AU4880400A - A plug part for an optical plug-and-socket connection - Google Patents

Description

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AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION NAME OF APPLICANT(S): Diamond SA ADDRESS FOR SERVICE:

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DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Attorneys 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

INVENTION TITLE: A plug part for an optical plug-and-socket connection The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 1 e ece lve c L' Q Ooo ~nv~

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The invention relates to a plug part for an optical plugand-socket connection according to the feature of claim 1.

Modern optical plug parts are today consistently provided with protective flaps not only to protect the sensitive end-face side of the plug pin from contamination and from mechanical effects but also to prevent laser light from exiting in the pulled-out condition. The protective flaps may with this be linkedly mounted, and they may according to the constructional type of the plug part, on inserting into a corresponding socket part either only be pivoted open or pivoted open and pushed back.

oooo Examples for such plug parts are described in EP-A-823 649 or in *Wo 98/53347.

With a sufficient size of the plug housing the integration of the bearing section or in any case the guide path does not cause any problem. In the context of the increasing miniaturisation of the plug parts it is however relatively difficult with a plastic housing to arrange mechanically stable bearing sections and in particular guide paths since one may not go below certain minimal wall thicknesses for reasons of moulding technology. Also the removal of the corresponding moulded part from the mould may be relatively complicated and by way of this make the production more difficult.

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a plug part of the initially mentioned type with which the linked mounting of the protective flap is simplified, wherein in particular also with small-format plug parts a mechanically stable linking function is ensured. At the same time the manufacture of the plug housing as well as also the assembly of PDI069 /11.07.00 2 the complete plug part is to be simplified. This object according to the invention is achieved with a plug part which comprises the features in claim 1.

The guide element fastened on the plug housing with this in a simple manner assumes the bearing function for the protective flap in that it forms the bearing section or however at least a consituent part of this bearing section. The plug housing itself may at the same time be designed as simply as possible, and does not need to comprise any undercuts or link openings which would be difficult with respect to removal from the mould. If the guide element forms the complete bearing section the protective flap is completely linked onto the guide element, independently of the eeo shape of the plug housing. If the guide element on the other hand is only a consituent part of the bearing section, for fullfilling the bearing function always also at least a surface section of the plug housing is required.

A particularly advantageous mounting of the protective flap may be achieved when this is pivotably and displaceably mounted on a guide path in a manner such that it is movable from the closure position at the end-face side of the plug housing into an opening position displaced back with respect to the end-face side, wherein the guide element forms the guide path or is a consituent part of the guide path. With this not only does the protective flap carry out a pivoting movement but it is yet also displaced back along the guide path. The guide path may with this run in a straight line or also in a curve.

A particularly simple assembly of the plug part may be achieved when the guide element is a preferably somewhat U-shaped bow which is snapped onto the plug housing and at least partly surrounds this. The guide element is at the same time PDI069 /11.07.00 3 advantageously of steel, in particular formed as a bending part of steel sheet metal. Such bending parts may be manufactured very cheaply. Alternatively the guide element may of course also be manufactured of a suitable plastic material.

A securement of a roughly U-shaped bow on the plug housing may be reached in that in the two lateral U-limbs there is arranged in each case at least one relief which cooperates with at least in each case one material raised part on the outer side of the plug housing. A displacement of the bow on the plug housing by way of this is no longer possible.

The plug housing could also consist of at least two separate ooo.

housing parts, wherein the two housing parts are held together by the guide element or by the bow. Apart from the bearing function the guide element in this case also assumes the function of a connection element.

With protective flaps which are displaceable in a guide path the latter may be formed by a surface section of the plug housing and by a surface section of the guide element. With U-shaped bows this may be particularly simply realised in that the U-limbs are bent at the free ends. The bends at the same time form a surface section for the guide path.

The protective flaps may be mounted in differing manners on the guide element. Particularly advantageously they comprise a pair of link cams whose free ends point away from one another and which engage into the bearing section. It would however also be conceivable to arrange the joint cams on the guide element, wherein these engage into corresponding link sockets on the protective flap.

