ANTI-REMOVAL DEVICE FOR A SINGLE PAIR ETHERNET CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY

The present disclosure relates to an anti-removal device for a single pair Ethernet connector assembly, including a protective cover, the protective cover having a hollow box shape and having a through-hole, the protective cover being constructed to be fixated on the top surface of the male connector, the protective cover and the female connector or the coupler jointly enclosing the elastic locking piece and the elastic unlocking piece when the male connector and the female connector or the coupler are connected with each other; a unlocking rod, the unlocking rod having an elongated shape and being able to pass through the through-hole of the protective cover to approach the elastic unlocking piece to unlock the male connector from the female connector or the coupler.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application Serial Number 202220881293.9 filed on Apr. 15, 2022, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to the field of single pair Ethernet connectors. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to an anti-removal device for a single pair Ethernet connector assembly.

BACKGROUND

With the rapid development of industrial Internet of Things, single pair Ethernet is attracting more and more attention. Single pair Ethernet is an advanced and simple form of Ethernet connection, which can transmit data and power using only a pair of copper wires and provide reliable and efficient communication. Therefore, single pair Ethernet has such merit as simple wiring, low cost, light weight, reliability, high efficiency and ease of installation.

In some cases, it is necessary to use a single pair Ethernet connector assembly to connect single pair Ethernet cables to transmit data and power, or to extend the length of single pair Ethernet cables. A single pair Ethernet connector assembly includes a male connector and a female connector or a coupler connected to each other. A male connector can be inserted and locked in a female connector or a coupler, and can be unlocked from a female connector or a coupler by pressing an unlocking piece. However, an exposed unlocking piece may be accidentally pressed or intentionally pressed by an unauthorized user, and as a result, a male connector is unexpected unlocked and removed from a female connector or a coupler.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides an anti-removal device for a single pair Ethernet connector that can overcome at least one of the aforementioned defects of products of the state of the art.

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to an anti-removal device of a single pair Ethernet connector assembly, wherein the single pair Ethernet connector assembly includes a male connector and a female connector or a couple connecting to each other; the male connector includes an elastic locking piece constructed to removably lock the male connector in the female connector or the coupler and an elastic unlocking piece constructed to unlock the male connector from the female connector or the coupler; the elastic locking piece extends backward in an angle from the top surface of the male connector; the elastic unlocking piece extends forward in an angle from the top surface of the male connector, and its free end is located right above a free end of the elastic locking piece;the anti-removal device is constructed to prevent accidental or unauthorized removal of the male connector from the female connector or the coupler, and it includes:a protective cover, the protective cover having a hollow box shape and having a through-hole, the protective cover being constructed to be fixated on the top surface of the male connector, the protective cover and the female connector or the coupler jointly enclosing the elastic locking piece and the elastic unlocking piece when the male connector and the female connector or the coupler are connected with each other;a unlocking rod, the unlocking rod having an elongated shape and being able to pass through the through-hole of the protective cover to approach the elastic unlocking piece to unlock the male connector from the female connector or the coupler;wherein the protective cover has an opening in the front end and includes a top wall, a bottom wall, and two side walls and a back wall connecting the top wall and the bottom wall, andwherein an opening groove opened toward the front opening and a pair of hooks located at the entrance of the opening groove are set on the bottom wall of the protective cover; the pair of hooks extend inward from the side walls of the opening groove.

In some embodiments, an elastic unlocking piece includes a leg fixated on the top surface of the male connector, a substrate connected to the leg, and an elastic piece extending forward in an angle from the substrate; the opening groove is constructed to receive the leg of the elastic unlocking piece, and the pair of hooks are constructed to prevent the leg of the elastic unlocking piece from being detached from the opening groove.

In some embodiments, the horizontal cross section of the leg is configured to be smaller than the horizontal cross section of the substrate.

In some embodiments, the dimensions and shape of the opening groove are configured to match the dimensions and shape of the horizontal cross section of the leg.

In some embodiments, a tilted front surface, which is gradually reducing outward, is set at each of the pair of hooks, and the tilted front surface is constructed to guide the leg of the elastic unlocking piece into the opening groove.

