Connector retainer cap assembly

Inventors: Kendra Davis (Salt Lake City, UT); Spencer Shore (Sandy, UT); Davis Taylor (Salt Lake City, UT); Erin Sorge (Murray, UT); Jeroen Brouwer (Doetinchem, NL); Jochem ter Horst (Beek, NL); Tim van den Eijkel (Dulven, NL); Daniel Manwill (Riverton, UT)

Assignee: Varex Imaging Corporation

H01R13/53 H01R13/447 H05G1/08

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12683325
App. No.: 18/353,055
Granted: Jul 14, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A connector retainer cap assembly includes an outer plate, an inner plate, at least one biasing mechanism, and a retainer. The at least one biasing mechanism is disposed between the outer plate and the inner plate and biases the outer plate away from the inner plate. The retainer couples the inner plate to the outer plate and limits displacement of the inner plate away from the outer plate to a maximum distance.

Claims (32)

1 . A connector retainer cap assembly, comprising:

an outer plate;

an inner plate;

at least one biasing mechanism disposed between the outer plate and the inner plate, the at least one biasing mechanism biasing the outer plate away from the inner plate; and

a retainer coupling the inner plate to the outer plate and limiting displacement of the inner plate away from the outer plate to a maximum distance, the retainer fixedly coupled to the inner plate and removably coupled to the outer plate.

2 . The connector retainer cap assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a connector tower, wherein the outer plate is removably attachable to a distal end of the connector tower with the inner plate positioned within the connector tower.

3 . The connector retainer cap assembly of claim 2 , wherein the outer plate is removably attachable to the connector tower via threads.

4 . The connector retainer cap assembly of claim 2 , wherein the at least one biasing mechanism is configured to bias the outer plate away from the inner plate along a central axis of the inner plate, and wherein the outer plate is attachable to the connector tower substantially parallel to the central axis.

5 . The connector retainer cap assembly of claim 2 , wherein the connector tower comprises a plurality of lateral vent openings.

6 . The connector retainer cap assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer plate comprises a flange extending radially outward from a circumference of the outer plate, the flange having a proximally-facing stop surface.

7 . The connector retainer cap assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retainer comprises a stem coupled to the inner plate and extending into an aperture of the outer plate and a retention device to limit withdrawal of the stem from the aperture.

8 . The connector retainer cap assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one biasing mechanism comprises at least one disc spring.

9 . The connector retainer cap assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one biasing mechanism comprises at least two springs stacked between the outer plate and the inner plate.

10 . The connector retainer cap assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one biasing mechanism is preloaded while the displacement of the inner plate away from the outer plate is at the maximum distance.

11 . A method of assembling a connector retainer cap assembly, comprising:

providing an inner plate with a guide shaft;

providing an outer plate with a guide opening;

biasing the inner plate away from the outer plate along an axis aligned with the guide shaft;

positioning the guide shaft within the guide opening to align the inner plate relative to the outer plate; and

retaining the guide shaft relative to the guide opening by mechanical interference with a surface of the outer plate opposite the inner plate to prevent withdrawal of the inner plate from the outer plate beyond a predetermined distance.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein biasing the inner plate away from the outer plate comprises positioning a spring between the inner plate and the outer plate.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein retaining the guide shaft relative to the guide opening comprises attaching a retention device to the guide shaft external to the guide opening.

14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising securing the outer plate to a housing, wherein a stop surface of the outer plate engages a distal surface of the housing.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein securing the outer plate to the housing comprises threading the outer plate to the housing.

16 . A cable connector retainer system, comprising:

a cover assembly coupled to a housing, wherein the cover assembly includes an exterior plate and an interior plate, wherein the cover assembly is coupled to the housing by engageable threads or pins of the exterior plate;

a surface of the exterior plate for limiting advancement of the cover assembly relative to the housing separate from the engageable threads or pins of the exterior plate; and

a biasing member for biasing the interior plate of the cover assembly into the housing and away from the exterior plate of the cover assembly.

17 . The cable connector retainer system of claim 16 , further comprising a retainer for limiting a distance between the interior plate and the exterior plate to a maximum distance.

18 . The cable connector retainer system of claim 16 , wherein the housing comprises a vent opening for cooling an interior of the housing.

19 . The cable connector retainer system of claim 16 , wherein the housing defines an opening for receiving a connector cable laterally from the biasing direction.

20 . The cable connector retainer system of claim 16 , wherein the cover assembly comprises a screw head or a nut for attaching a tool to the cover assembly to adjust advancement of the cover assembly relative to the housing.