Patent Abstract:
A network access terminal includes an enclosure and a connector panel hinged to the enclosure such that a double-sided connector received within an opening in the panel does not need to be removed to access the rear of the connector. The enclosure has an opening such that telephone cables enter the enclosure and wiring is routed to the underside of the panel. The hinge is located along an edge of the panel adjacent the cable entry for optimum slack management. The network access terminal may also include a mechanical stop for limiting the travel of the panel and for supporting the panel while the technician routes and connects the wiring to the rear of the connector. The front of the panel may incorporate restricted access fasteners such that the underside of the panel can be accessed only by authorized personnel while still permitting access to the front.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an enclosure for wiring terminations. More specifically, the invention relates to a network access terminal having a connector panel that provides wiring termination points between telephone lines from multiple local exchange carriers (“LECs”) and individual subscriber telephone lines so that a subscriber can be conveniently connected to any one of the LECs. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Telephone service is available from a number of different telephone companies, referred to herein as the service provider. The subscriber may purchase as many separate telephone lines as he desires and equip his home or business with various telephone equipment. Subscribers are responsible for the proper operation of telephone equipment and the service provider is responsible for the proper operation of the telephone network equipment up to the interface between the service provider wiring and the subscriber wiring. 
     Before the deregulation of the local exchange telephone industry, an incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) had the exclusive right to provide local exchange telephone services to a subscriber. With this near monopolistic control, the ILECs laid extensive large pair count telephone cables throughout cities within their local access transport area (LATA). Oftentimes, such cables terminate in a building entrance terminal (BET) mounted on the side of a commercial building or a multi-tenant dwelling. The BET provides an enclosure for establishing and protecting multiple wiring terminations. The BET may also house protection elements, such as voltage surge protectors. For example, an ILEC might lay a telephone cable that contains 256 twisted pair of wires, even though the capacity of the cable far exceeds the immediate needs of the subscribers. Each twisted pair typically services a single phone line and comprises a tip wire and a ring wire. The twisted pair wires are then routed and terminated to a unique pair of tip and ring connectors within the BET for connection to the tip and ring wires of a particular subscriber line. 
     With industry deregulation, competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) must now be given access to the subscriber wiring. The CLEC is entitled to lease the ILEC&#39;s existing infrastructure, including the BET and the telephone lines leading up to the BET. In addition, the CLEC is entitled to route its own telephone lines into the BET for termination with the subscriber wiring. However, many ILECs are concerned that the field technician employed by the CLEC might be inexperienced and may damage the equipment or existing wiring terminations within the BET. 
     One solution is to provide a separate network access terminal, as shown in FIG. 1. A BET  12  is shown mounted on the side of a structure  10 , such as a building or wall. The ILEC telephone cable  16  is shown entering the BET  12 . Inside the BET  12 , the cable  16  is separated into multiple telephone lines and each line is terminated to, for example, a connector. A lock  14  may be placed on the BET  12  to ensure that no one except an ILEC field technician has access to the BET  12 . A second enclosure, the network access terminal  20  in FIG. 1 is also mounted on the structure  10 . A patch cable  18  connects at least a portion of the terminated wires in the BET  12  to a similar connector within the network access terminal  20 . A second patch cable  19  is provided by the CLEC from a BET (not shown) belonging to the CLEC and likewise is routed into the network access terminal  20  for a purpose to be described hereinafter. Subscriber wiring  22  enters the network access terminal  20  where it is also terminated, for example, to the connector within the network access terminal  20 . Both ILEC and CLEC field technicians have access to the network access terminal  20 . 
     If a CLEC leases several of the telephone lines in the ILEC cable  16 , then access to those telephone lines is provided from within the network interface terminal  20  through the patch cable  18 . The more likely situation, as illustrated in FIG. 1, is that the CLEC utilizes its own BET (not shown) and routes a separate patch cable  19  into the network access terminal  20  from its BET. Thus, a subscriber can be connected to either the ILEC&#39;s or the CLEC&#39;s telephone lines that are terminated in the network interface device  20 . For example, a CLEC field technician can respond to a request for service from a particular subscriber by opening the network access terminal  20  and installing a jumper cable between one of the CLEC&#39;s telephone lines and the subscriber&#39;s telephone line. 
