Connector with separable lacing fixture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018090899-A1
Application number	US-201615560117-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 21, 2016
Priority date	Mar 20, 2015
Publication date	Mar 29, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A connector assembly ( 10 ) is disclosed in which a connector part ( 12 ) and a cable manager part ( 20 ) are provided. The cable manager part ( 20 ) can be provided with a separable lacing fixture ( 24 ) that functions to retain the severed portions ( 6 a ) of the wires ( 6 ) that result from the termination process, rather than allowing the severed wire portions ( 6 a ) to fall to the floor in an uncollected state. In one aspect, the cable manager part ( 20 ) has a main body ( 22 ) to which the separable lacing fixture ( 24 ) is attached via a plurality of breakaway portions ( 34 ). During installation, the connector part ( 12 ) is inserted onto the cable manager part ( 20 ) and is placed in a wire termination tool ( 7 ) which fully inserts the connector part ( 12 ) onto the cable manager part ( 20 ). This action causes the connector part ( 12 ) to cut the wires ( 6 ) and to sever or break the breakaway portions ( 34 ) such that the separable lacing fixture ( 24 ) is separated from the fully formed connector ( 10 ).

First claim

1 . A connector assembly comprising:
a. a connector part having a jack cavity; b. a cable manager part configured to be received by the connector part at an end opposite the jack cavity, the cable manager part having:
i. a main body defining an aperture for receiving a cable including a plurality of wires, the main body having a plurality of channels for receiving and retaining each of the wires; and
ii. a separable lacing fixture removably attached to the main body and having a plurality of channels for receiving each of the wires,
c. wherein the separable lacing fixture is configured to be separated from the main body when the connector part is fully installed onto the main body.

2 . The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the separable lacing fixture and the main body are formed as a single plastic component.

3 . The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the separable lacing fixture is connected to the main body by one or more breakaway portions.

4 . The connector assembly of claim 3 , wherein the separable lacing fixture, the main body, and the one or more breakaway portions are formed as a single plastic component, and wherein the breakaway portion represent an area of reduced thickness between the lacing fixture and the main body.

5 . The connector assembly of claim 4 , wherein the separable lacing fixture includes a first portion and a second portion, each of which is attached to the main body by the one or more breakaway portions.

6 . The connector assembly of claim 5 , further including a bridge portion connecting the first portion to the second portion.

7 . The connector assembly of claim 5 , wherein the connector part includes cutting edges configured to cut or break the one or more breakaway portions when the connector part is fully installed onto the cable manager part.

8 . A cable manager part configured to be installed within a connector part of a connector, the cable manager part comprising:
a. a main body defining an aperture for receiving a cable including a plurality of wires, the main body having a plurality of channels for receiving and retaining each of the wires; and b. a separable lacing fixture removably attached to the main body and having a plurality of channels for receiving and retaining each of the wires.

9 . The cable manager part of claim 8 , wherein the separable lacing fixture and the main body are formed as a single plastic component.

10 . The cable manager part of claim 8 , wherein the separable lacing fixture is connected to the main body by one or more breakaway portions.

11 . The cable manager part of claim 10 , wherein the separable lacing fixture, the main body, and the one or more breakaway portions are formed as a single plastic component, and wherein the breakaway portion represent an area of reduced thickness between the lacing fixture and the main body.

12 . The cable manager part of claim 11 , wherein the separable lacing fixture includes a first portion and a second portion, each of which is attached to the main body by the one or more breakaway portions.

13 . The cable manager part of claim 12 , further including a bridge portion connecting the first portion to the second portion.

14 . A method of terminating a connector to a plurality of wires of a cable, the method including:
a. providing a cable manager part including:
i. a main body having an aperture and a plurality of channels; and
ii. a separable lacing fixture removably attached to the main body and having a plurality of channels;
b. inserting a cable having a plurality of wires through the main body central aperture; c. retaining each of the plurality of wires within one of the main body channels and within one of the lacing fixture channels; d. partially inserting a connector part onto the cable manager part; e. placing the connector part and the cable manager part within a wire termination tool; f. actuating the wire termination tool to fully insert the connector part onto the cable manager part such that the wires are terminated within the connector part to form a connector and such that a portion of the wires and the separable lacing fixture are severed from the main body; g. removing the connector from the wire termination tool; and h. removing the separable lacing fixture from the wire termination tool.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the cable manager part is configured such that step of removing the separable lacing fixture from the wire termination tool can only be performed after the step of removing the connector from the wire termination tool has been performed.

16 . The method of claim 14 , the step of actuating the wire termination tool causes cutting edges located on the connector part to engage with an sever breakaway portions on the cable manager part.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of providing a connector part includes providing an RJ-type connector.

18 . The method of claim 14 , further including retaining the portion of wires on the separable lacing fixture after the separable lacing fixture has been severed from the main body of the cable manager part.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further including discarding the separable lacing fixture and portion of wires.

20 . The method of claim 14 , wherein providing a cable manager portion includes providing a bridge portion connecting a first portion to a second portion of the separable lacing fixture.

Assignees

• Commscope Connectivity Spain Sl

Inventors

• Font Aranega Albert
• De Dios Martín Longinos
• CARRERAS GARCIÁ Antonio

Classifications

• H01R13/504

  different pieces being moulded, cemented, welded, e.g. ultrasonic welding, or swaged together · CPC title

• H01R43/015 Primary

  Handtools · CPC title

• H01R24/00

  Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure (contact members H01R13/02; securing contact members in or to a base or case or insulating of contact members H01R13/40; bases or cases H01R13/46; means for supporting coupling part when not engaged H01R13/60; means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement H01R13/62; means for preventing, inhibiting or avoiding incorrect coupling H01R13/64) · CPC title

• H01R4/2433

  one part of the base being movable to push the cable into the slot · CPC title

• H01R43/01 Primary

  for connecting unstripped conductors to contact members having insulation cutting edges · CPC title