Plug assembly and clamping member for plug assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a plug assembly and a clamping member for a plug assembly. The plug assembly includes a clamping member, a clamping sleeve, and a housing. The clamping member is configured to receive and position a cable plug in a locked position at a front portion of the clamping member and engage around the cable at a rear portion of the clamping member. The clamping member and the clamping sleeve are configured to provide a fixed connection between each other, wherein the connection is configured to produce increased radial compression of the rear portion of the clamping member to clamp the cable. The housing is configured for insertion into a receptacle of a complementary plug assembly and for receiving and positioning the clamping member in a locked position. Positioning of the clamping member in the locked position is provided by a locking structure configured to provide release of the locked connection between the clamping member and the housing by tilting movement about a tilting axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the housing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a plug assembly and a clamping member for use with a cable having a cable plug, in particular for a data cable such as an RJ45 cable, a light guide, a power cable, etc. Background Art

[0002] Cables typically have a cable plug attached to at least one end. In some applications, the cable plug pre-assembled to the cable by the cable manufacturer is susceptible to damage and failure. For example, it is not well suited to repeated insertion and removal from the chassis plug. In addition to the frequent disconnection and reconnection of the plug connection, the plug connection is often exposed to heavy mechanical loads during operation, such as in a touring stage performance.

[0003] For example, the high time pressure and required flexibility in stage performances often means that artists and set crews treat equipment brutally. For example, it is common for riggers to brace themselves against the housing of an already inserted cable connector or to pull on a connected cable. In such an environment, cable connectors are specifically designed to resist mechanical shock and environmental influences during insertion and removal. In addition, used plug assemblies are often locked to prevent accidental removal.

[0004] The so-called "RJ45" plug is an illustrative example of a preassembled cable plug attached to a cable. However, due to repeated insertion and removal from the chassis plug socket, this eight-pole plug used in many cases is prone to damage and failure. The contacts are easily bent or displaced due to incorrect insertion. The plastic latch (spring arm) may fatigue and break, so the plug is no longer firmly fixed in the socket. At the point where the cable enters the plug socket, the cable itself is prone to failure due to repeated kinking. In addition, the cable may also be pulled out of the plug due to longitudinal loading. The plug housing is made of plastic, which can easily deform or break if, for example, it is accidentally stepped on. Other preassembled cable plugs, such as those used for fiber optic cables, electronic data cables, power cables, and many other cables, have similar disadvantages.

[0005] Therefore, the structure according to EP1317025B1 is proposed as a protector for sensitive cable plugs. In addition, Neutrik Group sells a cable plug protector for pre-assembled RJ45 cable plugs under the name of NE8MC, which is composed of a housing, a stop disk, a clamping member, a clamping sleeve and a kink protector. The housing for receiving the actual cable plug has an external thread so as to form a threaded connection with a clamping socket or a union nut or a clamping nut with an internal thread. The radially compressible clamping member is received inside the housing and partially in the clamping sleeve, which engages around the cable and clamps the cable in the housing under compression. When tightening the threaded connection, the clamping sleeve, the clamping member, the housing, the cable plug and the cable are tied together, and the clamping sleeve, the clamping member, the cable plug and the housing form a plug assembly, which can be connected to a complementary element, such as a plug socket, by plugging it together with a complementary element.

[0006] This specially designed plug assembly for receiving and positioning pre-assembled cable plugs provides enhanced mechanical robustness and shielding against environmental influences, which is desirable in many fields, such as event technology, military equipment or general outdoor applications. However, there may still be situations where direct access to pre-assembled cable plugs is required, for example, in the case of a laptop computer where the device needs to be connected to a socket that does not have a complementary plug assembly suitable for receiving the specially designed plug assembly that holds the pre-assembled cable plug. However, it is usually not foreseen that the specially designed plug assembly is used for the rapid and frequent separation of the pre-installed cable plug from the plug assembly. In some cases, disassembly may result in the loss of loose parts, making it impossible to reassemble. In addition, usually the specially designed plug assembly is foreseen only for receiving and positioning a specific type of pre-assembled cable plug. This complicates the preparation / installation of pre-assembled cables from different manufacturers, so that different cables can be used for the same application, such as the same music or theater activities. Summary of the invention

[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved plug assembly for use with a preassembled cable plug which overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art.

[0008] Another object is to provide a plug assembly for use with a pre-assembled cable plug that provides for quick and frequent separation of the pre-installed cable plug from the plug assembly.

[0009] Another object is to provide for more efficient installation of a pre-assembled RJ45 cable plug in a plug assembly.

[0010] The present invention relates to a plug assembly for use with a cable having a cable plug, such as a data cable, an optical cable or a power cable. The plug assembly includes a clamping member configured to receive the cable plug and position the cable plug at a predetermined position at the front of the clamping member. The rear portion of the clamping member opposite the front portion of the clamping member is configured to engage around the cable when the cable plug is received and positioned at the predetermined position by the clamping member.

[0011] The plug assembly also includes a housing for insertion into a receptacle of a complementary plug assembly by accessing the receptacle with a front end of the housing, wherein the housing is configured to receive the clamping member and position the clamping member in a locked position.

[0012] For example, the housing is typically configured so as to provide a mechanically lockable plug connection between the plug assembly and the receptacle of a complementary plug assembly. The complementary plug assembly may be an equipment plug, which is commonly referred to as a chassis connector or chassis plug. A clamping member is housed inside the housing and secured to the housing against axial tension (along the cable), wherein the radially compressed rear portion of the clamping member surrounds the cable and clamps the cable in the housing. This arrangement achieves a strain relief effect on the cable connected to the plug assembly.

[0013] The positioning of the clamping member in the locked position is provided by a locking structure for providing the locked position by means of a stop element arranged on the inner side of the housing and an engagement element arranged on the outer side of the clamping member. In the locked position of the clamping member in the housing, the engagement element is arranged opposite to the stop element and engages the stop element (by the rear end of the housing being opposite to the front end of the housing on a side of the stop element further towards the rear end of the housing), so that a movement of the clamping member along the longitudinal axis of the housing towards the front end of the housing causes the engagement element to abut against the stop element. This results in preventing the clamping member from moving further towards the front end of the housing.

[0014] For example, the plug assembly further comprises a clamping sleeve, wherein the clamping member and the clamping sleeve are configured to provide a fixed connection between each other, for which purpose at least a portion of the clamping sleeve is advanced over the rear portion of the clamping member toward the front portion of the clamping member, resulting in increased radial compression of the rear portion of the clamping member.

[0015] For example, the clamping member and the clamping sleeve are configured to provide a threaded connection between each other, wherein tightening of the threaded connection causes a rear portion of the clamping member to be in a compressed state, which then clamps the cable.

[0016] In particular, the rear portion of the clamping member comprises two, in particular four, radially compressible spaced apart extensions, wherein the outer shape of the extensions forms at least a part of the radially compressible rear portion of the clamping member. Thus, these (finger-like) extensions are configured to fit snugly against the cable and are pressed against the cable as the clamping sleeve is advanced on the clamping member towards the front of the clamping member. For example, on its inner portion facing the cable, the extension comprises tangentially extending slits or webs to provide increased clamping and gripping of the cable jacket.

[0017] For example, the plug assembly further comprises a tail member, for example implemented as a so-called kink protector, the front part of which is configured to be connected to the rear part of the housing. In particular, the clamping sleeve and the tail member are separate components.

[0018] According to one aspect of the invention, the housing includes a clamping member support area on its inner side surface opposite to the stop element, and is constructed so that the engaging element can be disengaged from the stop element by tilting movement of the clamping member around a tilting axis passing through the contact point between the clamping member and the clamping member support area, wherein the tilting axis is transverse to the longitudinal axis and the tilting movement causes the engaging element to disengage from the stop element.

