Electric Connector

The present invention relates to electric connectors, and more particularly to such an electric connector which comprises a conductor rack equipped with indicator lights at the top side.

Regular RJ45 connectors (commonly used as network connectors, and shaped like RJ11 telephone connector) and RJ11 telephone connectors are equipped with eight conductors and six conductors respectively. Because the size of connectors is very small, therefore it is difficult to made the plastic shell and the conductors in integrity, so that the machines used for manufacturing these connectors are very expensive. In order to minimize the manufacturing cost of these connectors, the conductor rack and the plastic shell are separately made, and then assembled together. For examples, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,703,991 and 5,639,267 disclose such structure. However, the arrangement of both conductor racks require long conductors. Therefore, it is necessary to shorten the length of conductors to reduce the cost. Furthermore, the conductor rack according to these connectors is not applicable for holding indicator means. Therefore, the patented techniques cannot be employed to RJ45 or RJ11 connectors with indicator means.

In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,451 discloses a combination of RJ45 connector and BNC connector. The RJ45 connector has an indicator light at the bottom side. However, because the indicator light is provided at the bottom side of the RJ45 connector, it cannot be conveniently viewed by the user. Therefore, it is needed to have a conductor rack for electric connector with indicator light(s) at the top side.

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide a conductor rack which is applicable for use in an electric connector having a RJ45 or RJ11 connector. It is another object of the present invention to provide a conductor rack for an electric connector which greatly shortens the length of the conductors so that the manufacturing cost of the electric connector is relatively reduced. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a conductor rack for an electric connector which is equipped with indicator lights.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the electric connector comprises a connector shell and a conductor rack, the conductor rack comprising a substantially -shaped rack body having a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall connected between a rear end of the top wall and a rear end of the bottom wall at one end, the bottom wall having a plurality of wire holes at a front end thereof, and a plurality of conductors respectively inserted through the wire holes on the bottom wall and extended out of the rack body. According to another aspect of the present invention, one or a plurality of indicator lights are provided at the front end of the top wall of the rack body, and a plurality of insertion holes are provided at the rear end of the top wall of the rack body and pierced through the side wall for guiding the lead wires of the indicator lights out of the rack body.

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of an electric connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional assembly view of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective assembly view of the conductor rack of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective exploded view of an electric connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective assembly view of the electric connector of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective assembly view of an electric connector according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective assembly view of an electric connector according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective assembly view of an electric connector according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective assembly view of an electric connector according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figures from 1 to 3, the conductor rack 10 of an electric connector 91 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, is comprised of a substantially -shaped rack body 20, a plurality of conductors 30, and two indicator lights 26.

The -shaped rack body 20 comprises a top wall 21, a bottom wall 22, and a side wall 23 connected between the rear end 212 of the top wall 21 and the rear end 222 of the bottom wall 22. The top wall 21, the bottom wall 22 and the side wall 23 are preferably made in integrity. A plurality of wire holes 25 are provided at the front end 221 of the bottom wall 22. The wire holes 25 have for example an oblong shape. Alternatively, the wire holes 25 can be made of circular shape. Four insertion holes 27 are provided at the rear end 212 of the top wall 21. The insertion holes 27 pierces through the side wall 23.

According to the present preferred embodiment, the number of the conductors 30 is eight. This design enables the conductor rack 10 to fit a RJ45 connector (which is used as a network connector, having a profile shaped like a telephone connector RJ11). In order to match with the conductors 30, the number of the wire holes 25 is eight. The conductors 30 are respectively inserted through the wire holes 25, and extended outside the rack body 20. Each conductor 30 comprises a sloping section 31 at one end, a vertical section 33 at an opposite end, and a horizontal section 32 connected between the sloping section 31 and the vertical section 33. The sloping section 31 is suspended inside the rack body 20 between the top wall 21 and the bottom wall 22. The connecting area between the sloping section 31 and the horizontal section 32 is inserted through the respective wire hole 25, enabling the horizontal section 32 to be extended toward the rear end 222 of the bottom wall 22 along the outer wall surface 223 of the bottom wall 22, so that the vertical section 33 can be directly soldered to the circuit board.

According to the present preferred embodiment, the number of the indicator lights 26 is 2. The indicator lights 26 are mounted on the front end 211 of the top wall 21. The indicator lights 26 are preferably made from LED (light emitting diode) for the advantage of low power consumption. The positive and negative lead wires 261 of the indicator lights 26 are arranged in respective wire grooves 28 on the top wall 21 between the front end 211 and rear end 212 of the top wall 21, and then extended out of the rack body 20 through the insertion holes 27 for connection to the circuit board by soldering.

When assembled, the conductor rack 10 is inserted into a connector shell 50 to form with it the electric connector 91 of the first embodiment of the present invention. The shell 50 fits a RJ45 connector, having a plug hole 55 and a retaining hole 56 at the front side for receiving a RJ45 male connector, and a mounting rod 54 at the bottom side for mounting in a locating hole on the circuit board (the mounting rod 54 may be eliminated). A conductor guide board 51 is provided inside the shell 50. The conductor guide board 51 comprises a plurality of slots 52, which receive the sloping sections 31 of the conductors 30. The shell 50 further comprises two light holes 53, which receives the indicator lights 26.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a second embodiment of the present invention. According to the second embodiment of the present invention, the electric connector 92 is comprised of a F type connector 81, and a RJ45 connector 83. The connectors 81;83 are provided with a respective pair of indicator lights 26. Same as the aforesaid first embodiment of the present invention, the conductor rack 10 is inserted into the connector shell 50 from the back side.

FIG. 6 shows an electric connector according to a third embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the electric connector 93 is comprised of two F type connectors 81, and a RJ45 connector 83. The connectors 81;83 are provided with a respective pair of indicator lights 26 at the top. Same as the first embodiment of the present invention, the conductor rack 10 is inserted into the shell 50 from the back side.

FIG. 7 shows an electric connector according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the electric connector 94 is comprised of two BNC connectors 82, and a RJ45 connector 83. Same as the first embodiment of the present invention, the conductor rack 10 is inserted into the shell 50 from the back side.

FIG. 8 shows an electric connector according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the electric connector 95 is comprised of a F type connector 81, a BNC connector 82, and a RJ45 connector 83. Same as the first embodiment of the present invention, the conductor rack 10 is inserted into the shell 50 from the back side.

FIG. 9 shows an electric connector according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the electric connector 96 is comprised of a RJ45 connector 83 and a RJ11 connector 84 disposed at two sides, a F type connector 81 and a BNC connector 82 spaced between the RJ45 connector 83 and the RJ11 connector 84.

The aforesaid F type connectors 81 and BNC connectors 82 are of the known standard specifications, therefore they are not described in detail.

It is to be understood that the drawings are designed for purposes of illustration only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits and scope of the invention disclosed.