Connector assembly having a latching mechanism

• US 4,872,736 A
• Filed: 04/19/1988
• Issued: 10/10/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fitel USA Corporation (Furukawa Electric Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: American Telephone & Telegraph Company (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Travieso, Ruben, Stephenson, Daniel L., Myers, Clyde J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Healy, Brian M.
• Application Number:
  US07/183,194
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 350/96.20, 350/96.21, 350/96.22, 439/310, 439/350, 439/351, 439/353, 439/357, 439/289, 439/290, 250/227, 250/227
• US Class Current: 385/60
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3817 containing optical and electrical conductors cables including electrical and optical conductors H01B11/22; G02B6/3816 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3821 with axial spring biasing or loading means G02B6/3847 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3849 using mechanical protective elements, e.g. caps, hoods, sealing membranes G02B6/3816 takes precedence; provisionally see H01R13/44
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3851 Ferrules having keying or coding means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3878 comprising a plurality of ferrules, branching and break-out means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3888 Protection from over-extension or over-compression
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/627 Snap or like fastening

Abstract

A connector body (26) which terminates at least one transmission medium includes on each side thereof a cantilevered arm (66) having a latching nub (70) projecting from a free end of the arm. A release cover (80) having a gripping portion (88) oriented toward a cable input end (32) of the connector body is mounted slidably on the connector body with the latching nubs of the arms each projecting through a window (90) in the cover. Conductors in the connector body are connected to conductors of another connector or of a device by inserting the connector body and release cover into a coupling (100) or into a receptacle. The latching nubs of the arms protrude into openings (106--106) provided in a housing (102) of the coupling to secure the connector body thereto. In order to withdraw the connector body from the coupling, a user moves the cover slidably along the connector body toward the cable input end. Walls which define the windows of the cover cam against the latching nubs causing them to be depressed as the free ends of the arms are moved inwardly. Once the nubs have cleared the openings in the coupling or in the receptacle, the connector body and release cover may be withdrawn from the housing. The release cover also is effective when forces of a predetermined magnitude are applied to the connector body to cause the latching nubs to become disengaged from the coupling and allow withdrawal of the connector body therefrom.

Claims

1. A connector assembly, which includes:

a connector body which includes a first end and a second end and at least one connective device disposed adjacent to said first end and adapted to terminate a communications path, said connector body including latching means;

a cover which is disposed about said connector body and which is adapted to be moved slidably along said connector body; and

a coupling for receiving at least a portion of said connector body and of said cover and for aligning said connective device of said connector body with another communication path, said latching means being effective when said cover is in a first position to secure said connector body to said coupling and cooperating with said cover as said cover is moved to a second position to cause said latching means to become disengaged from said coupling and allow withdrawal of said connector body from said coupling said latching means also cooperating with said cover to become disengaged from said coupling when said connector body is subjected to a force having a predetermined magnitude and being in a direction from said first end to said second end.

2. A communications connector assembly, which comprises:

a connector body which includes a first end and a second end and at least one connective device disposed adjacent to said first end and which is adapted to terminate a communication media which includes a light path, said connector body including at least one movable latching portion which is biased outwardly therefrom and which includes a latching surface and a camming surface;

a cover which is disposed about said connector body and which has at least one window in one portion thereof for allowing a portion of said movable latching portion to project outwardly therefrom, said cover being adapted to be moved slidably on said connector body to cause a wall which defines said window to engage and to be moved along said camming surface to move said latching portion inwardly within said window; and

housing means for aligning said connective device of said connector body with another communication path, said housing means being adapted to receive at least a portion of said connector body and of said cover and including an opening therein so that when said connector body and cover are received in said housing means, said latching portion, which normally projects beyond said window, extends into said opening with said latching surface being engaged by a wall which defines said opening to secure said connector body within said housing means, and so that when said cover is moved in a direction toward said second end, relative motion is caused between said wall which defines said window and said camming surface to move said latching portion inwardly to withdraw it from said opening in said housing and thereby permit withdrawal of said connector body from said housing, said latching surface being inclined to a longitudinal axis of the connector assembly and being such that when a tensile force of at least a predetermined magnitude is applied to said connector body, relative engaging motion is caused between said latching surface and said wall which defines said opening to cause said latching portion to be moved inwardly and to withdraw said latching portion from said opening to allow withdrawal of said connector body from said housing.

3. The connector assembly of claim 2, wherein said latching portion comprises a latching nub having a sloping camming face, said nub being attached to a free end of a cantilevered arm and said cantilevered arm having an end opposite to said free end and attached to said connector body adjacent to said first end thereof, and wherein when said cover is moved toward said second end of said connector body, said wall which defines said window cams against said sloping camming surface of said latching nub to move said nub inwardly of said connector body.

