Abstract:
A ruggedized, reliable and sealed connector assembly for the a network, such as the Ethernet, the telephone network, and other applications, includes a housing assembly having push-on, auto-latching connection mechanism that may be used to seal and protect an industry-standard connector. The illustrative connector assembly comprises a first housing assembly for housing a first connector half, such as a jack, and a second housing assembly for housing a second connector half for mating with the first connector half, such as a plug. When the first housing assembly mates with the second housing assembly, the housed plug and jack also mate, in a sealed, protected environment. A locking sleeve is rotated against a spring force during initial insertion of the second housing assembly into the other, and permitted to rotate back into a locking position upon completion of insertion, thereby locking the first housing assembly to the second housing assembly and the first connector half to the second connector half. The first connector half (i.e., a jack) may be removably snapped into place in the first housing assembly and the second connector half (i.e., a plug) may be removably snapped into place in the second housing assembly. The second housing assembly may includes a means for disabling a latching lever arm on a plug component to allow the disengagement and unlocking of the connector assembly by rotating the locking sleeve, rather than requiring manual disengagement of the first and second connector halves.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, co-pending U.S. Provisional Application 60/450,798, filed Feb. 28, 2003, for all subject matter common to both applications. The disclosure of said provisional application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to an automatically locking connector assembly for joining a first connector body with a second connector body. More particularly, the present invention relates to an automatically locking connector assembly for housing an Ethernet connector.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Modular connectors, such as modular plugs and modular jacks, are commonly used in telecommunications applications, data transmission applications, Ethernet and other network applications. Industry standard connectors include RJ-45 connectors, which are eight-wire connectors used commonly to connect computers onto a local-area network (LAN), particularly the Ethernet, and RJ-11 connectors, used for connecting telephone equipment.  
         [0004]     It is generally desirable for a connector to provide flawless electrical contact and mechanical connection throughout a range of conditions. Traditionally, RJ-45 connectors are used in an office or home environment, and are not suitable for hostile environments, such as the factory floor, where they may be exposed to water, dust, humidity, stress, chemicals, dirt, temperature variations, vibration and other elements. While there is a growing need to provide access to information in industrial environments, RJ-45 connectors, and other similar connectors used for Ethernet and other network applications, tend to be delicate, breakable, difficult to connect and disconnect, and subject to degradation and corrosion from exposure to the harsh elements found in an industrial environment. The introduction of the Internet and other applications to the factory floor poses a strong need for Ethernet connectors that can withstand harsh environments and elements found in the industrial setting.  
         [0005]     Conventional systems have attempted to protect RJ-45 connectors using silicon gel disposed proximate to the contact interface. However, the silicon gel tends to trap foreign debris, such as dust and dirt, which interfere with proper connectivity. The silicon gel further does not provide protection against other elements, such as chemicals, vibration, shock, and UV light. Other conventional systems for protecting RJ-45 and other connectors require a housing for sealing the connector halves that must integrally formed or molded on the a connector half, such as the jack. The integrated housing prevents removal and replacement of a defective or otherwise unsuitable connector half.  
         [0006]     Furthermore, there is often a need to change the numbers, configurations, or sizes of multi-circuit connectors to meet specific needs. Being able to make these changes in the field easily and without special tools is a great advantage to technicians and end users to meet specific and often unique custom connector needs quickly without waiting for the connectors or connector inserts to be manufactured or ordered and shipped to the site.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention provides a ruggedized, reliable, and sealed connector assembly for the Ethernet and other applications that can consistently and easily mate and unmate in an industrial setting. The connector assembly includes a housing assembly having a push-on, auto-latching connection mechanism that may be used to seal and protect an industry-standard Ethernet connector. The illustrative connector assembly comprises a first housing assembly for housing a first connector half, such as a jack, and a second housing assembly for housing a second connector half, such as a plug, for mating with the first connector half. When the first housing assembly mates with the second housing assembly, the housed plug and jack also mate, in a sealed, protected environment. To connect the connector assembly, a locking sleeve is rotated against a spring force during initial insertion of the second housing assembly into the other, and permitted to rotate back into a locking position upon completion of insertion, thereby locking the first housing assembly to the second housing assembly and the first connector half to the second connector half. The first connector half (i.e., a jack) may be removably snapped into place in the first housing assembly and the second connector half (i.e., a plug) may be removably snapped into place in the second housing assembly. The second housing assembly may includes a means for disabling a latching lever arm on a plug component to allow the disengagement and unlocking of the connector assembly by rotating the locking sleeve, rather than requiring manual disengagement of the first and second connector halves.  
