Abstract: A housing for distributing conductors from a cable includes an enclosure, and an insertable chamber separator detachably mounted to and disposed within the enclosure for dividing the enclosure into chambers. The separator includes a first dividing wall for dividing the volume of the enclosure along a first plane and a second dividing wall for dividing the volume of the enclosure along a second plane.

Abstract: A network interface device is connectable to the terminals of an intermediate field of a building entrance protector unit. The network interface device includes a jack which is design to receive the plug of a standard telephone. The jack has a connector portion having a plurality of spring clips which are insertable onto the terminals of the intermediate field. A plug section is pivotally connected to the jack 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 telephone company network and the customer equipment. When there is a need to disconnect the customer from the telephone company network or to test the system, the plug can simply be pivoted out of the jack, and a standard working telephone can be plugged into the jack for line testing purposes.

Abstract: A building entrance protector terminal comprises a housing unit having a plurality of sidewalls and a bottom wall. The sidewall includes an opening that extends from a portion within the sidewall to its rim. A sliding panel is disposed within the opening. A knockout portion is disposed within the sidewall and adjacent the opening, such that when the sliding panel is removed the knockout portion is accessible from the edge of the sidewall.

Abstract: A network interface unit with a base is disclosed and has a plurality of modular layers mountable on each other in a consecutive manner with each layer having provisions for being hinged. The first modular layer folds over the base and the second modular layer folds over the first modular layer in a manner so as to provide a compact network interface unit.

Abstract: An expandable enclosure with a base having a stationary section and a sliding section. The stationary section has a pair of side edges, each of which has elongated guide tracks formed thereon. The sliding section similarly has a pair of side edges each of which has a second set of elongated guide tracks which slide matingly with the first elongated guide track such that the base can be enlarged by sliding the sliding section relative to the stationary section from a closed position into an expanded position. A preferred embodiment of the invention has a door or cover having a stationary section and a sliding section.

Abstract: A plug-in surge protector having an improved handle for facilitating and isolating the removal of an individual protector from a protector panel without interfering with adjacent protectors. The plug-in protector comprises a body having a front end and a rear end. Extending from the rear end of the body are terminals for plugging into sockets on a protector panel. Extending from the front end of the body is a handle having a reduced width and concave upper and lower surfaces. On the concave surfaces are horizontal teeth running across the width of the handle. It is preferable that the teeth are tilted towards the rear end of the body and against the direction of removal of the protector from the panel. The reduced width of the handle allows the removal of a single protector without touching or interfering with adjacent protectors plugged into the panel. The teeth on the handle increases the frictional surface area to facilitate removal of the protector from the panel.

Abstract: A network interface unit is disclosed having two layers of equipment and a hinged arrangement that allows the layers of the equipment to be swung out away from each other to facilitate maintenance and to decrease wiring density, while at the same time also providing side expansion capabilities of the network interface unit.

Abstract: A building entrance protector swivel cable mounting arrangement without a feed through hole requirement has an output wire termination device, a barrier wall comprises a fire-resistant plate for isolating the swivel cable from the output wire termination device within the building entrance protector. The fire-resistant plate has a narrow opening comprised of a primary aperture and a wiring access slot. The wiring access slot permits insertion of terminated individual wiring into the primary aperture. A method in accordance with the present invention is also described.

Abstract: A network interface unit is disclosed having a plurality of modular layers mountable on each other in a consecutive manner with each layer being hinged and having at least one passageway for passing wires to and from the modular layers.

Abstract: A security override system for a locked box comprising a hasp portion connected to a bracket slideably mounted within a locked box, the hasp portion extending through an opening in an outer door of the box; the bracket being movable between a closed position, wherein the hasp portion mates with the opening to form a padlock receiving portion, and an open position, wherein the hasp portion does not mate with the opening to enable the selective insertion and removal of a locked padlock in the padlock receiving portion without first unlocking the padlock; a cam member attached to the box and controllable from outside the box; the cam member comprising a pushing portion positioned and dimensioned to cooperate with a corresponding cutout in the bracket such that the bracket is movable between the open position and the closed position by the interaction of the cam member pushing portion with the cutout.

Abstract: A network interface device is disclosed that connects a plug of a telephone test equipment to the telephone lines of the central office of a telephone service supplier, while at the same time disconnects customer's telephone lines from the telephone lines of the central office. Conversely, when the plug of the telephone test equipment is removed, the customer's telephone lines are reconnected to the telephone lines of the central office. The connection/disconnection is accomplished simultaneously by the insertion of the plug of the telephone test equipment into the cavity of a jack of the network interface device.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for reducing the wear on a wire traversing a pivot or hinge and extending from first wiring layer to a second wiring layer that is pivotably attached to the first wiring layer by the hinge for pivotable angular movement from a closed position, in which the second wiring layer is in overlying relationship with the first wiring layer, to an opened position, in which the second wiring layer is pivoted away from the first wiring layer. A first wire guide is disposed on the first wiring layer and the second wire guide is disposed on the second wiring layer. The wire guides channel the wire so that should the second wiring layer be in the closed position, the wire would be subjected to both rotational and bending forces.

