PACKAGE ASSEMBLY ENCLOSING A PLURALITY OF COMMUNICATION CONNECTOR JACKS AND METHOD OF USE
Embodiments of the invention relate to a package assembly for enclosing a plurality of communication connector jacks (e.g., a plurality of electrical connector jacks) in an enclosure from which the communication connector jacks can be easily removed. In an embodiment, a package assembly includes an enclosure defining a plurality of compartments and a plurality of communication connector jacks. Each communication connector jack may be positioned in a corresponding one of the compartments.
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A modular communication connector jack is a receptacle that accepts a communication plug. Common communication connector jacks include Category 5, 5e, 6, or 6a electrical connector jacks that are configured to accept a communication plug, such as a voice/data/video plug. For example, such communication connector jacks may be configured to accept a communication plug from a communication cable, such as an Ethernet cable. Typically, such communication connector jacks are used to electrically interconnect telecommunication equipment.
Communication connector jacks of this type typically include an electrically insulating housing that supports a plurality of electrical terminals at which electrical conductors of a multi-conductor cable are terminated. For example, many commercially available communication connector jacks employ insulation displacement contacts (“IDCs”), and each electrical conductor may be terminated at one of the IDCs using a specially designed termination tool.
During construction of a building, an installer may have to install several hundred communication connector jacks in a typical workday. Typically, such communication connector jacks are inconveniently individually packaged in plastic bags. The individual communication connector jacks are removed and, for instance, in the case of electrical connector jacks, electrical conductors are terminated at electrical terminals.
SUMMARYEmbodiments of the invention relate to a package assembly that encloses and protects a plurality of communication connector jacks (e.g., a plurality of electrical connector jacks) in an enclosure from which the communication connector jacks can be easily removed. In an embodiment, a package assembly includes an enclosure defining a plurality of compartments and a plurality of communication connector jacks. Each communication connector jack may be positioned in a corresponding one of the compartments.
Embodiments of the invention relate to a package assembly that encloses and protects a plurality of communication connector jacks (e.g., a plurality of electrical connector jacks) in an enclosure from which the communication connector jacks can be easily removed.
In some embodiments, each communication connector jack 110 may be an electrical connector jack (e.g., a Category 5, 5e, 6, or 6a electrical connector jack) that is configured to accept a communication plug (e.g., a voice/data/video plug). Such electrical connector jacks typically include an electrically insulating housing having a recess configured to receive an electrical plug therein, electrical contact tines extending within the recess that are respectively positioned and configured to contact corresponding electrical contacts on the electrical plug, and IDCs supported by the electrically insulating housing that are electrically coupled to the electrical contact tines. Referring to
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In an embodiment, each compartment 111 is dimensioned relative to the communication connector jack 110 located therein so that the communication connector jack 110 is maintained in a selected orientation. In such an embodiment, movement of the communication connector jack 110 from the selected orientation may be inhibited due to physical interference with portions of the blister member 106 and backing 112 defining the compartment 111. For example, each communication connector jack 110 may be oriented with the same selected orientation, and the compartments 111 (
In an embodiment, the blister member 106 may be made from a polymeric material (e.g., polyvinyl carbonate (“PVC”), polyethylene, or another suitable material) and the recesses 108 may be thermoformed, cold formed or molded, or manufactured by any other suitable method, with the backing 112 glued to portions of the blister member 106 between the recesses 108. For example, the blister member 106 may be formed from a substantially transparent polymeric material so that a user can see the color of the communication connector jacks 110 therethrough, which may be indicative of the configuration of the communication connector jacks 110. In one embodiment, the backing 112 may be a foil backing comprising a thin, breakable aluminum foil that is glued to the blister member 106. In another embodiment, the backing 112 may be a blister card comprising cardboard that is glued to the blister member 106.
During use, a user (e.g., an installer) may manually press a selected communication connector jack 110 to thereby break the backing 112 and urge the selected communication connector jack 110 through the backing 112 and out of the corresponding compartment 111. In an embodiment, when the backing 112 is a foil backing, the user may puncture the foil backing and urge the selected communication connector jack 110 through the punctured foil backing. In another embodiment, when the backing 112 is a blister card, a portion of the blister card adjacent to the selected communication connector jack 110 may be severed along perforations and the selected communication connector jack 110 may be urged through the opening in the blister card. Then, the user may easily remove the selected communication connector jack 110 from the enclosure 104 and install the selected communication connector jack 110 in, for example, a patch panel, face plate, ceiling enclosure, floor box, or other application. It is noted that when each communication connector jack 110 is oriented with the same selected orientation, the orientation of the communication connector jack 110 removed from the enclosure 104 may consistently be in substantially the same orientation. Such an embodiment may help the user properly install the removed communication connector jacks 110.
Referring to
Referring to the top plan view of the enclosure 104 shown in
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During use, an installer may conveniently keep one of the package assemblies 500 attached to the holder 526. Respective communication connector jacks 110 may be removed from the enclosure 502 and installed by, for example, connecting electrical conductors to IDCs of the communication connector jacks 110. When all of the communication connector jacks 110 have been removed from one of the package assemblies 500, the spent enclosure 502 may be detached from the detent element 522 and a new package assembly 500 housing communication connector jacks 110 may attached to the detent element 522. Then, respective communication connector jacks 110 may be removed from the new enclosure 502 and installed.
