Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CONNECTING UNIT WITH LATCH MECHANISM
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of connectors. More
specifically, the present disclosure relates to relates to a connecting unit
with
latch mechanism.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Current video distribution systems require cable
interconnection capabilities that provide high density, reliability and ease
of
connection/disconnection.
[0003] Therefore, there is a need for connectors that can rapidly and
safely be attached to or detached from small components.
SUMMARY
[0004] According to the present disclosure, there is provided a
connecting unit comprising a casing adapted to receive a cable, a connector
located within the casing and in electric or optic connection with the cable,
and
a latch mechanism mounted on the casing. The latch mechanism comprises
an engaging extremity adapted to engage a retaining member of a component
to which the connecting unit is to be connected. The latch mechanism also
comprises a disengaging extremity and a resilient mechanism for resisting
actuation of the disengaging extremity. Upon application of a pressure
overcoming a resistance presented by the resilient mechanism on the
disengaging extremity, the disengaging extremity engages pivotal movement
of the engaging extremity, resulting in disengagement of the engaging
extremity from the retaining member.
[0005] According to the present disclosure, there is also provided a
connecting unit comprising a connector and a latch mechanism. The latch
mechanism comprises an engaging extremity adapted to engage a retaining
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member of a component to which the connecting unit is to be connected. The
latch mechanism also comprises a disengaging extremity and a resilient
mechanism for resisting actuation of the disengaging extremity. Upon
application of a pressure overcoming a resistance presented by the resilient
mechanism on the disengaging extremity, the disengaging extremity engages
pivotal movement of the engaging extremity, resulting in disengagement of the
engaging extremity from the retaining member.
[0006] The foregoing and other features will become more apparent
upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of illustrative
embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Embodiments of a connecting unit with latch mechanism will
be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0008] Figure 1 provides several views of a SFP cage adapted to
receive a connecting unit with latch mechanism;
[0009] Figure 2 is a series of detailed views of a SFP cage top
adapted to receive an HDMI connecting unit with the present
latch mechanism;
[0010] Figure 3 is a series of detailed views of a SFP cage bottom
adapted to receive an HDMI connecting unit with the present
latch mechanism;
[0011] Figure 4 depicts several views of an ejection mechanism;
[0012] Figure 5 depicts a series of detailed views of an HDMI
connecting unit top booth;
[0013] Figure 6 is a series of detailed views of an HDMI connecting
unit bottom booth;
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[0014] Figure 7 depicts a series of views of an HDMI Plug Lock to be
affixed to the HDMI connecting unit top booth of Figure 5; and
[0015] Figure 8 depicts views of an HDMI Plug Spring to be used with
the HDMI connecting unit top booth of Figure 5 and with the
HDMI Plug Lock of Figure 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] Like numerals represent like features on the various drawings.
[0017] Various aspects of the present disclosure generally address
one or more connecting units with latch mechanisms. In a particular aspect,
the present disclosure relates to a connecting unit with a latch mechanism for
connecting with other connectors and/or with components. The present
connecting unit with latch mechanism may be used with any type of
electric/optic cable, electric/optic connector, and electric/optic component.
[0018] The following terminology is used throughout the present
disclosure:
[0019] Connecting unit: device or assembly for connecting other
elements such as cables, modules, and the like.
[0020] Connector: device for connecting other elements such as
cables, modules, and the like.
[0021] Casing: enclosing frame.
[0022] Cable: assembly of electrical or optic conductors.
[0023] Latch mechanism: mechanical device or assembly for
attaching other devices.
[0024] Retaining member: an attachment point.
[0025] Resilient member: a body capable to recover is shape and size
following deformation
[0026] Pivotal movement:
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[0027] High Definition Multimedia Interface (HMDI): a standard
interface for transfer of uncompressed audio/video information.
[0028] Small Form-factor Pluggable (SFP): a standard for hot-
pluggable telecommunication and data communication
devices.
[0029] In an aspect, the present disclosure introduces a connecting
unit installed on a connector that terminates a cable. However, the present
connecting unit could equally be installed on a component adapted to receive a
cable terminated with a connector, such as for example a SFP cage.
[0030] The connecting unit comprises a casing and a connector. The
casing may be adapted for example to receive a cable, such as an electric or
optic cable. The connector may consist of one or several connectors, either of
the electric or optic type. An example of an electric connector is a HDMI
connector. The connector directly or ultimately connects with the cable, via
an
electric of optic connection. The connector may be located within or in
periphery of the casing. The connecting unit further comprises a latch
mechanism mounted on the casing. The latch mechanism comprises an
engaging extremity and a disengaging extremity.
[0031] Although the following description refers to HDMI connectors
and to SFP cages, the present connecting unit with latch mechanism is not
limited to such aspects. Reference to HDMI and SFP are for example only, and
the present connecting unit may be used with any electrical or optic standard.
[0032] Referring now to the drawings, Figures 1 to 3 provide
specification examples for a component that may connect with the present
connecting unit. More particularly, Figures 1 to 3 depict various views of a
SFP
cage, providing a retaining member.
[0033] In more details, Figure 1 provides several views of a SFP cage
adapted to receive a connecting unit with latch mechanism. A SFP cage 100,
adapted to receive a connecting unit with latch mechanism, is shown in a front
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perspective view (100a), a side elevation view (100b), a top view (100c),
another side elevation view (100d), a bottom view (100e), a front elevation
view (1000 and a rear elevation view (100g). Quotes, dimensions, and
materials illustrated in this and in the following Figures are provided as
examples only. The present connecting unit is not limited to such dimensions
and materials.
