A replacement latch for a male RJ45 plug is presented. The replacement latch includes a housing and a latch within the housing, wherein the latch includes: a substantially U-shaped component having a middle section that joins a first arm of the U-shaped component to a second arm of the U-shaped component, wherein the first arm terminates at a first arm end that has a shape that is geometrically similar to a standard RJ45 retention protrusion, and wherein the middle section is rotatable about a pivot point that is inside the housing, and a horizontal activator having a depressor that is in sliding contact with the second arm, wherein a horizontal movement, in a first direction, of the horizontal activator causes the middle section to rotate about the pivot point to cause the first arm end to engage against a retention lip in a female RJ45 receptacle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to the field of computers and hardware used in computer networks. More particularly, the present invention relates to a replacement latch for a male RJ45 connection plug.

While early computers were often stand-alone machines, modern computers are usually connected to some type of network in order to share resources. Examples of such networks include the Internet, Wide Area Networks (WANs) and Local Area Networks (LANs). In order to tap into a network such as a LAN, a client computer must be coupled to the LAN either wirelessly (e.g., via an 802.11x router) or through hard wiring. A popular hard wiring system utilizes connectors known as RJ45 connectors.

Referring toFIG. 1a, a LAN100is depicted. A client computer102has a cable104that terminates at a male RJ45 plug106. The male RJ45 plug106couples with a female RJ45 receptacle108, which is coupled to a LAN110via cabling112. Details of how male RJ45 plug106and female RJ45 receptacle108mate are shown inFIG. 1b. As depicted, male RJ45 plug106includes an RJ45 molded flexible latch114, which has an RJ45 retention protrusion116. This RJ45 retention protrusion116engages against a female RJ45 retention lip118, thus securely pressing pins120in the male RJ45 plug104against corresponding contacts122in the female RJ45 receptacle108. This system works well except when the RJ45 molded flexible latch114breaks, which often happens when the RJ45 molded flexible latch114is accidentally caught against wiring and other fixed objects. To replace the male RJ45 plug106is extremely difficult, due to the very fine gauge of wires leading from cable104to pins120. Due to the difficulty in repairing a cable104with a broken RJ45 molded flexible latch114, the entire cable104is usually thrown away and replaced with a new cable, which is expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To address the above-described problem, the present invention provides a replacement latch for a male RJ45 plug. In one embodiment, the replacement latch comprises a housing; and a latch within the housing, wherein the latch includes: a substantially U-shaped component having a middle section that joins a first arm of the U-shaped component to a second arm of the U-shaped component, wherein the first arm terminates at a first arm end that has a shape that is geometrically similar to a standard RJ45 retention protrusion, and wherein the middle section is rotatable about a pivot point that is inside the housing, and a horizontal activator having a depressor that is in sliding contact with the second arm, wherein a horizontal movement, in a first direction, of the horizontal activator causes the depressor to push against an inclined surface of the second arm, such that the middle section rotates about the pivot point to cause the first arm end to engage against a retention lip in a female RJ45 receptacle. The replacement latch may further include latching grooves on both an actuator channel surface in the housing and an activator surface on the horizontal activator, wherein the latching grooves provide frictional retention against the horizontal activator to keep the first arm end engaged against the retention lip in the female RJ45 receptacle. In one embodiment, the horizontal activator has a handle end that is always outside the housing, and wherein the horizontal activator has a depressor end that is always inside the housing, and wherein a horizontal movement, in a second direction that is opposite the first direction, of the horizontal activator causes the horizontal activator to push against the middle section of the U-shaped component, thus resulting in the first arm end disengaging away from the retention lip of the female RJ45 receptacle.

The replacement latch can be securely clipped to an existing male RJ45 plug, preferably by snapping together a top and bottom component of the housing around the existing male RJ45 plug. The male RJ45 plug is now able, once again, to securely mate with a female RJ45 receptacle.

In one embodiment, the replacement latch is used to repair an RJ45 cable, which is used to connect a computer with a Local Area Network (LAN).

