Hinged Jack Assembly With Wire Guide For Manual Termination
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of digital or analog communication networks requires specialized tools and training, which can be time-consuming and poses a risk of tool-related injuries due to the need for precise termination of wires in jacks.
Innovation Solution
A jack assembly with a hinged design and wire guide that allows for manual electrical coupling of wires without specialized tools, featuring a detachable wire guide with channels to maintain wire position and ensure correct termination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If specialized tools (e.g., 110 punch down tool) are used to terminate wires in jacks, then manufacturing precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to requiring specialized training and tools
Solution Approach 1:
The jack assembly enables the user to terminate wires without external specialized tools. The hinged cover acts as a self-contained termination mechanism that the user operates directly with their hands, eliminating the need for punch-down tools and specialized training while maintaining reliable wire termination through the integrated design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the wire termination function with the jack assembly itself. The hinged cover integrates the termination mechanism, wire guide, and jack body into a single unit, merging what were previously separate operations (wire termination and jack installation) into one unified device that maintains precision while improving ease of operation
2Manufacturing precision
If specialized tools are used for wire termination, then manufacturing precision is improved, but loss of time increases due to significant time required to use the tools
Solution Approach 1:
The wire guide is pre-formed with channels that define the exact path and position for wire insertion. This preliminary structuring of the termination path eliminates the need for time-consuming manual alignment and positioning during installation, allowing users to simply insert wires into the pre-defined channels while maintaining precision
Solution Approach 2:
The hinged cover mechanism allows the user to perform the termination action directly without waiting for or coordinating with specialized tools. The spring-loaded design provides automatic feedback and confirmation, reducing the time required to complete the termination process while maintaining reliable precision through the self-contained mechanism
3Manufacturing precision
If specialized tools are used for wire termination, then manufacturing precision is improved, but object-affected harmful factors increase due to tool-related injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The jack assembly eliminates the need for external specialized tools by incorporating the termination mechanism directly into the jack body. The hinged cover design allows users to perform terminations with their hands without requiring punch-down tools or other specialized equipment that could cause injuries, thereby removing the harmful factor while maintaining precision through the integrated design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the termination function from external specialized tools and relocates it into the jack assembly itself. By taking out the termination capability from separate tools and embedding it in the jack with a hinged cover mechanism, the design eliminates the need for potentially harmful external tools while preserving the precision required for proper wire termination
Data Source
AI summary
A jack assembly and method for electrically coupling a jack assembly to a plurality of wires. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are jack assemblies comprising a first portion, a second portion hingedly coupled to the first portion, and a wire guide configured to detachably couple within an internal cavity defined by the first and second portions (the wire guide defining an aperture, wherein the aperture is configured to receive a plurality of wires). The jack assembly is configured to electrically couple to the plurality of wires when the first portion is closed onto the second portion by way of the hinged coupling.