Abstract: A telephone and cable television network interface device includes a first housing having first and second compartments, a terminal located in the first compartment for connection to telephone service, a terminal, located in the second compartment for connection to a telephone of a telephone service subscriber, a cover for restricting access to the first compartment and a cable television splitter. The splitter is located in the first housing and includes a second housing spanning the first and second compartments. A plurality of coaxial cable connectors, all facing the same direction, are located in the second housing. At least one connector is located in each of the compartments. The first housing includes a plurality of grooves aligned with the coaxial cable connectors. In one embodiment, the longitudinal axis of each of the coaxial cable connectors is located in the same plane. The device may also include a ground bus located in the first housing.

Abstract: An electrical safety receptacle (10) including a dielectric housing (12), first electrical contacts (14) in the housing for electrical connection to one side of an electrical power line, second electrical contacts (16) in the housing for electrical connection to the other side of the electrical power line, and power-interruption members (48) provided as part of the second electrical contacts to interrupt the electrical power when an operating and/or environmental temperature exceeds the thermal rating thereof.

Abstract: A subscriber module (40) for a network interface device (10) having a jack (100) defining a plug-receiving cavity (102) thereinto, and having a plug (50) insertable into the jack. The plug includes a plurality of interconnecting contacts (56) disposed at a mating end (58) thereof, and the jack includes first and second contacts (106, 112) secured within the plug-receiving cavity in spaced-apart disconnected pairs. Insertion of plug (50) into jack (100) moves interconnecting contacts (56) between associated ones of first and second contacts (106, 112) to electrically interconnect them, completing otherwise unconnected circuits between the distribution cable and the subscriber premise wiring. Preferably plug (50) includes a sealing member (74) therearound to seal the mating interface when plug (50) is inserted into jack (100).

Abstract: A subscriber module (40) for a network interface device (10) having a jack (100) defining a plug-receiving cavity (102) thereinto, and having a plug (50) insertable into the jack. The plug includes a plurality of interconnecting contacts (56) disposed at a mating end (58) thereof, and the jack includes first and second contacts (106,112) secured within the plug-receiving cavity in spaced-apart disconnected pairs. Insertion of plug (50) into jack (100) moves interconnecting contacts (56) between associated ones of first and second contacts (106,112) to electrically interconnect them, completing otherwise unconnected circuits between the distribution cable and the subscriber premise wiring. Preferably plug (50) includes a sealing member (74) therearound to seal the mating interface when plug (50) is inserted into jack (100).

Abstract: A durable, economical, and aesthetically pleasing terminal enclosure (2) for housing standardized terminal blocks (50). The terminal enclosure (2) includes a base section (30) formed as an open-faced trough with integral perpendicular end panels (24, 34). The terminal enclosure (2) also has a pair of gull-wing doors (10, 20) which may be closed to cover the base section (30). The doors (10, 20) are formed with a curvature to provide a continuous arching cover over the base section (30), and a plurality of legs (12-1 . . . 5, 22-1 . . . 5) is angled downwardly and inwardly from each door for pivotal attachment to the underside of the base section (30). The combined curvature of the legs (12-1 . . . 5, 22-1 . . . 5) and the doors (10, 20) allows opening without a need for frontal clearance. In addition, the legs (12-1 . . . 5, 22-1 . . . 5) are pivoted to the base section (30) in such a way that they may be locked in the full-open position, thereby freeing both hands for servicing.

Abstract: A cable splice enclosure (10) including a pair of cover members (12,14 ) joined along a flexible hinge (62,64) and rotatable together about the hinge to enclose a cable splice (150) and secure to each other with latches along both side edges (16,18;92,94 ). Sealant material (120) disposed within central regions (32,34) of both covers environmentally seals the surfaces of the splice connection (154,158,160) upon full closure. Embossments (44,46 ) on both sides of the cable-receiving channels (20,22) in associated pairs (40,42,48) proximate the cable exits include resilient flange portions (52,54) cooperate to press into the cable insulation upon full closure to define a strain relief. The enclosure (200) may be used to splice aerially suspended cable (202) by grooves (208) between the hinge (216) and the latches (218) proximate the hinge (216), receiving thereinto a length of suspension wire (206) spliced to suspension wire (204) thus securing enclosure (200) to cable (202).

