Metal working – Means to assemble or disassemble – Means to disassemble electrical device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-20
2001-03-20
Young, Lee (Department: 3729)
Metal working
Means to assemble or disassemble
Means to disassemble electrical device
C029S762000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202295
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the field of wiring blocks that secure and organize cable-pair conductors, and more particularly, this invention relates to a method and a tool that removes a connecting block used for slicing through the insulation on cable-pair conductors of a wiring block.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The administration and equipment rooms of major telecommunication centers, office complexes and some residential homes typically include an electrical closet or other electrical wiring area having wiring frames that secure and organize many different cable-pair conductors. For example, Lucent Technologies manufactures a wiring block for GIGA speed-category 5 applications under the trade designation “110,” which can be mounted either directly on the walls or support surfaces in electrical closets, or mounted on a 110D wiring block mounted on a frame-mount application. This wiring block allows high density applications. These wiring blocks can be about 10″ or 11″ in width and have a height of about 3.5″. Index strips can extend across the wiring blocks and secure and organize up to 25 colored cable-pair conductors. The index strips are typically marked with different colors to help locate the color coded cable-pair conductors. The strips have pairs that are formed as male connectors that are color coded for receiving and matching different color coded cable-pair conductors in predetermined locations on the strips. A category 5 connecting block, such as the 110C connecting block from Lucent Technologies, can be formed as a three-pair, four-pair or five-pair connecting block. It is usually formed as a one-piece, fire-retardant, molded plastic housing that contains solder-plated quick clips that slice through the insulation on conductors as the connecting blocks are pushed onto the wiring block. The connecting blocks typically include attachment legs that grasp onto the male component of the wiring block.
In the past, if a connecting block was removed, then excessive force had to be applied onto the connecting block via a pair of pliers, which could damage the wires and assemblies, and the entire connection assembly. In addition, the use of excessive force restricted personnel who had motor skill/strength components.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and corresponding tool that allows a connecting block as described above to be removed from a wiring block without damaging the cable-pair conductors and other assemblies.
In accordance with the present invention, a novel and unobvious method is provided for removing a connecting block from a wiring block formed as a telecommunications board having front and rear surfaces. The rear surface is mounted adjacent to a support surface and forms a plenum between the telecommunications board and support surface where cable-pair conductors are contained. A plurality of male connectors are mounted on the telecommunications board and terminate in cable pair conductors. The male connectors are color coded for receiving and matching different colored coded cable pair conductors in predetermined locations.
A plurality of female connecting blocks are complementary fitting to the male connectors and include clips that slice through the insulation on the cable pair conductors. The female connecting blocks include opposing attachment legs that engage the male connectors for retaining the female connecting block onto the male connectors.
In one aspect of the present invention, the method comprises the further step of engaging the attachment legs of the connecting block with a removal tool having opposing lever arms that form pivoting jaws at one end and engage opposing attachment legs with the pivoting jaws. The opposing lever arms are depressed to spread outward the pivoting jaws and the attachment legs of the connecting block that are engaged by the pivoting jaws. The removal tool is pulled upward such that the connecting block is removed from the wiring block.
In still another aspect of the present invention, the opposing lever arms are formed as handles, and the step of depressing opposing lever arms comprises the step of manually depressing the handles. The removal tool can also include a base housing that rests against the telecommunications board. A drive mechanism is movably mounted within the housing and engages the lever arms for depressing the lever arms and spreading the pivoting jaws while also pulling upward on the lever arms for removing the connecting block from the wiring block.
The drive mechanism can include a slidable mounting arm movably mounted within the housing that engages the opposing lever arms and depresses and pulls upward on the lever arms. The pivoting jaws can further comprise a hook connecting against the connecting block. The telecommunications board can further comprise support legs that extend from the telecommunications board for supporting the telecommunications board against a support surface.
In still another aspect of the present invention, the telecommunications board can further comprise a plurality of horizontally extending index strips that extend across the telecommunications board. The index strips include areas that form the male connectors and are typically marked with tip colors to help locate different color coded cable pair conductors quickly. The connectors can typically accommodate 22-26 gauge conductors. In accordance with the present invention, a removal tool removes the connecting block from the wiring block.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3584525 (1971-06-01), Caveney et al.
patent: 3778750 (1973-12-01), Caveney et al.
patent: 3964148 (1976-06-01), Sturtevant
patent: 4756078 (1988-07-01), Dougherty et al.
patent: 5658166 (1997-08-01), Freeman et al.
patent: 5771945 (1998-06-01), Jenner et al.
Easter William
Evans Dale
Maze John
Miceli Frank
Allen Dyer Doppelt Milbrath & Gilchrist, P.A.
Lucent Technologies - Inc.
Smith Sean
Young Lee
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