Patent ID: 7238063

Claim:
A field communication distribution apparatus for use with a cable formed by a plurality of cable conductor pairs to enable temporary connection communication devices to said conductor pairs, said cable terminating in a cable connector including pairs of terminals for each of said conductor pairs, said apparatus comprising: (a) a weatherproof housing; (b) a panel positioned in said housing and having a plurality of connector devices mounted thereon; (c) each of said connector devices including a pair of insulation displacement connectors therein which enable connection thereto of unstripped insulated conductors of a communication device; (d) a box connector having a plurality of box conductor pairs, each box conductor pair being connected to a respective pair of insulation displacement connectors of one of said connector devices, said box connector being compatible with said cable connector to enable removable connection of said cable to said box connector; and (e) an auxiliary connector on said panel and having auxiliary connector terminals connected to the insulation displacement connectors of a selected connector device, said auxiliary connector being of a standard configuration to enable connection of a communication device having a connector compatible with said auxiliary connector to a conductor pair of said cable.