[0019] For example, the housing and the clamping member are matched to each other so that in a locked position of the clamping member in the housing when the cable plug is received and positioned at a predetermined position in front of the clamping member:

[0020] the clamping member support area rests on the clamping member and is arranged closer to the rear end of the housing than the stop element (the rear end of the housing is opposite the front end of the housing);

[0021] - in the front part of the housing from the clamping member support area towards the front end of the housing, there is freedom of movement of the clamping member relative to the housing on the side of the clamping member support area; and

[0022] In the rear part of the housing from the clamping member support area towards the rear end of the housing there is freedom of movement of the clamping member relative to the housing on the stop element side.

[0023] In another embodiment, the locking structure is further provided by a spring element of the clamping member, which is supported on a spring element contact area on the inner side of the housing opposite to the stop element in the locked position. The spring element is configured to apply a biasing force to the spring element contact area, thereby pushing the clamping member against the side of the housing where the stop element is arranged (i.e., maintaining the clamping member in the locked position within the housing).

[0024] In particular, in the locking position, the spring element contact region coincides with at least a portion of the clamping member support region such that the tilting axis extends through a contact point of the spring element with the spring element contact region.

[0025] For example, the stop element is implemented as a transverse step on the inner side of the shell, which is configured to prevent the clamping member from moving toward the front end of the shell, the engagement element is implemented as a transverse ridge or edge on the outer side of the clamping member, which is configured in a complementary manner to the transverse step, and the biasing force provided by the spring element is used to prevent the transverse ridge or edge from passing over the transverse step.

[0026] This locking structure allows the clamping member (together with the cable plug) to be pushed forwards out of the housing, i.e. in the insertion direction. Usually, the pushing out of the clamping member or in other words the pulling out of the housing from the clamping member backwards onto the part of the cable actually located behind the so-called kink protector is prevented by the locking connection and can only be achieved by releasing the locking connection.

[0027] To release the plug assembly, the housing may be grasped and pulled away from the complementary plug assembly, wherein the force required to pull off the cable plug is transferred from the housing to the clamping member (and the cable plug) via the locking connection between the step and the transverse ridge.

[0028] In order to release the locking connection between the clamping member and the housing, the clamping member (or cable plug) is pressed downwards against the force of the spring element, so that the clamping member tilts about the tilting axis and the engagement element of the clamping member disengages from the stop element of the housing. The two members can now be displaced relative to each other in the direction of the longitudinal axis. The housing (and, for example, the kink protector) can then be pushed back along the cable, so that the cable plug and the clamping member are no longer covered by the housing. In this state, the cable plug can then be used to produce a plug-in connection, which is not possible for the housing, i.e., for other plug assemblies that are designed to match the actual cable plug but are not shaped in a complementary manner relative to the housing.

[0029] In another embodiment, the clamping member is configured to receive and position an RJ45 cable plug as a cable plug. The RJ45 cable plug typically includes a locking element that is configured to lock the RJ45 cable plug to a conventional RJ45 socket. The spring element is arranged so that it provides support for the locking element of the RJ45 cable plug to position the RJ45 cable plug at a predetermined position at the front of the clamping member.

[0030] For example, the spring element is implemented as a spring arm, which is similar to the spring arm structure of a preassembled RJ45 cable plug. In particular, the spring arm is located in a correspondingly shaped recess on the inner side of the housing with a circular outer contour, and therefore additionally contributes to the locking between the housing and the clamping member.

[0031] In another embodiment, the clamping member has a bottom surface, a top surface and two side surfaces, wherein the bottom surface includes an engagement element, the top surface is opposite to the bottom surface (and includes the contact point of the clamping member with the clamping member support area in the locking position), and the two side surfaces are opposite to each other, and each of the two side surfaces connects the top surface and the bottom surface. In the area of ​​the front part of the clamping member, each side surface has a flat outer surface, and the outer surfaces of the two side surfaces are parallel to each other. Matching this, the housing includes two flat surfaces opposite to each other on its inner side, wherein, in the locking position, each of the two flat surfaces of the housing is arranged to be opposite to a corresponding one of the two flat outer surfaces of the clamping member. Therefore, the contact between the flat surface of the housing and the flat outer surface of the clamping member prevents the clamping member from twisting relative to the housing around the longitudinal axis.

[0032] For example, the flat outer surface of the clamping member provides the additional benefit of allowing a compact housing of the cable plug, so that in the separated state in which the clamping plug is separated from the housing (where the housing is pushed back along the cable, see above), a compact structure of inserted "naked" cable plugs adjacent to each other is provided, for example, if the cable plug is used to make a plug-in connection in a plug assembly designed to match the actual cable plug but not shaped in a complementary manner relative to the housing. For example, in the case where the clamping member is configured to receive RJ45 cable plugs, several individual plugs received by each clamping member can still be inserted adjacent to each other into a "conventional" switch component having a plurality of "conventional" (not shaped in a complementary manner relative to the housing) RJ45 sockets arranged adjacent to each other in a tight grid.

[0033] In another embodiment, the engagement element is arranged at the front portion of the clamping member, for example, closer to the front end of the front portion of the clamping member than to the rear end of the front portion of the clamping member.

[0034] In another embodiment, the contact point of the clamping member which is located on the tilting axis in the locked position is arranged at the front of the clamping member.

[0035] For example, such an arrangement allows effective release of the engagement element from the stop element to provide tilting movement of the clamping member even if the freedom of movement of the rear end of the clamping member is small.

[0036] In order to provide freedom of movement for the tilting movement of the clamping member, for example, the housing is embodied such that a cylindrical front section of the housing is offset parallel to a cylindrical rear section of the housing. In other words, from the clamping member support area to the rear end of the housing, the inner contour of the housing is substantially formed like a cylinder, and from the stop element to the front end of the housing, the inner contour is substantially formed like another cylinder, wherein the central longitudinal axes of the individual cylinders are offset parallel to each other.

[0037] In another embodiment, the maximum radial diameter of the housing in a section from the clamping member support area to the rear end of the housing is smaller than the maximum radial diameter of the housing in a section from the stop element to the front end of the housing.

[0038] In another embodiment, on the stop element side, the section from the clamping member support area to the rear end of the housing transitions essentially steplessly into the section from the stop element to the front end of the housing. On the side opposite the stop element, the diameter of the housing increases toward the front end of the housing in the transition area between the section from the clamping member support area to the rear end of the housing and the section from the stop element to the front end of the housing.

[0039] In another embodiment, the shell includes an edge on its inner side, the edge surface of the edge facing the rear end portion of the shell, wherein the edge is arranged at the front portion of the shell, for example, closer to the front end portion of the front portion of the shell than to the rear end portion of the front portion of the shell, and the edge surface is the end of a groove arranged on the inner side of the shell, which extends uninterruptedly from the rear end portion of the shell to the above-mentioned edge surface.

[0040] For example, the edge provides part of a mechanical locking mechanism for preventing a plug assembly inserted into a receptacle of a complementary plug assembly from being removed from the receptacle of the complementary plug assembly because a releasable counterpart of the complementary plug assembly engages into the edge surface of the housing from within the housing.

[0041] In another embodiment, the rear portion of the clamping member includes a radially compressible tapered section having an outer shape that tapers toward the rear end of the clamping member. The tapered section includes a tapered external threaded area having an external thread extending over the tapered external threaded area. The inner contact section of the clamping sleeve includes a tapered internal threaded area having an internal thread extending over the tapered internal threaded area, wherein the internal threaded area has a tapered shape that matches the tapered shape of the external threaded area. The external thread and the internal thread are configured to engage with each other to provide a fixed connection as a threaded connection, so that tightening of the threaded connection causes the inner contact section of the clamping sleeve to advance toward the front of the clamping member on the tapered section of the clamping member while in contact with the tapered section, resulting in increased radial compression of the rear portion of the clamping member.

[0042] An aspect of this particular type of threaded connection is described separately below, it goes without saying that further embodiments of this aspect are compatible with the above-described aspects and embodiments as far as the following separate considerations are concerned.

[0043] When the tail member is separated from the clamping sleeve, the clamping sleeve is also commonly referred to as a clamping nut. For example, the front portion of the tail member includes an elastic coupling portion that is configured to engage at least a portion of the rear portion of the housing in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting manner (e.g., around the at least a portion or extending below the at least a portion).

[0044] For example, the tail member includes a resilient rear portion opposite the front portion of the tail member, wherein the resilient rear portion is configured to surround the cable (when the cable plug is received and positioned in the clamping member and the clamping member is received and positioned in the locked position in the housing) and has an inner diameter that is smaller than the outer diameter of the cable. Such tail members are often referred to as kink protectors because the kink protector is attached to the rear portion of the housing (toward the cable, away from the insertion opening) and stabilizes the cable, thereby minimizing the risk of the cable kinking. For example, the kink protector is configured as a reinforcement made of a rigid rubber or plastic material that surrounds the cable.

[0045] In another embodiment, the tail piece is a multi-component injection-molded part comprising elastic and hard materials, wherein the clamping sleeve is formed from the hard material.

[0046] In another embodiment, the clamping member is divided into two half shells in the longitudinal direction, which are pivotally connected at the front end. For example, at the rear end, the two half shells have an external thread for engaging with the internal thread of the clamping sleeve (as described above and below with respect to the embodiment with threaded connection).

[0047] In another embodiment, the clamping member is configured to receive and position an RJ45 cable plug at a predetermined location on the front of the clamping member.

[0048] The aspect of having two half shells in which the clamping member is configured to receive and position an RJ45 cable plug is described separately below for a specific implementation, which allows receiving two different types of RJ45 cable plugs, namely a stepped RJ45 cable plug and a non-stepped RJ45 cable plug. Needless to say, the implementation of the two half shells described below is compatible with the above-mentioned aspects and embodiments.

[0049] The present invention also relates to a plug assembly for use with a cable having a cable plug, such as a data cable, an optical cable or a power cable. The plug assembly includes a clamping member configured to receive a cable plug and position the cable plug at a predetermined position at the front of the clamping member, wherein a rear portion of the clamping member opposite to the front of the clamping member is configured to engage around the cable when the cable plug is received and positioned at the predetermined position by the clamping member. The rear portion has a radially compressible tapered section having an outer shape that tapers toward the rear distal end of the clamping member. The plug assembly also includes a clamping sleeve configured to approach the clamping member with the front end of the clamping sleeve and be connected to the rear of the clamping member by a threaded connection. The tightening of the clamping member and the clamping sleeve configured to be threaded causes the inner contact section of the clamping sleeve to advance toward the front of the clamping member on the tapered section of the clamping member while in contact with the tapered section, resulting in an increase in radial compression of the rear of the clamping member. In other words, tightening of the threaded connection results in a compressed state of the tapered section of the clamping member, wherein the tapered section clamps the cable.

[0050] The clamping member is configured to be received by a housing of the plug assembly, wherein the housing is configured to be inserted into a receptacle of a complementary plug assembly by approaching the receptacle with the front end of the housing. The housing is configured to receive the clamping member and position the clamping member in the front portion of the housing so that when the cable plug is received and positioned in the clamping member and the clamping member is received and positioned in the housing, at least the front portion of the cable plug extending toward the front end of the housing is surrounded by the front portion of the housing at a distance.

[0051] According to this aspect of the invention, the tapered section of the clamping member includes a tapered external threaded region having external threads extending thereon. The inner contact section of the clamping sleeve includes a tapered internal threaded region having internal threads extending thereon, wherein the internal threaded region has a tapered shape that matches the tapered shape of the external threaded region of the clamping member, and the external threads and the internal threads are configured to engage with each other to provide a threaded connection.

[0052] For example, matching means that the conical shapes of the internal thread area and the external thread area are designed so that when the clamping sleeve is brought to the rear of the clamping member for threaded connection, their surfaces basically abut each other, i.e. the inner radius of the internal thread area increases towards the front end of the clamping sleeve.

[0053] For example, having threads on matching tapered areas provides the benefit that, independently of the thickness of the cable to be clamped by the clamping member, the clamping sleeve can be pushed without resistance in the direction of the front end of the clamping member over the tapered section of the clamping member until the threads engage, wherein tightening of the threaded connection substantially directly results in a radial compressive force acting on the rear of the clamping member (and the cable). This prevents unnecessary threading, and the assembly of the clamping sleeve and the clamping member for clamping the cable becomes more efficient.

[0054] For example, each of the external thread and the internal thread comprises at most ten turns, such as at most eight turns.

[0055] In another embodiment, the plug assembly includes a tail member as described above, which is implemented, for example, as a so-called kink protector, wherein the clamping sleeve and the tail member are separate components, or the clamping sleeve is an integral part of the tail member, for example, wherein the housing includes a stop for the clamping member, which is configured to prevent the clamping member from moving toward the rear end of the housing.

[0056] The present invention also relates to a clamping member for a plug assembly, wherein the clamping member is divided into two half shells in the longitudinal direction, and the two half shells are configured to clamp an RJ45 cable plug between them, thereby positioning the RJ45 cable plug at a predetermined position at the front of the clamping member. A radially compressible rear portion of the clamping member opposite to the front portion of the clamping member is configured to engage around a cable connected to the RJ45 cable plug when the RJ45 cable plug is positioned at the predetermined position by the two half shells.

[0057] For example, the radially compressible rear portion of the clamping member is configured to interact with a clamping sleeve to be connected to the rear portion of the clamping member to provide accommodation of radial compression of the rear portion of the clamping member, for example wherein axial movement between the clamping sleeve and the radially compressible rear portion of the clamping member results in accommodation of radial compression forces exerted by the clamping sleeve on the radially compressible rear portion of the clamping member.

[0058] In particular, the rear portion of the clamping member is implemented according to one of the above-mentioned embodiments, for example, with radially compressible spaced-apart extensions and / or a tapered section with external threads. For example, the radially compressible rear portion of the clamping member has a radially compressible tapered section having an outer shape that tapers toward the rear distal end of the clamping member, wherein the tapered section includes a tapered external threaded area, the tapered section having external threads extending on the tapered external threaded area.

[0059] One of the two half shells is configured to be nested on the top, back, and two side surfaces of the RJ45 cable plug, and the other of the two half shells is configured to be nested on the bottom, back, and two side surfaces of the RJ45 cable plug. The top surface of the RJ45 cable plug is a side that includes a locking element that is configured to lock the RJ45 cable plug to a conventional RJ45 socket, the bottom surface is opposite to the top surface, the back surface connects the top surface to the bottom surface of the cable side, and each side surface is adjacent to the back surface and connects the top surface and the bottom surface.

[0060] For example, the two half shells are pivotably connected at the front end.

[0061] According to this aspect of the invention, the clamping member is configured to clamp and position a stepped RJ45 cable plug and a non-stepped RJ45 cable socket. This means that the same clamping member can be used interchangeably for different types of RJ45 cable plugs.

[0062] The stepped RJ45 cable plug includes a shell having a stepped surface on the bottom surface, so that the rear of the shell adjacent to the cable has a diameter greater than the diameter of the front of the shell in a direction perpendicular to the bottom surface, and the front of the shell has contacts for providing signal transmission to a complementary plug assembly.

[0063] The stepless RJ45 cable plug includes a housing without a step on the bottom surface, wherein the housing has an extension on each side (in the direction toward the cable) that continues the corresponding side surface of the housing and extends beyond the housing surface on the back.