Abstract: A connector module (10,100,200) having at least one electrical terminal (24,116,206) therein, adapted to be sealingly mounted to a mounting surface upon being placed thereagainst at a connection site (30,112,204), and simultaneously form electrical connections of each terminal with a circuit (38,152,214) thereat, with the terminal adapted to be thereafter terminated to a discrete conductor wire (60,138,210,212) to interconnect the circuit with the wire. Upstanding lead members (40,160,216) are electrically connected to the circuits and are received into pin-receiving holes (50,172) along the module's bottom surface and become engaged with respective terminals. Each terminal is terminated to such a wire upon actuation of an actuator (26,118). A base section (14,104) of the module forms a seal with the mounting surface around the connection site (30,112,204). Such module can easily be mounted to a solar panel (32,110) or circuit board (202).

Abstract: A cross-connection assembly (10) including a plurality of cross-connection sites (14) provided by housing modules (30) secured to a base frame (12). Each site (14) is defined by a silo (52) containing a first terminal (60) and an actuator (120) secured thereatop rotatable to terminate a first wire (112) to the first terminal. At a selected site, a second terminal (160) is mountable to the actuator (120) thereat to electrically engage the first terminal, and a corresponding cap (190) over the second terminal is initially rotatable with respect to actuator (120) in order to terminate a second wire (220) at the site. Upon the first rotation the cap becomes locked to the actuator, providing that later rotation of the cap also moves the actuator and second terminal and second wire of necessity to permit untermination and retermination of the first wire (112) with respect to the first terminal (60).

Abstract: An enclosure (10) for terminal blocks for connection of telephone service cables to others thereof or to a distribution cable (16) providing for mounting therewithin of different types of terminal block. A lid (12) is pivotable from a closed position to a first fully open position where it retains itself open, and may be further pivotable beyond the first open position to a second fully open position where it similarly retains itself open. At least two tab sections (80) of the lid's rear wall (40) have free ends (82) that abut the enclosure's rear wall when the lid is pivoted open. Corners (84, 85) of the tab free ends (82) compressively bear against the enclosure's rear wall and serve as detents to inhibit unintentional lid rotation out of either fully open position.

Abstract: An electrical connector (10) including a housing (12) with a pair of housing sections (14) each containing a terminal (40) rotatable therewithin upon actuation to terminate an end of a wire (26,28) inserted into an aperture (22,24) thereof. For small diameter wires, a wiring indicator (60) of transparent material is affixed to the opposed side of the housing and includes a chamber (70) for each wire to be extended therethrough for termination, thus enabling visual verification that a wire end has been fully inserted. A wire retainer (90,100) is used to prevent inadvertent backout after full wire insertion but before termination. Wire retainer (100) can be a clip mountable outside the housing, and wire retainer (90) can be contained in the wiring indicator includes a spring arm (92) biasing against the wire free end (52) upon full insertion.

Abstract: A durable, economical, and aesthetically pleasing terminal enclosure (2) for housing standardized terminal blocks (50). The terminal enclosure (2) includes a base section (30) formed as an open-faced trough with integral perpendicular end panels (24, 34). The terminal enclosure (2) also has a pair of gull-wing doors (10, 20) which may be closed to cover the base section (30). The doors (10, 20) are formed with a curvature to provide a continuous arching cover over the base section (30), and a plurality of legs (12-1 . . . 5, 22-1 . . . 5) is angled downwardly and inwardly from each door for pivotal attachment to the underside of the base section (30). The combined curvature of the legs (12-1 . . . 5, 22-1 . . . 5) and the doors (10, 20) allows opening without a need for frontal clearance. In addition, the legs (12-1 . . . 5, 22-1 . . . 5) are pivoted to the base section (30) in such a way that they may be locked in the full-open position, thereby freeing both hands for servicing.

Abstract: A terminal block assembly (10) including at least two terminals (20) and associated actuators (24) in housing sections (14) for termination to ends of conductors (28,30) inserted into aligned apertures therethrough upon actuation of the terminals. Bridging element (50) includes contact sections (54) held in cavities (22) of housing sections (14) to be assuredly compressed against terminals (20) thus electrically interconnecting terminals (20) and commoning all wires (28,30) terminated by terminals (20). A cover member (90) may be secured beneath the terminal block assembly for insulative protection.

