Connector with a retainer assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9735502-B2
Application number	US-201315033186-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 13, 2013
Priority date	Dec 13, 2013
Publication date	Aug 15, 2017
Grant date	Aug 15, 2017

Abstract

Example implementations relate to a connector with a retainer assembly. For example, an apparatus may include a connector having a housing and a retainer assembly to retain a power plug within the housing. The retainer assembly may retain a first type of power plug within the housing with a first retaining feature using a locking fit and retain a second type of power plug within the housing with a second retaining feature using a friction it.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a connector having a housing; and
a retainer assembly having a first orientation before a power plug is plugged into the housing, the retainer assembly to retain the power plug within the housing when the power plug is plugged into the housing, wherein the retainer assembly includes:
a first retaining member; and
a second retaining member movable via the first retaining member to three positions, the three positions being disengaged, a locking fit, and a friction fit, the second retaining member to:
retain a first type of power plug within the housing via a first retaining feature of the second retaining member, the first retaining feature to provide the locking fit, wherein the retainer assembly has a second orientation when the first type of power plug is retained within the housing; and
retain a second type of power plug within the housing via a second retaining feature of the second retaining member, the second retaining feature to provide the friction fit wherein the retainer assembly has a third orientation when the second type of power plug is retained within the housing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the retainer assembly further includes:
a third retaining member to couple the first retaining member to the second retaining member, wherein a body portion of the third retaining member is receivable in a cavity of the second retaining member and in a central bore of a body portion of the first retaining member.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first retaining feature includes a first retaining tab, wherein the second retaining feature includes a second retaining tab, and wherein the first retaining tab has a greater length than the second retaining tab.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first retaining feature is receivable in a slot of a housing of the first type of power plug, and wherein the first retaining feature is receivable in a slot of the housing of the connector.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second retaining feature is receivable in a slot of the housing of the connector, and wherein the second retaining feature is to make physical contact with an outer surface of the second type of power plug.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first retaining member is coupled to the second retaining member via a mating feature of the first retaining member and via a mating feature of the second retaining member, wherein the mating feature of the first retaining member includes a recess, and wherein the mating feature of the second retaining member includes a protrusion receivable in the recess.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second retainer assembly comprising:
a third retaining member; and
a fourth retaining member movable via the third retaining member, the fourth retaining member to:
retain the first type of power plug within the housing of the connector via a third retaining feature of the third retaining member, wherein the third retaining feature is to provide the locking fit; and
retain the second type of power plug within the housing of the connector via a fourth retaining feature of the fourth retaining member, wherein the fourth retaining feature is to provide the friction fit.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing of the connector includes a flange, wherein the first retaining member is adjacent to a proximal end of the flange, and wherein the second retaining member is adjacent to a distal end of the flange.

9. A method comprising:
maintaining a first orientation of a retaining assembly before a power plug is plugged into a housing;
moving a second retaining member via a first retaining member to three positions, the three positions being disengaged, a locking fit, and a friction fit;
retaining a first type of power plug within the housing of a connector via a first retaining feature of the second retaining member of the retaining assembly, wherein the first retaining feature provides the locking fit, and wherein the retaining assembly has a second orientation when the first type of power plug is retained within the housing; and
retaining a second type of power plug within the housing via a second retaining feature of the second retaining member, wherein the second retaining feature provides the friction fit, and wherein the retaining assembly has a third orientation when the second type of power plug is retained within the housing.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the connector includes a body portion of a third retaining member inserted into a central bore of a body portion of the first retaining member and into a cavity of the second retaining member to couple the first retaining member to the second retaining member.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first retaining feature is receivable in a slot of a housing of the first type of power plug, and wherein the first retaining feature is receivable in a slot of the housing of the connector.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second retaining feature is receivable in a slot of the housing of the connector, and wherein the second retaining feature is in physical contact with an outer surface of the second type of power plug.

13. An apparatus comprising:
a connector having a housing; and
a retainer assembly having a first orientation before a power plug is plugged into the housing, the retainer assembly to retain the power plug within the housing when the power plug is plugged into the housing, wherein the retainer assembly includes:
a first retaining member; and
a second retaining member movable via the first retaining member to three positions, the three positions being disengaged, a locking fit, and a friction fit, the second retaining member to:
retain a first type of power plug within the housing via a first retaining feature of the second retaining member, the first retaining feature to provide the locking fit, wherein the retainer assembly has a second orientation when the first type of power plug is retained within the housing, and wherein the first retaining feature is receivable in a slot of a housing of the first type of power plug; and
retain a second type of power plug within the housing via a second retaining feature of the second retaining member, the second retaining feature to provide the friction fit, wherein the retainer assembly has a third orientation when the second type of power plug is retained within the housing, and wherein the second retaining feature is to contact an outer surface of the second type of power plug.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the retainer assembly further includes a third retaining member to couple the first retaining member to the second retaining member, wherein a body portion of the third retaining member is receivable in a cavity of the second retaining member and in a central bore of a body portion of the first retaining member.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the housing of the connector includes a flange, wherein the first retaining member is adjacent to a proximal end of the flange, and wherein the second retaining member is adjacent to a distal end of the flange.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Development Co Lp
• Hewlett Packard Entpr Dev Lp

Inventors

• Stevens Matthew E
• Felcman Chris F

Classifications

• H01R27/00

  Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts ({for dissimilar contact members H01R13/35}; supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/90) · CPC title

• H01R13/621 Primary

  Bolt, set screw or screw clamp · CPC title

• H01R24/78

  with additional earth or shield contacts · CPC title

• H01R2103/00

  Two poles · CPC title

• H01R13/6395 Primary

  for wall or panel outlets · CPC title