Patent ID: 12212097

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject disclosure is now described with reference to the drawings wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the subject disclosure. It may be evident, however, that the subject disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate describing the subject disclosure.

FIG.1is a three-dimensional view of an example RJ jack102and corresponding connector104. Jack102comprises a receptacle108designed to receive the RJ connector104(e.g., an RJ45 connector). The receptacle108has a profile that corresponds to that of the connector104so that the connector104can be received into the jack102.

A spring-loaded cantilevered latch112is formed on an outside surface of the connector104. This latch112is configured to slide into a groove110formed on the top edge of the jack receptacle108when the connector104is inserted into the jack102. When the connector104is fully inserted into the jack102, the cantilevered latch112engages with a corresponding engagement feature inside the jack102, thereby latching the connector104inside the jack102. The connector104can be removed from the jack102by applying downward pressure to the latch112, thereby disengaging the latch112from the jack102and allowing the connector104to be removed.

An array of conductive signal contacts106or tines installed inside the jack102are configured to maintain electrical contact with corresponding signal contacts114on the connector104. Connector104can be terminated to the end of a cable116(e.g., a twisted pair category cable), and individual conductors of the cable116can be separated out and electrically connected to the signal contacts114inside connector104. In this way, when the connector104is inserted into jack102, the contacts106inside the jack102are electrically connected to corresponding conductors of cable116.

There are potential drawbacks with the cantilevered latch112often used on connectors such as those depicted inFIG.1. For one, the overlap between the latch112and its corresponding engagement feature within the jack102is relatively small, and as such the engagement between the connector104and the jack102may be overcome if sufficient tensile or side load is applied to the cable116. Moreover, because the angle of the latch's incline faces the direction in which the cable116will be pulled during removal, the latch112acts as a potential snag point that can easily catch on other cables or structural elements while the cable116is being pulled through a congested space.

To address these and other issues, one or more embodiments described herein provide a connector having a torsion latch that offers a more positive retention within the jack and is less susceptible to accidental disengagement due to excessive tensile or side load on the cable116. The latching mechanism also requires less displacement force to disengage the connector from the jack while maintaining a disengagement action that is familiar to users (namely, a downward force applied to the latch's release lever). In contrast to the cantilevered latch112depicted inFIG.1, the torsion latch described herein translates a downward pressure applied by the user to a torsion or twisting action that displaces the connector's latch and disengages the connector from the jack.

FIG.2is an exploded view of a connector system comprising a connector214outfitted with a torsion latch204and a jack202configured to receive the connector214. The example connector214illustrated herein is designed as a single-pair connector capable of holding a single pair of electrical contacts208or tines that make electrical contact with a corresponding pair of contacts212housed in the jack202while the connector214is plugged into the jack202. However, the torsion latch design described herein can also be used on connectors for other cabling standards, including multi-pair cables. Moreover, although the torsion latch connector214is described herein as being a copper cable connector, the torsion latch design can also be used on fiber connectors.

The torsion latch connector214comprises a main connector body206on which a torsion latch204is mounted.FIGS.3aand3bare a side view and a perspective view, respectively, of the main connector body206. Main connector body206comprises a connector housing302on which is formed a latch retaining block306. In the illustrated example, the connector housing302has a substantially square or rectangular cross-sectional profile and comprises a flat front face310and a flat rear face312. Two channels216aand216bare formed through the connector housing302, traversing the length of the housing302from the rear face312to the front face310. These channels216a,216bare configured to hold the electrical contacts208to which conductors of a cable will be attached (e.g., by soldering or crimping the conductors to the contacts208).

The connector housing302comprises top, bottom, left side, and right side walls extending between the front face310and rear face312. A groove308is formed on the exterior surface of one of the side walls314, extending from the front face310to a point part way between the front face310and the rear face312. The front of this groove308forms a notch318on a side edge of the front face310. This notch318serves as an entryway for a corresponding rail formed on an inside wall of a jack receptacle, as discussed below.

