Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to terminating plugs or connectors for electrical jumper cables for data/communications/power lines and, more particularly, to a modular terminating plug assembly having a jumper cable retainer. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Jumper cables for electrical wiring, lines and the like having terminating plugs or connectors at terminating ends thereof are used in a variety of applications. One such application is in office furniture and particularly to modular office furniture wherein the modular office furniture consists of panels, shelves, tables, cabinets, and other accessories to form various layouts of space and area. Another application is for delineating a workplace or office area. In both instances and others, electrical power, communications, data and other types of conductors/lines and the like need to be supplied. 
     No matter what the style of office or office furniture, such electrical power, communications, data, other types of lines and the like, need to be supplied to various points, usually variable positions in the workspace. This is accomplished by the use of outlets and the like for the various lines in the panels and accessories for office space, and in the office furniture itself. It is necessary, however, to connect the various receptacles to other receptacles and/or distribution conduits/cables. Interconnection between the various receptacles is typically accomplished by use of jumper cable assemblies. 
     The jumper cable assembly typically includes a conduit carrying the various lines and terminates in a plug and/or receptacle on either end. The conduit and thus the lines may be any practical length. The plug and/or receptacle is adapted to receive into a mating receptacle/plug and provide communication between the lines of the jumper cable and the receptacles. 
     Prior art plugs are difficult to manufacture and use. As well the retention means between the plug and the jumper cable requires appreciable assembly time. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a jumper cable and plug assembly. 
     In one form, the plug assembly comprises a body having a conduit reception area and a plug reception area defined by a first body section and a second body section. The first body section has a first given shape defining a first portion of the conduit reception area and a first portion of the plug reception area. The first portion of said conduit reception area including first tabs on an interior surface. The second body section has a second given shape defining a second portion of the conduit reception area and a second portion of the plug reception area. The second portion of the conduit reception area includes second tabs on an interior surface. The first given shape complementarily corresponding to said second given shape. A plug is adapted to be received by the plug reception area of the body and provide communication with a mating receptacle. 
     In another form, the present invention is a plug body for a jumper cable assembly. The plug body comprises a first body portion and a second body portion adapted to be coupled to the first body portion and together therewith defining a jumper cable reception end and a plug reception end. The first body portion is defined by a shell having a first section of the jumper cable reception end, a first section of the plug reception end, and first connection means on the first section of the jumper cable reception end. The second body portion is defined by a shell having a second section of the jumper cable reception end, a second section of the plug reception end, and second connection means on the second section of the jumper cable reception end and adapted to connect with the first connection means of the first body portion. 
     In accordance with one aspect, the first connection means comprises hooked tabs and the second connection means comprises slots. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the first body portion includes third connection means on the first section of the plug cable reception end, and the second body portion includes fourth connection means on the second section of the plug cable reception end. The third and fourth connection means are adapted to couple with mating connection means of a plug receivable thereon. In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, the first body portion includes first threads on an inside surface of the corresponding shell within the first section of the jumper cable reception end, and the second body portion includes second threads on an inside surface of the corresponding shell within the second section of the jumper cable reception end. 
     An advantage of the present invention is that it is easily assembled. 
     Another advantage of the present invention provides a positive retention of the plug assembly to the jumper conduit. 
     Yet another advantage is that the present invention is easily fabricated. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a jumper cable assembling terminating at both ends in a plug/connector assembly in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present plug assembly; 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the present plug assembly; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the plug head of the plug assembly; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of inside one portion of the body forming a portion of the plug assembly; and 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of inside another portion of the body forming another portion of the plug assembly. 
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings and, in particular, FIG. 1 there is shown jumper cable assembly  10  having plug or connector assembly  12   a  on one end of jumper conduit  16  and plug or connector assembly  12   b  on another end of jumper conduit  16 . Plug assemblies  12   a  and  12   b  are identical but are separately denoted by “a” and “b” designations. Jumper conduit  16  is hollow and carries electrical conductors or lines  17  therein (FIG. 3) that can be used for a variety of purposes and as data, communications, power, and the like. Jumper conduit  16  may, as shown in FIG. 1, having single helical convolution  18  along with single helical land  20  which extends the longitudinal length thereof, or any other practical convolution/land arrangement. Also, jumper conduit  16  may be any length. 
