Plug for patch systems

Claim 2

A plug for use in high density patch systems having a receptacle portion with a plurality of closely spaced polarized cavities therein, said plug comprising: a substantially rectangular plug member having a polarized transverse profile adapted to mate with said cavities, a longitudinal passage through said plug, a locking lance extending laterally outwardly from one longitudinal side of said plug, a spring member extending in parallel spaced relation longitudinally along the opposite side of said plug with both ends of said spring member integrally connected to said plug member, said spring being deformed during insertion of said plug member into said receptacle portion and biasing said locking lance into full latching engagement in said receptacle portion when said plug is fully inserted therein, and detent means at a forward end of said plug spaced from said locking lance whereby said plug is inserted in two steps with said detent means providing only mechanical latching in said receptacle portion.

Claim 3

A plug according to claim 1 wherein said plug is a unitary member of molded plastics material.

Claim 4

A plug according to claim 1 wherein said plug further includes an aperture on a third side of said plug, and a female socket contact mounted in said passage and including locking lance means extending into said aperture to fix said contact in said passage, means for fixing said contact to a conductor, and male terminal contact receiving means.

Claim 5

A plug according tO claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of said plugs having integral intermediate webs between adjacent pairs of plugs, whereby said plugs are interconnected in gang fashion.

Claim 6

A plug according to claim 4 wherein at least one plug of said gang of plugs has a locking lance.

Claim 7

A high density pluggable patch system comprising: a receptacle member having a plurality of closely spaced polarized cavities, aperture means interconnecting adjacent pairs of cavities; a male terminal contact fixedly mounted in each said cavity; at least one substantially rectangular plug member adapted to be inserted into any cavity of said receptacle member, said plug member having a transverse profile mating with said polarized cavities, locking lance means extending from one side of said plug, spring means extending in parallel spaced relation longitudinally along an opposite side of said plug with both ends of said spring means integrally connected to said plug, a longitudinal passage through said plug, an aperture in said plug leading to said passage and detent means on said plug member spaced forwardly of said locking lance means; and a female receptacle contact adapted to be mounted in said passage in said plug and to receive said male terminal contact therein, said female contact including locking lance means extending into said aperture to fix said female contact in said passage, said detent means being adapted to first fixedly engage said plug member in said receptacle in mechanical engagement without the electrical contacts being engaged, said spring means being deformed during insertion of said plug member into said cavity and biasing said locking lance into latching engagement with said cavity aperture when said plug member is fully inserted into said cavity.

Claim 8

A high density pluggable patch system comprising: a receptacle member having a plurality of closely spaced polarized cavities, aperture means interconnecting adjacent pairs of cavities; a male terminal contact fixedly mounted in each said cavity; at least one substantially rectangular plug member adapted to be inserted into any cavity of said receptacle member, said plug member having a transverse profile mating with said polarized cavities, locking lance means extending from one side of said plug, spring means extending in parallel spaced relation longitudinally along an opposite side of said plug with both ends of said spring means integrally connected to said plug, a longitudinal passage through said plug, an aperture in said plug leading to said passage and detent means on said plug member spaced forwardly of said locking lance means; and a female receptacle contact adapted to be mounted in said passage in said plug and to receive said male terminal contact therein, said female contact including locking lance means extending into said aperture to fix said female contact in said passage, said detent means being adapted to first fixedly engage said plug member in said receptacle in mechanical engagement without the electrical contacts being engaged, said spring means being deformed during insertion of said plug member into said cavity and biasing said locking lance into latching engagement with said cavity aperture when said plug member is fully inserted into said cavity.

Claim 9

A high density pluggable patch system according to claim 6 wherein said receptacle member comprises: a plurality of receptacle units, each unit having a plurality of polarized cavities therein and means for joining said units together in an array.

Claim 10

A high density pluggable patch system according to claim 6 wherein said male terminal contact has a tapered pin and adapted to mate with said female receptacle contact, locking lance means for fixedly mounting said terminal in said cavity, and means for connecting conductors to said terminal.

Claim 11

A high density pluggable patch system according to claim 6 wherein said plug member further includes an aperture formed in a third side of said plug member, and said female receptacle contact further includes locking lance means adapted to engage said aperture of said plug member.

Claim 12

A high density pluggable patch system according to claim 6 wherein said female receptacle contact includes: means for connecting said contact to an associated conductor, and receptacle means comprising a channel shaped portion having a base pair and a pair of parallel spaced sidewalls, cantilever leaf spring means attached to one of said sidewalls and overlying said channel shaped portion, said leaf spring converging towards said base and being reversidly curved toward its free end, a hump formed in said base opposite said leaf spring defining a narrow throat therebetween, and a backup spring attached to the other of said sidewalls and overlying said leaf spring.

Claim 13

A high density pluggable patch system according to claim 6 further comprising a gang plug unit comprising: a plurality of plug members and web means fixedly interconnecting adjacent pairs of plug members in said unit, at least one plug member having a locking lance and at least one plug member having detent means at a forward end thereof for initially mechanically locking said unit in an associated receptacle prior to mating of said contacts.

Claim 14

A high density pluggable patch system according to claim 6 further comprising a gang plug unit comprising a plurality of plug members and web means interconnecting adjacent pairs of plug members.

Claim 15

A high density pluggable patch system according to claim 12 wherein at least one plug of said gang plug member has a locking lance.