Connecting device
First Claim
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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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A connector assembly for connecting together two conduits or cables, said assembly comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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3-8. -8. (canceled)
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15. A connector assembly for connecting together two conduits or cables, said assembly comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A connector assembly for connecting together two conduits or cables, said assembly comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification