Electrical connectors – Adapted to cooperate with duplicate connector – With coupling movement retaining means in addition to...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-12
2001-02-20
Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Adapted to cooperate with duplicate connector
With coupling movement retaining means in addition to...
C439S160000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06190192
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to communications infrastructure systems, and in particular to rapid interconnecting configurable interface connectors for use in such systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Most modern commercial building are equipped with power and communications cabling which is routed using a “homerun” architecture in which wires and cables are run from a central location, such as a communications patch panel frame, point-to-point to an outlet. The wiring or cabling is continuous and is sufficiently long to make the connection.
It has been recognised that this type of approach to wiring and cabling is undesirable, for example, it causes great problems when office space is reorganised. If a particular workspace is moved to a position more distant the central distribution location, the existing wiring has to be replaced. Even if the existing wiring or cabling is sufficiently long, rerouting a long span can be very difficult.
In an attempt to overcome this problem, an architecture has been proposed which uses rapid interconnecting configurable interface connectors (RICIs).
In this architecture, a workspace is provided with a number of horizontal rises each of which connect to the central locations, for example the communications center, and each horizontal riser comprises a number of trunk lines. A RICI connector is attached to each trunk line in the horizontal riser and the RICIs are distributed along the horizontal risers such that a RICI is easily accessible from any part of the office space. Each work space is cabled by connecting a drop cable to the RICI and running that drop cable to the workspace. Thus, if the work space is moved, the cabling can be disconnected at the RICI, which is usually accessible and connected to a different RICI. If no other is available, a different length drop cable can be used which is far easier than replacing the whole cable run from the communications/power distribution centre to the work space.
The horizontal risers may be located in the false ceiling of an office space or under a false floor. They are suitable for use in any environment where it is desired to cable a number of different user locations.
One design of RICI has been proposed which comprises a generally cylindrical half which connects with a correspondingly shaped RICI by a threaded collar which rotates around a screw thread on the mating faces of the two RICIs. One of the RICIs is attached to the dropside cable and the other RICI is attached to the horizontal riser side. The two opposed RICIs carry opposed mating connections which come into contact as the two RICIs are connected using the screw threaded collar.
We have appreciated that the RICI based architecture provides considerable advantages. However, existing designs of RICI connectors are not satisfactory, for example, the use of screw threads to connect the two RICIs makes assembly and disassembly difficult, especially when the RICIs are located in confined spaces which are hard to access in a ceiling space or underfloor.
The present invention aims, therefore, to provide an improved RICI connector which will enhance the inherent advantages of RICI based architecture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a communications infrastructure connector system comprising: first and second hermaphroditic connector units, the connector units being engageable to form a connector system, each connector unit comprising a housing including a mating face for receiving a plurality of connectors, each of the plurality of connectors forming one half of a connector pair with a corresponding connector on the housing of the other of said first and second hermaphroditic connector units; guide means arranged on the housing for guiding the housing into engagement with the housing of the other of said hermaphroditic connector units; and means for disengaging the connector units comprising at least one movable arm, the at least one arm being arranged on each of the first and second connector units such that movement of the arm of each connector units urges the first and second connector units apart.
The invention further provides a rapid interconnecting configurable connector system comprising: first and second hermaphroditic engageable connector units, each connector unit comprising a housing including a mating face including means for receiving a plurality of connectors; and means for disengaging the first and second connector units from one another, comprising at least one eccentric arm pivotally mounted on each housing such that pivoting of the arms of the first and second connectors in opposed directions causes the arms to abut over a portion of their lengths and urges the housings of the first and second connector units out of mutual engagement.
The invention also provides a rapid interconnecting configurable interface connector unit comprising: a housing having a mating face and receiving thereat a plurality of connectors, each connector being one of a connector pair; and a pivot arm eccentrically mounted on a side wall of the housing; wherein the connector unit is adapted to mate with a corresponding connector unit and the plurality of connectors mate with a plurality of like connectors on the corresponding connector, the pivot arm being arranged such that movement thereof in a direction towards the corresponding connector unit causes a portion of the first arm to engage a corresponding portion of the pivot arm of the corresponding connector unit and so urge the connector unit and the corresponding connector unit apart.
Embodiments of the invention have the advantage of providing a connection between a riser cable and a drop cable which is hermaphroditic and can be made using a single set of mold tools.
Embodiments of the invention have the further advantage that the two connector units may be easily separated which is particularly useful as the units tend to be mounted in areas which are difficult to access, such as in ceilings or under floors.
Embodiments of the invention have the further advantage that the connectors are housed in an environment into which dust cannot penetrate. Again this is important as the connector units are intended to be mounted often in a hostile environment.
Embodiments of the invention have the further advantage that a plurality of different connector types may be found within the same unit, for example, the connector may be configured for communications services using twisted pair copper wire and RJ connectors, coaxial wire or fibre optics. AC power may also be included although safety regulations may not permit this in the same connector unit as communications.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2763846 (1956-09-01), Healy
patent: 4303292 (1981-12-01), McNeel
patent: 4734052 (1988-03-01), Vandame
Misrahi Benjamin
White Rowland
Gushi Ross
Molex Incorporated
Paumen Gary F.
Tirva A. A.
LandOfFree
Configurable interface connector does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Configurable interface connector, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Configurable interface connector will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2613755