RJ connector and cover therefor

Claim 2

A cover for an RJ-type modular connector; said RJ-type modular connector comprising a rectangular plug body having electrical connectors exposed on one side and having a locking clip attached to the opposite side, said locking clip having a free end extending outwardly from the plug body and away from said exposed electrical connectors; said cover having two relating sections joined by an integrally molded hinge means and comprising a guard section having an interior surface, an exterior surface, a front edge, a rear edge, and two side edges extending from the front edge to the rear edge; said guard section being sized and shaped to conform to at least a portion of the side of the plug body having the locking clip; a second section complimentary with the guard section having an interior surface, an exterior surface, a front edge, a rear edge, and two side edges extending between the front edge and the rear edge; said second section being sized and shaped to conform to at least a portion the side of the plug body having the exposed electrical connectors; a locking clip guard attached to and outwardly extending from the exterior surface of the guard section; said locking clip guard being aligned to extend over at least said free end of the locking clip when said cover is attached to the RJ-type modular connector.

Claim 3

A cover according to claim 1 wherein the locking clip guard extends from the exterior surface of the guard section, from a location between the front and rear edges to the front edge.

Claim 4

A cover according to claim 1 wherein the second section includes a pair of channels having opposed slots configured to hold an identifying media against the exterior surface of the second section.

Claim 5

A cover according to claim 1 which further includes tapered, flexible, mating sections adjacent the rear edges of both the guard and second sections to, when mated, form a flexible cable strain-relief section.

Claim 6

A cover according to claim 1 which further includes male clip element extending from the interior surface of one section and mating female element in the other section.

Claim 7

A cover according to claim 5 wherein: the male clip element includes an elongated shaft and a tip having a point at its end and a stepped-in section spaced from the point, and the female element includes a slot configured to receive the shaft and tip and a stepped portion to engage the stepped-in portion of the male clip element, said stepped-in section of the male clip element being constructed of a material and of a dimension to tightly grip the tip in the slot of the female element and to deform upon separation of the male clip element from the female element.

Claim 8

A cover for an RJ-type modular connector; said RJ-type modular connector comprising a rectangular plug body having electrical connectors exposed on one side and having a locking clip attached to the opposite side, said locking clip having a free end extending outwardly from the plug body and away from said exposed electrical connectors; said cover having two mating sections joined by an integrally molded hinge means and comprising a guard section having an interior surface, an exterior surface, a front edge, a rear edge, and two side edges extending from the front edge to the rear edge; said guard section being sized and shaped to conform to at least a portion of the side of the plug body having the locking clip; a second section complimentary with the guard section having an interior surface, an exterior surface, a front edge, a rear edge, and two side edges extending between the front edge and the rear edge and further includes a pair of channels having opposed slots configured to hold an identifying media against the exterior surface of the second section; said second section being sized and shaped to conform to at least a portion of the side of the plug body having the exposed electrical connectors; a locking clip guard attached to and outwardly extending from the exterior surface of the guard section and extending from the exterior surface of the guard, from a location between the front and rear edges of the second section; said locking clip guard being aligned to extend over at least a free end of the locking clip when said cover is attached to the RJ-type modular connector; at least one male clip element extending from the interior surface of one section and a mating female element in the other section, wherein the male clip element includes an elongated shaft and a tip having a point at its end and a stepped-in section spaced from the point, and the female element includes a slot configured to receive the shaft and tip and a stepped portion to engage the stepped-in portion of the male clip element, said stepped-in section of the male clip element being constructed of a material and of a dimension to tightly grip the tip in the slot of the female element and to deform upon separation of the male clip element from the female element; and tapered, flexible, mating sections adjacent the rear edges of both the guard and second sections to, when mated, form a flexible cable strain-relief section.

Claim 9

A cover for an RJ-type modular connector; said RJ-type modular connector comprising a rectangular plug body having electrical connectors exposed on one side and having a locking clip attached to the opposite side, said locking clip having a free end extending outwardly from the plug body and away from said exposed electrical connectors; said cover having two mating sections joined by an integrally molded hinge means and comprising a guard section having an interior surface, an exterior surface, a front edge, a rear edge, and two side edges extending from the front edge to the rear edge; said guard section being sized and shaped to conform to at least a portion of the side of the plug body having the locking clip; a second section complimentary with the guard section having an interior surface, an exterior surface, a front edge, a rear edge, and two side edges extending between the front edge and the rear edge and further includes a pair of channels having opposed slots configured to hold an identifying media against the exterior surface of the second section; said second section being sized and shaped to conform to at least a portion of the side of the plug body having the exposed electrical connectors; a locking clip guard attached to and outwardly extending from the exterior surface of the guard section and extending from the exterior surface of the guard, from a location between the front and rear edges of the second section; said locking clip guard being aligned to extend over at least a free end of the locking clip when said cover is attached to the RJ-type modular connector; at least one male clip element extending from the interior surface of one section and a mating female element in the other section, wherein the male clip element includes an elongated shaft and a tip having a point at its end and a stepped-in section spaced from the point, and the female element includes a slot configured to receive the shaft and tip and a stepped portion to engage the stepped-in portion of the male clip element, said stepped-in section of the male clip element being constructed of a material and of a dimension to tightly grip the tip in the slot of the female element and to deform upon separation of the male clip element from the female element; and tapered, flexible, mating sections adjacent the rear edges of both the guard and second sections to, when mated, form a flexible cable strain-relief section.

Claim 10

A snag-proof, modular electrical connector comprising: (a) an RJ-type modular plug including a plug body with electrical contacts exposed at one end, a cable extending from an end of the plug body opposite to the electrical contacts, and a locking clip attached to the plug body at the end of the plug body with the electrical contacts and having a free end extending outwardly and toward the end of the plug body from which the cable extends; and (b) an outer cover extending around at least a portion of the plug body, said cover having two mating sections joined by an integrally molded hinge means and including a guard section having an interior surface, an exterior surface, a front edge, a rear edge, and two side edges extending from the front edge to the rear edge; a second section complimentary with the guard section having an interior surface, an exterior surface, a front edge, a rear edge, and two side edges extending between the front edge and the rear edge; and a locking clip guard attached to the exterior surface of the guard section, said locking clip guard extending over at least the free end of the locking clip.

Claim 11

A snag-proof, modular electrical connector comprising: (a) an RJ-type modular plug including a plug body with electrical contacts exposed at one end, a cable extending from an end of the plug body opposite to the electrical contacts, and a locking clip attached to the plug body at the end of the plug body with the electrical contacts and having a free end extending outwardly and toward the end of the plug body from which the cable extends; and (b) an outer cover extending around at least a portion of the plug body, said cover having two mating sections joined by an integrally molded hinge means and including a guard section having an interior surface, an exterior surface, a front edge, a rear edge, and two side edges extending from the front edge to the rear edge; a second section complimentary with the guard section having an interior surface, an exterior surface, a front edge, a rear edge, and two side edges extending between the front edge and the rear edge; and a locking clip guard attached to the exterior surface of the guard section, said locking clip guard extending over at least the free end of the locking clip.

Claim 12

A snag-proof, modular electrical connector according to claim 8 wherein the locking clip guard includes a free end which extends from the exterior surface of the guard section, from a location between the front and rear edges to the front edge.

Claim 13

A snag-proof, modular electrical connector according to claim 8 wherein second section of the cover further includes a pair of channels having opposed slots configured to hold an identifying media against the exterior surface of the second section.

Claim 14

A snag-proof, modular electrical connector according to claim 8 wherein the cover further includes tapered, flexible, mating sections adjacent the rear edges of both the guard and second sections to, when mated, form a flexible cable strain-relief section.

