Protective cap for modular plugs

Abstract

This product provides protective caps for modular plugs that solve the problem of loss without the use or installation of cords or straps. [Solution] The protective cap 1 for modular plugs includes a cap body 10 that fits over a modular plug. The cap body includes a wall that defines an inner surface that contacts at least a portion of the tip surface or outer surface of the modular plug. A first opening into which a modular plug can be inserted is formed on one longitudinal end of the cap body. A second opening 22 smaller than the first opening and the outer circumference of the modular plug is formed on the wall 11 at the other end. Slits extending longitudinally to connect the first and second openings are formed on the walls 13 and 15 surrounding the cap body in the lateral direction. A pair of protective walls 31 and 32, higher than the latch of the modular plug, may be provided opposite each other on both edges of the walls that sandwich the slit, and projections 35 and 36 may be provided on the protective walls.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention generally relates to a protective cap for a plug, and particularly to a protective cap for a modular plug suitable for protecting an RJ45 modular plug.

Background Art

[0002] There are various types of LAN (Local Area Network) cables for connecting transmission system devices that perform data communication. Among these, a LAN cable that houses four pairs of twisted pair wires in a cable sheath and has 8P8C (eight position, eight conductors) modular plugs at both ends is widely used.

[0003] Among LAN cables, for example, in the Ethernet standard standardized by IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.3i, current LAN cables corresponding to a communication speed of 1 Gbps or more, that is, 1000BASE-T or more, are classified into Category 6A, Category 6, and Category 5e (CAT6A, CAT6, CAT5e) defined in ANSI / TIA / EIA-568 (American National Standards Institute ANSI, Telecommunication Industries Association TIA, Electronic Industries Association EIA of the United States).

[0004] RJ45 modular plugs, which can be attached to both ends of LAN cables compliant with CAT6A, CAT6, and CAT5e, typically consist of an 8P8C modular plug with eight signal lines wired to eight contacts within the plug body, and an attached mechanical key. The mechanical key includes a latch (also called a lever) located on the top of the plug body. The structure, dimensions, etc., of RJ45 modular plugs and modular jacks are defined in IEC 60603-7 (International Electrotechnical Commission IEC). For convenience, in the following explanation, modular plugs may be simply referred to as "plugs" and modular jacks as "jacks."

[0005] Various protective devices have been proposed to prevent mechanically fragile plugs from being damaged or broken during operations such as transportation, storage, and installation of LAN cables with RJ45 modular plugs attached to both ends (for example, Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3).

[0006] Patent Document 1 is a protective cover for protecting a modular plug, comprising an elastic resin part The disclosed invention provides a plug comprising: a first wall formed by extruding a material and then cutting it to a predetermined size, having a roughly U-shaped cross-section, with a convex projection that contacts the side of the plug body on which the lever portion is provided and covers the lever portion; second and third wall portions that are adjacent to the first wall portion and face each other, and are bent at an acute angle to the first wall portion to press against the plug body from two opposing sides of the plug body and clamp the plug body; and a hook portion for preventing detachment that is bent from the second and third wall portions toward the side of the plug body facing the side on which the lever portion is provided.

[0007] Patent Document 2 discloses a protective device for a modular plug, which is box-shaped with grooves identical in shape to the substantially convex plug insertion opening of a modular jack and anti-reverse projections on the left and right inner walls, with the front part allowing the plug to enter and exit, but the rest being closed. The tip of the modular plug can be inserted and stored by aligning it with the front of the cover, and one end of the cord is connected to the bottom of the cover, while the other end is secured to the cable via a locking device, thereby preventing the cover from being lost.

[0008] Patent Document 3 discloses a cap for protecting the tip of a modular plug, in which the cross section of the cap is U-shaped at the bottom and arched at the top, the rear of the U-shape is a box-shaped body, the end of which is semi-cylindrical, and the rear of the arch is a tapered semi-dome-shaped cap, with the height of the arch decreasing and the width narrowing towards the rear, and it is connected to an opening provided in the ceiling of the box-shaped body. Furthermore, the cap is configured to prevent loss by attaching one end of a string-like strap to the bottom surface of the box-shaped body and the other end of the strap to the cable. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] Registered Utility Model Publication No. 3022022 and Full Specification [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2010-161049 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-332338 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0010] Patent documents 1 to 3 generally disclose protective covers or caps that can be placed over mechanically fragile plug tips. However, such prior art has the following problems.

