Receptacle connector having an anti-mismating means

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a receptacle connector, and particularly to a receptacle connector which has an anti-mismating means for preventing incorrect insertion of a non-complementary plug connector

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Both RJ-45 connector assemblies and RJ-11 connector assemblies are generally used in signal transmission networks. Each RJ-45 connector assembly and each RJ-11 connector assembly includes a plug connector and a corresponding receptacle connector. When mating, the plug connector is inserted into the corresponding receptacle connector. However, the main difference between an RJ-45 plug connector and an RJ-11 plug connector, or an RJ-45 receptacle connector and an RJ-11 receptacle connector, is that the dimensions of the RJ-45 plug connector and RJ-45 receptacle connector are larger than those of the respective RJ-11 plug connector and RJ-11 receptacle connector. Thus, an RJ-11 plug connector may be mistakenly inserted into an RJ-45 receptacle connector, which may result in damage to the RJ-45 receptacle connector.

[0006] In order to prevent mismating, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/536,165, which is assigned to the same assignee of the present application, discloses an RJ-45 receptacle connector (see FIG. 8). The RJ-45 receptacle connector 51 comprises an insulative housing 53 and an anti-mismating device 55. The insulative housing 53 has a mating face 57 and a receiving space 59. The device 55 includes a base portion 61, two resilient hinges 63 extending rearwardly from the base portion 61, and a baffle 65 connecting the two resilient hinges 63. The two hinges 63 are spaced a distance D from each other which is larger than the width of an RJ-11 plug connector. The baffle 65 will prevent an RJ-11 plug connector from being inserted into the RJ-45 receptacle connector 51, thereby preventing a mismating of an RJ-11 plug connector with the receptacle connector. Only a complementary RJ-45 plug connector (not shown) can simultaneously press the two resilient hinges 63, and further push the baffle 65 down allowing insertion into the RJ-45 receptacle connector 51. However, this design of the RJ-45 receptacle connector require a larger receiving space to accommodate the device 55, which does not comply with the current miniaturization trend in the connector field. Another copending application Ser. No. 09/698,699 filed Oct. 27, 2000 with the same assignee also discloses the similar product with relatively large dimensions, similarly requiring further maniaturization/simplicity improvement.

[0007] Hence, an improved receptacle connector is required to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0008] The main object of the present invention is to provide a receptacle connector having an anti-mismating means, wherein the receptacle connector need not have enlarged dimensions to receive the means.

[0009] In order to achieve the object set forth, a receptacle connector of the present invention includes an insulative housing having an upper wall, a bottom face, and two sidewalls, with areceiving space defined therebetween for receiving a complementary plug connector. The upper wall defines a passageway and the sidewalls each defines a recess therein in communication with the receiving space. A plurality of terminals is received in the receiving space for mating with the plug connector. An anti-mismating means, which is in the form of a pair of latches, is attached in the insulative housing. Each of the latches includes a connecting arm and a resilient arm extending into one of recesses of the sidewall, and a baffle extending from the resilient arm and into the receiving space. In mating, a complementary plug connector pushes the connecting arms outwardly causing the baffles to move from the receiving space into the recesses, allowing the complementary plug connector to be fully inserted.

[0010] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a receptacle connector having a pair of anti-mismating latches in accordance with the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 2 is a front view of the receptacle connector shown in FIG. 1 with an outline of a non-complementary plug connector shown in broken lines;

[0013] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3—3 of FIG. 2;

[0014] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4—4 of FIG. 2;

[0015] FIG. 5 is a front view of the receptacle connector shown in FIG. 1 with a complementary plug connector shown in broken lines, wherein the plug connector is prepared to mate with the receptacle connector;

[0016] FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the anti-mismating latch in accordance with the present invention;

[0017] FIGS. 6B-6D are respectively side, top and front views of the anti-mismating latch shown in FIG. 6A;

[0018] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a receptacle connector having a pair of anti-mismating latches in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; and

[0019] FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a receptacle connector having an anti-mismating device in accordance with U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/536,165.

