Connector mounting receptacles

Abstract: Connector mounting receptacles include either a mounting base or a wall plate having a spaced apart tooth and resilient latch disposed to engage mounting slots in a modular connector to releasably mount the connector to the receptacle. The connector includes corner mounting slots disposed to engage lateral stops formed in the wall plate. Steel wall plate receptacles are integrally formed of conductive metal with the connector latching features being configured to concurrently releasably latch and conductively ground a shielded connector mounted in the receptacle.

Description: Technical Field The present invention relates generally to a receptacle according to the preamble of claim 1. Background Art Although many different connector mounting receptacles have been proposed as for example in WO 89 10015 which also defines the preamble of claim 1, there is a continuing need to reduce the size of the modular connectors to provide more connectors in a smaller area, thus there is a need for improved receptacles that can securely but releasably mount modular connectors of smaller sizes in close proximity while providing easy removal and replacement of the connectors. Summary of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to provide improved modular connector mounting receptacles that can securely mount one or more modular electrical connectors in each receptacle such that the connector can be. released from the receptacle and replaced with a different connector as desired. It is another object of the present invention to provide improved modular connector mounting receptacles that can releasably mount smaller connectors in higher densities. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a receptacle formed of a conductive metal that concurrently releasably latches and grounds a shielded connector to the receptacle when the connector is latched thereto. It is an additional object of the present invention to provide improved modular-connector mounting receptacles that are simple and economical to manufacture. In accordance with the invention, these objects are accomplished by the features of the characterizing portion of claim 1. In general a base receptacle for mounting a modular connector having front and rear mounting slots disposed on front and back surfaces of the connector includes a planar base; latch means integrally formed in the base for releasably securing the connector to the base including a front latch tooth formed in the base disposed to engage the front mounting slot of the connector, a resiliently mounted rear latch tooth formed on a latch wall aligned with and spaced from the front latch tooth such that the rear latch tooth is disposed to engage the rear mounting slot of the connector secured by the latch means, the latch wall formed at the end of and perpendicular to a resilient cantilever base arm formed in the plane of the base, wherein the rear tooth is disposed to resiliently latch the connector to the base such that the connector can be released from the base by rotating the latch wall away from the connector to disengage the rear latch tooth from the rear slot in the connector. Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a connector receptacle box assembly embodying the concept of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a top view of the base of the assembly of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a front view of the base; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a side view of the base; Fig. 7 is a front view of a modular connector; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the connector of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a bottom view of the connector of Fig. 7; Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the connector of Fig. 7; and Fig. 11 is a rear view of the connector of Fig. 7; Description of the Preferred Embodiment A connector receptacle box assembly embodying the concept of the present invention is designated generally by the number 40 in the accompanying drawings. As seen in Figs. 1-6, assembly 40 includes a one-piece plastic base 41 and a one-piece plastic cover 42. A modular communication connector 43, best seen in Figs. 1 and 7-11, is configured to be releasably mounted within base 41. Connector 43 includes a modular plug accepting socket 44 formed in the front face of connector 43. Also medially positioned adjacent the lower edge of the front face of connector 43 is a rectangular front mounting slot 46 (Fig. 1), a rear mounting slot 48 (Fig. 11), a T-shaped central bottom mounting slot 50 having a centrally disposed notch 51 (Fig. 9). Connector 43 illustrates one type of connector configured to be mounted within the latching mechanism of the present invention although any type of connector, such as a coaxial connector, can be provided with latching features described herein for use in each respective embodiment of the present invention. Base 41 includes a plurality of laterally adjacent connector mounting features, each of which includes a spaced apart and opposed front latch tooth 53 and rear latch tooth 54 which respectively are disposed to be received within front mounting slot 46 and rear mounting slot 48 of connector 43. Rear latch tooth 54 is medially disposed on a latch wall 55, projecting from wall 55 at a right angle. Latch wall 55 is integrally formed at a right angle at the end of a resilient cantilever arm 57 formed in the floor of base 41 by a slot 58 (see Fig. 2). Cantilever arm 57 and latch wall 55 resiliently position rear latch tooth 54 such that rear latch tooth 54 is resiliently cammed outwardly upon insertion of connector 43 into latching engagement with base 41. To latch connector 43 within base 41, front latch tooth 53 in base 41 is inserted into front mounting slot 46 in connector 43, and connector 43 is rotated downwardly past resilient rear latch tooth 54 which is cammed outwardly until it is aligned with rear mounting slot 48 of connector 43 and is resiliently biased inwardly into slot 48 (see Fig. 5). The design of the single resilient latch tooth 53 formed on a latch wall 55 carried on a cantilever arm 57 integrally formed in a base 40 provides secure latching engagement of connector to base 41 and allows miniature connector modules to be easily removed from the base 41 merely by inserting a screwdriver between connector 43 and latch wall 55 and flexing wall 55 outwardly to disengage rear latch tooth 54 from rear mounting slot 48. As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, base 41 is also formed with wire access apertures 59, mounting holes 60, wire positioning guides 61, and cover alignment flanges 62 for engaging cover 42.

Claims: A receptacle for mounting a modular connector having front and rear mounting slots disposed on front and back surfaces of the connector, comprising: a planar base (41); latch means integrally formed in the base (41) for releasably securing the connector to the base including; a front latch tooth (53) formed in the base (41) disposed to engage the front mounting slot (46) of the connector (43), a resiliently mounted rear latch tooth (54) formed on a latch wall (55) and aligned with and spaced from the front latch tooth (53) such that the rear latch tooth (54) is disposed to engage the rear mounting slot (48) of the connector (43) secured by the latch means, characterized in that the latch wall (55) is formed perpendicular at the end of a resilient cantilever base arm (57) formed in the plane of the base (41), wherein the rear latch tooth (54) is disposed to resiliently latch the connector (43) to the base (41) such that the connector (43) can be released from the base by depressing the cantilever base arm (57), which rotates the latch wall (55) and latch tooth (54) away from the connector (43) to disengage the rear latch tooth (54) from the rear slot (48) in the connector. A receptacle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cantilever base arm (57) is defined in the base by a slot (58) formed in the base therearound.

Inventors: BLOCK DALE A, CAVENEY JACK E, FALKSTROM KARL E, LINDLEY KRIS B, MCGRATH MICHAEL J, MOEHLE WALTER J, BLOCK, DALE A., CAVENEY, JACK E., FALKSTROM, KARL E., LINDLEY, KRIS B., MCGRATH, MICHAEL J., MOEHLE, WALTER J.
Applicants: PANDUIT CORP, PANDUIT CORPORATION
Application year: 1996
Main classification: H01R24
IPC codes: H01R13, H01R24, H01R107