The latch retaining block306is formed on the top side316of the connector housing302and is positioned near the front face310of the housing302. A cone-shaped axle304is formed on a rear-facing side of the latch retaining block306. The cone-shaped axle304is maintained at a height h above the top side316of the connector housing302and is directed toward the rear side of the connector housing302. A front-facing surface320of the latch retaining block306is ramped to assist in guiding the connector214into a jack receptacle. A rounded section322is formed on top of the latch retaining block306and extends in a front-to-rear direction.

FIGS.4a,4b, and4care a side view, front view, and perspective view, respectively, of the torsion latch204. Torsion latch204comprises a hollow (or partially hollow) cylindrical body408on which a release lever410is formed. The release lever410protrudes outwardly or laterally from the cylindrical body408(substantially orthogonal to the axis of the cylindrical body408). A flat elongated elastic spring412extends from the rear of the cylindrical body408substantially parallel with the axis of the cylindrical body408. A chamfered hole406is formed through the front of the cylindrical body408and is configured to receive the cone-shaped axle304of the latch retaining block306on the connector body206.

A hood404extends longitudinally (substantially parallel with the axis of the cylindrical body408) from the front of the cylindrical body408adjacent to the chamfered hole406. A channel402is formed on an inner surface of the hood404; that is, the surface of the hood404that is adjacent to the chamfered hole406. This channel402has a contour that substantially matches the arc of the chamfered hole406, such that the profile of the channel402is continuous with the arc of the hole406. The profile of the channel402also matches the arc of the rounded section322on the top side of the latch retaining block306(seeFIG.3b). The rounded section322will reside in the channel402when the torsion latch204is installed on the connector body206.

A latching protrusion414is also formed on the front of the cylindrical body408, extending laterally from the cylindrical body408(substantially orthogonal to the axis of the cylindrical body408). The latching protrusion414extends from a segment of the cylindrical body's profile that is not covered by the hood404. The torsion latch204can comprise a single molded part made of a material (e.g., plastic) that permits flexibility and elasticity of the spring412.

FIG.5ais a side view of the main connector body206and the torsion latch204aligned for assembly. To assemble the connector214, the torsion latch204is oriented relative to the main connector body206such that the axis of the latch's cylindrical body408is aligned with the axis of the cone-shaped axle304on the latch retaining block306. The torsion latch204can then be installed on the cone-shaped axle304such that the axle304resides in, and engages with, the chamfered hole406of the torsion latch204.FIG.5bis a side view of the assembled connector214. While engaged, the torsion latch204is held in place on the latch retaining block306while being permitted to rotate about the axis of the cone-shaped axle304. The height h of the cone-shaped axle above the main connector body206(seeFIG.3a) ensures sufficient clearance between the latch's cylindrical body408and the main connector body206to allow the torsion latch204to rotate. In some embodiments, a ridge can be formed around the base of the cone-shaped axle304, and this ridge can be configured to engage with a circular groove formed inside the chamfered hole406of the torsion latch204, thereby holding the torsion latch204on the cone-shaped axle304while permitting the torsion latch204to rotate about the axle304. These engagement features can also be reversed in some embodiments, such that a groove is formed about the base of the cone-shaped axle304and is configured to engage with a circular ridge formed inside the chamfered hole406. Other mechanisms for engaging the torsion latch204with the cone-shaped axle304in a manner that permits rotation of the torsion latch204about the axle304are also within the scope of one or more embodiments.

FIGS.6aand6bare side and front views, respectively, of a jack202configured to receive the torsion latch connector214. Jack202comprises a jack housing602with a receptacle604having a profile designed to receive the torsion latch connector214. The receptacle604comprises a lower portion614configured to receive the connector housing302of the main connector body206and an upper portion612configured to receive the latch retaining block306and torsion latch204. The lower portion614has a substantially square or rectangular profile similar to the profile of the connector housing302. A ridge606is formed on an interior side wall of the lower portion614of the receptacle604and is configured to be received in the groove308formed on the exterior side wall314of the connector housing302when the torsion latch connector214is inserted into the jack202(entering the groove308via the notch318on the front face310of the main connector body206).

