Electrical connectors – With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in... – Retaining means
Reexamination Certificate
2002-12-04
2004-12-28
Abrams, Neil (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...
Retaining means
C439S346000, C439S953000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06835085
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connector capable of connection of a plug provided on an end of a cable such as an optical fiber cable or the like, and an electronic apparatus having the connector.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventionally, an electronic apparatus generally has a jack (such as a mini jack) so as to be connected to the other electronic apparatus for carrying out sending and receiving of a signal. The connection between each electronic apparatus using a jack is realized by inserting a plug, provided on an end of a connection cable, into the respective jacks of the electronic apparatuses.
These jack and plug are disclosed in Japanese Registered Utility Model Publication No. 3041482 (Registered on Jul. 2, 1997), for example.
FIG. 27
shows the structure of the jack and the plug. As shown in the figure, the plug
301
has a large diameter section
302
on its front end, and a small diameter section
303
(constriction section) below the large diameter section
302
. Meanwhile, a jack
311
has a joining section
312
, made of a spring leaf for example, for fixing the plug.
When the plug
301
is placed in the jack
311
, the plug
301
is inserted into the jack
311
in a direction A. In the jack
311
, the plug
301
comes in and pushes the joining section
312
so that the joining section
312
is shifted to a direction orthogonal to an insertion direction of the plug
301
by following the shape of the large diameter section
302
of the plug
301
. Thereafter, when the large diameter section
302
passes over the joining section
312
, the small diameter section
303
of the plug
301
fits in the joining section
312
. The insertion of the plug
301
into the jack
311
is completed with this state.
Removal of the plug
301
from the jack
311
is performed with a reverse operation of the insertion operation. With the movement of the plug
301
to a removal direction (opposite direction of the direction A), the large diameter section
302
of the plug
301
directly affects on the joining section
312
of the jack
311
. This removal is realized by exerting relatively small force on the plug
301
. Conversely, when the plug
301
is pulled with force smaller than the necessary force for the removal, the plug
301
stays in the jack
311
.
Note that, as shown in
FIG. 28
, the foregoing publication also discloses other type of jack (a jack
321
) having an improved joining section
322
; however, its basic structure and the operation for removing the plug
301
are the same as those of the jack
311
.
The plug
301
and the jack
311
thus described have a simple structure and an affordable price, and also the plug
301
is easily inserted/removed into/from the jack
311
. On the other hand, since the plug
301
is easily removed from the jack
311
with small force, sending/receiving of a signal between electronic apparatuses connected to each other with a cable is likely to cut off. Particularly, for a connection between stationary electric apparatuses, inadequate adaptation of the plug
301
and the jack
311
may cause removal of the plug
301
from the jack
311
due to vibration etc.
Meanwhile, in order to prevent the unwanted removal of the plug, a mechanical lock is used for a connection between the plug and the connector in the Ethernet®, or in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Tokukaihei 2000-147317 (published on May 26, 2000), for example.
In the teaching of the foregoing publication, as shown in
FIG. 29
, an optical fiber cable
333
has a plug
331
on an end, and the plug
331
includes a claw section
332
jutting out of the main body of the plug
331
. The claw section
332
is joined to an engaging section
342
of the connector
341
when the plug
331
is placed in the connector
341
. With this arrangement, it is possible to prevent the unwanted removal of the plug
331
from the connector
341
. Note that, the removal of the plug
331
from the connector
341
is performed by pulling the plug
331
in a removal direction while pressing the claw section
332
to the main body of the plug
331
.
However, the plug
331
shown in
FIG. 29
includes the claw section
332
jutting out of its main body in addition to the main body for being inserted into the connector
341
, and therefore the structure is difficult to be downsized. Further, the connector
341
requires the engaging section
342
to correspond to the claw section
332
, which requires the electronic apparatus including the connector
341
to have some space for providing the engaging section
342
.
Further, the mechanical lock, used for the Ethernet®, for example, has a structure requiring a user to confirm the rotation direction of the lock system provided on the plug, thereby causing some inconvenience.
Meanwhile, in recent years, a plug having a moving section on a portion inserted into a connector has been proposed as a solution for the foregoing problems. A connector corresponds to this type of plug can have a structure such that the moving section affects on the mechanical lock system. However, there has not yet been a proposal for such a connector.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is made in view of the foregoing conventional problems, and an object is to provide a connector capable of connection of a plug having a moving section on a portion to be inserted into the connector, and an electronic apparatus having the connector.
In order to solve the foregoing problems, the connector of the present invention is capable of insertion and removal of a plug having a male engaging section and a moving section that is movable with respect to the male engaging section. The connector includes a plug fixing member for fixing the male engaging section when the moving section is shifted in a plug insertion direction with the insertion of the plug, and for releasing the male engaging section thus fixed when the moving section is shifted in a plug removal direction.
With the foregoing arrangement, the plug fixing member fixes the male engaging section when the moving section is shifted in the plug insertion direction with the insertion of the plug. Meanwhile, the plug fixing member releases the male engaging section thus fixed with the shifting of the moving section in the plug removal direction. Accordingly, the plug can be fixed and released by the movement of the moving section of the plug.
Further, an electronic apparatus of the present invention is provided with the described connector.
Additional objects, features, and strengths of the present invention will be made clear by the description below. Further, the advantages of the present invention will be evident from the following explanation in reference to the drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2520739 (1950-08-01), Shaw
patent: 3493917 (1970-02-01), Glowacz
patent: 3569903 (1971-03-01), Brishka
patent: 3680033 (1972-07-01), Kawai
patent: 4275946 (1981-06-01), Manina et al.
patent: 4420216 (1983-12-01), Motoyama et al.
patent: 5248168 (1993-09-01), Chichester et al.
patent: 5542015 (1996-07-01), Hultermans
patent: 6343814 (2002-02-01), Bucher et al.
patent: 6447170 (2002-09-01), Takahashi
patent: 3041482 (1997-07-01), None
patent: 2000-14317 (2000-05-01), None
patent: WO 96/04696 (1996-02-01), None
Nagura Kazuhito
Ohe Nobuyuki
Sone Motoki
Abrams Neil
Birch & Stewart Kolasch & Birch, LLP
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
LandOfFree
Connector including plug fixing member and electronic... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Connector including plug fixing member and electronic..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Connector including plug fixing member and electronic... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3328975