Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Safety and protection of systems and devices – High voltage dissipation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-20
2001-06-05
Sherry, Michael J. (Department: 2836)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Safety and protection of systems and devices
High voltage dissipation
C361S111000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06243250
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an electrical connector having first terminals at a front thereof, and to which external electrical conductors may be secured to make electrical connections between the conductors and the first terminals, the connector being adapted to receive over-voltage protection devices so that the over-voltage protection devices are then coupled electrically to the first terminals for providing over-voltage protection to electrical circuits in use coupling to the first terminals via the external conductors, and releasable mounting means for releasable connection of the connector to support structure for the connector, wherein the connector has a mounting assembly positioned at the rear of the connector for receiving the over-voltage protection devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electrical connectors having terminals, such as for making releasable electrical connection to electrical conductors of a communications network, may be arranged to receive over-voltage protection devices which, in the event of an over-voltage condition on a conductor, act to provide a conductive path to ground. Such devices may be connected across respective pairs of conductors associated with respective communications circuits. Each over-voltage device may comprise a three terminal device, first and third terminals of which are in use connected to respective conductors of the pair with which it is associated. The second terminal is connected to ground. Under the condition of normal voltage across such a device, the device presents a high impedance as between all terminals, but under over-voltage conditions on either the first or second terminals, breakdown occurs to provide a conductive path from the terminal exhibiting the over-voltage to ground (earth). The provision of devices of this type is important in practical communications systems to prevent over-voltage conditions, arising for example from lightning strikes, from causing serious damage to the system.
Practically, in for example a telephone exchange, the connectors which releasably connect to the network conductors are arranged on suitable support structure with the terminals facing outwardly for ease of access, bearing in mind that alterations to the connections from the connector terminals to the conductors may need to be frequently made, to accommodate the needs of network users. In such a construction, the over-voltage protection devices may then be mounted to the fronts of the connectors. This mounting arrangement is convenient from the point of view of ease of access, since the over-voltage devices themselves may need to be accessed for replacement. However, mounting these in this fashion is also inconvenient in that the devices are then adjacent the connector terminals and inhibit convenient access to the connector terminals.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an electrical connector which may be arranged for receiving over-voltage such as to permit ready access to the connector terminals, and to permit access to the over-voltage devices in a simple manner.
In one aspect, the invention has a connector with a mounting assembly positioned at the rear of the connector for receiving the over-voltage protection devices.
The releasable mounting means may at least in part be formed by a conductive ground element, which in use of the connector makes releasable electrical connection to the support structure such that an electrical ground (earth) path is formed from the connector to an grounded (earthed) conductive portion of the support structure.
The first terminals may be carried by an insulative body of the connector, the mounting assembly having second terminals electrically connected to ones of the first terminals, the mounting assembly being adapted to receive the over-voltage protection devices so that these connect to the second terminals such that the over-voltage protection devices are coupled to the first terminals via the second terminals.
The mounting assembly may have an insulative structure and a circuit board, the second terminals being carried by the insulative structure and being electrically coupled to conductive tracks of the circuit board which are electrically coupled to the first terminals.
An electrically conductive ground (earth) element may be provided, in use of the connector forming part of or otherwise electrically coupling to the releasable mounting means, to provide a ground (earth) connection to the over-voltage protection devices. In one form, the ground element is arranged to releasably connect to the insulative body of the connector. Also in a particular form, the ground element may have gripping portions which are adapted to releasably grip the support structure to effect the releasable connection of the connector to the support structure. In the latter case, the gripping portions may be resilient and positioned adjacent to respective opposed portions of the connector, such that parts of the support structure may be resiliently gripped between the gripping portions and the opposed portions of the connector. The opposed portions may be formed on the ground element so that each gripping portion and its opposed portion define therebetween a respective rearwardly facing opening for receiving a respective part of the support structure. There may be a gripping portion and an associated opposed portion of the ground element at each end of the ground element.
A cover may be provided, covering the rear of the connector. This may be releasably attached to the insulative body of the connector.
The insulative body of the connector and the first terminals may form parts of a disconnection module, the first terminals being arranged in two parallel rows so that pairs of the first terminals, each comprising a first terminal in one row and an opposed first terminal in the other row, are defined, the first terminals having respective resilient contact portions, the resilient contact portions of the first terminals in each pair thereof being arranged so that in a first condition thereof they are resiliently biased into electrical contact with each other but, in a second condition thereof, are displaced out of direct electrical contact, by insertion of, for example, a test plug or an electrically insulative element therebetween so that they are forced apart against the resilient bias. In this arrangement, the resilient contact portions of each pair are electrically coupled in the first condition of these, and disconnected in the second condition. In arrangements of this kind, only the first terminals in one row of the first terminals may be arranged to be coupled to the over-voltage devices.
There may for example, be two spaced parallel rows of the second terminals, with an elongate portion of the ground element being positioned to extend parallel to and between the rows. The elongate portion of the ground element may be generally planar and arranged to form an outstanding barrier between ones of the over-voltage devices positioned at either face thereof. The elongate portion may have projections which connect to conductive tracks on the circuit board and thence via those tracks to ones of the second terminals.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4729064 (1988-03-01), Singer, Jr.
patent: 4822306 (1989-04-01), Klaiber
patent: 5435747 (1995-07-01), Franckx et al.
patent: 5543999 (1996-08-01), Riley
patent: 5546267 (1996-08-01), Frederiksen et al.
patent: 5574615 (1996-11-01), Busse et al.
patent: 5596475 (1997-01-01), Figueiredo et al.
patent: 5627721 (1997-05-01), Figueiredo et al.
patent: 5696820 (1997-12-01), Pelegris et al.
patent: 5779504 (1998-07-0
Krone GmbH
McGlew and Tuttle , P.C.
Sherry Michael J.
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