Patent Document

TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a cover that covers the open end of a connector. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The exposed end part of a fiber optic connector or an electrical connector preferably has a cover that covers the end in order to prevent contamination by dust and the like. Various types of covers can be used as this connector cover. The connector cover may have other functions in addition to covering the exposed end to prevent contamination. 
         [0003]    Specifically, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application H7-263070 describes a “connector dust cover with protrusions to prevent loss of the elasticity of a connector locking lever.” Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 5,030,120 describes a “dust cover that prevents a plug connector from longitudinally detaching from the receptacle connector by frictional engagement between the sealing surface of the cover member and the coupling nut of the plug connector.” 
         [0004]    The connector cover covers the exposed end of a connector until the connector is mated with another connector, and has a function of protecting from dust, but once the connectors have been mated, the exposed end will be blocked, and the function of protecting from dust will not be necessary. The unused connector cover can easily be lost, or if integrally provided on the connector, will not easily be lost, but maybe get in the way when using that connector or another connector. On the other hand, the mated connector may be disengaged by an inadvertent action, thus making the electrical or optical characteristics instable. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The present invention provides a connector cover that has dust preventing functions when the connector is not connected, and prevents inadvertent disengagement when the connector is connected. 
         [0006]    In one embodiment, the present invention provides a connector cover, comprising a plate covering a receptacle open end and an arm protruding from said plate; wherein when a plug is inserted into said opening, the thickness of said arm is less than the gap between a latch lever and a body of said plug. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment, the present invention provides a connector cover, comprising a plate covering a receptacle open end and an arm protruding from said plate; wherein said arm is inserted between the body of the plug that is inserted into said open end and the latch lever of the plug, and displacement of said latch lever is controlled. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a connector with a cover, according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the connector of  FIG. 1  in the condition where the cover is closed. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the mated condition of the receptacle and plug. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the connector of  FIG. 3 , as seen from an angle from the bottom. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    In the first embodiment of the present invention, a connector cover that can cover the open end of a receptacle can prevent inadvertent detachment of a mating plug, and can restrict the displacement of the latch lever of the plug that is engaged in the receptacle. 
         [0013]    The connector cover according to the present invention can cover the open end of a connector when the connector is not engaged in order to prevent dust contamination, and when the connector is mated to another connector, the displacement of the latch lever of the mated connector is restricted by an arm of the connector cover to prevent inadvertent disengagement. The connector used with this connector cover is generally referred to as a receptacle or a socket, and is a female type connector that receives an opposing mating connector in the mating end. This connector is provided beforehand on wiring boards and devices or the like in order to achieve an electrical or optical connection if necessary by inserting an opposing mating connector into the open end. Therefore, until connected with the opposing mating connector, the cover covers the open end in order to prevent dust and damage to the open end. 
         [0014]    The connector cover of the present invention will be described below while referring to the drawings.  FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an electrical connector  1  with a connector cover according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the condition where the connector cover is closed for the connector shown in  FIG. 1 . This connector  1  is a connector known as a receptacle connector, and receives a connector  2  (discussed later) known as a plug connector into the housing. 
         [0015]    The receptacle  1  comprises a housing  10  and a cable mounting part  11 . The housing  10  has essentially a rectangular solid shape, has an open end  12  on the front end in the direction of mating, and has a cover  14  above the open end  12 . The housing  10  further includes a latch arm  16  on both sides of the open end for securing the receptacle  1  to a wiring board or the like. The housing  10  can be formed from any material, such as any type of plastic or metal material. The open end  12  is an open portion (cavity portion) with a size that can receive the opposing mating connector  2 , and can internally contain one or a plurality of contacts therein (not shown in the drawings). The cable mounting part  11  is a section that mechanically and electrically connects the cable and the contacts, and the cable is inserted into a cable hole of the cable mounting part  11 . Mounting the cable can be performed by a variety of commonly known methods, such as a method of insulation displacement, which connects a cable to essentially a U-shaped contact, or by soldering, or the like. Locking holes  20  that engage with the plug  2  are formed on both side walls  18  of the open end  12 . 
         [0016]    The cover  14  comprises a plate  22 , arms  24   a,    24   b,  and a plurality of hinges  26 . The plate  22  is essentially a rectangular plate shaped member, and has a size and shape that generally covers the open end  12 . The arms  24   a,    24   b  extend essentially perpendicular from the surface of the plate  22  that covers the open end  12  in proximity to both ends of the plate  22 . 
         [0017]    The hinge  26  is a flexible section that allows the cover  14  to move between a closed position (refer to  FIG. 2 ) that covers the open end  12  and a displacement preventing position (refer to  FIG. 3 ) which will be described later. The length of the hinge  26  is set to a length that allows the cover  14  to cover the open end  12  and to be positioned in a displacement preventing position. In the process of covering the open end  12  with the cover  14 , the hinge  26  bends and allows rotational movement of the cover  14 . When the cover  14  is in the closed position, the arms  24   a,    24   b  are inserted into the open end  12 . These arms  24   a,    24   b  contact with the inside wall of the open end  12 , and prevent the cover  14  from being inadvertently detached from covering the open end  12  using frictional forces. In order to more positively attach the cover  14 , slots (not shown in the drawings) can be provided on the inside of the open end  12  for at least one of the arms  24   a,    24   b  to be inserted. The arm that is inserted into the slot is interpositioned between the inside walls of the slot. A protrusion  28  can also be formed on the surface of either the inside or the outside of each arm  24   a,    24   b.  These protrusions  28  deform slightly when the arm is inserted into the slot, and thereby the cover  14  is more securely attached in the closed position. 