[0064] In order to provide interchangeable use, the two half shells each include an alignment structure for positioning the RJ45 cable plug in a predetermined position, wherein each alignment structure includes two cavities arranged in the rear area of ​​the corresponding alignment structure. Each of the two cavities is configured to receive an extension of the stepless RJ45 cable plug, so that each of the two cavities in one of the two half shells provides a boundary for the top surface and two side surfaces of the stepless RJ45 cable plug, and each of the two cavities in the other of the two half shells provides a boundary for the bottom surface and two side surfaces of the stepless RJ45 cable plug. In addition, a boundary structure is arranged in the front area of ​​the two cavities, wherein correspondingly, one boundary structure (the boundary structure of one of the two half shells) provides a boundary for the two side surfaces and the top surface of the step-type RJ45 cable plug, and the other boundary structure (the boundary structure of the other of the two half shells) provides a boundary for the two side surfaces and the bottom surface of the step-type RJ45 cable plug. The boundary of the bottom surface of the stepped RJ45 cable plug (i.e., the contact surface providing the boundary) (the boundary structure of one of the two half shells constructed to be nested on the bottom surface of the RJ45 cable plug) is arranged to deviate from the boundary of the bottom surface of the non-stepped RJ45 cable plug provided by the two cavities (i.e., provided by the boundary surfaces of the cavities) in a direction perpendicular to the bottom surface.

[0065] In one embodiment, the alignment structure for positioning the RJ45 cable plug at a predetermined position is configured so that, for each of the two half shells, the front end of each of the two cavities (i.e., the surface of the cavity, which defines the front end of the corresponding cavity opening toward the front) provides a boundary for the back of the stepped RJ45 cable plug. In particular, the alignment structure is configured so that the front end of the cavity contacts the back of the stepped RJ45 cable plug to position the stepped RJ45 cable plug at a predetermined position.

[0066] In another embodiment, the alignment structure of one of the two half shells is constructed to nest on the top surface of the RJ45 cable plug, and the alignment structure includes a spring element that is arranged so that it provides support for the locking element of the RJ45 cable plug to position the RJ45 cable plug in a predetermined position.

[0067] In another embodiment, the alignment structures for positioning the RJ45 cable plug in a predetermined position each include a lateral guide surface that is foreseen to be arranged opposite to the side of the RJ45 cable plug to position the RJ45 cable plug in the predetermined position, wherein the lateral guide surface provides a stop for movement of the RJ45 cable plug in a direction perpendicular to the side of the RJ45 cable plug in a front region of the alignment structure.

[0068] In another embodiment, the axial depth of each cavity of the alignment structure is such that the cavity provides a back boundary of the stepless RJ45 cable plug so that the extension of the stepless RJ45 cable plug contacts the back boundary to position the stepless RJ45 cable plug in a predetermined position.

[0069] In another embodiment, the alignment structure is configured to bring a boundary of a bottom surface of the stepped RJ45 cable plug into contact with a bottom surface of the stepped RJ45 cable plug to position the stepped RJ45 cable plug at a predetermined position.

[0070] In another embodiment, the alignment structure is configured so that the boundary provided by the cavity to the bottom surface of the stepless RJ45 cable plug contacts the bottom surface of the extension of the stepless RJ45 cable plug to position the stepless RJ45 cable plug in a predetermined position.

[0071] In another embodiment, the alignment structure is configured such that, in order to position the RJ45 cable plug at a predetermined position, the spring element provides a biasing force to the locking element of the RJ45 cable plug. The biasing force is configured to cause the boundary of the bottom surface of the stepped RJ45 cable plug to contact the bottom surface of the stepped RJ45 cable plug, and the boundary provided by the cavity for the bottom surface of the non-stepped RJ45 cable plug to contact the bottom surface of the extension of the non-stepped RJ45 cable plug accordingly.

[0072] The present invention also relates to a plug assembly for use with a cable having an RJ45 cable plug, the plug assembly comprising: a clamping member according to one of the above-mentioned embodiments, the clamping member being configured to receive the RJ45 cable plug and position the RJ45 cable plug at a predetermined position within the clamping member; a clamping sleeve being configured to be connected to the clamping member and to interact with the clamping member to provide accommodation for radial compression of a rear portion of the clamping member; and a housing for being inserted into a socket of a complementary plug assembly by approaching the socket with a front end portion of the housing, wherein the housing is configured to receive the clamping member and position the clamping member in a front portion of the housing, so that when the RJ45 cable plug is positioned by the clamping member and the clamping member is positioned in the housing, at least the front portion of the RJ45 cable plug extending in the direction of the front end portion of the housing is surrounded by the front portion of the housing at a certain distance.

[0073] In particular, in any of the above plug assemblies, the housing may include a portion of a mechanical locking mechanism for preventing a plug assembly inserted into a socket of a complementary plug assembly from being removed from the socket of the complementary plug assembly, such as a snap-action snap-fit ​​counterpart or a spring snap-fit ​​counterpart.

[0074] For example, part of the mechanical locking mechanism is provided by an edge having an edge surface facing a rear end of the shell opposite to the front end of the shell, for example, wherein the edge surface is provided by a recess on or through the shell, or wherein the edge surface is provided by a groove arranged on the shell (inside or outside), the groove extending uninterruptedly from the rear end of the shell to the edge surface. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0075] Purely by way of example, with reference to the working examples schematically shown in the accompanying drawings, the clamping member and the plug assembly according to different aspects of the present invention are described or explained in more detail below. The same elements are marked with the same reference numerals in the drawings. In particular:

[0076] Figure 1 : Plug assembly of prior art;

[0077] Figure 2 : An external view of an assembled exemplary embodiment of a plug assembly according to the present invention;

[0078] Figure 3 : Figure 2 Additional views of the plug assembly are shown with the housing pulled back from the clamping member onto the portion of the cable behind the kink protector;

[0079] Figure 4 : Figure 2 An exploded view of the plug assembly shown is viewed from the side to the bottom of the plug assembly;

[0080] Figure 5 : Figure 2 Additional exploded views of the plug assembly are shown from the perspective of the front side to the bottom side of the plug assembly;

[0081] Figure 6 : Before inserting the clamping member into the housing Figure 2 A bottom perspective view of the clamping member and housing of the plug assembly is shown;

[0082] Figure 7 : Before inserting the clamping member into the housing Figure 2 A top perspective view of the clamping member and housing of the plug assembly shown, Figure 2 Additional exploded views of the plug assembly are shown;

[0083] Figure 8 : A three-dimensional image of a stepped RJ45 cable plug;

[0084] Fig. 9 : A three-dimensional image of a stepless RJ45 cable plug;

[0085] Fig.10: A bottom perspective view of a clamping member according to the present invention;

[0086] Fig.11 : A top perspective view of a clamping member according to the present invention;

[0087] Fig.12 : A front perspective view of a clamping member according to the invention, wherein the two half shells are pivotably connected at the front end clamping member;

[0088] Fig.13 : Fig.12 a rear perspective view of the clamping member shown;

[0089] Fig.14 : Fig.12 A top view of one of the two half-shells shown, which half-shell is foreseen for nesting on the top surface of an RJ45 cable plug;

[0090] Fig.15 : Fig.12 A top view of one of the two half shells shown, which is foreseen to be nested on the bottom surface of an RJ45 cable plug; a three-dimensional

[0091] Fig.16 : A front perspective view of a housing according to the present invention;

[0092] Fig.17 : A rear perspective view of a housing according to the present invention;

[0093] Fig.18 : Figure 2 a direct front view of the plug assembly shown but without the cable plug;

[0094] Fig.19 : Figure 2 A longitudinal section of the plug assembly shown but without the kink protector;

[0095] Fig. 20 : A perspective view of a clamping member and a housing according to another embodiment of a plug assembly of the present invention before the clamping member is inserted into the housing, wherein the clamping member and the housing have matching flat surfaces to prevent the clamping member from twisting relative to the housing about a longitudinal axis;

