Building entrance terminal box with modular panels

Abstract

A building entrance terminal box using modular panels. The connection chamber of the box receives modular panels which snap into place without the need for screws. Each module includes a prewired surge protection field and output wire termination device. The surge protection field is also prewired to a connector for mating with the input wire termination device in the splice chamber. When the module is snapped into place, a connection is made with a grounding bar automatically. Various size modules may be used within a box.

1 . A building entrance terminal box comprising:
 a splice chamber;   a connection chamber;   a wall separating the splice chamber from the connection chamber;   an input wire termination device in the splice chamber; and   at least one module mounted in said connection chamber, said module having a surge protection field and an output wire termination device which are prewired on the module, said module also including a connector prewired to said surge protection field for mating with said input wire termination device.   
     
     
         2 . The building entrance terminal box of  claim 1 , further comprising a ground bar in said connection chamber which connects to a ground connector associated with each module so that said ground connector snaps onto said ground bar when said module is installed. 
     
     
         3 . The building entrance terminal box of  claim 2 , wherein said ground connector is Y-shaped. 
     
     
         4 . The building entrance terminal box of  claim 2 , wherein said ground connector is mounted on a bottom of said module. 
     
     
         5 . The building entrance terminal box of  claim 2 , wherein the ground bar is L-shaped in cross section with a first section being continuous and mounted on a back surface of said box and a second section being segmented and extending away from the back surface of the box for connection with the modules. 
     
     
         6 . The building entrance terminal box of  claim 5 , wherein sidewalls of the modules extend into openings between segments of the second section of the ground bar. 
     
     
         7 . The building entrance terminal box of  claim 1 , wherein each module has a tab arrangement along one bottom edge for being received in openings in said connection chamber in order to locate each module. 
     
     
         8 . The building entrance terminal box of  claim 1 , wherein said wall includes at least one slot for receiving wires connecting said connector to said surge protection field so that said connector is received in the splice chamber while the module is placed in the connection chamber. 
     
     
         9 . A module for use in a building entrance terminal box, said module comprising:
 a top surface and sidewalls depending therefrom;   a surge protection field mounted on said top surface;   an output termination device mounted on said top surface;   said surge protection field and said output termination device being prewired along a bottom of said top surface; and   an input connector prewired to said surge protection field;   whereby said module may be mounted in a building entrance terminal box with the input connector mounted to an input termination device.   
     
     
         10 . The module according to  claim 9 , further comprising a Y-shaped ground connector mounted on the bottom of said top surface for interconnection with a ground bar in said building entrance terminal box. 
     
     
         11 . The module according to  claim 9 , wherein said surge protection field receives a plurality of surge protection modules 
     
     
         12 . The module according to  claim 9 , further comprising a flange and tab arrangement along a bottom edge of one sidewall for mating with openings in said building entrance terminal box for holding the module in position within the box. 
     
     
         13 . A building entrance terminal box, comprising:
 a splice chamber;   a connection chamber;   a wall separating the splice chamber from the connection chamber;   a plurality of modules mounted in said connection chamber, each of said modules having a surge protection field and an output wire termination device prewired on the module;   each module having a tab arrangement along an edge for connecting said module to said connection chamber;   said connection chamber including a plurality of slot arrangements, with each slot arrangement receiving a tab arrangement of one module so as to locate the corresponding module in the connection chamber.   
     
     
         14 . The building entrance terminal box of  claim 13 , wherein said module snaps into position when said tab arrangement is placed in said slot arrangement. 
     
     
         15 . The building entrance terminal box of  claim 14 , further comprising a ground bar in said connection chamber. 
     
     
         16 . The building entrance terminal box of  claim 15 , wherein each module includes a ground connection mounted on a bottom of said module. 
     
     
         17 . The building entrance terminal box of  claim 16 , wherein the ground connector is Y-shaped and snaps onto said ground bar when said module is installed in said connection chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The building entrance terminal box of  claim 15 , wherein the ground bar is L-shaped in cross section with a first section being continuous and mounted on a back surface of said box and a second section being segmented and extending away from the back surface of the box for connection with the modules. 
     
     
         19 . The building entrance terminal box of  claim 18 , wherein sidewalls of the modules extend into openings between segments of the second section of the ground bar. 
     
     
         20 . The building entrance terminal box of  claim 13 , wherein each module includes a connector prewired to said surge protection field for mating with an input wire termination device located in said splice chamber.