Abstract: An electrical connector 10 having a housing 12 containing a terminal 30 of the type adapted for insertion of an end of a wire 40,42 through a wire-receiving aperture 14,16 thereof for termination, includes a substrate 50 adhered to the outer housing surface and traversing the wire-receiving aperture with a corresponding hole 52,54 aligned therewith to permit wire insertion. The substrate may be tough elastomeric tape, and the hole is smaller than the wire diameter to tightly grip the wire insulation after wire insertion to assuredly retain sealant material within the connector upon wire withdrawal.

Abstract: A single modular assembly (10) has two terminals (18) in housing cavities (28) each with a pair of slots (38) for termination by rotary actuation to respective conductors of two cables, for crossconnecting or splicing the tip and ring lines of a customer's service line with those of a cable extending to the main distribution line. Each terminal (18) is in electrical engagement with a circuit wire (40) extending to a separate portion (20) of the module for electrical connection to an active electrode of a protector element (24). The two protector elements (24) each include a ground electrode (76) grounded to a common ground strap (54) which includes a contact section (60,64) exposed along the bottom of the module to be assuredly engaged with a ground strap (122) along the floor (112) of the enclosure (110) upon mounting of the module (10) therein, for grounding to a ground stud for external system grounding.

Abstract: A sealed terminal block assembly (10) includes a harness assembly (78) having first electrical terminal members (30) terminated to wires (74) of a cable (72); a housing (12) molded around the harness assembly (78), with each first terminal member (30) associated with a cavity (18) of the housing; second terminal members (46) for electrically engaging a corresponding first terminal member (30) upon insertion of the second terminal member into cavity (18); and an actuator member for moving each second terminal member (46) into electrical engagement with a second wire (80) inserted into the first terminal member (30) from a wire receiving face (26) of the housing (12).

Abstract: A subscriber module (40) for a network interface device (10) having a jack (100) defining a plug-receiving cavity (102) thereinto, and having a plug (50) insertable into the jack. The plug includes a plurality of interconnecting contacts (56) disposed at a mating end (58) thereof, and the jack includes first and second contacts (106,112) secured within the plug-receiving cavity in spaced-apart disconnected pairs. Insertion of plug (50) into jack (100) moves interconnecting contacts (56) between associated ones of first and second contacts (106,112) to electrically interconnect them, completing otherwise unconnected circuits between the distribution cable and the subscriber premise wiring. Preferably plug (50) includes a sealing member (74) therearound to seal the mating interface when plug (50) is inserted into jack (100).

Abstract: A cable splice enclosure (10) including a pair of cover members (12,14) joined along a flexible hinge (62,64) and rotatable together about the hinge to enclose a cable splice (150) and secure to each other with latches along both side edges (16,18;92,94). Sealant material (120) disposed within central regions (32,34) of both covers environmentally seals the surfaces of the splice connection (154,158,160) upon full closure. Embossments (44,46) on both sides of the cable-receiving channels (20,22) in associated pairs (40,42,48) proximate the cable exits include resilient flange portions (52,54) cooperate to press into the cable insulation upon full closure to define a strain relief.

Abstract: An enclosure (10) for terminal blocks for connection of telephone service cables (22,272,276,322,326) to others thereof or to a distribution cable (16) providing for mounting therewithin of different types of terminal blocks (200,250,300). Several ribs (86) extend across the bottom wall and upwardly to coplanar top edges (88) to support the various types of blocks as several projections (96,124) extend upwardly between at least two of the ribs to top edges (98,126) coplanar with the rib top edges (88) and include apertures (100,132) thereinto for receipt of fasteners for mounting of the terminal blocks (200,250). A ground plate (350) is also mountable in the enclosure atop rib top edges (88) in turn permitting mounting to the top surface thereof of certain terminal blocks (300) having ground contacts (310) requiring grounding. A lid (12) is pivotable to a stable open position.

Abstract: A protector module (50) includes a housing (52) having cavities (58) into which are inserted surge protector elements (150). Each protector element upon full insertion engages a deflectable contact portion (82) of a first contact member (80) with an active electrode (156) thereof with the first contact member terminated at a second contact section (88) to a line between a central office and the customer, for providing surge protection to that circuit.