In some embodiments, the top wall and side walls of the protective cover are constructed to be abutted against the top wall and side walls of the female connector or the coupler when the male connector and the female connector or the coupler are connected to each other.

In some embodiments, the outer contour of the top wall of the protective cover is configured to match the outer contour of the top wall of the female connector or the coupler, and the outer contours of the side walls of the protective cover are configured to match the outer contours of the side walls of the female connector or the coupler; thus, the protective cover and the female connector or the coupler jointly form an enclosed space to house the elastic locking piece and the elastic unlocking piece.

In some embodiments, the height of the side walls and the back wall of the protective cover is configured to be approximately the same as or greater than the height of the elastic unlocking piece.

In some embodiments, the through-hole is configured on the back wall of the protective cover, and once the protective cover is installed on the male connector, the height of the through-hole is configured to be slightly greater than the height of the connection between the substrate of the elastic unlocking piece and the elastic piece.

In some embodiments, the unlocking rod includes a handle and a rod extending forward from the handle, and the width of the handle is configured to be greater than the width of the rod.

In some embodiments, the handle has rough texture, and the rough texture is constructed to make it easy for a user to hold it without slipping.

In some embodiments, the handle has an annular shape, a circular shape, or a polygonal shape.

In some embodiments, the rod has an elongated shape and is constructed to be inserted into the through-hole of the protective cover to approach and press the free end of the elastic unlocking piece.

In some embodiments, along the longitudinal direction, the rod includes an insertable section, which can be inserted into a protective cover, and an exposed section, which cannot be inserted into the protective cover; the outer contour dimensions of the insertable section are configured to be smaller than the dimensions of the through-hole, while the outer contour dimensions of the exposed section are configured to be greater than the dimensions of the through-hole.

In some embodiments, the longitudinal length of the insertable section is configured to be smaller than the longitudinal length of the protective cover.

In some embodiments, a stopper is set on the rod between the insertable section and the exposed section, and the stopper is constructed to prevent the rod from being excessively inserted into the protective cover.

In some embodiments, the shape and dimensions of the vertical cross section of the insertable section are configured to match the shape and dimensions of the through-hole.

In some embodiments, the through-hole is designed to have a rough T shape, a rough L shape, and a rough rectangular shape.

In some embodiments, the insertable section includes a guide section, which protrudes from the center, the left section, or the right section of the body; the guide section is constructed to guide the rod through the through-hole of a rough T shape or a rough L shape to enter into the interior of a protective cover.

In some embodiments, the guide section extends longitudinally through the entire rod.

A connector assembly can include a single pair Ethernet connector including: a pair of electrical contacts; an elastic locking piece configured to engage with a surface of a second connector; and an elastic unlocking piece configured to engage with the elastic locking piece. The connector assembly can further include a protective cover having a hollow box shape and having a through-hole, the protective covering the elastic unlocking piece; and a unlocking rod having an elongated shape and being able to pass through the through-hole of the protective cover to deflect the elastic unlocking piece to unlock the elastic locking piece from the surface of the second connector. In some examples, the single pair Ethernet connector is a simplex LC connector compliant with IEC Standard IEC 61754-20.

Other features and advantages of the subject technology of the present disclosure will be explained in the description below, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the subject technology of the present disclosure. The advantages of the subject technology of the present disclosure will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written Specification and Claims hereof as well as the attached drawings.

It should be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the subject technology of the present disclosure as claimed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure will be described below with reference to the attached drawings, wherein the attached drawings illustrate certain embodiments of the present disclosure. However, it should be understood that the present disclosure may be presented in many different ways and is not limited to the embodiments described below; in fact, the embodiments described below are intended to make the disclosure of the present disclosure more complete and to fully explain the protection scope of the present disclosure to those of ordinary skill in the art. It should also be understood that the embodiments disclosed in the present disclosure may be combined in various ways so as to provide more additional embodiments.

It should be understood that in all the attached drawings, the same symbols denote the same elements. In the attached drawings, the dimensions of certain features can be changed for clarity.

It should be understood that the words in the Specification are only used to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical terms and scientific terms) used in the Specification have the meanings commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. For brevity and/or clarity, well-known functions or structures may not be further described in detail.