The upper portion612of the receptacle604has a cross-shaped profile, including a left channel610, a right channel616, and a top channel608.FIG.6cis a perspective view of the jack202showing the left-side interior rails618and620. The left channel610is defined by a lower left-side rail620(which also defines the lower portion614of the receptacle604) and an upper left-side rail618. The upper left-side rail618extends from the front face of the jack202to a point part way into the receptacle604, terminating in a rear side624that will serve as an engagement point for the latching protrusion414of the torsion latch connector214. The upper left-side rail618has a downwardly ramped bottom surface622. As will be described in more detail below, the ramped bottom surface622of the upper left-side rail618interacts with the latching protrusion414to apply a downward force on the protrusion414as the torsion latch connector214is being inserted into the jack202.

FIGS.7aand7bare a side view and a perspective view, respectively, of the torsion latch connector214aligned for engagement with the jack202.FIGS.8aand8bare a side view and a perspective view, respectively, of the torsion latch connector214inserted into the jack202. As the torsion latch connector214—comprising the assembly of the torsion latch204and main connector body206—is inserted into the jack receptacle604, the downwardly ramped bottom surface622of the upper left-side rail618(seeFIG.6c) applies downward pressure on the latching protrusion414, causing the torsion latch204to rotate about the axis of the cone-shaped axle304. As the torsion latch204rotates, the edge of the elastic spring412is forced against the top side316of the main connector body206, creating a torsional force that opposes the downward force applied to the latching protrusion414by the upper left-side rail618. When the latching protrusion414moves beyond the rear side624of the upper left-side rail618(seeFIG.6c), the countering torsion force applied by the spring412forces the latching protrusion414upward to reside behind the upper left-side rail618. The resulting engagement between the latching protrusion414and the rear side624of the upper left-side rail618prevents removal of the torsion latch connector214from the jack202. While the torsion latch connector214is inserted into the jack202, the latch retaining block306and hood404reside in the top channel608of the receptacle604.

To disengage the torsion latch connector214, downward pressure can be applied to the release lever410of the torsion latch204. Pressing the release lever410causes the torsion latch204to rotate about the cone-shaped axle304in a direction (represented by the arrow inFIG.8b) that opposes the torsion force generated by the spring412, moving the latching protrusion414to a position of disengagement from the upper left-side rail618, allowing the torsion latch connector214to be removed from the jack202.

While the torsion connector214is plugged into the jack202, the positioning of the latching protrusion414behind the upper left-side rail618of the jack receptacle604can yield a more robust engagement relative to cantilevered latches found on many cable connectors, rendering the resulting connection more resistant to accidental disengagement due to excessive force applied to the cable. The lack of a cantilevered latch also renders the torsion latch connector214less susceptible to snagging while being pulled through a high-density environment, offering an improved interface for extended handles such as pullers for individual or ganged connector configurations. Moreover, the torsion latch design maintains a familiar user experience, whereby the torsion latch connector214is disengaged by applying a downward pressure to a lever410on the connector214, an action similar to that used to disengage cantilevered latches. The disengaged connector214can be removed from the jack202easily with less resistance due to tensile or side load on the cable while removing the free connector214from the jack202.

The above description of illustrated embodiments of the subject disclosure, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosed embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. While specific embodiments and examples are described herein for illustrative purposes, various modifications are possible that are considered within the scope of such embodiments and examples, as those skilled in the relevant art can recognize.

In this regard, while the disclosed subject matter has been described in connection with various embodiments and corresponding figures, where applicable, it is to be understood that other similar embodiments can be used or modifications and additions can be made to the described embodiments for performing the same, similar, alternative, or substitute function of the disclosed subject matter without deviating therefrom. Therefore, the disclosed subject matter should not be limited to any single embodiment described herein, but rather should be construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the appended claims below.

In addition, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or.” That is, unless specified otherwise, or clear from context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances. Moreover, articles “a” and “an” as used in the subject specification and annexed drawings should generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form.

What has been described above includes examples of systems and methods illustrative of the disclosed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every combination of components or methodologies here. One of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “includes,” “has,” “possesses,” and the like are used in the detailed description, claims, appendices and drawings such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.