Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to a connector having a connector body. A housing mounts over the connector body. The housing is adapted for securing the connector to another element such as a piece of telecommunications equipment. The housing is insertable from either a forward or a rearward direction.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to electrical connectors. More particularly, the present invention relates to telecommunications connectors.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    In the telecommunications industry, connectors are used to interconnect cables to pieces of telecommunications equipment or to other circuitry (e.g., switches). U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,701, which is incorporated herein by reference, shows connectors  60  and  60 ′ mounted to the back wall of a digital cross-connect (DSX) module. In addition to modules, connectors are also frequently mounted to other structures such as telecommunications panels, frames, chassis, PC boards or other structures.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0003]    The present disclosure describes representative embodiments that include examples of how several different inventive concepts can be practiced. It will be appreciated that the inventive concepts can be used together or separately from one another. It will further be appreciated that the examples embodying the inventive concepts are merely illustrative, and that variations can be made with respect to the depicted examples without departing from the broad scope of the inventive concepts.  
           [0004]    An example embodiment disclosed herein relates to a telecommunications connector adapted for connection to a piece of telecommunications equipment. The connector includes a connection structure that allows the connector to be mounted to the telecommunications equipment by inserting the connector from either a forward or a rearward direction.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate various embodiments that are examples of how certain inventions can be put into practice. A brief description of the drawings is as follows:  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a connector including features that are examples of how inventive concepts disclosed herein can be practiced;  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is an assembled, perspective view of the connector of FIG. 1;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is cross-sectional view of the connector of FIG. 2 taken along a plane that bisects the connector;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 illustrates several of the connectors of FIG. 1 connected to a telecommunications panel;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating one of the connectors of FIG. 5 mounted within the telecommunications panel;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative connector including features that are examples of how inventive concepts disclosed herein can be practiced;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a housing of the connector of FIG. 6;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 8 is a front view of the housing of FIG. 7; and  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the connector of FIG. 6. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]    FIGS.  1 - 3  illustrate a connector  150  having features that are examples of how various inventive concepts disclosed herein can be practiced. The connector  150  includes a bulkhead  300  and a center conductor  316  (shown in FIG. 3) supported within the bulkhead  300 . The bulkhead  300  can also be referred to as a “conductor support” since it functions to hold the conductor  316 , or a “connector body.” A housing  320  mounts about the bulkhead  300 . As will be described below, the housing  320  includes structure for securing the connector  150  to a piece of telecommunications equipment or other structure.  
         [0016]    Referring to FIG. 3, the bulkhead  300  of the connector  150  includes a connector sleeve  302  and a crimp-supporting sleeve  304 . The sleeves  302 ,  304  are positioned at opposite ends of the bulkhead  300 . The connector sleeve  302  is configured to provide a connection with a BNC type connector (Bayonet Normalized Connector). It will be appreciated that the sleeve can have different configurations to correspond to different styles of connectors such as TNC connectors (Threaded Normalized Connectors, or 1.6/5.6 style connectors). The crimp-supporting sleeve  304  includes structure for enhancing a crimp (e.g., knurling, ridges, surface roughness, bumps, etc.).  
         [0017]    The center conductor  316  of the connector  150  preferably mounts within the connector sleeve  302 . A dielectric spacer  318  is provided for centering the center conductor  316  within the connector sleeve  302 . When a BNC conventional connector (not shown) is coupled to the connector  150 , a center pin of the BNC connector fits within center conductor  316 , an outer conductor sleeve presses within the sleeve  302 , and a twist collar receives tabs  317  of the bulkhead  300  to lock the connectors together. The sleeve  304  is hollow for receiving a cable terminated to the center conductor  316 .  
         [0018]    The bulkhead  300  also includes a housing mount  306  positioned between the sleeves  302 ,  304 . Preferably the housing mount  306  is integrally or unitarily formed as a single piece with the bulkhead  300 . In one embodiment, the bulkhead  300  is constructed of a metal material such as zinc die cast alloy. However, it will be appreciated that other material can also be used.  