The singular forms “a”, “an”, “the” and “this” used in the Specification all include plural forms unless clearly indicated. The words “comprise”, “contain” and “have” used in the Specification indicate the presence of the claimed features, but do not exclude the presence of one or more other features. The word “and/or” used in the Specification includes any or all combinations of one or a plurality of the related listed items. The words “between X and Y” and “between approximate X and Y” used in the Specification shall be interpreted as including X and Y. As used herein, the wording “between approximate X and Y” means “between approximate X and approximate Y”, and as used herein, the wording “from approximate X to Y” means “from approximate X to approximate Y”.

In the Specification, when it is described that an element is “on” another element, “attached” to another element, “connected” to another element, “coupled” to another element, or “in contact with” another element, etc., the element may be directly on another element, attached to another element, connected to another element, coupled to another element, or in contact with another element, or an intermediate element may be present. In contrast, if an element is described “directly” “on” another element, “directly attached” to another element, “directly connected” to another element, “directly coupled” to another element or “directly in contact with” another element, there will be no intermediate elements. In the specification, a feature that is arranged “adjacent” to another feature, may denote that a feature has a part that overlaps an adjacent feature or a part located above or below the adjacent feature.

In the Specification, words expressing spatial relations such as “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “right”, “front”, “rear”, “top”, and “bottom” may describe the relation between one feature and another feature in the attached drawings. It should be understood that, in addition to the locations shown in the attached drawings, the words expressing spatial relations further include different locations of a device in use or operation. For example, when a device in the attached drawings rotates reversely, the features originally described as being “below” other features now can be described as being “above” the other features. The device may also be oriented by other means (rotated by 90 degrees or at other locations), and at this time, a relative spatial relation will be explained accordingly.

FIG.1AandFIG.1Bseparately show three-dimensional views of a single pair Ethernet connector assembly in a separated state and a combined state respectively. As shown in the figures, the connector assembly includes a female connector1and a male connector2, each having a pair of electrical contacts, connected together, wherein the male connector2is removably inserted into the female connector1for connection and locking. A single pair Ethernet connector assembly can be used together with various active devices or passive devices, including but not limited to patch panels, wall sockets, Ethernet switches, routers, servers, and Ethernet power supply equipment, etc. A female connector1may be located on a cabinet, a rack, or other infrastructure, and a male connector2is connected to a single pair Ethernet cable. An example connector having features usable with the anti-removal features of this disclosure is shown and described in U.S. Pat, 11,362,463, entitled “Connectors and contacts for a single twisted pair of conductors”, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. In some examples the connector can be a simplex LC connector and can be compliant with the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) standard for an LC connector, identified as IEC 61754-20, the noted IEC standard is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIGS.2A and2Bshow a three-dimensional view and an exploded cross-sectional view of a female connector1. As shown in the figures, a female connector1includes a housing11and a shield cover12. A housing11has a generally hollow rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the front and rear ends are open. A terminal carrier113is set at the interior rear section of a housing11to support a terminal114of a female connector1and to keep the terminal114in place. Guide bars111are set on the front section of the interior surfaces of two opposite side walls of a housing11. Guide bars111protrude inward toward the interior surfaces of side walls and extend longitudinally to guide a male connector2to be inserted into a female connector1. A locking protrusion112is set on the front section of the interior surface of a top wall of a housing11. A locking protrusion112protrudes downward from the interior surface of a top wall and extends horizontally. A locking protrusion112is fitted with an elastic locking piece211of a male connector1(to be described in detail below) so that a male connector2can be removably locked in a female connector1.

A shield cover12encloses a housing11. A shield cover12is made of metal to reduce the interference of external crosstalk from adjacent connectors. A shield cover12has a generally hollow rectangular cuboid shape; the front end is open, and the rear end is closed. Flat buckles122are set at the front sections of the interior surfaces of two opposite side walls of a shield cover12. Buckles122may be elastically pressed against two opposite side walls of a housing11below guide bars111to fixate the housing11in place.

FIG.3shows a three-dimensional view of a male connector2. As shown in the figures, a male connector2includes a terminal carrier (not shown) inside, and a housing21and a shield cover22outside. A terminal carrier is used to support a terminal of a male connector2(not shown) and to hold the terminal in place. A terminal carrier is further used to receive an end of a single pair Ethernet cable so as to electrically connect a conductor of the single pair Ethernet cable to a terminal of a male connector2.

