Angular mounted optical connector adaptor frame

[0002] A. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates generally to the field of panel connectors, and particularly to fiber optic panel connectors and methods of using the same.

[0004] B. Description of the Related Art

[0005] In electrical closets connections between transmission media are often made through connectors mounted on panels. Typically a panel includes a plate having an array of openings therein. A connector and/or connector adaptor is mounted in each of the openings. The types of connectors employed include copper modular connectors, coaxial connectors, optical fiber connectors, and the like. Often, space is at a premium on these panels. Efforts therefore have been made to maximize the number of connectors that may be employed per unit of panel surface space. One advance as a result of such efforts is the use of a flat panel with angled portions at the points where standard connectors are to be mounted. By placing the connectors at an angle with respect to the face of the panel the vertical space consumed per connector is reduced. The manufacture of a panel with angular connection points however is more difficult and more costly than the manufacture of a simple flat panel. In addition, the use of a panel with angled portions adds to the depth of the electrical cabinet or closet.

[0006] It would therefore be advantageous to have a means of mounting connectors to a flat panel at angle without the use of locally angled panel portions.

[0007] In one embodiment, the invention comprises a frame for mounting a connector to a flat panel at an angle, the frame comprising a housing open at a front and a rear to form a central passageway along an axis at an oblique angle with respect to the horizon, the central passageway defining an inner portion of the housing, the remaining portion of the housing comprising the outer portion of the housing, a pivot attached to the housing outer portion forward of the housing rear having an axis of rotation parallel to the horizon but perpendicular to the axis of the central passageway, and a stop attached to the housing outer portion opposite the pivot and aft of the housing front, the stop having a first flat face oriented perpendicular to the horizon and open to the housing front. The frame may further comprise a latch formed by a base section attached to the housing outer portion opposite the pivot forward of the stop and two roughly parallel spring bars extending in cantilever fashion around the stop and towards the housing rear from either end of the base section, the spring bars each having a catch extending away from the stop mounted aft of the base section but forward the face of the stop. The pivot may comprise a first ridge forward of a second ridge, the ridges extending away from the outer portion of the housing and defining a slot centered about the axis of rotation of the pivot, the slot comprising a first inner wall corresponding to the first ridge and a second inner wall corresponding to the second ridge. The pivot may also comprise a spring arm extending in cantilever fashion towards the housing front in a plane parallel to the horizon, the spring arm defining a slot therein running perpendicular to the spring arm on a side opposite the housing.

[0008] In another embodiment, the invention comprises a frame for mounting a connector assembly to a flat panel at an angle, the frame comprising a first housing, the first housing comprising a base, side walls, and a front, the first housing front being open to a cavity formed by the first housing side walls, a rectangular ridge protruding from one of the first housing side walls along a first axis at an oblique angle to the one of the first housing walls, a face of the rectangular ridge and the one of the first housing walls defining a mounting notch, and a second housing, the second housing comprising a base, side walls, and a front, the second housing base joined to the first housing base, the second housing front being open to a cavity formed by the second housing side walls, a triangular ridge protruding from one of the second housing side walls along an extension of the first axis, the triangular ridge defining a recession therein for receiving a fastener. The side walls of the first and/or second housings may define a key slot therein.

[0009] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present embodiment of the invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

[0010] FIG. 1A is a top view of a first embodiment of the invention

[0011] FIG. 1B is a front view of a first embodiment of the invention;

[0012] FIG. 1C is a sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention;

[0013] FIG. 1D is a side view of a first embodiment of the invention;

[0014] FIG. 1E is a side view of a first embodiment of the invention mounted to a flat parnel;

[0015] FIG. 2A is a front view of a second embodiment of the invention

[0016] FIG. 2B is a side view of a second embodiment of the invention

[0017] FIG. 2C is a top view of a second embodiment of the invention

[0018] FIG. 2D is a side view of a second embodiment of the invention mounted to a flat panel;

[0019] FIG. 3A is a side view of a third embodiment of the invention;

[0020] FIG. 3B is a front view of a third embodiment of the invention;

[0021] FIG. 3C is a sectional view of a third embodiment of the invention;

[0022] FIG. 3D is a side view of a third embodiment of the invention mounted to a flat panel.

[0023] Throughout the following detailed description similar reference numbers refer to similar elements in all the Figs. of the drawings. Referring to FIGS. 1A-1D, several views of a first embodiment of the invention are shown. Frame 100 is comprised of housing 101a, pivot 103a, stop 107a, and latch 110a. Frame 100 may comprise a single plastic injection-molded assembly, or an assembly of a number of components some or all of which may be plastic or other suitable material. Latch 110ashould be formed of a material that is flexible but does not tends towards plastic deformation easily.

