Abstract: A balanced heat coil protector protects telecommunications equipment from excessive sneak currents through a telecommunications circuit having a ring conductor and a tip conductor. An electrically conductive grounding pin is supported within and extends through the base for providing a path to ground potential. A first electrically conductive line pin and a first electrically conductive central office pin are supported in the base and extend therethrough, the first line pin and first central office pin being electrically connected to each other by a first conductive wire to provide a normal circuit current path from the first line pin to the first central office pin.

Abstract: An insulation displacement contact (IDC) strain relief cap to interconnect a wire with an electrical contact is disclosed. The strain relief cap has a “U” shaped end to engage and retain the wire and is engageable with the contact. Means in the form of two star shaped openings are provided on the strain relief cap to retain the wire whereby the electrical contact, wire, and strain relief cap may be moved as a single unit. The star shaped openings and “U” shaped member allow for flexible retention of the wire to the strain relief cap.

Abstract: A grounding device connected to telecommunications equipment for providing protection against high voltage surges. The grounding device includes an electronic module clip having first and second legs and defining first and second current carrying branches. A discharge member is provided in contact with the clip for providing a discharge path to common ground for current carried by the clip as a result of a high voltage surge. The discharge member and clip are interfaced in a manner to reduce the magnetic force generated in the second leg by a voltage surge and preventing the deformation and separation of the discharge member from the clip.

Abstract: A grounding device connected to telecommunications equipment for providing protection against high voltage surges. The grounding device includes an electronic module clip having first and second legs for carrying high current of relatively short duration produced by a high voltage surge to ground. A discharge member is provided in electrical contact with the clip between the first and second legs for providing a discharge path through a mounting base to common ground for electrical current carried by the clip. The discharge member has first and second arms and a curved or bent region formed therebetween and having an opening directed toward and the base. This configuration of the discharge member causes the Lorentz force produced by a high voltage surge to be focused in the curved region which expands in a direction towards the electronic module clip to thereby ensure continued contact between the clip and discharge member.

Abstract: A modular jack receptacle that includes a plurality of removable interfaces that provide for interconnection between and among the plurality of interfaces and a modular jack held by the receptacle. Each of the removable interfaces include two terminals mounted on a printed circuit board and each connected to a circuit trace. Each interface may also include, as a routine matter of design choice, electronic devices, circuits, connectors, etc., to provide for additional functionality of the interface. The modular jack receptacle provides increased flexibility in diagnostic and test capability for a particular communication line from a Central Office (CO) to a customer premise location and simplified replacement of electronic devices installed in series with a communication line.

Abstract: A modular jack receptacle that includes a plurality of removable interfaces that provide for interconnection between and among the plurality of interfaces and a modular jack held by the receptacle. Each of the removable interfaces include two terminals mounted on a printed circuit board and each connected to a circuit trace. Each interface may also include, as a routine matter of design choice, electronic devices, circuits, connectors, etc., to provide for additional functionality of the interface. The modular jack receptacle provides increased flexibility in diagnostic and test capability for a particular communication line from a Central Office (CO) to a customer premise location and simplified replacement of electronic devices installed in series with a communication line.

Abstract: A thermal overload mechanism for providing protection to tip and ring conductors in a telecommunications system in the event of a power cross occurrence of telephone lines with power lines. The thermal overload mechanism includes a clip having front and rear spring members dimensioned for seating about a spacer element. The spacer element includes one or more recesses defined therein for accommodating securement of solid state devices. The recesses formed in the spacer elements contain a breachable membrane or wall which is breakable in the event the membrane temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature such as a temperature occurring in the event of a power cross situation. A contact configured for seating within the recess between the membrane and solid state device is provided for maintaining electrical contact with the tip and ring wires.

Abstract: A telecommunications protection unit includes a voltage unit having an electrically insulating base configured to house a diode module assembly and a voltage limiting cell therein. The voltage limiting cell and diode module assembly are retained within the housing by a bus clip. The housing includes structure for preventing damage to the voltage limiting cell and diode module assembly during placement of the bus clip thereon. The diode module assembly is a one-piece article including a bus bar and several diodes and terminals which can be used by itself or in a voltage unit to provide desired electrical effects and facilitate assembly of an electrical system such as a telecommunications protection unit.

Abstract: A strain relief for an insulation displacement connector contains a cap section and a base section connected to the cap section at a pivot point. The cap section has at least one wire insertion channel and a first wall. The wire insertion channel has an entrance aperture which is in fluid communication with an exit aperture for passage therethrough in an insertion of an inserted wire. The exit aperture is contained in the first wall. The cap section is pivotally moveable between an open position which facilitates insertion of the wire into the cap section through the entrance aperture and out through the exit aperture, and a closed position. The base section has a side wall and a base hole or depression formed in the base section at the foot of the side wall. The base hole includes a wire stop portion at its bottom.

