Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to modular plugs including a housing for holding a plurality of terminals that are engageable with contacts of a mating plug receptacle. The modular plug further includes a slider latch having a distal end portion integrally formed with the housing, a proximal end portion configured and adapted for operative engagement with the housing, and an intermediate portion disposed between the distal end portion and the proximal end portion. The intermediate portion defines at least one flex point. Accordingly, when the proximal end portion of the slider latch is operatively connected to the housing, the intermediate portion of the slider latch defines an anti-snag feature. The slider latch facilitates locking and unlocking of the modular plug with a plug receptacle when in a densely packed array.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   1. Technical Field 
   The present disclosure relates to modular plugs and, more particularly, to modular plugs including a slider latch capable of locking and un-locking the modular plug to a corresponding receptacle. 
   2. Background of Related Art 
   Modular plugs and modular jacks are commonly used for interconnecting a plurality of wires in communications systems. Various latching mechanisms and the like have been developed and incorporated into electrical, data and/or telephonic cable connectors or plugs for mechanically connecting the modular plug to a corresponding complementary receptacle. Typically, in order to release the plug from the receptacle an individual must squeeze, depress or otherwise manipulate the latching mechanism in order to release the modular plug from the receptacle. 
   In densely packed arrays of receptacles, manipulation of the latching mechanism, for the modular plugs connected to substantially the centrally located receptacles of the array, is greatly hindered and impaired as compared to manipulation of the latching mechanisms for modular plugs located around the periphery of the array. Typically, in order to manipulate the latching mechanism and unplug the centrally located plugs from the receptacle array, it is not uncommon to have to first unplug and/or remove the perimetral array of modular plugs in order to gain sufficient access to the latching mechanisms of the centrally located plugs. Additionally, at times, when unplugging and/or removing the modular plug from the receptacle array, the modular plug may snag and/or get caught on adjacent modular plugs or the like. 
   Accordingly, a need exists for modular plugs including latch mechanisms or the like which facilitate connection and disconnection of plugs into/from corresponding receptacles. 
   SUMMARY 
   The present disclosure relates to modular plugs and the like. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a modular plug is provided including a housing for holding a plurality of terminals that are engageable with contacts of a mating plug receptacle. The housing defines a cavity which is open to the terminals and is configured and adapted to receive a plurality of wires therein. The modular plug further includes a slider latch having a distal end portion integrally formed with the housing, a proximal end portion configured and adapted for operative engagement with the housing, and an intermediate portion disposed between the distal end portion and the proximal end portion. The intermediate portion defines at least one flex point. Accordingly, when the proximal end portion of the slider latch is operatively connected to the housing, the intermediate portion of the slider latch defines an anti-snag feature. 
   The proximal end portion of the slider latch may be slidingly connected to the housing. The intermediate portion of the slider latch may include a pair of flex points including a distal flex point formed in an inner surface thereof and a proximal flex point formed in an outer surface thereof. The distal end portion of the slider latch may include at least one shoulder for selectively engaging a complementary shoulder provided on the plug receptacle. 
   The proximal end portion of the slider latch may include at least one dovetail projecting therefrom for selective engagement in a complementary channel formed in the housing. The proximal end portion of the slider latch may further include finger grips. 
   The housing may include a first-half portion and a second-half portion in selective operative association with one another. The first-half portion may include a base wall and a pair of upstanding spaced apart side walls; and the second-half-portion may include a base wall and a pair of upstanding spaced apart side walls. Each of the side walls of the first-half portion may include an elongate slot formed therein, and each of the side walls of the second-half portion may include a tab projecting therefrom, wherein the tabs are configured and dimensioned to selectively engage a respective elongate slot of the first-half portion. 
   Desirably, at least the housing is fabricated from dielectric material. 
   It is envisioned that when the modular plug is connected to the plug receptacle, movement of the proximal end portion of the slider latch, relative to the housing, results in disengagement of the shoulders of the distal end portion of the slider latch from the shoulders of the plug receptacle. 
   According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a modular plug for connection to a complementary plug receptacle is provided. The modular plug includes a housing supporting at least one terminal for electrical connection with a contact of the plug receptacle; and a slider latch including a distal end portion operatively connected to the housing, a proximal end portion configured and adapted for operative inter-engagement with the housing, and a flexible intermediate portion disposed between the distal end portion and the proximal end portion. Accordingly, when the proximal end portion of the slider latch is operatively connected to the housing, the intermediate portion of the slider latch bends to define an anti-snag feature. 