     Plug assemblies  12   a  and  12   b  each have respective bodies  22   a  and  22   b  releasably coupled with plugs  14   a  and  14   b  respectively. In FIG. 2, plug assembly  12  is depicted of which plug assemblies  12   a  and  12   b  of FIG. 1 correspond. Plug assembly  12  has body or housing  22  that defines a jumper cable and conduit retainer portion. Body  22  is fabricated from body portions  24  and  26 . Body portions  24  and  26  are preferably formed as substantially complementary halves of body  22  as a whole, however, other housing or body part proportions can be used. Body portions  24  and  26  are preferably a plastic such as polycarbonate, however, other suitable materials may be used. Plug  14  of plug assembly  12  is adapted to be received onto body  22  and to a mating receptacle. A continuous extension  19  projects inwardly within body portions  24 ,  26 . Extension  19  provides an abutment surface against which jumper conduit is abutted. Extension  19  extends inwardly from the inside diameter of conduit  16 , thereby providing a guide for conductor  17  into conduit  16  and preventing wear to the insulation surrounding conductors  17  from contacting the metal end of conduit  16 . 
     With additional reference to FIG. 5, body portion  26  of body  22  is shown. Body portion  26  is defined by wall or side  62  having two transverse side walls  58  and  60  and conduit reception end  31  defined by partial transverse wall  54 . Conduit reception end  31  has wall or side  64  that extends essentially co-axial from side  62 , curved side wall  70  that extends essentially co-axial from side wall  58 , and curve side wall  72  that extends essentially co-axial from side wall  60 . Hooked tabs  28  and  30  respectively project from curved side walls  70  and  72  proximate end  32 . Extending from opposite side of side  62  in like manner to side wall  58  and  60  proximate end  44  are respective hooked tabs  40  and  42 . Axially projecting from end  44  transverse to hooked tabs  40  and  42  are a plurality of prongs  46  each one of which has tapered end  48 . Two projections or tabs  50  and  52  extend from the inside surface of side  64  that are spaced a distance apart corresponding to the distance of adjacent convolutions or rings  18  of jumper conduit  16 . The length of tabs  50  and  52  preferably do not extend the width of inside surface of side  64  and are each offset a distance from end  32  thereof. In essence, tabs  50  and  52  provide starting threads in the case of a helical convolution style jumper conduit or axial stops in the case of a plurality of adjacent annular convolutions style jumper conduit. Additionally, side walls  58  and  70  have outside surface channel or trough  66  that preferably continuously extends the axial length of side walls  58  and  70 , while side walls  60  and  72  have outside surface channel or trough  68  that preferably continuously extends the axial length of side walls  60  and  72 . 
     With additional reference to FIG. 6, body portion  24  of body  22  is shown. Body portion  24  is defined by wall or side  74  having two transverse side walls  76  and  78  and conduit reception end  80  defined by partial transverse wall  106 . Conduit reception end  80  has wall or side  82  that extends essentially co-axial from side  74 , curved side wall  82  that extends essentially co-axial from side wall  76 , and curve side wall  84  that extends essentially co-axial from side wall  78 . Projecting slots  88  and  90  are respectively disposed on curved side wall  82  and  84  proximate end  86 . Extending from opposite side of face  62  in like manner to side wall  76  and  78  proximate end  92  are respective hooked tabs  94  and  96 . Axially projecting from end  92  transverse to hooked tabs  94  and  96  are a plurality of prongs  98  each one of which has tapered end  100 . Two projections or tabs  102  and  104  extend from the inside surface of side  82  that are spaced a distance apart corresponding to the distance of adjacent convolutions or rings  18  of jumper conduit  16 . The length of tabs  102  and  104  preferably extend the width of inside surface of side  82  and are each offset a distance from end  86  thereof. In essence, tabs  102  and  104  provide threads in the case of a helical convolution style jumper conduit or axial stops in the case of a plurality of adjacent annular convolutions style jumper conduit. Additionally, side walls  76  and  83  have inside surface channel or trough  108  that preferably continuously extends the axial length of side walls  76  and  83 , while side walls  78  and  84  have inside surface channel or trough  110  that preferably continuously extends the axial length of side walls  78  and  84 . 
