Western Electric Company, Inc.

At&t Technologies, Inc.

Melvin W Brzostek

Edwin C Hardesty

Erle M Hutchins

A wall outlet (20), which facilitates the interconnection of lengths of inside wiring to a network interface device, includes provisions for receiving a modular plug (31) which terminates a cord (32) that is connected to customer station equipment. The wall outlet includes a tricoupler (30) and a cover (25). The tricoupler includes a housing (80) having first and second generally opposed plug-receiving cavities (82, 83) and a third cavity (87). A plurality of metallic wire-like contact elements (90-90) are disposed in the housing of the tricoupler and are engaged by blade-like terminals (60-60) of modular plugs which are inserted into the cavities. The cover includes latching tabs (164-164) which are adapted to be received in grooves (163-163) of the tricoupler housing to secure the tricoupler to the cover. The cover is provided with alignment facilities for causing an opening (162) in the cover to become aligned with the third cavity and the latching tabs with the housing grooves as the tricoupler is secured to the cover.

Self-aligning cover for modular tricoupler

One end of a cable (12) is assembled to a connector (11) which is supported in a housing (10), and extends along a path through a cable entrance end (32) of the housing. The housing includes two mateable portions (25, 26) with one portion having a base (31) which includes a plurality of posts (50--50) projecting therefrom in a predetermined pattern between the connector and the cable entrance end to provide a plurality of cable paths through the housing. Each cross-sectional size cable within a range has an associated path with posts along the path engaging the cable to provide suitable strain relief therefor. Advantageously, the posts not only provide suitable strain relief for any cable within a range of cross-sectional sizes, but they also cooperate with openings (70--70) in the other portion of the housing to secure the two portions together.

Growing community of inventors

Bel Air, MD, United States of America

Melvin W Brzostek