Electrical connectors – Contact comprising cutter – Insulation cutter
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-21
2001-09-04
Patel, Tulsidas (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Contact comprising cutter
Insulation cutter
C439S521000, C439S417000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283785
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the field of telephone wire connector blocks and distribution systems, and specifically for a cap or seal for sealing a test channel of a 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 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 clasp for maintaining the top section in its closed position.
To open the top section, a user releases the clasp 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, which 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 are closed at all times, except when access is required to test a particular 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 test channel, a terminal strip disposed within the housing and in communication with the test channel, and a membrane that seals the test channel. In this way, unlike conventional connectors, which have test channels that are open at all times, the connector of the present invention does not include conventional test channels. Instead, the test channels are closed to outside contaminants by a membrane.
In addition, an access tool can be provided that includes a first plier member having a first jaw and a first grip pivotably mounted to the first jaw, a second plier member having a second jaw and a second grip pivotably mounted to the second jaw, and an awl having a first rod pivotably mounted to the first grip, a second rod pivotably mounted to the first rod and to the second grip, and a punch slidably mounted to the first and second jaws for sliding relative to the first and second jaws at a third position. At a first position, the first and second jaws are out of engagement with a cap of a connector; at a second position the first and second jaws are engaged with the cap of the connector, and at a third position, as the first and second grips are squeezed toward one another, the punch moves in a direction away from the tips of the first and second grips to pierce a hole in the membrane covering the test channel access point, thereby permitting the craftsperson to test the connector by inserting a test lead through the now open and accessible test channel and into contact with the terminal strip.
In addition, the connector can be provided with a seal that seals the test channel after the connector has been tested. The seal can have a body and a latch movable between a first position wherein the seal is not secured to the connector, and a second position wherein the seal is secured to the connector. In another embodiment, the seal can be a plug that is frictionally fastened within the test channel to seal the channel. Because the connector is generally sealed, the use of sealing gel may be minimized or eliminated.
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: 3611264 (1971-10-01), Ellis
patent: 3989334 (1976-11-01), Fortino
patent: 4396245 (1983-08-01), Lane
patent: 4662699 (1987-05-01), Vachhani et al.
patent: 4946393 (1990-08-01), Borgstrom et al.
patent: 5149281 (1992-09-01), Hills et al.
patent: 5240432 (1993-08-01), Daoud
patent: 5472352 (1995-12-01), Nishide et al.
patent: 5496192 (1996-03-01), Hower et al.
patent: 5971795 (1999-10-01), Daoud et al.
patent: 5993243 (1999-11-01), Daoud
patent: 6077112 (2000-06-01), Daoud et al.
Avaya Technology Corp.
Patel Tulsidas
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP
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