MODULAR PLUG WITH SLIDER LATCH

[0001] The present disclosure relates to modular plugs and, more particularly, to modular plugs including a slider latch capable of locking and un-locking the modular plug to a corresponding receptacle.

[0002] Modular plugs and modular jacks are commonly used for interconnecting a plurality of wires in communications systems. Various latching mechanisms and the like have been developed and incorporated into electrical, data and/or telephonic cable connectors or plugs for mechanically connecting the modular plug to a corresponding complementary receptacle. Typically, in order to release the plug from the receptacle an individual must squeeze, depress or otherwise manipulate the latching mechanism in order to release the modular plug from the receptacle.

[0003] The problem is that in densely packed arrays of receptacles, manipulation of the latching mechanism, for the modular plugs connected to substantially the centrally located receptacles of the array, is greatly hindered and impaired as compared to manipulation of the latching mechanisms for modular plugs located around the periphery of the array. Typically, in order to manipulate the latching mechanism and unplug the centrally located plugs from the receptacle array, it is not uncommon to have to first unplug and/or remove the perimetral array of modular plugs in order to gain sufficient access to the latching mechanisms of the centrally located plugs. Another problem may be that, at times, when unplugging and/or removing the modular plug from the receptacle array, the modular plug may snag and/or get caught on adjacent modular plugs or the like.

[0004] The solution is provided by a modular plug as disclosed herein having a latch mechanisms that facilitates connection and disconnection of plugs into/from

corresponding receptacles. The modular plug includes a housing for holding a plurality of terminals that are engageable with contacts of a mating plug receptacle. The housing defines a cavity which is open to the terminals and is configured and adapted to receive a plurality of wires therein. The modular plug further includes a slider latch having a distal end portion integrally formed with the housing, a proximal end portion configured and adapted for operative engagement with the housing, and an intermediate portion disposed between the distal end portion and the proximal end portion. The intermediate portion defines at least one flex point. Accordingly, when the proximal end portion of the slider latch is operatively connected to the housing, the intermediate portion of the slider latch defines an anti-snag feature.

[0005] The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0006] FIG. 1 is a top, rear perspective view of a modular plug according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0007] FIG. 2 is a bottom, front perspective view of the modular plug of FIG.

l;

[0008] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the modular plug of FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0009] FIG. 4 is a bottom, plan view of the modular plug of FIGS. 1-3;

[0010] FIG. 5 is a rear, elevational view of the modular plug of FIGS. 1-4;

[0011] FIG. 6 is a front, elevational view of the modular plug of FIGS. 1-5;

[0012] FIG. 7 is a side, elevational view of the modular plug of FIGS . 1-6;

[0013] FIG. 8 is a bottom, front perspective view of a first-half portion of a housing of the modular plug of FIGS. 1-7, illustrating the slider in an un-connected condition;

[0014] FIG. 9 is a bottom, rear perspective view of the first-half portion of the housing of FIG. 8;

[0015] FIG. 10 is top, rear perspective view of the first-half portion of the housing of FIGS. 8 and 9;

[0016] FIG. 11 is a top, front perspective view of the first-half portion and the second-half portion of the housing of FIG. 10;

[0017] FIG. 12 is a bottom, rear perspective view of the first-half portion and the second-half portion of the housing of FIGS. 10 and 11, illustrating the slider in a connected condition;

[0018] FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective view of a modular plug receiving end portion of a prior art plug receptacle;

[0019] FIG. 14 is a bottom, front perspective view of a plug receptacle including the receiving end portion of FIG. 8, illustrating the modular plug of FIGS. 1-12 operatively connected thereto;

[0020] FIG. 15 is a top, rear perspective view of the plug receptacle of FIG.