The above, as well as additional purposes, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed written description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now toFIG. 2a, there is depicted a block diagram of a replacement latch200as contemplated for use with a cable having a male RJ45 plug106whose original molded flexible latch114has been broken off. As depicted, replacement latch200is preferably secured to the old male RJ45 plug106by clipping a clip latch208, which is part of the replacement latch200, to an existing cable clamp indentation210in male RJ45 plug106. The clip latch208holds a housing202securely against the old male RJ45 plug106. Movably secured within the housing202is a substantially U-shaped (or “banana shaped”) component204and a horizontal activator206. As described in further detail below, when horizontal activator206is manually pushed to the left (as depicted in exemplaryFIG. 2c), the U-shaped component204rotates in a counter-clockwise motion. When horizontal activator206is manually pushed to the right, then the U-shaped component204rotates in a clockwise motion.

Referring now toFIG. 2b, additional detail for replacement latch200is presented. First, note that housing202is made up of two components: a cover224and a base226, which snap together when cover latches228mate with recesses246. When the cover224and base226are snapped together, they form an activator channel230between a linear actuator top rail244and a linear actuator bottom rail236(which is an interior surface of housing202), thus providing a passageway for the linear movement of horizontal activator206.

Within the completed (cover224is snapped to base226) housing202is a pivot point222, about which the middle section212of the U-shaped component204rotates. Pivot point222rests on a cradle base232, which is fixed to the interior of housing202. U-shaped component204has a first arm214and a second arm216that are connected to middle section212. First arm214has a first arm end218, which has a shape that is geometrically and functionally similar to the broken male RJ45 retention protrusion116shown inFIG. 1b, such that first arm end218is able to mate against a female RJ45 retention lip118in a like manner. In one embodiment, second arm216and a depressor end238(which has a depressor220) of horizontal activator206are always within the completed housing202during operation (sliding operation of horizontal activator206described below) of replacement latch200. An advantage for always having depressor end238(with depressor220) and second arm216inside housing202is that only the horizontal linear movement of horizontal activator206can cause U-shaped component204to rotate, thus ensuring the fixed positioning of first arm end218against female RJ45 retention lip118(as shown inFIG. 2c). This is particularly true since linear latching grooves234on both an actuator surface248and a channel surface236hold a position of the horizontal activator206, which can only overcome the frictional retention of the linear latching grooves234with firm manual pressure applied to a handle242on the handle end240.

Referring now toFIG. 2c, functionality of replacement latch200is presented. By pushing horizontal activator206to the right, U-shaped component204rotates clockwise due to depressor220pressing against an inclined surface246of second arm216. Note that pivot point222and inclined surface246must be adjusted such that pulling the depressor220to the right will cause this clockwise movement of U-shaped component204. By thus rotating the U-shaped component204in a clockwise manner, first arm end218engages against the retention lip118of a female RJ45 receptacle in which a male RJ45 plug (to which the replacement latch200is attached) is inserted. Thus, the male RJ45 plug is securely mated within the female RJ45 receptacle. To remove the male RJ45 plug from the female RJ45 receptacle, the horizontal activator206is pushed to the left, thus causing the depressor end238to push against middle end212of the U-shaped component204. This causes the U-shaped component204to rotate in a counter-clockwise manner about the pivot point222, causing the first arm end218to disengage away from the retention lip118.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, while terms such as “horizontal” and “clockwise” are used to describe relative movement of components, such terms should not be considered to be limiting of the breadth and scope of the present invention. In addition, while the present invention has been discussed in the context of replacing a latch on an RJ45 connector, it is equally useful with an RJ11 male connector. Thus, the term “RJxx” is defined to include both RJ45 and RJ11 connectors. Furthermore, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the term “computer” or “system” or “computer system” or “computing device” includes any data processing system including, but not limited to, personal computers, servers, workstations, network computers, main frame computers, routers, switches, Personal Digital Assistants (PDA's), telephones, and any other system capable of processing, transmitting, receiving, capturing and/or storing data.