         [0019]    The housing  320  of the connector  150  includes housing pieces  322   a,    322   b.  To promote manufacturing efficiency, it is preferred for the housing pieces  322   a,    322   b  to have identical configurations. In other embodiments, the housing pieces need not be identical. Further, in still other embodiments, more than two pieces can be provided, or the housing can be formed as a single, integral piece about the bulkhead  300 . In one embodiment, the housing  320  is made of a dielectric plastic material such as polycarbonate.  
         [0020]    The housing pieces  322   a,    322   b  preferably have internal configurations that complement the outer configuration of the housing mount  306 . The housing pieces  322   a,    322   b  are also provided with structure for snap-fitting the pieces together. For example, the housing pieces  322   a,    322   b  are also provided with resilient cantilever arms  332  (i.e. latches) and retaining shoulders  334 . As shown in FIG. 1, the cantilever arms  332  and the retaining shoulders  334  are positioned on opposite sides of each housing piece  322   a,    322   b.  Each cantilever arm  332  includes a free end including a retaining tab  336 . The retaining tabs  336  are shown including ramp surfaces  338 . The retaining shoulders  334  are preferably positioned within exterior slots  337  that are generally parallel with respect to the resilient cantilever arms  332 .  
         [0021]    To mount the housing  320  on the bulkhead  300 , the housing piece  322   a  is inserted downwardly over the housing mount  306  as shown by arrow  339  in FIG. 1, and the housing piece  322   b  is inserted upwardly over the housing mount  306  as indicated by arrow  340  in FIG. 1. When the housing pieces  322   a,    322   b  are pushed together, the resilient cantilever arms  332  flex outwardly, with the assistance of ramp surfaces  338 , as the retaining tabs  336  enter the exterior slots  337 . When the retaining tabs  336  move past the retaining shoulders  334 , the inherent elasticity of the cantilever arms  332  causes the cantilever arms  332  to snap into a locked position. In the locked position, the retaining tabs  336  oppose or engage the retaining shoulders  334  to prevent the housing pieces  332   a,    332   b  from being disconnected. If it is desired to disconnect the housing pieces  332   a,    332   b,  the cantilever arms  332  can be manually flexed in an outward direction thereby allowing the housing pieces  322   a,    322   b  to be pulled apart.  
         [0022]    As used herein, the phrase “snap-fit connection” means a connection provided by a resilient member that flexes or deforms past a retaining structure and moves to a locking or retaining position by the inherent flexibility or elasticity of the resilient member. In the above described embodiment, the arms  332  move or “snap” past the shoulders  334  by the inherent bias of the arms  332 . The term snap-fit connection is not limited to resilient arms, but includes any structure (e.g., bumps, tabs, shoulders, etc.) that are deformed during insertion and move to a retaining position by the inherent elasticity of the structures. In other embodiments, the housing pieces  322   a,    322   b  can be coupled together by other types of connection techniques such as press-fit connections or adhesive connections.  
         [0023]    The complementary relationship between the interior of the housing  320  and the housing mount  306  of the bulkhead  300  is preferably configured to prevent relative rotation between the housing  320  and the bulkhead  300 . The complementary shape of the interior of the housing  320  and housing mount  306  also prevents the housing  320  from being axially slid from the bulkhead  300 .  
         [0024]    The housing  320  of the connector preferably includes structure for providing a snap-fit connection between the connector  150  and a piece of telecommunications equipment (e.g., a jack module or a panel such as panel  120  shown in FIG. 5). As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and  5 , the housing  320  includes top and bottom resilient cantilever arms  360 . As best shown at FIG. 2, each cantilever arm  360  includes first and second retaining tabs  362  and  364  that are separated by a gap  366 . The second tab  364  is located at the free end of the arm  360 , and the first tab  362  is located between the second tab  364  and the base end of the arm  360 . The first tab  362  includes a ramp surface  362   a  and the second tab  364  includes a ramp surface  364   a.  As best shown in FIG. 5, the ramp surfaces  362   a  and  364   a  converge as the ramp surfaces extend toward the gap  366 . For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the surfaces  362   a,    364   a  of the upper arm  360  both angle upwardly as the surfaces  362   a,    364   a  extend toward their corresponding gap  366 , and the surfaces  362   a,    364   a  of the lower arm  360  both angle downwardly as the surfaces  362   a,    364   a  extend toward their corresponding gap  366 .  
