Abstract:
A looping plug for use with coaxial telecommunications jacks to loop the signal between a pair of adjacently mounted jacks. The loop plug includes a molded non-conductive housing which fits about a pair of identical die cast, conductive, inner housing halves. A pair of outer conductive barrels are mounted to and extend from the inner housing. The barrels are spaced apart to accommodate the spacing of the jack pair to be engaged. A continuous center conductor extends between and within the two conductor barrels and is electrically isolated from the barrels. The barrels and the center conductor may be of either gender as required to engage the jack pair.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 60/648,379, filed Jan. 27, 2005, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. 

   BACKGROUND 
   In broadcast communications environments, coaxial communications circuits are often associated with each other to form pairs of circuits, such as a pairing of send and receive circuits. These pairs of circuits may be used to connect signal generating devices, such as cameras, microphones, or other equipment, with signal processing devices, such as mixers, amplifiers, or other equipment. In some installations, a plurality of signal generating devices and a plurality of signal processing devices may be present and a pair of circuits may be extended to each one of these devices. The pairs of circuits from the devices may be directed to a panel or other connection interface, permitting any of the generating devices to be connected to any of the processing devices, as desired or required for a particular operation. At the panel or interface device, these circuits may end in a connector, such as a jack or a plug. 
   In such installations, at times the circuit pairs of some devices may not be connected to any other devices. In such a case, it may be desirable for the unconnected device to have any signals generated by the device and transmitted over the send circuit looped back through and transmitted back to the device through the receive circuit. Such looping may be accomplished by a cable with a mating plug or jack which is connected to each of the circuits at the panel or interface device. Alternatively, if the pairs of circuits are located directly adjacent to each other at a known spacing and size, a loop plug may be used to connect the circuits, with the loop plug having an appropriate plug or jack to interface with the jack or plug of the circuit. 
   Improvements to such loop plugs are desirable. 
   SUMMARY 
   A loop plug in accordance with the present invention includes a conductive housing including first and second halves which together form a loop back passage through the housing extending between first and second openings on a front face of the housing. A center conductor having a U-shape is positioned in the loop back passage and includes first and second ends extending from the first and second openings, respectively. An insulator extends around at least a portion of the center conductor. First and second conductive barrels are mounted to the housing in conductive contact with the housing. Each of the first and second conductive barrels is mounted around one of the first and second ends of the center conductor, respectively. Each of the first and second conductive barrels extends parallel to each other from the first and second openings of the housing. The insulator separates the center conductor from contact with the first and second conductive barrels. A non-conductive handle is mounted to the housing. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the description, illustrate several aspects of the invention and together with the detailed description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. A brief description of the drawings is as follows: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a prior art coaxial cable connection panel with a plurality of jack pairs accessible through a front face of the panel. 
       FIG. 2  is a first perspective view of a loop plug for connecting pairs of jacks such as mounted to the connection panel of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a second perspective view of the loop plug of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the loop plug of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 5  is an end view of the loop plug of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 6  is a side cross-sectional view of the loop plug of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of the loop plug of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 8  is a first perspective view of a second embodiment of a loop plug for connecting pairs of jacks such as mounted to the connection panel of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 9  is a second perspective view of the loop plug of  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 10  is a side view of the loop plug of  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 11  is an end view of the loop plug of  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 12  is a side cross-sectional view of the loop plug of  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 13  is an exploded perspective view of the loop plug of  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 14  is a first perspective view of a third embodiment of a loop plug for connecting pairs of jacks such as mounted to the connection panel of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 15  is a second perspective view of the loop plug of  FIG. 14 . 
       FIG. 16  is a side view of the loop plug of  FIG. 14 . 
       FIG. 17  is an end view of the loop plug of  FIG. 14 . 
       FIG. 18  is a side cross-sectional view of the loop plug of  FIG. 14 . 
       FIG. 19  is an exploded perspective view of the loop plug of  FIG. 14 . 