[0024] Housing 101ais open at front 104aand rear 105ato form central passageway 102a. The central axis 121aof central passageway 102ashould form an oblique angle with the plane of the horizon. Forty-five degrees is optimal, but the oblique angle may be anywhere in the range of 15 to 75 degrees. Central passageway 102areceives and supports two cables joined by connectors or a connector-adaptor assembly when mounted to a flat panel 118 as shown if FIG. 1E. It will be appreciated however that frame 100 is not limited in the number of connector or connector adapter assemblies that it may support. Frame 100 may be constructed to accommodate a single connector assembly up to several connector assemblies. That portion of frame 100 in contact with central passageway 102acomprises housing inner portion 119a. The remaining portions of frame 100 comprise housing outer portion 106a.

[0025] Pivot 103ais attached to housing outer portion 106aforward of housing rear 105a. In general, pivot 103ashould rotate about an axis parallel to the plane of the horizon but perpendicular to the central passageway central axis 121a. In this embodiment of the invention, the axis of rotation for the pivot also lies in a plane parallel to but aft of a plane extending from first flat face 120aof stop 107a. Pivot 103ais comprised of first ridge 116aand second ridge 115a. Both first ridge 116aand second ridge 115aextend away from housing outer portion 106aand define slot 117a. In general, slot 117amay be comprised of one or more inner walls. In this embodiment of the invention slot 117ais comprised of first inner wall 121acorresponding to first ridge 116a, second inner wall 122acorresponding to second ridge 115a, and upper wall 123awhich connects first inner wall 121aand second inner wall 122a. Slot first and second inner walls 121a, 122amay extend away from slot upper wall 123adifferent distances. In this embodiment slot first inner wall 121aextends away from slot upper wall 123aa distance less than the distance slot second inner wall 122aextends away from slot upper wall 123a. The advantage of having slot first inner wall 121aextend a distance less than slot second inner wall 122ais ease of mounting frame 100 to panel 118.

[0026] Stop 107ais attached to housing outer portion 106aopposite pivot 103aand aft of housing front 104a. Stop 107aalso has a flat face 120aoriented perpendicular to the horizon and open to housing front 104a. In this embodiment of the invention, stop 107ahas a first section 107aextending from housing outer portion 106aperpendicular to the axis of central passageway 102afor a first distance, a second section 114aextending from first section 107afor a second distance, first flat face 120ais defined by second section 114a, and the first distance is greater than the second distance. In any event, it is preferable to have the axis of rotation of pivot 117alying in a plane parallel to but aft of a plane extending from first flat face 120a. This ensures that frame 100 is horizontally aligned once inserted in panel 118.

[0027] Latch 110ais comprised of base section 11aand spring bars 112a. Base section 111ais attached to housing outer portion 106aopposite pivot 103aand forward of stop 107a. Spring bars 112aare mounted to either end of base section 111aand extend in cantilever fashion around stop 107atowards housing rear 105a. On each of spring bars 112ais a catch 113aextending away from stop 107amounted aft of base section 11abut forward first flat face 120a. Catch 113aengages the rear face of panel 118 when frame 100 is mounted to panel 118. While catch 113amay take any number of forms, in this embodiment of the invention catch 113acomprises a ridge having first and second sides, the first side faces towards but slopes away from housing front 104a, and the second side faces towards housing rear 105aand forms a plane perpendicular to the central passageway central axis 121a.

[0028] To mount frame 100 to panel 118, a user facing panel 118 places frame 100 at angle towards himself with slot 117aof pivot 103astraddling the lower edge of an opening in panel 118. The user then squeezes spring arms 112atowards each other and rotates frame 100 on pivot 103auntil first flat face 120aof stop 107aengages the front surface of panel 118. Spring arms 12aare released and catches 113aengage the rear surface of panel 118. It will be appreciated that the design of frame 100 provides at least five points of retention: first flat face 120aand the upper outer surface of panel 118; catch 113asecond side faces and the upper inner surfaces of panel 118; pivot 103afirst inner wall 121aand lower inner surface of panel 118; and pivot 103asecond inner wall 122aand lower outer surface of panel 118. Prior art connector frames typically provide only two retention points.

[0029] Referring now to FIGS. 2A-2D, several views of a second embodiment of the invention are shown. Frame 200 is comprised of housing 101b, pivot 103b, and stop 107b. Frame 200 may comprise a single plastic injection-molded assembly, or an assembly of a number of components some or all of which may be plastic or other suitable material. The spring arm portion of pivot 103bshould be formed of a material that is flexible but does not tends towards plastic deformation easily.