14, illustrating the modular plug of FIGS. 1-12 operatively connected thereto;

[0021] FIG. 16 is a bottom, plan view of the plug receptacle of FIG. 14, illustrating the modular plug of FIGS. 1-12 operatively connected thereto;

[0022] FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of the plug receptacle of FIG. 14, illustrating the modular plug of FIGS. 1-12 operatively connected thereto; and

[0023] FIG. 18 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of the plug receptacle of

FIGS. 14-17, including the modular plug of FIGS. 1-12 operatively connected thereto, as taken through 18-18 of FIG. 16.

[0024] Embodiments of the presently disclosed modular plugs will now be described in detail with reference to the drawing figures wherein like reference numerals identify similar or identical elements. As used herein and as is traditional, the term "distal" refers to that portion which is furthest from the user while the term "proximal" refers to that portion which is closest to the user. In addition, terms such as "above", "below", "forward", "rearward", etc. refer to the orientation of the figures or the direction of components and are simply used for convenience of description.

[0025] Referring initially to FIGS. 1-12, a modular plug (e.g., electrical connector, data connector, telephonic connector, etc.), for selective connection to a complementary receptacle (not shown), is generally designated as 100. Modular plug 100 is matable with a plug receptacle 200 (see FIGS. 13-18) for interconnecting a plurality of wires (not shown) or the like. Modular plug 100, as described herein, is an eight position modular plug for use with an eight wire communications cable. However, it should be understood that the invention can also be applied to other connectors which are terminable to different numbers of wires.

[0026] Modular plug 100 is desirably constructed of dielectric material and includes a housing defined by a first-half portion 102 and second-half portion 104 in selective operative association with one another. In an embodiment, as seen in FIGS. 1, 3, 12, 14, first-half portion 102 and second-half portion 104 are connected to one

another via a living hinge 103. First-half portion 102 and second-half portion 104 of modular plug 100 are configured and adapted to hold a plurality of terminals "T" that are arranged in side-by-side relationship in respective slots 106. Modular plug 100 defines a cavity 108 which opens into the modular plug from a wire-receiving end 110 of the modular plug 100, and extends through to slots 106 at a termination end 112 of modular plug 100.

[0027] First-half portion 102 includes a base wall 102a and a pair of upstanding, spaced apart side walls 102b, 102c. Base wall 102a includes at least one, preferably a pair of longitudinally extending channels or slots 103a formed therein (see FIGS. 8, 9 and 12). Meanwhile, each side wall 102b, 102c of first-half portion 102 includes a respective, longitudinally extending, elongate slot 103b, 103c formed therein.

[0028] As seen in FIGS. 8-12, second-half portion 104 includes a base wall

104a and a pair of upstanding, spaced apart side walls 104b, 104c. Each side wall 104b, 104c of second-half portion 104 includes a respective tab, projection or the like 105b, 105c extending therefrom. Each tab 105b, 105c is configured and dimensioned to cooperatingly mate with a respective slot 103b, 103c formed in side walls 102b, 102c of first-half portion 102, when second-half portion 104 is closed down onto first- half portion 102.

[0029] In operation, when second-half portion 104 is closed down onto first- half portion 102, tabs 105b, 105c of second-half portion 104 snap into or otherwise operatively engage slots 103b, 103c formed in first-half portion 102.

[0030] As seen in FIGS . 1-12, first-half portion 102 of modular plug 100 includes a slider latch 120 operatively associated therewith. Slider latch 120 includes

a distal end portion 122 connected to or near termination end 112 of modular plug 100. Distal end portion 122 of slider latch 120 extends in a proximal direction at an angle relative to base wall 102a of first-half portion 102. Distal end portion 122 of slider latch 120 defines at least one, preferably, a pair of shoulders 122a for engaging a surface of a plug receptacle 200 (see FIG. 13) and for securely engaging and mating modular plug 100 with the plug receptacle 200, as seen in FIG. 18.

