Abstract:
A distribution connection module which is used in the telecommunication and data technology field includes a housing defining a cavity in which at least one conductor plate is arranged. The housing includes at least one opening in the front side thereof through which a connection module can be inserted. The connection module is connected to at least the conduction plate in the inserted state. At least one support for a lifting tool is arranged on the housing in a lateral manner in relation to the connection module.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a Continuation application of 11/718,698, filed 4 May 2007, which is a National Stage of PCT/EP2005/011639 filed 31 Oct. 2005, which claims benefit of Serial No. 10 2004 054 534.0, filed 5 Nov. 2004 in Germany and which applications are incorporated herein by reference. To the extent appropriate, a claim of priority is made to each of the above disclosed applications. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a distribution board connection module for telecommunications and data technology. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    DE 102 36 361 A1 discloses a distribution board connection module for telecommunications and data technology, comprising a housing, in which input and output contacts are arranged such that they are accessible from the outside for the purpose of connecting lines and cables, the housing being formed with a cavity, in which at least one printed circuit board is arranged, the input and output contacts being arranged on the opposing end faces of the housing, the input contacts being associated with an input side, and the output contacts being associated with an output side, the input contacts being in the form of at least two opposing rows of contacts, and the output contacts being in the form of at least one plug-in connector. The input contacts are in this case in the form of connector modules, which have contact elements which each have an insulation-displacement contact and a fork contact, the latter being used to produce the electrical and mechanical contact with the printed circuit board. One possible design for the connector modules is described in DE 102 57 308 B3. 
         [0004]    One disadvantage of the known distribution board connection module is the fact that the connector modules can only be isolated from the printed circuit board again with difficulty, which makes it more difficult, for example, to replace printed circuit boards. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The invention is therefore based on the technical problem of providing a distribution board connection module, in which the connection between the connector module and the printed circuit board can be released more easily. 
         [0006]    For this purpose, at least one support for a lever tool is arranged on the housing to the side of the connector module. This makes it possible to lever the connector module out from the printed circuit board with relatively little force, with the result that the connector module can be removed, and the printed circuit board is freely accessible. 
         [0007]    In one preferred embodiment, a support is arranged on each of the two sides of the connector module. This provides, on the one hand, a higher degree of freedom during disassembly, since access may be gained using the lever tool in different ways; on the other hand, it is easier to remove the connector module if it is removed from both sides of the printed circuit board. 
         [0008]    In a further, preferred embodiment, the support is in the form of a U-shaped elevation, comprising two limbs and a base part. In this case, the base acts as a bearing, and the limbs act as guides for the tool. It is further preferable in this case for the base to be slightly shorter or flatter than the limbs, so as to prevent lateral sliding-off. 
         [0009]    In a further, preferred embodiment, the base of the elevation is beveled inwards, which further improves the guidance of the lever tool. 
         [0010]    In a further, preferred embodiment, the connector module has at least one lateral opening, which protrudes from the end face of the distribution board connection module when it is inserted. It is then possible for the lever tool to be inserted in this opening. In place of the opening, projections are also conceivable, it being possible for the lever tool to be guided below said projections. 
         [0011]    In a further, preferred embodiment, the housing is of at least two-part design, comprising a base part and a front part, the front part forming the end face bearing the connector modules. In this case, it is further preferable for the support to be arranged on the front part. 
         [0012]    In a further, preferred embodiment, a display frame, which can be pivoted, is arranged on the housing, it being possible for the display frame, which can be pivoted, to assume at least two positions, the connector module(s) being freely accessible in a first pivoted-up position, and the display frame being arranged parallel to the end face in a second position. In this case, freely accessible means that the connector modules are connected and/or can be removed from the housing. However, this does not rule out the possibility of at least individual contacts or a connector module being accessible even in the position in which the display frame is parallel to the end face. The advantage of a display frame which can be pivoted compared to a plugged-on display frame is the fact that, whilst cables are connected or a connector module is removed, the display frame remains on the housing such that it cannot be lost. 
         [0013]    In a further, preferred embodiment, brackets are arranged laterally on the display frame, an attachment, which engages in each case in a pivoting bearing arranged on the housing, being arranged on the inside of each of said brackets, the attachment preferably being cylindrical. 
         [0014]    In a further, preferred embodiment, the pivoting bearings are in the form of plates, which are perpendicular to the end face, having openings in which the attachments of the brackets can engage. In this case, the support for the lever tool is preferably higher than the pivoting bearings of the display frame, with the result that said pivoting bearings do not impede the levering-out. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to a preferred exemplary embodiment. In the figures: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective front view of a distribution board connection module with a pivoted-up display frame, 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective front view with the display frame in a second position, 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective front view without the display frame but with a lever tool, 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective illustration of a display frame, 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  shows a front view of a distribution board connection module, and 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  shows a sectional illustration through the second housing part. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a schematic block diagram showing, in cross-section, a distribution board connection module including a housing defining an interior in which printed circuit boards are arranged 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    The distribution board connection module  1  comprises a first housing part  11  (base part) and a second housing part  12  (front part), which are latched to one another and form a housing  10 . The housing  10  has a cavity  60 , in which at least two printed circuit boards  65  are arranged. Furthermore, the second housing part  12 , which defines the end face  13 , has two openings in each of which a connector module  14 ,  15  is arranged. The connector modules  14 ,  15  themselves likewise have a two-part housing. The connector modules  14 ,  15  each have a row of contact elements which are formed with two contacts, an insulation-displacement contact  16  which is accessible from outside the housing  10  and an inwardly pointing fork contact, by means of which the contact element electrically and mechanically connects the printed circuit board. The contact elements are in this case supported in the housing of the connector module  14 ,  15  such that they can absorb the connection forces occurring when contact is made with the cables in the insulation-displacement contacts  16 . Furthermore, the first housing part  11  has arched attachments  17 , by means of which the distribution board connection module  1  can be latched onto round rods (not shown) of a mounting frame. The end face opposite the end face  13  preferably likewise has openings, through which further connector modules can be pushed. These connector modules may have the same design as the connector modules  14 ,  15  or may be in the form of multi-pin plug-in connectors. Two plates  18 , which are perpendicular to the end face  13 , are arranged in the upper region on the end face  13 . The plates  18  each have a rounded-off opening  19  and two rectangular depressions  20 ,  21  (see  FIG. 3 ). In this case, the depression  20  is slightly shorter than the depression  21 , i.e. the depression  21  extends slightly more in the direction of the end face  13 . 