   In an embodiment, the proximal end portion of the slider latch may be slidingly connected to the housing. The intermediate portion of the slider latch may include a pair of flex points including a distal flex point formed in an inner surface thereof and a proximal flex point formed in an outer surface thereof. The distal end portion of the slider latch may include at least one shoulder for selectively engaging a complementary shoulder provided on the plug receptacle. The proximal end portion of the slider latch may include at least one dovetail projecting therefrom for selective engagement in a complementary channel formed in the housing. 
   The housing may include a first-half portion and a second-half portion in selective operative association with one another. The first-half portion may include a base wall and a pair of upstanding spaced apart side walls; and the second-half-portion may include a base wall and a pair of upstanding spaced apart side walls. Each of the side walls of the first-half portion may include an elongate slot formed therein, and each of the side walls of the second-half portion may include a tab projecting therefrom, wherein the tabs are configured and dimensioned to selectively engage a respective elongate slot of the first-half portion. 
   Desirably, when the modular plug is connected to the plug receptacle, movement of the proximal end portion of the slider latch, relative to the housing, results in disengagement of the shoulders of the distal end portion of the slider latch from the shoulders of the plug receptacle. 
   According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a modular plug for terminating a plurality of electrical wires and for electrically mating with a complementary plug receptacle is provided. The modular plug includes a housing for holding a plurality of terminals that are engageable with contacts of a mating plug receptacle, the housing defining a cavity which is open to the terminals and is configured and adapted to receive a plurality of wires therein. The housing includes a first-half portion having a base wall and a pair of upstanding spaced apart side walls, wherein each of the side walls of the first-half portion includes an elongate slot formed therein; and a second-half portion in selective operative association with the first-half portion, the second-half portion having a base wall and a pair of upstanding spaced apart side walls, wherein each of the side walls of the second-half portion includes a tab projecting therefrom. The tabs are configured and dimensioned to selectively engage a respective elongate slot of the first-half portion. 
   The modular plug further includes a slider latch having a distal end portion integrally formed with the housing, wherein the distal end portion of the slider latch includes at least one shoulder for selectively engaging a complementary shoulder provided on the plug receptacle; a proximal end portion configured and adapted for sliding engagement with the housing; and an intermediate portion disposed between the distal end portion and the proximal end portion. The intermediate portion of the slider latch includes a pair of flex points including a distal flex point formed in an inner surface thereof and a proximal flex point formed in an outer surface thereof. Accordingly, when the proximal end portion of the slider latch is operatively connected to the housing, the intermediate portion of the slider latch defines an anti-snag feature. 
   The proximal end portion of the slider latch may include at least one dovetail projecting therefrom for selective engagement in a complementary channel formed in the housing. The proximal end portion of the slider latch may include finger grips. 
   It is envisioned that at least the housing is fabricated from dielectric material. 
   In use, when the modular plug is connected to the plug receptacle, movement of the proximal end portion of the slider latch, relative to the housing, results in disengagement of the shoulders of the distal end portion of the slider latch from the shoulders of the plug receptacle. 
   For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings. 