[0030] Housing 101bis open at front 104band rear 105bto form a central passageway (not shown). The central axis 121bof the central passageway should form an oblique angle with the plane of the horizon. Forty-five degrees is optimal, but the oblique angle may be anywhere in the range of 15 to 75 degrees. The central passageway receives and supports four cables joined by two connector or connector adapter assemblies when mounted to a flat panel 118 as shown if FIG. 2D. It will be appreciated however that frame 200 is not limited in the number of connector or connector adapter assemblies that it may support. Frame 200 can be constructed to accommodate a single connector assembly up to several connector assemblies. That portion of frame 200 in contact with central passageway 102bcomprises the housing inner portion (not shown). The remaining portions of frame 200 comprise housing outer portion 106b.

[0031] Pivot 103bis attached to housing outer portion 106bforward of housing rear 105b. In general, pivot 103bshould rotate about an axis parallel to the plane of the horizon but perpendicular to central passageway central axis 121b. In this embodiment of the invention, the axis of rotation also lies in a plane parallel to but aft of a plane extending from first flat face 120bof stop 107b, and pivot 103bcomprises a spring arm extending in cantilever fashion towards housing front 104bin a plane parallel to the horizon. The spring arm of pivot 103bdefines a slot 117btherein that runs perpendicular to the spring arm on a side thereof opposite housing 101b. In general, slot 117bmay comprise one or more inner walls. In this embodiment of the invention, slot 117bcomprises first inner wall 121b, second inner wall 122b, and upper wall 123bwhich connects first inner wall 121band second inner wall 122b.

[0032] Stop 107bis attached to housing outer portion 106bopposite pivot 103band aft of housing front 104b. Stop 107balso has a flat face 120boriented perpendicular to the horizon and open to housing front 104b. It is preferable to have the axis of rotation of pivot 117blying in a plane parallel to but aft of a plane extending from first flat face 120b. This ensures that frame 200 is horizontally aligned once inserted in panel 118.

[0033] To mount frame 200 to panel 118, a user facing panel 118 places frame 200 at angle towards himself with slot 117bof pivot 103bstraddling the lower edge of an opening in panel 118. The user then depresses housing 101btowards panel 118 and away from himself, thereby causing housing 101bto rotate about the axis of rotation of pivot 103b, until housing front 104bis behind the rear surface of panel 118. Once housing front 104bis behind the rear surface of panel 118 the user ceases to depress housing 101band allows the action of pivot 103bspring arm to raise housing 101bvertically until first flat face 120bof stop 107bengages the upper outer face of panel 118 and a section of housing outer portion 106bforward of stop 107bengages the upper inner face of panel 118. It will be appreciated that the design of frame 200 provides at least four points of retention: first flat face 120aand the upper outer surface of panel 118; housing outer portion 106bforward of stop 107band upper inner face of panel 118; slot 117bfirst inner wall 121band lower inner surface of panel 118; and slot 117bsecond inner wall 122band lower outer surface of panel 118.

[0034] Referring now to FIGS. 3A-3D, several views of a third embodiment of the invention are shown. Frame 300 is comprised of first housing 301 and second housing 308. First housing 301 is comprised of base 302, side walls 303, and front 304. First housing front 304 and base 302 are open to first cavity 317 formed by first housing side walls 303. A rectangular ridge 306 protrudes from one of the first housing side walls 303 along axis 315 which forms an oblique angle with the one of the first housing side walls 303. Forty-five degrees is optimal, but the oblique angle may be anywhere in the range of 15 to 75 degrees. A face of rectangular ridge 306 and the one of the first housing side walls 303 define mounting notch 307. It will be appreciated that ridge 306 need not be rectangular in shape but may take a variety of different forms.

[0035] Second housing 308 is comprised of base 309, side walls 310, and front 311. Second housing front 311 and base 309 are open to second cavity 318 formed by second housing side walls 310. A triangular ridge 313 protrudes from one of the second housing side walls 310 opposite rectangular ridge 306 along an extension of axis 315. It will be appreciated that ridge 313 need not be triangular in shape but may take a variety of different forms. Triangular ridge 313 defines recession 314 therein for receiving a fastener such as a screw or the like. First housing 301 and second housing 308 are joined at bases 302, 309, and together first cavity 317 and second cavity 318 enclose and support push-pull type fiber optic connector 319. In this embodiment of the invention, at least one of the first and second housing side walls 303, 308 define key slots 305, 320 therein. Key slot 305 and/or 320 are optional however and need not be present in every embodiment of the invention.

[0036] First and second housings 301, 308, together with the ridges protruding therefrom, may each comprise a single plastic injection-molded assembly or an assembly of a number of components some or all of which may be plastic or some other suitable material.

[0037] To mount frame 300 to panel 118, a user inserts the frame through the panel and then applies downward force to the frame thereby mating groove 307 to panel 118. The user then secures frame 300 to panel 118 with a fastener that threads into or attaches to recession 314.

[0038] While the invention has been described in connection with the embodiments depicted in the various figures, it is to be understood that other embodiments may be used or modifications and additions may be made to the described embodiments for performing the same function of the invention without deviating therefrom. Therefore, the invention should not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the claims appended below.