As well known, pots-splitter filters are adapted to separate the telephone termination for the low-frequency transmission of the voice from the ADSL termination for the high-frequency transmission of data, and to isolate them from each other.

In known systems, permanent connections are used which, however, make it difficult to carry out the sectioning operations, because they are directly performed upon the fork- shaped contacts which are dedicated to perforate the insulation coating of the lead and to contact the wire, thereby compromising the mechanical life of the lead.

Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide a system of pots-splitter filter modules for ADSL which makes the sectioning operations easier and more flexible, and by which it is easier for the operator to handle the filters for their installation or removal.

Said object and other aims and advantages, which will better appear below, are achieved by the system having the features recited in claim 1, while the other claims state other advantageous features.

The invention will be now described in more detail, with reference to the attached drawings given by way of non-limiting example, wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a support of the system of pots-splitter filter modules, according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a filter module of the system according to the invention; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a connector of the system of filter modules according to the invention, in a close configuration; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the connector of Fig. 3, in a open configuration; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the system, during the installation of the filter module of Fig.

2 on the support of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the system, with a few modules of the same kind of Fig. 2 mounted on the support of Fig. 1.

With reference to the above-mentioned figures, a system of pots-splitter filter modules 10 for ADSL comprises a rack-shaped support 12 (Fig. 1) consisting of a rectangular basement 14 and two rows of equally spaced, transversal fins 16,18 rising from it along its two respective main edges. The two rows include an equal number of fins, e. g. sixteen fins per each row, and the fins of a first row are slightly staggered, rather than symmetrically arranged, with respect to the corresponding fins of the opposite row.

Each pair of fins is adapted to receive a filter module 20 (Fig. 2) consisting of a flat case 22 of a synthetic material housing the circuitry of four pots-splitter filters, for connection to the telephone exchange. Four ports 26 are provided on one side 24 of the case for connection to the ADSL system, e. g. a multiplexer in the telephone exchange, while four corresponding ports 30 are provided on the opposite side 28 for connection to an auto-commutator and, accordingly, to the user line. A base 32 of the case has two seats 34,36 adapted to receive two respective fins 16,18 of the rack-shaped support 12.

A pair of toothed members 38,40 projecting from base 32 are adapted to engage respective seats 42,44 made on the basement 14 of support 12, at the feet of fins 16,18, which seats are provided with respective retaining teeth 46,48. A pair of slots 52,54 cut into base 32 are engageable by respective guide tabs 56,58 rising from basement 14 and integral with fins 16,18. The tabs and the corresponding slots have different lengths in order to prevent misplacements of the modules on the rack-shaped support during installation.

Connector 60, which is shown in more detail in Figs. 3,4, comprises a main housing 30 consisting of a bottom 62 and two side walls 66,68. Four mutually insulated, fork-shaped contacts 64 rise from bottom 62 on the same side of walls 66,68, while their ends adapted to cooperate with respective contacts of ports 26,30 emerge on the opposite side of bottom 62.

A lid 70 is hinged on the front end of side walls 66,68, and its opposite end has a ridge 72 having four channels 74 which are parallel to bottom 62 when the lid is closed. The channels are adapted to receive two or four leads 76, and are intercepted by four respective holes 78 that are engaged by the fork-shaped contacts 64 when lid 70 is closed, thereby providing the electric contact with the corresponding leads 76 by automatic perforation of their insulation coating. The connector backside is provided with an extraction tab 82 having a slit 84

engageable by a screwdriver for easier extraction of the connector from the filter module, by levering on the corresponding edge of the latter. Locking teeth 86 laterally projecting from ridge 72 are adapted to cooperate with respective, inwardly projecting edges 88 of the side walls for snap-locking lid 70. A shaped tooth 90 rises from the front side of bottom 62 for the snap-connection of the connector into the respective port 26 or 30, whose inner side is correspondingly shaped.

When installing the module, first of all two or four leads 76 are inserted into channels 74 of connector 60 while the latter is open. Thereafter, lid 70 is closed, thereby causing the insulation coating of the leads to be automatically cut by fork-shaped contacts 64 and, as a result, the electric contact to be established. The exceeding lead lengths forwardly projecting from ridge 72 may be cut. The connector is then snap-connected to the respective port 26 or 30 of filter module 20. Finally, the latter is installed onto one of the sixteen sites of the rack- shaped support, fins 16,18 engaging seats 34,36, until the snap-connection means 38,40, 42,44 are mutually engaged.

It is evident that such system allows the user to configure the ADSL system with a high flexibility, because, in order to modify the connections of the single module, it is possible to act on connectors 60 rather than directly the lead contacts, thereby making the operations more straightforward and increasing the mechanical life of the leads. Moreover, the rack- shaped support removably supports a plurality of independent filter modules, sixteen modules in the above-described embodiment, each including four pots-splitter filters, i. e. sixty-four filters in total.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, but it is evident that many changes may be made by a person skilled in the art, depending on the circumstances, within the scope of the inventive concept.