GB2381132A

GB2381132A - Telecommunication connector for connection to an earth rail

Info

Publication number: GB2381132A
Application number: GB0124779A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Philip Bennett
Original assignee: Channell Ltd
Current assignee: Channell Ltd
Priority date: 2001-10-16
Filing date: 2001-10-16
Publication date: 2003-04-23
Also published as: GB0124779D0

Abstract

A telecommunications connector comprises a base part 10 for attachment to a rail 36, the base part 10 having latches to enable it to engage with the rail 36, at least one of the latches comprising a resilient beam 24 with a hook 26 at its free end. The beam 26 is curved when in its rest state and can be made to deflect outwards thereby to accommodate an incoming rail 36. Further hooks 32,34 can be provided in order to cater for wider rails.

Description

TELECOMMUNICATIONS CONNECTOR The present invention relates to a telecommunications connector.

Telecommunications connectors are normally mounted in arrays on an earth rail. There are various standard earth rails around the world, of differing designs and dimensions. One problem that faces the designers of such devices is in providing a connector which can be physically secured to the rail in a manner which is reliable over the long term. If the physical connection is insufficiently secure than in addition to any mechanical damage that may be caused to the connector, the earth connection that is made via the rail will be lost and the electrical performance for device may be impaired. Telecommunications devices that include active or passive circuitry or protective elements for the line often rely on an earth connection.

Previously, the connection to the earth rail has been by way of fixed lugs that require a physical effort to engage but provide good security. Other forms of attachment have been proposed, including sliding elements which lock into place around the rail to secure the device in position. However, these involve the assembly of several parts which adds the cost of the unit.

The present invention therefore provides a telecommunications connector comprising a base part for attachment to a rail, the base part having latches to enable it to engage with the rail, at least one of the latches comprising a flexible beam with a hook at its free end.

It is preferred that the beam is curved when in its rest state. We have found that such beams when curved can be made to deflect outwards thereby to accommodate an incoming rail. Likewise, the beam preferably extends from an attachment point in the base towards an outer edge of the base, which will reinforce the outward nature of its opening.

It is further preferred that the latches of the base part include at least one beam together with at least one lug opposed to the beam. This enables a rail to be secured between the lug and the hook of the beam. Two lugs are preferred as this gives a stable three-point attachment. The beam preferably extends away from the lugs. Further lugs can be provided opposed to the first lugs, and located beyond the end of the beam in order to cater for wider rails. As the beam is flexible, attachment of a wider rail will push it out of the way and allow it to come to rest or be secured behind the further lugs.

More than one beam could be provided in order to cater for a range of different widths of rail. Attaching the device to a wider rail would simply push out of the way those beams designed for a narrower rail.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which; Figure 1 is a perspective view from beneath of a base unit for a telecommunications connector;

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the base unit of figure 1, fitted on an earth rail ; and Figure 3 is a section as figure 2 but showing a telecommunications connector incorporating a base part, the whole assembly being fitted in place on an earth rail.

Referring to figure 1, a base part 10 for a telecommunications connector comprises a generally planar frame 12 in which are defined various recesses and apertures such as 14 which are present for unrelated purposes and which are thus irrelevant to the present invention. The frame is generally elongate in form and, in use, lies transverse on an earth rail so that opposing ends of the frame attach to opposing sides of the earth rail.

A first pair of lugs 16,18 together define a latch arrangement which can attach to one side of a earth rail. Each lug comprises an upstanding part which extends away from the plane of the frame and an inturned tip which returns transverse to the upstand. Thus, an edge of an earth rail can locate beneath the inturn and will be secured.

A handle 20 forms a loop around the end of the frame 12 proximate the lugs 16, 18 and is attached at the tip of the upstands thereof. Thus, the handle 20 forms a lever which can deflect the lugs. In use, the handle 20 can be manipulated by hand or by a tool such as a screwdriver blade in order to deflect the lugs 16,18 and release an earth rail secured beneath the inturns thereof.

An aperture 22 is formed in the frame 12, extending along the centre thereof from a central region towards the end distant from the lugs16, 18. A beam 24 is located mainly within the aperture 22, secured at the edge thereof near the centre of the frame 12. The beam is curved, and extends through the depth

of the frame 12 from an upper side at its start where It is secured, to beneath the lower side at its end. A hook 26 is formed at the end of the beam.

At the centre of the underside of the frame 12, a dimple 28 is provided, between a pair of dovetailed retainers 30. This acts as an attachment point for an earth clip, as will be explained later.

A second pair of lugs 32,34 are also provided, similar in form to the first pair. These are positioned beyond the reach of the beam 24 and are thus able to secure earth rails of an much greater width, in a known and conventional manner.

Figure 2 shows the base unit in place on an earth rail 36. To attach the base unit to the rail, one edge 38 of the earth rail 36 is seated beneath the first lugs 16,18, with the rail at an angle. As the rail is rotated towards the frame 12, its second edge 40 approaches the beam 24. Initially it will strike the hook 26 and deflect the flexible beam 24. When it clears the hook 26, the resilience of the beam 24 will cause the hook 26 to return and engage beneath the edge 40 of the rail 36.

The rail 36 will then be secured at on edge by the first lugs 16,18 and at the other edge by the hook 26. Little physical effort IS required and thus the risk of damage to the base unit 10 or a telecommunications device attached thereto is minimal.

Figure 2 shows the earth clip 42. This is an elongate strip of metal with a hole for receiving the dimple 28. When thus fitted, the edges of the strip are held by the dovetailed retainers 30. As shown in figure 2, the clip 42 is bent into a Vformation such that when the earth rail is fitted, one end of the clip 42 presses against the earth rail to give a good electrical connection. Another end of the clip 42 then rests beneath an aperture 44 in the frame 12 to allow access to the earth

connection for devices supported on the base unit 12.

Figure 3 shows the base unit 10 fitted to an earth rail 36, and with a telecommunications device 46 fitted to the upper face of the base unit 10. The device 46 attaches to the base unit by conventional latches (not shown) and, in this case, comprises a former in which can be fitted electrical contacts and modules for making telecommunications connections.

It will be appreciated that many variations may be made to the abovedescribed embodiment which is for illustrative purposes only, without departing from the scope of the present invention

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A telecommunications connector comprising a base part for attachment to a rail, the base part having latches to enable it to engage with the rail, at least one of the latches comprising a flexible beam with a hook at its free end.
2. A telecommunications connector according to claim 1 in which the beam is curved when in its rest state.
3. A telecommunications connector according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the beam extends from an attachment point in the base towards an outer edge of the base.
4. A telecommunications connector according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the latches of the base part include at least one beam together with at least one lug opposed to the beam.
5. A telecommunications connector according to claim 4 comprising two lugs to thereby to give a three-point attachment.
6. A telecommunications connector according to claim 4 or claim 5 in which the beam extends away from the lugs.
7. A telecommunications connector according to any one of claims 4 to 6 in which further lugs are provided, opposed to the first lugs, located beyond the end of the beam.

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8. A telecommunication connector according to any one of the preceding claims in which more than one beam is provided thereby to cater for a range of different widths of rail.
9. A telecommunications connector substantially as herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying figures.