Safe connection device and corresponding connection plug

• US 7,144,261 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2005
• Issued: 12/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Europa N.V. (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Europa N.V. (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Merlet, Hervé
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US11/126,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20050277320A1
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 439/676, 439/136, 439/143, 439/911, 439/147, 439/347, 200/51.R, 200/50.28, 200/50.29
• US Class Current: 439/136
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/71 Contact members of coupling parts operating as switch , e.g. linear or rotational movement required after mechanical engagement of coupling part to establish electrical connection
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/911 Safety, e.g. electrical disconnection required before opening housing

Abstract

A connection device that is capable of receiving a corresponding connection plug comprises a housing, an electronic board connected to at least one cable of a communications network capable of conveying data as well as electrical energy. This device comprises a movable part between the housing and the electronic board comprising conductive elements used to make the link between the electrical contacts of the plug and the electrical contacts of the electronic board, the movable part taking at least two positions, a first position known as a position of insertion or withdrawal of the plug, in which the link for the passage of electrical energy cannot be made, and a second position known as a position of operation in which the inserted plug is held and the link for the passage of electrical energy can be made.

Claims

1. A connection device that is capable of receiving a corresponding connection plug and comprises a housing, an electronic board connected to at least one cable of a communications network capable of conveying data as well as electrical energy, wherein this device comprises a movable part between the housing and the electronic board comprising conductive elements used to make an electrical link between the plug and the electronic board, the movable part having at least three positions, a first position known as a position of insertion or withdrawal of the plug, in which the electrical link cannot be made, a second position known as a position of operation in which an inserted plug is held by the movable part and the electrical link can be made, and a third position, known as an idle position, in which the insertion of the connection plug is not possible.

2. A connection device according to claim 1, wherein the movable pad, is held in the third position when a connection plug is not inserted, by a pullback force.

3. A connection device according to claim 1, wherein the movable part comprises a recess enabling insertion of a plug and a protuberance that comes into contact with a surface of the plug that has no electrical contacts so as to maintain it in the inserted position in the device by a pullback force.

4. A device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the pullback force is obtained by an elastic means provided between the housing and the movable part.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the movable part of the device comprises at least two conductive elements, one enabling a link between the connection plug and the electronic board for data exchange and a transfer of electrical energy from the network and the other conductive element enabling only a data exchange.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the movable part comprises a recess enabling insertion of a plug and a protuberance that comes into contact with a surface of matching shape of a connection plug so that, when a plug with a matching shape is inserted, the movable part takes the second position.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein, when a connection plug having no surface of matching shape is inserted, the movable part takes a fourth position in which the electrical link is not possible whereas the link for the exchange of data is possible.

8. A device according to one of the claims 3, 6 or 7, wherein the protuberance comprises a rounded surface.