Systems and methods for a cable connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11862889-B2
Application number	US-202117171892-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 9, 2021
Priority date	Feb 9, 2021
Publication date	Jan 2, 2024
Grant date	Jan 2, 2024

Abstract

A connector for receiving a ribbon cable is provided. The connector includes a housing including an open top and a guide wall including a track and a cable organizer configured to be positioned within an interior of the housing and the open top and to receive the ribbon cable along a surface thereof. The connector also includes a cover configured to selectively cover the open top of the housing to enclose the cable organizer within the interior of the housing. The cover includes a rib configured to slide along the track so that the cover moves relative to the housing along a linear trajectory.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connector for receiving a ribbon cable, the connector comprising:
a housing including a first side, a second side, a first end, and a second end collectively defining an open top therebetween, a bottom opposite the open top, and a guide wall including a track;
a cable organizer configured to be positioned within an interior of the housing and the open top and to receive the ribbon cable along a surface thereof;
a cover configured to selectively cover the open top of the housing to enclose the cable organizer within the interior of the housing, the cover including a rib configured to slide along the track so that the cover moves relative to the housing along a linear trajectory; and
a protection cap configured to cover the bottom of the housing,
wherein the track includes an upper detent, and wherein the rib includes a notch configured to engage the upper detent during linear translation of the cover relative to the housing to a preassembled state, and
wherein the track further includes a lower detent spaced a distance away from the upper detent, and wherein the notch of the rib is configured to engage the lower detent during linear movement of the cover relative to the housing to an assembled state.

2. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the guide wall includes a plurality guide walls, and the track includes a first track positioned along a first side of the housing a second track positioned along a second side of the housing.

3. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the rib includes a first internal rib positioned along a first side of the cover and a second internal rib positioned along a second side of the cover.

4. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the cover is fixed relative to the housing in the preassembled state when the notch engages the upper detent.

5. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the cover includes a nonplanar upper surface.

6. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the cable organizer includes a lower detent that extends downward relative to the surface, the lower detent configured to snap into a slot of the housing.

7. The connector of claim 6 , wherein the slot of the housing includes an upper slot and a lower slot positioned below the upper slot, wherein the lower detent is configured to snap into the upper slot to lock the cable organizer in a preassembled state, and the lower detent is configured to snap into the lower slot to lock the cable organizer in an assembled state.

8. A connector for receiving a ribbon cable, to be assembled via a clamping tool, the connector comprising:
a housing including an open top and a bottom; and
a cover configured to selectively cover the open top of the housing to enclose the ribbon cable within an interior of the housing, the cover including:
a first side and a second side, wherein the ribbon cable extends from the first side to the second side when the ribbon cable is enclosed within the interior of the housing,
a first end and a second end, and
a nonplanar upper surface including a bump that peaks between the first end and the second end,
wherein the clamping tool contacts the bump to force the cover toward the housing when the connector is assembled,
wherein the bump is an inverted bump, and further comprising a plate configured to engage the inverted bump, wherein the clamping tool contacts the inverted bump via the plate to force the cover toward the housing when the connector is assembled.

9. The connector of claim 8 , wherein the clamping tool further contacts the bottom of the housing to force the cover toward the housing when the connector is assembled.

10. The connector of claim 8 and further comprising a protection cap configured to cover the bottom of the housing, wherein the clamping tool further contacts the protection cap to force the cover toward the housing when the connector is assembled.

11. The connector of claim 8 and further comprising a cable organizer configured to be positioned within an interior of the housing and the open top and to receive the ribbon cable, wherein the cable organizer includes a profiled surface between raised ends, the profiled surface configured to receive the ribbon cable.

12. The connector of claim 11 , wherein the cable organizer further includes angled surfaces that transition from the raised ends to the profiled surface.

13. The connector of claim 11 , wherein the profiled surface includes a plurality of longitudinal grooves extending from a first side to a second side thereof, the plurality of longitudinal grooves configured to align with individual conductors of the ribbon cable when the ribbon cable is received by the cable organizer.

14. A method of installing a ribbon cable on a connector, the method comprising:
linearly sliding a cover of the connector away from a housing of the connector to create a cable access pathway to an open top of the housing while the cover and the housing remain engaged, the cable access pathway defined as a space between the cover and a first side wall, a second side wall, and a first end wall of the housing, wherein sliding the cover away the housing includes sliding the cover away the housing so that a rib of the cover slides along a track of the housing until a notch in the rib engages an upper detent of the track;
aligning the ribbon cable on a cable organizer positioned within the open top of the housing; and
linearly sliding the cover toward the housing to entrap the ribbon cable within the housing between the cover and the cable organizer, wherein sliding the cover toward the housing includes pressing the cover toward the housing so that the rib of the cover slides along the track of the housing until the notch in the rib engages a lower detent of the track positioned below the upper detent.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein linearly sliding the cover toward the housing includes applying force against an upper surface of the cover and a bottom of the housing with a clamping tool, and
further comprising contacting a bump along with upper surface with the clamping tool to apply the force against the upper surface of the cover.

Assignees

• Rockwell Automation Tech Inc

Inventors

• Davidsz Mark E
• Baran Michael S
• Rajmohan Shravan
• Carpiaux Douglas J
• Micoley Scott H

Classifications

• H01R13/6272

  comprising a single latching arm · CPC title

• H01R13/6592

  the conductive member being a shielded cable · CPC title

• H01R13/62955

  Pivoting lever comprising supplementary/additional locking means · CPC title

• H01R13/506 Primary

  assembled by snap action of the parts · CPC title

• H01R12/62

  connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures · CPC title