Latching connector with remote release

• US 9,599,778 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2014
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SENKO Advanced Components, Inc. (SENKO Group Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: SENKO Advanced Components, Inc. (SENKO Group Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Wong, Yim, Ruffner, Cary E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bedtelyon, John M
• Application Number:
  US14/521,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20160116685A1
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3817 containing optical and electrical conductors cables including electrical and optical conductors H01B11/22; G02B6/3816 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• 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 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6272 comprising a single latching arm
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6335 comprising a handle

Abstract

Switchable housings and connector assemblies for connections to high density panels are disclosed, as well as components thereof. A connector assembly may include cable assembly connectors configured to engage with a mating connector in a first direction. A latching portion may be configured to engage and selectively disengage the cable assembly connector with the mating connector. A switchable housing may contain release members configured to contact the latching portion and provide a compressing force sufficient to selectively disengage the cable assembly connector from the mating connector and a pull tab assembly in contact with the release members. Movement of the pull tab assembly in a second direction may cause the pull tab assembly to compress the one or more release members, thereby causing the one or more release members to provide the compressing force to disengage the cable assembly connector from the mating connector.

Claims

1. A connector assembly comprising:

a plurality of cable assembly connectors configured to engage with a mating connector along a coupling axis in a first direction, wherein each of the plurality of cable assembly connectors comprises a latching portion that is configured to engage and selectively disengage the cable assembly connector with the mating connector; and

a switchable housing comprising;

a first end having a plurality of recesses configured to couple to the plurality of cable assembly connectors,

a second end having a switchable housing back post,

a passageway configured to switch transmission between each recess of the plurality of recesses and the switchable housing back post,

one or more release members configured to contact the latching portion and provide a compressing force sufficient to selectively disengage the plurality of cable assembly connectors from the mating connector, and

a pull tab assembly in contact with the one or more release members and configured to move along the coupling axis, wherein movement of the pull tab assembly in a second direction along the coupling axis causes the pull tab assembly to compress the one or more release members, thereby causing the one or more release members to provide the compressing force to disengage the plurality of cable assembly connectors from the mating connector.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the pull tab assembly comprises a protrusion configured to protrude perpendicularly through a channel in the one or more release members and a crossbar that is configured to extend perpendicularly from the protrusion and compress the one or more release members upon movement of the pull tab assembly in the second direction along the coupling axis.

3. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more release members comprises a plurality of segments, wherein each of the plurality of segments extends in a direction such that a location of the pull tab assembly over the one or more release members determines an amount of compression applied by the pull tab assembly.

4. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector assembly is a multi-port connector assembly comprising a plurality of cable assembly connectors.

5. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of cable assembly connectors and the switchable housing provide an optical path from an optical fiber to the mating connector.

6. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the switchable housing back post is configured to connect to a mini boot comprising a signal transmission conduit for transmission of signals to the mating connector.

7. The connector assembly of claim 6, wherein the signal transmission conduit comprises an optical fiber.

8. The connector assembly of claim 6, wherein the signal transmission conduit comprises an electrical conductor.

9. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of cable assembly connectors is an LC connector.

10. A switchable housing comprising:

a first end having a plurality of recesses configured to receive a plurality of cable assembly connectors;

a second end having a switchable housing back post;

a passageway configured to switch transmission between each recess of the plurality of recesses and the switchable housing back post;

one or more release members configured to contact a latching portion of the plurality of cable assembly connectors and provide a compressing force sufficient to provide a disengaging force of the plurality of cable assembly connectors; and

a pull tab assembly comprising a crossbar in contact with the one or more release members, wherein the pull tab assembly is configured to move along a coupling axis,

wherein movement of the pull tab assembly in a direction along the coupling axis that is away from the plurality of cable assembly connectors causes the crossbar to compress the one or more release members, thereby causing the one or more release members to provide the compressing force.

11. The switchable housing of claim 10, wherein each of the one or more release members comprises a plurality of segments, wherein each of the plurality of segments extends in a direction such that a location of the pull tab assembly over the one or more release members determines an amount of compression applied by the pull tab assembly.

12. The switchable housing of claim 10, wherein the switchable housing provides an optical path from an optical fiber to at least one of the plurality of cable assembly connectors.

13. The switchable housing of claim 10, wherein the switchable housing back post is configured to connect to a mini boot comprising a signal transmission conduit for transmission of signals to the mating connector.

14. The switchable housing of claim 13, wherein the signal transmission conduit comprises an optical fiber.

15. The switchable housing of claim 13, wherein the signal transmission conduit comprises an electrical conductor.

16. The switchable housing of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of cable assembly connectors is an LC connector.

17. A high density panel comprising:

a panel having a mounting surface;

a first mating connector disposed on the mounting surface and having a first edge;

a second mating connector disposed on the mounting surface and having a second edge, wherein the distance between the first edge and the second edge is less than about 1.25 millimeters,

a plurality of cable assembly connectors configured to engage with each mating connector along a coupling axis in a first direction, wherein each cable assembly connector comprises a latching portion that is configured to engage and selectively disengage the cable assembly connector with the mating connector; and

a switchable housing comprising;

a first end having a plurality of recesses configured to receive the plurality of cable assembly connectors,

a second end having a switchable housing back post,

a passageway configured to switch transmission between each recess of the plurality of recesses and the switchable housing back post,

one or more release members configured to contact the latching portion of each cable assembly connector and provide a compressing force sufficient to selectively disengage the plurality of cable assembly connectors from the mating connector, and

a pull tab assembly in contact with the one or more release members and configured to move along the coupling axis, wherein movement of the pull tab assembly in a second direction along the coupling axis causes the pull tab assembly to compress the one or more release members, thereby causing the one or more release members to provide the compressing force to disengage the plurality of cable assembly connectors from the mating connector.