US 4,477,141 A · Tricoupler for modular wiring systems

Abstract

A modular tricoupler (30) is provided for interconnecting lengths of inside wiring in series within walls, for example, of customer premises and to a network interface device (42, see FIG. 3B). The tricoupler also includes provisions for receiving a modular plug (31) which terminates a cord (36) that is connected to customer station equipment. The tricoupler includes a housing (80) having first and second generally opposed plug-receiving cavities (82, 83) and a third cavity (87). A plurality of metallic wire-like contact elements (90-90) are disposed in the housing of the tricoupler and maintained spaced apart by partitions (96-96). One end portion of each contact element extends into the second cavity and the other end portion into the third cavity. Blade-like terminals (60-60) of a modular plug which is inserted into the first cavity engage loop portions (131-131) of the contact elements. The loop portion of each is designed and is supported so that the entire loop shifts when engaged by the terminal. This arrangement allows sufficient deflection of the loop portions to develop suitable contact pressure with terminals of plugs inserted into the cavities without causing a permanent deformation of the wire-like contact elements.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A tricoupler for modular wiring systems, said tricoupler comprising:

a housing which is made of a dielectric material, said housing including first, second and third modular plug-receiving cavities;
and
a wire-like contact element which is made of a relatively resilient metallic material and which is mounted in said housing, said wire-like contact element including one end portion which extends into said second cavity, another end portion which extends into said third cavity, and a loop which extends from the vicinity of said third cavity, through said first cavity toward said second cavity, and which is controlled to deflect sufficiently without permanent deformation to develop suitable contact pressure when engaged by a terminal of a modular plug that is inserted into said first cavity.

A device for providing an interconnection of at least one service cable and a modular plug that is connected to customer station equipment, said device comprising:

a receptacle having a base, sides and an open face opposite to said base, said receptacle further including means for mounting said receptacle to a supporting member within a wall;
a tricoupler which is adapted to be received in said receptacle and which comprises:
a housing which is made of a dielectric material, said housing including first, second and third modular plug-receiving cavities;
and
a plurality of wire-like contact elements which are made of a relatively resilient metallic material and which are mounted in said housing, each having one end portion which extends into said second cavity and another end portion which extends into said third cavity, each said wire-like contact element also having a loop which extends from the vicinity of said third cavity, through said first cavity toward said second cavity, and which is controlled to permit sufficient deflection of segments of said loop when said loop is engaged by a terminal of a modular plug that is inserted into said first cavity to develop suitable contact pressure with the terminal without permanent deformation of the segments;
and
a cover which is adapted to enclose said open face of and to be mounted to said receptacle and which includes means for securing said tricoupler to said cover, said cover including an opening which is aligned with said third cavity of said tricoupler when said tricoupler is secured to said cover.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Tricoupler for modular wiring systems

Life of this patent

Tricoupler for modular wiring systems

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18