EP0339876A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Connector assembly with movable shroud protection
Assignee: Whitaker LLC
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Filing: 1989-04-21
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-04-21
Abstract
Abstract A connector assembly (1) for aligning an alignment ferrule (66) corresponding to each signal transmitting portion of a cable within a cavity of a housing, comprising; a connector body (3) moveable into the cavity to align each alignment ferrule (66) for receipt by an alignment receptor (162) located in the housing, the connector body (3) having a portion (8) to which the cable is secured and a shroud (28) for movement to a first shroud position covering each alignment ferrule (66), the shroud (28) being moveable relative to each alignment ferrule (66) to a second shroud position to uncover each alignment ferrule (66), a biasing member (47) between the body (3) and the shroud (28) for biasing the shroud toward the first position, and a moveable latch (163) in a first latch position resisting movement of the shroud (28) from the first position. The latch projects outwardly beyond the shroud circumference for engaging the housing and for deflection by the housing to a second latch position, the latch in the second latch position permitting relative movement of the shroud (28) over the latch to the second shroud position to project each alignment ferrule (66) outwardly of the shroud (28) for receipt by a corresponding receptor located in the housing.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Carl Briggs
- 👤 Donald Wesley Thompson
- 👤 Lloyd Royston Budd
- 👤 Robert Ney Weber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 14:01
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/3869; G02B6/387; G02B6/3833; G02B6/3847; G02B6/3849; G02B6/3873; G02B6/3874; G02B6/3878; G02B6/3897; H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/44; H01R13/447; H01R13/453; H01R13/4538; G02B6/381; G02B6/3826; G02B6/3831; G02B6/3887; G02B6/389; G02B6/3893; H01R13/56; H01R13/562
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
311 words
In a connector assembly (1) for aligning each signal transmitting portion (62,64) of a cable (60) within a cavity (147) of a housing (146) and comprising; a signal transmitting cable (60), each signal transmitting portion (62,64) of the cable (60) being encircled by a corresponding alignment ferrule (66,66), a connector body (3) encircling each alignment ferrule (66,66) and moveable into the cavity (147) to align each alignment ferrule (66,66) for receipt by an alignment receptor (162,162) located in the housing (146), the connector body (3) having a portion to which the cable (60) is secured and a shroud (28) mounted to the connector body (3) for movement to a first shroud position covering each alignment ferrule (66,66), the shroud (28) being moveable relative to each alignment ferrule (66,66) to a second shroud position to uncover each alignment ferrule (66,66), and a biasing member (47) between the connector body (3) and the shroud (28) for biasing the shroud (28) toward the first position, the improvement comprising; a moveable latch (163) between the connector body (3) and the shroud (28) in a first latch position engaging against the shroud (28) and resisting movement of the shroud (28) from the first position, the latch (163) projects outwardly beyond a circumference of the shroud (28) for engaging the housing (147) and for deflection by the housing (147) to a second latch position, the latch (163) in the second latch position permitting relative movement of the shroud (28) over the latch (163) to the second shroud position, and the shroud (28) is moveable over the latch (163) to the second shroud position upon said deflection of the latch (163) by the housing (147) from the first latch position to the second latch position to project each alignment ferrule (66,66) outwardly of the shroud (28) for receipt by a corresponding receptor (162,162) located in the housing (147).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
311 words
In a connector assembly (1) for aligning each signal transmitting portion (62,64) of a cable (60) within a cavity (147) of a housing (146) and comprising; a signal transmitting cable (60), each signal transmitting portion (62,64) of the cable (60) being encircled by a corresponding alignment ferrule (66,66), a connector body (3) encircling each alignment ferrule (66,66) and moveable into the cavity (147) to align each alignment ferrule (66,66) for receipt by an alignment receptor (162,162) located in the housing (146), the connector body (3) having a portion to which the cable (60) is secured and a shroud (28) mounted to the connector body (3) for movement to a first shroud position covering each alignment ferrule (66,66), the shroud (28) being moveable relative to each alignment ferrule (66,66) to a second shroud position to uncover each alignment ferrule (66,66), and a biasing member (47) between the connector body (3) and the shroud (28) for biasing the shroud (28) toward the first position, the improvement comprising; a moveable latch (163) between the connector body (3) and the shroud (28) in a first latch position engaging against the shroud (28) and resisting movement of the shroud (28) from the first position, the latch (163) projects outwardly beyond a circumference of the shroud (28) for engaging the housing (147) and for deflection by the housing (147) to a second latch position, the latch (163) in the second latch position permitting relative movement of the shroud (28) over the latch (163) to the second shroud position, and the shroud (28) is moveable over the latch (163) to the second shroud position upon said deflection of the latch (163) by the housing (147) from the first latch position to the second latch position to project each alignment ferrule (66,66) outwardly of the shroud (28) for receipt by a corresponding receptor (162,162) located in the housing (147).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
In a connector assembly (1) as recited in claim 1 the improvement further comprising; the shroud (28) has an external circumference less than a circumference of the cavity (147) for insertion within the cavity (147), and the shroud (28) registers within the cavity (147) during relative movement of the shroud (28) over the latch (163) to the second shroud position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
In a connector assembly (1) as recited in claim 1 or 2 the improvement further comprising; the moveable latch (163) is on the connector body (3) and the shroud (28) extends forwardly of the latch (163) to extend within the cavity (147) of the housing (146) prior to engaging the latch (163) with the housing (146).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
110 words
In a connector assembly (1) as recited in claim 1, 2 or 3 the improvement further comprising; the latch (163) is a pair of spaced apart fingers (165,165), each finger (165,165) is moveable separate from the other from a first position engaging the shroud (28) to a second position permitting relative movement of the shroud (28) over each said finger (165,165) to the second shroud position, both fingers (165,165) project outwardly beyond the shroud circumference for engaging the housing (146), and both fingers (165,165) are required to be deflected by the housing (146) to the corresponding second positions to permit movement of the shroud (28) to the second shroud position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
In a connector assembly (1) as recited in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 the improvement further comprising; an opening (31,31) in a front end of the shroud (28) aligned with a corresponding alignment ferrule (62,64), the alignment ferrule (62,64) projecting through the opening (31,31) with the shroud (28) in the second shroud position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
101 words
In a connector assembly (1) as recited in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 the improvement further comprising; a rear of the shroud (28) has a passage (27) for assembly over a front of the connector body (3), a restraint (163) on the housing portion and the shroud for restraining movement of the rear of the shroud (86) over the front of the connector body (3), and the restraint (163) is capable of deflection under forcible movement of the rear of the shroud (28) over the front of the connector body (3) during assembly or disassembly of the shroud (28).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
81 words
In a connector assembly (1) as recited in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 the improvement further comprising; a keyway (20) extending from a front of the shroud (28) to a rear of the shroud (28) and extending along the connector body (3), a keying plug (94), and a recess (22) intersecting the keyway (20) in a front of the shroud (28), and the keying plug (94) is mounted in the recess (22) and projects into the keyway (20).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
78 words
In a connector assembly (1) as recited in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 the improvement further comprising; a rod (45) on the shroud (28) extends toward the connector body (3), the biasing member (47) is a coil spring (47) encircling the rod (45), the connector body (3) includes a wall (53), an opening (87) in the wall (53) receives the rod (45), and a rear end of the spring (47) opposes the wall (53).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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