Abstract:
A female electrical connector is provided for receiving a standardized male electrical connector having a movable release tab. The female electrical connector includes an electrical connector body, at least one electrical contact, and at least one lock member. The electrical connector body has an axial cavity configured to receive a male connector. The at least one electrical contact is provided in the cavity. The at least one lock member is carried by the body in load deflecting relation relative to an opposed inner face of the cavity. The at least one lock member is configured to displace relative to the inner face between a loaded position and a released position responsive to a release tab of a male electrical connector applying an overload condition on the at least one tab.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention pertains to cable interconnection devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to cable connectors, such as jacks, and connector assemblies having load release features between the connector jack and the connector plug. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Computer networking and telephone connectivity have utilized a terminating connector assembly design designated as RJ45 and RJ11 respectively. “RJ” standard for Registered Jack illustrated by RJ11 and RJ45 plugs and jacks. RJXX is a general term for multiple electrical connector designs used for telephone and data, including the RJ11, RJ14, RJ25, RJ48, RJ61 and RJ45 connectors. The numbering and pinouts were set forth by the Bell System as the Universal Service Order Code (or Universal Service Ordering Code)(USOC). They are also registered with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), under 47 C.F.R. § 68.502. Though these RJXX connectors vary in the number of pins or electrical connections per connectors, they are all characterized as generally rectangular assemblies having a given number of parallel connectors. The male connector has a positive latch provided between the associated plug and jack that will not release under load. This latch serves to “lock” the male connector into the female socket of the connector assembly, thereby preventing unintended disconnection. In some applications, the female connectors are installed into a housing of an electrical device such that they are recessed relative to an outer surface of the device. As a result, a release tab on the male connector, or plug is also recessed which makes it difficult to release the male connector from a complementary female connector, or jack. In such cases, users can become frustrated when trying to disconnect the plug from the jack, thereby applying excessive force by pulling the cable on which the plug is provided until the plug separates from the jack without disconnecting the positive latch provided between the plug and the jack. This typically results in failure of the locking tabs of the plug or the jack, and the connector assembly no longer retains the plug in the jack. While in home telephone or desktop computing applications, connector breakage may be primarily due to frustration over the inability to disconnect, in mobile computer applications such as ruggedized or wearable computing application connector breakage may be caused by excess tension on the cable experienced through ordinary usage. 
     FIGS. 1–3  illustrate a prior art construction for an electrical connector assembly  10  comprising an RJ45 male electrical connector, or plug  12  and a complementary RJ45 female electrical connector, or jack  14 . Plug  12  includes a plug body  16  supporting a plurality of electrical contacts  32  (see  FIG. 3 ) that each form an electrical contact in assembly with complementary electrical contacts  30  within an aperture, or cavity  18  of jack  14 . Contacts  30  are spring mounted relative to wall  29  of cavity  18 . 
   A pivoting support arm  20  on plug  12  is spaced from body  16  prior to mating within a jack, as shown in  FIG. 2 . Arm  20  is urged toward body  16  upon insertion within cavity  18 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . In such inserted condition, a pair of tabs  22  and  24  clear complementary tabs  26  and  28  of jack  14  to provide locked inter-engagement there between, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . To release plug  12  from jack  14 , a user urges arm  20  toward body  16  such that the respective tabs  22  and  24  clear tabs  26  and  28  to facilitate removal of plug  12  from jack  14 . However, a problem is encountered with some design applications where jack  14  is mounted within a housing of a portable electronic device, such as a laptop computer. If jack  14  is recessed within the housing, there might not be sufficient access for a user&#39;s fingers to engage and manipulate arm  20 . Accordingly, frustrated users have been known to forcibly remove plugs  12  from such jacks  14  such that tabs  22 ,  24  and/or tabs  26 ,  28  break and the resulting connector assembly is no longer able to releasable lock together. Also, as noted above, breakages have occurred due to stress on the cables in mobile application where a communications cable may be overextended due to being moved while still tethered. Hence, improvements are needed in order to overcome such deficiencies. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the above-noted deficiencies of known connector types, various embodiments of the invention may provide an RJXX connector that utilizes a locking connector that disengages when a sufficient amount of tension is applied to separate the male connector from the female socket without breaking either the socket or arm. 
   According to at least one embodiment of the invention, a female electrical connector is provided for receiving a standardized male electrical connector having a movable release tab. The female electrical connector according to this embodiment may include an electrical connector body, at least one electrical contact, and at least one lock member. The electrical connector body may also have an axial cavity configured to receive a male connector with at least one electrical contact is provided in the cavity. The at least one lock member may be carried by the body in load deflecting relation relative to an opposed inner face of the cavity. The at least one lock member may be configured to displace relative to the inner face between a loaded position and a released position responsive to a release tab of a male electrical connector applying an overload condition on the at least one tab. 
