Electrical-optical hybrid connector
First Claim
1. A push-pull hybrid connector for simultaneously coupling electrical and optical conduits, comprising:
- a receptacle, said receptacle having arranged therein a first set of electrical and optical terminals operatively attached to a first set of electrical and optical conduits, said receptacle having formed therein receiving channels extending from an exterior surface of said receptacle to the terminals arranged therein and further having formed therein a groove encircling said receiving channels so as to define a proximal and distal wall with respect to said receiving channels; and
a plug have arranged therein and protruding therefrom a second set of electrical and optical terminals operatively attached to a second set of electrical and optical conduits, said protruding terminals being arranged so as to be receivable within said receptacle'"'"'s receiving channels, said plug further having a hood extending therefrom encircling and substantially extending beyond said protruding terminals and dimensioned for receipt within said receptacle'"'"'s groove, said hood having an interior surface dimensioned to be tightly received about the proximal wall of said receptacle, said hood having an exterior surface formed to enable said hood to be received within said groove only when said plug is in a preselected rotational orientation relative to the receptacle and further formed to latchingly engage said distal wall upon insertion of said plug'"'"'s terminals into said receptacle'"'"'s receiving channels sufficiently far to contact said receptacle'"'"'s terminals.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hybrid electrical optical connector employing a push-pull plug receptacle combination. A hood structure protruding from the plug component of the connector simultaneously serves to ensure that the plug is properly rotationally oriented with respect to the receptacle prior to insertion, that the individual terminals are guided toward the respective terminal receiving channels, and that the plug is latched in place once fully engaged. A rigid armature allows the plug to be partially assembled and tested prior to final overmolding. In its final overmolded form the plug is impervious to the influx of contamination and can withstand a substantial amount of physical abuse. The inexpensive materials used in the construction of the plug and the ease of assembly yield a low cost plug well suited for use in conjunction with a disposable peripheral device.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A push-pull hybrid connector for simultaneously coupling electrical and optical conduits, comprising:
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a receptacle, said receptacle having arranged therein a first set of electrical and optical terminals operatively attached to a first set of electrical and optical conduits, said receptacle having formed therein receiving channels extending from an exterior surface of said receptacle to the terminals arranged therein and further having formed therein a groove encircling said receiving channels so as to define a proximal and distal wall with respect to said receiving channels; and a plug have arranged therein and protruding therefrom a second set of electrical and optical terminals operatively attached to a second set of electrical and optical conduits, said protruding terminals being arranged so as to be receivable within said receptacle'"'"'s receiving channels, said plug further having a hood extending therefrom encircling and substantially extending beyond said protruding terminals and dimensioned for receipt within said receptacle'"'"'s groove, said hood having an interior surface dimensioned to be tightly received about the proximal wall of said receptacle, said hood having an exterior surface formed to enable said hood to be received within said groove only when said plug is in a preselected rotational orientation relative to the receptacle and further formed to latchingly engage said distal wall upon insertion of said plug'"'"'s terminals into said receptacle'"'"'s receiving channels sufficiently far to contact said receptacle'"'"'s terminals. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A push-pull hybrid connector for simultaneously coupling electrical and optical conduits, such connector including a plug, having arranged therein and protruding therefrom electrical and optical terminals operatively attached to a first set of such electrical and optical conduits, such connector further including a receptacle, having arranged therein electrical and optical terminals operatively attached to a second set of electrical and optical conduits, said receptacle having formed therein receiving channels for receiving the protruding portion of the plug'"'"'s terminals to enable contact with the receptacle'"'"'s terminals and further having formed therein a deep groove encircling said receiving channels to define a proximal and distal wall with respect to said receiving channels, said plug further comprising:
a hood extending from said plug encircling and substantially extending beyond said protruding terminals and dimensioned for receipt within said receptacle'"'"'s groove, said hood having an interior surface dimensioned to be tightly received about the proximal wall of said receptacle, said hood having an exterior surface formed to enable said hood to be received within said groove only when said plug is in a preselected rotational orientation relative to the receptacle and further formed to latchingly engage said distal wall when said plug'"'"'s terminals are in contact with said receptacle'"'"'s terminals. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6)
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7. A hybrid connector plug for simultaneously coupling electrical and optical conduits contained within a jacketed cable to a receptacle having positioned therein electrical and optical terminals, comprising:
a single piece, substantially rigid molding to aid in the assembly of said plug and ultimately to be substantially incorporated within said plug, said molding including an apertured front wall and further formed to releasably grasp an end of said cable'"'"'s jacket, guide electrical and optical conduits extending from within said cable towards said front wall and to enable electrical and optical terminals, operatively affixed to said conduits, to be removably positioned so as to protrude through said apertures of said front wall.
Specification