IP Library Granted Patent US 11,894,637
Granted Patent B2
US 11,894,637 · App. 17/439,653 · Granted Feb 6, 2024

Connectors and contacts for a single twisted pair of conductors

Inventor: Paul John Pepe (Clemmons, NC)
Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC
H01R13/6582H01R13/5045H01R13/6463H01R24/20H01R43/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,894,637
App. No.
17/439,653
Filed
Sep 15, 2021
Granted
Feb 6, 2024
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2831
USPC
439/607.01
Abstract

A connector for exactly two conductors that includes a forward connector body, a rear connector body, a metal frame and exactly one pair of electrical contacts. The rear connector body interfaces with the forward connector body. The metal frame surrounds at least a portion of both the forward connector body and the rear connector body. The metal frame including a shielding interface, wherein the metal frame is secured to the forward connector body with at least two retaining features. The exactly one pair of electrical contacts comprises a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact that extend from the rear connector body into the forward connector body.

Claims (28)

1. A connector for exactly two conductors:

a forward connector body;

a rear connector body that interfaces with the forward connector body;

a metal frame surrounding at least a portion of both the forward connector body and the rear connector body, the metal frame including a shielding interface, wherein the metal frame is secured to the forward connector body with at least two retaining features; and

exactly one pair of electrical contacts comprising a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact, the first and second electrical contacts extending from the rear connector body into the forward connector body, wherein the first electrical contact is electrically coupled to one of the exactly two conductors and the second electrical contact is electrically coupled to the other of the exactly two conductor;

wherein the metal frame includes a pair of flex tabs that each interface with a respective recess in the forward connector body, wherein each of the flex tabs includes an inward facing tab as one of the at least two retaining features, wherein the inward facing tab interfaces with a recessed notch in the forward connector body, wherein each of the flex tabs includes a retaining loop as another of the at least two retaining features, wherein the retaining loop interfaces with a projection extending from the recess of the forward connector body.

2. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the inward facing tab includes a flared edge that embeds within the forward connector body when fully inserted in the recessed notch of the connector body.

3. The connector of claim 1 , wherein each of the flex tabs includes a bend to accommodate a shoulder of the forward connector body.

4. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the inward facing tab and the retaining loop are substantially parallel.

5. The connector of claim 4 , wherein the inward facing tab and the retaining loop are substantially perpendicular to an elongate axis of the flex tabs.

6. A method of assembling a connector that includes a metal frame and a forward connector body, the method comprising:

rear loading the metal frame on the forward connector body until the metal frame abuts a shoulder of the forward connector body;

pushing an inward facing tab of a first flex tab of the metal frame into a first recessed notch of the forward connector body and securing a retaining loop of the first flex tab about a first projection of the forward connector body; and

pushing an inward facing tab of a second flex tab of the metal frame into a second recessed notch of the forward connector body and securing a retaining loop of the second flex tab about a second projection of the forward connector body.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein each of the first and second inward facing tabs include flared edges, and wherein the flared edges embed within the forward connector body when the first and second inward facing tabs are fully pushed into the first and second recessed notches of the forward connector body.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the forward connector body accommodates exactly two electrical contacts.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein each of the first and second flex tabs resides in a respective recess in the forward connector body when the respective inward facing tabs and respective retaining loops of the metal frame are fully pushed and fully secured to the forward connector body.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first and second flex tabs of the metal frame residing in the respective recesses of the forward connector body are within the dimensions of a profile of a forward face of the forward connector body.

11. The method of claim 6 , wherein each of the first and second inward facing tabs are substantially parallel to their respective first and second retaining loops.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the substantially parallel first inward facing tab and first retaining loop are substantially perpendicular to an elongate axis of the first flex tab of the metal frame.

13. The method of 6 , wherein each of the flex tabs is flexible relative to a main body of the metal frame.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein each of the flex tabs includes a fixed bend that accommodates the shoulder of the forward connector body.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein each of the inward facing tabs interfaces with a respective side of the forward connector body and wherein each of the retaining loops interfaces with a common side of the forward connector body.

16. A metal frame for shielding a non-metal connector body, the metal frame comprising:

a frame body including a central opening that receives the non-metal connector body;

a pair of substantially parallel flex tabs that extend forwardly from the frame body and flex relative to the frame body, wherein each of the flex tabs includes an inward facing tab and a retaining loop, wherein the inward facing tab and the retaining loop of each flex tab are substantially parallel and wherein the inward facing tab and the retaining loop of each flex tab are substantially perpendicular to an elongate axis of the flex tabs; and

a pair of flexible shielding interfaces formed within first and second sides of the frame body, the flexible shielding interfaces directed inward into the central opening of the frame body.

17. The metal frame of claim 16 , wherein each of the flex tabs includes a fixed bend proximate a flex point of the flex tabs relative to the frame body.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 059350/0743 Recorded Jan 12, 2026
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE NORTH CAROLINA, LLC (F/K/A COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA)
Reel/Frame 074594/0156 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS AT REEL/FRAME NO. 59710/0506 Recorded Jan 9, 2026
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE NORTH CAROLINA, LLC (F/K/A COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA)
Reel/Frame 074282/0522 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 059350/0921 Recorded Dec 19, 2024
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC (F/K/A ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.); COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 069743/0704 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2024
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE INC., OF NORTH CAROLINA; OUTDOOR WIRELESS NETWORKS LLC; RUCKUS IP HOLDINGS LLC
To: APOLLO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY LLC
Reel/Frame 069889/0114 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2022
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA
To: WILMINGTON TRUST
Reel/Frame 059710/0506 →
ABL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 8, 2022
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 059350/0743 →
TERM LOAN SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 8, 2022
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 059350/0921 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 15, 2021
From: PEPE, PAUL JOHN
To: COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 057490/0127 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62819246 · Mar 15, 2019
Related Publication 20220158389A1 · May 19, 2022
Cited By (3)
US 12,341,284 US 12,424,778 US 12,476,428