A housing21may be fixated to a terminal carrier of a male connector2in various ways. For example, a housing21may be entirely located in front of a terminal carrier with its rear end connected to the terminal carrier, or a rear section of a housing21may enclose the terminal carrier. An elastic locking piece211is set on a top surface of a housing21to removably lock a male connector2to a female connector2. An elastic locking piece211is connected to a top surface of a housing21via a flexible hinge, and includes a base212and an elastic piece213. A base212is fixated at a front section of a top surface of a housing21, and an elastic piece213extends from a base212backward in an angle. A locking protrusion214is set at the connection between a free end of an elastic piece213and a base212. A locking protrusion214protrudes upward from a top surface of an elastic piece213and extends horizontally. When a male connector2is inserted into a female connector1, an elastic piece213is pressed by a housing11of a female connector1and is deformed downward; moreover, it proceeds inside the housing11of the female connector1until the locking protrusion214of the elastic piece213passes over a locking protrusion112of the housing11. The locking protrusion214of the elastic locking piece213is abutted against the locking protrusion112of the housing11so that the male connector2and the female connector1are locked in place. Once a free end of the elastic piece213is pressed downward, the locking protrusion214of the elastic piece213can be detached from the locking protrusion112of the housing11, and thus the male connector2is unlocked from the female connector1.

A shield cover22encloses the entire terminal carrier and a rear section of a housing21. A shield cover22is made of metal to reduce the interference of external crosstalk from adjacent connectors. An elastic unlocking piece221is set on a top surface of a shield cover22to be pressed against a free end of an elastic locking piece211to remove the lock between a male connector2and a female connector1by the elastic locking piece211so that the male connector2is removed from the female connector1. An elastic unlocking piece221is connected to a top surface of a shield cover22via a flexible hinge, and includes a base222and an elastic piece223. The base222includes a substrate224and a leg225below the substrate224, and the horizontal cross section of the leg225is smaller than the horizontal cross section of the substrate224. The leg225is used to fixate the substrate224at the front section of the top surface of the shield cover22. The elastic piece223extends forward in an angle from a base212, and its free end is located right above the free end of the elastic price213; thus, pressing the free end of the elastic piece223downward may press the free end of the elastic piece213downward, which unlocks the male connector2from the female connector1.

As shown inFIG.4, when a male connector2and a female connector1are connected, a large section of an elastic locking piece211of the male connector2is received in a housing11and a shield cover12of the female connector1, and thus its free end is exposed outside the housing11and the shield cover12of the female connector1. An elastic unlocking piece221of the male connector2is completely exposed outside the housing11and the shield cover12of the female connector1, and its free end is located right above the free end of the elastic locking piece211.

FIGS.5A-5Bshow an anti-removal device3for a single pair Ethernet connector assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. An anti-removal device3is used to prevent accidental or unauthorized removal of a male connector2from a female connector1, and it includes a protective cover31and an unlocking rod32. A protective cover31is used to cover the exposed free end of an elastic locking piece211of a male connector2and the entire elastic unlocking piece221to prevent external access to them. An unlocking rod32is used to press an elastic unlocking piece221as needed, which allows the male connector2to be unlocked and removed from the female connector1.

As shown inFIGS.6A-6D, a protective cover31may have a hollow box shape (for example, a hollow hexahedron), and its front end is open. A protective cover31may include a top wall311, a bottom wall312, and two side walls313and a back wall314, which connect the top wall311and the bottom wall312.

An opening groove315opened forward and a pair of opposite hooks316located at the entrance of the opening groove315are set on the bottom wall312of a protective cover31. The opening groove315is used to receive a leg225of an elastic unlocking piece221of a male connector2. The dimensions and the shape of the horizontal cross section of the opening groove315match those of the leg225, and it may have a rough rectangular shape as an example. The pair of hooks316extend inward from two side walls of the opening groove315and are used to prevent the leg225from being detached from the opening groove315. In some embodiments, a tilted front surface, which is gradually reducing outward, is set at each of the pair of hooks316, making it convenient for the leg225of the elastic unlocking piece221to be guided into the opening groove315.

