engineer's cover 4 is releasably connectable to the backbox 1 by means of standard screws 18 which are received in screw holes 19 in the backbox. As indicated in Figure 3, the screws 18 are preferably provided with tamper-proof screw covers 20. The engineer's cover 4 is designed to cooperate with the backbox 1 to provide a substantially moisture-proof enclosure for the PCB 3, inhibiting access to the primary screw terminals 6 while allowing access to the secondary IDC terminals 7 and the jack sockets 8 and 9. When the cover 4 is secured to the backbox 1, the IDC terminals 7 and jack sockets 8, 9 project into apertures 21, 22 and 23 respectively in the engineer's cover, the edges of the apertures maintaining a substantially moisture-proof seal. The PCB 3 may be encapsulated if desired for additional protection from moisture. With the cover 4 fitted to the backbox 1, the cable retaining channel 12 for secondary cables is accessible to allow secondary line connection by the customer.

The front panel 2 is designed to fit over the backbox 1 and engineer's cover 4 and can be secured to the backbox by means of standard screws 25 which, in the arrangement shown, are received in screw holes 26 in the backbox. Two further screw holes 27 are provided in the backbox 1 for fixing the backbox to a sunken wallbox, where available, as will be described below. The outer edges of the cable retaining channels 12 and 13 of the backbox 1 facilitate correct alignment of the )nt panel and backbox during assembly. The front panel 2 includes the usual springloaded shutter 28 which is positioned to register with the jack socket 8 in use to allow for connection of a local telephone by means of a jack plug in the usual way.

As illustrated in Figure 2, the lower edge of the front panel 2 has a cut-away portion 30 which registers with the cable access apertures 14 in the backbox 1 in use.

A second switch member, in the form of a jack plug 31, projects inwardly from the shutter housing 2 which is fixed to the interior of the front panel 2. The jack plug 31 is received in the jack socket 9 when the front panel is connected to the backbox 1, and this completes the connection between the primary and secondary terminals 6 and 7.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the apparatus also includes a spacing frame 35 which adapts the backbox 1 for surface mounting if required. Inwardly-projecting tabs 36 on the frame 35 abut the rear of the backbox 1 in use, and the open interior of the frame 35 accommodates the recessed interior portion of the backbox 1 in which the PCB 3 is mounted. Again for greater wiring flexibility, cut-away portions 37 are provided in the lower rear edge of the frame 35 for alternative surface cable access.

Similarly, two knock-out panels 38 (only one of which can be seen in the figures) are positioned opposite one another on the two side limbs of the frame 35 to provide optional alternative cable access positions.

The apparatus is installed as follows. If a standard recessed wallbox is provided, the backbox 1 can be fixed to the wall directly over the wallbox so that the recessed portion of the backbox in which the PCB 3 is mounted is accommodated in the wallbox. For surface mounting, the spacing frame 35 is interposed between the wall and backbox 1, the recessed portion of the backbox being accommodated within the spacing frame. The maximum projection from the wall is restricted to about 12mm when the unit is flush-mounted and about 23mm when the unit is surfacemounted.

After mounting the backbox 1, the engineer can then connect the network line cable to the primary screw connections 6 to connect the circuit to the network. Since the wiring can be performed with the backbox mounted on the wall, the cable can easily be cut to the correct length and wastage of cable is avoided. The cable is received in the cable retaining channel 13 and exits the backbox through the lower access aperture 14. The engineer then secures the cover 4 over the backbox 1 by means of the screws 18 and fits the tamper-proof screw covers 20. The PCB 3 is then disposed in a substantially moisture-proof enclosure, the engineer's wiring, primary screw terminals 6 and network components being hidden behind the cover 4 to prevent access and possible damage by the customer.

With the engineer's cover 4 secured in position, the secondary IDC terminals 7 project through the apertures 21 in the cover to allow secondary line wiring.

Secondary cables connected to the IDC terminals 7 pass through the cable retaining channel 12 and exit the backbox via the access aperture 14. Again, secondary line wiring can be performed easily and without wasting cable since the backbox is already mounted on the wall.

Finally, the front panel 2 is fitted over the backbox and engineer's cover and secured to the backbox by tightening the screws 25. The jack plug 31 on the front panel 2 plugs into the jack socket 9 via the aperture 23 in the engineer's cover 4 thereby completing the connection between the primary and secondary terminals 6 and 7 and thus connecting the terminals 7 and secondary unit(s) to the network. Since the front panel 2 must be fitted in position for the secondary terminals 7 to be connected to the network, removal of the front panel 2 for subsequent wiring by the customer automatically disconnects the terminals 7 and any secondary units to ensure that subsequent wiring can be safely performed by the customer. To facilitate stage testing, however, the jack socket 8 remains in circuit when the front panel 2 is removed.

The modular design of the apparatus as shown in Figure 1 allows the same backbox 1 to be used for either primary or secondary units by selecting the appropriate PCB. Figure 1 shows two secondary unit PCBs, a single secondary PCB 40 and a double secondary PCB 41. Each PCB 40, 41 has primary and secondary IDC terminals, 42 and 43 respectively, at the upper left hand corner of the PCB for the incoming and outgoing wiring of the secondary unit. The primary IDC terminals 42 are for connection of the PCB 40, 41 to the network via a secondary line from the master unit containing the PCB 3. The secondary connection terminals 43 allow for connection of a further line to connect a further secondary unit into the system. The single secondary PCB 40 has only a single jack socket 44 for connecting a single local telephone to the unit. The double secondary PCB 41 has two jack sockets 45 for connecting two local telephones to the system.

