Abstract:
The present invention relates to a connector lock for locking a first electrical connector to a second electrical connector. The connector lock comprises a first mounting bracket adapted to mount to the first electrical connector and a second mounting bracket adapted to mount to the second electrical connector. The second mounting bracket is pivotally displaceable with respect to the first mounting bracket such that the second mounting bracket can be pivoted relative to the first mounting bracket to align mating portions of the first and second electrical connectors.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This document claims priority to and the benefit of the filing date of co-pending and commonly assigned provisional application entitled CONNECTOR LOCK, assigned Ser. No. 60/087,346, and filed May 29, 1998, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to locking electrical connectors together. More particularly, the present invention relates to locking free plugs to chassis mounted receptacles. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Mechanical fastening devices are needed to ensure positive connection between mating connectors to avoid accidental decoupling and loss of electrical connection. Several mechanical devices have been developed for locking connectors together. In one common example, threaded fasteners such as screws are provided on both ends of a free plug. These fasteners are adapted to be received by threaded apertures provided in the mating connector, typically a chassis mounted receptacle. Although simple in design and generally effective in locking the two connectors together, auxiliary locking means are necessary when the plug comprises an end fed connector. The reason for this is because the cable to which the end fed connector is attached occupies the space in which a threaded fastener would be used to secure the cable end of the connector to the chassis mounted receptacle. Accordingly, when locking an end fed connector to such a receptacle, the free end of the connector normally is secured to the receptacle with a threaded fastener while the cable end of the connector normally is secured in place with a cable tie. Although such an arrangement is effective once in place, the locking process can be difficult. In particular, the tightly packed arrangement in which such end fed connectors are used makes it difficult for the operator to secure the cable tie in place. Moreover, often times additional mounting hardware is needed if such cable ties are to be used. Another disadvantage is that, once the connector plug is locked in place with the threaded fastener and the cable tie, the plug can only be removed by severing the cable tie. Hence, a new cable tie must be used if the connector plug is to be again locked to the chassis mounted receptacle. 
     In other designs, plugs are secured to mating chassis mounted receptacles with bailing clips. Such bailing clips typically take the form of metal wires that are adapted to wrap around a boss or mating bailing clip provided on the chassis mounted receptacle. Although effective, these bailing clips normally occupy precious chassis space that could be better utilized. In addition, since the bailing clips provided on the plug often are designed to mate with a specific type of boss or other bailing clip, it frequently is necessary for the user to purchase both the plug and receptacle from the same manufacturer, thereby limiting purchase options. 
     In yet another design, the plug and the chassis mounted receptacle each is provided with specially designed locking tabs. Due to cost and spatial constraints, these locking tabs tend to be slight in design and therefore not capable of providing secure locking between the plug and the chassis mounted receptacle. In addition, like some of the bailing clip systems currently available, both the plug and the chassis mounted receptacle usually must be purchased from the same manufacturer if such locking tabs are used. 
     From the above, it can be appreciated that it would be desirable to have a connector lock that is simple in both design and operation that securely locks two connectors of any manufacturer such as a plug and a chassis mounted receptacle together. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a connector lock for locking a first electrical connector to a second electrical connector. The connector lock comprises a first mounting bracket adapted to mount to the first electrical connector and a second mounting bracket adapted to mount to the second electrical connector. The second mounting bracket is pivotally displaceable with respect to the first mounting bracket such that the second mounting bracket can be pivoted relative to the first mounting bracket to align mating portions of the first and second electrical connectors. 
     In a preferred arrangement, the connector lock further comprises a fastener that is adapted to extend from the second electrical connector to the first electrical connector to secure the first and second electrical connectors together. In the preferred arrangement, the first mounting bracket comprises a first hook portion and the second mounting bracket comprises a second hook portion, the first and second hook portions being engageable so as to facilitate pivoting of the second mounting bracket relative to the first mounting bracket. 
     The features and advantages of this invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is intended that all such additional features and advantages be included therein with the scope of the present invention, as defined by the claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a conventional end fed plug and a conventional chassis mounted receptacle shown prior to their connection. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a receptacle side mounting bracket. 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of the mounting bracket shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the mounting bracket shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a plug side mounting bracket. 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of the mounting bracket shown in FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the mounting bracket shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. 
     FIG. 8A is a side view showing a first step involved in locking a plug to a chassis mounted receptacle using the mounting brackets shown in FIGS. 1-7. 
