Electrical connectors – Contact comprising cutter – Insulation cutter
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-21
2001-09-25
Abrams, Neil (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Contact comprising cutter
Insulation cutter
C439S912000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293815
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the field of telephone wire connector blocks and distribution systems, and specifically to a tool for piercing the cap of a connector to provide a test channel for testing wiring connected to the connector and a connector cap for resealing the connector.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
In a telephone network, a network cable from the central office is connected to a building entrance protector (BEP) located at the customer site, where the individual telephone lines are broken out line-by-line. The network cable, which consist of a plurality of tip-ring wire pairs that each represent a telephone line, is typically connected to a connector block that forms a part of the BEP. Such connectors may be, for example, mini-rocker, tool-less-insulation-displacement (IDC)-type connectors, such as, for example, those sold by A. C. Egerton, Ltd. Other connectors used for telephony wiring applications are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,699 to Vachhani et al., dated May 5, 1987, and in U.S. Pat. No. 3,611,264 to Ellis, dated Oct. 5, 1971.
The customer telephone equipment is coupled through such an IDC connector to, for example, a central office telephone line. The mini-rocker connector generally has a top section that includes two wire insertion holes and a bottom section that houses a pair of terminal strips. The wire insertion holes each accommodate one wire of a tip-ring wire pair. The top section pivots about a generally hinged fixed axis located on the side opposite the wire insertion holes and has a movable latch for maintaining the top section in its closed position.
To open the top section, a user releases the latch member and pivots the top section to its open position. When the top section is in its open position, the terminal strips do not intersect the wire insertion holes, but when the top section is in its closed position, the terminal strips intersect the wire insertion holes. Therefore, to establish an electrical and mechanical connection between the wires and the terminal strips, a user first opens the top section (i.e., pivots the top section to its open position), inserts the pair of wires, and then closes the top section. Upon closing the top section of the connector, the wires are brought into electrical and mechanical contact with the terminal strips. To remove the wires and/or break the electrical connection, the process is reversed.
To verify the integrity of a telephone line, the telephone line may be tested at the connector. The size of a connector makes it difficult for a craftsperson to manipulate the connector without the risk of compromising the connection between the wire and the terminal strip within the connector. For this reason, conventional connectors have been designed to afford test access by providing test channels that are open at all times. In this way, the chance of disrupting the electrical connection during testing is minimized. The connector itself, however, is left vulnerable to elements, such as dust or other particles, that can damage the integrity of the connector and the electrical connection. To minimize potential damage to the connector, it is desirable to provide a connector that has test channels that minimize the ingression of elements that can damage the connector.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed at overcoming the shortcomings of the prior art. A connector can be provided that includes a housing having a top portion, a test channel formed in the housing, and a terminal strip, a portion of which is disposed within the test channel. A membrane is fixed to the top portion of the housing for substantially closing one end of the test channel to prevent contaminants from entering the test channel. The membrane is preferably formed of an elastic material and may have a very small aperture that communicates with the test channel but also essentially seals the test channel. In this way, unlike the conventional connector, which has test channels that are open to outside contaminants, the present connector is essentially sealed from outside contaminants.
A conventional testing device having a tapered test probe may be used to access the test channel either by piercing the membrane to create an aperture or by engaging the small aperture formed in the membrane with the test probe. In either case, the craftsperson presses the test probe into the test channel and the aperture formed in the membrane stretches to accommodate the test probes, thereby permit permitting the craftsperson to test the connector by contacting the terminal strip with the test probe. Preferably, the membrane is so formed as to be resilient enough to permit passage of the test probe therethrough, but possessed of sufficient shape memory to press against the probe when the probe is inserted and return to its original shape (having the very small aperture) when the probe is removed.
When the test probe is withdrawn from the test channel, the membrane returns to its original shape, which again prevents contaminants from entering the interior of the connector. Thus, in contrast to the prior art connector, the present invention prevents contamination of the connector before, during and after a test procedure has been performed on the connector, and provides easy access to the terminal strip to test the electrical connection of the connector.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings, which are not to scale, are designed solely for the purpose of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3127230 (1964-03-01), Marquis et al.
patent: 3571779 (1971-03-01), Collier
patent: 3885850 (1975-05-01), Witte et al.
patent: 4722579 (1988-02-01), Cummings et al.
patent: 4971567 (1990-11-01), Mizuno et al.
patent: 4978315 (1990-12-01), Edgley et al.
patent: 5484304 (1996-01-01), Capper et al.
Abrams Neil
Lucent Technologies - Inc.
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP
Zarroli Michael C.
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