Electrical connectors – With insulation other than conductor sheath – Plural-contact coupling part
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-29
2001-05-29
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With insulation other than conductor sheath
Plural-contact coupling part
C439S954000, C439S439000, C439S344000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06238251
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to patch panels for communications use and, more particularly, to modular connector patch panels which direct patch cord cordage toward the mounting surfaces to which the patch panels are mounted.
2. Description of the Related Art
In buildings and, more particularly, within communications connection closets in buildings, various transmission media typically are connected to each other and to incoming and outgoing lines by means, such as connectors, which are mounted to patch panels. Patch panels generally are mounted within a communications closet, such as to a wall or other mounting surface, and incorporate a series of connectors for interconnecting the various transmission media. Transmission media, such as copper wires formed into patch cords, for instance, often incorporate plugs at their ends. These plugs are configured for mating with, for example, the plug-receiving cavities of jacks, which commonly serve as connectors for mounting within a patch panel.
Heretofore, it has been commonplace to orient patch panel jacks within a patch panel so that the plug-receiving cavities of the jacks face forward, e.g. away from the mounting surface to which the patch panel is mounted. So configured, the plugs of patch cords typically have an insertion direction into the plug-receiving cavity of a patch panel jack that is perpendicular with and toward the mounting surface of the patch panel, thereby providing a technician with convenient access for connecting the plugs to and removing the plugs from the various jacks. Since patch cord cordage typically extends from a patch cord plug in a direction which is approximately 180 degrees from its insertion direction, the aforementioned patch panel configuration presents patch cord cordage which extend away from the patch panel jacks and the patch panel mounting surface. The cordage then tend to hang downwardly in front of the patch panel. When carefully dressed, the cordage appear neat and orderly and can facilitate efficient patching efforts by a technician, because the patch cords and the patch panel jacks are readily accessible. However, when patch cord cordage are not carefully dressed, a general appearance of disorder can result as the cordage inherently tend to form loops in front of the patch panel jacks. In extreme cases, the cordage may become entangled or snarled with adjacent cables, thereby potentially hindering a technician's patching efforts.
Therefore, there is a need to provide an improved patch panel which addresses these and other shortcomings of the prior art.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Certain objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned with the practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
The present invention is generally directed to an improved patch panel incorporating at least one jack which is adapted to cooperate with a patch cord plug. The jack communicates with a transmission medium, such as a cable, with the jack including a plug-receiving cavity and a keyway. The plug-receiving cavity is configured to receive and securely mount the plug of a patch cord so that the transmission medium cooperating with the jack electrically communicates with the patch cord when the plug is in an engaged position within the plug-receiving cavity. The keyway is formed through the jack and communicates with the plug-receiving cavity. Additionally, the patch cord plug incorporates a key which engages the keyway of the jack. So configured, the key assists a technician in aligning the patch cord plug with the plug-receiving cavity of a jack during patching operations.
In preferred embodiments, the patch panel incorporates jacks which are oriented with their plug-receiving cavities oriented toward the mounting surface to which the panel is mounted. The jacks receive patch cord plugs which are inserted into the plug-receiving cavities of the jacks in an insertion direction which is oriented away from the mounting surface, thereby allowing the cordage of the patch cords to extend away from the jacks and toward the mounting surface. So configured, the cordage no longer tend to hang downwardly in front of the jacks of the panel.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, preferred embodiments of a patch cord plug utilized with the improved patch panel incorporate a latch and a lever. The latch is movable between a locking position for securing the plug within the plug-receiving cavity of a jack, and an unlocking position for allowing the plug to be removed from the plug-receiving cavity. The lever is movable between a disengaged position and an engaged position such that moving the lever to the engaged position urges the latch to its unlocking position. Some embodiments of the plug incorporate a flexible section with the flexible section being deformable between an unflexed position, corresponding to the disengaged position of the lever, and a flexed position, corresponding to the engaged position of the lever. In other embodiments, the plug can incorporate an axle, with the lever being rotatable about the axle between its disengaged position and its engaged position. Additionally, preferred embodiments of the plug can include protrusions extending from the side walls of the lever and which are configured to engage the bottom wall of a jack, thereby assisting a technician in aligning the patch cord plug with the plug receiving cavity of a jack during patching operations.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional features and advantages be included herein within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4990094 (1991-02-01), Chandler et al.
patent: 5118311 (1992-06-01), Margini
patent: 5748595 (1998-05-01), Nakajima
patent: 5906517 (1999-05-01), Crane et al.
Curtis Dennis W. J.
Drexler Leonard H.
Wild Ronald L.
Lucent Technologies - Inc.
Prasad Chandrika
Sircus Brian
Thomas Kayden Horstemeyer & Risley LLP
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