     FIG. 8B is a side view showing a second step involved in locking the plug using the mounting brackets shown in FIGS. 1-7. 
     FIG. 8C is a side view showing the plug and receptacle locked together with the mounting brackets shown in FIGS. 1-7. 
     FIG. 9A is an alternative embodiment of a receptacle side mounting bracket. 
     FIG. 9B is a side view of the mounting bracket shown in FIG.  9 A. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now in more detail to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows two conventional connectors  10  and  12  of the type with which the present invention normally is used. It is to be understood, however, that the principles discussed herein are applicable to connectors in general. 
     FIG. 1 shows a free connector or plug  10  that is adapted to mate with a chassis mounted connector or receptacle  12 . The plug  10  is attached to a cable  14 , which typically comprises  25  pair cable, and the chassis mounted receptacle  12  is mounted to a chassis  16  which typically forms part of an enclosure housing. Formed on both of the connectors  10 ,  12  are mating portions  18  and  20 , respectively. Normally these mating portions  18 ,  20  house a plurality of electrical contacts, for example 25 pairs of electrical conductors (not shown). The plug connector  10  comprises a free end  22  and a cable end  24 . The free end  22  normally is provided with a threaded fastener  26  such as a screw. The chassis mounted receptacle  12  also normally includes first and second ends  28  and  30 . Due to the fact that the receptacle  12  normally is symmetrical about its central axis, these ends  28 ,  30  usually are mirror images of each other. Each of the first and second ends  28  and  30  typically include threaded fastener receiving elements  32  and  34 , which typically comprise threaded apertures. The fastener receiving element  34  provided at the second end  30  of the chassis mounted receptacle  12  is specifically adapted to threadingly receive the threaded fastener  26  of the plug  10 . As is conventional in the art, both the plug  10  and the chassis mounted receptacle  12  normally are provided with mounting flanges  36  and  38 , respectively. As indicated in FIG. 1, the threaded fastener  26  extends through the mounting flange  36  at the free end  22  of the plug  10 . The mounting flange  38  of the chassis mounted receptacle  12  is provided with two holes (not shown) that are aligned with the fastener receiving elements  32 ,  34  such that fasteners such as the threaded fastener  26  can be passed through the mounting flange and into the fastener receiving elements. 
     FIGS. 2-4 illustrate a receptacle side mounting bracket  40 . As indicated in these figures, the receptacle side mounting bracket  40  generally comprises a body portion  42  that is substantially planar in shape and which includes a top side  48 , a bottom side  50 , a proximal end  52 , a distal end  54 , and lateral edges  56  and  58 . Typically, the body portion  42  is composed of a rigid material such as stainless steel. Formed intermediate the proximal and distal ends  52  and  54 , and between the lateral edges  56  and  58 , is a fastener aperture  60  that is adapted to receive a threaded fastener (FIGS.  8 A- 8 C). Extending outwardly from the lateral edges  56  and  58  of the body portion  42  are opposed flanged portions  62  and  64 . These flanged portions  62 ,  64  typically extend laterally within the same plane of the body portion  42  for a predetermined distance, and then extend downwardly therefrom. Extending upwardly from the distal end  54  of the body portion  42  is a hook portion  66 . The hook portion  66  extends upwardly from the body portion  42  and bends backwardly over the body portion to extend toward the fastener aperture  60 . 
     FIGS. 5-7 illustrate a plug side mounting bracket  68 . Similar to the chassis side mounting bracket  40 , the plug side mounting bracket  68  comprises a body portion  70  that includes a top side  72 , a bottom side  74 , a proximal end  76 , a distal end  78 , and lateral edges  80  and  82 . The body portion  70  similarly typically is constructed of a rigid material such as stainless steel. Intermediate the proximal and distal ends  76  and  78 , and between the lateral edges  80  and  82 , is formed in a fastener opening  84  that is adapted to receive a threaded fastener (FIGS.  8 A- 8 C). Extending outwardly and upwardly from the lateral edges  80 ,  82  of the body portion  70  of the plug side mounting flange  68  are opposed flanged portions  86  and  88 . In particular, these flanged portions  86 ,  88  extend laterally from the body portion  70  within the same plane thereof, and then extend upwardly therefrom. Extending outwardly and downwardly from the distal end  78  of the body portion  70  is a pivot member  90 . As indicated most clearly in FIGS. 5 and 6, the pivot member  90  forms a hook portion  92  that is adapted to interconnect with the hook portion  66  of the receptacle side mounting bracket  40 . 