[0096] Fig.21 : Fig. 20 A top view of the underside of the clamping member is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0097] Figure 1A prior art plug assembly is shown, which is used as a protector for a pre-assembled RJ45 cable plug 2. The plug assembly includes a housing 200, a clamping member 201 and a kink protector 202, wherein the clamping sleeve is implemented as an integral part of the kink protector 202. The housing 200 has an external thread 203 for engaging an internal thread (not visible) of the kink protector 202, so that the housing 200 and the kink protector 202 can form a threaded connection. The radially compressible clamping member 201 engages around the cable 2 and clamps the cable 2 in a compressed state. The clamping member 201 is received inside the housing 200 and partially within the clamping sleeve provided by the kink protector 202. When the threaded connection between the housing 200 and the kink protector 202 is tightened, the clamping sleeve, the clamping member 201, the housing 200, the cable plug 2 and the cable 3 are tied together. The inner contact section of the clamping sleeve advances on the tapered section of the clamping member 201 towards the front of the clamping member 201 while in contact with the tapered section, resulting in an increase in radial compression of the tapered section. The radially compressible tapered section is realized by finger-like spaced extensions 204, which include tangentially extending slits 205 to provide increased clamping and gripping of the cable sheath. In the assembled state, the plug assembly can be connected to a complementary element, such as a plug socket. The housing 200 also includes a snap-action snap-fit ​​counterpart 206 realized by a hole piercing the shell of the housing in the front of the housing 200. The snap-action snap-fit ​​counterpart 206 provides a part of a mechanical locking mechanism for preventing the plug assembly inserted into the socket of the complementary plug assembly from being removed from the socket of the complementary plug assembly, because the releasable counterpart of the complementary plug assembly engages in the snap-action snap-fit ​​counterpart 206.

[0098] In order to directly contact the pre-assembled RJ45 cable plug 2, for example, when the cable plug 2 is to be used with a laptop or device that is designed to mate with the cable RJ45 cable plug 2 but is not shaped in a complementary manner relative to the housing 200, the threaded connection between the housing 200 and the kink protector 202 must be released and the housing 200 pulled forward away from the kink protector and the clamping member 201.

[0099] In the following, aspects of the present invention are exemplified by an embodiment of a plug assembly 1 of the present invention for use with an RJ45 cable plug 2. The plug assembly 1 comprises a housing 4, a clamping member 5, a clamping sleeve 6 and a kink protector 7 (see, for example, Figure 4 The RJ45 cable plug 2 is received and positioned by the clamping member 5, wherein the clamping member 5 is received and positioned at the front of the housing 4 so that at least the front portion of the cable plug 2 extending in the direction of the front end of the housing 4 is surrounded by the front of the housing 4 at a certain distance (see, for example, Figure 2The clamping member 5 is configured to receive the cable plug 2 and position the cable plug 2 at a predetermined position at the front of the clamping member, wherein the tapered rear portion of the clamping member 5 is configured to engage around the cable 3 when the cable plug 2 is received and positioned at the predetermined position by the clamping member 5. Figure 1 In the embodiment of the prior art shown, the radially compressible conical section is realized by finger-like spaced-apart extensions 8 which comprise tangentially extending slits 9 on their inner side (see, for example, Figure 5 and Fig.13 ).

[0100] In the embodiment shown, the clamping sleeve 6 and the kink protector 7 are separate components, wherein the front part of the kink protector comprises an elastic coupling portion 10 which is configured to engage in a form-fitting manner the rear part 11 of the housing (see, for example, Figure 4 and Figure 5 ).

[0101] For example, the tapered section of the clamping member 5 comprises an external thread 12 extending on a tapered external threaded region, wherein the clamping sleeve 6 has an internal thread 13 extending on a tapered internal contact section, thereby forming a tapered internal threaded region (see, for example, Figure 4 and Figure 5 ). The internal threaded area has a tapered shape that matches the tapered shape of the external threaded area, and the external thread and the internal thread are configured to engage with each other to provide a threaded connection between the clamping member 5 and the clamping sleeve 6.

[0102] The plug assembly 1 is constructed by a stop element 14 arranged on the inner side of the housing and an engagement element 15 arranged on the outer side of the clamping member 5 (see, for example, Figure 6 , Figure 7 , Fig.19 ) to provide a locked position of the clamping member 5 in the housing 4. For example, the stop element 14 is implemented as a transverse step extending in a tangential direction on the inner side of the housing 4, which is configured to prevent the clamping member 5 from moving toward the front end of the housing (see, for example, Figure 7 The engagement element 15 can be implemented as a transverse ridge on the outside of the clamping member 5, which is configured in a complementary manner to the step (see, for example, Figure 6 ).

[0103] The housing 4 comprises a clamping member support area 16 on its inner side opposite the stop element 14, wherein, in the locked position of the clamping member 5 in the housing 4, the clamping member support area 16 is arranged closer to the rear end of the housing 4 than the stop element 14 and abuts against the clamping member 5. This arrangement allows the locking connection between the clamping member 5 and the housing 4 to be released by a tilting movement about a tilting axis 43 transverse to the longitudinal axis of the housing 4 (see, for example, Fig.19 ).

[0104] In the embodiment shown, since the housing 4 has a cylindrical front section offset parallel to the cylindrical rear section of the housing, freedom of movement of the clamping member for a tilting movement about the tilting axis 43 is provided. This can be achieved by Fig.18 see, Fig.18 A front view of the insertion opening of the plug assembly without the cable plug 2 is shown. The black dots represent the central longitudinal axes 39, 40 (cylindrical axes) of the cylindrical front section and the cylindrical rear section. In the view shown, the central longitudinal axis 39 of the cylindrical front section is below the central longitudinal axis 40 of the cylindrical rear section. It can also be seen that the clamping member 5 is arranged centrally in the cylindrical front section of the housing, which can be seen, for example, by the circular outlet provided by the rear part 41 of the clamping member, which is arranged symmetrically around the central longitudinal axis 39 of the cylindrical front section. On the other hand, the kink protector is coaxially attached to the cylindrical rear section, so that the circular rear outlet provided by the rear end 42 of the kink protector is arranged symmetrically around the central longitudinal axis 40 of the cylindrical rear section of the housing.

[0105] Here (see, for example, Fig.19 ), for example, the maximum radial diameter of the cylindrical rear section is smaller than the maximum radial diameter of the cylindrical front section, wherein on the side of the stop element 14, the section of the shell 4 from the clamping member support area 16 / tilting axis 43 to the rear end of the shell 4 basically transitions without steps to the section from the stop element 14 to the front end of the shell 4, wherein on the side of the clamping member support area 16, the diameter of the shell 4 increases toward the front end of the shell 4 in the transition area 44 between the section from the clamping member support area 16 / tilting axis 43 to the rear end of the shell 4 and the section from the stop element 14 to the front end of the shell 4.

[0106] The tilting movement causes the engagement element 15 to disengage from the stop element 14, so that the housing 4 can be pushed backward along the cable 3. In other words, the locking structure allows the clamping member 5 (together with the cable plug) to be pushed forward out of the housing 4 (see, for example, Figure 3 ), and allows easy access to the pre-assembled RJ45 cable plug 2. To release the locked connection, the front end of the clamping member 5 is pressed downwards away from the stop element 14, whereupon the clamping member 5 is tilted about a transverse tilting axis 43 provided by the contact point of the clamping member 5 with the clamping member support area 16, which disengages the engagement of the engagement element 15 from the stop element 14.