Claim 15

A snag-proof, modular electrical connector according to claim 8 wherein the cover further includes male clip element extending from the interior surface of one section and mating female element in the other section.

Claim 16

A snag-proof, modular electrical connector according to claim 12 wherein: the male clip element included in the cover includes an elongated shaft and a tip having a point at its end and a stepped-in section spaced from the point, and the female element includes a slot configured to receive the shaft and tip and a stepped portion to engage the stepped-in portion of the male clip element, said stepped-in section of the male clip element being constructed of a material and of a dimension to tightly grip the tip in the slot of the female element and to deform upon separation of the male clip element from the female element.

Claim 17

A preterminated patch cable comprising: (a) a cable comprised of a plurality of conductors enclosed within an outer sheath; (b) an RJ-type modular plug connected to at least one end of said cable, said plug including a plug body with electrical contacts exposed at one end, said cable extending from an end of the plug body opposite to the electrical contacts, and a locking clip attached to the plug body at the end of the plug body with the electrical contacts and having a free end extending outwardly and toward the end of the plug body from which the cable extends; (c) an outer cover extending around at least a portion of the plug body, said cover having two mating sections joined by an integrally molded hinge means and including a guard section having an interior surface, an exterior surface, a front edge, a rear edge, and two side edges extending from the front edge to the rear edge; a second section complimentary with the guard section having an interior surface, an exterior surface, a front edge, a rear edge, and two side edges extending between the front edge and the rear edge; and a locking clip guard attached to the exterior surface of the second section, said locking clip guard extending over at least the free end of the locking clip.

Claim 18

A preterminated patch cable comprising: (a) a cable comprised of a plurality of conductors enclosed within an outer sheath; (b) an RJ-type modular plug connected to at least one end of said cable, said plug including a plug body with electrical contacts exposed at one end, said cable extending from an end of the plug body opposite to the electrical contacts, and a locking clip attached to the plug body at the end of the plug body with the electrical contacts and having a free end extending outwardly and toward the end of the plug body from which the cable extends; (c) an outer cover extending around at least a portion of the plug body, said cover having two mating sections joined by an integrally molded hinge means and including a guard section having an interior surface, an exterior surface, a front edge, a rear edge, and two side edges extending from the front edge to the rear edge; a second section complimentary with the guard section having an interior surface, an exterior surface, a front edge, a rear edge, and two side edges extending between the front edge and the rear edge; and a locking clip guard attached to the exterior surface of the second section, said locking clip guard extending over at least the free end of the locking clip.

Claim 19

A preterminated patch cable according to claim 14 wherein the locking clip guard includes a free end which extends from the exterior surface of the guard section, from a location between the front and rear edges to the front edge.

Claim 20

A preterminated patch cable according to claim 14 wherein second section of the cover further includes a pair of channels having opposed slots configured to hold an identifying media against the exterior surface of the second section.

Claim 21

A preterminated patch cable according to claim 14 wherein the cover further includes tapered, flexible, mating sections adjacent the rear edges of both the guard and second sections to, when mated, form a flexible cable strain-relief section.

Claim 22

A preterminated patch cable according to claim 14 wherein the cover further includes male clip element extending from the interior surface of one section and mating female element in the other section.

Claim 23

A preterminated patch cable according to claim 18 wherein: the male clip element included in the cover includes an elongated shaft and a tip having a point at its end and a stepped-in section spaced from the point, and the female element includes a slot configured to receive the shaft and tip and a stepped portion to engage the stepped-in portion of the male clip element, said stepped-in section of the male clip element being constructed of a material and of a dimension to tightly grip the tip in the slot of the female element and to deform upon separation of the male clip element from the female element.

Claim 24

An improved method for assembling a communications system, comprising: attaching a cover as defined in claim 1 for an RJ-type modular connector to a preterminated end of a communications patch cable to protect the locking clip; and pulling the end of the cable having the connector through an opening in a wire management support.