Connector with an anti-unlocking system

• US 7,682,177 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2008
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Radiall SA
• Original Assignee: Radiall SA
• Inventors: Berthet, Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; T C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Imas; Vladimir
• Application Number:
  US12/314,225
• Publication Number:
  US 20090156043A1
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: 439/321, 439/320, 439/312
• US Class Current: 439/321
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3891 Bayonet type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3894 Screw-lock type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/622 Screw-ring or screw-casing H01R13/623 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap

Abstract

A connector comprising:

• • a body for plugging in or on the body of a complementary connector along a plugging axis X-X′;
  • connection means for co-operating with complementary connection means of the complementary connector so as to connect together electrical or optical conductors; and
  • a locking sleeve that surrounds the body of the connector and that is adapted to co-operate with the body of the connector and with locking means provided by the complementary connector in such a manner as to block relative movement between the connector and the complementary connector in the plugging direction, the locking sleeve being movable in rotation about the axis relative to the body of the connector between an unlocking position in which the connectors can be separated and a locking position in which the connectors cannot be separated;
  • wherein the connector includes a brake ring that co-operates with the body of the connector by being movable at least in rotation about the axis between a braking position in which the ring opposes any turning of the locking sleeve and a disengaged position in which the ring does not oppose any turning of the locking sleeve.

Claims

1. A connector for electrical or optical conductors comprising:

a first body for plugging in or on a second body of a complementary connector along a plugging axis X-X′

;

first connection means carried by the first body for co-operating with second complementary connection means of the complementary connector so as to connect together electrical or optical conductors;

a locking sleeve surrounding the first body of the connector and that is adapted to co-operate with the second body of the complementary connector and with locking means provided by the complementary connector in such a manner as to block relative movement between the first body and the second body of the complementary connector in the plugging direction, the locking sleeve being movable in rotation about the axis X-X′

relative to the first body of the connector between an unlocking position in which the first body can be separated from the second body and a locking position in which the first body cannot be separated from the second body; and

a brake ring mounted to and that co-operates with the first body of the connector by being movable at least in rotation about the axis X-X′

between a braking position in which the ring opposes any turning of the locking sleeve when the locking sleeve is in the locked position and a disengaged position in which the ring does not oppose any turning of the locking sleeve; and

wherein the direction of rotation of the brake ring for going from the braking position to the disengaged position is opposite to the direction of rotation of the locking sleeve to go from the locking position to the unlocking position.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the locking sleeve includes helical link means for co-operating with the locking means of the complementary connector.

3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the helical link means includes a thread formed on one of an inside or outside of the locking sleeve and designed to co-operate with a complementary thread provided by the complementary connector.

4. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the brake ring and the first body of the connector are linked together by a helical link.

5. The connector according to claim 3, wherein the brake ring and the first body of the connector are linked together by a helical link, and wherein the thread of the sleeve and the helical link between the ring and the first body of the connector are oppositely-handed.

6. The connector according to claim 1, wherein in the braking position, the brake ring bears against the locking sleeve.

7. The connector according to claim 1, including one or more locking means for co-operating with complementary blocking means provided by the complementary connector to oppose rotation about the axis X-X′

between the first body of the connector and the second body of the complementary connector when the first and second bodies are plugged one in the other.

8. The connector according to claim 7, wherein the blocking means include at least one groove or key formed in or on the first body of the connector.

9. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the connection means are adapted to provide connection for conductors of a coaxial cable.