POSITIONAL DIFFERENTIATING CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY

• US 20090034911A1
• Filed: 08/01/2007
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ortronics Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Ortronics Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Murano, Adam
• Granted Patent: US 7,540,667 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/59
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3879 Linking of individual connector plugs to an overconnector, e.g. using clamps, clips, common housings comprising several individual connector plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/38875 Protection from bending or twisting
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3888 Protection from over-extension or over-compression
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence

Abstract

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for securing an information network through positional distinguishing of connectors and adapters. A communications connector system associated with the present disclosure includes at least a first patch cord connector assembly including a patch cord terminated at least at one end by a duplex connector. The duplex connector includes: (i) a connector housing clip adapted to enclose and securely position at least a portion of the terminated end of the patch cord and at least a portion of each of a pair of ferrule housings; and (ii) a pair of connector subassemblies. Each subassembly defines an inner cavity to allow a ferrule mounted with respect to one of the pair of ferrule housings to pass through the connector subassembly. Each of the subassemblies extend outwardly with respect to the connector housing clip and the ferrule housings and are adapted to securely mate with a corresponding pair of receptacles. An adapter associated with the present disclosure includes a housing defining a width that is dimensioned to host the pair of receptacles that are spaced apart with respect to each other. The width is selected so as to accommodate receptacle spacing of up to a pitch value of 3p. The pair of connector subassemblies are spaced apart a particular pitch value (p) and the pair of corresponding receptacles are spaced apart an equal pitch value (p) In an exemplary embodiment, a system according to the present disclosure includes a plurality of adapters and corresponding connector assemblies. Each adapter and corresponding connector assembly is pitched a different pitch value (p).

Claims

1. A communications connector system, comprising:

at least a first patch cord connector assembly including a patch cord terminated at least at one end by a duplex connector, the duplex connector includes;

(i) a connector housing clip defining an enclosure configured and dimensioned to enclose and securely position at least a portion of the terminated end of the patch cord and at least a portion of each of a pair of ferrule housings; and

(ii) a pair of connector subassemblies, each subassembly defining an inner cavity to allow a ferrule mounted with respect to one of the pair of ferrule housings to pass through the connector subassembly, each of the subassemblies further extending outwardly with respect to the connector housing clip and the ferrule housings and defining a distal end configured and dimensioned to securely mate with a corresponding receptacle of a pair of receptacles;

a first adapter including a housing defining a width that is dimensioned to host the pair of receptacles that are spaced apart with respect to each other;

wherein the width is selected so as to accommodate receptacle spacing of up to a pitch value of 3p;

wherein the pair of connector subassemblies are spaced apart a particular pitch value (p) and the pair of corresponding receptacles are spaced apart an equal pitch value (p), and

wherein the pitch value (p) is not equal to one.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the adapter corresponds to a particular network and each receptacle defines an optical pathway to allow optical and/or electrical communication from the corresponding mating connector assembly and the network.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein each receptacle associated with the adapter further includes a ferrule alignment sleeve adapted to receive and align the ferrule to facilitate communication between the connector assembly and the corresponding network.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

(i) each connector subassembly further includes a trigger feature formed on a top surface of the subassembly extending rearwardly and upwardly with respect to the top surface of the subassembly; and

(ii) the housing clip further includes a thumb clip formed on a top surface of the housing clip extending forwardly and upwardly with respect to the top surface of the housing clip; and

the thumb clip is adapted to simultaneously depress each of the trigger features associated with each of the pair of subassemblies.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein each connector subassembly includes a push-pull latching mechanism adapted to allow for inserting and securing the connector with respect to the corresponding adapter.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the patch cord is a zip cord and is split into two independent leads, each terminated by a single fiber connector and then retained in a duplex clip.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the patch cord is a fiber optic patch cord adapted to communicate with a fiber optic network.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of the receptacles associated with the adapter further include a protruding boss feature and each of the subassemblies define a relief adapted to cooperate with the protruding boss feature.

9. A communications connector system, comprising:

a plurality of adapters, each adapter corresponds to a particular information network and is adapted to mate with a particular connector assembly;

wherein each connector assembly includes a cord terminated at least at one end by a duplex connector, the duplex connector includes;

(i) a connector housing clip defining an enclosure configured and dimensioned to enclose and securely position at least a portion of the terminated end of the cord and at least a portion of each of a pair of ferrule housings; and

(ii) a pair of connector subassemblies, each subassembly defining an inner cavity to allow a ferrule mounted with respect to one of the pair of ferrule housings to pass through the connector subassembly, each of the subassemblies further extending outwardly with respect to the connector housing clip and the ferrule housings and defining a distal end configured and dimensioned to securely mate with a corresponding receptacle of a pair of receptacles;

wherein each adapter includes a housing defining a width that is dimensioned to host the pair of receptacles that are spaced apart with respect to each other;

wherein the width is selected so as to accommodate receptacle spacing of up to a pitch value of 3p;

wherein each of the pair of connector subassemblies are spaced apart a particularly unique pitch value (p) and the pair of corresponding receptacles are spaced apart an equal pitch value (p) and

wherein each of the plurality of connector assemblies will mate and cooperate with a uniquely spaced apart corresponding pair of receptacles spaced apart an equal pitch value (p).

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of adapters and corresponding connector assemblies include receptacles and subassemblies spaced apart a different pitch value (p) from any other pair of adapters and corresponding connector assemblies of the plurality of adapters and connector assemblies.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein each pitch value (p) associated with each spaced apart pair of receptacles and corresponding subassemblies is in a range from about 1p to about 3p.

12. The system according to claim 9, further comprising a wall plate hosting the plurality of adapters.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the wall plate includes at least three adapters.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein one of the three adapters is a 1.5p adapter defining a 1.5p spacing between each receptacle of the pair of receptacles, another of the three adapters is a 2p adapter defining a 2p spacing between each receptacle of the pair of receptacles, and another of the three adapters is a 2.5p adapter defining a 2.5p spacing between each receptacle of the pair of receptacles.

15. The system according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of adapters are included in a member selected from the group consisting of modular cassettes and patch panels.

16. The system according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of connector assemblies are included in a cord system selected from the group consisting of a patch cable system, a trunk cable system and a horizontal cabling system.

17. The system according to claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of adapters corresponding to a particular information network facilitates communication between a corresponding connector assembly and the network when mated with the particular adapter and each receptacle associated with each adapter defines an optical pathway to facilitate optical communication between the corresponding mating connector assembly and the network.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein each receptacle associated with each of the plurality of adapters further includes a ferrule alignment sleeve adapted to receive and align the ferrule to facilitate communication between the connector assembly and the corresponding network.

19. The system according to claim 9, wherein each of connector assemblies is included in a patch cord system and each of the patch cords of the patch cord system is a fiber optic patch cord adapted to communicate with a fiber optic network.

20. The system according to claim 9, wherein each of the receptacles of the plurality of adapters further include a protruding boss feature and each of the subassemblies associated with each of the connector assemblies define a relief adapted to cooperate with the protruding boss feature.

21. The system according to claim 9, wherein each of the adapters and corresponding connector assemblies are marked with a matching visual identification selected from the group consisting of color, alphanumeric, and symbol.

22. A method for securing a communications network system comprising:

(a) providing a plurality of adapters, each adapter corresponding to a particular information network and each adapter includes a pair of receptacles hosted within a housing defining a width that is dimensioned to host the pair of receptacles that are spaced apart with respect to each other, the width is selected so as to accommodate receptacle spacing of up to a pitch value of 3p;

(b) providing a plurality of patch cord connector assemblies, each patch cord connector assembly includes a patch cord terminated at least at one end by a duplex connector, the duplex connector includes;

(i) a connector housing clip adapted to enclose and securely position at least a portion of the terminated end of the patch cord and at least a portion of each of a pair of ferrule housings; and

(ii) a pair of connector subassemblies, each subassembly defining an inner cavity to allow a ferrule mounted with respect to one of the pair of ferrule housings to pass through the connector subassembly, each of the subassemblies extend outwardly with respect to the connector housing clip and the ferrule housings and are adapted to securely mate with a corresponding pair of receptacles associated with a corresponding adapter; and

(c) spacing apart each of the pair of connector subassemblies and each of the pair of corresponding receptacles particular pitch value (p);

wherein each of the plurality of connector assemblies will mate and cooperate with a corresponding pair of receptacles spaced apart an equal pitch value (p).

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein each of the plurality of adapters and corresponding connector assemblies include receptacles and subassemblies spaced apart a different pitch value (p) from any other pair of receptacles and corresponding subassemblies of the plurality of adapters and connector assemblies.

24. The method according to claim 22, wherein each pitch value (p) associated with each spaced apart pair of receptacles and corresponding subassemblies is in a range from about 1p to about 3p.

25. The method according to claim 22, further comprising a wall plate hosting the plurality of adapters and each of the plurality of adapters includes a pair of receptacles spaced apart a different pitch value (p) from any other adapter of the plurality of adapters.

26. The method according to claim 22, wherein each of the plurality of adapters corresponding to a particular information network, facilitates communication between a corresponding connector assembly and the network when mated with the particular adapter and each receptacle associated with each adapter defines an optical pathway to facilitate optical communication between the corresponding mating connector assembly and the network.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein each receptacle associated with each of the plurality of adapters further includes a ferrule alignment sleeve adapted to receive and align the ferrule to facilitate communication between the connector assembly and the corresponding network.

28. The method according to claim 22, wherein each of the receptacles of the plurality of adapters further includes a protruding boss feature and each of the subassemblies associated with each of the connector assemblies define a relief adapted to cooperate with the protruding boss feature.

29. The method according to claim 22, wherein each of the adapters and corresponding connector assemblies are marked with a matching visual identification selected from the group consisting of color, alphanumeric, and symbol.