         [0008]     In accordance with one example embodiment of the present invention, a modular network connector assembly includes a first connector housing for housing a first connector half having a first telescoping body portion. A second connector housing has a second telescoping body portion for engaging with the first telescoping body portion, wherein the second connector housing is configured to house a second connector half for axially mating with the first connector half. An annular collar encircles the telescoping body portions and is rotatably held on the second connector housing. A spring is provided inside the collar, the ends of the spring being confined between the second connector housing and the collar so as to yieldingly resist rotation of the collar relatively to the second connector housing. Axially opposed tabs are provided on the collar and first connector housing with opposed flaring cam surfaces cooperatively producing rotation of the collar relative to the first connector housing as the first and second connector housing are telescoped to a mated contact position, the cam surfaces guiding the collar tab around the body tab. The spring yieldes as the collar is rotated by the cam tabs during contact mating, and the spring then rotates the collar tab to a latching position axially behind the body tab locking the first and second connector housings in mated contact position.  
         [0009]     In accordance with aspects of the present invention, the modular network connector assembly further includes a first connector half housed in the first connector housing and a second connector half housed in the second connector housing. The first connector half can include a RJ-45 jack and the second connector half can include a RJ-45 plug. The plug can mate with the jack when the first and second connector housings are in the mated contact position. The second connector housing can include a lever disabling groove for disabling a latching lever on the plug when the plug is inserted in the second connector housing.  
         [0010]     In accordance with further aspects of the present invention, the first connector housing includes a retaining system for releasably retaining the first connector half therein. The retaining system includes a first groove for engaging a first protrusion on the first connector half. The retaining system further includes a second groove for engaging a second protrusion on the first connector half.  
         [0011]     In accordance with further aspects of the present invention, the second connector housing includes a retaining system for releasably retaining the second connector half therein. The retaining system includes a ridge formed in a plug-receiving receptacle of the second connector housing for engaging a groove on the second connector half. The second connector housing includes a threaded portion for engaging a strain relief for a cable. A strain relief can be attached to the threaded portion of the second connector housing. The second connector housing can include a disabling groove for disabling a latching lever arm on the second connector half.  
         [0012]     In accordance with one example embodiment of the present invention, a modular network connector assembly includes a plug receptacle sized and configured to receive a plug. A ridge is formed on an inner surface of the receptacle for engaging with a groove in the plug to removably retain the plug in the receptacle.  
         [0013]     In accordance with one example embodiment of the present invention, a modular network connector assembly includes a jack housing. A first cavity is formed in the housing for receiving and retaining a jack. A second cavity is formed in the housing for receiving a telescoping portion of a plug housing. A jack retaining system is provided for releasably retaining a jack in the first cavity.  
         [0014]     In accordance with one example embodiment of the present invention, a modular network connector assembly includes a plug housing. A plug receptacle is formed in a first end of the plug housing for receiving and retaining a plug. A threaded portion is provided on the second end of the plug housing for mating with a strain relief  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0015]     The present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  illustrates a conventional network connector comprising a jack and a plug for mating with the jack;  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  illustrates a ruggedized network connector assembly according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  illustrates the ruggedized network connector assembly of  FIG. 2  in an engaged position;  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is an exploded isometric view of the housing of the ruggedized network connector assembly according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention with first and second connector housings and a collar;  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is an exploded side view, of the first connector housing, collar, and second connector housing of the connector assembly of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the second connector housing for housing a plug according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side view of the second connector housing of  FIG. 6 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the first connector housing for housing a jack according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 9  is a cut-away view of the first connector housing of  FIG. 8 ; and  
         [0025]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a jack suitable for insertion into the first connector housing of  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0026]     The present invention provides a ruggedized, self-latching network connector assembly for conventional network connectors, such as Ethernet and telephonic connectors. The invention will be described below relative to illustrative embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be implemented in a number of different applications and embodiments and is not specifically limited in its application to the particular embodiments depicted herein.  