         [0025]    Referring still to FIG. 5, the tabs  362 ,  364  include opposing retaining surfaces  362   b  and  364   b  that define side walls of the gap  366 . The retaining surface  362   b  has a smaller vertical dimension d1 than a vertical dimension d2 of the retaining surface  364   b.  As shown in FIG. 5, the top and bottom tabs  364  define a height h1 that is greater than a height h2 defined at a front end  341  of the housing  320 . Preferably, the height h1 is greater than any other height defined between the tabs  364  and the front end  341  of the housing  320 . The top and bottom tabs  362  define a height h3 that is greater than a height h4 defined at a rear end  343  of the housing  320 . Preferably, the height h3 is greater than any other height defined between the tabs  362  and the rear end  343  of the housing  320 , but is smaller than the height h1. As described below, this configuration allows the connector  150  to be inserted into a mounting location from either a forward or a rearward direction.  
         [0026]    Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the connector  150  is adapted to be mounted in an opening  119  defined by a piece of telecommunications equipment such as panel  120 . Referring to FIG. 5, the connector  150  can be inserted into the opening  119  from either a front side  121  or a rear side  123  of the panel  120 . To mount the connector  150  from the front side  121 , the rear end  343  of the connector  150  is inserted in a rearward direction through the opening  119 . As the connector  150  is pushed through the opening  119 , the ramped surfaces  362   a  of tabs  362  engage upper and lower front edges  357 ,  359  of the opening  119  causing the arms  360  to flex inwardly toward one another. Once the tabs  362  move completely through the opening  119 , the cantilever arms  360  snap outwardly by their inherent elasticity such that the panel  120  is trapped within the gap  366  between the retaining surfaces  362   b,    364   b  of the tabs  362 ,  364 . As so positioned, the retaining surface  364   b  engages or opposes the front side  121  of the panel  120 , and the retaining surface  362   b  engages or opposes the rear side  123  of the panel  120 . By flexing the cantilever arms inwardly while pushing the connector  150  in either a forward or rearward direction, the connector  150  can be removed from the opening  119 .  
         [0027]    To mount the connector  150  from the rear side  123 , the front end  341  of the connector  150  is inserted in a forward direction through the opening  119 . As the connector  150  is pushed through the opening  119 , the ramped surfaces  364   a  of tabs  364  engage upper and lower rear edges  361 ,  363  of the opening  119  causing the arms  360  to flex inwardly toward one another. Once the tabs  364  move completely through the opening  119 , the cantilever arms  360  snap outwardly by their inherent elasticity such that the panel  120  is trapped within the gap  366  between the retaining surfaces  362   b,    364   b  of the tabs  362 ,  364 . As so positioned, the retaining surface  364   b  engages or opposes the front side  121  of the panel  120 , and the retaining surface  362   b  engages or opposes the rear side  123  of the panel  120 .  
         [0028]    In the depicted embodiment, the top and bottom sides of the housing are shown having identical configurations. However, in other embodiments, different snap-fit configurations can be provided on the top and bottom sides of the connector. Further, in some embodiments, only one snap-fit structure may be provided. It will be appreciated that the snap-fit structure could be provided on the top, the bottom or either side of the housing  320 . Moreover, while the tabs  362 ,  364  are depicted on the same cantilever arms, the tabs could also be provided on separate cantilever arms. Further, other snap fit structures (e.g., bumps, shoulders, projections, etc.) separated by a gap could also be used.  
