Abstract: A surge protector for an electrical line is disclosed. The surge protector includes a pair of conductive pins respectively connectable to electrical lines. A first pin is soldered to a lead from a gas tube surge arrester. The lead is further fixed adjacent to the first pin and then attached to the second pin. A ground bracket having an opening is positioned between and connected with the other side of the surge arrester. As an electrical surge travels through the lines, the gas tube surge arrester begins to spark over, shunting overload conditions to the ground bracket. As the temperature begins to build, the solder flows, causing an open condition in which the surge arrester disconnects from the first pin, thereby eliminating the destructive effects of a prolonged electrical surge on the lines.

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 protector cartridge circuit arrangement which permits more robust line protection. The circuit arrangement has high-capacity and large-sized components staggered across the surface of a printed circuit board such that high-capacity components can be used in the cartridge to protect plural, adjacent lines. Such devices cannot be used in pair-at-a-time protectors because of space constraints. A preferred industrial application is the protection of communication lines.

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: In a connector block of the type including a body and at least one end cap supported on the body, the end cap housing a plurality of terminals with conductive contacts extending therefrom into the body. A conductive power bus including a rail, a plurality of fingers and a leaf-spring tail is coupled to the connector block, with the power bus positioned clear of electrical contact with the terminals or the conductive contacts. The power bus rail is seated within the connector block between the body and the end cap. The power bus fingers extend within the body from the rail and are positioned between the conductive contacts. The power bus leaf-spring tail extends external of the body. The connector block can cooperate with a suitably configured mounting bracket having a power bus and plural fingers which terminate in electrical contacts to transfer power therebetween to energize subsystems such as protector circuits that may be coupled to the connector block.

Abstract: In a communications arrangement, a copper wire pair arrangement traditionally used to provide a plain old telephone service (POTS) is also used to provide an asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) service. To that end, a patch cord in accordance with the invention is used to re-arrange communications connections in a terminal where both POTS channel unit and ADSL channel unit are deployed. Advantageously, the combined service is efficiently realized by such a re-arrangement, with the existing POTS virtually uninterrupted.

Abstract: Disclosed is a protector device designed for insertion in connecting blocks. The device includes a ground connector which has a detent on one end for receiving a ground bar from the connecting block. The other end of the connector contacts the ground electrode of a voltage surge protector element when the ground bar is inserted without any forces supplied by the housing.

Abstract: A modular connector block system used for making terminations of telephone circuit wires. The system enables terminal blocks of different size and density to be formed utilizing similar insulated housings and hardware. Connector modules having multiple pairs of insulation displacement connecting (IDC) terminals, for example, 8 or 10 pair per module, are insertable into a mounting bracket to form the double-sided connecting block. The 8 and 10-pair connector modules utilize an identical insulated housing to save on tooling costs. The same mounting hardware may also be utilized for either module. In addition, certain accessories, such as, circuit protection modules and terminal caps, used for enclosing the terminations, are likewise insertable onto either connector module. Each type of accessory shares an essentially identical housing, which further saves a manufacturer in terms of tooling costs and number of different components that must be produced.

Abstract: Disclosed is a voltage and current protector device designed for insertion in connecting blocks. The current and voltage protection elements of the protector are mounted on a printed circuit board which has a conductive pattern on both major surfaces such that the elements can be mounted on either surface and the lead portion of the circuit board of the protector device can be inserted into the top or bottom surface slot of a connecting block depending upon which surface the elements are mounted.

Abstract: A mounting arrangement between connector modules of a double-sided modular connecting block and polarity sensitive current and voltage limiting circuit protection devices. Connector modules having multiple pairs of insulation displacement connecting (IDC) terminals are insertable into a mounting bracket to form the double-sided connecting block. Exclusionary posts are selectively molded into a front and rear side of the connector modules and correspond to each pair of terminals. The posts on the front of a connector module align and mate with a cavity included on a front-mounted current and voltage limiting protection device. Similarly posts molded in a different location on the rear side of the connector module align and mate with a cavity included in a rear-mounted protection module. The corresponding posts and cavities create an exclusionary key and slot interface which prevents circuit protection devices of improper polarity from being inserted within the wrong side of a connector module.