Push-pull plugs and tools
First Claim
1. A push-pull plug comprising:
- a plug housing;
an outer housing surrounding the plug housing; and
a latch arm including a latch located on the plug housing, interaction between the outer housing and the latch arm allowing the plug to be removed by pulling the outer housing;
wherein the plug housing includes a rear plug wall that extends upwardly from an upper surface of the plug housing, andwherein the outer housing includes a plurality of retention notches, each retention notch having retention grooves, the notches and grooves formed to serve as gripping aids.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A push-pull plug has an outer housing that may be moved forwardly and backwardly along a plug housing. When the outer housing is in its forward position, a latch arm is in an upward or mated position and the plug will stay mated to a jack when the plug is inserted into the jack. When the outer housing is moved backwardly, cam surfaces on the outer housing push cam followers on the latch arm downwardly, moving the latch arm and latch to a downward or unmated position. The plug may then be removed from a jack as the outer housing is pulled. The plugs may be adapted for use with an insertion and removal tool. Corner finger grips may be formed on the outer housing and may be located in an alternating manner to facilitate use when plugs are closely positioned.
125 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A push-pull plug comprising:
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a plug housing; an outer housing surrounding the plug housing; and a latch arm including a latch located on the plug housing, interaction between the outer housing and the latch arm allowing the plug to be removed by pulling the outer housing; wherein the plug housing includes a rear plug wall that extends upwardly from an upper surface of the plug housing, and wherein the outer housing includes a plurality of retention notches, each retention notch having retention grooves, the notches and grooves formed to serve as gripping aids. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of removing a push-pull plug from a jack comprising:
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providing a plug having an outer housing and a plug housing, the outer housing including a cam surface and opposing retention notches, each retention notch having retention grooves, and the plug housing including a latch arm, the latch arm having a cam follower; and pulling the outer housing back to a rearward position using a tool, which forces the cam surface backward and forces the cam follower downward; wherein the downward motion of the cam follower causes the latch arm to move downwardly until the latch arm reaches an unmated position with the latch disengaged from a mating projection in the jack, and wherein the tool comprises a handle, a stem, and a clip, the clip including two clip ridges, and the tool engages at least one retention groove in one retention notch with one clip ridge, then is axially rotated to engage at least one retention groove in the opposing retention notch with the other clip ridge. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A push-pull plug comprising:
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a plug housing; an outer housing surrounding the plug housing; and a latch arm including a latch located on the plug housing, interaction between the outer housing and the latch arm allowing the plug to be removed by pulling the outer housing; wherein the outer housing includes a plurality of retention notches, each retention notch extending inwardly and having retention grooves, the retention notches and retention grooves integral with the notches and grooves formed to serve as gripping aids. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification