Electrical connectors – With insulation other than conductor sheath – Plural-contact coupling part
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-22
2001-11-06
Ta, Tho D. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With insulation other than conductor sheath
Plural-contact coupling part
C439S676000, C439S607070, C439S680000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06312293
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a receptacle connector, and particularly to a receptacle connector which has an anti-mismating means for preventing incorrect insertion of a non-complementary plug connector
2. Description of the Related Art
Both RJ-45 connector assemblies and RJ-11 connector assemblies are generally used in signal transmission networks. Each RJ-45 connector assembly and each RJ-11 connector assembly includes a plug connector and a corresponding receptacle connector. When mating, the plug connector is inserted into the corresponding receptacle connector. However, the main difference between an RJ-45 plug connector and an RJ-11 plug connector, or an RJ-45 receptacle connector and an RJ-11 receptacle connector, is that the dimensions of the RJ-45 plug connector and RJ-45 receptacle connector are larger than those of the respective RJ-11 plug connector and RJ-11 receptacle connector. Thus, an RJ-11 plug connector may be mistakenly inserted into an RJ-45 receptacle connector, which may result in damage to the RJ-45 receptacle connector.
In order to prevent mismating, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/536,165, which is assigned to the same assignee of the present application, discloses an RJ-45 receptacle connector (see FIG.
8
). The RJ-45 receptacle connector
51
comprises an insulative housing
53
and an anti-mismating device
55
. The insulative housing
53
has a mating face
57
and a receiving space
59
. The device
55
includes a base portion
61
, two resilient hinges
63
extending rearwardly from the base portion
61
, and a baffle
65
connecting the two resilient hinges
63
. The two hinges
63
are spaced a distance D from each other which is larger than the width of an RJ-11 plug connector. The baffle
65
will prevent an RJ-11 plug connector from being inserted into the RJ-45 receptacle connector
51
, thereby preventing a mismating of an RJ-11 plug connector with the receptacle connector. Only a complementary RJ-45 plug connector (not shown) can simultaneously press the two resilient hinges
63
, and further push the baffle
65
down allowing insertion into the RJ-45 receptacle connector
51
. However, this design of the RJ-45 receptacle connector require a larger receiving space to accommodate the device
55
, which does not comply with the current miniaturization trend in the connector field. Another copending application Ser. No. 09/698,699 filed Oct. 27, 2000 with the same assignee also discloses the similar product with relatively large dimensions, similarly requiring further maniaturization/simplicity improvement.
Hence, an improved receptacle connector is required to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The main object of the present invention is to provide a receptacle connector having an anti-mismating means, wherein the receptacle connector need not have enlarged dimensions to receive the means.
In order to achieve the object set forth, a receptacle connector of the present invention includes an insulative housing having an upper wall, a bottom face, and two sidewalls, with areceiving space defined therebetween for receiving a complementary plug connector. The upper wall defines a passageway and the sidewalls each defines a recess therein in communication with the receiving space. A plurality of terminals is received in the receiving space for mating with the plug connector. An anti-mismating means, which is in the form of a pair of latches, is attached in the insulative housing. Each of the latches includes a connecting arm and a resilient arm extending into one of recesses of the sidewall, and a baffle extending from the resilient arm and into the receiving space. In mating, a complementary plug connector pushes the connecting arms outwardly causing the baffles to move from the receiving space into the recesses, allowing the complementary plug connector to be fully inserted.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4878858 (1989-11-01), Dechelette
patent: 6186835 (2001-02-01), Cheshire
Chung Wei Te
Hon Hai - Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
Ta Tho D.
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