The arrangement of the single secondary PCB 40 is such that the same front panel 2 shown in Figures 1 and 3 can be used in the secondary unit. Figure 4 shows the backbox 1, PCB 40, front panel 2 and optional spacing frame 35 for forming the single secondary unit. Since the PCB 40 requires no mastering or other network components, and the primary terminals 42 are connected to the network only via the master PCB 3, there is no need for an engineer's cover 4 in this unit. Equally, there is no need for a further jack socket to connect with the jack plug 31 on the inside of the front panel 2 since the secondary unit can be disconnected from the network by removal of the front panel 2 of the master unit. Of course, a standard front panel, without the jack plug 31, could also be used for the secondary unit.

The double secondary unit formed using the double secondary PCB 41 requires a double front panel 47 as shown in Figure 1 to provide access to the two jack sockets 45 for local telephone connection. Thus, as illustrated in Figure 5, the double secondary unit is formed using the backbox 1, PCB 41, the double front panel 47 and the optional spacing frame 35. Again, the engineer's cover 4 and additional jack socket for disconnection from the network are not required.

As in the master unit, wiring of the secondary units can be easily performed with the backbox 1 fixed to the wall.

Figure 6 is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of the invention, again showing various alternatives for certain elements thereof. This embodiment utilises an alternative design of backbox 50 defining a recessed area 51 for reception of a master PCB 52. The backbox 50 can be fixed to the wall by screws received in screw holes 53. For greater flexibility, alternative screw fixing positions are provided by further screw holes 73 in the backbox. The PCB 52 in this embodiment has primary connector means in the form of IDC terminals 54 for connecting the master unit to the network. The secondary connector means for customer wiring in this embodiment are screw terminals 55. Again, the backbox 50 has lateral cable retaining channels 56 and 57 leading to cable access apertures 58 for receiving the network and secondary cables for connection to the terminals 54 and 55. Alternative rear cable access apertures (not visible in Figure 6) are provided at the bottom of the cable retaining channels 56 and 57 for optional cable access from the rear of the backbox.

Mounted on the PCB 52 are mastering components 59 and a jack socket 60 for connecting a single local telephone via a shutter 61 in a single front panel 62. A further jack socket 63 is provided for receiving a jack plug mounted on the interior of the front panel 62 to effect connection of the primary and secondary terminals 54 and 55 as in the embodiment previously described.

Again, an engineer's cover 65 is provided for connection to the backbox 50 by screws 66 which are received in screw holes 67 in the backbox. As before, the engineer's cover has apertures therein for providing access to the secondary terminals 55 and jack sockets 60 and 63 in use but inhibits access to the mastering components 59 and primary terminals 54 and forms with the backbox 50 a substantially moistureproof enclosure for the PCB 52. The front panel 62 is secured to the backbox by means of screws 70 which are received in screw holes 71 in the backbox via apertures 72 in the cover 65 in use.

An alternative master PCB 74 is shown in Figure 6 in which parts corresponding to those of the PCB 52 are labelled with like reference numerals. The PCB 74 is a double master PCB having two jack sockets 60 for connection of two local telephones. A double engineer's cover 75 and a double front panel 76 are provided for use with the PCB 74. Again, the double front cover has a jack plug projecting from the interior thereof to engage the jack socket 63 on the PCB 74 in use.

Figure 6 also shows four alternative PCBs to be used with the backbox 50 and one of the front covers 62, 76 but without an engineer's cover 65, 75. These comprise a single master PCB 78 having primary and secondary IDC terminals and a single jack socket for connection of a local telephone. Also shown is a single secondary PCB 79 having primary and secondary screw terminals for incoming and outgoing wiring and a single jack socket. A double secondary PCB 80 corresponds to the PCB 79 but has two jack sockets for connection of local lines, and a double master PCB 81 corresponds to the PCB 78 but again has two jack sockets for connection of local lines.

While a number of preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be appreciated that various changes and modifications may be made to those embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. For example, while the embodiments have been specifically described for connection of local telephone devices, the invention can also be applied to data outlet sockets.

Claims (3)

1. Telecommunications connection apparatus for connecting a telecommunications device to a telecommunications network, the apparatus comprising: a rear housing member for mounting on a wall; a front housing member which is releasably connectable to the rear housing member to form a housing and provides access therethrough for at least one jack plug; primary connector means, for reception in the housing, for connecting a telecommunications cable to the apparatus to connect the apparatus to the network; and at least one jack socket, operatively connected with the primary connector means, for receiving the said at least one jack plug via the front housing member in use to connect a telecommunications device or devices to the network; wherein the primary connector means and the jack socket(s) are mounted on the rear housing member in use.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including secondary connector means, for reception in the housing and connection to the primary connector means, for connecting at least one secondary cable to the apparatus, wherein the secondary connector means are mounted on the rear housing member in use.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the primary and secondary connector means and the said at least one jack socket are mounted on a circuit board, the rear housing member being arranged for mounting of the circuit board.