         [0027]      FIG. 1  illustrates a conventional network connector in the form of an Ethernet connector  10  for Ethernet applications, suitable for implementing an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. The illustrative connector  10  is a RJ-45 connector, an eight-wire commonly used for network cabling and for telephony applications, as well as serial connections, though one skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to using RJ-45 connectors, but can be utilized with a number of different network connectors. As shown, the connector  10  comprises a jack  20  and plug  30  configured to mate with the jack. The jack  12  comprises a housing  22  defining a plug-receiving cavity  24  for receiving the plug body  32 . The plug body  32  is adapted to slide into and engage the jack  20 , such that the electrical contacts  38  of the plug electrically engage the electrical contacts  28  of the jack. As the plug body slides into the plug-receiving cavity  24  of the jack, a latch, illustrated as a resilient lever arm  39 , latches into a latching groove  29  in the jack, which temporarily locks the plug to the jack. The plug  30  is removed by first depressing the resilient lever arm  39  and then pulling the plug  30  from the jack  20 .  
         [0028]     A cable  36  extends from the wired end of the plug  30 . The illustrative RJ-45-type plug has eight leads located side-by-side. Each lead is connected to a wire-connecting portion at one end of the plug, and one of the contacts  38  at a second end of the plug. The RJ-45-type jack  20  also has eight conductive leads typically located side-by-side, and each lead also is connected to a wire connecting terminal at a first end of the jack and to one of the contacts  28  at a second end of the jack. Typically, each of the eight wire connector terminals of the plug are connected to a corresponding conductor of the four twisted pairs of conductors of the cable  36 , in a standard arrangement  
         [0029]     The standard Ethernet connector  10  is difficult to connect and disconnect, requiring a user to depress the relatively small, delicate lever arm  39  in order to remove the plug from the jack. The connector of  FIG. 1  is also not suitable for an industrial environment, as the connector is not protected from dust, humidity, chemicals and other elements and is not robust or capable of withstanding shock, vibration and other stresses. The connector  10  is also difficult to maintain and repair.  
         [0030]      FIG. 2  illustrates an Ethernet connector assembly  100  of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. The connector assembly  100  comprises a first modular connector assembly, illustrated as a modular jack assembly  200 , and a second modular connector assembly, illustrated as modular plug assembly  300 , for mating with the first modular connector assembly  200 . The illustrative modular jack assembly  200  comprises a first latching connector housing, illustrated as a jack housing  202 , that houses a first connector half, illustrated as the jack  20  of  FIG. 1 . The illustrative modular plug assembly  300  comprises a second latching connector housing, illustrated as plug housing  302 , for releasably engaging the first latching connector housing. The housing  302  includes a plug boss  324  defining a plug receptacle  340  that houses a second connector half, illustrated as the plug  30  of  FIG. 1 . In the illustrative embodiment, the jack  20  and plug  30  are housed in the jack housing  202  and the plug housing  302 , respectively, such that when the jack housing  202  engages the plug housing  302 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , the jack  20  and plug  30  also mate.  
         [0031]     According to an illustrative embodiment, the housing  202 ,  302  is formed of thermal plastic to provide a sturdy structure for protecting the connector from elements, such as humidity, chemicals, dust, dirt, water, shock, vibration, and other forces. The connector assembly  100  provides a sealed environment for the jack and plug connection. The illustrative Ethernet connector assembly  100  further provides a self-latching, automatically locking connector that is simple and easy to couple, while providing a secure connection. The illustrative Ethernet connector assembly must be disengaged manually, to prevent accidental disengagement of the assembly  100 . An illustrative embodiment of the latching mechanism for latching the illustrative Ethernet connector assembly  100  of an illustrative embodiment of the invention will be described below, though one skilled in the art will recognize that other suitable means for latching together a modular jack assembly and a modular plug assembly may be used in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.  