         [0024]    A display frame  30  comprises a label area, which is flat and is preferably covered by a transparent plastic strip  31 , which can be pushed below webs  32 . Two brackets  33  are arranged laterally on the label area. In this case, a lower edge  34  of the bracket  33  extends upwards uniformly at an angle, whereas an upper edge  35  initially has a slightly less steep incline, which initially results in a tapering of the bracket  33  (see  FIG. 2 ). At a bend  36 , the edge  35  then rises with more of an incline in order to then make the transition to a flat region. In the position shown in  FIG. 2 , in this case the rear edge  37  of the bracket is parallel to the end face  13  and is supported by a stop  22  of the housing part  12 . In the region of the bend  36 , a latching element  39  (see  FIG. 4 ), which is preferably rhombic, is arranged on the inside of the bracket  33 . In the region of the flat part of the edge  35 , a cylindrical attachment  38  is arranged on the inside and engages in the opening  19  in the plate  18 . 
         [0025]    Furthermore, the second housing part  12  is formed with four U-shaped elevations  23 . The U-shaped elevations  23  are each arranged laterally next to the openings for the connector modules  14 ,  15  and likewise stand perpendicularly on the end face  13 . Each U-shaped elevation comprises two limbs  24 ,  25  and a base part  26 , the base part  26  being shorter than the limbs  24 ,  25 . Furthermore, the base part  26  is beveled inwards. This forms an inwardly inclined slot. In the line aligned with this beveled slot, the connector modules  14 ,  15  have an opening  41  (see  FIG. 5 ), such that a lever tool  40  can be guided in the slot, the front part of the lever tool  40  passing into the opening  41  of the connector module  14 ,  15 . In this case, the base part  26  forms a lever bearing, with the result that the latched-in connector module  14 ,  15  which has been pushed onto the printed circuit board can be levered out, as is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . As regards the precise design of the connector modules  14 ,  15 , express reference is made to DE 102 57 308 B3, express reference hereby being made thereto. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  shows the display frame  30  in a first pivoted-up position. In this case, the latching elements of the brackets  33  are latched into the rectangular depression  20 . In this position, the two connector modules  14 ,  15  can be connected or else levered out. 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  shows the display frame  30  in a second, folded-down position, the display frame  30  being arranged centrally between the connector modules  14 ,  15 . In this case, the latching elements of the brackets  33  are latched into the rectangular depressions  21 , the label area being parallel to the end face  13 . In this position, connection of cables or release is impeded by the display frame  30 . 
         [0028]    On the end face opposite the end face  13 , it is possible to see elevations  27 , which are likewise U-shaped and by means of which it is likewise possible for connector modules to be levered out. In this case, the U-shaped elevations  27  are slightly shorter than the U-shaped elevations  23 . The U-shaped elevations  23  need to be slightly higher, since they need to be higher than the plates  18 . In this case, however, it would be possible for the two U-shaped elevations  23  to be shorter where there are no plates  18  arranged, since this makes levering out easier. 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  shows a sectional illustration through the second housing part  12  (front part), the section A-A (see  FIG. 5 ) having been drawn through the two base parts of the U-shaped elevation  23 . The housing part  12  has various latching hooks  51 ,  52  and  53 , by means of which the housing part  12  can be latched to the first housing part  11 . Furthermore, three recesses  54  and a part  55  of a supporting element for the printed circuit board (not shown) can be seen. The recesses are cutouts for latching lugs of the connector modules  14 ,  15 , which prevent any latching-in. 
       LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0000]    
       
           1  Distribution board connection module 
           10  Housing 
           11  Housing part (base part) 
           12  Housing part (front part) 
           13  End face 
           14 , 15  Connector module 
           16  Insulation-displacement contact 
           17  Arched attachments 
           18  Plates 
           19  Opening 
           20 , 21  Rectangular depressions 
           23  U-shaped elevations 
           24 , 25  Limbs 
           26  Base part 
           27  U-shaped elevations 
           30  Display frame 
           31  Plastic strip 
           32  Webs 
           33  Brackets 
           34  Lower edge 
           35  Upper edge 
           36  Bend 
           37  Rear edge 
           38  Cylindrical attachment 
           39  Latching element 
           40  Lever tool 
           41  Opening 
           51 , 52 , 53  Latching hooks 
           54  Recesses 
           55  Part of a supporting element 
           60  Cavity 
           65  Printed circuit board