Bell Telephone Laboratories

At&t Technologies, Inc.

Charles M Beatenbough

William A Elliott

A base housing unit (32), which supports a connector (48) on a bottom wall (40) thereof, includes a vertical boss (46) spaced from the connector to provide a cable receiving recess (70). An elongated slot (42) is formed through the vertical boss (46). A first end section of a flat cable (10), having accordion pleat sections (64, 66 and 68) formed therein, is threaded through the elongated slot (42). The pleat sections (64, 66 and 68) are positioned within the recess (70) and the first end section of the cable (10) is terminated on the connector (48). A cover (50) is then secured to the base housing unit (32). In response to the application of tension to a free end of the cable (10), the pleat sections (64, 66 and 68) flex to bind the cable between the connector (48) and the cover (50).

Methods of and assemblies for strain relieving connectorized flat cable

A customer installable adapter assembly (10) which mounts between a wall jack outlet (14) and a wall mounted telephone set (12) to provide a jack (27) terminated extension cord (26) access to the wall jack outlet (14). The adapter assembly (10), which is provided with its own mounting studs (23, 24) for retaining the telephone set (12), is itself retained by the mounting studs (15, 16) of the wall jack (14). The adapter assembly (10) features a locking mechanism to prevent its inadvertent removal when the telephone set is removed, comprising a hinged lid (34) covering one of the wall jack studs (16) and the keyhole aperture (31) of the adapter assembly through which the latter is maintained on the stud (16). The lid (34) has extending from its inner face a lug (59) which, when the lid (34) is closed, fits into the open area of the keyhole aperture (31) to abut against the flanged head of the mounting stud (16). The latter is thus prevented from being moved back into the keyhole aperture (31) open area thereby preventing inadvertent removal of the adapter assembly (10) when the telephone set (12) is removed.

Wall telephone adapter assembly

A connector (10) has been developed which is capable of snap-mounting into a predetermined position in a housing (100). The connector is specifically configured with surfaces (38, 42) which cooperate together in separating corresponding surfaces (106, 130) in the housing so that the connector can move into the predetermined position.

Growing community of inventors

Buford, GA, United States of America

Charles M Beatenbough