Method of mounting a connector assembly

• US 7,938,670 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2009
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Smiths Interconnect Americas, Inc. (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hypertronics Corporation (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Feinberg, Arnold S., Radunsky, Vadim L., Coughlan, Christopher, Nania, Francesco A., Kannally, Thomas H. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh; Phuong K
• Application Number:
  US12/654,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20100144183A1
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 439/161, 439/680, 439/901, 439/354, 439/598, 439/681
• US Class Current: 439/354
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3831 comprising a keying element on the plug or adapter, e.g. to forbid wrong connection keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical coupling H01R13/64
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/506 assembled by snap action of the parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5219 Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5829 the clamping part being flexibly or hingedly connected to the housing
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6271 Latching means integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6273 comprising two latching arms
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6456 comprising keying elements at different positions along the periphery of the connector
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6599 Dielectric material made conductive, e.g. plastic material coated with metal

Abstract

A connector for electrical or optical conduits that provides a field configurable keying of the insulator plugs relative to each other and relative to the connector casings. A separate relative keying means is included that is separate from the case keying or locating mechanism. The connector also utilizes a retention means for example, a one-way snap apron, to retain the insulator within the receptacle case.

Claims

1. A method of mounting a connector assembly to an equipment case, the connector assembly connecting together a first conduit and a second conduit, the method including:

inserting a receptacle insulator into a receptacle case to form a receptacle assembly of a female receptacle connector of the connector assembly;

retaining the receptacle insulator within the receptacle case using a retainer that axially positions the receptacle insulator in the receptacle case using a snap fit connection;

passing a plurality of leads of the first conduit into corresponding bores in the receptacle insulator;

inserting an end portion of the receptacle assembly into an opening in the equipment case; and

securing the receptacle assembly to the equipment case.

2. The method of claim 1, further including:

selecting a relative indexing of the receptacle insulator relative to the receptacle case; and

inserting the receptacle insulator into the receptacle case based on the selected relative indexing.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the connector assembly further includes a male plug connector, and the method further includes connecting the male plug connector to the female receptacle connector.

4. The method of claim 3, further including:

inserting a plug insulator into a plug case to form a plug assembly of the male plug connector; and

passing a plurality of leads of the second conduit into corresponding bores in the plug insulator.

5. The method of claim 4, further including:

selecting a second relative position of the plug insulator relative to the plug case, the second relative position being one of a plurality of second predefined relative positions of the plug insulator relative to the plug case;

inserting the plug insulator into the plug case; and

positioning the plug insulator based on the selected second relative position.

6. The method of claim 4, further including interfitting the plug insulator with the receptacle insulator to connect the plug case to the receptacle case.

7. The method of claim 1, further including positioning a panel nut onto the end portion of the receptacle assembly to secure the receptacle assembly to the equipment case.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a first relative position of the receptacle insulator relative to the receptacle case, the first relative position being one of a plurality of first predefined relative radial positions of the receptacle insulator relative to the receptacle case;

wherein the receptacle insulator is inserted into the receptacle case such that the receptacle insulator is positioned based on the selected first relative position.

9. A method of mounting a connector assembly to an equipment case, the connector assembly connecting together a first conduit and a second conduit, the method including:

inserting an end portion of a receptacle case into an opening in the equipment case;

sliding a securing device over the end portion of the receptacle case;

securing the receptacle case to the equipment case using the securing device;

passing a plurality of leads of the first conduit into corresponding bores in a receptacle insulator;

inserting an end portion of the receptacle insulator into the end portion of the receptacle case to form a receptacle assembly of a female receptacle connector of the connector assembly; and

retaining the receptacle insulator within the receptacle case using a retainer.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the connector assembly further includes a male plug connector, and the method further includes connecting the male plug connector to the female receptacle connector.

11. The method of claim 10, further including:

inserting a plug insulator into a plug case to form a plug assembly of the male plug connector; and

passing a plurality of leads of the second conduit into corresponding bores in the plug insulator.

12. The method of claim 11, further including:

selecting a relative indexing of the plug insulator relative to the plug case; and

inserting the plug insulator into the plug case based on the selected relative indexing.

13. The method of claim 11, further including interfitting the plug insulator with the receptacle insulator to connect the plug case to the receptacle case.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the securing device includes a panel nut; and

the step of sliding the securing device includes positioning the panel nut onto the end portion of the receptacle case to secure the receptacle case to the equipment case.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the retainer retains the receptacle insulator within the receptacle case using a snap fit connection.

16. A method of mounting a connector assembly to an equipment case, the connector assembly connecting together a first conduit and a second conduit, the method including:

inserting an end portion of a receptacle case into an opening in the equipment case;

securing the receptacle case to the equipment case;

passing a plurality of leads of the first conduit into corresponding bores in a receptacle insulator;

selecting a first relative position of the receptacle insulator relative to the receptacle case, the first relative position being one of a plurality of first predefined relative radial positions of the receptacle insulator relative to the receptacle case;

inserting an end portion of the receptacle insulator into the end portion of the receptacle case and positioning the receptacle insulator based on the selected first relative position to form a receptacle assembly of a female receptacle connector of the connector assembly; and

retaining the receptacle insulator within the receptacle case using a retainer.

17. The method of claim 16, further including:

selecting a second relative position of the plug insulator relative to the plug case, the second relative position being one of a plurality of second predefined relative positions of the plug insulator relative to the plug case;

inserting the plug insulator into the plug case; and

positioning the plug insulator based on the selected second relative position.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein positioning the plug insulator based on the selected second relative position includes:

inserting a head of the plug insulator into a corresponding cutout in an insulator positioner, the head of the plug insulator being insertable into the cutout in a plurality of configurations to provide the plurality of second predefined relative positions of the plug insulator relative to the plug case; and

connecting the insulator positioned to the plug case.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the receptacle case includes a cutout corresponding to a shape of a head of the receptacle insulator, the head of the receptacle insulator being insertable into the cutout in a plurality of configurations to provide the plurality of first predefined relative positions of the receptacle insulator relative to the receptacle case; and

positioning the receptacle insulator based on the selected first relative position includes inserting the head of the receptacle insulator into the cutout.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the retainer retains the receptacle insulator within the receptacle case using a snap fit connection.