[0107] The clamping member 5 may be configured to receive and position a stepped RJ45 cable plug 17 (see, for example, Figure 8 ) and a stepless RJ45 cable plug 18 (see, for example, Fig. 9 ). In the following, reference is made to the top surface 19, the bottom surface 20, the back surface 21 and the two side surfaces 22 of the RJ45 cable plug. The top surface 19 is the side that includes the locking element 23 of the preassembled RJ45 cable plug 2. The bottom surface 20 is opposite to the top surface 19, and the back surface 21 (or rear) connects the top surface 19 to the bottom surface 20 on the cable side. Each side surface 22 is adjacent to the back surface 21 and connects the top surface 19 to the bottom surface 20.

[0108] The stepped RJ45 cable plug 17 includes a housing having a stepped surface on a bottom surface 20 such that a rear portion 24 of the housing has a larger diameter from the bottom surface 20 to the top surface 19 than a front portion 25 of the housing having contacts 26 for providing signal transmission.

[0109] The stepless RJ45 cable plug 18 includes a housing that is stepless on the bottom surface but has an extension 27 on each side 22 that continues the corresponding side surface 28 of the housing and extends beyond the housing surface 29 on the back surface 21.

[0110] The clamping member 5 is realized by two half shells 30, 31 which are pivotably connected by a flexible connecting element 32 at the front end (see, for example, Figures 10 to 13 ). One of the two half shells 30 is configured to receive and position the top surface 19 of an RJ45 cable plug, and the other of the two half shells 31 is configured to receive and position the bottom surface 20 of an RJ45 cable plug.

[0111] The half shell 30, which is intended for receiving the top face 19 of the cable plug, comprises two cavities 33, wherein each of the two cavities 33 is shaped to receive one of the two extensions 27 of the stepless RJ45 cable plug 18. The half shell 30 also comprises a spring element 34, which is arranged so that it provides support for the locking element 23 of the RJ45 cable plug (see, for example, Fig.10 and Fig.11 ). The lateral guide surfaces 35 provide a stop for the movement of the RJ45 cable plug at the front end of the clamping member 5 in a direction perpendicular to the side faces 22 of the RJ45 cable plug. In the case of receiving a stepped RJ45 cable plug 17, the RJ45 cable plug is placed in the area in front of the two cavities 33, which provide boundaries for the two side faces 22 and the top face 19 of the RJ45 cable plug.

[0112] Similarly, the half shell 31 foreseen for receiving the bottom surface 19 of the cable plug comprises two cavities 33, wherein each of the two cavities 33 is shaped to receive one of the two extensions 27 of the non-stepped RJ45 cable plug 18. The half shell 31 also comprises lateral guide surfaces 35 to prevent movement of the RJ45 cable plug at the front end of the clamping member 5 in a direction perpendicular to the side 22. In order to receive the stepped RJ45 cable plug 17, the half shell 31 comprises a boundary structure in front of the two cavities 33, which provides boundaries for the two side 22 and the bottom surface 20 of the RJ45 cable plug. In order to receive and accommodate the rear portion 24 of the housing of the RJ45 cable plug (whose diameter from the bottom surface 20 to the top surface 19 is greater than the diameter of the front portion 25 of the housing), the boundary of the bottom surface 20 of the stepped RJ45 cable plug 17 is arranged to deviate from the boundary of the bottom surface of the non-stepped RJ45 cable plug 18 provided by the two cavities 19 in a direction perpendicular to the bottom surface 20 (see, for example, Fig.11 and Fig.15 ). In the example shown, the boundary of the bottom surface 20 of the stepped RJ45 cable plug 17 is provided by support surfaces 36 on two side surfaces 22 for supporting the bottom surface 20 of the stepped RJ45 cable plug 17, wherein each of the two support surfaces 36 extends parallel to the axial direction from the front end of the clamping member 5 to the level of the front end of the cavity 33.

[0113] The housing 4 also comprises an edge 37 on its inner side, the edge of which faces towards the rear end of the housing 4 (see, for example, Fig.16 and Fig.17 ). The edge 37 provides part of a mechanical locking mechanism for preventing the plug assembly 1 inserted into the socket of the complementary plug assembly from being removed from the socket of the complementary plug assembly, because the releasable counterpart of the complementary plug assembly engages into the edge 37 of the housing from the inside of the housing 4. The edge face is the end of a groove 38 arranged on the inside of the housing 4, which extends uninterruptedly from the rear end of the housing 4 to the edge face.

[0114] Fig. 20 Another embodiment of the plug assembly of the present invention is shown, in which the clamping member 5' includes two side surfaces 45 opposite to each other, which are constructed to have a flat outer surface 46 that matches the flat surface 47 inside the shell 4', so that in the locked position, the contact between the flat surface 47 of the shell 4' and the flat outer surface 46 of the clamping member 5' prevents the clamping member 5' from twisting relative to the shell 4' about the longitudinal axis.

[0115] Fig.21 Shows Fig. 20A top view of the underside of the clamping member 5' is shown. Having a flat side surface 46 provides a compact housing for the cable plug 2, which has benefits when a plurality of cable plugs received by the plug assembly of the invention have to be connected adjacent to each other in a "conventional manner" and the respective clamping members are pushed away from their housings (using sockets that are not shaped in a complementary manner relative to the housings).

[0116] In the illustrated embodiment, the clamping member 5' is constructed to receive an RJ45 cable plug and the clamping member 5' is sized so that in a detached state in which the clamping plug 5' is detached from the housing 4' it can be inserted next to other RJ45 plugs received by corresponding clamping members, for example, in a situation where several RJ45 plugs have to be connected to a "conventional" switch assembly having a plurality of "conventional" RJ45 sockets (which are not shaped in a complementary manner relative to the housing).

[0117] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to some preferred embodiments, it should be understood that various modifications and combinations of different features of the embodiments are possible. All such modifications are within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A plug assembly for use with a cable having a cable plug, the plug assembly comprising: a clamping member configured to receive the cable plug and position the cable plug at a predetermined position at a front portion of the clamping member, wherein a rear portion of the clamping member opposite the front portion of the clamping member is configured to engage around the cable when the cable plug is received and positioned at the predetermined position by the clamping member, a housing for insertion into a receptacle of a complementary plug assembly by accessing the receptacle with a front end of the housing, wherein the housing is configured to receive the clamping member and position the clamping member in a locked position, and a locking structure for providing the locked position by means of a stop element arranged on the inner side of the housing and an engagement element arranged on the outer side of the clamping member, wherein in the locked position of the clamping member in the housing, the engagement element is arranged opposite to and engages with the stop element, so that movement of the clamping member along the longitudinal axis of the housing towards the front end of the housing causes the engagement element to abut against the stop element, thereby preventing the clamping member from further moving towards the front end of the housing, It is characterized in that The housing comprises a clamping member support area on its inner side opposite to the stop element and is constructed so that the engagement element can be disengaged from the stop element by a tilting movement of the clamping member about a tilting axis passing through a contact point between the clamping member and the clamping member support area, wherein the tilting axis is transverse to the longitudinal axis and the tilting movement causes the engagement element to disengage from the stop element.

2. The plug assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The housing and the clamping member are matched to each other so that in the locked position of the clamping member in the housing when the cable plug is received and positioned in the predetermined position in front of the clamping member, The clamping member support region bears against the clamping member and is arranged closer to the rear end of the housing than the stop element, and In the front part of the shell from the clamping member support area toward the front end part of the shell, there is freedom for the clamping member to move relative to the shell on the side of the clamping member support area, and in the rear part of the shell from the clamping member support area toward the rear end part of the shell, there is freedom for the clamping member to move relative to the shell on the side of the stop element.

3. A plug assembly according to any preceding claim, characterized in that The engagement element is arranged at the front portion of the clamping member.

4. A plug assembly according to any preceding claim, characterized in that The contact point of the clamping member which is located on the tilting axis in the locking position is arranged at the front of the clamping member.

5. A plug assembly according to any preceding claim, characterised in that From the clamping member supporting area to the rear end of the shell, the inner contour of the shell is basically formed like a cylinder, and from the stop element to the front end of the shell, the inner contour is basically formed like another cylinder, wherein the central longitudinal axes of the individual cylinders are offset parallel to each other.