[0011] According to the protective cap in Patent Document 1, there is a problem that when the cover is removed from the plug, it is placed in an unspecified location and is easily lost. Also, because the cover has a roughly U-shaped cross-section, if it is attached to the plug in an inappropriate position, or if the cover slides vertically due to impact, the tip of the plug will be exposed from the cover, which can lead to damage to the plug.

[0012] Patent Document 2 discloses a protective cover and Patent Document 3 discloses a protective cap to be attached to the cover or cap to prevent loss. However, in transmission system equipment, when plugging (connecting or disconnecting) plugs to multiple jacks (ports) densely arranged in multiple rows vertically, there is a problem that the cords or straps hanging from the installed cables, and the covers or caps, interfere with the installation work of other cables.

[0013] Furthermore, according to Patent Documents 2 and 3, there is a problem in that the user is required to perform an additional step or operation of securing the cord or strap attached to the cover or cap to the cable.

[0014] Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide a protective cap for modular plugs that can solve the problem of loss without the use or attachment of cords or straps.

[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective cap for modular plugs that can improve the ease of storage and workability of the cap after it has been removed from the plug.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective cap for modular plugs that can prevent the removed cap from interfering with the mounting work when plugs are mounted at high density on equipment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the protective cap for the modular plug has the following configuration. A protective cap for a modular plug, including a cap body to be placed on the modular plug, the cap body including a wall defining an inner surface that contacts at least a part of the front end surface or at least a part of the outer peripheral surface of the modular plug, a first opening into which the modular plug can be inserted is provided at one longitudinal end side of the cap body, a second opening smaller than the first opening and the outer periphery of the modular plug is provided in the wall at the other longitudinal end side of the cap body, and a slit extending in the longitudinal direction of the cap body so as to connect the first opening and the second opening is formed in the wall surrounding the lateral direction of the cap body, respectively.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment of the above protective cap for the modular plug, the cap body is preferably made of an elastic material.

[0019] Also, in a preferred embodiment of the above protective cap for the modular plug, the width of the slit is preferably larger than the maximum width of the key portion or the latch of the modular plug.

[0020] Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment of the above protective cap for the modular plug, a pair of protective walls higher than the latch of the modular plug are preferably provided facing both edge portions of the wall sandwiching the slit.

[0021] Also, in a preferred embodiment of the above protective cap for the modular plug, a pair of opposing protrusions are preferably provided on both of the pair of protective walls.

[0022] Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment of the above protective cap for the modular plug, the pair of protrusions preferably have a locking surface that engages with a locking portion formed on the latch when the cap body is placed on the tip of the modular plug.

[0023] Also, in a preferred embodiment of the protective cap for the modular plug, the maximum diameter or maximum width of the second opening is equal to or larger than the maximum diameter or maximum width of the cable to which the modular plug is attached, and the width of the slit is preferably smaller than the maximum diameter or maximum width of the cable.

[0024] Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment of the protective cap for the modular plug, the maximum diameter or maximum width of the second opening is equal to or larger than the maximum diameter or maximum width of the cable to which the modular plug is attached, the distance between the pair of opposing protrusions is larger than the latch width at the locking portion formed on the latch, and preferably smaller than the minimum diameter or minimum width of the cable.

[0025] Also, in a preferred embodiment of the protective cap for the modular plug, a thick portion may be formed along the edge of the second opening on the wall at the other end side in the vertical direction.

[0026] Also, in a preferred embodiment of the protective cap for the modular plug, the thick portion may have a pair of cable holding portions that protrude inward in the lateral direction.

[0027] Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment of the protective cap for the modular plug, a recess may be formed on the surface at the rear side in the vertical direction of the cable holding portion.

[0028] Also, in a preferred embodiment of the protective cap for the modular plug, part or all of the protective cap may be colored.

Advantages of the Invention

[0029] The problem of loss can be solved without using or attaching a cord or strap.

[0030] Also, the ease of storage and workability of the cap removed from the plug can be improved.

[0031] Furthermore, when mounting plugs to equipment at high density, it is possible to avoid the removed caps interfering with the mounting process.

