Abstract:
A weatherproof telephone station protector module suitable for use exposed to the weather including a hollow housing with first and second sealed test terminals and a plurality of through apertures adapted to receive a plurality of insulated electrically conductive wires. A threaded bolt when rotated permits the top housing member to be received by the bottom housing member and at the same time provides the force necessary to sever the insulation of the electrically conducting wires thereby providing a shorting mechanism between insulated conductors placed in the apertures provided. The upper or top portion of the housing is retained by the lower or bottom portion of the housing so that the removal of the bolt would not cause the upper and lower or bottom housings to be separated. The lower housing additionally includes overvoltage surge protection together with fail-safe thermal overload protection.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to telephone station protectors, and more particularly, to a weatherproof telephone station protection suitable for outdoor use and includes means for holding the insulated wires in position until they are connected together. 
     2. Description of the Relevant Art 
     There are numerous devices available which are fabricated in two piece assemblies wherein an insulated wire is placed in a hollow housing and a second member is forced into the housing permitting the internal shorting mechanism to sever the insulation connecting the two wires together. Typical of this type of device is disclosed in the patent to Markwardt, U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,447, which issued on Apr. 24, 1984. 
     An additional weatherproof telephone station protector is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,307,231, filed by Thomas J. Smith on Mar. 25, 1992, and which issued on Apr. 26, 1994, which functions in a manner similar to that to be described for the instant invention. 
     The patent to Kirk, Jr., et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,960,425, which issued on Jun. 1, 1976, discloses a harness cable connector adapted to receive a plurality of insulated wires by a press fit retaining them in a spaced configuration during insertion and assembly of the wires into a printed circuit board. 
     The instant invention attempts to overcome the shortcomings known in the prior art wherein the two piece housings do not have any method for retaining the wires in position prior to the pressure exerted for shorting the wires together. In addition, the prior art has not shown the use of overvoltage protection together with back-up thermal protection and/or back-up air gap protection together with the holding mechanisms, as is disclosed in the instant invention. 
     Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a weatherproof telephone station protector module suitable for use exposed to the weather. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a weatherproof telephone station protector module which although constructed with two pieces may be held together without the use of any retaining screws or bolts until they are used. 
     It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a telephone station protector module which includes means for retaining the wires to be connected together in their position until the actual piercing of the insulation can be made and the wires connected together. 
     It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a weatherproof telephone station protector suitable for connecting together insulated electrically conductive wires of different sizes. 
     It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a reliable telephone station protector module which includes overvoltage protection and is handy to use in the field since all of the pieces are together prior to use. 
     It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a reliable weatherproof telephone station protector which permits the splicing of wires of the same or different sizes together requiring no special technique or tools and includes overvoltage and back-up protection in a single module. 
     Therefore, the present invention provides an apparatus, which overcomes the shortcomings found in the prior art and is capable of insuring a reliable module for overvoltage protection on telephone communication lines. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A weatherproof telephone station protector module suitable for outside use exposed to the weather comprises in combination; an elongated hollow housing top member having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, a top surface, front and rear surface, and an open bottom. The top surface of the hollow housing top member includes a first and a second sealed test terminal disposed thereon. The first sealed terminal is adapted to be in electrically conductive contact with the first group of shorting terminals. The second sealed test terminal is adapted to be in electrically conductive contact with the second group of shorting terminals. A plurality of through apertures are spaced apart on the top surface, which is at an oblique angle to the transverse axis of the top member, are adapted to receive a plurality of insulated electrically conductive wires therein. A through aperture disposed between said shorting terminals is adapted to receive a threaded bolt therein. A pair of elongated eye members extend below the open bottom of the front and rear surfaces of the housing top member which are adapted to receive a protruding member disposed on the front and rear surface of the hollow housing member. The threaded bolt is adapted to be received into the through aperture provided between the groups of shorted terminals and is received into a threaded aperture provided in the bottom member. 
     The elongated hollow housing bottom member top surface includes a pair of elongated through slots, one being disposed on either side of the centrally disposed threaded aperture. A first and second shorting terminal is included in each of the elongated through slots. The shorting terminals include a plurality of channels suitable to obliquely cut the insulation of a plurality of the insulated electrically conductive wires inserted therein. An overvoltage protection device together with a back-up surge arrestor is disposed within the hollow of said lower housing member, a pair of back-up surge arresters are disposed between the ground terminal and the first and third terminal of the overvoltage protection device. A first and second holding bracket is provided for removably retaining the overvoltage protection device whereby, when the bottom housing member is inserted into the top housing member and the threaded bolt is inserted into the bottom member threaded aperture and rotated the insulated wires are forced into each of the shorting terminals, via the plurality of through apertures disposed on the top surface of the top member, and become in electrically conductive contact with each other. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof, and which is shown by way of illustration a specific embodiment in which the invention may be practiced. 