         [0032]      FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate the jack housing  202  and the plug housing  302  of the connector assembly  100  in an exploded position. The jack may be mounted in a back cavity  206  of the jack housing  202 . When assembled, the plug boss  324  telescopes into a front cavity  204  (shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 ) of the jack housing  202 , such that the contacts  38  of the plug  30  axially mate with the contacts  28  of the jack  20  when the jack housing  202  engages the plug housing  302  along the longitudinal axis A-A. The jack housing  202  may further include a flange  220  and threads  222  for mounting the first connector assembly  200  in a panel with a nut or other suitable mating device.  
         [0033]     An annular collar  400  is rotatably mounted on the plug boss  324  to latch the connector assemblies  200 ,  300  together. When the two assemblies  200 ,  300  are mated, the annular collar  400  encircles the boss  324  of the plug housing  302  and the socket  224  of the jack housing  202  to hold the connector bodies together. As shown, the collar  400  is mounted on the boss  324 , such that there is a circumferential space between the inner surface of the collar and the outer surface of the boss  324 . According to the illustrative embodiment, the collar  400  includes one or more internal radial stops  420  and the plug housing  302  includes a first flange  310  having one or more passageways  320  extending longitudinally and configured to receive the stops  420  on the collar  400 . An annular groove  330  is also formed on the plug housing  302  for receiving the internal radial stops  420  of the collar  400 .  
         [0034]     The collar  400  is mounted to the plug boss  324  by sliding the collar  400  along the longitudinal axis A-A over the boss  324 , such that the internal radial stops  420  on the collar  400  are admitted through the passageways  320  on the plug housing and into the annular groove  330 . The annular groove  330  axially confines the stops and holds the collar  400  rotatably around the plug housing  302 . The stops limit the amount of rotation of the collar to a range of about forty degrees. One skilled in the art will recognize that other suitable means of rotatably locking the annular collar  400  to the plug housing may be used in accordance with the teachings of the invention.  
         [0035]     The collar  400  further includes at least one camming tab  210  configured to engage one or more camming tabs  220  on the first connector housing to lock the connector housing bodies together. According to the illustrative embodiment, the camming tabs  210 ,  220  comprise opposing, pie-shaped protrusions, though other configurations may be used according to the present invention. The camming tabs  210 ,  220  comprise opposing points and two camming surfaces flaring away from each point to intersection with a back surface.  
         [0036]     A coiled spring  470  may be provided for biasing the collar  400  into a normal position when the collar is mounted on the plug housing. The coiled spring  470 , illustrated as a round wire of spring metal, though any suitable mechanism for biasing the collar may be used, is also confined in the annular groove  330  of the plug housing. The spring  470  may be anchored at a first end inside the collar at a first stop  442  and at a second end in a small recess  338  in the groove  330 . The spring  470  is biased yieldingly to constantly urge the collar stops  420  to a normal position abutting the opposed stops  442  in the groove  330 . In the rest position, as described in detail below, the camming tabs  210  provided on the collar  400  are located relative to the plug-receiving cavity  24  on the jack, such that the collar camming tabs  210  and plug body are in matching alignment with corresponding camming tabs  220  and the plug-receiving cavity  24  on the jack, respectively.  
         [0037]     The insulative boss  324  of the first connector body  10  may further include longitudinal keyways (not shown), which receive keys (not shown) formed on an inner surface of the plug-receiving cavity  24  of the jack  20  to assure correct angular alignment during mating engagement.  
         [0038]     Index marks may also be provided as a visual aid to the correct angular alignment in alignment of the connector assemblies  200 ,  300 . For example, the illustrative connector system includes a first index mark  490  on the collar  400 , a second index mark  290  on the first body and a third index mark  390  on the second body, which align when the connector bodies are properly engaged. The mark  490  on the collar may further include an arrowhead  491  indicating the direction in which the collar  400  can be rotated from the normal position during the two operations of locking engagement and disengagement of the two bodies.  