     With additional reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the coupling of body portions  24  and  26  will be described. Initially, if jumper conduit  16  has a single helical convolution, then body portions  24  and  26  may be assembled independent of jumper conduit  16  so as to be threaded thereon after assembly. However, if jumper conduit  16  has a plurality of adjacent annular convolutions, then portions  24  and  26  should be assembled about end of jumper conduit  16 , preferably with a jumper cable therein. Hooked tabs  28  and  30  of body portion  26  snap into slots  90  and  88  respectively of body portion  24 . Outside channel  66  of side walls  58  and  70  cooperate with inside channel  110  of side walls  78  and  84 , while outside channel  68  of side walls  60  and  72  cooperate with inside channel  108  of side walls  76  and  83  to interfit into each other. Body  22  is ready to receive plug  14 . 
     FIG. 4 shows plug  14  that generically corresponds to plugs  14   a  and  14   b  of respective plug assemblies  12   a  and  12   b  of FIG.  1 . Plug  14  is defined by plug shell or housing  112  that is preferably fabricated from a plastic such as polycarbonate. Plug shell  112  has middle section  114  with a plurality of conduits  118  therethrough each having an electrical terminal disposed therein. Conduits  118  are defined on one side of middle section  114  by projecting rectangular pipes  120 . Pipes  120  are preferably spaced from one another thereby providing a keyed plug that allows coupling with a like keyed receptacle. When the plug is coupled with the receptacles, terminals within each conduit  118  of the plug are electrically coupled to terminals carried by the receptacle (not shown). Pipes  120  are shown arranged in two columns, but which is subject to variation. Extending from side  122  is a plurality of shelves  124  that defines a plurality of sockets  126  into which the terminals within conduits  118  coupled to the conductors/lines of the jumper cable. 
     Projecting from one side of middle section  114  and substantially co-axial with conduits  118  is arm  128  terminating in hooked tab  130 . Arm  128  is movable relative to middle section  114  such that a spring arm is defines that allows hooked tab  130  to be displaced relative to middle section  114  by the application of pressure. The other end of middle section  114  includes arm  132  having hooked tab  134  that is structured and functions in like manner to arm  128  and hooked tab  130 . Projecting from one side of middle section  114  and substantially co-axial with shelves  124  is ledge  136 . Ledge  136  has oppositely disposed cutouts  138  and  140  that, along with spans  142  and  144  define receptions slots respectively. Side  146  of middle section  114  includes a ledge, cutouts, and spans that are structurally and functionally in like manner to ledge  136 , cutouts  138  and  140 , and spans  142  and  144 . 
     With reference back to FIGS. 2 and 3, plug  14  is coupled to body  22  in the following manner. End  122  of plug  14  is received into prongs  46  and  98  of respective body portions  26  and  24  to laterally retain plug shell  114 . Tabs  40  and  96  are received in slots  138  and  140  respectively of plug shell  114 . Like tabs  42  and  94  are received in like slots (not seen) on the other end of plug shell  114 . Plug  14  is thus snap fitted onto body  22 . The conductors of the jumper cable may be connected at any time to the terminals of plug  14 . Body portion  24  includes projection  148  and  150  on an outside surface of side  74 , while body portion  26  also includes two like projections on an outside surface of side  62  of which only one such projection  152  is seen in FIG. 3, that act as stops for preventing further axial movement of plug  14  as plug  14  is received onto body  22 . Body portions  24  and  26  may be attached together using any suitable attachment method, such as via sonic welding, heat staking, riveting, etc. 
     While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.

Technology Category: h