Abstract: A contact wire connector includes a housing connected to an insulation displacement contact (IDC) and a contact sleeve. A strain relief member is connected to the housing opposite the IDC. The contact sleeve connects to a pin of a substrate and the IDC connects to an insulated wire which establishes an electrical connection between the substrate and the insulated wire. The strain relief member engages the insulated wire to maintain the electrical connection in an unstrained state.

Abstract: A grounding device for interfacing telecommunications equipment connected through tip and ring conductors and an electronic module with a grounding path for discharging current surges and voltage spikes. The grounding mechanism includes a voltage discharge member mounted between the electronic module and a mounting base for discharging voltage spikes from the electronic module through a grounding path in the mounting base. A biasing member is provided for applying restorative displacement force to the electronic module in a direction opposite to the direction of a force applied to the electronic module by a voltage spike, to thereby ensure and maintain electrical contact between the electronic module and the discharge member.

Abstract: A terminal strip with an integrated strain relief mechanism is deployed in an insulation displacement connector that contains a cap section, a base section including at least one terminal strip, and a latch member. The cap section is movable between an open position and a closed position and has therein at least one terminal strip receiving portion and at least one wire insertion channel for holding a wire. The channel has an entrance aperture for entry of the wire. The open position facilitates entry of the wire into the channel. When the cap section is in the closed position, the terminal strip is contained within the cap in the terminal strip receiving portion. The terminal strip includes a first arm having a first arm recess and a second arm having an offset tab. The latch member is movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position such that when the latch member is in the engaged position, it maintains the cap section in the closed position.

Abstract: A connector having improved dielectric strength is provided and includes a lower portion having a front side and a rear side and a bottom, a pair of terminal disposed in the lower portion, each of the pair of terminals having a side extension and a wire wrap tail, one of the pair of terminals being disposed in the lower portion toward the front side, the other of the pair of terminals being disposed in said lower portion toward the rear side thereby forming a gap between the side extensions of each of the pair of terminals. A base having a pair of terminal openings for receiving the pair of terminals, respectively, with the base being dimensioned and shaped for receiving the lower portion. A protruding wall is disposed in the base between the pair of terminal openings. A notch is disposed on the bottom of the lower portion, the notch being dimensioned and shaped so that when the lower portion is placed in the base, the protruding wall is matingly engaged with the notch.

Abstract: A telecommunications protection unit includes a voltage unit having an electrically insulating base configured to house a diode module assembly and a voltage limiting cell therein. The voltage limiting cell and diode module assembly are retained within the housing by a bus clip. The housing includes structure for preventing damage to the voltage limiting cell and diode module assembly during placement of the bus clip thereon. The diode module assembly is a one-piece article including a bus bar and several diodes and terminals which can be used by itself or in a voltage unit to provide desired electrical effects and facilitate assembly of an electrical system such as a telecommunications protection unit.

Abstract: A telecommunications protection unit includes a voltage unit having an electrically insulating base configured to house a diode module assembly and a voltage limiting cell therein. The voltage limiting cell and diode module assembly are retained within the housing by a bus clip. The housing includes structure for preventing damage to the voltage limiting cell and diode module assembly during placement of the bus clip thereon. The diode module assembly is a one-piece article including a bus bar and several diodes and terminals which can be used by itself or in a voltage unit to provide desired electrical effects and facilitate assembly of an electrical system such as a telecommunications protection unit.

Abstract: A fastener for simultaneously mounting adjacently disposed building entrance protectors (BEP) units to a mounting panel and for grounding the units to each other. The fastener includes a tapered and preferably threaded shaft for facilitating securement of the fastener into the mounting panel, such as by screwing or the like. A lip is integrally formed on the shaft and a clamping element, such as a nut, is movably engaged with an untapered opposite end of the shaft so that when rotated about the shaft opposite end, the nut is translated into close proximity with the lip. When mounting tabs from adjacent BEP units are placed between the nut and lip, and the nut is then rotatably tightened, the mounting tabs are placed in electrical contact to provide a grounding connection between the BEPs while securing the adjacent BEPs to the mounting panel.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus, method, and resulting product involving soldering of components, such as the soldering of flexible circuits to printed circuit boards. Holes are provided in the areas of one component which are to be soldered to pads on the other component. Precise amounts of solder are provided to each pad, preferably by means of a shuttle element which carries solder paste in cavities corresponding to the pads and which deposits the solder on the pads when the solder is melted. The holes in the component are aligned with the pads, and the solder is reflowed so that a visible solder fillet is formed above the holes to permit inspection of the solder joint.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus involving soldering of components, such as the soldering of flexible circuits to printed circuit boards. Holes are provided in the areas of one component which are to be soldered to pads on the other component. Precise amounts of solder are provided to each pad, preferably by a shuttle element which carries solder paste in cavities corresponding to the pads and which deposits the solder on the pads when the solder is melted. The holes in the component are aligned with the pads, and the solder is reflowed so that a visible solder fillet is formed above the holes to permit inspection of the solder joint.