     This embodiment will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in the limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it now will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: 
     FIG. 1A, is an exploded view in perspective of a top or upper portion weatherproof telephone station protector, according to the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 1B, is an exploded view in perspective of the lower or bottom portion of the protector shown in FIG. 1A; 
     FIG. 2, is a top plan view of the assembled telephone station protector shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B; 
     FIG. 3, is a partial elevational view in cross-section taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2; and 
     FIG. 4, is a cross-section view in elevation of the station protector module taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 2. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the figures, and in particular to FIGS. 1A and 1B, which are an exploded isometrical view of the weatherproof telephone station protector module 10, according to the principles of the present invention, with the hollow housing top member and the hollow housing bottom member 14 and the components disposed therein. 
     The upper housing member 12 is hollow and the top surface 16 thereof includes a pair of test terminals 18 and 20 having disposed therein a metallic electrically conductive member 22 and 24 extending into the test terminal and is provided with a portion 26 and 28, respectively, extending at right angles to the portions 30 and 32 that extend into the test terminal openings 18 and 20. The portions 26 and 28, respectively, of conductive members 22 and 24 are provided with slotted apertures 34 and 36 whose function will be explained hereinafter. Wire guide members 38 and 40 are provided with a plurality of sloped channels 42 and 44, respectively, which are adapted to guide the insulated wires inserted into the top surface apertures 46, 48, 50, 52, 54 and 56. The wires, not shown for clarity, inserted into these apertures are relatively small in gauge and therefore may readily fall out of the apertures prior to the insertion of the clamping bolt 58 being seated into the threaded insert 60 provided in the hollow lower housing 14. Thus, in order to hold the relatively small gauge wires into the apertures 46, 48, 50, 52, 54 and 56 a series of finger like combs with the openings 66 and 68 retain the wires, not shown. Once seated therein they extend into the apertures and they are retained in position until the clamping bolt 58 engages the threaded insert 60, disposed in the lower housing 14. Apertures 68 and 70 are much larger in size and accommodate wires of a heavier gauge where it is not necessary to guide and hold the wires until the upper housing member 12 thoroughly engages the lower housing member 14, as will be explained hereinafter. 
     In addition, holding members 72 and 74 are received together with the guide members 38 and 40 and the electrically conductive members 22 and 24 into the hollow of upper housing member 12. 
     The upper housing member 12 is also provided with a through aperture 76 adapted to receive the threaded portion of the bolt 58 therein. The top head portion 80 of bolt 58 is provided with a slot suitable for use by a screw driver or is shaped to be received into a hex tool. A collar 82 provided on the head portion 80 is greater in diameter than the aperture 76 and when completely tightened down prevents moisture from entering the upper housing member 12 and is held captive therein, in a conventional manner. 
     The upper housing member 12 is provided with a pair of elongated eye members 84 and 86, which extend beneath the bottom edge 92 of the upper housing member 12 and are adapted to receive protruding portions 92, 94, 96 and 98, respectively, provided on the lower housing member 14. 
     Referring now specifically to FIG. 1B, it can be seen that the top surface 100 of the lower housings member 14 is provided with a centrally disposed aperture 102 adapted to retain the threaded insert 60 therein, as was described earlier. Surrounding aperture 102 there is provided a cylindrically shaped portion 104 provided on the top surface 100 of the lower housing member 14 which is disposed in between two elongated through slots 106 and 108 that are adapted to receive shorting terminals 110 and 112, respectively, therein. The shorting terminals 110 and 112 are provided with a plurality of cutting slots 116, 118 and 120, which are in line with the apertures 46, 48 and 50, respectively. Shorting terminal 112 is provided with cutting slots 122, 124, and 126 which are in line with the apertures 52, 54 and 56 provided in the top surface 16 of the upper housing member 12, respectively. Cutting slots 114 and 128 are adapted to be in alignment with apertures 68 and 70, respectively, disposed on the top surface 16 of the upper housing member 12. The edge portions 130 and 132 of the shorting terminals 110 and 112 are adapted to be in electrically conductive contact with the portion 34 and 36 of electrically conductive members 22 and 24, respectively, when assembled. 
