Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
240 words
A connector for terminating a cable 30, 80 containing a transmission medium, the connector comprising a dielectric housing 110, 800 including (i) a plug end 12, 82 for insertion into a mating receptacle, (ii) a cable-entrance end 13, 83 for receiving the cable, (iii) a central axis that extends between the plug end and the cable-entrance end, and (iv) a latch 120, 820 for securing the connector to the receptacle; said latch comprising a cantilever mounted on an outside surface of the connector, the fixed end of the latch being positioned toward the plug end of the connector and the free end 124, 824 of the latch extending toward the cable-entrance end of the connector, said latch being movable toward the central axis CHARACTERIZED BY: a trigger 130, 830 for engaging the free end of the latch to release the connector from the receptacle, the trigger comprising a cantilever mounted on the outside surface of the connector, the fixed end of the trigger being positioned toward the cable-entrance end of the connector and the free end 134, 834 of the trigger extending toward the plug end of the connector, the free end of the trigger slidably engaging the free end of the latch to move it toward the central axis, the trigger forming an acute angle β with the central axis that points in a direction away from the plug end of the connector toward the cable entrance end thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
16 words
The connector 10 of claim 1 wherein the cable 30 includes at least one optical fiber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
95 words
The connector 10 of claim 2 further including a fiber-holding structure 140, 150 for receiving an end portion of the optical fiber in an axial passageway that terminates in an end face; and wherein the housing 110 further includes internal surfaces that define a cavity 114 and surround the fiber-holding structure, the housing including a first opening 119 for receiving the optical fiber and a second opening 111 for enabling the end face of the holding structure to protrude therethrough, said openings extending into the cavity and being positioned at opposite ends of the housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The connector 10 of claim 3 wherein the fiber-holding structure 140, 150 includes a spring member 160 which interacts with the housing 110 to urge said end face through the second opening 111 in the housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
84 words
The connector 10 of claim 4 wherein the fiber-holding structure 140, 150 comprises a cylindrical plug 140 that includes the end face in which the associated fiber is to terminate and an axial passageway which terminates in said end face, said passageway being adapted to receive an uncoated end portion of the associated fiber; and a base member 150 for holding an end portion of the plug, said base member including an axial passageway which is collinear with the axial passageway of the plug.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The connector 10 of claim 5 wherein the spring member 160 comprises an annular spring which is disposed about the base member 150 and which presses against a flange 152 thereof, said spring also pressing against one of the internal surfaces 115 of the cavity 114.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The connector of claim 1 wherein the cable 80 includes one or more insulated metallic conductors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
114 words
The connector of claim 7 wherein the dielectric housing 800 further includes (i) a cavity 806 therein, (ii) conductor-receiving troughs formed in at least a portion of the cavity, and (iii) terminal-receiving openings 815 extending between the troughs and a first exterior surface 803 on one lateral side of the housing; and a plurality of electrically conductive terminals 850 positioned within the terminal-receiving openings 815, each terminal including a first contact portion 852 that extends into the trough for piercing the insulation of and making electrical engagement with the associated conductor in the trough, and a second contact portion 851 positioned within the associated terminal-receiving opening for making electrical contact external to the connector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The connector of claim 1 wherein the dielectric housing 110, 800 comprises thermoplastic material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The connector of claim 9 wherein the thermoplastic material comprises polycarbonate.