GB2511811A

GB2511811A - Repair plug

Info

Publication number: GB2511811A
Application number: GB1304600.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jeremy Stanger
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-03-14
Filing date: 2013-03-14
Publication date: 2014-09-17
Also published as: GB201304600D0

Abstract

A repair plug for a broken RJ-45 plug comprises: a male RJ-45 plug connection at one end, along with a securing tab, to connect and secure the repair plug with a standard RJ-45 socket; and a female socket at the other end to receive the broken plug. The repair plug may be straight or angled and it has a locking mechanism to secure the broken plug. For simple crystal plugs, the locking mechanism may use a hook that engages the back of the broken RJ-45 plug and a notch that fits into a void created by the crimped connection on the broken RJ-45 plug. For RJ-45 plugs with a moulded plastic cable strain-relief boot, the locking mechanism may be formed by a pair of serrated jaws that grip the cable strain-relief boot. The repair plug has spring-loaded internal electrical contact connections that connect contacts of the broken RJ-45 plug to the male RJ-45 plug connection of the repair plug. The spring contacts push the broken RJ-45 plug against a securing hook of the repair plug. The repair plug overcomes the need for specialist tools and knowledge that would be needed to replace the broken plug on an Ethernet cable.

Description

Title: Repair plug.

Background:

This invention relates to a repair plug for a computer catagoryS cable with rj45 plug.

Computer catagory5 network cables (Ethernet cables} have rj45 connector plugs. These plugs have a securing tab that stops them pulling out of sockets. The securing tabs have a tendency to break off rendering the cable useless.

Statement of invention:

To replace the broken plug on a ethernet cable, requires specialist tools along with specialist knowledge of computer wiring. By using this repair plug these are not needed. This saves both time and money.

Repair Plug.

This invention relates to a repair plug for computer ( Ethernet) cable rj4S plug. The rj4S plug has a locking tab that has a tendency to break off rendering the cable useless as the cable can no longer be trusted to remain connected without pulling out.

To repair an Ethernet cable by replacing a broken plug requires specialist tools and knowledge of computer wiring. To do this is time consuming.

This invention negates the need to remove thebroken rj45 plug and replace it with a new one but simply plug the broken plug into the repair plug. The repair plug has a locking mechanism to secure the broken plug. This is a quick and simple repair that needs no specialist knowledge or skill.

I will describe two locking mechanisms to accommodate two types of rj45 plug.

The repair plug can be manufactured in several styles to accommodate different scenarios. i.e straight connection, 9odegree angle or any other angle as needed.

Advantages: By using this repair plug, a damaged ethernet cable plug can be quickly and simply repaired, without need of any specialist tools or wiring knowledge. This simple repair plug saves both time and money. It negates the need to replace the broken plug or replace the entire cable. Simply push the broken plug into the repair plug which has a locking device to secure the broken plug. The repaired cable can now be used with its new repaired plug. The simple design of the plug means it can be manufactured to accommodate different scenarios i.e straight connection, 90 degree bend up or down or left or right or any other angle needed. Two different locking mechanisms are stated to accommodate different Ethernet rj4S plugs. Some plugs have a simple crystal plug and some have a plug with a moulded plastic cable relief boot. The enclosed diagrams will outline the designs, of the two locking mechanisms.

The locking mechanism for the crystal plug uses a hook that engages with the back of the broken plug and a notch that fits into the void created by the crimped connection on the broken rj45 plug.

The locking mechanism for the rj45 plug with the moulded plastic cable relief boot is formed by a pair of serrated jaws that grip the back of the cable relief boot.

The electrical connection will be made in the same way as if plugged into an rj4S socket. Small electrical contacts that are spring loaded fingers that make contact with the corresponding contacts on the plug.

The spring loaded finger contacts push back on the broken plug to help secure it against the locking hook.

I will now continue to describe the invention with diagrams.

***Note: The diagrams are not to scale and do not show internal electrical connections.*** Drawing 1/5 Fig 1. shows a side view of a rj45 plug with locking tab.

Fig 2, shows a side view of a rj45 plug with broken locking tab.

Fig 3. Shows a side view of a straight repair plug* Fig 4. Shows a side view of a repair plug with broken plug (shaded) connected.

4a. shows the locking hook for securing broken plug. This hooks over the back of the broken plug to stop it pulling out of repair plug.

4b. shows locating notch. All rj45 plugs are secured onto Ethernet cables by a crimped connection. This crimped connection creates a hollow on the plug which the locating notch fits into.

These locking and locating mechanisms are the same for each type of repair plug.

Drawing 2/5 Fig 1. top view of straight rj45 repair plug with locking mechanism for plug with moulded plastic cable relief boot.

Fig 2. side view of straight rj45 repair plug with locking mechanism for plug with moulded plastic cable relief boot.

Fig 2a. Serrated locking jaws.

Drawing 3/5 Fig 1. top view of straight repair plug.

Fig 2, side view of straight repair plug.

Fig2a. Locating notch Fig2b. Locking hook.

Fig 3. end view of straight repair plug.

Fig3a. Locking Hook.

Drawing 4/5 Fig 1. End view of 9Udegree repair plug.

Fig 2. Side view of 9Odegree repair plug.

Fig2a. Locating Notch.

Fig2b. locking hook.

Fig 3. Top view of 9Odegree repair plug.

Drawing 5/5 Shows how a straight repair plug sits between the rj45 socket and broken rj45 plug. +

Claims

Claims.1, A repair plug that comprises of a plug with a male rj45 plug connection at one end, to connect to rj45 socket, the other end of the repair plug has a female socket for the broken rj45 male plug to push into.
2. The repair plug according to claim 1, rj45 male end has a securing tab to secure the plug into an rj45 socket.
3. The repair plug according to claim 1, rj45 female socket end has a securing hook and notch to secure the broken rj45 plug when it is inserted into the repair plug socket end 4, The repair plug according to claim 1, has internal electrical connections to connect the contacts from the broken rj45 plug to the rj45 male end of the repair plug.5. The repair plug according to claimi, internal electrical connections are spring loaded leaf contacts, that mate with the contacts on the broken plug when it is inserted.6. The repair plug according to claim 1, internal electrical contacts are designed to push back on the broken rj45 plug to secure it against the securing hook.7. The repair plug according to claim 1, locating notch in the female socket end locates into the void in the broken rj45 plug crimp connection.8. The repair plug according to claim 1, can be made to be straight or angled to allow for use in different scenarios.9. The repair plug according to any preceding claims, can have a different locking mechanism to accommodate a different type of rj45 plug.10. The repair plug according to claim 2, in which the locking mechanism is provided by serrated jaws to grip the back of a broken rj4S plug with a built in cable strain relief boot.