         [0039]     To lock the male and female connector assembly together, the markers  490 ,  290  on the collar  400  and the first housing  20 , respectively, are manually aligned and the two bodies are pushed together along the longitudinal axis A-A to achieve a snap-lock. When the first connector housing and the second connector housing are pushed together, the first connector housing receives the second connector housing, as the boss  324  telescopes in the front cavity  204  of the modular jack assembly. As the boss  324  telescopes into the front cavity  204 , the plug  30  slides into and engages the jack  20 , such that the electrical contacts  38  of the plug electrically engage the electrical contacts  28  of the jack  20 .  
         [0040]     At the same time, the camming tabs  210 ,  220  slide past each other. The collar camming tab  210  is offset a small angle from a central plane through the collar and receptacle to facilitate engagement. After first sliding engagement, the mutual edging action of the camming surfaces forces the collar  400  to rotate against the spring, allowing the collar tab  210  to slide around the receptacle tab  220  and then spring back with its back surface behind the back surface of the receptacle tab  220 .  
         [0041]     In this position, the tabs lock the first housing  202  to the second housing  302  and the jack  20  to the plug  30 . The spring  470  reverses rotation of the collar  400  until the faces of the collar stops strike the opposed faces of the plug stops. An audible “snap” signals that the first housing and the second housing, are locked together and that the jack  20  is effectively mated with the plug  30 . Locking may be visually confirmed by alignment of the index marks after the automatic return of the collar to its normal position by the spring.  
         [0042]     The connectors may be released manually, by rotating the collar  400 . To disengage the connectors, the collar  400  is manually rotated in the direction of the arrowhead  491 . The rotation of the collar  400  turns the collar camming tabs  210  towards a circumferential ramp  370  slanting across the paths of the tabs. The camming face of each ramp is angled away from the adjacent tab, so that it cams the collar tab  210 , collar  400  and plug housing apart and out of engagement with the jack housing. In this manner, disengagement can be effected without pulling and straining the cord extending from the plug, because the rotation of the collar is in a plane at right angles to the axis of the plug and cord.  
         [0043]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the plug housing  302  of the ruggedized connector assembly of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, wherein the collar  400  is removed.  FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the plug housing  302  of  FIG. 6 . As shown, the plug housing includes an plug receptacle  340  sized and configured for accommodating a connector piece, such as the plug  30 . The plug housing  302  is designed such that the connector piece may be easily assembled therein. The plug housing further includes a lever disabling groove  306  for disabling the resilient lever arm  39  of the plug  30  by maintaining the lever in a depressed position when the plug is inserted in the plug receptacle  304 . Alternatively, the resilient lever arm  39  of the plug  30  may be removed prior to assembly of the plug assembly  300 . In the illustrative embodiment, the plug is mounted in the housing  302  by sliding the plug body into the plug receptacle, such that the groove  306  depresses the lever arm  39 . The plug receptacle  340  includes a plug retainer, illustrated as a ridge  341  formed on the lower wall thereof and extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A-A. The ridge  341  engages with a groove in the back of the plug  30  (behind the step  37  shown in  FIG. 1 ) for retaining the plug in the plug housing  302 . Alternatively, the plug retainer may comprise a groove or depression formed in a wall of the plug receptacle for engaging a protrusion on the plug. One skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the illustrative plug retainer and that any suitable means for retaining the plug in the plug housing may be utilized in accordance with the teachings of the invention, such as friction fit.  
         [0044]     The illustrative lever-disabling groove  306  is formed in an upper surface of the plug receptacle  340  for disabling the lever arm  39  of the plug. When the plug  30  is retained in the plug housing  302 , the lever-disabling groove  306  maintains the latching lever arm in a depressed position. The disabling of the lever arm  39  allows the plug and jack to be easily coupled and de-coupled through the coupling and de-coupling of the jack housing  202  and plug housing  202 , as described above, without requiring a user to activate the cumbersome latch. According to an alternate embodiment, the lever arm of the plug may be simply removed prior to insertion of the plug into the plug receptacle, in order to de-activate the latching mechanism between the plug and jack. One skilled in the art will recognize that any suitable means for de-activating the latching mechanism may be used in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.  
