GB2212334A

GB2212334A - Housing for telecommunications unit

Info

Publication number: GB2212334A
Application number: GB8829772A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Helger Emmerich
Original assignee: Christoph Emmerich GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Christoph Emmerich GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 1987-12-23
Filing date: 1988-12-21
Publication date: 1989-07-19
Also published as: GB8829772D0; DE8717767U1; ES2010052A6; FR2625403B3; DE8717813U1; FR2625403A1; DE3743865A1

Description

A TEMECOMMUNICATIONS UNIT 2 2 12 3 %S 4 This invention relates to a

telecommunications unit, for example a telephone extension system, with an electric circuit arrangement and connection means, such as terminal strips, built-in socket and the like accommodated in a common housing.

In the case of known telecommunications units of this type, it is necessary, in order to establish the necessary connections, to open the entire housing and thus expose also the electric circuit arrangement. During connection operations damage may be caused to the circuit arrangement or there may be damage to an adjacent telecommunications network or even danger to the person carrying out the work. Finally, in order to provide accessibility to the connection means, it is necessary to be able to open the housing of the prior art units with simple and everyday tools, for example screwdrivers, so that even unauthorised persons may have access to the electric circuit arrangement.

It is an object of this invention to improve such telecommunications units so that it is possible to gain access to the connection means using simple tools in order to carry out connection work, while the electric circuit arrangement remains secure, even during connection, in keeping with relevant safety regulations.

According to the invention, a telecommunications unit, for example, a telephone extension system comprises an electric circuit arrangement and connection means, such as terminal strips, built-in socket and the like, all of which are accommodated in a common housing, wherein the unit has a continuous housing which has, separated from each other by a partition, at least two chambers of which one chamber contains the electric circuit arrangement while another chamber contains the connections means, and wherein the housing has a cover 2 including cover parts which correspond to the different chambers and can be separated from each other so that the cover part covering the circuit arrangement is, while closed, safeguarded against being opened while the cover part covering the connection means can be opened by means of a simple tool (such as a screwdriver).

In a preferred embodiment, a continuous one-piece base plate is provided on which are mounted both the circuit arrangement and also the connection means and on which the cover part which covers the circuit arrangement is maintained in the closed position by locking devices which can be released only by means of a special key-like tool. Preferably, the cover part which covers the connection means may be maintained in the closed condition by means of a catch-like device which can be released by means of a simple tool. For example, the cover part which covers the connection means may be constructed with lateral projections which engage behind corresponding projections on the cover part covering the circuit arrangement so that by slightly bending the walls with a screwdriver the catch projections and the catches can be separated from one another. In this way, it is possible by means of a tool easily to remove the cover part which covers the connection means. However, in order to be able to safeguard it against unintended removal, particularly by the action of cables introduced into the chamber accommodating the connection means, cable lead-in passages may be formed on the base plate by means of strip- like elements to prevent the cables acting on the cover part which covers the connection means. Furthermore, these cable lead-in passages support the cables in a simple manner during connection. Even after connection, these cable lead-in passages provide an additional means of gripping the introduced cables so that an effective relieving of the load on the connection means is assured.

The invention will now be explained by way of example with V 3 reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a telephone extension system in accordance with the invention having a chamber holding connection means shown open, the cover part which covers the circuit arrangement being shown partly broken-away; Figure 2 is a sectional side view of a portion the cover part which conceals the connection means, and a side wall part, shown in the closed condition, with a screwdriver introduced in order to open it; and Figure 3 is a similar view to that of Figure 2 shown with the cover part in an intermediate stage during opening.

