Plug connector with latch guard and removal tools

• US 8,308,498 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2011
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Optical Fiber Packaging Corporation
• Original Assignee: Advanced Fiber Products Ltd. (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: Adams, Darren
• Primary Examiner(s): GIRARDI, VANESSA MARY
• Application Number:
  US13/218,949
• Publication Number:
  US 20110318949A1
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 439/304
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3849 using mechanical protective elements, e.g. caps, hoods, sealing membranes G02B6/3816 takes precedence; provisionally see H01R13/44
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/387 Connector plugs comprising two complementary members, e.g. shells, caps, covers, locked together
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3879 Linking of individual connector plugs to an overconnector, e.g. using clamps, clips, common housings comprising several individual connector plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3898 Tools, e.g. handheld; Tuning wrenches; Jigs used with connectors, e.g. for extracting, removing or inserting in a panel, for engaging or coupling connectors, for assembling or disassembling components within the connector, for applying clips to hold two connectors together or for crimping tools for cleaning, G02B6/3866; tools in general B25B

Abstract

A modular connector is provided comprising: a connector plug, which may be inserted into an associated socket in a first longitudinal direction; a resilient leg, depending at a first end thereof from the connector plug, and having a depressible part, distal therefrom, depressible towards the connector plug; and a guard cover, configured to prevent access to the depressible part of the resilient leg in its direction of depression, but to permit access to the resilient leg in the longitudinal direction through an access aperture, the access aperture being aligned with the depressible part of the resilient leg on an axis parallel with the longitudinal direction, to allow depression of the resilient leg through the access aperture directly. A corresponding extraction tool and methods, loopback connector, blanking plug, blanking plate and patch panel are also provided.

Claims

1. A modular connector comprising:

a connector plug, configured to be inserted into an associated socket in a first longitudinal direction;

a resilient leg, depending at a first end thereof from the connector plug, and having a depressible part, distal therefrom, depressible towards the connector plug; and

a guard cover affixed to the connector plug, configured to prevent access to the depressible part of the resilient leg in its direction of depression, but to permit access to the resilient leg in the first longitudinal direction through a single access aperture, the single access aperture being aligned with the depressible part of the resilient leg on an axis parallel with the first longitudinal direction, to allow depression of the resilient leg through the single access aperture by directly contacting the resilient leg with a tool inserted through the single access aperture.

2. The modular connector claim 1, wherein the connector plug and at least a part of the guard cover are formed as a unitary element.

3. The modular connector of claim 1, further comprising a tool, the tool comprising:

a tool body;

a resilient arm depending from the tool body; and

a tongue formed upon a distal end of the resilient arm and adapted to pass through the single access aperture of the modular connector and depress the resilient leg of the modular connector by directly contacting the resilient leg with the resilient arm.

4. The tool of claim 3, wherein the tool body defines an inner volume for receiving a rear portion of the connector plug.

5. The tool of claim 3, wherein the tongue of the tool comprises a protrusion.

6. The tool of claim 3, further comprising a cap for removal of the tool from the single access aperture of the modular connector.

7. The tool of claim 3, further comprising:

a cap having a body that defines an inner volume for receiving a front portion of the modular connector.

8. The tool of claim 7, wherein the cap further comprises a flange for abutting a lug on the resilient leg of the modular connector.

9. The tool of claim 7, wherein the cap is generally elongated and further comprises an arm projecting from the cap body along the direction of elongation.

10. The tool of claim 9, wherein the arm is ramp-shaped at its distal end.

11. The modular connector of claim 1, wherein the guard cover includes a bridge over the resilient leg, the bridge having bridge supports surrounding the resilient leg and a bridge span joining the supports and spaced from the resilient leg.

12. The modular connector of claim 11, wherein the modular connector is a blanking plug that functions to plug a socket when the socket is not being used to carry a signal, and the blanking plug prevents ingress of dirt and other contaminants into the socket.

13. The modular connector of claim 11, further comprising:

a tool body;

a resilient arm depending from the tool body; and

a tongue formed upon a distal end of the resilient arm and adapted to pass through the single access aperture of the modular connector and depress the resilient leg of the modular connector by directly contacting the resilient leg with the tongue.

14. The modular connector of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the modular connector and at least a portion of the tool body adapted to pass through a key-like formation in the single access aperture are a similar color to indicate to a user that the tool is properly keyed to pass through the single access aperture and directly contact and depress the resilient leg on the connector plug.

15. The modular connector of claim 11, wherein a region bounded by the bridge span, the bridge supports, and the connector plug defines the single access aperture.

16. The modular connector of claim 15, further comprising a ramp on the connector plug that is at least partially located within the single access aperture.

17. The modular connector of claim 15, wherein at least one of the bridge span, the bridge supports, and the connector plug includes at least one protrusion which functions as a key to prevent a non-matching tool from entering the single access aperture and depressing the resilient leg.

18. The modular connector of claim 17, further comprising:

a tool sized for entering the single access aperture, wherein the tool includes a key-like formation that aligns with the at least one protrusion in one of the bridge span, bridge supports, and connector plug to allow the tool to enter the single access aperture and depress the resilient leg.

19. The modular connector of claim 15, wherein at least one of the bridge span, the bridge supports, and the connector plug includes at least one notch which functions as a key to prevent a non-matching tool from entering the single access aperture and depressing the resilient leg.

20. The modular connector of claim 19, further comprising:

a tool sized for entering the single access aperture, wherein the tool includes a key-like formation that aligns with the at least one notch in one of the bridge span, bridge supports, and connector plug to allow the tool to enter the single access aperture and depress the resilient leg.