A top wall311and side walls313of a protective cover31are abutted against a top wall and side walls of a housing11and/or a shield cover12of a female connector1respectively. The outer contour of the top wall311of the protective cover31matches the outer contour of the top wall of the housing11and/or the shield cover12, and the outer contour of the side walls313of the protective cover31match the outer contour of the side walls of the housing11and/or the shield cover12. Once the protective cover31is installed on the male connector2, the height of the side walls313and the back wall314of the protective cover31is approximately the same as or greater than the height of the elastic unlocking piece221. Thus, the protective cover31and the housing11and/or the shield cover12jointly form an enclosed space to house an elastic locking piece211and an elastic unlocking piece221to prevent external access to the elastic unlocking piece221, which causes accidental removal or unauthorized removal of the male connector2from the female connector1.

A through-hole317is set on the back wall314of a protective cover31to allow an unlocking rod32to be inserted to the interior of a protective cover31to approach and press the free end of an elastic unlocking piece221and thus to unlock and remove a male connector2from a female connector1as needed. Once the protective cover31is installed on the male connector2, the height of the through-hole317of the protective cover31is slightly greater than the height of the connection between a base222of an elastic unlocking piece221and an elastic piece223so that an unlocking rod32proceeds from the rear to above an elastic unlocking piece221and presses the elastic unlocking piece221.

As shown inFIG.7AandFIG.7B, an unlocking rod32has a roughly elongated shape and includes a handle321and a rod322extending forward from the handle321. The width of the handle321is far greater than that of the ord322, making it convenient for a user to hold it and complete the inserting and pulling operations. In some embodiments, a handle321may have an annular shape, a circular shape, a polygonal shape, or any other shape that is easy to hold. In some embodiments, a handle321has rough texture, making it convenient for a user to firmly hold it without slipping.

A rod322has an elongated shape and is used to be inserted into a through-hole317of a protective cover31to approach and press a free end of an elastic unlocking piece221. Along the longitudinal direction, the rod322includes an insertable section323, which can be inserted into a protective cover31, and an exposed section324, which cannot be inserted into the protective cover31. The outer contour dimensions of the insertable section323are smaller than the dimensions of a through-hole317, while the outer contour dimensions of the exposed section324are greater than the dimensions of the through-hole317. The longitudinal length of the insertable section323is smaller than the longitudinal length of the protective cover31. A stopper325is set on the rod322between the insertable section323and the exposed section324. The stopper325is used to prevent the rod322from being excessively inserted into the protective cover31, which thus causes damage to a female connector1, a male connector2, and/or the protective cover31.

In some embodiments, the shape and dimensions of the vertical cross section of an insertable section323match those of a through-hole317. The through-hole317may be set in a rough T shape (as shown inFIG.6C), a rough L shape (as shown inFIG.6EandFIG.6F), or a rough rectangle (as shown inFIG.6G). In some embodiments, the insertable section323includes a guide section326, and the guide section326may protrude from the center, the left section, or the right section of the body of the insertable section323. The guide section326is used to guide a rod322through the through-hole317of a rough T shape or a rough L shape to enter into the interior of a protective cover31. In some embodiments, the guide section326extends longitudinally through the entire rod322.

A method of using an anti-removal device3according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is described by referencingFIGS.8-13. First, as shown inFIG.8, a male connector2is inserted into a female connector1; an elastic locking piece211of the male connector2is pressed by a housing11of a female connector1and is deformed downward, and it proceeds toward the interior of the housing11of the female connector1until a locking protrusion214of the elastic locking piece211passes over a locking protrusion112of the housing11. The locking protrusion214of the elastic locking piece211is abutted against the locking protrusion112of the housing11so that the male connector2and the female connector1are locked. At this point, a large section of the elastic locking piece211of the male connector2is received in the housing11and a shield cover12of the female connector1, and thus its free end is exposed outside the housing11and the shield cover12of the female connector1. An elastic unlocking piece221of the male connector2is completely exposed outside the housing11and the shield cover12of the female connector1, and its free end is located right above the free end of the elastic locking piece211.