         [0045]     According to the illustrative embodiment, the plug housing  302  may further include coring  345 , illustrated as three longitudinal grooves  345   a ,  345   b ,  345   c  formed in the lower wall of the plug receptacle  340  for enhancing the seal between the modular jack assembly  200  and the modular plug assembly  300 . The illustrative coring  345  allows for expansion of the plug housing  302 , for example, due to humidity, temperature changes and/or stresses applied to the housing, without affecting the sealing capabilities of the connector assembly  100 . One skilled in the art will recognize that the coring  345  may have any suitable configuration and location for absorbing expansion of the housing  302 .  
         [0046]     The outer circumference of the boss  324  may include an o-ring groove  325  for receiving an o-ring therein to enhance sealing between the modular jack assembly and the modular plug assembly.  
         [0047]     The back side of the plug housing  302  may include threads  360  for accepting an industry standard threaded strain relief ( 120 , shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) for the cable  36 .  
         [0048]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the jack housing  202  of the jack assembly  200 .  FIG. 9  is a cut-away view of the jack housing  202  of  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the jack  20  suitable for assembly in the jack housing  202  of  FIGS. 8 and 9 . As shown, the jack housing  202  includes a front cavity  204  defined by the socket  224  for receiving the plug boss  324 , and a back cavity  206  for housing a connector piece, such as the jack  20 . When a plug boss  324  housing a plug  30 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , is received in the front cavity  204  of the jack housing  202 , the plug  30  carried by the plug boss is inserted into a jack  30  housed in the back cavity  206 .  
         [0049]     The jack housing  202  is configured such that a connector half, such as the jack  30  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 10 , can be easily and removably snapped into the housing. The jack may be retained in the jack housing using a suitable retaining system. According to the illustrative embodiment, the jack housing  202  includes a first jack retainer, illustrated as a first groove  207 , and a second jack retainer, illustrated as a second groove  208 , formed on opposite sides of the back cavity  206  for retaining the corresponding connector half therein. As shown in  FIG. 10 , an industry standard jack  20  includes a first protrusion  227  formed on a first side of the jack  20  and a latching lever  229  extending on a second side of the jack and having a second protrusion  228  formed thereon. When the jack  20  is inserted in the back cavity  206 , the first groove  207  receives and retains the first protrusion  227  and the second groove  208  receives and retains the second protrusion  228 , thereby releasably retaining the jack  20  in the housing  202 .  
         [0050]     The illustrative retaining system allows a variety of industry standard jacks to be easily snapped into the environmentally sealed housing. The jacks can be easily removed from the housing and replaced. One skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the illustrative retaining system and that any suitable means for releasably retaining a connector piece in the housing  202  may be used in accordance with the teachings of the invention.  
         [0051]     One skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention is not limited to the illustrated method of coupling the two housing assemblies together and that other suitable means for latching the housing assemblies together may be used in accordance with the teachings of the invention.  
         [0052]     One skilled in the art will also recognize that the invention is not limited to RJ-45 connectors and that the connector assemblies  200 ,  300  may also be used to accommodate other components, such as, but not limited to: fiber-optic, coaxial, pin-and-socket connectors, as well as other telecommunications methodologies, such as RJ-11 connectors and so on.  
         [0053]     The ruggedized Ethernet connector assembly provides simple and automatic locking engagement of the first connector assembly to the second connector assembly without deformation of the plastic, insulative connector bodies or collar. Engagement is indicated positively by an audible snap and by alignment of index marks. The spring allows a rotary disengaging manipulation, which is convenient and which places no longitudinal strain on a cord or cable connected to the plug body. The connectors provide a secure connection, while providing an environmentally sealed housing that protects the jack and plug connection from harsh environments. Once mated, the housing will not easily break, de-couple, leak or expose the components to the elements. Furthermore, the housing components may be easily retrofit to existing, standard connectors, such as the RJ-45 jacks and plugs prevalently used today. A user can simply snap a selected industry standard connector half into the housing to assemble the connector assembly. The connector half may be removed from the housing so that the connector half and/or the housing may be used in another application without damaging any of the components.  
         [0054]     The present invention has been described relative to an illustrative embodiment. Since certain changes may be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention includes all modifications and equivalents falling within the appended claims  
         [0055]     It is also to be understood that the following claims are to cover all generic and specific features of the invention described herein, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.