     Cross connect cabinets, such as the cabinet  20  shown in FIG. 2, are commercially available. The cabinet  20  can serve the same function as a network access terminal, and thus, is indicated herein by the same reference numeral. A door  24  protects an inner panel  26 , also known as a layer. The panel  26  can have a service provider side  26 A and a subscriber side  26 B. Telephone cable  18  enters the cabinet  20 , as shown, and is separated into a plurality of individual twisted pair wires. The twisted pair wires terminate into connectors  28 . A more detailed view of a modular connector  28  is shown in FIG.  3 . The connector  28  includes a number of individual termination points on both its front and rear surfaces. Thus, a tip wire and a ring wire  30 ,  32 , respectively, from one twisted pair are inserted into the rear of a connector  28  on the service provider side  26 A of the panel  26 . Likewise the subscriber tip and ring wires are also terminated into the rear of a connector  28  on the subscriber side  26 B of the panel  26 . Wires  34 ,  36  of a jumper cable can then be inserted between the front of the connector  28  on the service provider side  26 A of the panel  26  and the connector  28  on the subscriber side  26 B of the panel  26 . The connectors may be insulation displacement connectors (IDCs) to permit the connections to be made rapidly and without the need to strip insulation from the wires. 
     One problem with this type of panel  26  occurs during the initial insertion of the wires into the rear of the connector  28 . The connector  28  must be removed from the panel  26  to give the field technician access to the rear of the connector  28 . In some instances, there is not be enough slack in the wires to allow the field technician to connect the wires with the connector  28  removed from the panel  26 . Even if there is enough slack to connect the wires, the field technician may damage the wires while replacing the connector  28  in place on the panel  26 . Another problem with this type of panel  26  occurs if the wires  30 ,  32  terminating into the rear of a connector  28  must be relocated to another connector  28  or become disconnected. The connector  28  must be removed from the panel  26  and the wires  30 ,  32  carefully relocated to another connector or reinserted. Relocating or reinserting the wires  30 ,  32  typically requires an experienced and skilled field technician. Furthermore, during the relocating or reinserting process other wires connected to the rear of the connectors  28  can become inadvertently dislodged. 
     Therefore, a need exists for an improved network access terminal that permits easy access to the rear of the connectors on the connector panel. 
     A further need exists for a network access terminal that permits multiple LECs to easily route new wiring into the enclosure and to terminate the wiring into the rear of connectors on the connector panel. 
     A further need exists for a network access terminal that provides convenient management of wiring slack. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a network access terminal that overcomes many of the disadvantages in the prior art. The network access terminal includes a unique connector panel configured such that the connector does not need to be removed from the connector panel to access the rear of the connector. The network access terminal includes an enclosure having a movable panel on which the connectors are mounted. The connectors mount to the panel such that one connector face is on the front of the panel and the other connector face is on the rear of the panel. Because the panel is movable relative to the enclosure, both the front and the rear of the connector are accessible without removing the connector from the panel. 
     In one embodiment, the enclosure is configured such that a telephone cable enters through the bottom of the enclosure and the wiring is routed to the underside of the connector panel. The connector panel is hinged to the enclosure and the hinge line is located adjacent to the bottom of the enclosure where the cable enters for optimum slack management. If the connector panel is a cross-connect panel having jumper fields, the near side of the panel may be provided with restricted access fasteners such that the underside of the panel can be accessed only by an ILEC while at the same time permitting a CLEC access to the near side of the panel. The enclosure may also feature a stop position to limit the travel of the panel when it is moved to an opened position. The stop position provides support for the panel while a field technician is connecting the wiring on the rear of the connector. Multiple cable entry locations permit termination of additional telephone cables, such as drop lines, as service is expanded to accommodate additional subscribers. Furthermore the connector panel is configured to accept rows of modular connectors, also known as connector modules, such that additional connectors may be installed on the connector panel after the initial installation is completed. 
     While the connectors illustrated herein are for twisted pair wires, the connectors may also be configured to accept coax cabling, network cabling, fiber optic cabling and any other sort of transmission means that might be used in the future to convey voice, video, data, or other electronic transmissions. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     One or more preferred embodiments of the invention, which will be described more fully hereinafter, are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a building entrance terminal (BET) and a network access terminal illustrating a prior art solution to providing CLECs with access to subscriber wiring; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a prior art cross-connect cabinet; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a modular connector having multiple pairs of insulation displacement connectors for receiving the tip and ring wires of a telephone cable; 
     FIG. 4 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of a network access terminal having a connector panel according to the present invention; 
     FIGS. 5A and 5B are side views of the network access terminal of FIG. 4 shown in both a first closed position and a second opened position; 
     FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the network access terminal of FIG. 4 shown in the opened position; 
     FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the network access terminal of FIG. 4 shown in the opened position; 
     FIG. 8 is a side view of an alternative preferred embodiment of a network access terminal according to the invention shown in the opened position; 
     FIGS. 9 and 10 are front and bottom views, respectively, of yet another preferred embodiment of a network access terminal according to the invention wherein the connector panel is hinged on along a lateral edge of the enclosure; 
     FIG. 11 is a side view of yet another preferred embodiment of a network access terminal according to the invention wherein the connector panel is hinged along a top edge of the enclosure; and 
     FIGS. 12 and 13 are front views of yet another preferred embodiment of a network access terminal according to the invention wherein the connector panel is an inter-connect panel shown in the closed and opened positions, respectively. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention relates to an improved network access terminal  100 , as shown in FIG.  4 . The network access terminal  100  includes an enclosure  104  and a door  102  movably attached to the enclosure  104 . The door  102  is preferably hinged to the enclosure  104  and is shown in an open position with a bracket  116  supporting the door  102  in the open position. A connector panel  106  is mounted within enclosure. The panel  106  has at least one opening, and preferably a plurality of openings, therethrough that receive connectors  108 , such as the modular connectors  28  shown in FIG.  3 . As shown, the panel  106  has a service provider side  106 A and a subscriber side  106 B. Both the service provider side  106 A and the subscriber side  106 B receive modular connectors  108 . For example, the service provider side  106 A of panel  106  in FIG. 3 is provided with five individual sets of modular connectors  108 , with each connector  108  comprising a plurality of pairs of IDCs for receiving tip and ring wires from a telephone cable. However, other connectors may be used that receive other types of communications transmission wiring, such as coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, and networking cable. 