       FIG. 20  is a first perspective view of an outer shell for use with any of the embodiments of loop plugs shown in  FIGS. 2 to 19 . 
       FIG. 21  is a second perspective view of the outer shell of  FIG. 20 . 
       FIG. 22  is a first end view of the outer shell of  FIG. 20 . 
       FIG. 23  is a second end view of the outer shell of  FIG. 20 . 
       FIG. 24  is a side cross-sectional view of the outer shell of  FIG. 20 . 
       FIG. 25  is a top view of the outer shell of  FIG. 20 . 
       FIG. 26  is a side view of the outer shell of  FIG. 20 . 
       FIG. 27  is a top cross-sectional view of the outer shell of  FIG. 20 . 
       FIG. 28  is a first perspective view of a body half for use with any of the embodiments of loop plugs shown in  FIGS. 2 to 7 . 
       FIG. 29  is a second perspective view of the body half of  FIG. 28 . 
       FIG. 30  is a first side view of the body half of  FIG. 28 . 
       FIG. 31  is a second side view of the body half of  FIG. 28 . 
       FIG. 32  is a first end view of the body half of  FIG. 28 . 
       FIG. 33  is a second end view of the body half of  FIG. 28 . 
       FIG. 34  is a top view of the body half of  FIG. 28 . 
       FIG. 35  is a closer view of a portion of the body half of  FIG. 31 , indicated by the oval labeled  35 . 
       FIG. 36  is a closer view of a portion of the body half of  FIG. 34 , indicated by the oval labeled  36 . 
       FIG. 37  is a view like  FIG. 7  showing a fastening system for holding the body halves together. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary aspects of the present invention which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
   In  FIG. 1 , a panel assembly  10  includes a plurality of jacks  12  arranged in pairs  14 . Each jack  12  includes a front end  16  and a rear end  22  for connecting to a extending to or from a device which either generates or processes electrical signals. Front ends  16  are accessible through one of a plurality of openings  20  in a front face  18  mounted within or formed integrally with a panel frame  24 . 
     FIGS. 2 to 19  illustrate three embodiments of a loop plug which may be used to connect the front ends  16  of both jacks  12  of a pair  14 . Loop plug  100 , shown in  FIGS. 2 to 7 , includes a pair of conductive barrels  102  within each of which is mounted a center electrical conductor  104 . Barrels  102  are spaced apart far enough to mate with front ends  16  through openings  20  and are held at this spacing by mounting within a die cast inner housing  106 . Inner housing  106  is made up of a pair of identical pieces or halves  116 , which are shown in further detail in the FIGS., below. Inner housing  106  is mounted within an outer housing  108  which also includes a grip portion  110  shaped to provide a secure finger grip for a user. Outer housing  108  includes a opening  112  on each side. Opening  112  receives a tab portion  118  extending from each of the inner halves  116 . Included in grip portion  110  is an indicia  114  mounted to be visible to a user standing in front of panel assembly  10 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 6 , center electrical conductors  104  within each of the barrels  102  are opposite ends of a continuous loop conductor  120  extending within an opening  126  defined by the inner housing halves  116 . Opening  126  has a U-shape and defines a loop back passage. A pair of insulators  122  position loop conductor  120  within barrels  102  and electrically isolate the barrels from the center conductors. Inner housing  106  is positioned within an opening or pocket  124  defined by outer housing  108 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , barrels  102  each include a mating end  130  which is engaged by opening  126 . Opening  126  is defined by recess  132  on an inner face of each inner housing halves  116 . Insulators  122  may be formed from two identical pieces or halves  128 . 
     FIGS. 8 to 13  illustrate a second embodiment  200  of loop plug. Loop plug  200  is generally configured the same as loop plug  100 , with the exception of barrels  202 , which are configured to mate with a different type, shape or format of front ends  16  of jacks  12 . There are a variety of common standard sizes and formats for front ends  16 , including standard jacks, mini jacks, mid-size jacks, or MUSA jacks. The different loop plugs illustrated herein are configured to mate with different format and size front ends  16 . While referred to as loop plugs, it is understood that some embodiments may not conform to consistent gender definitions but are configured to mate with the outer barrel and center conductor of whatever front end is presented through openings  20  in front face  18 . 