PDI069 /11.07.00 4 The protective flap may comprise at least one lateral control cam which for pivoting into the opening position cooperates with a socket part. Also here a kinematic reversal would be conceivable in that a control cam is provided on the socket part which engages into a cooresponding guide or control path on the protective flap.

In order to achieve a certain lever effect the control cam must be arranged at a distance to the pivoting axis of the protective flap or to the link cams. In such a case it is advantageous when the control cam is pivotable into the plane of the guide path and together with the link cams may be moved in the guide path. With a U-shaped bow with bends, the bend has at least one relief for introducing the control cam into the guide path.

So that the protective flap in the uninserted position remains constantly closed it is advantageously biased with a helical compression spring into the closure position. This spring is supported on the plug housing. For the protection of the I II. helical compression spring and for a better cooperation with the protective flap there may be provided a plunger which at least partly surrounds the helical compression spring, and which is displaceably mounted on the plug housing. The plunger with this bears on a lever arm which contacts the end-face side of the plunger in each position of the protective flap.

Preferably also the plug pin is held axially displaceable in the plug housing against the force of a spring, wherein the spring is directly or indirectly supported on a housing part on the cable side and the plug pin directly or indirectly on a housing part on the plug end-face-side.

PDI069 /11.07.00 Further variants of the plug part according to the invention with respect to the mounting and control of the protective flap, design of the plug housing or formation of the guide element are conceivable without further ado. According to the purpose of application the guide element also fullfills yet a mechanical protective function, in particular against bending and torsion which may be taken into account by way of a suitable choice of material. Finally it would yet be also conceivable to use the guide element for a mechanical coding of plug parts. With this various types of guide elements would have to be formed such that in each case only plug parts with the same type of guide elements may be inserted into a certain socket part.

Embodiment examples of the invention are shown in the drawings and are hereinafter described in more detail. There are shown: Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 a lateral view of a plug part with the features of the invention, a plan view of the plug part according to Figure 1, a view of the end-face side of the plug part according to Figure i, a longitudinal section through the plug part according to Figure 1 in a somewhat enlarged representation, Figure 5 a cross section through the plane I-I on the plug part according to Figure 4, PDI069 /11.07.00 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8 Figure 9 6 a detailed enlargement from the cross section according to Figure a perspective representation of the plug part according to Figure i, the plug part according to Figure 7 with an opened protective flap, an exploded drawing of the plug part according to Figure 1,

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Figure 10 a plug part on insertion into a socket part, Figure 11 Figure 12 Figure 13 Figure 14 Figure 15 the plug part according to Figure 10 on reaching the final insert position, a perspective representation of an alternative embodiment example, the plug part according to Figure 12 with an opened protective flap, a perspective representation of a further alternative embodiment example, an exploded drawing of the plug outer parts of the plug part according to Figure 14, Figure 16 an exploded drawing of the plug inner parts according to Figure 14 in an enlarged representation, PDI069 /11.07.00 7 Figure 17 a longitudinal section through the plug part according to Figure 14 in an enlarged representation, Figure 18 a section through the plane II-II on the plug part according to Figure 17, and Figures 19 to 22 various relative positions of the protective flap on inserting the plug part according to Figure 14 into a socket part, in each case in a lateral view and a lateral cross section.

s is shown in the Figures 1 to 4, the plug part 1 consists eg essentially of a plug housing 2 which is divided into a plug endface-side housing part 4 and a cable-side housing part 5. The plug housing with this contains a plug pin 3 which is resiliently mounted in the direction of the longitudinal middle axis 34. Of *eo* course it would however also be conceivable for several plug pins to be held in the same plug housing.

The plug pin 3 is fixed in a pin mounting 29 which on the opposite side accommodates the optic cable. This however for reasons of a better overview is not shown here. A flexible cable bend protection 28 in the known manner limits the permitted bending radius of the cable. On the pin mounting 29 there is mounted a helical compression spring 11 which on the one side is supported on the cable-side housing part and on the other side on the polygonally formed head end 35 of the pin mounting. This head end in the uninserted position is pressed against a corresponding opening in the plug end-face-side housing part and at the same time is positioned with respect to angle. In the inserted condition the head end on the other hand is decoupled from the PDI069 /11.07.00 8 plug end-face-side housing part 4 and pressed back against the force of the spring 11.

Both housing parts 4 and 5 are held together with the help of a guide element 6 which according to the Figures 5 and 9 is formed roughly U-shaped. In both U-limbs with this in each case there is arranged one rectangular relief 7. This at the same time in each case engages over a corresponding raised part 8 on the two lateral walls of the plug end-face-side housing part 4 and in each case a corresponding raised part 9 on the two lateral walls of the cable side housing part 5 respectively. The bow 6 in the arrow direction a may be snapped from below onto the housing part 4. In contrast the snapping on movement onto the cable side .o housing part 5 in the arrow direction b is effected parallel to the longitudinal middle axis 34.

The two housing parts 4 and Sare designed such that the o*o* contact surfaces bearing on one another simultaneously form a *ooS securement against rotation. Thus the housing part 4 is provided with a securement lug 12 which tapers in a wedge manner, engages into a corresponding recess 13 on the housing part 15 and here lightly wedges. The slight wedging effects a connection, completely free of play, between the housing parts. On the housing part 5 furthermore there are arranged stabilising cams 31 on which the bow 6 is additionally supported.

The plug end-face-side in the uninserted condition is constantly closed with a protective flap 14. This has at its disposal a link fork 18 with link cams 17 laterally arranged thereon and pointing away from one another. These link cams are pivotably and displaceably mounted in the guide path 15. The protective flap 14 with this, in the condition of being pivoted open by roughly 90?, may be displaced back on the upper side of PDI069 /11.07.00 9 the plug housing so that it in the socket part takes up less space and does not hinder the insert procedure. The complete opening position is shown in Figure 8 which however under normal conditions may only be achieved in the corresponding socket part.

The guide path 15 is on the one hand formed by in each case one surface section on the housing part 4 and by the underside of a bending 23 of the bow 6 (Fig. Each U-limb 22 is with this bent so far that it sufficiently engages over the link cams 17.

By way of a longitudinal rib 36 on the housing part 4 the link fork 18 is additionally stabilised.

:i The protective flap 14 is biased by way of a helical 000. compression spring 25 into the closure position. This spring is 0 seated on a spring spike 32 on the housing part 4. The impinging of the protective flap is effected indirectly via a plunger 26 which partly surrounds the helical compression spring. This plunger is likewise formed as a bending part of metal, wherein four parallel bent lateral walls form a parallelpiped spring housing. The end-face of the plunger in each position of the protective flap contacts a lever arm 19 which projects beyond the plane of the link cams 17.

The control of the protective flap 14 on inserting into a socket part 16 (Figures 10 and 11) is effected on a control tongue 24 which is folded back on the outer edge of the socket opening. The socket part 16 contains the actual socket 33 which accommodates the plug pin in an exactly fitting manner. In the position of being pivoted open once the protective flap 14 remains stationary relative to the socket part 16, whilst the plug part 16 is further inserted in the arrow direction c. The locking of the plug part 1 in the socket part 16 is effected with PDI069 /11.07.00 the help of a locking element 27 in a way and manner which is not described here in more detail.

The alternative embodiment example shown in Figure 12 and 13 corresponds with respect to its construction and function essentially to the above described plug part. The material raised parts 8 and 9 however do not abut on one another but are arranged at a distance. Accordingly there are also provided two separate reliefs 7a, 7b in the bow 6. The middle web 37 remaining therebetween covers the abuting connection between the housing part 4 on the plug end-face-side and the housing part 5 on the cable side.

.l Somewhat modified is also the protective flap 14. Instead of a central control tongue there are two control cams 38 arranged laterally from the lever arm 18. These in a similar manner cooperate with the entry opening on the socket part in order to be moved from the closure position into the opening position.

By way of a connection chamber which is not shown here on a neck section 30 two individual plugs may be combined to a duplex plug.

With the alternative embodiment example according to the Figures 14 to 22 as far as is possible, the same reference numerals are used for the same or similar parts, as with the previous embodiment examples. The main difference with respect to the two preceding embodiment examples here lies in the fact that the plug housing 2 has a somewhat different configuration, and that with this the guide element does not additionally assume the function of holding together two housing halves.

PDI069 /11.07.00 11 According to Figure 14 the plug part in the external appearance hardly differs from the plug part shown in Figure 12.

The U-shaped bow 6 serving as a guide element however exclusively serves the formation of a constituent part of the guide path for the protective flap 14.

From Figure 15 it is evident that the plug housing 2 almost exclusively consists of an end-face side housing part 4 which on the two longitudial sides is in each case provided with a single material raised part 8. On the cable-side end of this housing part there are arranged lateral slots 43 which serve the anchoring of the cable-side housing part. The protective flap 14 is shown with a view of the outer side and inner side. The control cams 38 are not formed completely symmetrically. The control cam 38a is somewhat wider than the control cam 38b. The reason for this lies in the fact that the control cam 38 likewise immerses below the corresponding bend 23 as with the link cams 17.

The U-shaped bow 6 in the two limbs 22 is provided with a relief 7 into which the material raised part 8 on the plug housing fits with a positive fit. In the bends 23 on each side and specifically displaced to one another there is provided a relief 39a, 39b. This relief permits the immersing of the control cam 38a into the guide path 15. The displaced arrangement has the advantage that it plays not role in which lateral position the bow is snapped on. On the other hand the protective flap 14 in the region of a relief may however not fall out of the guide path since at least one of the link cams 17 is always guided under a bend 23.

The biasing of the protective flap 14 into the closure position is achieved in a similar manner to that of the previous PDI069 /11.07.00 12 embodiment examples, specifically via a helical compression spring 25 and via a plunger 26. Also the locking element 27 which can be snapped on is similarly formed, and fullfills an identical function.

According to Figure 17 all inner plug parts are grouped together to a cable terminal unit 41 which may be easily manufactured. For this purpose the pin mounting 29 with the plug pin 3 is mounted in a sleeve 40 in a rotationally fixed and axially displaceable maner, and specifically in a manner such that the head end 35 with the truncated pyramid projects from the sleeve. The sleeve 40 with the inclusion of the helical compression spring 11 may be snapped onto the cable-side housing part 5. The latter merely has the object of closing the plug endface-side housing part 5, which practically makes up the whole plug housing, on the cable side. On the sleeve 40 on one side distributed on circumference there are arranged several latching *e tongues 42 of which in each case two diametrically opposite ones o*o* latch into the lateral slots 43 on the housing part 4.

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Figure 17 shows the plug part in the finished assembled condition with a closed protective flap 14. The latching of the two housing parts 4 and 5 by way of the latching tongues 42 and the slots 43 is shown in Figure 18. From this Figure it is also clearly visible that the depth of the material raised parts 8 correspond to the material thickness of the U-shaped bow 6.

Figure 19 shows the situation of a plug part 1 directly before insertion into a corresponding socket part 16. This socket part on the entry opening is provided with lateral control ribs 44 which cooperate with the control cams 38. Since the control cams are arranged at a distance to the link cams 17 on insertion PDI069 /11.07.00 13 of the plug part there is effected a lever effect which firstly effects a purely pivoting movement of the protective flap 14.

Figure 20 shows an opening angle of the protective flap of approx. 400 with a plug part already slightly inserted into the socket part and with a still covered end-face side of the plug pin. According to Figure 21 the pivoting movement of in total approx. 900 has been almost completely carried out and the plug pin already penetrates into the socket 33. The control cams 38a with this immerses through the recess 39a into the plane of the guide path 15 and below the corresponding bend 23. The link cams 17 have not yet displaced relative to the plug housing.

oo Only with the further insertion procedure up to reaching the final end position is the protective flap 14 displaced back relative to the housing end-face side, as can be seen from Figure 22. Since also the control cams 38a are held below the bend 23 the protective flap 14 under the effect of the closure spring in this position may not excecute a closure movement.

Of course the plug part does not need to have the configuration shown in the embodiment examples. Instead of a parallel piped outer contour also a cylindrical outer contour would be conceivable. Also the configuration and function of the protective flap 14 could be modified whithout at the same time departing from the subject-matter of the invention.

The reference numerals in the following claims do not in any way limit the scope of the respective claims.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

Claims (11)

1. 2. A plug part according to claim i, characterised in that the protective flap (14) is pivotably and displaceably mounted on a 0000 guide path (15) in a manner such that it is movable from the closure position on the end-face side of the plug housing into an opening position displaced back with respect to the end-face side, wherein the guide element forms the guide path or is a constituent part of the guide path. 0000 S0 3. A plug part according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the guide element is a preferably U-shaped bow which is snapped onto the plug housing and at least partly surrounds this.
2. 4. A plug part according to claim 2, characterised in that the bow is formed roughly U-shaped, and that in the two lateral U- limbs (22) there is in each case arranged a relief which cooperates with at least in each case one material raised part on the outer side of the plug housing. PDI069 /11.07.00 A plug part according to claim 4, characterised in that the plug housing consists of at least two separate housing parts (4, and that the two housing parts are held together by the bow.
3. 6. A plug part according to claim 2, and one of the claims 3 to characterised in that the guide path (15) is formed by a surface section (20) of the plug housing and by a surface section (21) of the guide element
4. 7. A plug part according to claim 6, characterised in that the guide element is formed as a roughly U-shaped bow, whose U- limbs (22) are bent at the free ends. s ee
5. 8. A plug part according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the protective flap (14) comprises a pair *eoe of link cams (38) whose free ends point away from one another and eee* *engage into the bearing section.
6. 9. A plug part according to claim 8, characterised in that the protective flap (14) comprises at least one lateral control cam (38) which for pivoting into the opening position cooperate with a socket part (16) A plug part according to claim 7 and 9, characterised in that the control cam (38) is arranged at a distance to the link cams (17) and that it is pivotable into the plane of the guide path, wherein the bends (23) on the U-limbs (22) comprise at least one relief (39) for introducing the control cam (38).
7. 11. A plug part according to one of the claims 1 to characterised in that the protective flap (14) by way of a PDI069 /11.07.00 16 helical compression spring (25) is biased into the closure position, said spring being supported on the plug housing.
8. 12. A plug part according to claim 11, characterised in that the helical compression spring (25) impinges the protective flap (14) via a plunger (26) which at least partly surrounds the helical compression spring and which on the housing part on the side of the plug end-face is displaceably mounted.
9. 13. A plug part according to one of the claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the plug pin is held axially displaceable in the plug housing against the force of a i" spring wherein the spring is directly or indirectly o*o* oooo supported on a housing part on the cable side and the plug pin directly or indirectly on a housing part on the plug end-face-side. •g
10. 14. A plug part according to one of the claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the guide element is manufactured of steel, in particular as a bending part of steel sheet metal. 17 A plug part for a plug and socket connection substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings and/or Examples.
11. 16. The steps, features, compositions and compounds disclosed herein or referred to or indicated in the specification and/or claims of this application, individually or collectively, and any and all combinations of any two or more of said steps or features. 0e 0* o. DATED this TWENTY FOURTH day of JULY 2000 Diamond SA by DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Attorneys for the applicant(s) o 06