[0032] The above-mentioned objectives and advantages of the present invention, as well as other objectives and advantages, will be more clearly understood through the following description of embodiments. However, the embodiments described below are illustrative and the present invention is not limited thereto. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0033] [Figure 1] This is an enlarged perspective view showing an example of a protective cap for a modular plug, viewed from the front. [Figure 2] This is an enlarged perspective view showing an example of a protective cap for a modular plug, viewed from the rear. [Figure 3] This is an enlarged perspective view showing an example of a protective cap for a modular plug, viewed from the rear in a longitudinal cross-section. [Figure 4] This is an enlarged plan view showing an example of a protective cap for a modular plug. [Figure 5] This is an enlarged front view showing an example of a protective cap for a modular plug. [Figure 6A] This is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship between the protective cap and the plug before the protective cap is placed over the modular plug. [Figure 6B] This is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship between the protective cap and the modular plug after the protective cap has been placed over the plug. [Figure 7A] This is a perspective view showing a modular plug with a protective cap attached. [Figure 7B] This is a perspective view showing an example of how to secure the protective cap after removing it from the modular plug. [Figure 8] This is a perspective view showing an example of a modular plug. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0034] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the protective cap for modular plugs according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0035] First, referring to Figure 8, the basic structure of an RJ45 modular plug compliant with IEC 60603-7, which is attached to both ends of a LAN cable, will be described. The illustrated modular plug 6 is the simplest type of modular plug that can be used in offices, homes, and businesses, and includes a nearly rectangular plug body 60 consisting of a front 61, rear 62, left side 63, bottom 64, right side 65, and top 66, eight contacts 69 for routing eight signal lines drawn from the cable 8 inside the plug body 60, and a mechanical key including a key portion 68 and a latch 67 that protrude forward and upward from the plug body 60. In accordance with the basic structure of an RJ45 modular plug, a locking portion 671 is formed in the middle of the latch 67 of the mechanical key. As shown in the illustration, the locking portion 671 includes a step formed in the width direction of the latch 67. The locking portion 671 is configured to engage with a pair of protrusions provided on the jack side when the plug body 60 is inserted into the modular jack.

[0036] The contact area and mechanical key of a plug are typically made of non-conductive plastics such as polyvinyl chloride or polycarbonate, making them mechanically fragile. Therefore, protective caps have been developed to cover the plugs. By keeping the protective caps on the plugs until just before installing the LAN cable into the equipment, damage or breakage of the plugs during transportation, storage, and installation of LAN cables can be prevented.

[0037] Next, referring to Figures 1 to 5, 6A, and 6B, the configuration and usage of a protective cap for a modular plug will be explained based on an example.

[0038] The modular plug protective cap 1 includes a cap body 10 that fits over the modular plug 6. The cap body 10 includes walls 11, 13, 14, 15, and 16 that define the inner surface that contacts at least a portion of the tip surface (front surface 61 or key portion 68) or at least a portion of the outer surface (left side surface 63, bottom surface 64, right side surface 65, top surface 66) of the plug body 60 of the modular plug 6. A first opening 21 into which the modular plug 6 can be inserted is formed on one vertical end of the cap body 10, and a second opening 22 smaller than the outer circumference of the modular plug 6 is formed on the wall 11 on the other vertical end of the cap body 10. In addition, of the walls 13, 14, 15, and 16 that surround the cap body 10 in the horizontal direction, a slit S extending in the vertical direction of the cap body 10 is formed on the upper wall 16 so as to connect the first opening 21 and the second opening 22. The width W1 (see Figure 2) and height H1 (see Figure 3) of the first opening should be approximately the same as, or slightly larger than, the width and height of the plug tip on the plug body 60, so that the plug tip fits inside the cap body 10 when it is placed over the plug body 60 of the modular plug 6, as will be described later. Also, the width Ws (see Figure 4) of the slit S should be larger than the maximum width of the key portion 68 or latch 67 of the modular plug 6.

[0039] On the upper side of the cap body 10, a pair of protective walls 31 and 32 are preferably provided facing each other at both edges of the wall 16 that sandwiches the slit S. The upper surfaces of the pair of protective walls 31 and 32 may be inclined forward, similar to how the latch 67 of the modular plug 6 extends inclined. Furthermore, the height of the pair of protective walls 31 and 32 is preferably higher than the latch 67 of the modular plug 6, thereby effectively preventing damage to the latch.

[0040] A pair of block sections 33 and 34 may be formed on the rear side of the pair of protective walls 31 and 32, and a pair of opposing projections 35 and 36 may be provided on the block sections 33 and 34, and the projections 35 and 36 may have locking surfaces 351 and 361 on the longitudinal front side. The block sections 33 and 34 may or may not have string-passing holes 43 and 44. Furthermore, the distance Wp (see Figures 4 and 5) between the pair of opposing projections should be greater than the latch width of the locking portion 671 formed on the latch 67, and smaller than the minimum diameter or minimum width of the cable. The function of the projections will be described later.