     The general construction of the mounting brackets  40  and  68  having been described above, the following discussion will describe operation of these mounting brackets in use with a conventional plug and receptacle system such as that shown in FIG.  1 . With reference to FIGS. 8A-8C, the receptacle side mounting bracket  40  can be secured to the first end  28  of the chassis mounted receptacle  12  with a threaded fastener  94 , such as a screw, that passes through the fastener aperture  60 . As indicated in FIG. 8A, the mounting bracket  40  specifically connects to the mounting flange  38  of the chassis mounted receptacle  12  such that the opposed flanged portions  62 ,  64  wrap around the edges of the mounting flange such that, once the mounting bracket is secured in place, it cannot be rotated out of the position depicted in FIG.  8 A. In similar manner, the plug side mounting bracket  68  can be secured to the cable end  24  of the plug connector  10 . In particular, the mounting bracket  68  is secured by a threaded fastener  96  that extends through the fastener aperture  84  of the mounting bracket and into the plug connector body. As with the receptacle side mounting bracket  40 , the plug side mounting bracket  68  aflixes to the plug connector with its opposed flanged portions  86 ,  88  wrapping around the edges of the mounting flange  36  of the plug such that the mounting bracket cannot be rotated once affixed in the orientation shown in FIG.  8 A. 
     After the two mounting brackets  40  and  68  have been secured in the manner described above, the plug  10  can be mated with the chassis mounted receptacle  12 . To accomplish such mating, the plug side mounting bracket  68  first is hooked to the receptacle side mounting bracket  40  such that the hook portion  92  of the pivot member  90  fits within the hook portion  66  of the receptacle side mounting bracket  40  as indicated in FIG.  8 B. After such interconnection has been made, the plug  10  simply can be pivoted about the hook portion  68  of the receptacle side mounting bracket  40  as indicated by the directional arrow shown in FIG. 8B such that the mating portions  18  and  20  of the plug and chassis mounted receptacle are brought into contact with each other. At this point, electrical connection can be made between the plug  10  and the chassis mounted receptacle  12  by urging the mating portion  18  of the plug connector into the mating portion  20  of the chassis mounted receptacle in the conventional manner until the plug and receptacle are fully connected as indicated in FIG.  8 C. Once the plug  10  and the receptacle  12  have been coupled as described above, they can be securely locked to each other by threading the threaded fastener  26  into the fastener receiving element  34  provided at the second end  30  of the receptacle. 
     FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate a second embodiment of the invention. In particular, these figures illustrate a receptacle side mounting bracket  98  that is adapted to facilitate the locking of a plurality of (for example three) plugs  10  to a plurality of chassis mounted receptacles  12 . Like the mounting brackets  40  and  68  described above, the mounting bracket  98  shown in FIG. 9A comprises a body portion  100  that includes first and second ends  102  and  104 . Extending through the body portion  100  is a plurality of mounting holes  106 , the five outermost of these for securing the bracket  98  to the enclosure housing. Further, provided in the body portion is a plurality of mating portion apertures  108  that are adapted to receive the mating portions  20  of a plurality of chassis mounted receptacles when the bracket  98  is mounted to the housing. As indicated most clearly in FIG. 9B, a hook portion  110  extends upwardly from the second end  104  of the body portion  100 . More specifically, the hook portion  110  extends upwardly and backwardly over the body portion  100  towards the mating portion openings  108 . In use, the mounting bracket  98  is used in similar manner to the mounting bracket  40 . Accordingly, the mounting bracket  98  provides a pivot point for the plug mounting brackets  68  of, in this example, one to three plugs  10  that are to be mounted to chassis mounted receptacles. Once these plugs are connected to their respective receptacles, they can be securely locked in place by tightening threaded fasteners (not shown) that extend through the interior mounting openings  110  provided in the body portion  100  adjacent the mating portion apertures  108 . 
     The connector locks described above provide several advantages not presently realized in the prior art. First, the connector locks described herein are easy to use such that secure connections can be made quickly and without difficulty. Second, the connector locks are low profile in design such that they will not interfere with other electrical hardware present on the enclosure housing, thereby facilitating closely packed arrangement of connector couplings. Further, the connector locks can be utilized with substantially any connector plug and chassis mounted receptacle system such that components made by different manufacturers can be used together. Accordingly, existing systems can be retrofitted with the connector locks of the present invention to provide for secure electrical coupling. 
     While preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail in the foregoing description and drawings, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations and modifications thereof can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.