11 Referring to Figure 1, a telephone extension system 10 of particularly compact construction has a housing comprising a common base plate 11 which carries both the circuit arrangement 12, the component elements of which are shown in the broken-away part of the housing cover, as well as the connection means, namely terminal strips 13 and a tePephone socket 14. Mounted on this base plate 11 is a housing cover 15 which has a cover part 16 masking the electric circuit arrangement and a cover part 17 masking the connection means. There is formed on the cover part 16 which covers the circuit arrangement a partition 18 which divides the interior of the housing into a chamber 19 accommodating the circuit arrangement 12 and a chamber 20 which accommodates the connection means. The cover part 16 which covers the circuit arrangement 12 is extended beyond the partition 18 by side wall parts 21 which form the lateral covering of chamber 20 which accommodates the connection means 13, 14. The bottom plate 11 is, at the end associated with the chamber 20, equipped with two cable retaining strips 22 beneath which are formed cable lead-in passages 23 which are kept clear by corresponding cut-outs 24 in the cover part 17. In its middle zone, the cover part 17 has an insertion aperture 25 for 4 insertion of a telephone plug. This insertion aperture 25 is normally closed by a resiliently mounted occluding slider 26 when the telephone socket 14 is not in use.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the side wall parts 21 of the housing part 16 which covers the circuit arrangement are constructed with inwardlydirected catch-like retainers 27, while the cover part 17 which covers the connection means is provided with catch-like projections 28. When the retainers 27 and the catches 28 are in the inter-engaged condition, there remains between each lateral wall part 21 and the cover part 17 a slotlike opening 29 into which it is possible to insert a screwdriver 30. During outwards pivoting of the screwdriver 30 in the direction of the arrow 31, this latter bends the relevant side wall part 21, as is shown by comparing Figures 2 and 3. When this happens, the end of the screwdriver 30 engages a depression 32 at the connection between the projection 28 and the cover part 17, so lifting the cover part 17 out of the region of the retainer 27 of the resiliently outwardly bent wall part 21 as the screwdriver 30 is further rotated in the direction of the arrow 31. In order to close the chamber 20, the cover part 17 is easily fitted, the catches 28 having a sloping insertion edge 33 for pushing the side wall parts 21 apart from one another elastically so that the catches 28 pass the retainers 27 and engage behind these latter.

In contrast to the possibility of easily opening the cover part 17, the cover part 16 is provided with (not shown) locking means which can only be released by a special key-type tool. Thus, the cover part 16 can only be opened by authorized specialists, preferably only in the workshop. Therefore, when the cover part 16 is closed, the circuit arrangement is safeguarded against any intervention in keeping with the relevant safety regulations.

In a modified embodiment of the invention, the housing may also comprise more than two chambers, for example comprising an A additional chamber to accommodate mains connection means which may be disposed, for example, at that end of the housing which is opposite the chamber 20. Also this third chamber can be safeguarded against unauthorised opening by the provision of suitable safety means, for example by using locking devices which can likewise he released only by using a special key.

1 1 6

Claims

A telecommunications unit, for example, a telephone extension system, comprising an electric circuit arrangement and connection means such as terminal strips, built-in socket and the like, accommodated in a common housing, wherein the unit has a continuous housing which has, separated from each other by a partition, at least two chambers of which one chamber contains the electric circuit arrangement while another chamber contains the connections means and wherein the housing has a cover including cover parts which correspond to the different chambers and can be separated from each other so that the cover part covering the circuit arrangement is, while closed, safeguarded against being opened while the cover part covering the connection means can be opened by means of a conventional tool.
A unit according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a continuous onepiece base plate on which are mounted both the circuit arrangement and also the connection means, and on which the cover part which covers the circuit arrangement is maintained in the closed position by locking devices which can be released only by means of a special key-like tool.
A unit according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the cover part which covers the connection means is maintained in the closed condition by a catch-like device which is releasable by means of a simple tool.
4. A unit according to claim 3, wherein the cover part which covers the connection means is constructed with lateral projections which engage behind corresponding projections on the cover part which covers the circuit arrangement so that by slightly bending walls of the latter cover part by Q ll Q 7 means of a screwdriver, the lateral projections and the corresponding projections can be separated from one another.
A unit according to claim 2, wherein cable lead-in ducts are formed on the base plate by strip-like elements.
6. A telecommunications unit constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and shown in th drawings.

e Published 1989 at The Patent 0Mce, State House, 66171 Holborn. london WC1R 4TP. Further copies may be obtained from The Patent Offtce..