[0041] Regarding the second opening 22 formed in the wall 11 on the other vertical end of the cap body 10, the shape of the opening 22 may be, for example, a rounded rectangle, but it may also be of other shapes. The maximum diameter or maximum width W2 (see Figure 5) of the opening 22 should be equal to or greater than the maximum diameter or maximum width of the cable 8 to which the modular plug 6 is attached. Also, the width of the slit S should be smaller than the maximum diameter or maximum width of the cable.

[0042] Furthermore, it is preferable that a thickened portion 112 be formed on the wall 11 at the other end in the vertical direction, along the edge of the second opening 22. As will be described later, when the protective cap 1 is attached to the cable 8, the thickened portion 112 can ensure a sufficient contact area between the second opening 22 and the cable surface.

[0043] Furthermore, the thickened portion 112 formed along the second opening 22 may have cable holding portions 113 and 114 that protrude laterally inward. The cable holding portions may be in a pair. The distance Wh between the pair of cable holding portions 113 and 114 (see Figures 4 and 5) may be smaller than the maximum diameter or maximum width of the cable 8. As will be described later, when the protective cap 1 is attached to the cable 8, the cable holding portions 113 and 114 press the cable 8 against the lower circumferential surface of the thickened portion 112, thereby allowing the protective cap 1 to be held against the cable 8 by friction.

[0044] Furthermore, it is preferable that recesses 19 be formed on the longitudinal rear surfaces of the cable holding portions 113 and 114 (see Figure 3). As will be described later, when the plug body 60 of the modular plug 6 is placed over it, the recesses 19 prevent the key portion 68 that protrudes forward from the plug body 60 from colliding unnaturally with the wall 11, and the cable holding portions 113 and 114 protect the key portion 68. In addition, a stepped surface 18 may be partially formed on the longitudinal rear side of the thickened portion 112 (see Figure 3). This stepped surface 13 helps the elastic deformation of the thickened portion 112 and the cable holding portions 113 and 114 when attaching or removing the protective cap 1 from the cable 8.

[0045] The protective cap 1 should preferably consist of an elastic material with appropriate strength, such as polyamide resin (e.g., nylon 6, nylon 11, nylon 12), synthetic rubber, or natural rubber, for at least the cap body. From the viewpoint of production efficiency and cost, it is preferable to construct the entire protective cap from the same material, in which case it may be manufactured by injection molding using a mold. Furthermore, part or all of the protective cap 1 may be colored in various colors.

[0046] Next, referring to Figures 6A, 6B, 7A, and 7B, we will explain how to use the protective cap, its function, and an example of how to secure the protective cap after removing it from the modular plug.

[0047] Figures 6A and 6B show a vertical cross-sectional view of an example of the positional relationship between the protective cap and the plug before and after the protective cap is placed over the modular plug. The modular plug 6 in this example is an example of the simplest modular plug structure, similar to that shown in Figure 8. The protective cap 1 is inserted into the modular plug 6 so that the upper surface 66 of the plug body 60 of the modular plug 6 and the wall 16 of the protective cap 1 face each other. At this time, the key portion 68 and latch 67 of the plug body 60 pass between the slit S formed in the wall 16 and the pair of protective walls 31 and 32. It is desirable that the wall 11 can be inserted until just before it touches the front surface 61 of the plug body 60, or until it touches it. When inserting the plug body 60 into the protective cap body 10, it is desirable that the locking portion 671 formed on the latch 67 of the plug body 60 is locked into the locking surfaces 351 and 361 of the pair of projections 35 and 36 formed on the protective cap body 10. In other words, the pair of projections 35 and 36 may act to fix the protective cap 1 to the tip of the plug by their locking surfaces 351 and 361 engaging with the locking portion 671 of the latch 67. With the protective cap in place in this manner, at least a portion of the inner surfaces of the walls 13, 14, 15, and 16 may be in contact with the side surface 63, bottom surface 64, side surface 65, and top surface 66 of the plug body 60. Also, the recess 19 formed in the cable holding portions 113 and 114 and the surface of the key portion 68 may or may not be in contact as shown in the figure. The latch 67 and the key portion 68 are effectively protected by the protective walls 31 and 32 and the cable holding portions 113 and 114.

