Systems and methods for a cable connector
AssigneeRockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
InventorsMark E. Davidsz, Michael S. Baran, Shravan Rajmohan, Douglas J. Carpiaux, Scott H. Micoley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connector for receiving a ribbon cable is provided. The connector includes a housing including an open top and a guide wall including a track and a cable organizer configured to be positioned within an interior of the housing and the open top and to receive the ribbon cable along a surface thereof. The connector also includes a cover configured to selectively cover the open top of the housing to enclose the cable organizer within the interior of the housing. The cover includes a rib configured to slide along the track so that the cover moves relative to the housing along a linear trajectory.
Claims20
A connector for receiving a ribbon cable and for connecting to a device node, the connector comprising:
- a housing including:
- a first side, a second side, a first end, and a second end collectively defining an open top therebetween,
- an open bottom opposite the open top, the open bottom being sized to receive a node jack of the device node to connect the device node to the connector, and
- a guide wall including a track;
- a cable organizer configured to be positioned within an interior of the housing and the open top and to receive the ribbon cable along a surface thereof;
- a cover configured to selectively cover the open top of the housing to enclose the cable organizer within the interior of the housing, the cover including a rib configured to slide along the track so that the cover moves relative to the housing along a linear trajectory;
- and
- a protection cap configured to selectively cover the open bottom of the housing when the device node is disconnected from the connector.
A method of installing a ribbon cable on a connector, the method comprising:
- linearly sliding a cover of the connector away from a housing of the connector to create a cable access pathway to an open top of the housing while the cover and the housing remain engaged, the cable access pathway defined as a space between the cover and a first side wall, a second side wall, and a first end wall of the housing;
- aligning the ribbon cable on a cable organizer positioned within the open top of the housing;
- and
- linearly sliding the cover toward the housing to entrap the ribbon cable within the housing between the cover and the cable organizer.
A method of installing a ribbon cable on a connector, the method comprising:
- placing the connector in a preassembled stated, by linearly sliding a cover of the connector away from a housing of the connector until a notch of the cover engages an upper detent of the housing, to create a cable access pathway to an open top of the housing while the cover and the housing remain engaged;
- aligning the ribbon cable on a cable organizer positioned within the open top of the housing;
- and
- placing the connector in an assembled state by linearly sliding the cover toward the housing to entrap the ribbon cable within the housing between the cover and the cable organizer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.