Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US6267611?ie=ISO-8859-1&dq=6,332,126
Timestamp: 2014-03-09 04:42:52
Document Index: 637583057

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 161', 'art 161', 'arts 161', 'art 161', 'art 161', 'arts 161']

Patent US6267611 - Modular communication cabling arrangement - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA modular communication system, particularly for interior space-dividing wall panels which are serially-connected together to define a plurality of adjacent workstations. The modular communication system is defined by a plurality of prefabricated modules, one of which is an elongate main distribution...http://www.google.com/patents/US6267611?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6267611 - Modular communication cabling arrangementAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS6267611 B1Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 09/416,603Publication dateJul 31, 2001Filing dateOct 12, 1999Priority dateJan 25, 1995Fee statusPaidAlso published asUS5964609Publication number09416603, 416603, US 6267611 B1, US 6267611B1, US-B1-6267611, US6267611 B1, US6267611B1InventorsHarold R. Wilson, Ross S. JohnsonOriginal AssigneeHaworth, Inc.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (37), Referenced by (1), Classifications (35), Legal Events (4) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetModular communication cabling arrangementUS 6267611 B1Abstract A modular communication system, particularly for interior space-dividing wall panels which are serially-connected together to define a plurality of adjacent workstations. The modular communication system is defined by a plurality of prefabricated modules, one of which is an elongate main distribution module mountable within a raceway which extends horizontally longitudinally of the panel. This elongate main distribution module, in one embodiment, has a length which approximately corresponds to the panel length, and has terminals or connectors at opposite ends so that a plurality of main distribution modules can be serially-connected to extend along a plurality of serially-connected panels. The main communication modules define a plurality of telecommunication links (i.e., paths), with each link preferably being defined by eight conductors (i.e., four pairs). The system also includes tap-off modules which cooperate with the main distribution modules to permit one (two in the preferred embodiment) link to be tapped off at a workstation for connection to communication equipment (i.e. a telephone and/or a computer). The tap-off module permits only the selected link or links to be tapped off and accessible at the workstation.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This is a division of Ser. No. 08/846,622, filed Apr. 30, 1997 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,964,609, which is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/814,280, filed Mar. 10, 1997, now abandoned which is a file wrapper continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/447,176, filed May 19, 1995, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/377,743, filed Jan. 25, 1995, now abandoned.
FIG. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 13�13 in FIG. 11.
FIG. 32 is a side cross sectional view of the connector assembly taken along line 32�32 in FIG. 26 illustrating the interior of an access port.
FIG. 72 is a side cross-sectional view of a connector assembly as viewed in the direction of arrows 72�72 of FIG. 71.
With the arrangement of FIGS. 20 and 21, the same number of access ports 54 are provided, only some of these are now accessible from the top and bottom, rather than only from opposite sides as in the earlier variation. This arrangement of FIGS. 20 and 21, however, always ensures that the adjacent distribution modules 22′ are properly aligned and connect together since the connector units 32′ and 33′ have no �up� and �down� or �right� and �left� orientation.
The side rails 169 a of plug part 161 include a substantially rectangular portion and a substantially trapezoidal portion along the exterior surfaces thereof to define a �keyed� shape which is adapted to slidably seat within the correspondingly shaped access openings 153. As previously described, the shape of the access openings 153 is inverted on the opposite sides of the connector assembly 138 such that the plug part 161 may be slidably inserted on one side when in one orientation, but must be rotated 180� in a vertical plane to a second inverted orientation to permit insertion on the opposite side of the connector assembly 138. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 26, the trapezoidal portions on the plug parts 161 when located on the backside of connector assembly 138 are disposed at the bottom thereof for insertion into the associated access opening 153. Conversely, the trapezoidal portions of the plug part 161 illustrated on the front side of the connector assembly 138 are inverted so that the keyed or trapezoidal portions are disposed on the top of the plug part 161. This ensures that the particular group of tracings 167 on the plate 166 which are assigned to carry voice signals, and the adjacent group of tracings 167 which are assigned to carry data signals, continue to carry such signals regardless of which side of the connector assembly 138 that the plug parts 161 are inserted from.
Preferably, the insert portion 666 is a double-sided computer circuit board with electrical traces 696-1 to 696-8 formed on the upper surface as well as additional intermediate electrical traces (identified with a prime (′)) formed on the opposite side thereof although these additional traces are coated with an insulative coating or covered with an insulative layer laminated thereon. In particular, the forwardmost row of contact portions 694-5 to 694-8 include electrical traces (696-4 to 696-8) respectively which extend rearwardly to the approximate mid-point of the insert portion 666. Since the outer second row of contact portions 694-1 to 694-4 is also located in this region, the electrical traces from the outer row of contact portions (694-1 to 694-4) are bypassed through vertical bores commonly referred to as �vias� (697-4 to 697-8) formed in the insert portion. The vias are plated or coated with conductive material to electrically connect the traces on the opposite sides of insert portion 666. These inner vertical bores (697-4 to 697-8) are connected to the traces (696-4 to 696-8) and extend through the thickness of the insert portion 666. The lower ends of the bores (697-4 to 697-8) then are connected to the further electrical traces (696-4′ to 696-8′) on the opposite side thereof which extend back towards the contact end portions (695-4 to 695-8). The traces (696-4′ to 696-8′) then are connected to the connector ends (695-4 to 695-8) by outer vertical vias or bores (697-4′ to 697-8′).
Reference will now be made to FIGS. 79A-90 which are diagrammatic plan views which illustrate several arrangements and variations of the modular communication system of this invention. In these views, the reference to the �data distribution assembly� refers to the modular communication system, reference to �data tap� means the tap-off module, with the �in-line� data tap being a tap-off module which connects directly into the aligned modules of the system, the reference to the �data distribution segments� mean the main distribution modules, the reference to �quick connectors� mean the connector units, the reference to a �data feed� means the in-feed module, with the �one-way� data feed being connectable at an end or location so that the telecommunication links project only in one direction downstream therefrom, whereas the �two-way� data feed connects intermediate the length of the system so that selected telecommunication links project in opposite directions therefrom. In these drawings, reference is also made to a �data T�, this being a connector which is provided as an integral part of the distribution segment and which cooperates with the data taps.
Attention is also directed to application Ser. No. 08/377,915, filed concurrently herewith, inventors Ross Johnson and Harold Wilson, and entitled �MODULAR COMMUNICATION SYSTEM�. The disclosure of this latter-mentioned copending application is incorporated herein, in its entirety, by reference.
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