5. The connector assembly of claim 2, which includes two connector bodies, each adapted to terminate an optical fiber and each including a cantilevered arm on each of opposite sides thereof, each said arm having a latching portion attached to a free end thereof, and each of said two connector bodies adapted to be received in a release cover with the two release covers adapted to be received in a housing of a coupling having two openings in each of two opposed sides to receive the latching portions projecting from said cantilevered arms.

4. The connector assembly of claim 4, wherein the magnitude of forces which need to be applied to said cover to move said cover or to the connector body to allow withdrawal of the connector body from the housing may be varied by changing the degree of slope of the camming surface and of the latching surface, respectively, or the stiffness of said cantilevered arm.

6. An optical fiber connector assembly, which comprises:

a connector body which includes a connection end and a cable input end and two connective devices which are disposed adjacent to said connection end and each of which is adapted to terminate an optical fiber, said connector body including two latching nubs projecting and being biased normally outwardly therefrom, each said latching nub including a latching surface and a camming surface and being attached to a cantilevered arm which is formed integrally with said connector body,

a release cover which is disposed slidably about said connector body and which includes at least two windows in one portion thereof for allowing a portion of each said latching nub to project outwardly therefrom, said release cover being adapted to be moved slidably by a user grasping said cover adjacent to said cable input end and moving it toward said cable input end thereby causing a wall which defines each said window to cam along one of the camming surfaces to urge said latching nubs inwardly and withdraw said nubs into said windows, said latching nubs normally extending beyond said windows; and

a coupling for causing said connective devices of said connector body to become connected to other optical fibers, said coupling including a housing adapted to receive at least a portion of said connector body and of said cover and including at least two openings therein so that when said connector body is received in said housing, said latching nubs which extend beyond said windows project into said openings with said latching surfaces thereof being engaged by walls which define said openings to secure said release cover to said coupling, and such that when a force of at least a predetermined magnitude is applied to said release cover in a direction toward its cable end, said release cover is moved slidably to depress said latching nubs and to withdraw them from said openings in said housing to permit withdrawal of said connector body from said coupling.

7. The connector assembly of claim 6, wherein said connector body includes at least two cantilevered arms which are attached to said connector body with each said latching nub being attached to a free end of one of said arms.

8. The connector assembly of claim 7, wherein said cantilevered arms are attached to said connector body adjacent to said connection end, the free ends of said arms being oriented toward said cable input end of said connector body.

9. The connector assembly of claim 6, wherein said latching surfaces are inclined to a longitudinal axis of the connector assembly and are such that when a tensile force of at least a predetermined magnitude is applied to the connector body, relative motion is caused between said latching surfaces and said walls which define said openings to cause said latching nubs to be moved inwardly and withdraw said latching nubs from said openings to allow withdrawal of said connector body from said housing.

10. The connector assembly of claim 9, wherein the magnitude of the forces which need to be applied to said cover to move said cover or to said connector body to allow withdrawal of the connector body from the housing may be varied by changing the degree of slope of the camming surfaces or of the latching surfaces, respectively.

11. The connector assembly of claim 6, wherein said connector body includes means for terminating two optical fibers and said connector body includes a pair of cantilevered arms on each of two opposed sides thereof with a latching nub attached to the free end of each, and said housing including two openings on each of two opposed sides thereof.

12. The connector assembly of claim 6, wherein said connector body includes at least one chamfered edge extending longitudinally therealong and said housing of said coupling includes at least one sloping portion which joins a side portion and an adjoining portion so that said connector body must be oriented to align said chamfered edge thereof with said sloping portion of said housing before said connector body can be inserted into said housing.

13. The connector assembly of claim 6, wherein said cover also includes a gripping portion adjacent to said cable input end, said gripping portion adapted to be gripped by a user to move said cover toward said cable input end of said connector body and to move said connector body into a coupling.

14. The connector assembly of claim 6, wherein two ferrules each of which is adapted to terminate an optical fiber are disposed in said connector body, said ferrules extending from said connector body, and said connector assembly further including two shields each of which projects from said connector body to protect an associated ferule from damage.

15. A terminated optical fibers cable, which includes the connector assembly of claim 14, and wherein an optical fiber cable extends through an opening in said cover and enters said connector body at said cable input end of said connector body with optical fiber thereof being terminated by ferrules within said connector body.

16. The terminated optical fiber cable of claim 15, wherein said connector body also includes provisions adjacent to said ferrules for making an electrical connection.

17. The terminated optical fiber cable of claim 15, wherein said cable also includes strength member yarn and said connector body includes means for terminating said yarn to transfer forces applied to the cable to said connector body.