US 12,322,912 B2
Plug count limiter for cables
Kevin O'Connell, Rochester, MN (US); Timothy Clyde Buchholtz, Rochester, MN (US); George Russell Zettles, IV, Rochester, MN (US); Karl Erickson, Rochester, MN (US); George Paulik, Rochester, MN (US); Jarrett Betke, Rochester, MN (US); Timothy Lindquist, Rochester, MN (US); and Daniel Ramirez, Rochester, MN (US)
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US)
Filed by INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, Armonk, NY (US)
Filed on Mar. 6, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/178,690.
Prior Publication US 2024/0305049 A1, Sep. 12, 2024
Int. Cl. H01R 24/38 (2011.01); H01R 13/502 (2006.01); H01R 13/627 (2006.01); H01R 13/629 (2006.01); H01R 13/641 (2006.01)
CPC H01R 24/38 (2013.01) [H01R 13/502 (2013.01); H01R 13/627 (2013.01); H01R 13/629 (2013.01); H01R 13/641 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cable connector comprising:
an outer sleeve;
an inner sleeve disposed inside the outer sleeve, the inner sleeve configured to move relative to the outer sleeve, the inner sleeve further including a tab on an outer surface of the inner sleeve;
a gear wheel disposed inside the outer sleeve and perpendicular to the inner sleeve, the gear wheel having a plurality of gear teeth, the gear wheel configured to prevent the inner sleeve from moving until the tab of the inner sleeve aligns with a notch in the gear wheel;
a toggle plug counter configured to interact with the plurality of gear teeth on the gear wheel, the toggle plug counter configured to rotate the gear wheel one tooth in response to a plug-in action of the cable connector;
an inner spring disposed at an end of the inner sleeve opposite the gear wheel, the inner spring configured to cause the inner sleeve to move through the gear wheel in response to alignment of the tab of the inner sleeve and the notch in the gear wheel.