Socket connector having a flexible internal barrier to prevent incorrect insertion of smaller sized plugs

Abstract

An improved socket connector has flexible interior barriers to prevent incorrect insertion of smaller sized plugs, where a flexible internal barrier is formed on a side of the socket entry leading into the socket cavity, and is composed of a flexible ramp attached from the socket entry, the ramp extending into the socket cavity and having a inner movable end with a vertical barrier, sized and disposed within the socket cavity so that the insertion of a correctly sized wide plug will engage the flexible ramp, riding along and moving the flexible ramp so that the vertical barrier is moved out of a stopping position, allowing the correctly sized wide plug to be fully and properly seated in the cavity, but further sized and disposed within the socket cavity so that the insertion of an incorrectly sized narrow plug will fail to engage the ramp, will not flex the ramp, and will leave the vertical barrier in the stopping position, where it prevents the incorrectly sized narrow plug from being fully inserted into the socket cavity. The improved socket can be an RJ45 network socket, the correctly sized wide plug can be an RJ45 network plug, and the incorrectly sized narrow plug can be an RJ11 telephone plug.

Description

[0001]Notice: More than one reissue application has been filed for the reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,835. This reissue application is a continuation of reissue application Ser. No. 10 / 367,627 filed on Feb. 13, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. RE 39,692. FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to an electrical socket connector designed to prevent the improper insertion of smaller sized plug connectors.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Today, telephone and communication connections of many kinds are commonly made using molded plastic modular connectors in standard shapes and sizes. Quite often there is a “family“ of connectors having a similar shape, but with different sizes, widths or numbers of electrical contacts. While a larger or wider plug connector cannot be incorrectly inserted into a smaller or narrower socket, the reverse is not always true. A smaller or narrower plug connector can often be incorrectly inserted into a larger or wider socket, and the expected connection and ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]This invention provides an electrical socket connector having a flexible internal barrier designed to prevent the improper insertion of smaller sized plug connectors. In a preferred form, two flexible internal barriers are used, one on each side of the socket entry leading into the socket cavity. A flexible internal barrier is composed of a flexible ramp fixedly attached at the socket entry which extends a movable end into the socket cavity. The movable end is attached to a vertical barrier, which moves with the inner end of the flexible ramp. The insertion of a correctly sized wide plug will engage the sides of the plug with the flexible ramp, riding along and moving the flexible ramp so the the vertical barrier is moved out of its stopping position, allowing the plug to pass the vertical barrier and to be fully and properly seated in the cavity. The insertion of a incorrectly sized narrow plug will fail to engage and move the flexible ramp, leaving the vertical barrier in its stopping position, and preventing the narrow plug from being inserted into the socket cavity past the vertical barrier. In particular, this invention can be used to provide an improved RJ45 network socket which prevents the incorrect insertion of a smaller sized RJ11 telephone plug.

Problems solved by technology

While a larger or wider plug connector cannot be incorrectly inserted into a smaller or narrower socket, the reverse is not always true.

A smaller or narrower plug connector can often be incorrectly inserted into a larger or wider socket, and the expected connection and functioning will not occur, and electrical or mechanical damage may occur.

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