     One or more telephone cables  18  enter into the enclosure  104  through an opening formed in the bottom of the enclosure. Each service provider cable  18  is separated into a plurality of twisted pair tip and ring wires (not shown). The service provider provides dial tone service to the tip and ring wires and each pair is terminated into the rear of one of the connectors  108  on the service provider side  106 A of the panel  106 . Likewise, a telephone cable  22  of subscriber telephone lines also enters into the enclosure  104  and each individual subscriber telephone line is terminated on the rear of a connector  108  on the subscriber side  106 B of the panel  106 . Wiring guides  114  may be provided on both the near side (as shown) and the far side of the panel to assist in management of the wiring slack. A jumper cable  110  can then be connected between the front of one of the connectors  108  on the subscriber side  106 B of the panel  106  and one of the connectors  108  on the service provider side  106 A of the panel  106 , thereby completing the communications circuit between the subscriber and the service provider. 
     If the subscriber decides to switch service from the ILEC to the CLEC, a CLEC field technician opens the door  102  and identifies the subscriber&#39;s tip and ring wires and the connector  108  on the subscriber side  106 B of the panel  106  that receives the subscriber&#39;s wiring. The field technician then detaches the end of the jumper cable  110  connecting the subscriber&#39;s wiring to the ILEC&#39;s wiring from the corresponding connector  108  on the service provider side  106 A of the panel  106  and reattaches it to one of the connectors  108  on the service provider side  106 A of the panel  106  having the CLEC&#39;s wiring terminated therein. The CLEC may lease wiring from the telephone cable  18  belong to the ILEC, or may route its own telephone cable (not shown) into the enclosure  104  through one of the other openings formed in the bottom of the enclosure  104 . To make identification of the connectors  108  having the CLEC&#39;s wiring terminated therein easier, the service provider side  106 A of the panel  106  may comprise several rows for banks of connector modules that are reserved for the CLEC. In other words, a CLEC may install its own set of connectors  108  in place of the ILEC&#39;s connectors  108  or in one of the rows reserved for banks of the connector modules belonging to the CLEC. The CLEC can then terminate its tip and ring wires into the rear of its own connectors  108 . Thus, a CLEC may opt to lay its own wiring infrastructure so that it can route its own cable of wires into the enclosure  104  and terminate multiple wire pairs into multiple connectors  108 . 
     The panel  106  is movable relative to the enclosure  104  and is preferably hinged to the enclosure  104  along a hinge line  122  to permit the panel  106  to rotate outwardly away from the floor of the enclosure  104 . A flange  112  is shown mounted along a lower edge of the panel  106 . The flange  112  acts as a mechanical stop to limit the travel of the panel  106  when it is rotated between a first closed position, shown in FIG. 5A, and a second opened position, shown in FIG.  5 B. The flange  112  engages the mounting bracket  120 . The angle of rotation between the mounting bracket  120  and the panel  106  may be any suitable angle, however, in one embodiment, the angle of rotation is between about 100 degrees and about 200 degrees. An angle of rotation of about 135 degrees presents the underside of the panel  106  to a field technician at an angle of about 45 degrees, as illustrated in FIG.  5 B. Allowing the panel  106  to rotate relative to the enclosure  104  about hinge line  122  makes it significantly easier for a field technician to access the rear of the connectors  108  on panel  106 . The routing of the service provider wiring from cable  18  is also shown to illustrate the convenient slack management of the wiring that is provided by the network access terminal  100 . Another feature of the network access terminal  100  that is field technician friendly is an on-board tester  118  located on the panel  106 . The field technician can use the tester  118  to determine which of the connectors  108  are “live.” In particular, the field technician can insert the leads of the tester  118  into the front of a service provider connector  108  to determine if a dial tone is present on the telephone line. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the underside of the connector panel  106 . As best shown in FIG. 6, a hinge  124  is used to attach the panel  106  to mounting bracket  120  on the enclosure  104 . The mounting bracket  120  spaces the panel away from the floor of the enclosure  104  and permits storage of the slack ILEC, subscriber, and CLEC (if utilized) wiring. As previously mentioned, wiring guides  114  are provided to guide the slack wiring along the edges of the panel for appropriate slack management. The service provider side  106 A of the panel  106  is shown with three rows of connectors  108  and three blank panels, each capable of holding a row of connectors  108  for future expansion. In the event that a CLEC opts to install its own telephone cable into the enclosure  104 , additional connectors  108  can be placed in reserved areas. The CLEC wiring can then be terminated in those additional connectors  108 . Likewise, the subscriber cable  22  can be routed to the rear of the connectors  108  on the subscriber side  106 B of the panel  106 . 
     FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the enclosure  104  of the network access terminal  100  with the panel  106  shown in the opened position. A plurality of additional openings may be formed in the bottom of the enclosure  104  to accommodate the insertion of additional telephone cables. One such opening  138 , referred to in the art as a “knock-out,” for the subscriber cable  22  is shown. Several additional openings  140  with grommet seals can be pre-placed for the orderly expansion of the network access terminal  100 . It should be understood that the cable openings  138 ,  140  may be any size and may be placed on any surface of the network access terminal  100 . Further openings  142  may be provided for access to ground the network access terminal  100  to a suitable ground. 
     FIG. 8 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a network access terminal  200  according to the present invention. In this embodiment, a hinge (not shown) is located along the lower edge of the connector panel  206  adjacent to the bottom of the enclosure  204 . When the door  202  is opened, the panel  206  can be rotated outwardly away from the floor of the enclosure  204 . However, rather than use of the flange  112  to limit the travel of the panel  206 , a flexible cord  208  is used. The cord  208  is connected between the panel  206  and the floor or sidewall of the enclosure  104 . The cord  208  limits the further rotation of the panel  206 . The length of the cord  208  determines the angle of rotation of the panel  206  relative to the enclosure  204 , and thus, the angle of presentation of the underside of the panel  206  to the field technician. 
     FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate another aspect of the present invention, namely that the hinge does not have to be located along the lower edge of the panel  206 . A network access terminal  300  is shown with the hinge  308  located along a side edge of the panel  306 . When the door  302  of the enclosure  304  is opened, the panel  306  can be rotated outwardly from the floor of the enclosure  304 . This provides a field technician with easy access to both the front and rear of the connectors on the panel  306 . The travel of the panel  306  can be limited in the same ways as discussed above. 
     FIG. 11 illustrates another variation of the present invention, namely one where the panel rotates upwardly away from the floor of the enclosure. The network access terminal  400  can include a panel  406  that is connected by a hinge (not shown) located along the top edge of the panel  406 . Thus, when the door  402  of the enclosure  104  is opened, the field technician can lift the panel  406  upwardly and outwardly from the floor of the enclosure  404 . To assist the stable positioning of the panel  406  in the opened position, a bracket  408  is provided with a notch to engage a peg depending from the side of the panel  406 . 
     As previously mentioned, the present invention does not have to provide a cross connect panel. The network access terminal of the invention may instead provide a simple interconnect panel, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. In the embodiment  500  shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, a panel  506  is located within the enclosure  504 . The panel  506  still incorporates a plurality of connectors. ILEC, subscriber, and CLEC (if utilized) wiring may still be routed to the underside of the panel  506  and connected to the rear of the connectors. When the door  502  of the enclosure  504  is opened, the panel  506  rotates about hinge  508 . In this instance, ILEC wiring (and CLEC wiring, if utilized) may be connected to the rear of the connectors while the panel  506  is in the opened position, shown in FIG.  13 . Subscriber wiring may then be connected to the front of the same connectors to interconnect the subscriber wiring and the ILEC (or CLEC) wiring in a known manner. Furthermore, the service provider wiring (ILEC or CLEC) may be connected to the front of the connectors while the subscriber wiring is connected to the rear of the connectors. 
     While the invention has been shown in only several of its many possible forms, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible to various changes without departing from the scope of invention. For example, while the discussion has focused on the use of the network access terminal with a plurality of twisted pair wires, it is also useful in establishing and protecting any number of connections between communications transmission media of any kind. Furthermore, while the invention anticipates that both the service provider wiring and the subscriber wiring is terminated on the underside of the connector panel, one or both could just as easily be terminated on the front side of the panel while the jumper cable connections are made on the underside of the panel. Accordingly, it is intended that the appended claims encompass any and all alternative embodiments of the invention not disclosed herein that are within the ordinary skill of a person knowledgeable in the art of terminating and connecting electrical wiring.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7