         [0018]    The illustrated embodiment is a construction where only one arm  24   b  is inserted into a slot. In order for the arm  24   b  to reach the slot, the arm  24   b  is made longer than the other arm  24   a,  but slots can also be formed corresponding to both of the arms  24   a,    24   b.  It is also possible to make both arms  24   a,    24   b  equal length. 
         [0019]    As another embodiment, a locking part which can engage with the protrusions  28  of the arms  24   a,    24   b  can be formed on the inside of the open end  12  in addition to or instead of forming a slot. In this case as well, it is acceptable if only one arm engages with the locking part, but it is also acceptable for both arms to engage with the locking parts. 
         [0020]    In the illustrated embodiment, the arms are provided in proximity to both the ends of the plate, but providing the arms in proximity to only one of the ends is also acceptable. Furthermore, the position of the arms is not restricted to being in proximity to the ends in the longitudinal direction of the plate, and the arms can also be located in any arbitrary location that matches the shape of the plug  2 . 
         [0021]    The cover  14  may be formed as a separate component from the housing  10 , and can be attached to the housing by any arbitrary method. Cost advantages can be achieved by integrally forming the housing  10  and the cover  14 , but greater degrees of freedom for material selection and design can be achieved by forming separate components. 
         [0022]    The receptacle  1  of the present embodiment is typically used with a wiring board. The receptacle  1  is inserted into an opening formed on a plate of the wiring board. Note, the receptacle  1  can be attached using a variety of commonly known methods other than a latch arm  16 , such as by fastening with screws. 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  are perspective views showing the condition where the receptacle  1  and the plug  2  are mated. The plug  2  comprises a body  40 , a cable mounting part  41 , and a latch lever  42 . The body  40  also has contacts which are not shown in the drawings. The latch lever  42  extends in mating direction from both side walls near the back end of the body  40 . A locking part (not shown in the drawings) that engages with a locking hole  20  in the receptacle  1  is provided on the outside surface of the latch lever  42  at the tip end. A contact is electrically connected to a contact on the receptacle  1  side when the plug  2  is mated to the receptacle  1 , and is mechanically and electrically connected to a cable which is inserted into cable hole  41   a  of the cable mounting part  41 . 
         [0024]    After the plug  2  has been inserted into the receptacle  1 , the cover  14  of the receptacle  1  covers the plug  2 , and thereby the cover  14  is located in the displacement preventing position. In the displacement preventing position, the plate  22  is essentially parallel with the top surface of the body  40  of the plug  2 . The interval between the arms  24   a,    24   b  is set to be essentially equal to the width of the body  40  of the plug  2 , and the thickness of the arms is set to be about the same or narrower than the gap between the body  40  and the latch lever  42  in the mated condition. Therefore, when the cover  14  covers the plug  2 , both arms  24   a,    24   b  are inserted between the body  40  of the plug  2  and the latch lever  42 . The thickness of the arms  24   a,    24   b  is a thickness which will not allow displacement of the latch lever  42 , or a thickness that will only allow the latch lever  42  to move to the degree that a locking tab, not shown in the drawings, on the latch lever  42  will not become unlocked from the locking hole  20  of the receptacle. Therefore, when the cover  14  is located in the displacement preventing position, even if the latch lever  42  of the plug  2  is inadvertently operated, the condition of mating between the plug  2  and the receptacle  1  will be prevented from partially disengaging and an electrically unstable connection will be prevented. Furthermore, the plate  22  will be essentially parallel with the top surface of the body  40 , and therefore even when the cover  14  is in the displacement preventing position, the increase in the thickness of the connector can be kept to a minimum. 
         [0025]    With the illustrated embodiment, the length of the arm and the position of the protrusion  28  are set such that the protrusion  28  will protrude beyond the bottom surface  46  of the latch lever  42  when the cover  14  is arranged from the top surface  44  side of the latch lever to the displacement preventing position. Therefore, the protrusion  28  will latch onto the bottom surface  46  of the latch lever  42 , and the cover  14  will effectively be prevented from inadvertently being detached from the displacement preventing position. In another embodiment, a protruding tab or a recess is formed in the surface of the latch lever  42  facing the body  40 , and the same effect can be achieved by locking these with the protrusion  28 . In yet another embodiment, the protrusion  28  is located on the inside surface (surface facing the other arm) of the arms  24   a,    24   b,  and the protrusion  28  can therefore lock onto the body  40 . Furthermore, in order to make the locking condition more secure, the arms  24   a,    24   b  can be set at an incline with regards to the direction perpendicular to the plate  22  such that the interval between arms  24   a,    24   b  is narrower at their tips  242   a,    242   b  than at their bases  241   a,    241   b.  In this manner, the arms  24   a,    24   b  are elastically pressed onto the latch lever  42 , and the locking force between the latch lever  42  and the arms  24   a,    24   b  can be increased. In case the arms lock onto the body  40 , the arms  24   a,    24   b  can be set at an incline with regards to the direction perpendicular to the plate  22  such that interval between arms  24   a,    24   b  is broader at their tips  242   a,    242   b  than at their bases  241   a,    241   b.    
         [0026]    With the illustrated embodiment, the latch lever  42  is extended in the mating direction, in proximity to the back end of the plug  2 , but the latch lever can also extend opposite the mating direction, in proximity to the front end of the plug  2 . Furthermore, the latch lever  42  can be located on the top or bottom of the plug  2 , and having only one latch lever is also acceptable. 
         [0027]    With the aforementioned embodiments, the case of a connector for an electrical connection was described, but the present invention is not restricted only to connectors for electrical connections, and can also be applied to other connectors such as optical fiber connectors. Furthermore, in this case, a so called female connector was shown as a receptacle, but the present invention can be applied to couplings where two plug type connectors are aligned and joined, and in this specification, a receptacle is interpreted as also including the coupling.

Technology Category: 5