Shell for an electrical or an optical connector

Electrical connectors – With or having flexible guard or support for cable or conductor – Pivotal

Reexamination Certificate

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Reexamination Certificate

active

06196864

ABSTRACT:

THE PRESENT INVENTION RELATES TO A SHELL FOR AN ELECTRICAL OR AN OPTICAL CONNECTOR.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The term “shell for an electrical or an optical connector” is used to designate a box which is fixed to the rear portion of the connector proper and whose function is firstly to surround and protect the ends of the electrical or optical conductors of the cable in the zones thereof that are connected to the terminals of the connector, and secondly to determine the direction of the electrical or optical cable terminating at the connector, and thus at the shell.
Usually, the shell has a passage for the cable which is axial. In some cases, the shell is shaped so that the cable outlet is disposed at right-angles relative to the longitudinal axis of the shell and of the electrical or optical connector.
In other words, whatever the type of connector shell under consideration, the direction of the cable connected to the connector is determined. It is either axial or orthogonal.
Unfortunately, there exist numerous situations in which it is necessary to give the electrical or optical cable a special direction where it leaves the connector as a function of surrounding conditions and as a function of the availability of room where the connector is installed. In particular, it is very important for the cable to extend in the appropriate direction so as to avoid imparting stresses due to excessive curvature of the cable.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a shell for an electrical or an optical connector that makes it possible, when connecting the cable to the connector, to give an appropriate direction to the cable outlet.
To achieve this object, according to the invention, a shell for an electrical or an optical connector comprises two half-shells that can be secured to each other and that define an internal chamber, a first end through which an electrical or an optical cable can pass, and a second end for fixing to the electrical or optical connector, and, close to its first end, the inside face of the half-shell has a portion in the form of a concave spherical cap, the two spherical caps, when the half-shells are assembled together, substantially facing each other and being disposed on substantially the same sphere, and the shell further comprises a moving member having an axial passage for the cable, said moving member having a first portion in the form of a portion of a sphere and a second portion of elongate shape, and when the two half-shells are assembled together, said portion of spherical shape co-operates with the spherical caps while the portion of elongate shape is disposed inside said chamber.
It will be understood that the spherical portion of the moving member through which the cable passes co-operates with the two surfaces in the form of portions of spherical caps formed in the two half-shells of the shell to constitute a ball-and-socket system making it possible to give the desired direction to the cable where it leaves the shell.
The portion of elongate shape which may be of right section which is circular, with flats, or hexagonal, can serve for taking up the shielding of the electric cable or for fixing the cable.
In a preferred embodiment, when the two half-shells are assembled together, contact between the spherical portion of the moving member and the surfaces provide tight contact so that the moving member conserves a determined direction.
It will be understood that after the various electrical or optical conductors of the cable have been connected to the connector, the moving member can be given a desired direction and that this direction will be maintained by friction after the two half-shells constituting the shell have been assembled together.


REFERENCES:
patent: 1778549 (1930-10-01), Conner
patent: 5735707 (1998-04-01), O'Groske et al.
patent: 5746625 (1998-05-01), Aparicio et al.

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