Flexible switch pack
AssigneeCommScope, Inc. of North Carolina
InventorZhao Yu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A switch pack holds rows and columns of connector plugs and permits collective coupling of the plugs into ports. The switch pack includes a housing having a front face with front openings and a rear face with rear openings. An internal frame forms channels between the front openings and the rear openings, each channel holding a respective connector plug. One or more locking members releasably snap lock to the frame. Each locking member includes at least one blocking edge which extends into a channel and blocks removal of the channel's plug via the rear opening. A release tool for the switch pack includes a first wall with first tabs and a second wall with second tabs, connected to the first wall by a third wall. Each of the first and second tabs protrudes into a channel of the first and second rows of channels to depress a plug latch.
Claims20
A switch pack for holding a plurality of connector plugs and for permitting collective coupling of the plurality of connector plugs into a plurality of ports, said switch pack comprising:
- a housing having a front face with a plurality of front openings and a rear face with a plurality of rear openings, said housing having an internal frame forming a plurality of channels passing through said frame from said front openings on said front face to said rear openings on said rear face, each channel sized for receiving a respective connector plug;
- and
- a first locking member, which includes a first blocking edge, said first blocking edge of said first locking member entering said frame from a first rear opening of said plurality of rear openings, extending into a first channel of said plurality of channels to a limited extent such that said first blocking edge does not pass out of a first front opening of said plurality of front openings;
- wherein said first locking member is releasably secured to said frame, and wherein said first locking member, when secured to said frame, blocks removal of a first connector plug in said first channel out of said first rear opening by abutment of the first connector plug with said first blocking edge.
A release tool for a switch pack, said release tool comprising:
- a first wall having a plurality of projecting first tabs, each of said first tabs being sized to protrude into a channel of a first row of channels so as to depress a plug latch;
- a second wall having a plurality of projecting second tabs, each of said second tabs being sized to protrude into a channel of a second row of channels so as to depress a plug latch;
- and
- a third wall connecting said first wall to said second wall and spacing said first tabs from said second tabs so as to have alignment with the latches of the plugs in the first and second rows of channels.
A switch pack for holding a plurality of connector plugs and for permitting collective coupling and uncoupling of the plurality of connector plugs into a plurality of ports, said switch pack comprising:
- a housing having a front face with a plurality of front openings and a rear face with a plurality of rear openings, said housing having an internal frame forming a plurality of channels passing through said frame from said front openings on said front face to said rear openings on said rear face, each channel sized for receiving a respective connector plug, wherein said housing further includes:
- a first outer wall;
- an opposite, second outer wall, with said frame being disposed between said first and second outer walls;
- a first latching receiving lip on said first outer wall;
- and a second latch receiving lip on said second outer wall;
- a first locking member, which includes a first blocking edge, said first blocking edge of said first locking member entering said frame from a first rear opening of said plurality of rear openings, extending into a first channel of said plurality of channels to a limited extent such that said first blocking edge does not pass out of a first front opening of said plurality of front openings, wherein said first locking member is releasably secured to said frame, and wherein said first locking member, when secured to said frame, blocks removal of a first connector plug in said first channel out of said first rear opening by abutment of the first connector plug with said first blocking edge;
- and
- a release tool including:
- a first wall having a plurality of projecting first tabs, each of said first tabs being sized to protrude into a channel of a first row of said plurality of channels so as to depress a plug latch;
- a second wall having a plurality of projecting second tabs, each of said second tabs being sized to protrude into a channel of a second row of said plurality of channels so as to depress a plug latch;
- a third wall connecting said first wall to said second wall and spacing said first tabs from said second tabs so as to have alignment with the latches of the plugs in the first and second rows of channels;
- a first resilient latch on said first wall located for interaction with said first latch receiving lip of said switch pack housing;
- and a second resilient latch on said second wall located for interaction with said second latch receiving lip of said switch pack housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.