Electricity: conductors and insulators – Boxes and housings – Hermetic sealed envelope type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-31
2001-09-11
Wong, Peter S. (Department: 2838)
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Boxes and housings
Hermetic sealed envelope type
C174S056000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06288334
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to electronics for connection to a telephone line, and more specifically, to an electronics module that is connected to the back of a jack plate behind the surface of a wall.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In communications networks such as telephone systems, various electronics are located at the subscriber's dwelling, such as a business, home, or apartment. For dwellings wired with an Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL), which provides high speed data service, an electronics module called a POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) splitter is required to allow data and voice to be combined together on one twisted pair line. The POTS splitter is essentially a low pass filter that attenuates the data signal, and passes the voice signal.
Typically, for indoor ADSL service at a dwelling where no network interface device (NID) is provided, such as at an apartment building, the data and voice signals must be separated at the point where the line first enters the dwelling. In apartments, this is typically in the kitchen of each apartment unit.
Existing methods of separating the data and voice signals include mounting an electronics module on the outer surface of the wall, such as at the bottom of the wall. Not only is this surface-mounted module aesthetically unpleasing, but it is susceptible to damage from contact with persons or objects in the dwelling.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a method and device for housing electronics that are connected to a telephone line to be attached behind the surface of a wall rather than on the surface of the wall.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a module for allowing an enclosure containing circuitry or electronics to be connected to the back of a jack plate behind the surface of a wall. The electronics module may be, for example, an ADSL POTS splitter for isolating voice-band services from ADSL data and voice services at the subscriber premises. The module includes a generally rectangular enclosure that has at least two legs for being inserted into holes in the jack plate to attach the enclosure to the jack plate. The legs preferably extend downwardly below the bottom of the enclosure and are preferably located as far apart from each other as possible, such as on diagonal corners of a rectangular enclosure. The legs of the enclosure are inserted into the holes on the back face of the jack plate, which faces inwardly into the stud cavity of the wall when attached to a wall box. In this manner, the module is attached to the back face of the jack plate in the stud cavity of a wall, thereby achieving an aesthetically pleasing, space-saving connection.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4589719 (1986-05-01), Gentry
patent: 5114365 (1992-05-01), Thompson
patent: 6118347 (2000-09-01), Ohira
patent: 6144562 (2000-11-01), Voelzke et al.
patent: 6186826 (2001-02-01), Weikle
Antec Corporation
Boss Gerald R.
Laxton Gary L.
Troutman Sanders LLP
Wong Peter S.
LandOfFree
Electronics module attached to back face of jack plate does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Electronics module attached to back face of jack plate, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Electronics module attached to back face of jack plate will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2476611