Terminal Block Mounting Bracket

This invention relates to electrical terminal block apparatus and more particularly to the type of connector blocks which are used for interconnecting telephone circuits and more particularly the bracket means for mounting them. It is quite normal to provide either in a telephone exchange or in circuit rooms for office buildings a series of panels which support terminal connector blocks in which the various conductors are interconnected to the individual telephone stations. Typically, these connector blocks are fastened vertically to walls or panels and the various conductors brought into position with jumper wires forming the connection between the incoming conductors and the individual stations. Such an installation is shown in my co-pending U.S. Pat. application, Ser. No. 482,218, filed jointly with R. J. Lindeman and E. W. Reinwall.

Earlier art showing means for mounting such terminal blocks can be found in the U.S. Pat. Nos. to Burch, 3,160,280, Chandler, et al., 3,777,223 and Swanson, 3,518,618. Many of the devices contemplated by these earlier patents admittedly provide a snap means for interengagement with the terminal blocks or other apparatus. Generally, each of these devices utilizes a cam lead-in surface in conjunction with a shoulder and a suitable resilient means to retain the device in mounted position. In field usage it has been found that the elongated arms carrying the shoulder means are generally too resilient to adequately clamp the apparatus in mounted position and that vibration and pressure on the block, experienced during installation of the conductors, as well as other factors lead to the disengagement of the terminal blocks or apparatus from the mounting means.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a one-piece stand-off bracket which can be mounted on a supporting panel in a ready fashion which provides an open throat for laying in the conductors rather than threading them in the ends as in the prior art and an aggressive gripping of any one of a plurality of different sized terminal blocks.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mounting bracket which includes its own fastening means for ready installation in a supporting panel.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a one-piece plastic mounting bracket having unique characteristics in its configuration wherein not only will the tolerances of different types of connector blocks be tolerated by the bracket but wherein the installation of the terminal block brings about the desired function of aggressive gripping for positive retention.

Each of the above features can be found in the preferred embodiment of the present invention and, more particularly, the aggressive gripping of the terminal block as well as the acceptance of various tolerances in terminal block size, is accomplished by the unique wall structure and force relationship of the supporting flanges in their physical arrangement to the stiffly resilient shouldered arms. Pressure on the flanges results in the arms being aggressively urged inwardly for engagement with recesses on the terminal block.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view in partial section showing the environment of a support panel and a plurality of brackets contemplated by the present invention mounted in position thereon;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the same embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the bracket shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the same embodiment as viewed along lines 5--5 in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a top view as seen along lines 6--6 in FIG. 3.

A preferred embodiment of a bracket for retaining a rectilinear terminal block or the like in a stand-off position above a support panel is generally designated by the numeral 10. Such a bracket includes a base 12 adapted to lie parallel to the panel 14 and a fastening means 16 extending downwardly from the base 12. While I have shown a fastening means covered by U.S. Pat. No. 3,423,055 it should be recognized that other suitable fastening means can be utilized. Examples of integral stud means are replete in the art and it should be recognized that this device can also be utilized with a screw, not shown, passing through the base 12. Extending downwardly from base 12 in the same direction as fastening means 16 are one or more protuberance means 18 in the form of detents adapted to fall into secondary apertures in the support panel 14 for preventing retrograde rotation after installation. Adjacent the outboard ends of the generally rectangular base 12 are pads 20 which serve a dual function, the first of which is to bow the base 12 and to insure proper engagement of the fastening means 16. The secondary function will be described hereinafter.

A pair of substantially rigid walls 22 extend upwardly from the base 12 in the opposite direction from the fastener 16. Each wall 22 includes a first portion 24 and a laterally offset second portion 26 which are interconnected by a co-extensive web 28, thereby forming an offset relatively rigid wall 22. It will be noted that the second portion 26 extends beyond its juncture with the web 28 to provide a segment 30 for purposes best set forth hereinafter.

Integrally connected to the wall 22, including both the first and second portions 24-26, is a flange 32 which is angularly disposed in a diverging fashion away from the base 12. It has a curvilinear configuration in this embodiment with the greatest amount of cantilever taking place approximately in line with the web 28 and thereby giving a relatively rigid structural configuration to flange 32.

Extending upwardly from wall 22 in the same direction from the base 12 are arms 34. The free end of the arms 34 is provided with a lead-in cam-like surface 36 which terminates in a shoulder 38 intermediate the extremities of the arm 34. A flat bearing surface 40 intermediate the cam lead-in surface 36 in the shoulder 38 is disposed substantially normal to the shoulder 38 to positively locate the shoulder relative to the recess in the terminal block 42 shown in phantom in FIG. 1.

When a terminal block is axially telescoped into the bracket 10, as shown in phantom in FIG. 4, the base of the block will ride down the lead-in surfaces 36 spreading the arms 34 outwardly until the base comes into contact with the flanges or support means 32. At that time, continued pressure will force the flanges downwardly, as shown in phantom in FIG. 4, until the longitudinally disposed recesses in the block will accept the bearing pads 40 and the shoulder 38. It can be appreciated that two factors in this bracket will insure aggressive gripping of the block 42 by the arms 34, namely, the presence of the pads 20 will tend to bow the base 12 in such a fashion as to move the extremities of the wall 22 inwardly plus the force against the flanges 32 will provide a moment arm whereby the upper portion of the wall 22 and the arms 34 are moved inwardly and stressed into aggressive gripping relationship to the block.

The base 12 is also provided with suitable means for the purpose of insuring proper orientation for installation with the panel 14. In this particular embodiment the arrowheads 44 of a pair of clips, as shown in FIG. 1, are directed toward one another to insure that there is proper longitudinal spacing between adjacent brackets for the acceptance of the terminal block 42. In the illustrative embodiment the fastening means 16 includes a central rib 50 and a tapered resilient C-shaped shoulder carrying element 52 having its central portion connected to the base 12 and rib 50 while its free ends are unconnected and carry shoulders or abutment means 54 capable of underlying panel 14 for retention of the bracket 10. This fastener 16 is capable of being telescopically snapped into a complimentary aperture 60 having a communicating slot 62, the latter adapted to accept rib 50 for positive orientation of the bracket 10. Additionally, laterally positioned apertures 64 will accept the protuberance means 18 for further orientation stability. In the present embodiment the arms 34 have a width generally coextensive with the second portion 26 of the wall so as to be accepted by the recesses 43 of differing configurations found in all of the terminal blocks presently commercially available on the market. It will be recognized that in certain instances, as where the recess 43 is of substantial axial extent, the arm 34 may be coextensive with the width of the base 12.

A rib 46 that is integral with the base 12 and extending between the two opposed walls 22 will enhance the rigidity of the base 12 and provide the secondary function of spacing the conductors or cables from the panel 14. This enhances the ability of the installer to grip the conductors which are laid in through the throat between the opposed flanges 32 and then fed out between adjacent brackets to be installed in the gripping mechanism of the terminal blocks.

It is contemplated that the brackets shown in the present invention can be injection molded from dielectric materials such as polypropylene or nylon. The selection of materials is one which is based upon the availability of a particular material as well as its characteristics of resiliency and rigidity, dependent upon wall thickness and structural considerations such as ribs, etc.

Secondary clips, not shown, can be utilized to embracingly grip the second portion 26 of wall 22 by underlying the extension 30 and the opposite edge 31 with suitable means, known in the art, and also providing means for gripping conductors or cables along the exterior of the bracket 10 rather than within the arms 22.