         [0029]    It will be appreciated that a cable (e.g., a coaxial cable) is preferably terminated to the connector  150 . To terminate a cable  342  (shown in FIG. 1) within the connector  150 , the cable  342  is preferably stripped. In the stripped configuration, the cable  342  includes an exposed central wire and an exposed reinforcing braid  348 . The exposed wire is preferably crimped within the center conductor  316 . The center conductor  316  is positioned within the bulkhead  300  of the connector  150  as shown in FIG. 3. To mechanically secure the cable  342  to the connector  150 , the braided portion  348  is inserted over the crimp-supporting sleeve  304  of the bulkhead  300  as shown in FIG. 1. A ferrule  350  is then crimped over the braid  348  to affix the braided portion  348  to the sleeve  304 .  
         [0030]    A connector having a similar bulkhead as the one shown herein is disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. (not yet assigned) entitled Telecommunications Connector, which has attorney docket No. 2316.1365US01 and was filed on a date concurrent herewith, and which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative connector  550  having features that are examples of a variety of different inventive concepts. The connector  550  includes a connector body  552  that mounts within a housing  554 . The connector body  552  is adapted to be coupled with a connector such as a miniature DSX style 75 ohm coaxial connector. Of course, other connector styles could also be used.  
         [0032]    Referring to FIGS.  6 - 8 , the housing  554  is depicted as a unitary structure that is preferably molded as a single piece unit. In one embodiment, the housing is molded from a plastic material such as polycarbonate. The housing  554  includes a front end  570  positioned opposite from a rear end  572 . The front end  570  includes a front wall  575 , and retaining members  576  that project forwardly from the front wall. The front face of the front wall  570  and the retaining members  576  cooperate to define a pocket  578  located at the front end  570  of the housing  554 .  
         [0033]    Referring still to FIGS.  6 - 8 , the housing  554  includes integral snap-fit latches  580  located on opposite sides of the housing  554 . Each latch  580  includes a base end  582  that is integral within the housing  554 , and a free end  584  positioned adjacent the front end  570  of the housing  554 . The latches  580  each include sets of front and rear retaining tabs  586  and  588  separated by a gap  590 . The tabs  586 ,  588  include retaining walls  595 ,  597  (labeled on FIG. 7) that face in opposite directions. The walls  595 ,  597  extend transversely outwardly from the housing  554  and cooperate to define front and rear walls of the gaps  590 . The front retaining tabs  586  include ramp surfaces  592 , and the rear retaining tabs  588  include ramp surfaces  594 . The ramp surfaces  592 ,  594  angle outwardly from the housing  554  as the surfaces  592  extend toward the gap  590 . Similar to the previous embodiment, the latches  580  allow the housing  554  to be bi-directionally snap fit within an opening defined by a piece of telecommunications equipment.  
         [0034]    Referring to FIG. 9, the connector body  552  includes a front piece  556  and a rear piece  558 . The front piece  556  includes a front flange  560  located at a front end of the front piece  556 , and an externally threaded portion  562  located at a rear end of the front piece  556 . The rear piece  558  includes an internally threaded portion  563  at a front end of the rear piece  558 , and wrench flats  565  at a rear end of the rear piece  558 .  
         [0035]    To mount the connecter body  552  within the housing  554 , the front piece  556  is inserted through the front end  570  of the housing  554  such that the front flange  560  fits within the front pocket  578  of the housing  554 . The rear piece  558  is then inserted through the rear end  572  of the housing  554  and the internally threaded portion  563  is threaded over the externally threaded portion  562 . The wrench flats  565  allow the threaded connection to be securely tightened, and the retaining members  576  of the housing  554  engage the flange  560  to prevent rotation of the front piece  556 . The flange  560  abuts against the front face of the front wall  575  and the rear piece abuts against the rear face of the front wall  575  to limit or prevent axial movement of the connector body  552  relative to the housing  554 .  
         [0036]    The connectors disclosed herein is adapted for use in a coaxial system. However, it will be appreciated that the various inventive aspects are applicable to other types of connectors as well. It will be appreciated that many embodiments of the inventions can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventions.