EP2190078A1 - Techniken zum Schutz eines benutzerzugänglichen elektrischen Steckverbinders - Google Patents

Techniken zum Schutz eines benutzerzugänglichen elektrischen Steckverbinders Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2190078A1
EP2190078A1 EP08020467A EP08020467A EP2190078A1 EP 2190078 A1 EP2190078 A1 EP 2190078A1 EP 08020467 A EP08020467 A EP 08020467A EP 08020467 A EP08020467 A EP 08020467A EP 2190078 A1 EP2190078 A1 EP 2190078A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
terminal
latch
electrical device
casing
protective coupler
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP08020467A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Mark Godovich
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to EP08020467A priority Critical patent/EP2190078A1/de
Publication of EP2190078A1 publication Critical patent/EP2190078A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/73—Means for mounting coupling parts to apparatus or structures, e.g. to a wall
    • H01R13/74—Means for mounting coupling parts in openings of a panel
    • H01R13/746—Means for mounting coupling parts in openings of a panel using a screw ring
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
    • H01R13/627—Snap or like fastening
    • H01R13/6275—Latching arms not integral with the housing
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R31/00—Coupling parts supported only by co-operation with counterpart
    • H01R31/06—Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates generally to the field of electrical connectors and, more specifically, to techniques for protecting user-accessible electrical connectors.
  • electrical connectors and, in particular, user-accessible external electrical connectors of electronic consumer devices are often exposed to excessive forces. Such forces may damage the connectors or internal components of the device, as well as the respective cable termination. The resulting damages may be costly or irreparable and, in some instances, potentially hazardous to users of the device or environment.
  • a protective coupler for electrically coupling a cable terminal to a terminal of an electrical device.
  • the protective coupler has a first portion that removably secures to a casing of the electrical device.
  • the first portion comprises a first terminal that removably connects to the terminal of the electrical device and a second terminal.
  • a second portion comprises a third terminal that removably connects to the second terminal, and a fourth terminal that removably connects to the cable terminal.
  • a method of protecting a connector of an electrical device that electrically connects to a cable terminal is provided.
  • a first coupling portion is provided with a first terminal and a second terminal.
  • a second coupling portion is provided with a third terminal and a fourth terminal.
  • the first terminal is connected to the connector of the electrical device.
  • the first coupling portion is then secured to a casing of the electrical device.
  • the second terminal is connected to the third terminal and the fourth terminal is connected to the cable terminal.
  • inventive techniques are used for protecting user-accessible external electrical connectors of electronic consumer devices, such as laptop computers, PDAs, cellular phones, MP3/iPOD players, and the like.
  • FIG. 1 depicts a flow diagram illustrating a method 100 for protecting a user-accessible electrical connector of an electronic device in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure
  • FIGS. 2-3 depict high-level schematic diagrams illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.
  • the method 100 begins at step 110 where a two-portion protective coupler 250 is provided.
  • the protective coupler 250 comprises a first portion 230 (hereinafter “first portion”) and a second portion 240 (hereinafter “second portion”) and, in operation, protects a user-accessible (i.e., external) electrical connector 206 of an electronic device 200 from damages that a mating cable termination 220 may cause to the connector 206.
  • the connector 206 is mounted on a pointed circuit board 204; disposed proximate to a casing 202 of the electronic device 200, and is accessible through an opening 203 in the casing 202.
  • Examples of such connectors 206 include AC/DC power connectors, Universal Serial BUS (USB) connectors, Firewire connectors, earphone connectors, and the like.
  • the connector 206 comprises a base 208 and a terminal (hereinafter referred to as a receptacle) 210 having at least one pin 212 (four female pins 212 are shown) and optional keying elements 216 (one keying element 216 is shown in phantom in FIG. 2 only).
  • the cable termination 220 comprises a cable terminal (hereinafter referred to as a cable plug) 226 and a housing 222, which is coupled to a cable 224.
  • Examples of the electronic device 200 may include laptop computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), cellular phones, audio/video-enabled devices (for example, MP3/iPOD players, and the like), among other electronic consumer devices.
  • the first portion 230 of the coupler 250 is adapted for coupling to the receptacle 210, securing to the casing 202, and slidingly retaining the coupler's second portion 240, which is adapted for receiving and slidingly retaining the cable plug 226.
  • the connector 206 may similarly comprise a plug with male pins or a combination of male and female pins, or pins arranged in a form of a post having concentric contact areas (for example, pin arrangement used in earphone connectors, and the like), among other connector-specific features. It has been contemplated and is within the scope of the disclosure that the method 100 is utilized in the context of such connectors.
  • the first portion 230 of the coupler 250 includes an adapter 242 having first and second terminals (hereinafter referred to as plugs) 234, 238 and a lock nut 252 (shown detached from the adapter 242), and the second portion 240 of the coupler 250 includes third and fourth terminals (hereinafter referred to as receptacles) 256, 258.
  • the plug 234 is adapted for connection to the receptacle 210 of the connector 206.
  • the plug 238 and the receptable 256 are adapted for connection to one another.
  • the receptacle 258 is adapted for connection to the cable plug 226.
  • a pinout and keying configuration of the plug 234 is dimensioned to mate with a pinout and keying configuration of the receptacle 210
  • a pinout and keying configuration of the plug 238 is dimensioned to mate with a pinout and keying configuration of the receptacle 256
  • a pinout and keying configuration of the receptacle 258 is dimensioned to mate with a pinout and keying configuration of the cable plug 226.
  • the plug 238 has the same construction as the plug 234.
  • the receptacle 256 has the same construction as the receptacle 258.
  • the plug 238 and the receptacle 256 may differ in construction from the plug 234 and the receptacle 258, respectively, as well as include components (not shown) intended to enhance mechanical or electrical properties of these terminals.
  • Structural elements of components of the coupler 250 may be fabricated from dielectric materials such as plastics, ceramics, or combinations thereof, and may comprise mechanical enforcers made from, for example, metals or alloys.
  • a center region 243 of the adapter 242 comprises at least one latch 244 and at least one longitudinal groove 248 (four latches 244 and four grooves 248 are shown), and a threaded region 232 is provided with an external thread for threading with an inner thread 253 of the lock nut 252.
  • Each latch 244 includes side elements 245 1 and 245 2 and is rotatably disposed on a shaft 246 having ends secured to opposing sidewalls forming a respective groove 248.
  • the latches 244 are symmetrically disposed around a perimeter of the first portion 230.
  • Each latch 244 may swing or pivot (as shown by arrow 247 in Fig.
  • the second portion 240 of the coupler 250 includes at least one spring clip 262 and at least one spring clip 264, which are disposed in grooves 268 and 270 formed at peripheries of the receptacles 256 and 258, respectively (illustratively, four spring clip 262, 264 and four grooves 268, 270 are shown).
  • the spring clips 262 and 264 exert pre-determined compressive forces on the plug 238 of the adapter 242 and the cable plug 226, respectively, when the plug 238 and the cable plug 226 are connected to the receptacles 256 and 258, respectively, as shown in Fig. 6 and discussed below with reference to steps 140 and 150 in Fig. 1 .
  • the spring clips 262, 264 are symmetrically disposed around perimeters of the respective receptacles 256 and 258.
  • the spring clips 262, 264, grooves 270, pins 212 4 , keying element 216 4 , and receptacle 258 are portions of an insert assembly 261 further including an insert 260, which is secured to a body 254 of the second portion 240 using mating threads 266.
  • at least a portion of these components of the insert assembly 261 may be associated, permanently or detachably, with the body 254 or other structural elements (not shown) of the second portion 240.
  • the spring clips 262 may be portions of the spring clips 264.
  • the plug 238 and the receptacle 256 may also include optional features (not shown) directed to establishing, in the fitted state, a particular retaining force between these terminals (for example, pre-determined pin or keying configurations, and the like).
  • the plug 234 of the first portion 230 is coupled by a user to the receptacle 210 of the electrical connector 206 in a state (not shown) when the side.elements 245 1 of the latches 244 are disposed horizontally and the side elements 245 2 of the latches 244 are disposed vertically, as shown in the assembled configuration of Fig. 6 .
  • the side elements 245 2 are rotated, in coordination, inside the device 200 (i.e., behind the casing 202) into the vertical positions and, as such, the side elements 245 1 become disposed horizontally in the respective grooves 248.
  • the lock nut 252 is driven, by the user, over the threaded region 232 of the adapter 242 and tightened against the casing 202.
  • the casing 202 is compressed between the latches 244 and the lock nut 252 and, as such, the first portion 230 becomes secured (i.e., affixed) to the casing 202 of the electronic device 200.
  • the first and second portions 230, 240 of the coupler 250 are interconnected.
  • the plug 238 is received by the receptacle 256, where the plug 238 is slidingly retained, with a pre-determined force, by the spring clips 262 and mating components of the plug and receptacle, such as pins 212 3 /212 4 or keying elements 216 3 /216 4 .
  • the cable termination 220 is coupled, or fitted, to the second portion 240 of the coupler 250.
  • the cable plug 226 is connected to the receptacle 258, at which point the cable plug 226 is slidingly retained, with a pre-determined force, by the spring clips 264 and mating components of.the plug and receptacle, such as pins 212 2 /212 4 or keying elements 216 2 /216 4 .
  • the portions 230 and 240 of the coupler 250 or the portion 240 and the cable termination 220 may be slidingly detached (illustrated by arrows 305 and 307 in Fig. 6 ) from one another along break lines 301 or 303 shown in Fig. 6 , thus protecting the connector 206, internal elements of the electronic device 200, and/or the cable termination 220 from being damaged by such excessive forces.
  • the excessive forces may cause the plug 238 to be disconnected from the receptacle 256 or the cable plug 226 to be disconnected from the receptacle 258, as well as may cause both plugs 238 and 226 to be disconnected from the receptacles 256 and 258, as defined by the pre-determined retaining forces (as discussed for steps 140 and 150 in Fig. 1 ) developed between the respective fitted terminals.
  • Figs. 7-9 show an alternate embodiment of the protective coupler of the present disclosure.
  • the alternate embodiment differs from the embodiment of Figs. 2-6 only in the structure of the first portion 230 of the protective coupler 250.
  • the second portion 240 of the protective coupler and its manner of connection to the first portion 230 and the cable termination 220 are as described above for the embodiment of Figs. 2-6 . Accordingly, a description of the structure and connection of the second portion 240 is omitted.
  • the first portion 230 of the protective coupler 250 includes an adapter 401 having terminals (plugs) 234 and 238, a latch ring 410, and a lock nut 420 (shown detached from the adapter 401).
  • the latch ring 410 is rotatably secured to the adapter 401 at a pre-determined distance from the plug 234.
  • the latch ring 410 has at least one spring latch 404 (for example, four spring latches 404) that is flexibly coupled to or is an extension of the latch ring 410 and comprises an externally threaded region 414 having an external thread 402 for threading with an internal thread 422 of the lock nut 420.
  • the spring latch 404 is adapted for reversible deflections towards the terminal 234 as shown by arrow 407 in Fig. 7 and is provided with a retaining hook 406.
  • the adapter 401 includes optional grooves 408, which are adapted for receiving the deflected portions of the respective spring latches 404.
  • step 120 when the plug 234 is coupled to the receptacle 210, the retaining hooks 406 snappably fasten to the casing 202, as depicted in Fig. 9 .
  • the lock nut 420 is driven, by the user, over the thread region 414 (i.e., when the internal thread 422 of the lock nut 420 is threaded with the external thread 402 of the latch ring 410) and tightened against the casing 202, the casing 202 is compressed between the retaining hooks 406 and the lock nut 420.
  • the first portion 230 becomes secured to the casing 202 of the electronic device 200.
  • the protective coupler 250 may comprise other means adapted for securing the first portion 230 to the casing 202 of the electronic device 200, including mechanical means, magnetic means, adhesive means, vacuum-producing means, or a combination thereof.

