Connector assembly with grounding spring

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9583885-B2
Application number	US-201615079384-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 24, 2016
Priority date	Mar 27, 2015
Publication date	Feb 28, 2017
Grant date	Feb 28, 2017

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 housing part ( 40 ) that functions to ensure a grounded connection between the connector assembly ( 10 ) and a sheath ( 5 ) of a cable ( 4 ) via one or more springs ( 60, 66 ) secured within the housing part ( 40 ). In one embodiment, two parallel helical springs ( 60, 66 ) are disposed within the housing part ( 40 ).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connector assembly comprising:
a. a connector part having a jack cavity;
b. a cable manager part conductively attached to the connector part, the cable manager part having:
i. a housing part having a first side and a second side, the housing part having a central aperture disposed between the first and second sides;
ii. a first grounding spring extending between the housing part first and second sides and at least partially across the central aperture, wherein when a cable is inserted through the aperture, the first grounding spring contacts a sheath of the cable to provide a grounding connection between the cable sheath and the housing and connector parts.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein
a. the first grounding spring is a helical spring.

3. The connector assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a. a second grounding spring extending between the housing part first and second sides and at least partially across the central aperture.

4. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
a. the first and second grounding springs are helical springs; and
b. the first grounding spring is disposed generally parallel to the second grounding spring.

5. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cable manager part further includes:
a. a main body having a second aperture for receiving the cable and being coaxial with the housing part central aperture, wherein the main body is attached to the connector part and the housing part is connected to the main body.

6. The connector assembly of claim 5 , further comprising:
a. a second grounding spring extending between the housing part first and second sides and at least partially across the second aperture.

7. The connector assembly of claim 6 , wherein the first and second grounding springs are secured within the housing part by the main body.

8. The connector assembly of claim 7 , wherein a portion of the housing part is formed from a conductive material and is in conductive connection with the connector part, and wherein the first and second grounding springs are in conductive contact with the conductive housing part portion.

9. The connector assembly of claim 5 , wherein the main body includes a plurality of channels for receiving and retaining wires of the cable and a separable lacing fixture removably attached to the main body and having a plurality of channels for receiving each of the wires of the cable, 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.

10. A cable manager part configured to be installed onto a connector part of a connector, the cable manager part comprising:
a. a housing part having a first side and a second side, the housing part having a central aperture disposed between the first and second sides; and
b. a first grounding spring extending between the housing part first and second sides and at least partially across the central aperture, wherein when a cable is inserted through the central aperture, the first grounding spring contacts a sheath of the cable to provide a grounding connection between the cable sheath and the housing part.

11. The cable manager part of claim 10 , further comprising:
a. a second grounding spring extending between the housing part first and second sides and at least partially across the central aperture.

12. The cable manager part of claim 11 , wherein:
a. the first and second grounding springs are helical springs; and
b. the first grounding spring is disposed generally parallel to the second grounding spring.

13. The cable manager part of claim 12 , wherein the cable manager part further includes:
a. a main body having a second aperture for receiving the cable and being coaxial with the housing part central aperture, wherein the main body is attached to the connector part and the housing part is connected to the main body.

14. The cable manager part of claim 13 , wherein the first and second grounding springs are secured within the housing part by the main body.

15. The cable manager part of claim 14 , wherein a portion of the housing part is formed from a conductive material configured for conductive connection with the connector part, and wherein the first and second grounding springs are in conductive contact with the conductive housing part portion.

16. The cable manager part of claim 14 , wherein the main body includes a plurality of channels for receiving and retaining wires of a cable and a separable lacing fixture removably attached to the main body and having a plurality of channels for receiving each of the wires of the cable, 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.

17. 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 housing part having a central aperture; and
ii. at least one grounding spring extending across the central aperture;

b. inserting a cable having a plurality of wires and an exposed sheath through the central aperture such that the exposed sheath contacts the grounding spring;
c. partially inserting a connector part onto the cable manager part;
d. placing the connector part and the cable manager part within a wire connector tool;
e. actuating the wire connector tool to fully insert the connector part onto the cable manager part to form a connector such that the connector part, the cable manager part, and the sheath are each in conductive contact with the other; and
f. removing the connector from the wire connector tool.

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

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the step of providing a cable manager part includes providing two grounding springs extending at least partially across the central opening.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the grounding springs are provided as helical springs.

Assignees

• Commscope Connectivity Spain Sl
• Commscope Connectivity Spain Sl

Inventors

• Ruesca Fernandez Ángel

Classifications

• H01R13/652 Primary

  with earth pin, blade or socket · CPC title

• H01R2107/00

  Four or more poles · CPC title

• H01R43/22

  Hand tools · CPC title

• H01R13/648 Primary

  Protective earth or shield arrangements on coupling devices {, e.g. anti-static shielding}   (coaxially arranged shields H01R24/38) · CPC title

• H01R24/64 Primary

  for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45 · CPC title