During use, a user may manually advance the coilable strip 604 out of the opening 610 formed in the housing 602. Respective communication connector jacks 110 (
Referring specifically to
The backing 906 may include one or more detent elements 910 (e.g., one or more projections) formed along an interior peripheral region 912 of the backing 906. The shell member 902 also includes one or more detent elements 914 (e.g., one or more recesses) formed therein and positioned along an interior peripheral region 916 thereof. The detent elements 914 are configured to snap fit with corresponding detent elements 910 of the backing 906 so that the backing 906 may be removably attached to the shell member 902 to retain a plurality of the communication connector jacks 110 therebetween.
In use, a user may de-couple the backing 906 from the shell member 902 by relatively rotating the shell member 902 and backing 906 away from each other. As desired, the user may remove one or more of the communication connector jacks 110 from corresponding recesses 904 and install the one or more removed communication connector jacks 110. Then, the user may couple the backing 906 to the shell member 902 to protect and enclose the communication connector jacks 110.
Referring to
Referring also to
Referring to
In use, a user may de-couple the second shell member 1006 from the first shell member 1002 by relatively rotating the second shell member 1006 away from the first shell member 1002. As desired, the user may remove one or more of the communication connector jacks 110 from corresponding recesses 1004 and/or 1009. Then, the user may couple the second shell member 1006 to the first shell member 1002 to protect and enclose the communication connector jacks 110.
While various aspects and embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting.
Claims
1. A package assembly, comprising:
- an enclosure defining a plurality of compartments; and
- a plurality of communication connector jacks, each communication connector jack positioned in a corresponding one of the compartments.
2. The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the enclosure comprises:
- a blister member defining a plurality of recesses, each communication connector jack positioned in a corresponding one of the recesses; and
- a backing bonded to the blister member to close each recess and form the plurality of compartments with the blister member.
3. The package assembly of claim 2 wherein the backing comprises a blister card or a foil backing.
4. The package assembly of claim 2 wherein the backing comprises a plurality of externally visible sequential numerals positioned thereon, each externally visible sequential numeral positioned adjacent to a corresponding one of the recesses.
5. The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the enclosure comprises a flange section having at least one hole formed therein.
6. The package assembly of claim 1 wherein each communication connector jack is oriented in a corresponding one of the compartments in the same selected orientation and dimensioned relative to the compartment to inhibit changing the selected orientation.
7. The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the enclosure comprises a plurality of enclosure sections, each enclosure section including a corresponding one of the compartments and separated from at least one adjacent one of the enclosure sections by a perforation line.
8. The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the enclosure comprises a plurality of enclosure sections interconnected with each other to form a coilable strip, each enclosure section including a corresponding one of the compartments.
9. The package assembly of claim 8, further comprising a housing that holds a shaft around which the coilable strip is coiled and includes an opening through which the coilable strip can be manually advanced therethrough.
10. The package assembly of claim 9 wherein each enclosure section comprises an externally visible identifier positioned thereon that indicates a number of remaining ones of the enclosure sections extending therefrom into the housing.
11. The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the enclosure comprises a visible identifier positioned on an exterior thereof that indicates the number of the communication connector jacks.
12. The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the enclosure comprises a visible identifier positioned on an exterior thereof that indicates the configuration of the plurality of communication connector jacks.
13. The package assembly of claim 1, further comprising a housing receiving the enclosure.
14. The package assembly of claim 13 wherein the housing comprises a visible identifier positioned on an exterior thereof that indicates at least one of the following: the number of the communication connector jacks and a configuration of the plurality of communication connector jacks.
15. The package assembly of claim 1 wherein each communication connector jack is an electrical connector jack or an optical connector jack.
16. The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the enclosure comprises:
- a shell member including a plurality of recesses formed therein; and
- a backing removably attached to the shell member to close each recess and form the plurality of compartments.
17. The package assembly of claim 1 wherein the enclosure comprises:
- a first shell member defining a plurality of first recesses each of which receives a corresponding one of the communication connector jacks; and
- a second shell member hingedly connected to the first shell member and defining a plurality of second recesses each of which receives a corresponding one of the communication connector jacks.
18. A method, comprising:
- removing at least one of a plurality of communication connector jacks from an enclosure housing each communication connector jack in a corresponding compartment; and
- installing the at least one communication connector jack.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein removing at least one of a plurality of communication connector jacks from an enclosure housing each communication connector jack in a corresponding compartment comprises pressing the at least one communication connector jack through a backing that forms part of the enclosure.
20. The method of claim 18 wherein removing at least one of a plurality of communication connector jacks from an enclosure housing each communication connector jack in a corresponding compartment comprises relatively rotating a backing away from a shell member to provide access to the at least one communication connector jack.
21. The method of claim 18 wherein removing at least one of a plurality of communication connector jacks from an enclosure housing each communication connector jack in a corresponding compartment comprises relatively rotating a first shell member away from a second shell member to provide access to the at least one communication connector jack.
22. The method of claim 18:
- wherein the enclosure defines a coilable strip and is housed by a housing; and
- further comprising advancing the coilable strip out of the housing prior to or after the act of removing at least one of a plurality of communication connector jacks from an enclosure.
23. The method of claim 18 wherein each communication connector jack is oriented in a corresponding one of the compartments in substantially the same selected orientation.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 24, 2008
Publication Date: Jan 28, 2010
Applicant: LEVITON MANUFACTURING CO., INC. (Little Neck, NY)
Inventors: Edward Ross Burns (Kirkland, WA), Andrew Pietrzyk (Bothell, WA), Gary Bernstein (Mill Creek, WA), Brian Groenig (Everett, WA)
Application Number: 12/178,815
International Classification: B65D 85/00 (20060101);