Cable connector holders and methods for connecting and disconnecting a plurality of cable connectors

• US 6,857,900 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2004
• Issued: 02/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Afl IG LLC
• Original Assignee: Carlyle, Inc. (Carlisle Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Bagby, Daniel J., Kleeberger, Terry M., Robinson, Paul W., Eliot, Billie D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bradley, P. Austin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Figueroa, Felix O.
• Application Number:
  US10/836,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20040235344A1
• Time in Patent Office: 299 Days
• Field of Search: 439/540.1, 439/638, 439/368, 439/369, 439/344, 439/676, 439/701, 439/372, 439/298, 385/55, 385/56, 385/59, 385/76, 292/67, 297/64
• US Class Current: 439/540.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6215 using one or more bolts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6335 comprising a handle
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/26 for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device structural association with two-part coupling device H01R13/629

Abstract

A set of connectors, such as electrical or fiber-optic cable connectors, is supported on a holder body to form a ganged array of cable connectors. The holder body includes a bearing surface for maintaining a latch release of at least a first one of the cable connectors in a disengaged position to prevent it from latching when the ganged array of connectors is connected to an array of mating connectors. The holder body also defines one or more clearance regions that allow the latch release of at least a second one of the cable connectors to operate, to thereby allow the second cable connector to latch when the set of cable connectors is connected to the array of mating connectors, for releasably retaining the set of cable connectors in place. Spaced-apart clearance regions may be provided for facilitating proper operation and preventing damage to cables and connectors.

Claims

1. A device for facilitating efficient connection of a set of electrical connectors to an array of mating connectors, comprising:

a body including a set of positioning members for holding a set of electrical connectors in a predetermined spatial relationship corresponding to an array of mating connectors, the body including;

a bearing surface for depressing a latch release of at least a first one of the electrical connectors and maintaining the latch release in a disabled position to thereby prevent the first electrical connector from latching with a corresponding mating connector; and

a clearance region that allows a latch release of a second one of the electrical connectors to move freely, to thereby allow the second electrical connector to latch when the set of electrical connectors is connected to the array of mating connectors.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the body includes a depression adjacent the clearance region to admit a portion of a user'"'"'s finger for depressing the latch release of the second electrical connector and for gripping the body, thereby facilitating disconnection of the set of electrical connectors from the array of mating connectors.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the body includes opposing first and second sections joined together around at least some of the electrical connectors.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the body includes:

a first section defining the bearing surface and the clearance region; and

a second section aligned with the first section.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the first and second sections cooperate to define a first row of receptacles for holding a first portion of the electrical connectors, and the body further includes:

a third section positioned adjacent the second section opposite the first row of receptacles; and

a fourth section cooperating with the third section to define a second row of receptacles for holding a second portion of the electrical connectors.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the first and fourth sections are identical and the second and third sections are identical.

7. A device according to claim 5, wherein the second and third sections include alignment features for facilitating alignment thereof.

8. A device according to claim 5, further comprising a fastener that joins together the first, second, third, and fourth sections.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein:

the spatial relationship includes first and second rows of electrical connectors; and

the body includes a central section interposed between the first and second rows of electrical connectors, and a pair of outer sections clamping the first and second rows of electrical connectors against the central section.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein the body includes multiple cable-receiving passages aligned with the positioning members and sized to allow cables attached to the electrical connectors to pass therethrough.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein the body clamps the cables at the cable-receiving passages to thereby prevent the cables from being pulled loose from the electrical connectors.

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein the positioning members are sized to seat in a crimp slot of the electrical connectors.

13. A method of connecting a plurality of electrical or fiber-optic cable connectors to an array of mating connectors, comprising:

supporting a plurality of cable connectors on a body that holds the cable connectors in a predetermined spatial relationship corresponding to the array of mating connectors, thereby forming a ganged array of cable connectors;

maintaining a latch release of at least a first one of the cable connectors in a disabled position so that the first cable connector is prevented from latching with a corresponding mating connector; and

allowing a latch release of at least a second one of the cable connectors to operate so that, when the set of cable connectors is connected to the array of mating connectors, a latch of the second cable connector engages to retain the ganged array of cable connectors in place.

14. A method according to claim 13, further comprising moving the ganged array of cable connectors toward the array of mating connectors until the set of cable connectors mates with the array of mating connectors and the latch of the second cable connector is engaged.

15. A method according to claim 13, further comprising manually operating the latch release of the second cable connector to disengage the latch.

16. A method according to claim 13, further comprising manually depressing the latch release of the second cable connector;

and

while manually depressing the latch release, grasping the body and pulling it away from the array of mating connectors to thereby disconnect the set of cable connectors from the array of mating connectors.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the step of grasping the body includes grasping the body with two hands.

18. A method according to claim 13, wherein the step of supporting the cable connectors on the body includes clamping the cable connectors between opposing first and second sections of the body.

19. A method according to claim 13, wherein the step of supporting the cable connectors on the body includes arranging the cable connectors in first and second rows on opposing sides of a central section of the body and clamping the first and second rows of the cable connectors between a pair of outer sections of the body.

20. A ganged array of electrical or fiber-optic cable connectors, comprising:

a set of cable connectors including a first cable connector and a second cable connector each having a latch release extending outwardly therefrom, the set of cable connectors arranged in a predetermined spatial relationship corresponding to an array of mating connectors; and

a holder body supporting and retaining the set of cable connectors in the predetermined spatial relationship to thereby facilitate ganged connection of the set of cable connectors to the corresponding array of mating connectors, the holder body including a bearing surface that bears against the latch release of the first cable connector and holds said latch release in a depressed position to prevent the first cable connector from latching with a corresponding mating connector, and the holder body defining a clearance region positioned in alignment with the latch release of the second cable connector to allow said latch release to operate when the set of cable connectors is connected to the array of mating connectors, for releasably retaining the set of cable connectors in place.

21. A ganged array of cable connectors according to claim 20, wherein the set of cable connectors includes first and second rows of cable connectors.

22. A ganged array of cable connectors according to claim 20, wherein the body defines two pairs of opposing clearance regions positioned in alignment with the latch releases of four of the cable connectors to allow the latch releases of said four cable connectors to operate when the set of cable connectors is connected to the array of mating connectors, one of the pairs of clearance regions being spaced apart from the other of the pairs of clearance regions so as to necessitate the use of two hands to manually depress the latch releases of the four cable connectors when disconnecting the set of cable connectors from the corresponding mating connectors.