Landscapes

  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
EP08020467A 2008-11-25 2008-11-25 Techniken zum Schutz eines benutzerzugänglichen elektrischen Steckverbinders Withdrawn EP2190078A1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP08020467A EP2190078A1 (de) 2008-11-25 2008-11-25 Techniken zum Schutz eines benutzerzugänglichen elektrischen Steckverbinders

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP08020467A EP2190078A1 (de) 2008-11-25 2008-11-25 Techniken zum Schutz eines benutzerzugänglichen elektrischen Steckverbinders

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2190078A1 true EP2190078A1 (de) 2010-05-26

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EP08020467A Withdrawn EP2190078A1 (de) 2008-11-25 2008-11-25 Techniken zum Schutz eines benutzerzugänglichen elektrischen Steckverbinders

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9755365B2 (en) 2015-01-08 2017-09-05 Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems Corp. Modular socket
US9935410B2 (en) 2016-08-26 2018-04-03 Sterling Innovation Inc. Electrical connector having male and female connectors

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB857344A (en) 1957-03-01 1960-12-29 Sourau & Cie Improvements in electrical connectors
US3363214A (en) * 1966-01-21 1968-01-09 Charles T. Wright Magnetic plug adapter
EP0479684A1 (de) * 1990-10-05 1992-04-08 Itt Composants Et Instruments Abgeschirmter, wasserdichter und elektrisch isolierter elektrischer Verbinder
DE19807936A1 (de) * 1998-02-25 1999-08-26 Whitaker Corp Elektrische Verbinderanordnung mit Kupplungshilfe
US6132234A (en) * 1995-11-20 2000-10-17 Wilheilm Sihn, Jr., Kg Coaxial plug connector for communications technology, in particular in motor vehicles
US20090068892A1 (en) * 2007-09-06 2009-03-12 Mark Godovich Techniques for protecting a user-accessible electrical connector

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB857344A (en) 1957-03-01 1960-12-29 Sourau & Cie Improvements in electrical connectors
US3363214A (en) * 1966-01-21 1968-01-09 Charles T. Wright Magnetic plug adapter
EP0479684A1 (de) * 1990-10-05 1992-04-08 Itt Composants Et Instruments Abgeschirmter, wasserdichter und elektrisch isolierter elektrischer Verbinder
US6132234A (en) * 1995-11-20 2000-10-17 Wilheilm Sihn, Jr., Kg Coaxial plug connector for communications technology, in particular in motor vehicles
DE19807936A1 (de) * 1998-02-25 1999-08-26 Whitaker Corp Elektrische Verbinderanordnung mit Kupplungshilfe
US20090068892A1 (en) * 2007-09-06 2009-03-12 Mark Godovich Techniques for protecting a user-accessible electrical connector

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9755365B2 (en) 2015-01-08 2017-09-05 Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems Corp. Modular socket
US9935410B2 (en) 2016-08-26 2018-04-03 Sterling Innovation Inc. Electrical connector having male and female connectors

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