Electrical connectors – With insulation other than conductor sheath – Plural-contact coupling part
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-04
2001-07-10
Vu, Hien (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With insulation other than conductor sheath
Plural-contact coupling part
C439S676000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257935
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a receptacle connector used in a communication network, and more particularly to an RJ-45 receptacle connector which has an anti-mismating mechanism for preventing mismating with a noncomplementary plug connector.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An RJ-45 connector assembly and an RJ-11 connector assembly both comprise a plug connector and a mating receptacle connector. The RJ-45 connector assembly has dimensions larger than those of an RJ-11 connector assembly. Therefore, an RJ-11 plug connector may be mistakenly inserted into an RJ-45 receptacle connector, which may result in damage to the terminals of the RJ-45 receptacle connector.
Hence, an improved RJ-45 receptacle connector with an anti-mismating mechanism is required to prevent mismating with a non-complementary RJ-11 plug connector. The copending application Ser. No. 09/698,699 filed Oct. 27, 2000 and another copending application Ser. No. 09/721,827 filed Nov. 22, 2000 having the title of “RECEPTACLE CONNECTOR HAVING AN ANTI-MISMATING MEANS” are both approaches of similar functional anti-mismating mechanism with the same assignee with the instant application.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide an RJ-45 receptacle connector with an anti-mismating mechanism for preventing mismating with a noncomplementary RJ-11 plug connector, thereby protecting terminals assembled in the RJ-45 receptacle connector.
To fulfill the object set forth, an RJ-45 receptacle connector in accordance with the present invention comprises a dielectric housing including two sidewalls, an upper wall and a bottom wall. These walls define a receiving space for receiving a complementary plug connector. A plurality of terminals is fixedly received in the receiving space. An anti-mismating mechanism is assembled in the housing and includes a base fixed to the dielectric housing, a resilient stem extending forwardly from the base and through a corresponding sidewall, a curved portion formed near a free end of the stem, and a stop tongue located behind the curved portion and extending from the resilient stem into a channel defined in the upper wall of the housing. The curved portion extends inward into the receiving space a shorten distance from the corresponding side wall than the stop tongue extends into the channel. Thus, when an RJ-11 plug connector is pushed inward to the receiving space, it is blocked by the stop tongues.
When mating, an insertion end of the complementary RJ-45 plug connector presses the force receiving portions, and further pushes the stems resiliently apart from each other. By this means, the distance between the stop tongues enlarges gradually so that distance between the stop tongues is larger than the width of a lock of the RJ-45 plug connector, and the plug can be inserted into the receiving space to connect with the terminals.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4341428 (1982-07-01), Hatch et al.
patent: 4773881 (1988-09-01), Adams, III
patent: 5769668 (1998-06-01), Tondreault
patent: 6146210 (2000-11-01), Cha et al.
Xu DuanZheng
Xu Zheng-Hua
Zhang Jian Qiang
Chung Wei Te
Hon Hai - Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
Vu Hien
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