Telephone connection box - Patent Review 4729059

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With deregulation of the telephone company and the advent of private ownership of individual telephones there was a requirement for a telephone connection box at the user end of the phone system. The user then would own the telephone and wiring to the box and the phone company would own the telephone line to the box. Both parties would share responsibility for the box. In the case of an interruption in service then it would be possible to test at the box to determine whether the problem was in the telephone line, or in the user's home.

However, the conventional telephone connection box is also subject to breakdown. Moreover, in the conventional box the connectors are all fastened and it is therefore difficult to replace wires inside the confined area of the conventional box. Therefore, a telephone connection box which is readily accessible is needed.

The characteristics of such a telephone connection box would include connectors which can be removed easily so that they need not be repaired within the constraints of the box. It also is necessary to provide a protective seal on the box which is effective to seal access to the box, but will not interfere with maintenance on the connectors therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is a telephone connection box which provides for easy replacement of a unit connection base and is convenient to repair. The box includes a set of tracks for receiving the connection base which is in the shape of a inverted L and for slidably receiving the minor base. The different components are separated by a division wall. The search protector and inverted L shaped connection base are housed within an inside lid which has slidable hinges so that it may be opened and moved out of the way when it is necessary to repair such components. The outer lid and the inner lid also need not be removed from the box in order to repair the inner components, and therefore the chance of misplace then is eliminated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the telephone connection box of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the telephone box of FIG. 1 with both lids in the open position.

FIG. 2a is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the inner lid sliding hinge.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the L shaped connection base.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the minor connection base.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the device of this invention with the surge protector removed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With attention to FIGS. 1 and 2 the box 1 of this invention is equipped with holes 11 and 11' in a side thereof. The telephone line wire extends through hole 11 and the line to the user's telephone extends through hole 11'. An upper lid 2, equipped with a fastening screw 21, which provides a closure for the box 1. Lid 2 is hingedly attached to box 1 using U shaped sleeves 22 which are wedged onto hinge pin 121 which in turn is rotatably mounted on box 1 by fasteners 12.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 there is provided an inner lid 3 hingedly mounted within box 1 which is provided with a fastening screw 31. Inner lid 3 is provided with holes 32 and 32' so that plug inserts 61 and 61' may be inserted therethrough into bases 43 and 43'. The hinge connection for lid 3 includes members 13, 13' and 14, 14' which are mounted within box 1.

Inner lid 3 is provided with two pairs of channels or tracks B and C as shown in FIG. 2A. Slide plates A having end portions 33 and 33' are received in channels B and C and are joined respectively to members 13 and 13' and 14 and 14' to form a hinged connection. Keeper members 36 are disposed over slide plates A and a stop 37 is provided for arched portion 331. The slide plates then are movable between the two positions shown in FIG. 5. When lid 3 is opened the slide plates may be extended so that the lid can be folded backwards out of the way to permit repairs or the extraction of inverted L-shaped connection base 4 for replacement.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, two inverted L-shaped connection bases 4 are slidably installed within box 1. The telephone input line connects through surge protector 5 to connection base 4. The number of surge protectors 5 and inverted L-shaped connection bases 4 within the box is matter of design and this invention is not intended to be limited to a specific number shown. Furthermore, surge protector 5 is a standard component and further details thereof are being omitted as obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art.

Minor connection base 6 also slidably mounted within box 1 is separated from the inverted L-shaped connection base 4 by a board 15. In this way a repair man may be able to easily distinguish between the two.

With attention to FIG. 3, the inverted L-shaped connection base 4 is provided with channels 41 and 41' so that a circuit board (not shown) may be inserted therewithin. There is a plurality of slits 42 also provided through which the telephone line wire extends to the line equipment base 44 and insertion base or socket 43 and 43'. The inverted L-shaped connection base 4 is also equipped with flanges 45 and 45' which are slidably received within grooves 18 within box 1.

FIG. 4 shows the minor base 6. Flanges 62 and 62' are provided for mounting and a channel 63 is provided for the wire so that plug 61 and 61' may be received in sockets 43 and 43'.

With attention to FIG. 5 there is shown an exploded view of the connection box of this invention. A peripheral groove 16 is provided for a rubber gasket (not shown) so that when the lid 2 is closed the box will be sealed.

The inverted L-shaped connection base 4 is inserted and fastened within the frame box 1 in tracks 18 and the minor connection base 6 is inserted in track 19. The surge protector 5 is also fastened within the box 1 so tthat the input line extends from the inverted L-shaped connection base 4 to the minor connection base 6 through the surge protector 5.

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