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an RJ-45 receptacle connector in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulative housing 1 receiving a plurality of terminals 3, a conductive shell 2 enclosing the insulative housing 1, and a pair of anti-mismating latches 4 assembled in the insulativehousing 1.

[0021] The insulative housing 1 defines a mating face 13, a bottom face 15 for mounting to a printed circuit board (PCB, not shown), an upper wall 18, and two sidewalls 17 defining a receiving space 10 therebetween. A pair of posts 16 downwardly extends from the bottom face 15 for positioning the receptacle connector on the PCB. A passageway 11 is defined in a middle portion of the upper wall 18, and a pair of recesses 14 is defined in two sidewalls 17. The passageway 11 and the two recesses 14 are each in communication with the receiving space 10. A pair of slots 12 is defined in the two sidewalls 17 adjacent to the recesses 14.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 3, each terminal 3 includes a contacting section 30 at one end for contacting with a mating contact of a complementary plug connector inserted into the receiving space 10, and a soldering section 32 at the other end. The soldering section 32 extends through the bottom face 15 for being soldered to the PCB, thereby establishing an electrical connection between the receptacle connector and the PCB.

[0023] Referring to FIGS. 6A-6D, each anti-mismating latch 4 is formed with a base portion 40 at an outer side thereof, a linking portion 43 bent from a front edge of and perpendicular to the base portion 40, a connecting arm 42 bent rearwardly from an inner edge of the linking portion 43 and inclining away from the plane of the base portion 40, a resilient arm 41 upwardly extending from a rear portion of the connecting arm 42, and a baffle 44 bent horizontally and inwardly from an upper edge of the resilient arm 41. A pair of ears 45 project from two opposite sides of the base portion 40, respectively.

[0024] Referring back to FIG. 1, in assembly, the base portion 40 of each anti-mismating latch 4 is inserted into a corresponding slot 12 of the insulative housing 1, with the ears 45 having an interferential fit with a corresponding sidewall 17 for securely fixing the anti-mismating latch 4 in the insulative housing 1. The linking portion 43 fits substantially parallel to the mating face 13. The connecting arm 42, the resilient arm 41 and the baffle 44 of each anti-mismating latch 4 are received in a corresponding recess 14 in the housing 1. Since the connecting arm 42 is not parallel to the base portion 40, but rather inclines inwardly relative to the base portion 40, a free end of the baffle 44 projects inwardly into the receiving space 10. The shell 2 can then optionally be assembled to enclose the housing.

[0025] Referring to FIGS. 2-4, the upper portion of an RJ-11 plug connector has a width narrower than the overall width of the receiving space 10 plus the two recesses 14. Instead, the width of an RJ-11 plug connector is approximately equal to that of the receiving space 10. Therefore, when the non-complementary RJ-11 plug connector 19 is mistakenlyinserted into the RJ-45 receptacle connector. Full insertion will be prevented by the free ends of the baffles 44 extending into the receiving space 10. In contrast, as is shown in FIG. 5, an RJ-45 plug connector 20 has a width substantially equal to the overall width of the receiving space 10 plus the two recesses 14. Therefore, when the RJ-45 plug connector 20 is inserted into the RJ-45 receptacle connector, sides of the plug connector 20 will outwardly press the connecting arms 42 of the anti-mismating latches 4, whereby the free ends of the baffles 44, which originally extended into the receiving space 10, will now be pushed aside to be completely received within the recesses 14, respectively. Therefore, the RJ-45 plug connector 20 can be fully inserted into the receiving space 10 of the insulative housing 1 to electrically connect with the terminals 3.

[0026] FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In contrast to the first embodiment, the anti-mismating latches 4′ of the second embodiment are integral with the shell 2′. This design reduces the number of the connector parts, and cuts production costs. In this embodiment, the connecting arm 42′ is formed on an inner edge of an opening in a front face of the shell 2′ adjoining the recess 14. This embodiment requires no slots 12 formed in the insulative housing 1, nor separately formed anti-mismating latches 4, as is required for the first embodiment. Assembly is less complex and manufacture is cheaper.

[0027] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.