[0048] To remove the protective cap from the modular plug, the method is the same as when pulling the modular plug out of the modular jack. Specifically, the latch 67 of the plug 6 is pushed towards the plug body 60, and with the latch 67 released from the pair of protrusions 35 and 36 of the protective cap 1, the plug 6 is pulled out from the protective cap 1 to remove the protective cap 1.

[0049] Thus, one of the functions performed by the pair of projections 35 and 36 of the protective cap 1 is that, simply by placing the protective cap over the tip of the plug (inserting the plug into the protective cap), the locking surfaces of the pair of projections 35 and 36 engage with the locking portion 671 of the latch 67 of the modular plug 6, thereby fixing the protective cap 1 to the plug 6.

[0050] Next, Figures 7A and 7B show the modular plug with a protective cap on it and an example of how the protective cap is secured after being removed from the modular plug. In this example, the modular plug 7 is an example of a field-terminated type modular plug, and the rear side of the plug body 70 includes a connection part for connecting a member to which the cable end has been terminated, and a latch button 79 that engages with a latch 77 is added on the connection part. The locking part 771 is formed in the middle of the latch 77, the locking part 771 includes a step formed in the width direction of the latch 77, and the locking part 771 engages with a pair of projections provided on the jack side when the plug body 70 is inserted into the modular jack, which is the same as the configuration of the modular plug 6 described above. It is desirable that the wall 11 can be inserted until just before it touches the front surface 71 of the plug body 70, or until it touches it. When the plug body 70 is inserted into the protective cap body 10, the locking portion 771 formed on the latch 77 of the plug body 70 is locked to the locking surfaces 351 and 361 of the pair of projections 35 and 36 formed on the protective cap body 10. In other words, the pair of projections 35 and 36 act to fix the protective cap 1 to the tip of the plug by their locking surfaces 351 and 361 engaging with the locking portion 771 of the latch 77, similar to the case of the modular plug 6 described above. With the protective cap in place in this manner, at least a portion of the inner surfaces of the walls 13, 14, 15, and 16 may be in contact with the front (insertion) side, bottom, side, and top surfaces of the plug body 70. Also, the recesses 19 formed in the cable holding portions 113 and 114 and the surface of the key portion 78 may or may not be in contact. The latch 77 and key portion 78 are effectively protected by the protective walls 31, 32 and the cable retaining portions 113, 114.

[0051] To remove the protective cap from the modular plug, push the latch button 79 of the plug 7 towards the plug body 70, releasing the lock between the latch 77 and the pair of protrusions 35 and 36 on the protective cap 1. With the plug 7 pulled out from the protective cap 1, the protective cap 1 can be removed.

[0052] As shown in Figure 7B, after removing the protective cap 1 from the modular plug 7, the protective cap 1 can be fixed to the cable 8. The protective cap 1 can be inserted from the circumferential direction of the cable 8 so as to pass between the cable holding parts 113 and 114 formed on the wall 11 of the cap body 10 (spacing Wh), the slit S formed on the wall 16, and the projections 35 and 36 formed on the block parts 33 and 34 (spacing Wp). In particular, when the protective cap 1 is attached to the cable 8, the cable holding parts 113 and 114 act to press the cable 8 against the lower circumferential surface of the thickened part 112, thereby holding the protective cap 1 against the cable 8 by friction. The projections 35 and 36 are located on the longitudinal rear side of the protective cap 1 (the side of the first opening 21) and prevent the cable 8 from passing through the slit S, which would cause the rear side of the protective cap 1 to detach from the cable and lift up; in other words, they have the function of holding the cable. Furthermore, with the protective cap 1, the use of a string to prevent loss is not essential, and it is only necessary to insert and secure it into the cable 8 on the rear side of the boot 72. This not only improves the ease of storage and workability of the cap, but also ensures that the cap does not interfere with the mounting work when mounting multiple plugs at high density on equipment.

[0053] Thus, another function of the pair of protrusions 35 and 36 on the protective cap 1 is to hold the cable 8 in place when the protective cap 1, which has been removed from the modular plugs 6 and 7, is attached to the cable 8 to prevent loss.

[0054] In the above example, an example using a latch and a latch button was described, but the latch and latch button may be formed as an integrated unit. Also, regarding the method of removing the protective cap from the modular plug, it may be done by pulling a lever that extends from the latch, etc.

