This invention relates generally to the field of telephony, and more particularly to an improved form of surge protection unit particularly adapted to be installed upon existing subscriber lines in such locations as motels, small apartment or office buildings and the like without a complicated installation procedure.
In such locations, the existing subscriber lines which are usually twenty-five or less in number are often connected to the telephone company lines through a small connector block of elongated configuration commonly known as a Western Electric Type 66 block, which block has been used in the industry for many years. Blocks of this type are characterized in the provision of an exposed surface mounting for parallel rows of quick clip connectors which are connected through wire wrap means to the telephone company lines, and through the expandable clip portions of the quick clip connectors to the subscriber lines.
With the recent emergence of subscriber owned equipment, and a lessening of maintenance responsibility on the part of the telephone company, it is desirable to provide a surge protection unit at or near the subscriber premises. In the case of buildings having up to twenty-five individual circuits, the use of the Type 66 block is commonly found in multiple installations. On occasion, multiples of this type of block are used in physically juxtaposed locations.