   
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a top, rear perspective view of a modular plug according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
       FIG. 2  is a bottom, front perspective view of the modular plug of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the modular plug of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a bottom, plan view of the modular plug of  FIGS. 1-3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a rear, elevational view of the modular plug of  FIGS. 1-4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a front, elevational view of the modular plug of  FIGS. 1-5 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a side, elevational view of the modular plug of  FIGS. 1-6 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a bottom, front perspective view of a first-half portion of a housing of the modular plug of  FIGS. 1-7 , illustrating the slider in an un-connected condition; 
       FIG. 9  is a bottom, rear perspective view of the first-half portion of the housing of  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 10  is top, rear perspective view of the first-half portion of the housing of  FIGS. 8 and 9 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a top, front perspective view of the first-half portion and the second-half portion of the housing of  FIG. 10 ; 
       FIG. 12  is a bottom, rear perspective view of the first-half portion and the second-half portion of the housing of  FIGS. 10 and 11 , illustrating the slider in a connected condition; 
       FIG. 13  is a schematic perspective view of a modular plug receiving end portion of a prior art plug receptacle; 
       FIG. 14  is a bottom, front perspective view of a plug receptacle including the receiving end portion of  FIG. 8 , illustrating the modular plug of  FIGS. 1-12  operatively connected thereto; 
       FIG. 15  is a top, rear perspective view of the plug receptacle of  FIG. 14 , illustrating the modular plug of  FIGS. 1-12  operatively connected thereto; 
       FIG. 16  is a bottom, plan view of the plug receptacle of  FIG. 14 , illustrating the modular plug of  FIGS. 1-12  operatively connected thereto; 
       FIG. 17  is a side elevational view of the plug receptacle of  FIG. 14 , illustrating the modular plug of  FIGS. 1-12  operatively connected thereto; and 
       FIG. 18  is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of the plug receptacle of  FIGS. 14-17 , including the modular plug of  FIGS. 1-12  operatively connected thereto, as taken through  18 - 18  of  FIG. 16 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
   Embodiments of the presently disclosed modular plugs will now be described in detail with reference to the drawing figures wherein like reference numerals identify similar or identical elements. As used herein and as is traditional, the term “distal” refers to that portion which is furthest from the user while the term “proximal” refers to that portion which is closest to the user. In addition, terms such as “above”, “below”, “forward”, “rearward”, etc. refer to the orientation of the figures or the direction of components and are simply used for convenience of description. 
   Referring initially to  FIGS. 1-12 , a modular plug (e.g., electrical connector, data connector, telephonic connector, etc.), for selective connection to a complementary receptacle (not shown), is generally designated as  100 . Modular plug  100  is matable with a plug receptacle  200  (see  FIGS. 13-18 ) for interconnecting a plurality of wires (not shown) or the like. Modular plug  100 , as described herein, is an eight position modular plug for use with an eight wire communications cable. However, it should be understood that the invention can also be applied to other connectors which are terminable to different numbers of wires. 
   Modular plug  100  is desirably constructed of dielectric material and includes a housing defined by a first-half portion  102  and second-half portion  104  in selective operative association with one another. In an embodiment, as seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 ,  12 ,  14 , first-half portion  102  and second-half portion  104  are connected to one another via a living hinge  103 . First-half portion  102  and second-half portion  104  of modular plug  100  are configured and adapted to hold a plurality of terminals “T” that are arranged in side-by-side relationship in respective slots  106 . Modular plug  100  defines a cavity  108  which opens into the modular plug from a wire-receiving end  110  of the modular plug  100 , and extends through to slots  106  at a termination end  112  of modular plug  100 . 
   First-half portion  102  includes a base wall  102   a  and a pair of upstanding, spaced apart side walls  102   b ,  102   c . Base wall  102   a  includes at least one, preferably a pair of longitudinally extending channels or slots  103   a  formed therein (see  FIGS. 8 ,  9  and  12 ). Meanwhile, each side wall  102   b ,  102   c  of first-half portion  102  includes a respective, longitudinally extending, elongate slot  103   b ,  103   c  formed therein. 
   As seen in  FIGS. 8-12 , second-half portion  104  includes a base wall  104   a  and a pair of upstanding, spaced apart side walls  104   b ,  104   c . Each side wall  104   b ,  104   c  of second-half portion  104  includes a respective tab, projection or the like  105   b ,  105   c  extending therefrom. Each tab  105   b ,  105   c  is configured and dimensioned to cooperatingly mate with a respective slot  103   b ,  103   c  formed in side walls  102   b ,  102   c  of first-half portion  102 , when second-half portion  104  is closed down onto first-half portion  102 . 
   In operation, when second-half portion  104  is closed down onto first-half portion  102 , tabs  105   b ,  105   c  of second-half portion  104  snap into or otherwise operatively engage slots  103   b ,  103   c  formed in first-half portion  102 . 
   As seen in  FIGS. 1-12 , first-half portion  102  of modular plug  100  includes a slider latch  120  operatively associated therewith. Slider latch  120  includes a distal end portion  122  connected to or near termination end  112  of modular plug  100 . Distal end portion  122  of slider latch  120  extends in a proximal direction at an angle relative to base wall  102   a  of first-half portion  102 . Distal end portion  122  of slider latch  120  defines at least one, preferably, a pair of shoulders  122   a  for engaging a surface of a plug receptacle  200  (see  FIG. 13 ) and for securely engaging and mating modular plug  100  with the plug receptacle  200 , as seen in  FIG. 18 . 