[0031] Slider latch 120 includes an intermediate pprtion 124 integrally connected to or formed with distal end portion 122. Intermediate portion 124 includes at least a pair of flex points or integral/living hinges 124a, 124b formed therein. Desirably, a distal flex point 124a is formed along an inner surface of intermediate portion 124 and a proximal flex point 124b is formed along an outer surface of intermediate portion 124.

[0032] Slider latch 120 further includes a proximal end portion 126 integrally connected to or formed with intermediate portion 124. Proximal end portion 126 of slider latch 120 includes finger grips 126a formed along an outer surface thereof for increasing the ergonomics and ease of use of modular plug 100. Proximal end portion 126 of slider latch 120 further includes at least one, preferably a pair of dovetails or rails 126b extending longitudinally from an inner surface thereof. Dovetails 126b are configured and dimensioned to complement and snap-fit engage the respective slots or channels 103a formed in base wall 102a of first-half portion 102. Desirably, dovetails 126b and channels 103 a are configured and dimensioned such that when proximal end portion 126 of slider latch 120 is operatively engaged with first-half portion 102, proximal end portion 126 of slider latch 120 may reciprocatingly slide

longitudinally with respect to first-half portion 102, as indicated by arrow "A" in FIGS. 7 and 18.

[0033] In use, when proximal end portion 126 of slider latch 120 is operatively engaged with first-half portion 102, intermediate portion 124 of slider latch 120 folds and bends along flex pointes 124a, 124b to define an anti-snag feature or the like. In this manner, if the cord or cable to which modular plug 100 is attached is pulled on, to remove the cable from an installation, the anti-snag feature enables modular plug 100 to navigate through the bundles (e.g., nest or web) of remaining cables without becoming snagged or hooked thereon.

[0034] Modular plug 100 is selectively connectable to a plug receptacle 200, as seen in FIG. 13. Plug receptacle 200 includes a housing 202 defining an opening 204 configured and adapted to receive termination end 112 of modular plug 100 therein. In particular, opening 204 of plug receptacle 200 defines shoulders 204a configured and adapted to engage shoulders 122a of slider latch 120 of modular plug 100 when modular plug 100 is mated with plug receptacle 200. As is conventional, plug receptacle 200 includes a plurality of contact or conductors 206 disposed within housing 202 for electrically connecting with terminals "T" of modular plug 100.

[0035] As seen in FIGS. 14-18, modular plug 100 is shown mated with plug receptacle 200. In order to mate modular jack 100 with plug receptacle 200, proximal end portion 126 of slider latch 120 of modular plug 100 is connected to first-half portion 102 of modular plug 100. With modular plug 100 so configured, termination end 112 of modular plug 100 is inserted into or otherwise introduced into opening 204 of plug receptacle 200. As modular plug 100 is mated with plug receptacle 200,

shoulders 122a of slider latch 120 engage and are cammed or urged toward first-half portion 102 by shoulders 204a of opening 204 for a snap-fit engagement.

[0036] In order to disconnect modular plug 100 from plug receptacle 200, proximal end portion 126 of slider latch 120 is moved in a proximal direction, as indicated by arrow "A" in FIG. 18, thereby moving intermediate portion 124 in the direction of first-half portion 102 of modular plug 100. In so doing, shoulders 122a of slider latch 120 disengage shoulders 204a of housing 202 of plug receptacle 200 thereby allowing modular plug 100 to be pulled from plug receptacle 200.

[0037] Upon moving proximal end portion 126 of slider latch 120 in a proximal direction, distal end portion 122 of slider latch 120 is biased toward first- half portion 102 of modular plug 100. Since dovetails 126b of proximal end portion 126 of slider latch 120 hold proximal end portion 126 in sliding engagement with first-half portion 102 of modular plug 100, upon release of proximal end portion 126 of slider latch 120 distal end portion 122 of slider latch 120 returns to the un-biased condition.

[0038] It is to be understood that the foregoing description is merely a disclosure of particular embodiments and is no way intended to limit the scope of the invention. Other possible modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and all modifications are to be defined by the following claims.