# US 10,320,109 B2 · Cable terminator

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- Number: US 10,320,109 B2
- Document ID: US10320109B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/248,657
- Filed: 2014-04-09
- Published: 2015-10-15
- Granted: 2019-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2014-04-09
- Assignees: Level 3 Communications, LLC
- Applicants: Level 3 Communications, LLC
- Inventors: Steven Drake; Luke Pearse
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10320109B2

## CPC

- H01R 13/443: Dummy plugs
- H01R 13/60: Means for supporting coupling part when not engaged
- H01R 2201/04: for network, e.g. LAN connectors
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS

## Abstract

Implementations of the present disclosure involve a cable terminator and/or method of using a cable terminator for non-operably securing a network cable at a destination port on a network device. The cable terminator has a body that includes an insert portion and a receiving portion. The insert portion is shaped so that it may be inserted into a port on a network device, while the receiving portion is shaped to receive a network cable.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A cable terminator comprising:
a body having an insert portion coupled to a receiving portion, wherein:
the insert portion being shaped to be inserted into a port on a network device;
the receiving portion being shaped to receive a network cable and hold the network cable in place, wherein the receiving portion has a larger cross section than the insert portion where the insert portion is coupled to the receiving portion to create at least one ridge to prevent the receiving portion from being inserted into the port; and
the body being configured to prevent an operating connection between the network cable and the network device.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A cable terminator of claim 1, wherein the insert portion defines a rectangular prism shaped member sized substantially similar to a conventional operable connector but to not interfere with a functional element in the port.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A cable terminator of claim 1, wherein the receiving portion defines at least one socket, the socket substantially replicating a network cable socket and preventing an operating connection between the network cable and the network device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The cable terminator of claim 2, wherein the rectangular prism shape has substantially similar dimensions to a transceiver.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The cable terminator of claim 3, wherein the at least one socket is shaped substantially similar to a LC-type socket.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The cable terminator of claim 2, wherein the member is configured to be received by a LC-type socket.

### Claim 7

A cable terminator comprising:
a body comprising an insert portion coupled to a receiving portion, wherein:
the insert portion being shaped to be inserted into a port on a network device, the insert portion comprising at least one member sized substantially similar to a conventional operable connector but to not interfere with a functional element in the port; and
the receiving portion being shaped to receive a network cable and hold the network cable in place, wherein the receiving portion defines at least one socket, the socket substantially replicating a network cable socket, wherein the receiving portion has a larger cross section than the insert portion where the insert portion is coupled to the receiving portion to create at least one ridge to prevent the receiving portion from being inserted into the port; and
the body being configured to prevent an operating connection between the network cable and the network device.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The cable terminator of claim 7, wherein the at least one member has a rectangular prism shape with substantially similar dimensions to a transceiver.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The cable terminator of claim 7, wherein the at least one socket is shaped substantially similar to a LC-type socket.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The cable terminator of claim 7, wherein the member is configured to be received by a LC-type socket.

### Claim 11

A method of terminating a network cable comprising:
forming a non-operable connection between a network device and a network cable by:
inserting an insert portion of a cable terminator into a port, the insert portion shaped to be securely received in the port on the network device, the insert portion comprising at least one member sized substantially similar to a conventional operable connector;
inserting a connector portion of a network cable into a receiving portion of the cable terminator shaped to receive the connector portion of the network cable, wherein the receiving portion has a larger cross section than the insert portion where the insert portion is coupled to the receiving portion to create at least one ridge to prevent the receiving portion from being inserted into the port; and
wherein the cable terminator prevents an operating connection between the network cable and the network device.