BNC connector having visual indication
View Patent ↗A connector system allows for visual determination of mating or engagement of a jack-side connector and a plug-side connector. A jack-side connector has a first securing device and a plug-side connector having a sleeve rotatably coupled thereto. The sleeve has a second securing device that is complementary to the first securing device and an indicator located on an edge of the sleeve. The indicator is contrasted against a characteristic (e.g., color, material, etc.) of a portion (e.g., a washer) of the connector system to provide visual indication that the first securing device is securely engaged with the second securing device.
1. A plug-side connector that engages with a jack-side connector to form an electrical connection, comprising:
a plug-side connector body;
a bayonet sleeve rotatably connected to said connector body, said sleeve having two slots therein for engagement with corresponding lugs on a jack-side connector, said sleeve being formed from a material having a visual characteristic that is distinct from a visual characteristic of a back end portion of said plug-side connector body; and
an indicator located on a peripheral edge of said sleeve, said indicator being visible from a back of said plug-side connector to provide a visual indication that the plug-side connector is fully engaged with the jack-side connector,
wherein a distinction between said visual characteristic of said sleeve and said visual characteristic of said back end portion of said plug-side connector body enhances said visual indication.
2. The plug-side connector of claim 1 , wherein:
the plug-side connector is a BNC plug-side connector; and
the jack-side connector is a BNC jack-side connector.
3. The plug-side connector of claim 1 , wherein said indicator is selected from the group comprising a V-shaped notch on said sleeve, a dimple on said sleeve, a ridge on said sleeve, and a lug on said sleeve.
4. The plug-side connector of claim 1 , wherein each of said slots in said sleeve comprises a J-shaped slot, and wherein said J-shaped slots are positioned on said sleeve approximately one hundred eighty degrees apart from one another.
5. The plug-side connector of claim 1 , wherein said plug-side connector body comprises:
a washer that provides said visual characteristic.
6. The plug-side connector of claim 5 , wherein:
said washer has a color different from a color of said bayonet sleeve.
7. The plug-side connector of claim 6 , wherein the color of the washer is darker than the color of the bayonet sleeve.
8. The plug-side connector of claim 6 , wherein said indicator is a V-shaped notch on said sleeve.
9. The plug-side connector of claim 8 , wherein said plug-side connector is a BNC plug-side connector.