As shown inFIG.9AandFIG.9B, a protective cover31is placed on the top surface of a male connector2, located at the rear of an elastic unlocking piece221. The protective cover31is pushed forward so that the hooks316of its bottom wall312are slightly expanded, pass over a leg225of an elastic unlocking piece221of the male connector2, and then are restored to the original shape so that the leg225is received and fixated in an opening groove315of the bottom wall312. A top wall311and side walls313of a protective cover31are abutted against a top wall and side walls of a housing11and/or a shield cover12of a female connector1respectively. At this point, the elastic unlocking piece221of the male connector2is enclosed in the protective cover31to prevent external access. The protective cover31can be mounted in position on male connector2before the male connector2is inserted and latched into the female connector1, or the protective cover31can be added after insertion and latching.

As shown inFIG.10AandFIG.10B, when a male connector2has to be removed from a female connector1, a handle321of an unlocking rod32is held, and a rod322of the unlocking rod32is inserted into a through-hole317of a protective cover31. The unlocking rod32is pushed forward; an insertable section323of the rod322gradually presses down an elastic unlocking piece221of the male connector2and then continues to press down an elastic locking piece211of the male connector2. The unlocking rod32is pushed until its stopper325is abutted against a back wall314of the protective cover31; at this point, a locking protrusion214of an elastic locking piece211already moves downward until it is free of contact with a locking protrusion112of the female connector1, and thus the lock between the male connector2and the female connector1is removed, as shown inFIG.11AandFIG.11B.

As shown inFIG.12, a shield cover22of a male connector2is held, and the male connector2is pulled in the direction away from a female connector1so that the male connector2is removed from the female connector1. Finally, as shown inFIG.13, an unlocking rod32is removed from a protective cover31, and thus the operation of removing the male connector2from the female connector1is completed.

An anti-removal device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can be used for a single pair Ethernet connector assembly including a female connector and a male connector and a single pair Ethernet connector assembly including a coupler and male connectors.FIG.14AandFIG.14Bshow a single pair Ethernet connector assembly including a coupler4and male connectors2. There are openings at both ends of the coupler4to receive two male connectors2and to electrically connect two male connectors2. The connection and locking method between each end of the coupler4and a male connector2is similar to those of a female connector, and thus it is not repeated.

An anti-removal device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can be easily installed to a single pair Ethernet connector assembly without changes to the original structure of the single pair Ethernet connector assembly.

An anti-removal device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can effectively prevent accidental removal or detachment of a male connector from a female connector or a coupler of a single pair Ethernet connector assembly.

An anti-removal device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has a simple structure and low cost, and can be widely used in various corporate and consumer markets.

Additional Aspects

Aspect 1: An anti-removal device of a single pair Ethernet connector assembly, wherein the single pair Ethernet connector assembly includes a male connector and a female connector or a couple connecting to each other; the male connector includes an elastic locking piece constructed to removably lock the male connector in the female connector or the coupler and an elastic unlocking piece constructed to unlock the male connector from the female connector or the coupler; the elastic locking piece extends backward in an angle from the top surface of the male connector; wherein the elastic unlocking piece extends forward in an angle from the top surface of the male connector, and its free end is located right above a free end of the elastic locking piece; and the anti-removal device is constructed to prevent accidental or unauthorized removal of the male connector from the female connector or the coupler, and it includes: a protective cover, the protective cover having a hollow box shape and having a through-hole, the protective cover being constructed to be fixated on the top surface of the male connector, the protective cover and the female connector or the coupler jointly enclosing the elastic locking piece and the elastic unlocking piece when the male connector and the female connector or the coupler are connected with each other; an unlocking rod, the unlocking rod having an elongated shape and being able to pass through the through-hole of the protective cover to approach the elastic unlocking piece to unlock the male connector from the female connector or the coupler; wherein the protective cover has an opening in the front end and includes a top wall, a bottom wall, and two side walls and a back wall connecting the top wall and the bottom wall, and wherein an opening groove opened toward the front opening and a pair of hooks located at the entrance of the opening groove are set on the bottom wall of the protective cover; the pair of hooks extending inward from the side walls of the opening groove.

Aspect 2: The anti-removal device of Aspect 1, wherein an elastic unlocking piece includes a leg fixated on the top surface of the male connector, a substrate connected to the leg, and an elastic piece extending forward in an angle from the substrate; the opening groove is constructed to receive the leg of the elastic unlocking piece, and the pair of hooks are constructed to prevent the leg of the elastic unlocking piece from being detached from the opening groove.

