Connecting device
AssigneeHypertronics Corporation
InventorsFrancesco A. Nania, Christopher Coughlan, Arnold S. Feinberg, Thomas H. Kannally, Vadim L. Radunsky
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connector for electrical or optical conduits that provides a field configurable keying of the insulator plugs relative to each other and relative to the connector casings. A separate relative keying means is included that is separate from the case keying or locating mechanism. The connector also utilizes a retention means for example, a one-way snap apron, to retain the insulator within the receptacle case.
Claims35
A connector assembly for connecting together two conduits or cables, said assembly comprising:
- a female receptacle connector having a receptacle insulator and receptacle case, the receptacle case including a groove and an opening;
- a male plug connector connectable with the female receptacle connector, the male plug connector including a plug case having an interfitting plug insulator interfittable with the receptacle insulator, said plug case having a key that is slidable into said groove, the plug case including at least one catch configured to interfit with said opening to connect the plug case to the receptacle case;
- and
- a retention means for retaining said receptacle insulator within said receptacle case, the retention means including a radially inwardly pointing web.
3-8. (canceled)
A connector assembly for connecting together two conduits or cables, said assembly comprising:
- a female receptacle connector having a receptacle insulator and receptacle case, the receptacle case including a groove and an opening;
- a male plug connector connectable with the female receptacle connector, the male plug connector including a plug case having an interfitting plug insulator interfittable with the receptacle insulator, the plug case having a key that is slidable into the groove, the plug case including at least one catch configured to interfit with the opening to connect the plug case to the receptacle case;
- a retainer configured to retain the receptacle insulator within the receptacle case, the retainer being fixedly connected to the receptacle case and configured to engage a protrusion on the receptacle insulator.
A connector assembly for connecting together two conduits or cables, said assembly comprising:
- a female receptacle connector having a receptacle insulator and receptacle case, the receptacle case including a groove and an opening;
- a male plug connector connectable with the female receptacle connector, the male plug connector including a plug case having an interfitting plug insulator interfittable with the receptacle insulator, the plug case having a key that is slidable into the groove, the plug case including at least one catch configured to interfit with the opening to connect the plug case to the receptacle case;
- a retainer configured to retain the receptacle insulator within the receptacle case;
- and
- an insulator positioner configured to position the plug insulator.
A method of mounting a connector assembly to an equipment case, the connector assembly connecting together a first conduit and a second conduit, the method including:
- inserting a receptacle insulator into a receptacle case to form a receptacle assembly of a female receptacle connector of the connector assembly;
- retaining the receptacle insulator within the receptacle case using a retainer;
- passing a plurality of leads of the first conduit into corresponding bores in the receptacle insulator;
- inserting a rear portion of the receptacle assembly into an opening in the equipment case;
- and
- securing the receptacle assembly to the equipment case.
A method of mounting a connector assembly to an equipment case, the connector assembly connecting together a first conduit and a second conduit, the method including:
- inserting a rear portion of a receptacle case into an opening in the equipment case;
- securing the receptacle case to the equipment case;
- passing a plurality of leads of the first conduit into corresponding bores in a receptacle insulator;
- inserting a front portion of the receptacle insulator into the rear portion of the receptacle case to form a receptacle assembly of a female receptacle connector of the connector assembly;
- and
- retaining the receptacle insulator within the receptacle case using a retainer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.