Connector with a network cable identifier

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to connectors, and particularly to a connector for conveniently identifying a network cable connected to the connector.

2. Description of Related Art

A switch device or a router may be connected to many different network cables via corresponding connectors. To identify the network cables, the network cables or the connectors may be marked by attaching labels or using a pen to write some symbols on surfaces of the network cables or the connectors. However, the labels are easy to fall off, fade away, or be worn out.

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a connector.

FIG. 2 is an assembled, isometric view of the connector of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 , taken along the line III-III.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 , an exemplary embodiment of a connector is provided to connect to a network cable 5 , and can be inserted into a network interface of a terminal device to connect the network table 5 to the terminal device. The connector includes a substantially rectangular-shaped main body 1 and a connection portion 3 for being inserted into the main body 1 .

The network cable 5 extends from a front end of the main body 1 . A grommet 12 is formed on a sidewall perpendicularly connected to the front end of the main body 1 . A receiving portion 2 is formed on a top of the main body 1 . A top wall 21 of the receiving portion 2 is made of transparent material. A receiving space 23 is defined between the top wall 21 and the main body 1 . An elastic latch member 4 is formed on the top of the main body 1 , adjacent to a back end of the main body 1 , to be mounted to the network interface of the terminal device.

The connection portion 3 is substantially stepped, and includes a first layer 31 , a second layer 32 , and a third layer 33 . Front sides of the first layer 31 , the second layer 32 , and the third layer 33 are coplanar. A sum of a height of the first layer 31 and a height of the second layer 32 is interference-fitted with a height of the receiving space 23 . A length of the first layer 31 is greater than a length of the second layer 32 . The length of the second layer 32 is greater than a length of the third layer 33 . A grommet 34 is formed on the front side of the connection portion 3 .

In assembly, a label with information of the network cable 5 is put on the first layer 31 , a back side of the first layer 31 and the second layer 32 are inserted into the receiving space 23 , with a back side of the third layer 33 of the connection portion 3 resisting against a front side of the top wall 21 . Because the sum of the height of the first layer 31 and the height of the second layer 32 is interference-fitted with the height of the receiving space 23 , the second layer 32 can resist against a bottom of the top wall 21 tightly. In one embodiment, the label can be tied to the grommet 12 or 34 by a string.

In use, from the transparent top wall 21 , users can see the label to identify the network cable 5 connected to the connector when the label is put on the third layer 33 . In another embodiment, users can identify the network cable 5 from the label tied to the grommet 12 or 34 by a string.

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