   According to at least one other embodiment, a female electrical connector is provided of a type for mating/demating with a male electrical connector having a movable release tab. The female electrical connector according to this embodiment may include a connector receiver, at least one electrical contact, and at least one lock member. The connector receiver may also have a cavity encompassed by at least one wall and is configured to receive the male connector with the at least one electrical contact provided in the cavity. The at least one lock member may be carried in flexible relation by the body opposite one of the at least one wall to urge apart from the wall in response to an overload being applied to the at least one lock member during attempted removal of the male member from the female member. 
   According to yet another aspect, an electrical connector assembly is provided for receiving standardized male electrical connectors having a movable release tab. The electrical connector assembly according to this embodiment may include a first electrical connector body, a second electrical connector body, at least one electrical contact, and at least one lock member. The first electrical connector may have an axial cavity configured to receive a first male connector. The second electrical connector body may have an axial cavity configured to receive a second male connector. The at least one electrical contact may be provided in each of the first cavity and the second cavity. The at least one lock member may be carried by each of the first electrical connector body and the second electrical connector body in load deflecting relation relative to an opposed inner face of the cavity. The at least one lock member may be configured to displace relative to the inner face between a loaded position and a released position responsive to a release tab of a respective male electrical connector applying an overload condition on the at least one tab. 
   Still a further embodiment according to the invention may provide a female RJXX connector. The female RJXX connector according to this embodiment may comprise a connector cavity having an axis running from a cavity opening to a back wall and adapted to receive at least one standard RJXX male connector axially inserted therein, and a tensioned lock mechanism associated with the connector cavity, adapted to mate with a locking support am of the at least one standard RJXX male connector, wherein the tensioned lock mechanism is adapted to release the locking support arm the at least one male connector when a threshold level of force is applied to the at least one male connector in a substantially axial direction away from the connector cavity. 
   These and other embodiments and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the following accompanying drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is an enlarged partial perspective view of an electrical connector assembly having an RJ45 plug and an RJ45 jack shown connected together in a loaded and locked condition; 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged partial perspective view of the electrical connector assembly of  FIG. 1  showing the RJ45 plug and jack shown prior to being connected together; 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken along line  3 — 3  of  FIG. 1  illustrating the loaded and locked condition of the plug and jack; 
       FIG. 4  is a component perspective view of an exemplary female electrical connector jack assembly for a laptop computer having RJ11 and RJ45 jacks according to at least one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a plan view of the female electrical connector jack assembly of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a front elevational view of the exemplary female electrical connector jack assembly of  FIGS. 4–5 ; 
       FIGS. 7A  and B is a simplified sectional view of a selected one of the jacks on the exemplary assembly of  FIGS. 4–6  when unloaded; and 
       FIGS. 8A  and B is a simplified sectional view of a selected one of the jacks on the exemplary assembly of  FIGS. 4–6  when loaded. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The following description is intended to convey a thorough understanding of the embodiments described by providing a number of specific embodiments and details involving a break away RJXX type electrical connector. It should be appreciated, however, that the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments and details, which are exemplary only. It is further understood that one possessing ordinary skill in the art, in light of known systems, methods and apparatus&#39;, would appreciate the use of the invention for its intended purposes and benefits in any number of alternative embodiments, depending upon specific design and other needs. 
   Reference will now be made to a preferred embodiment of Applicant&#39;s invention comprising a female electrical connector jack assembly  100 . While the invention is described by way of a preferred embodiment, it is understood that the description is not intended to limit the invention to such embodiment, but is intended to cover alternatives, equivalents, and modifications which may be broader than the embodiment, but which are included within the scope of the appended claims. 
   In an effort to prevent obscuring the invention at hand, only details germane to implementing the invention will be described in great detail, with presently understood peripheral details being incorporated by reference, as needed, as being presently understood in the art. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a jack assembly  100  having a body  150  with a plurality of apertures  102 ,  104  and  106  configured to receive fasteners (not shown) for mounting the jack assembly  100  onto a printed circuit board within a laptop computer, or other portable electronic device is illustrated. Alternatively, the jack assembly  100  can be mounted onto a housing or frame of a device such as a computing device, or wall jack, etc. A pair of jacks  114  and  214  is formed from a body  152  that is affixed onto body  150  such that jacks  114  and  214  are aligned with access ports on the laptop computer to provide access to jacks  114  and  214  for receiving complementary plugs. According to one construction, bodies  150  and  152  may be formed from plastic or other suitable non-conducting material. It should be appreciated that in addition to mounting the jack assembly on a printed circuit board within a laptop computer, it may be mounted onto a wall jack frame, such as in a household or office environment, a modem and/or NIC card, a bus, router, hub, etc., or onto another suitable mounting structure. 
   In at least one exemplary embodiment, each jack  114  and  214  may include a lock assembly  134  and  234 , respectively, that is integrally formed from body  150 . More particularly, each arm  136 ,  138  and  236 ,  238  and bridge wall  140 ,  240  may be integrally formed from the body  150 . Arms  136 ,  138  and  236 ,  238  may each be formed separately from a wall member  144 ,  146  and  244 ,  246  of a respective body  148  and  248  for each jack  114  and  214 , respectively. In this manner, each arm is configured to flex outwardly away from each wall member in response to a plug being forcibly pulled from within the respective jack. 