[0034] Figure 2 is a series of detailed views of a SFP cage top
adapted to receive an HDMI connecting unit with the present latch mechanism.
The SFP cage 100 comprises a top 102, which is readily visible in views 100a
and 100c of Figure 1. An underside of the top 102 shows threaded pins 104 for
assembly of the top 102 with other components of the SFP cage 100. Ejectors
106 are also shown. Alphanumerical fields 108 show a part number and a
manufacturing date of the SFP cage 100.
[0035] Figure 3 is a series of detailed views of a SFP cage bottom
adapted to receive an HDMI connecting unit with the present latch mechanism.
The SFP cage 100 comprises a bottom 110, which is readily visible in view
100e of Figure 1. The bottom 110 comprises a hole 112 configured to match
the threaded pins 104 of the top 102, for assembly of the SFP cage 100, for
example by means of screws (not shown).
[0036] Figure 4 depicts several views of an ejection mechanism. An
ejection mechanism 120 is in part inserted within the SFP cage 100, with a
triggering end 122 protruding at the front of the SFP cage 100. A distal end
124 of the ejection mechanism 120 acts upon a latch 126, visible on Figures 1
and 3, for releasing the SFP cage 100 from a chassis (not shown). Operation
of the ejection mechanism 120 and of the latch 126 is further described in
United States Application Serial Number 13/081,862, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein in its entirety.
[0037] Figures 5 to 8 depict disassembled components of a
connecting unit example. More specifically, Figure 5 depicts a series of
detailed views of an HDMI connecting unit top booth. Various views of a top
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booth 130 are provided, including a top perspective view 130a, a side
elevation
view 130b, a top cutaway view 130c, another side elevation view 130d, a
cutaway side elevation view 130e, a top view 130f and a rear view 130g.
[0038] Figure 6 is a series of detailed views of an HDMI connecting
unit bottom booth. Various views of a bottom booth 140 are provided, including
a perspective bottom view 140a, a side elevation view 140b, a top cutaway
view 140c, another side elevation view 140d, a cutaway side elevation view
140e, a bottom view 140f, a rear view 140g and a front view 140h. Pins 132 of
the top booth 130 are adapted to mate with recesses 142 of the bottom booth
140. Holes 144 allow insertion of screws (not shown) through the bottom booth
140 and into holes 134 of the top booth. Together, the HDMI connecting unit
top booth 130 and bottom booth 140 form a casing configured to enclose a
standard HDMI connector (not specifically shown) and to receive an HDMI
Plug Lock (shown in a next Figure). In turn, the HDMI Plug Lock is configured
to provide a solid attachment of the HDMI connector to the SFP cage 100.
[0039] Reference is now made more particularly to Figure 7, which
depicts a series of views of an HDMI Plug Lock to be affixed to the HDMI
connecting unit top booth of Figure 5. A plug lock 150 comprises an engaging
extremity 152 and disengaging extremity 154 embodied a single actuator. An
axis 158 of the plug lock 150 is made to insert within slots 138 of the top
booth
130. When the plug lock 150 is mounted to the top booth 130, the engaging
extremity 152 is placed within a void 139 of the top booth 130. A bracket 148
of
the bottom booth 140 maintains the axis 158 in place when the top and bottom
booths are assembled. The engaging extremity 152 has a projection 155
adapted to engage a retaining member of a component to which the
connecting unit is to be connected to. For example, in Figures 1 and 2, the
retaining member is a lip 156 provided at the front of the top 102 of the SFP
cage 100. However, the present connecting unit is not limited to operation
with
only such a retaining member. Many variants of retaining members could be
used, without departing from the present connecting unit.
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[0040] Figure 8 depicts views of an HDMI Plug Spring to be used with
the HDMI connecting unit top booth of Figure 5 and with the HDMI Plug Lock
of Figure 7. A resilient mechanism 160, which is folded along lines 162 and
164, is configured to resist actuation of the disengaging extremity 154. A T-
shaped end 166 of the resilient mechanism 160 is made to insert into a
similarly shaped recess 136 within the top booth 130. Upon application on the
engaging extremity 152 of a pressure sufficient to overcome a resistance
presented by the resilient mechanism 160 on the disengaging extremity 154,
the disengaging extremity 154 engages pivotal movement of the engaging
extremity 152 around the axis 158, resulting in disengagement of the
projection
155 of the engaging extremity 152 from the component to which the
connecting unit is connected.
[0041] Those of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the
description
of the connecting unit with latch mechanism are illustrative only and are not
intended to be in any way limiting. Other embodiments will readily suggest
themselves to such persons with ordinary skill in the art having the benefit
of
the present disclosure. Furthermore, the disclosed connecting unit may be
customized to offer valuable solutions to existing needs and problems of
connecting electric/optic cables, electric/optic connectors, and
electric/optic
components.
[0042] In the interest of clarity, not all of the routine features of the
implementations of the connecting unit are shown and described. It will, of
course, be appreciated that in the development of any such actual
implementation of the connecting unit, numerous implementation-specific
decisions may need to be made in order to achieve the developer's specific
goals, such as compliance with application-, system-, network- and business-
related constraints, and that these specific goals will vary from one
implementation to another and from one developer to another. Moreover, it will
be appreciated that a development effort might be complex and time-
consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of engineering for
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those of ordinary skill in the field of connectors having the benefit of the
present disclosure.
[0043] Although the
present disclosure has been described
hereinabove by way of non-restrictive, illustrative embodiments thereof, these
embodiments may be modified at will within the scope of the appended claims
without departing from the spirit and nature of the present disclosure.
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