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: In a mounting bracket for a connector block of the type having an elongated wall and a plurality of spaced fingers extending therefrom, each of the fingers has a portion shaped to support the connector block. An insulation is provided along at least one surface of one or more of the fingers and a conductor is supported in spaced relation to the fingers upon or within the insulation. The conductor has an exposed contact at, below, or generally proximate the portion of the finger which supports the connector block. Also, the bracket may be used with a connector block of the type including a body and at least one end cap supported on the body. The end cap houses 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.

Abstract: A splice holder for securing and retaining fiber optic splices. The splice holder accommodates a higher density of splices than prior art splice holders, improves access to individual splices and minimizes interference to adjacent splices during removal. The splice holder comprises a plurality of parallel, spaced apart longitudinal members extending from a base. Adjacent pair of members define a channel for retaining a splice. Each channel is tilted having its longitudinal axis at an acute angle relative to the plane of the base such that a splice placed along a channel has one raised end further away from the bottom mounting surface of the base than the opposite end closer to the bottom mounting surface. The plurality of channels are alternatively tilted such that the channels are staggered at the front and rear edges of the base to facilitate access to the raised end of a splice without interfering with adjacent splices closer to the bottom mounting surface of the base.

Abstract: An expandable housing for plug-in protectors for accommodating printed wiring board of varying length. The improved housing comprises a shell unit and a base unit. Both the shell and base units have a hollow longitudinally extending body with an opening at the front and rear portions, respectively. On at least one of the inner sidewalls in the cavity of the body of the shell unit is a first set of teeth running horizontally to the longitudinal axis of the body. On at least one of the outer sidewalls on the body of the base unit is a corresponding second set of teeth running horizontally to the longitudinal axis of the body. The cavity of the base unit supports and receives a portion of a printed wiring board containing surge protective devices, which is connected to pins extending from the front portion of the body of the base unit.

Abstract: A wire-wrap connector block having a base that includes an articulable wall section that facilitates both automated wire-wrapping and potting procedures. During the wire-wrap procedure, the articulable wall section is latched in a position that permits the wire-wrap equipment to access the wire-wrap terminals without undesirable vertical movement of the wire-wrap equipment and wire. During the potting procedure, the articulable wall section is latched in a position in which the articulable wall section, together with another, non-articulable wall section, creates a substantially continuous wall about the bottom surface of the wire-wrap connector block base, defining a potting well or cavity within which potting material may be deposited.

Abstract: A security override system for a locked box comprising a hasp portion mounted within a box and extending through an opening in an outer door of the box; a bracket mounted to the outer door; the bracket having a hook at one end and movable between an open position wherein the hook is outside the box and a closed position wherein the hook extends through an opening in the outer door of the box; the bracket mating with the hasp portion when in the closed position and forming a padlock receiving portion; a padlock installed within the padlock receiving portion; the hook engaging a retention plate slideably mounted within the box; the retention plate slideably movable between an extended position wherein the retention plate engages the hook when the bracket is in the closed position and a retracted position wherein the retention plate does not engage the hook when the bracket is in the closed position; and wherein the bracket is movable from the closed position to the open position when the retention plate is move

Abstract: A clip assembly has a pivot pin and a plurality of elongated legs. All of the legs of the clip assembly are identical to each other. Each leg has at least one hinge portion at or near a first end of the leg. The hinge portion is substantially shorter than the leg. Each hinge portion has a hole. The holes of the hinge portions are aligned with each other. Each leg has a second end opposite the first end. The pivot pin passes through the hole in each one of the hinge portions without extending significantly beyond the hinge portions in the direction of the second ends of the legs. Each leg is freely rotatable about the pivot pin. The legs are located at positions defining a cylinder that has a longitudinal axis along which the pivot pin lies; preferably the assembly consists of the pivot pin and the plurality of legs, without a central post along the longitudinal axis of the cylinder.

Abstract: A hinge assembly for a box having a base and a cover and comprising a hinge section and a spring section. The hinge section has a pair of segments pivotally mounted to each other. Each segment has outer channel-forming knuckles extending from its outer side edge. The spring section has channel-forming knuckles which extend from each side edge which are pivotally mounted to the outer knuckles of the hinge section. The spring section applies pressure to the two segments of the hinge section in order to maintain the segments of the hinge section into conductive contact with each other and prevent inadvertent folding or unfolding of the segments of the hinge section, thereby preventing inadvertent opening or closing of the box. The outer knuckles of the hinge section and the knuckles of the spring section are pivotally connected together.

Abstract: The invention discloses an insulation displacement connector terminal having a snap type retention mechanism which securely retains the terminal within its cooperative housing. The terminal has a plurality of flexible tabs protruding from the surface of the terminal. While the terminal is being inserted into its housing, the tabs deflect to pass through the entry slot of the housing. Upon full insertion of the terminal within its housing, the tabs snap back to its original protruded position, wedging the terminal against the entry slot.

