Connecting device

• US 20080166906A1
• Filed: 11/27/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smiths Interconnect Americas, Inc. (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hypertronics Corporation (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kannally, Thomas H., Feinberg, Arnold S., Radunsky, Vadim L., Coughlan, Christopher, Nania, Francesco A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,661,995 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/345
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3831 comprising a keying element on the plug or adapter, e.g. to forbid wrong connection keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical coupling H01R13/64
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/506 assembled by snap action of the parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5219 Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5829 the clamping part being flexibly or hingedly connected to the housing
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6271 Latching means integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6273 comprising two latching arms
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6456 comprising keying elements at different positions along the periphery of the connector
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6599 Dielectric material made conductive, e.g. plastic material coated with metal

Abstract

A connector for electrical or optical conduits that provides a field configurable keying of the insulator plugs relative to each other and relative to the connector casings. A separate relative keying means is included that is separate from the case keying or locating mechanism. The connector also utilizes a retention means for example, a one-way snap apron, to retain the insulator within the receptacle case.

Claims

1. A connector assembly for connecting together two conduits or cables, said assembly comprising:

a female receptacle connector having a receptacle insulator and receptacle case, the receptacle case including a groove and an opening;

a male plug connector connectable with the female receptacle connector, the male plug connector including a plug case having an interfitting plug insulator interfittable with the receptacle insulator, said plug case having a key that is slidable into said groove, the plug case including at least one catch configured to interfit with said opening to connect the plug case to the receptacle case; and

a retention means for retaining said receptacle insulator within said receptacle case, the retention means including a radially inwardly pointing web.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the radially inwardly pointing web forms a snap apron.

9. The connector assembly of claim 1 further including a castellated insulator positioner to position said plug insulator thereby allowing relative indexing of said male plug connector with respect to said female receptacle connector.

10. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the receptacle insulator of the female connector further includes a keyway, and the plug insulator of the male plug connector further includes an insulator key that interfits with the keyway.

11. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the opening of the receptacle case is disposed on an interior surface of the receptacle case.

12. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the receptacle insulator includes a protrusion disposed on an outer surface of the receptacle insulator, and the radially inwardly pointing web is configured to engage the protrusion.

13. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one catch extends outward from an outer surface of the plug case.

14. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the plug case is fixed with respect to the receptacle case when the at least one catch interfits with the opening.

3-8. -8. (canceled)

15. A connector assembly for connecting together two conduits or cables, said assembly comprising:

a female receptacle connector having a receptacle insulator and receptacle case, the receptacle case including a groove and an opening;

a male plug connector connectable with the female receptacle connector, the male plug connector including a plug case having an interfitting plug insulator interfittable with the receptacle insulator, the plug case having a key that is slidable into the groove, the plug case including at least one catch configured to interfit with the opening to connect the plug case to the receptacle case;

a retainer configured to retain the receptacle insulator within the receptacle case, the retainer being fixedly connected to the receptacle case and configured to engage a protrusion on the receptacle insulator.

16. The connector assembly of claim 15, wherein the retainer includes a radially inwardly pointing web configured to engage the protrusion on the receptacle insulator.

17. The connector assembly of claim 16, wherein the radially inwardly pointing web is annular.

18. The connector assembly of claim 15, wherein the protrusion includes a ring surrounding an outer periphery of the receptacle insulator.

19. The connector assembly of claim 15, wherein the retainer includes a snap apron configured to engage the protrusion on the receptacle insulator.

20. The connector assembly of claim 19, wherein the snap apron is one-way.

21. The connector assembly of claim 15, wherein the opening of the receptacle case is disposed on an interior surface of the receptacle case.

22. A connector assembly for connecting together two conduits or cables, said assembly comprising:

a female receptacle connector having a receptacle insulator and receptacle case, the receptacle case including a groove and an opening;

a male plug connector connectable with the female receptacle connector, the male plug connector including a plug case having an interfitting plug insulator interfittable with the receptacle insulator, the plug case having a key that is slidable into the groove, the plug case including at least one catch configured to interfit with the opening to connect the plug case to the receptacle case;

a retainer configured to retain the receptacle insulator within the receptacle case; and

an insulator positioner configured to position the plug insulator.

23. The connector assembly of claim 22, wherein the insulator positioner includes protuberances that engage a complementary formed head of the plug insulator.

24. The connector assembly of claim 22, wherein the insulator positioner is configured to determine a relative displacement of the plug insulator within the male plug connector.

25. The connector assembly of claim 22, wherein the plug case further includes a latching plug, the at least one catch being formed on the latching plug, the insulator positioner being attached to the latching plug.

26. The connector assembly of claim 25, wherein the insulator positioner includes a tab configured to interfit with a groove in the latching plug.

27. A method of mounting a connector assembly to an equipment case, the connector assembly connecting together a first conduit and a second conduit, the method including:

inserting a receptacle insulator into a receptacle case to form a receptacle assembly of a female receptacle connector of the connector assembly;

retaining the receptacle insulator within the receptacle case using a retainer;

passing a plurality of leads of the first conduit into corresponding bores in the receptacle insulator;

inserting a rear portion of the receptacle assembly into an opening in the equipment case; and

securing the receptacle assembly to the equipment case.

28. The method of claim 27, further including:

selecting a relative indexing of the receptacle insulator relative to the receptacle case; and

inserting the receptacle insulator into the receptacle case based on the selected relative indexing.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the connector assembly further includes a male plug connector, and the method further includes connecting the male plug connector to the female receptacle connector.

30. The method of claim 29, further including:

inserting a plug insulator into a plug case to form a plug assembly of the male plug connector; and

passing a plurality of leads of the second conduit into corresponding bores in the plug insulator.

31. The method of claim 30, further including:

selecting a relative indexing of the plug insulator relative to the plug case; and

inserting the plug insulator into the plug case based on the selected relative indexing.

32. The method of claim 30, further including interfitting the plug insulator with the receptacle insulator to connect the plug case to the receptacle case.

33. The method of claim 27, further including positioning a panel nut onto the rear portion of the receptacle assembly to secure the receptacle assembly to the equipment case.

34. A method of mounting a connector assembly to an equipment case, the connector assembly connecting together a first conduit and a second conduit, the method including:

inserting a rear portion of a receptacle case into an opening in the equipment case;

securing the receptacle case to the equipment case;

passing a plurality of leads of the first conduit into corresponding bores in a receptacle insulator;

inserting a front portion of the receptacle insulator into the rear portion of the receptacle case to form a receptacle assembly of a female receptacle connector of the connector assembly; and

retaining the receptacle insulator within the receptacle case using a retainer.

35. The method of claim 34, further including:

selecting a relative indexing of the receptacle insulator relative to the receptacle case; and

inserting the receptacle insulator into the receptacle case based on the selected relative indexing.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the connector assembly further includes a male plug connector, and the method further includes connecting the male plug connector to the female receptacle connector.

37. The method of claim 36, further including:

inserting a plug insulator into a plug case to form a plug assembly of the male plug connector; and

passing a plurality of leads of the second conduit into corresponding bores in the plug insulator.

38. The method of claim 37, further including:

selecting a relative indexing of the plug insulator relative to the plug case; and

inserting the plug insulator into the plug case based on the selected relative indexing.

39. The method of claim 37, further including interfitting the plug insulator with the receptacle insulator to connect the plug case to the receptacle case.

40. The method of claim 34, further including positioning a panel nut onto the rear portion of the receptacle case to secure the receptacle case to the equipment case.