     The lower portions 130 and 132 of shorting terminals 110 and 112 extend through slots 106 and 108 into the hollow of lower housing member 14 and enter into and make electrically conductive contact with the clamping portions 134 and 136 of fail-short clips 138 and 140, respectively. 
     The fail-short clips 138 and 140 are adapted to receive a gas tube voltage arrestor 142 therein. The gas tube overvoltage arrestor 142 is provided with a ground terminal 144 and first and second line terminals 146 and 148, respectively. When the gas tube overvoltage arrestor 142 is inserted in the fail-short clip members 138 and 140 a thermally sensitive sheet member 150 and 152 is placed between the line terminals 146 and ground terminal 144 and line terminal 148 and ground terminal 144, respectively, so that the fail-short clips 138 and 140 do not connect the line terminals to ground. However, should an overheating of the voltage arrester 142 occur the thermally sensitive sheet members 150 and 152 will melt due to overheating and short the line terminals to ground, via the fail-short clip 138 or 140. It is to be noted that the gas tube overvoltage arrester 142 may be replaced with a solid state device having the same mechanical configuration. 
     A ground terminal 154 is provided by an electrically conductive clip member having an outwardly extending portion 156 suitable for connection to the ground of a telephone communication system, not shown, and has a second portion 158 at right angles to outwardly extending portion 156, which is folded back upon itself so that it may engage the wall 160 of the lower housing member and be retained thereby. A third portion 162 that is provided with two apertures 164 and 166 is adapted to receive insulated shoulder washers 168 and 170 therein, respectively. The rivets 172 and 174 are adapted to be received by the insulated shoulder washers 1613 and 170 and be received into apertures 176 and 178 provided in air gap plates 180 and 182, respectively, and are held in place as is the dielectric members (3 mils of polyester fibers) 184 and 186 when rivets 172 and 174 are swaged over, in a conventional manner. 
     It has been noted that the lower housing member 14 has been rotated 180° related to upper housing member 12 in order to more clearly illustrate the ground connection terminal. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, which is a top plan view of the assembled weatherproof telephone station protector module shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. You will note that a protruding channel 188 is provided on the ground side of the lower housing member 14 which is adapted to receive the ground terminal member therein. 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, which is an enlarged cross-sectional view in elevation taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2, which clearly shows the orientation of the components as shown in the exploded view of FIGS. 1A and 1B. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional end view in elevation of the weatherproof telephone station protector module to further clarify the location of the components as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. 
     In operation, the components are assembled as shown in the exploded view in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The upper housing member may be slipped over the lower housing member and retained in position by the elongated eye members which receive the protruding members therein that are disposed on the lower housing member, thereby keeping the upper and lower members together for easy assembly in the field. The wires to be connected together (shorted) are slipped into the combs and into the associated apertures keeping the terminal connections from one side of the line separate from the terminal connections on the other side of the communication line. The wires are guided at an angle into the apertures provided and are maintained in position as bolt 58 is slipped through the insert 60 held in aperture 102 and rotated, the upper housing member is moved towards the lower housing member compressing the wires inserted in the apertures therein. The cutting slots cut through the insulation on the wires inserted and shear the insulation therefrom at an angle determined by the slope of the wire guide members 38 and 40 thereby providing the best or optimum chance of making electrical conductive contact between the wires, since they are severed by the shorting terminal at an angle thereby providing reliable connections which are protected from the weather. The test terminals 18 and 20 make electrically conductive contact with the shorting terminals and therefore provide a convenient means for determining the voltage appearing on the two terminal lines. The test terminals may be filled with a non-conductive grease or gel, which prevent moisture from getting into the housing. The lower hollow housing may be filled with a potting compound 190 well known in the art. 
     Hereinbefore has been disclosed a weatherproof telephone station protector module which provides extreme reliability with regard to connecting wires together, since a cut in the insulation thereof is made at an oblique angle. The convenience set forth by having the upper housing member retained on the lower housing member so that the person making use thereof does not have to hunt and locate the pieces before he can start making the connections. The bolt may be of the type which is self-retained in the upper housing and therefore would still further reduce the need for requiring any additional pieces prior to utilization thereof. It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials, arrangement of parts and operating conditions which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention may be made by those skilled in the art within the principles and scope of the instant invention.