Banana plug

• US 9,761,993 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2016
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Westek Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Westek Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Larkin, Kevin B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilman, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US14/991,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20160204542A1
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/17 with spring member on the pin
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2421 using coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/4538 Covers sliding or withdrawing in the direction of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/582 the cable being clamped between assembled parts of the housing
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5825 the means comprising additional parts captured between housing parts and cable
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/02 Soldered or welded connections H01R4/625, H01R4/723, H01R12/59 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/023 between cables or wires and terminals

Abstract

A system for containing a strain relief, the system comprising an assembly housing, the assembly housing including: a first outer housing including a connector body; a second outer housing including a rear housing, wherein the first outer housing snaps into the second outer housing and creates a chain of contact points that connect components internal to the assembly housing and prevents internal components from rotating, wherein the assembly housing houses within a banana plug shaft, a strain relief and a solder junction, wherein the solder junction solders a first end of a conductor cable to the banana plug shaft, wherein the first end of the conductor cable is disposed within the assembly housing, and wherein via the chain of contact points, the banana plug shaft presses the strain relief into place and prevents movement of the strain relief and the solder junction.

Claims

1. A banana connector, comprising:

a connector body housing a banana plug shaft;

a rear housing coupled to a first end of the connector body and housing an intermediate portion of a conductor cable, wherein the intermediate portion is between a first end and a second end of the conductor cable;

a solder junction comprising a first end of the conductor cable being soldered to the banana plug shaft;

a strain relief coupled to an interior of the rear housing; and

a strain relief locking mechanism, distinct from said strain relief, preventing rotation of the banana plug shaft with respect to the connector body and coupled to the intermediate portion of the conductor cable and securing the first end of the conductor cable in position, wherein the strain relief locking mechanism is coupled to said strain relief and isolates movement, occurring at the second end of the conductor cable, from the solder junction.

2. The banana connector of claim 1, further comprising:

a retractable shroud disposed on an exterior of the first end of the connector body, wherein the retractable shroud is spring loaded and covers an exposed contact when the banana connector is removed from a mating jack.

3. The banana connector of claim 1, wherein the strain relief is fixed into position within the rear housing when the strain relief locking mechanism holds the intermediate portion of the conductor cable in place.

4. The banana connector of claim 1, wherein the strain relief locking mechanism comprises:

a pinching mechanism retainably pinching and deforming the intermediate portion of the conductor cable.

5. The banana connector of claim 1, wherein the banana plug shaft comprises:

a locking feature coupled to a connector body locking feature such that the banana plug shaft is fixed into position within the connector body.

6. The banana connector of claim 1, wherein the connector body of the banana plug shaft is coupled to the rear housing via a rear housing snap lock feature and a connector body snap lock feature.

7. A system for containing a strain relief, the system comprising an assembly housing, the assembly housing comprising:

a first outer housing comprising a connector body; and

a second outer housing comprising a rear housing, wherein the first outer housing snaps into the second outer housing and creates a chain of contact points that connect components internal to the assembly housing and prevents internal components from rotating, wherein the assembly housing houses within a banana plug shaft, a strain relief, a strain relief locking mechanism distinct from said strain relief, and a solder junction, wherein the solder junction solders a first end of a conductor cable to the banana plug shaft, wherein the first end of the conductor cable is disposed within the assembly housing, and wherein via the chain of contact points, the banana plug shaft presses the strain relief locking mechanism into place and prevents rotational movement of the strain relief and, hence, isolates movement, occurring at a second end of the conductor cable, from the solder junction.