[0055] Furthermore, some or all of the protective caps may be colored in various colors. Using such colored protective caps has the advantage that, when multiple plugs are densely mounted on equipment, the color of the protective cap when it is placed over the plug or inserted into the cable makes it easier to identify the plugs and cables.

[0056] In the example described above, various details can be modified. In the example described above, a pair of protrusions 35 and 36 provided on the protective cap 1 are shown to provide a plug fixing function, but in the modified example, one of the protrusions 35 and 36 may be omitted. In this case, the locking surface of the other protrusion may engage with the locking parts 671 and 771 of the latches 67 and 77 of the modular plugs 6 and 7 to fix the protective cap 1 to the plugs 6 and 7. In another modified example, the width W1 and height H1 of the first opening may be set so that, when the protective cap 1 is placed on the plug, at least a part of the inner surface of the wall of the cap body 10 is in contact with the bottom and top surfaces, or both sides, of the plug bodies 60 and 70, and the protective cap is held in place by friction, in which case the pair of protrusions 35 and 36 may be omitted.

[0057] In summary, the protective cap for modular plugs can provide the following benefits. (1) The problem of loss can be solved without the use or attachment of a cord or strap. (2) The ease of storage and workability of the cap removed from the plug can be improved. (3) When mounting plugs to equipment at high density, it is possible to avoid the removed caps interfering with the mounting work. [Industrial applicability]

[0058] This invention can be widely applied as a protective device for modular plugs used in offices, homes, businesses, or industrial applications. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0059] 1. Protective cap 6, 7 Modular plugs 8 Cables 10 Cap body 11, 13, 14, 15, 16 Wall 112 Thick wall part 113, 114 Cable holding section 18 Step surface 19 Recess 21 First opening 22 Second opening S-slit 31, 32 defensive wall Blocks 33 and 34 35, 36 protrusion 351, 361 Locking surfaces 43, 44 String holes 60, 70 plug body 61 Front 63, 65 Side view 64 Bottom 66 Top surface 67, 77 latches 671, 771 Locking part 68, 78 key section 69 Contact 72 Boots 79 Latch button

Claims

1. A protective cap for modular plugs, Includes the cap body that fits over the modular plug, The cap body includes a wall that defines an inner surface that contacts at least a portion of the tip surface or at least a portion of the outer surface of the modular plug, The cap body has a first opening at one end in the vertical direction into which the modular plug can be inserted. The wall on the other end of the cap body in the vertical direction has a second opening that is smaller than the first opening and the outer circumference of the modular plug. The wall surrounding the cap body in the lateral direction has a slit extending in the vertical direction of the cap body so as to connect the first opening and the second opening. Each is formed Protective cap for modular plugs.

2. The protective cap for a modular plug according to claim 1, wherein the cap body is made of an elastic material.

3. The protective cap for a modular plug according to claim 1, wherein the width of the slit is greater than the maximum width of the key portion or latch of the modular plug.

4. A protective cap for a modular plug according to claim 3, wherein a pair of protective walls, higher than the latch of the modular plug, are provided opposite to the edges of the walls that sandwich the slit.

5. The protective cap for a modular plug according to claim 4, wherein both of the pair of protective walls are provided with a pair of opposing protrusions.

6. The protective cap for a modular plug according to claim 5, wherein the pair of protrusions have locking surfaces that engage with a locking portion formed on the latch when the cap body is placed over the tip of the modular plug.

7. The protective cap for a modular plug according to claim 1, wherein the maximum diameter or width of the second opening is equal to or greater than the maximum diameter or width of the cable to which the modular plug is attached, and the width of the slit is less than the maximum diameter or width of the cable.

8. The protective cap for a modular plug according to claim 5, wherein the maximum diameter or width of the second opening is equal to or greater than the maximum diameter or width of the cable to which the modular plug is attached, and the distance between the opposing pair of protrusions is greater than the latch width in the locking portion formed in the latch and less than the minimum diameter or width of the cable.

9. The protective cap for a modular plug according to claim 1, wherein a thickened portion is formed on the wall at the other end in the vertical direction along the edge of the second opening.

10. The protective cap for a modular plug according to claim 9, wherein the thickened portion has a pair of cable holding portions that protrude laterally inward.

11. The protective cap for a modular plug according to claim 10, wherein a recess is formed on the longitudinal rear surface of the pair of cable holding portions.

12. The protective cap for a modular plug according to claim 1, wherein part or all of the protective cap is colored.

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