STACKABLE HYBRID NETWORK INTERFACE DEVICE

摘要

A network interface device (NID) (100) for providing a demarcation point between a central office of a telecommunications network and the customer' s premise wiring, whether a copper wire cable or a fiber optic cable. The NID (100) includes a base unit (110) having a back wall (122) having a perimeter and a continuous side wall (124, 126, 128, 130) extending from the perimeter of the back wall (122), the continuous side wall (124, 126, 128, 130) having a first wall portion (124) and an opposing second wall portion (126) wherein the back wall (122) and the continuous side wall (124, 126, 128, 130) define an interior cavity. The NID includes a cable entrance port (132) and a cable exit port (134) in the first wall portion (124) where both the cable entrance port (132) and the cable exit port (134) include a groove (160) in an external surface. The NID includes a first connecting port (140) and a second connecting port (142) within the opposing second wall portion (126) wherein the connecting ports (140, 142) are configured to accept the groove (160) in the cable entrance and exit ports (130, 132). The NID (100) includes spaced apart first and second torsion reducing elements (504) extending from the first wall portion (124) and spaced apart first and second torsion reducing receiving elements (404) extending from the second wall portion (126) and having a cavity (408) for receiving the first and second torsion reducing elements (504). The NID (100) includes a connecting device (202, 310, 603) within the base unit (110) for connecting or disconnecting a fiber optic cable or copper wire cable from the central office to the premise.