US3842219A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of using gang connector and patching cable assembly
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-05-02
•
Granted: 1974-10-15
•
Expires: 1993-05-02
Abstract
Abstract A gang connector and patching cable assembly and method for maintaining uninterrupted communication service between components of a central telephone office facility while certain permanent components therein are being serviced or replaced. The patching cable serves to bridge components and conductors undergoing repair, consolidation or replacement and includes flexible patching cabling equipped with detachably coupled gang connectors having provision for simultaneously connecting each end of a multiplicity of the patching cable connectors to individual terminals of remotely located terminal boards thereby providing temporary bypass connections in parallel with conductors of the permanent central station equipment while the latter are undergoing servicing. The gang connectors have various unique features including independently movable contactors provided with sets of sharp pointed pins fused to their outer ends.
Inventors
- 👤 K Anderson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 09:43
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q1/00; H04Q1/02; H04Q1/14; H04Q1/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
That method of maintaining uninterrupted telephone service in a telephone system while changes are being made therein and which system includes central office equipment utilizing spaced apart first and second sets of terminal boards each including an elongated rectangular main body supporting a multiplicity of pairs of closely spaced terminal lugs arranged in rows extending lengthwise from end to end thereof and normally connected by individual conductors to respective terminal lugs of a terminal board in the other set thereof, said method comprising providing a long flexible patching cable assembly long enough to reach between any selected terminal board in said first and second sets of terminal boards and the ends of which patching cable assembLy include a respective gang connector having a multiplicity of pairs of closely spaced contactors alignable and in direct contact with respective pairs of terminal lugs of said terminal boards and each of which contactors is connected to a separate conductor of said patching cable, clamping said gang connectors firmly in place over the terminal lugs of said first and second sets of terminal boards having their terminal lugs interconnected by conductors of the existing telephone system thereby to establish a duplicate set of connections between said selected terminal boards in parallel with said existing telephone system connections, and maintaining said temporary patching cable connections intact while service operations are being performed on said existing telephone system connections.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
233 words
That method of maintaining uninterrupted telephone service in a telephone system while changes are being made therein and which system includes central office equipment utilizing spaced apart first and second sets of terminal boards each including an elongated rectangular main body supporting a multiplicity of pairs of closely spaced terminal lugs arranged in rows extending lengthwise from end to end thereof and normally connected by individual conductors to respective terminal lugs of a terminal board in the other set thereof, said method comprising providing a long flexible patching cable assembly long enough to reach between any selected terminal board in said first and second sets of terminal boards and the ends of which patching cable assembLy include a respective gang connector having a multiplicity of pairs of closely spaced contactors alignable and in direct contact with respective pairs of terminal lugs of said terminal boards and each of which contactors is connected to a separate conductor of said patching cable, clamping said gang connectors firmly in place over the terminal lugs of said first and second sets of terminal boards having their terminal lugs interconnected by conductors of the existing telephone system thereby to establish a duplicate set of connections between said selected terminal boards in parallel with said existing telephone system connections, and maintaining said temporary patching cable connections intact while service operations are being performed on said existing telephone system connections.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
That method defined in claim 1 characterized in the step of providing said patching cable assembly with readily separable and remateable couplings between each end of said flexible cable and a respective one of said gang connectors and having separate electrical connections for completing individually insulated conductive paths between the individual cable conductors and a respective contactor of an adjacent one of said gang connectors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
That method defined in claim 1 characterized in the step of proceeding to complete service operations of said existing telephone system connections while routing telephone system signals and intelligence over said patching cable assembly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
That method defined in claim 1 characterized in the step of installing one or more new components in the portion of an existing telephone system temporarily connected in parallel therewith by said patching cable assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
That method defined in claim 1 characterized in the utilization of a patching cable assembly having a separate conductor simultaneously connectable in parallel with all companion conductors of the existing telephone system common to a selected terminal board of said first and second sets thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-14 | 1978-04-15 | 1978-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-14 | 1982-04-15 | 1982-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-14 | 1986-04-15 | 1986-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |