Electrical connectors – Connector movable between accessible and inaccessible positions
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-13
2002-11-19
Bradley, P. Austin (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Connector movable between accessible and inaccessible positions
C439S676000, C439S329000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06482019
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrical interface connections. More particularly, it relates to modular jacks configured to couple with physical/electrical media plugs.
2. The Relevant Technology
It is well recognized that the computer industry is experiencing tremendous growth, driven in large part by a demand for immediate access to information. To meet this demand the industry has developed a wide assortment of electrical apparatus to transmit and receive electronically retrievable data. Electrical apparatus include, but are not limited to laptops, notebook computers, palmtops, and PDAs. Although there are numerous public and private networks and databases that provide electronically retrievable data, absent the ability to connect directly with a network, one is relegated to relying upon the exchange of discs or tapes in order to receive the data that is accessible through the network.
The ability to freely access data on a network and to transfer information between electrical apparatus can dramatically increase productivity and reduce overall production time. Accordingly, electrical apparatus have been equipped with means to access electronically retrievable data over networks, such as the Internet, a world wide network, local area networks (“LANs”) and wide area networks (“WANs”).
The transfer of data over a network can be accomplished with wireless technology or by telephone lines and cables. The interface between a computer and a cable or telephone line is typically accomplished through a media connector.
One conventional type of media connector is the Registered Jack connector (RJ-series connector). RJ-series connectors are used by almost all telephone companies throughout the world for many applications, the most important of which is interconnection of telephones with telephone lines. For this reason, stringent standardization of connectors has been established to enable compatibility and interactivity. Due to the simplicity of the connection and the established standards, RJ-series connectors are used extensively in the computer industries and in other industries where communication over telephone lines or other types of cables is required.
RJ-series connectors include a plug or contact block and a receptacle or socket. The plug comprises a small block shaped body coupled with a cable, such as a telephone line. Housed within the body are several contact pins. Each of the contact pins is attached to a discrete wire within the cable. Mounted on the outside of the body is a flexible retention clip that is used for removably securing the plug within the socket of an electrical apparatus.
The socket is typically formed on the side of the electrical apparatus and is configured to receive the plug. Disposed within the socket are electrical contact wires. During use, the contact wires within the socket are biased against corresponding contacts on a plug to complete an electrical connection between the plug and the electrical apparatus.
The interior surface of the socket comprises a latching mechanism that receives the retention clip of the plug so as to mechanically secure the plug within the socket by holding retention notches of the retention clip. To remove the plug, the retention clip is manually flexed towards the body of the plug to release the hold of the latching mechanism on the retention notches, thereby enabling manual removal of the plug from the socket.
Although RJ-type connectors are used extensively, they have several shortcomings. Most notably, the achievements in microprocessing have enabled manufactures to dramatically downsize various electrical apparatus. For example, mobile telephones and PDA's now exist that can easily fit in a shirt pocket. Such apparatus, however, are limited from further downsizing, in part, by the size of the socket in which the media plug is received. That is, to enable an electrical apparatus to house a standard sized socket having a defined depth, the electrical apparatus must have at least the same depth.
Besides limiting the size of an electrical apparatus, a full sized socket housed within an electrical apparatus occupies valuable space. Even in larger apparatus it is desirable to optimize the use of space so as to minimize size. When an electrical apparatus does not need to couple with a plug, the space occupied by the coupling socket is wasted. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a connector that minimizes the depth that is required for a media plug to be inserted into a socket while successfully coupling with an electrical apparatus.
Another problem encountered by traditional full sized sockets occurs when the socket is not occupied by a media plug and is left open to the environment. The problem is that the socket becomes a sink for dust and debris, preventing the contact pins of a media plug from biasing against the electrical contacts of the socket, ultimately preventing the media plug from interfacing with the electrical apparatus. Debris and exposure to the environment can also cause damage to the electrical contact wires. One solution to these problems is to cap the socket with a plug during nonuse to keep ancillary dust and debris from accumulating in the socket and on the electrical contact wires. However, this solution has its own problems. In particular, plugs can be misplaced and additional handling is required to remove and replace the cap during use and nonuse. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a connector having a cover that would protect the connector socket when not in use and would automatically articulate away from the connector socket when a media plug enters the connector socket.
Yet another problem encountered by traditional sockets is that they cannot securely accommodate both RJ-11 series plugs and RJ-45 series plugs. In particular, the size of the socket must be at least as wide as the body of an RJ-45 series plug, which is slightly wider than the body of an RJ-11 series plug. The RJ-45 series plug is wider than the RJ-11 series plug because it houses
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contact wires whereas the RJ-11 houses either 4 or 6 contact wires. Accordingly, a socket that is configured to accommodate an RJ-11 series plug is too narrow to receive an RJ-45 series plug. Whereas a socket that is configured to receive an RJ-45 series plug is too wide to securely couple with an RJ-11 series plug because the space between the socket walls and the body of the plug allows the plug to wiggle back and forth.
Typically, RJ-11 series plugs are used as an interface to connect electrical apparatus to the Internet or for standard modem applications using normal telephone lines. RJ-45 series plugs are typically used as an interface to connect electrical apparatus onto LANs, particularly Ethernets. It is not uncommon for a single electronic apparatus to be used to connect to both the Internet and a LAN. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a connector that can securely accommodate both types of RJ-series media plugs so that an electronic apparatus may only require a single RJ-series connector.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A modular jack is provided for coupling with RJ-series media plugs. The RJ-series media plug comprises a small block shaped body coupled with a cable, such as a telephone line. A flexible retention clip is mounted to the body of the plug and protrudes away from the body at a slight angle, terminating at a narrow free end. The retention clip has retention notches that define the edges where the retention clip significantly narrows. Housed within the plug body are distinct contact pins. Each of the contact pins are attached to discrete wires within the cable.
The modular jack comprises a frame, a rocker arm, electrical contacts, and a retractable cover guard. The frame has a aperture and a floor. The aperture extends from a top side of the frame to the floor and is configured to receive the body of the RJ-series media plug. The floor is configured to limit the insertion depth of the RJ-series media plug and to prevent the bo
Forte Steven Lo
Madsen Brent
Oliphant David
3Com Corporation
Bradley P. Austin
Gilman Alexander
Workman & Nydegger & Seeley
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