Cable connector gender changer

• US 5,741,155 A
• Filed: 12/20/1995
• Issued: 04/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Teradata US, Inc. (Teradata Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Herman, Steven Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOINS, CHRISTOP
• Application Number:
  US08/580,013
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 439/451, 439/459, 439/502, 439/505, 439/498, 439/499, 439/654, 439/655, 439/638, 439/639, 439/607, 439/610
• US Class Current: 439/502
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/659 with plural ports for distinct connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6596 the conductive member being a metal grounding panel
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/005 Intermediate parts for distributing signals

Abstract

A cable connector gender changer for SCSI cables allows a male cable connector to connect to another male cable connector. The cable connector gender changer comprises a first metal socket connectable to the male cable connector, a second metal socket connectable to another male cable connector, an intermediate portion for connecting the first and second metal sockets, and a plurality of electrical connections extending from the first metal socket to the second metal socket through the intermediate portion. The dimensions of the sockets comply with SCSI standards, so they can mate with standard SCSI cable connectors. The gender changer has a continuous EMI shield from one socket to the other and is post-molded for appearance.

Claims

1. A cable assembly comprising:

(a) a plurality of cables for connecting together a plurality of devices, each of the cables comprising a plurality of conductors, a male connector electrically connected to the conductors at a first end of the cable and a female connector electrically connected to the conductors at a second end of the cable;

(b) a pass-thru bulkhead assembly for clamping together the cables, wherein the pass-thru bulkhead assembly comprises one or more guides for each of the clamped-together cables, each of the guides providing an aperture for the cable to pass therethrough, and wherein the pass-thru bulkhead assembly is EMI shielded;

(c) means for mounting the pass-thru bulkhead assembly in an aperture of a cabinet bulkhead; and

(d) one or more cable connector gender changers, each of the cable connector gender changers being coupled to a male connector on one of the cables, and each of the cable connector gender changers comprising a first metal socket comprising a first connector shell connectable to the male connector, a second metal socket comprising a second connector shell, an intermediate portion comprising a mounting plate for connecting the first and second metal sockets, and a plurality of electrical connections extending from the first metal socket to the second metal socket through the intermediate portion, wherein the first connector shell, the second connector shell, and the intermediate portion are attached together by the mounting plate into a single unit to form a continuous EMI shield covering said plurality of electrical connections, and wherein the first and second metal sockets are of a same gender type.

2. The cable connector gender changer of claim 1, wherein the second metal socket is connectable to a cable connector.

3. The cable connector gender changer of claim 1, wherein the second metal socket is connectable to a terminator.

4. The cable connector gender changer of claim 1, wherein the second metal socket is a male-type socket.

5. A cable assembly comprising:

(a) a plurality of cables for connecting together a plurality of devices, each of the cables comprising a plurality of conductors, a male connector electrically connected to the conductors at a first end of the cable and a female connector electrically connected to the conductors at a second end of the cable;

(b) a pass-thru bulkhead assembly for clamping together the cables, wherein the pass-thru bulkhead assembly comprises one or more guides for each of the clamped-together cables, each of the guides providing an aperture for the cable to pass therethrough, and wherein the pass-thru bulkhead assembly is EMI shielded;

(c) means for mounting the pass-thru bulkhead assembly in an aperture of a cabinet bulkhead; and

(d) one or more cable connector gender changers, each of the cable connector gender changers being coupled to a male connector on one of the cables, and each of the cable connector gender changers comprising a first metal socket comprising a first connector shell, a second metal socket comprising a second connector shell, and intermediate portion comprising a mounting plate for connecting the first and second connector shells, and a plurality of electrical connections extending from the first metal socket to the second metal socket through the intermediate portion, wherein the first connector shell and the second connector shell are attached together by the mounting plate into a single unit to form a continuous EMI shield covering said plurality of electrical connections.

6. The cable connector gender changer of claim 5, wherein the first metal socket is connectable to a cable connector.

7. The cable connector gender changer of claim 5, wherein the second metal socket is connectable to a cable connector.

8. The cable connector gender changer of claim 5, wherein the first metal socket is connectable to a terminator.

9. The cable connector gender changer of claim 5, wherein the second metal socket is connectable to a terminator.

10. The cable connector gender changer of claim 5, wherein the first and second metal sockets are female-type sockets.

11. The cable connector gender changer of claim 5, wherein the first and second metal sockets are male-type sockets.