Aspect 3: The anti-removal device of Aspect 2, wherein a horizontal cross section of the leg is configured to be smaller than a horizontal cross section of the substrate.

Aspect 4: The anti-removal device of Aspect 2, wherein the dimensions and shape of the opening groove are configured to match the dimensions and shape of the horizontal cross section of the leg.

Aspect 5: The anti-removal device of Aspect 2, wherein a tilted front surface, which is gradually reducing outward, is set at each of the pair of hooks, and the tilted front surface is constructed to guide the leg of the elastic unlocking piece into the opening groove.

Aspect 6: The anti-removal device of Aspect 1, wherein the top wall and side walls of the protective cover are constructed to be abutted against the top wall and side walls of the female connector or the coupler when the male connector and the female connector or the coupler are connected to each other.

Aspect 7: The anti-removal device of Aspect 6, wherein the outer contour of the top wall of the protective cover is configured to match the outer contour of the top wall of the female connector or the coupler, and the outer contours of the side walls of the protective cover are configured to match the outer contours of the side walls of the female connector or the coupler; thus, the protective cover and the female connector or the coupler jointly form an enclosed space to house the elastic locking piece and the elastic unlocking piece.

Aspect 8: The anti-removal device of Aspect 1, wherein the height of the side walls and the back wall of the protective cover is configured to be approximately the same as or greater than the height of the elastic unlocking piece.

Aspect 9: The anti-removal device of Aspect 2, wherein the through-hole is configured on the back wall of the protective cover, and once the protective cover is installed on the male connector, the height of the through-hole is configured to be slightly greater than the height of the connection between the substrate of the elastic unlocking piece and the elastic piece.

Aspect 10: The anti-removal device as described in any of Aspects 1-9, wherein the unlocking rod includes a handle and a rod extending forward from the handle, and the width of the handle is configured to be greater than the width of the rod.

Aspect 11: The anti-removal device of Aspect 10, wherein the handle has rough texture, and the rough texture is constructed to make it easy for a user to hold it without slipping.

Aspect 12: The anti-removal device of Aspect 10, wherein the handle has an annular shape, a circular shape, or a polygonal shape.

Aspect 13: The anti-removal device of Aspect 10, wherein the rod has an elongated shape and is constructed to be inserted into the through-hole of the protective cover to approach and press the free end of the elastic unlocking piece.

Aspect 14: The anti-removal device of Aspect 10, wherein along the longitudinal direction, the rod includes an insertable section, which can be inserted into the protective cover, and an exposed section, which cannot be inserted into the protective cover; and the outer contour dimensions of the insertable section are configured to be smaller than the dimensions of the through-hole, while the outer contour dimensions of the exposed section are configured to be greater than the dimensions of the through-hole.

Aspect 15: The anti-removal device of Aspect 14, wherein the longitudinal length of the insertable section is configured to be smaller than the longitudinal length of the protective cover.

Aspect 16: The anti-removal device of Aspect 14, wherein a stopper is set on the rod between the insertable section and the exposed section, and the stopper is constructed to prevent the rod from being excessively inserted into the protective cover.

Aspect 17: The anti-removal device of Aspect 14, wherein the shape and dimensions of the vertical cross section of the insertable section are configured to match the shape and dimensions of the through-hole.

Aspect 18: The anti-removal device of Aspect 17, wherein the through-hole is designed to have a rough T shape, a rough L shape, or a rough rectangular shape.

Aspect 19: The anti-removal device of Aspect 14, wherein the insertable section includes a guide section, which protrudes from the center, the left section, or the right section of a body; the guide section is constructed to guide the rod through the through-hole of a rough T shape or a rough L shape to enter into the interior of a protective cover.

Aspect 20: The anti-removal device of Aspect 19, wherein the guide section extends longitudinally through the entire rod.

Although the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described, it should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that a plurality of variations and changes can be created and made to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure without essentially departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, all variations and changes are included in the protection scope of the present disclosure defined by the claims. The present disclosure is defined by the attached claims, and equivalents of these claims are also included.