Electrical connectors – Contact comprising cutter – Insulation cutter
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-29
2001-10-02
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Contact comprising cutter
Insulation cutter
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296515
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an insulation displacement connector for providing an electrical connection between insulated wires and a connector base. More particularly, the present invention relates to an insulation displacement connector having a latching mechanism that securely retains an insertion cap when wires held in the cap are pulled away from the connector.
2. Description of Background Art
Insulation displacement connectors typically include a wire insertion cap that is pivotable towards and away from a connector terminal. The connector terminal includes opposed metallic cutting surfaces for severing the insulation surrounding a wire held within the insertion cap when the insertion cap is pivoted towards the connector terminal. The connector terminal thereby becomes electrically conductive with the wire retained within the insertion cap. The connector terminal is plugged into an external device to complete a circuit including the wire, the connector, and the external device.
Conventional wire insertion caps are releasably connected to a connector body, and are therefore easily displaced from a connector terminal retained within the connector body when a force is exerted on a retained wire. It is often necessary to pull on wires retained within connectors in order to trace the origin of a particular wire, particularly when many wires are held in a bank of connectors. During a tracing operation, a technician pulls a wire from a remote location and detects movement of wires near the bank of connectors to verify the identity of the pulled wire. The force exerted on a wire in the circuit acts to pull the wire insertion cap retaining the wire away from the connector terminal of a connector. Once the insertion cap pivots away from the connector terminal, the wire is disengaged from the connector terminal and the circuit is opened or interrupted. This result is undesirable because it interrupts or terminates service to customers using the circuit.
A conventional solution to the above problem is a connector having a pivoting cap that is secured to a connector body by a screw. This connector is expensive because a screw must be included with the wire insertion cap and a threaded hole must be tapped into the connector body, which requires more material and additional steps to manufacture. In addition, connectors having screw caps are difficult and time consuming to use.
There is therefore a need in the art for a connector having a latching mechanism that securely latches an insertion cap to a connector body when a force is exerted on a wire retained in the connector, and that is easily disengageable with the connector body when removal of the wire is required.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention satisfies the aforementioned need in the art by providing a connector having an insertion cap that is pivotable with respect to a connector body, in which the insertion cap and the connector body are positively and releasably engageable with one another by a latching mechanism. The insertion cap is positively engaged with the connector body by body latches on the connector body that are engageable with insertion cap latches on the insertion cap, the respective latches forming the latching mechanism.
The insertion cap includes two wire insertion ports for retaining insulated wires in the connector, and is pivotable away from and towards the connector body. The connector body includes terminals having insulation cutting portions which sever the insulation on the retained wires when the insertion cap is pivoted towards the connector body.
When the insertion cap is pivoted towards the connector body, each body latch engages a respective insertion cap latch. The body latches extend outwardly from the body to engage a corresponding recess in an insertion cap latch. Due to engaging inclined surfaces of the body latches and the insertion cap latches, a force on a wire retained in the insertion cap tightens the engagement between the engaged latches, and more securely holds the insertion cap in engagement with the connector body.
One insertion cap latch is disposed on each side of the insertion cap, and each insertion cap latch is engageable with a respective body latch on the body. The insertion cap includes a groove forming a gap in a face of the insertion cap. The groove allows the insertion cap latches to pivot about a pivot region adjacent to the groove in the insertion cap. When a force is exerted on an engagement surface of the insertion cap, the insertion cap latches pivot away from the body latches, disengaging the latches and allowing the insertion cap to pivot. Therefore, the insertion cap is easily engageable and disengageable with the connector body, and securely retains wires within the connector.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various chances and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4455058 (1984-06-01), Harner et al.
patent: 5667402 (1997-09-01), Denovich et al.
patent: 5681182 (1997-10-01), Reichle
patent: 5785548 (1998-07-01), Capper et al.
patent: 5971795 (1999-10-01), Daoud et al.
patent: 5989054 (1999-11-01), Fasce
patent: 6080006 (2000-06-01), Broder
patent: 6113419 (2000-09-01), Finley et al.
patent: 6123566 (2000-09-01), Daoud et al.
patent: 6152760 (2000-11-01), Reeser
Avaya Technology Corp.
Sircus Brian
Zarroli Michael C.
LandOfFree
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