6. A plug assembly according to any preceding claim, characterised in that The maximum radial diameter of the housing in a section from the clamping member supporting area to the rear end of the housing is smaller than the maximum radial diameter of the housing in a section from the stop element to the front end of the housing.

7. The plug assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that: On the stop element side, the section from the clamping member support region to the rear end of the housing transitions essentially steplessly into the section from the stop element to the front end of the housing, and On the side opposite to the stop element, the diameter of the housing increases toward the front end of the housing in a transition area between a section from the clamping member support area to the rear end of the housing and a section from the stop element to the front end of the housing.

8. A plug assembly according to any preceding claim, characterised in that The locking structure is further provided by a spring element of the clamping member, which is supported in the locking position on a spring element contact area on the inner side of the housing opposite to the stop element and is configured to apply a biasing force to the spring element contact area, thereby pushing the clamping member against the side of the housing on which the stop element is arranged.

9. The plug assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that: In the locked position, the spring element contact region coincides with at least a portion of the clamp member support region such that the tilt axis extends through a point of contact of the spring element with the spring member contact region.

10. The plug assembly according to any one of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that: The clamping member is configured to receive and position an RJ45 cable plug as the cable plug, the RJ45 cable plug comprising a locking element configured to lock the RJ45 cable plug to a conventional RJ45 socket, wherein the spring element is arranged such that it provides support for the locking element of the RJ45 cable plug to position the RJ45 cable plug at the predetermined position at the front of the clamping member.

11. The plug assembly according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that: The stop element is embodied as a transverse step on the inner side of the housing, which is configured to prevent the clamping member from moving towards the front end of the housing, The engagement element is embodied as a transverse ridge or edge on the outer side of the clamping member, which is configured in a complementary manner to the transverse step, and The biasing force provided by the spring element serves to prevent the transverse ridge or edge from passing over the transverse step.

12. A plug assembly according to any preceding claim, characterised in that The shell includes an edge on its inner side, and the edge face of the edge faces the rear end of the shell, wherein the edge is arranged at the front of the shell, and the edge face is the end of a groove arranged on the inner side of the shell, and the groove extends uninterruptedly from the rear end of the shell to the edge face.

13. A plug assembly according to any preceding claim, characterised in that The plug assembly comprises a clamping sleeve, wherein the clamping member and the clamping sleeve are configured to provide a fixed connection between each other, for which purpose at least a portion of the clamping sleeve is advanced over a rear portion of the clamping member towards a front portion of the clamping member, resulting in an increased radial compression of the rear portion of the clamping member.

14. The plug assembly according to claim 13, characterized in that The rear portion of the clamping member includes a radially compressible tapered section having an outer shape that tapers toward a rear end of the clamping member, wherein the tapered section includes a tapered external threaded region having external threads extending thereon, The inner contact section of the clamping sleeve comprises a tapered internal threaded region with an internal thread extending thereon, and The internal threaded area has a tapered shape that matches the tapered shape of the external threaded area, and the external threads and the internal threads are configured to engage with each other to provide a fixed connection as a threaded connection, so that tightening of the threaded connection causes the inner contact section of the clamping sleeve to advance toward the front of the clamping member on the tapered section of the clamping member while contacting the tapered section, resulting in increased radial compression of the rear of the clamping member.

15. A plug assembly according to any preceding claim, characterised in that The clamping member has a bottom surface, a top surface, and two side surfaces, wherein the bottom surface includes the engagement element, the top surface is opposite to the bottom surface, the two side surfaces are opposite to each other, and each of the two side surfaces connects the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein In the region of the front portion of the clamping member, each of the side surfaces has a flat outer surface, and the outer surfaces of the two side surfaces are parallel to each other, and The shell includes two flat surfaces opposite to each other on its inner side, wherein in the locked position, each of the two flat surfaces of the shell is arranged to be opposite to a corresponding one of the two flat outer surfaces of the clamping member, so that the contact between the flat surface of the shell and the flat outer surface of the clamping member prevents the clamping member from twisting relative to the shell around the longitudinal axis.

16. The plug assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The cable is a data cable, an optical cable or a power cable.

17. The plug assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that The engagement element is closer to the front end of the front portion of the clamp member than to the rear end of the front portion of the clamp member.

18. The plug assembly according to claim 12, wherein: The edge is closer to the front end of the front portion of the housing than to the rear end of the front portion of the housing.

19. A plug assembly for use with a cable having a cable plug, the plug assembly comprising: a clamping member configured to receive the cable plug and position the cable plug at a predetermined position at a front portion of the clamping member, wherein a rear portion of the clamping member opposite the front portion of the clamping member is configured to engage around the cable when the cable plug is received and positioned at the predetermined position by the clamping member, wherein the rear portion has a radially compressible tapered section having an outer shape that tapers toward a rear distal end portion of the clamping member, a clamping sleeve configured to approach the clamping member with a front end of the clamping sleeve and to be connected to a rear portion of the clamping member by a threaded connection, wherein tightening of the threaded connection causes an inner contact section of the clamping sleeve to advance toward the front portion of the clamping member on the tapered section of the clamping member while in contact with the tapered section, resulting in increased radial compression of the rear portion of the clamping member, and a housing for being inserted into a socket of a complementary plug assembly by approaching the socket with a front end of the housing, wherein the housing is configured to receive the clamping member and to position the clamping member in a front portion of the housing so that when the cable plug is received and positioned in the clamping member and the clamping member is received and positioned in the housing, at least a front portion of the cable plug extending in the direction of the front end of the housing is surrounded at a distance by the front portion of the housing, It is characterized in that The tapered section of the clamping member includes a tapered externally threaded region having external threads extending thereon, and The inner contact section of the clamping sleeve comprises a conical internal threaded area with an internal thread extending thereon, The internal thread region has a tapered shape that matches the tapered shape of the external thread region, and the external thread and the internal thread are configured to engage with each other to provide the threaded connection.

20. The plug assembly according to claim 19, wherein: The rear portion of the clamping member includes two radially compressible spaced apart extensions, wherein the outer shape of the extensions forms at least a portion of the radially compressible conical section of the clamping member.

21. The plug assembly according to any one of claims 19 and 20, characterized in that Each of the external thread and the internal thread includes a maximum of 10 turns.

22. The plug assembly according to any one of claims 19 to 21, characterized in that: The plug assembly includes a tail member having a front portion configured to be connected to a rear portion of the housing, wherein the rear portion of the housing is opposite to the front end portion of the housing, The tail member includes a resilient rear portion opposite to the front portion of the tail member, wherein the resilient rear portion is configured to surround the cable and has an inner diameter that is smaller than an outer diameter of the cable.

23. The plug assembly according to claim 22, characterized in that The clamping sleeve and the tail member are separate components, wherein a front portion of the tail member comprises a resilient coupling portion configured to engage at least a portion of a rear portion of the housing in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting manner.

24. The plug assembly according to claim 22, wherein: The clamping sleeve is an integral part of the tail member, wherein the housing comprises a stop for the clamping member, the stop being configured to prevent movement of the clamping member towards a rear end of the housing.

25. The plug assembly according to claim 24, characterized in that The tail piece is a multi-component injection-molded part comprising elastic and hard materials, wherein the clamping sleeve is formed from the hard material.

26. The plug assembly according to any one of claims 19 to 25, characterized in that The clamping member is configured to receive an RJ45 cable plug and position the RJ45 cable plug at the predetermined position at the front of the clamping member.