   Slider latch  120  includes an intermediate portion  124  integrally connected to or formed with distal end portion  122 . Intermediate portion  124  includes at least a pair of flex points or integral/living hinges  124   a ,  124   b  formed therein. Desirably, a distal flex point  124   a  is formed along an inner surface of intermediate portion  124  and a proximal flex point  124   b  is formed along an outer surface of intermediate portion  124 . 
   Slider latch  120  further includes a proximal end portion  126  integrally connected to or formed with intermediate portion  124 . Proximal end portion  126  of slider latch  120  includes finger grips  126   a  formed along an outer surface thereof for increasing the ergonomics and ease of use of modular plug  100 . Proximal end portion  126  of slider latch  120  further includes at least one, preferably a pair of dovetails or rails  126   b  extending longitudinally from an inner surface thereof. Dovetails  126   b  are configured and dimensioned to complement and snap-fit engage the respective slots or channels  103   a  formed in base wall  102   a  of first-half portion  102 . Desirably, dovetails  126   b  and channels  103   a  are configured and dimensioned such that when proximal end portion  126  of slider latch  120  is operatively engaged with first-half portion  102 , proximal end portion  126  of slider latch  120  may reciprocatingly slide longitudinally with respect to first-half portion  102 , as indicated by arrow “A” in  FIGS. 7 and 18 . 
   In use, when proximal end portion  126  of slider latch  120  is operatively engaged with first-half portion  102 , intermediate portion  124  of slider latch  120  folds and bends along flex pointes  124   a ,  124   b  to define an anti-snag feature or the like. In this manner, if the cord or cable to which modular plug  100  is attached is pulled on, to remove the cable from an installation, the anti-snag feature enables modular plug  100  to navigate through the bundles (e.g., nest or web) of remaining cables without becoming snagged or hooked thereon. 
   Modular plug  100  is selectively connectable to a plug receptacle  200 , as seen in  FIG. 13 . Plug receptacle  200  includes a housing  202  defining an opening  204  configured and adapted to receive termination end  112  of modular plug  100  therein. In particular, opening  204  of plug receptacle  200  defines shoulders  204   a  configured and adapted to engage shoulders  122   a  of slider latch  120  of modular plug  100  when modular plug  100  is mated with plug receptacle  200 . As is conventional, plug receptacle  200  includes a plurality of contact or conductors  206  disposed within housing  202  for electrically connecting with terminals “T” of modular plug  100 . 
   As seen in  FIGS. 14-18 , modular plug  100  is shown mated with plug receptacle  200 . In order to mate modular jack  100  with plug receptacle  200 , proximal end portion  126  of slider latch  120  of modular plug  100  is connected to first-half portion  102  of modular plug  100 . With modular plug  100  so configured, termination end  112  of modular plug  100  is inserted into or otherwise introduced into opening  204  of plug receptacle  200 . As modular plug  100  is mated with plug receptacle  200 , shoulders  122   a  of slider latch  120  engage and are cammed or urged toward first-half portion  102  by shoulders  204   a  of opening  204  for a snap-fit engagement. 
   In order to disconnect modular plug  100  from plug receptacle  200 , proximal end portion  126  of slider latch  120  is moved in a proximal direction, as indicated by arrow “A” in  FIG. 18 , thereby moving intermediate portion  124  in the direction of first-half portion  102  of modular plug  100 . In so doing, shoulders  122   a  of slider latch  120  disengage shoulders  204   a  of housing  202  of plug receptacle  200  thereby allowing modular plug  100  to be pulled from plug receptacle  200 . 
   Upon moving proximal end portion  126  of slider latch  120  in a proximal direction, distal end portion  122  of slider latch  120  is biased toward first-half portion  102  of modular plug  100 . Since dovetails  126   b  of proximal end portion  126  of slider latch  120  hold proximal end portion  126  in sliding engagement with first-half portion  102  of modular plug  100 , upon release of proximal end portion  126  of slider latch  120  distal end portion  122  of slider latch  120  returns to the un-biased condition. 
   It is to be understood that the foregoing description is merely a disclosure of particular embodiments and is no way intended to limit the scope of the invention. Other possible modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and all modifications are to be defined by the following claims.