Abstract: A hinge which includes a first leaf member, a second leaf member, and a pin rotatably connecting the first leaf member to the second leaf member. The hinge also includes a first contact member connected to the first leaf member and a second contact member connected to the second leaf member. A contact portion of the first contact member and the second contact member establish an electrical connection with each other.

Abstract: A locking latch mechanism for an insulation displacement connector comprises a cap section including a biasing member, a base section and a latch member. The cap section is movable between an open position and a closed position. The base section is hingedly connected to the cap section and includes a latch retaining portion. The latch member is movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position such that the latch member maintains the cap section in the closed position when the latch member is in the engaged position. The latch member includes a latch engaging portion which is lockingly matingly engaged with the latch retaining portion to lock the latch in the engaged position, thereby maintaining the cap section in the closed position.

Abstract: A network interface unit with a base and cover having two layers of equipment with the upper layer being hinged to the base and the cover being hinged to an extension of the base. The hinged arrangement allows the cover and one of the layers of the equipment to be swung out to facilitate maintenance.

Abstract: A network interface unit having a plurality of modular layers mountable on each other in a consecutive manner with each modular layer having provisions for being hinged.

Abstract: A network interface device is attachable to an intermediate field of a building entrance protector unit. The network interface device includes a jack section having a jack which is designed to receive the plug of a standard telephone. The jack includes wire leads which may be connected to any of the terminals on the intermediate field. The jack section is mountable into a base module which is in turn attachable to the intermediate field by wedging a portion of the base module between adjacent terminals on the intermediate field. A plug section is pivotally connected to the jack section by a living hinge. The plug section includes a plug having a pair of conductive blades therein. The network interface device performs a connecting function when the plug is pivoted to a position within the jack, and the conductive blades establish an electrical connection between the wire leads connected to the telephone company network and the wire leads connected to the customer equipment.

Abstract: A trough for safely retaining and routing fiber optic cables having a predetermined minimum bend radius entering or exiting an opening of a building entrance protector. The trough comprises of a cylindrical elongated O-shaped body defining a hollow space therebetween for retaining the cables, and a semi-circular curved gap on the body which provides cables access to the space. A pair of ribs extend from the body for slidable engagement with slots of the openings of a building entrance protector. The cross-section of the cylindrical body and the semi-circular curved gap have a predetermined radius equals to or greater than the minimum bend radius prescribed for the fiber optic cables. The trough has two separate retention mechanisms for securing it with the openings of a building entrance protector. The first retention mechanism is of a protrusion-recess type, located at the ribs and slots of the opening respectively.

Abstract: A building entrance protector assembly for interconnecting outside plant wiring to consumer premises wiring. The building entrance protector includes an input termination device (28) for receiving wires contained within the outside plant wiring (12). Similarly, the building entrance protector also includes an output termination device (24) for receiving wires contained within the consumer premises wiring. A first connector port (52) is provided that is electrically connected to the output termination device. A grouping of fusible links (58) is also provided wherein the fusible links have a first end and an opposite second end. The first end (16) of the fusible links is electrically coupled to the input termination device. Furthermore, the second end of the fusible links terminates with a connector (60) that selectively engages the first connector port (52), thereby electrically interconnecting the input termination device to the output termination device.

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 tool-operated sliding security system for a lockable enclosure comprising a bracket mounted to an outer door of an enclosure, the bracket being movable between an open position and a closed position, the bracket having at least one cutout therein; the outer door having a tool-operated security member mounted thereto, the security member extending through the cutout and moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position; the outer door also comprising a tool-operated releasable retention member mounted thereto, the retention member releasably maintaining the outer door in a closed position; the bracket being immovable when the security member is in the engaged position and the bracket being movable when the security member is in the disengaged position; wherein the releasable retention member is accessible when the bracket is in the open position thereby rendering the outer door openable.

Abstract: A kit for labeling connector blocks to facilitate expansion and identification of connectors in one or more connector blocks. The kit provides modified connector blocks and a system for labeling the connector blocks. The connector block of the present invention comprises a base having spaced-apart rows of connectors and a raised pedestal corresponding to each row of connectors. A first set of pre-printed sequential numbers appear on the base identifying the leftmost connectors of each row. A second set of pre-printed sequential numbers appear on each connector across each row. In a configuration where two connector blocks are placed side-by-side, the raised pedestals of the first block advantageously overlap the first set of pre-printed numbers on the second block. Each raised pedestal further provides a surface for the application of self-adhesive labels to identify the leftmost connectors of each row on the second block.

Abstract: A network interface device is attachable to an intermediate field of a building entrance protector unit. The network interface device includes a jack section having a jack which is designed to receive the plug of a standard telephone. The jack includes wire leads which are connected to the telephone network terminals on the intermediate field. The jack section is mountable into a base module which is in turn attachable to the intermediate field by wedging a portion of the base module between adjacent terminals on the intermediate field. A plug section includes a plug having a pair of conductive blades therein which are connected to a pair of wire leads, which terminate in screw terminals for connection to the customer side equipment. The network interface device performs a connecting function when the plug is positioned within the jack, and an electrical connection is established between the wire leads connected to the telephone company network and the wire leads connected to the customer equipment.