27. The plug assembly according to any one of claims 19 to 26, characterized in that: The plug assembly is configured to provide a locking connection between the clamping member and the housing, wherein the locking connection is provided by a transverse step on the inner side of the housing, a transverse ridge or edge on the outer side of the clamping member, and a spring element, the transverse step being configured to prevent the clamping member from moving toward the front end of the housing, the transverse ridge or edge being configured in a complementary manner to the step, and the spring element being configured to apply a biasing force to the clamping member, wherein, in the locking position, the ridge or edge is arranged on a side of the step facing the rear end of the housing, and the biasing force is used to prevent the ridge or edge from passing over the step.

28. The plug assembly according to any one of claims 19 to 27, characterized in that The clamping member is divided into two half-shells in the longitudinal direction, the two half-shells are pivotably connected at the front end, and have an external thread at the rear end for engagement with an internal thread of the clamping sleeve.

29. The plug assembly according to claim 19, wherein: The cable is a data cable, an optical cable or a power cable.

30. The plug assembly according to claim 19, wherein: The rear portion of the clamping member includes four radially compressible spaced apart extensions, wherein the outer shape of the extensions forms at least a portion of the radially compressible conical section of the clamping member.

31. The plug assembly according to claim 21, wherein: Each of the external thread and the internal thread includes a maximum of 8 turns.

32. A clamping member for a plug assembly, wherein the clamping member is divided into two half shells in a longitudinal direction, the two half shells being configured to clamp an RJ45 cable plug therebetween, thereby positioning the RJ45 cable plug at a predetermined position at the front of the clamping member, wherein a radially compressible rear portion of the clamping member opposite to the front portion of the clamping member is configured to engage around a cable connected to the RJ45 cable plug when the RJ45 cable plug is positioned at the predetermined position by the two half shells, wherein one of the two half shells The half shell is configured to be nested on the top surface, back surface and two side surfaces of the RJ45 cable plug, and the other half shell of the two half shells is configured to be nested on the bottom surface, back surface and two side surfaces of the RJ45 cable plug, wherein the top surface includes a locking element, and the locking element is configured to lock the RJ45 cable plug to a conventional RJ45 socket, the bottom surface is opposite to the top surface, the back surface connects the top surface to the bottom surface of the cable side, and each side surface is adjacent to the back surface and connects the top surface and the bottom surface, It is characterized in that The clamping member is configured to clamp and position: A stepped RJ45 cable plug comprising a housing having a stepped surface on the bottom surface, such that a rear portion of the housing adjacent to the cable has a larger diameter in a direction perpendicular to the bottom surface than a front portion of the housing, the front portion of the housing having contacts for providing signal transmission to the complementary plug assembly, and A stepless RJ45 cable plug, comprising a housing without a step on a bottom surface, wherein the housing has an extension on each side, the extension continuing the corresponding side surface of the housing and extending beyond the housing surface on the back surface, To this end, the two half shells each include an alignment structure for positioning the RJ45 cable plug in the predetermined position, wherein each alignment structure includes: two cavities arranged in the rear region of the corresponding alignment structure, wherein each of the two cavities is configured to receive one of the extensions of the stepless RJ45 cable plug, such that each of the two cavities of one of the two half shells provides a boundary for a top surface and two side surfaces of the stepless RJ45 cable plug, and each of the two cavities of the other of the two half shells provides a boundary for a bottom surface and two side surfaces of the stepless RJ45 cable plug, and A boundary structure is arranged in the area in front of the two cavities, wherein correspondingly, one of the boundary structures provides boundaries for two side surfaces and a top surface of a stepped RJ45 cable plug, and the other of the boundary structures provides boundaries for two side surfaces and a bottom surface of the stepped RJ45 cable plug, wherein the boundary of the bottom surface of the stepped RJ45 cable plug is arranged to deviate from the boundary of the bottom surface of the non-stepped RJ45 cable plug provided by the two cavities in a direction perpendicular to the bottom surface.

33. The clamping member according to claim 32, characterized in that The alignment structure for positioning the RJ45 cable plug at the predetermined position is configured such that, for each of the two half shells, the front end of each of the two cavities provides a boundary for the back side of the stepped RJ45 cable plug, The alignment structure is configured so that the front end of the cavity contacts the back side of the stepped RJ45 cable plug to position the stepped RJ45 cable plug at the predetermined position.

34. A clamping member according to any one of claims 32 to 33, characterized in that The alignment structure for one of the two half shells that is configured to nest on the top surface of the RJ45 cable plug includes a spring element that is arranged so that it provides support for the locking element of the RJ45 cable plug to position the RJ45 cable plug in the predetermined position.

35. A clamping member according to any one of claims 32 to 34, characterised in that The alignment structures for positioning the RJ45 cable plug in the predetermined position each include a lateral guide surface, which is foreseen to be arranged opposite to the side of the RJ45 cable plug to position the RJ45 cable plug in the predetermined position, wherein the lateral guide surfaces provide a stop for movement of the RJ45 cable plug in a direction perpendicular to the side of the RJ45 cable plug in a front region of the alignment structures.

36. A clamping member according to any one of claims 32 to 35, characterised in that The axial depth of each cavity of the alignment structure is such that the cavity provides a rear boundary of the stepless RJ45 cable plug so that an extension of the stepless RJ45 cable plug contacts the rear boundary to position the stepless RJ45 cable plug in the predetermined position.

37. A clamping member according to any one of claims 32 to 36, characterised in that The alignment structure is configured to bring a boundary of a bottom surface of the step-type RJ45 cable plug into contact with a bottom surface of the step-type RJ45 cable plug to position the step-type RJ45 cable plug at the predetermined position.

38. A clamping member according to any one of claims 32 to 37, characterised in that The alignment structure is configured such that a boundary provided by the cavity for a bottom surface of the stepless RJ45 cable plug contacts a bottom surface of an extension of the stepless RJ45 cable plug to position the stepless RJ45 cable plug at the predetermined position.

39. The clamping member according to claims 34, 37 and 38, characterized in that The alignment structure is configured such that, in order to position the RJ45 cable plug in the predetermined position, the spring element provides a biasing force on the locking element of the RJ45 cable plug, resulting in: The boundary of the bottom surface of the stepped RJ45 cable plug contacts the bottom surface of the stepped RJ45 cable plug, and The boundary provided by the cavity for the bottom surface of the stepless RJ45 cable plug accordingly contacts the bottom surface of the extension of the stepless RJ45 cable plug.

40. A clamping member according to any one of claims 32 to 39, characterised in that The radially compressible rear portion of the clamping member is configured to interact with the clamping sleeve to be connected to the rear portion of the clamping member to provide accommodation of radial compression of the rear portion of the clamping member, Wherein the axial movement between the clamping sleeve and the radially compressible rear portion of the clamping member results in an adaptation of the radially compressive force exerted by the clamping sleeve on the radially compressible rear portion of the clamping member.

41. The clamping member according to claim 40, characterized in that The radially compressible rear portion of the clamping member has a radially compressible tapered section having an outer shape that tapers toward a rear distal end of the clamping member, wherein the tapered section includes a tapered externally threaded region having external threads extending thereon.

42. A clamping member according to any one of claims 32 to 41, characterised in that The two half shells are pivotably connected at the front ends.

43. A plug assembly for use with a cable having an RJ45 cable plug, characterized in that: The plug assembly comprises: The clamping member according to any one of claims 32 to 42, the clamping member being configured to receive the RJ45 cable plug and position the RJ45 cable plug at a predetermined position within the clamping member, a clamping sleeve configured to be connected to the clamping member and to interact with the clamping member to provide accommodation of radial compression of a rear portion of the clamping member, and A housing for being inserted into a socket of a complementary plug assembly by approaching the socket with a front end of the housing, wherein the housing is configured to receive the clamping member and to position the clamping member in the front portion of the housing so that when the RJ45 cable plug is positioned by the clamping member and the clamping member is positioned in the housing, at least the front portion of the RJ45 cable plug extending in the direction of the front end portion of the housing is surrounded by the front portion of the housing at a certain distance.

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