Switchable modular jack assembly for telecommunications systems
AssigneeTii Technologies Inc.
InventorsThomas J. Smith, Raymond Pepe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A switchable modular jack assembly includes a housing which defines a receptacle for receiving an RJ14 modular plug, and a socket for receiving a pre-wired adapter plug. Each of the RJ14 modular plug and the adapter plug has electrical contacts on an exposed surface thereof. The jack assembly also includes leaf spring electrical contacts which extend into the receptacle and socket. When no RJ14 modular plug is received by the receptacle, the leaf spring electrical contacts contact the electrical contacts of the adapter plug. When an RJ14 modular plug is received by the receptacle, the leaf spring electrical contacts contact the electrical contacts of the RJ14 modular plug, but not the electrical contacts of the adapter plug.
Claims9
A switchable modular jack assembly for telecommunications systems, which comprises:
- an inner housing;
- at least four leaf spring electrical contacts at least partially disposed within the inner housing;
- and
- a pre-wired adapter plug mated to the inner housing;
- wherein the inner housing has a first side surface and a second side surface disposed opposite the first side surface;
- wherein the first side surface of the inner housing has formed therein a receptacle, the receptacle being dimensioned for closely receiving an RJ14 modular plug having exposed electrical contacts thereon;
- wherein the second side surface of the inner housing has formed therein a socket for captively receiving the pre-wired adapter plug, the adapter plug having a first side surface on which is at least partially exposed at least four electrical contacts;
- wherein each of the at least four leaf spring electrical contacts of the inner housing includes a proximate end secured to the inner housing and a leaf spring distal end situated opposite the proximate end, the leaf spring distal end of each leaf spring electrical contact having a first portion which is biased to extend into the receptacle for receiving the RJ14 modular plug, and a second portion adjacent the first portion which is biased to extend into the socket which captively receives the pre-wired adapter plug;
- wherein the second portion of the distal end of each leaf spring electrical contact of the inner housing contacting a respective electrical contact of the at least four electrical contacts of the pre-wired adapter plug to provide an electrical connection between the leaf spring electrical contacts and the adapter plug electrical contacts when the RJ14 modular plug is not received by the receptacle formed in the first side surface of the inner housing;
- and
- wherein, when the RJ14 modular plug is received by the receptacle formed in the first side surface of the inner housing, the second portion of the distal end of each leaf spring electrical contact of the inner housing is moved away by the RJ14 modular plug from contact with the respective electrical contact of the at least four electrical contacts of the pre-wired adapter plug, and the first portion of the distal end of each leaf spring electrical contact contacting a respective exposed electrical contact on the RJ14 modular plug to provide an electrical connection between the leaf spring electrical contacts and the RJ14 modular plug electrical contacts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.