   It should be appreciated that in various other embodiments, a different lock assembly may be formed that utilizes resistance to hold the male jack arm in place, thereby securing the male-female assembly in a manner that will release the male connector when a threshold level of tension is applied away from the female socket. For example, rather than pair of arms, a single bifurcated arm may be used, one or more leaf springs. Alternatively, the face of the female connector socket may be biased to engage the tag of a standard male connector tab. Any suitable locking mechanism may be utilized with the various embodiments of the invention so long as the mechanism releases the male connector against a threshold level of force prior to failure of the male connector&#39;s release tab. 
   As shown in the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , each arm  136 ,  138  and  236 ,  238  terminates in an integrally formed finger  126 ,  128  and  226 ,  228  that extends laterally of the respective arm. Each finger  126 ,  128  and  226 ,  228  may provide a tab that interdigitates with a respective tab on a complementary male connector, in this case corresponding RJ45 and RJ11 plugs. Under normal operating conditions, fingers  126 ,  128  and  226 ,  228  are released from the respective tabs on a corresponding RJ45 and RJ  11  plug by squeezing together a pivoting support arm (such as arm  20  of  FIGS. 1–3 ) toward a body of the plug. However, for cases where the arm is difficult to access, a user might just forcibly pull out the plug from the jack. In such case, arms  136 ,  138  and  236 ,  238  and fingers  126 ,  128  and  226 ,  228  (along with arms  136 ,  138  and  236 ,  238 ) flex away from the opposed back walls  129  and  229  of jacks  114  and  214  (see  FIG. 5 ), thereby allowing the tabs to disengage without breaking the jack or the plug. Accordingly, the connector assembly can still be reused an no damage to the male connector will be sustained. 
     FIGS. 4–6  illustrate arms  136 ,  138  and  236 ,  238  and fingers  126 ,  128  and  226 ,  228  of jacks  114  and  214 , respectively, in an unloaded state, prior to inserting a complementary jack according to various exemplary embodiments. As shown in  FIG. 6 , arms  136 ,  138  and  236 ,  238  are integrally formed from base wall  142  of body  150  (see  FIG. 4 ). However, arms  136 ,  138  and  236 ,  238  are separate from wall members  144 ,  146  and  244 ,  246  of bodies  148  and  248 , respectively. Upon locked insertion into jacks  114  and  214 , a respective plug forms a plurality of electrical connections with respective electrical contacts  130  and  230  within each jack  114  and  214 . 
     FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate, in simplified form, the locked and unlocked positions of arms  136  and  138  relative to body  148  of jack  114 .  FIG. 7A  shows the position of arms  136  and  138  when a plug has been received and locked into jack  114 .  FIG. 7B  shows the position of arms  136  and  138  as a plug is being forcibly removed from jack  114 , thereby causing arms  136  and  138  to flex under load away from wall  129  sufficiently so that the tabs on the arms and tabs on the jack decouple, enabling removal of the plug (e.g., plug  12  of  FIGS. 1–3 ) from jack  114 . 
     FIGS. 8A and 8B  illustrate in simplified schematic form a side elevational view of an RJ45 plug being forcibly pulled from the arms  138 ,  136  and fingers  128 ,  126  of a complementary RJ45 jack. As shown in  FIG. 8A , plug  12  is being forcibly pulled so that tabs on movable support arm  20  pull upwardly on the tabs formed by fingers  128  and  126 , causing arms  138 ,  136  and fingers  128 ,  126  to flex and elastically deform into the position depicted in  FIG. 8B , thereby enabling release of plug  12  from the jack on which arms  138 ,  136  are provided. After release of plug  12 , arms  138 ,  136  and fingers  128 ,  126  return to their original shape and position, rendering the jack reusable for connecting with plug  12 . Hence, damage to the jack is prevented. 
   It should be appreciated that while the female connector illustrated in  FIGS. 4–8  employs a pair of spring loaded or tensioned arms to engage a release tab of a standard RFXX connector, that any type of known or previously unknown tension release mechanism may be utilized with the various embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Rather, the various embodiments, provide for a method a female connector that reduces and ideally prevents inadvertent destruction of the male connector release tab due to frustration over the inability to release or due to excess tension applied to the electronic cable terminating in the RJXX connector assembly. 
   The embodiments of the present inventions are not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments described herein. For example, although many of the embodiments disclosed herein have been described with reference to a female RFXX connector and connector assembly for computer devices, the principles herein are equally applicable to other aspects of providing electrical connection. Indeed, various modifications of the embodiments of the present inventions, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the foregoing description and accompanying drawings. Thus, such modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the following appended claims. Further, although some of the embodiments of the present invention have been described herein in the context of a particular implementation in a particular environment for a particular purpose, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that its usefulness is not limited thereto and that the embodiments of the present inventions can be beneficially implemented in any number of environments for any number of purposes. Accordingly, the claims set forth below should be construed in view of the full breath and spirit of the embodiments of the present inventions as disclosed herein.