Abstract: A grommet for sealing the interface between two vertically stacked building entrance protector and for protecting wires and/or cables traversing through openings of one building entrance protector to another. The grommet comprises a tubular body defining an axial passageway therebetween wherein cables and/or wires traverse. The tubular body has a diameter the same or smaller than the openings on the sidewall of the upper building entrance protector such that the tubular body fits within the opening. At one end of tubular body is an integral annular base having a diameter larger than the opening on the sidewall of the lower building entrance protector. Radially extending from the mid section of the tubular body towards annular base is an integral flange having a diameter larger than the annular base and having at least one circular ridge.

Abstract: A building entrance protector having a housing unit. The housing unit is provided with a plurality of walls and a sidewall, the sidewall defining an outer side and an inner side. A door is coupled to the sidewall and rotatable about an axis of rotation with the door defining a frictionally engaging edge. The door is positionable between a closed position and a secured opened position. A frictionally engaging member is mounted on the outer side of the sidewall so that when the door is moved from the closed position to the secured opened position, the frictionally engaging edge interferes with the engaging member to restrain the door. Additionally, the distance from the axis of rotation to the frictionally engaging edge of the door is less than the distance from the axis of rotation to a frictionally engaging portion of the frictionally engaging member.

Abstract: A miniature electrical connector assembly including a plurality of detachable pivoting assemblies arrayed in a housing and anchored to a base. A plurality of pivoting assemblies are formed with a frangible grooved spacer in between. Each pivoting assembly is capable of receiving two electrical wires and two terminals, each terminal having insulation displacement portions. As the pivoting assembly is rotated from the open to the closed position, a wire is guided into a wire interface between sharp edges of a pair of prongs. The sharp edges slice the insulation, creating an electrical connection when the pivoting assembly is in the closed position. The electric wire may be easily removed by pulling on it, thus rotating the pivoting assembly to the open position. Through this arrangement, a wire may be replaced without affecting adjacent connections. The lower portion of the terminal may include a second pair of prongs to receive and create an electrical connection with a second wire.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly simply, and securely, grounds a shielding layer of a telephone cable to a conductive, grounded electrical box housing a protector module. During assembly, an insulation layer is removed from an end of the telephone cable to expose a portion of the shielding layer. The exposed portion of the shielding layer is folded back onto an adjacent, remaining portion of the insulation layer. A first sleeve is inserted into the end of the telephone cable and resides beneath a portion of the shielding layer. A second sleeve, formed of an electrically conductive material, is physically and electrically attached to the electrical box. The end of the telephone cable, having the first sleeve inserted therein, is inserted into the second sleeve.

Abstract: An adjustment fixture for aligning pins on a protector panel to facilitate insertion of a printed wiring board thereon. The adjustment fixture includes an alignment comb having a plurality of substantially parallel beams, each having a thickness. The comb is placed between rows or columns of pins on the protector panel to straighten and impede unintended displacement or movement of the pins. A beam receptacle brace is provided for attachment to an end of the beams so as to maintain the beams in an appropriate fixed spacing so that the printed wiring board can be mounted to the pins.

Abstract: A tool-less insulation displacement connector block for selectively routing wiring connections contains a first terminal strip, a second terminal strip and a third terminal strip which are disposed on the connector block. The first terminal strip has a first wire receiving terminal which is electrically connected to a first output connector. The second terminal strip has a second wire receiving terminal which is electrically connected to a second output connector. Similarly, the third terminal strip has a third wire receiving terminal which is electrically connected to a third output connector. The connector block also contains a unitary cap which encapsulates the first, second and third output connectors. The cap has a bridging device which can be used for selectively connecting either the first output connector or the third output connector to the second output connector thereby establishing an electrical connection between the second wire receiving terminal and the selected output connector.

Abstract: An electrically conductive hinge includes an electrically conductive first plate with a plurality of knuckles having openings. An electrically conductive second plate of the hinge also includes a plurality of knuckles having openings. The pluralities of knuckles are alternatively interlaced, and a hinge pin is inserted into the openings. One or more electrically conductive tabs are provided on the first hinge plate and frictionally engaged against one or more of the knuckles of the second hinge plate. Also, one or more electrically conductive tabs may be provided on the second hinge plate and frictionally engaged against one or more of the knuckles of the first hinge plate. The conductive tabs are resilient and provide good electrical conductivity between the first hinge plate and the second hinge plate. The hinge is particularly advantageous in grounding an electrically conductive cover to an electrical conductive housing.

Abstract: A retractable weather shield for protecting an outdoor structure from the elements, the weather shield having a base panel; a mounting bracket for mounting the structure to a substrate; the base panel being slidably mounted to the mounting bracket; the mounting bracket having a storage space for storing the base panel in a substantially vertical stored position between the substrate and the structure; the mounting bracket having a guide channel for engaging a corresponding guide member on the base panel and guiding said base panel between the stored position and a substantially horizontal deployed position above the structure for protecting the structure from the elements when in the deployed position; and wherein the shield may further have a telescoping panel being slidably mounted and supported within the base panel, the telescoping panel being stored within the base panel when in a stored position and extending substantially outside the base panel when in a deployed position.