   Loop plug  200  also includes a second embodiment of inner housing  206  and housing halves  216 . Housing  206  is sized to receive barrels  202 , which may have mating ends  230  which are sized different from mating ends  130  of barrels  102 . Further, barrels  202  may be spaced differently to mate with a different size, or format jack pair. A continuous loop conductor  220  includes two opposite ends  204  extending within barrels  202  and positioned and electrically isolated by insulators  122 . Inner housing  206  defines an inner opening  226  for receiving loop conductor  220 . Inner housing  206  is received within opening  124  of outer housing  108  and inner housing  206  includes opposing tab portions  118  which are received within openings  112 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 14 to 19 , a third embodiment  300  of a loop plug is illustrated. Loop plug  300  includes a pair of barrels  302  and center conductors  304  within barrels  302  for engaging and mating with front ends  16  of jack pairs  14 . As discussed above, barrels  302  are sized and spaced apart for mating with different size, style or format front ends  16 . An inner housing  306  including a pair of halves  316  hold barrels  302 . A continuous loop conductor  320  with opposite ends  304  is mounted within an opening  326  of inner housing  306  and inner housing  306  is mounted within opening  124  of outer housing  108 . Halves  316  includes recesses  332  which cooperate to define opening  326  which also receives a mating end  330  of each barrel  302 . 
     FIGS. 20 to 27  illustrate outer housing  108 , which is preferably molded or otherwise formed of a softer insulative material, such as plastic. Grip portion  110  includes a recess  136  for receiving indicia  114 . See  FIGS. 3 ,  6  and  7 , for example. Indicia  114  can be a color coded plastic plate which snaps into place. A channel  138  is formed along the top and bottom of opening  124 . 
     FIGS. 28 to 36  illustrate inner housing halve  116 . Recess  132  includes a mating end  140  defining an opening  143  sized to receive and engage mating end  130  of barrel  102 . An opening  142  is positioned centrally between a curve of recess  132 . While opening  142  may be used to insert a fastener to hold inner housing  106  together, outer housing  108  is sized to negate the need for any fasteners for inner housing  106 .  FIG. 37  shows a fastener system for holding housing valves  116  together including a screw  402  and a nut  404 . 
   Housing halves  116  are preferably die cast of a conductive metallic material which will electrically connect barrels  102 . By positioning opening  142  centrally within housing halve  116 , the uniformity of wall thickness created by the casting process can be improved. Each housing halve  116  includes tab portion  118 . A rib  146  extends from a each of a top and a bottom edge of housing halve  116  and is received within channel  138  of opening  124  of outer housing  108 . A plurality of ramped ridges  144  may be positioned atop each of the ribs  146  to aid tab portion  118  in engaging outer housing  108  and holding inner housing  106  within opening  124 . 
   Each housing halve  116  includes an inner face  148  which engages the inner face  148  of another housing halve  116  to form inner housing  106 . An outer face  150  opposite inner face  148  includes tab portion  118 . On inner face  148  of housing halve  116  adjacent an outer edge of recess  132  are a mating outer groove  150  and ridge  152  which mate which each other when two halves  116  are positioned to form inner housing  116 . Similarly, an inner groove  154  and ridge  156  are positioned adjacent an inner edge of recess  132 . These grooves and ridges cooperate to form interface features about opening  126  of inner housing  116 . Rear face  147  is generally rounded and follows the shape of recess  132 . 
   Housing halves  116  and barrels  102  include a mating interface which keeps barrels  102  secured to housing halves  116 . Housing halves  116  include flats  135  which mate with corresponding flats  137  on mating ends  130  of barrels  102 . The mating interface prevents rotation of barrels  102 . Shoulders  141  on housing halves keep barrels  102  from moving axially. Once mated, barrels  102  project outward from openings  143  in front face  145 . 
   The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.