Cable end connector having accurately positioned connection...

Details Cable end connector having accurately positioned connection... Cable end connector having accurately positioned connection...

2001-02-28

2001-10-23

Paumen, Gary (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

Including or for use with coaxial cable

Adapted to secure cables perpendicular to one another or a...

C439S585000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06305980

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cable end connector, and more particularly to a cable end connector having a terminal reliably received in the housing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Cable end connectors are often used for transmitting Radio-frequency (RF) signals. The cable end connectors normally have a terminal received in a housing thereof to mate with a complementary plug. Such a conventional cable end connector is, for example, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,877. The cable end connector includes a dielectric member holding a central terminal within an outer conductive shell. The central terminal has a U-shaped connection portion for connecting with a coaxial cable and a coupling portion for mating with a complementary plug. As disclosed in this patent, in assembly, an upper side wall of the dielectric member and a holder portion of the outer shell are bent substantially at a right-angle to hold the connection portion of the terminal and an inner conductor of the coaxial cable within the dielectric member and to crimp the coaxial cable braiding to the connector outer shell.
However, as for this design, the terminal tends to move with respect to the coaxial cable. To prevent the movement, the dielectric member and the shell have to hold the coaxial cable tightly. Thus, the assembly process is complicated.
Hence, an improved connector for firmly fixing a terminal via a housing is required to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.
The copending application Ser. No. 09/709,226 filed Nov. 8, 2000 with the same inventor and the same assignee, discloses an approach to replace the design of U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,877, and the instant application specifically focuses on the terminal retention issue and the shell/housing retention issue thereof.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A main object of the present invention is to provide a cable end connector having a terminal reliably received in the housing thereof.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a cable end connector having a shell firmly enclosing a housing.
A cable end connector according to the present invention comprises a dielectric housing, a terminal received in the housing, a unitarily formed shell, and a retainer attached to the shell for holding a coaxial cable therein.
The housing includes a base portion and a tubular portion engaged with the base portion. The base portion includes an engaging block and a flat portion extending from the engaging block. The engaging block has a platform projecting from a top surface thereof. Three cutouts are angularly defined in an outer periphery of the engaging block. Two bumps are respectively formed on opposite sides of each cutout. A pair of retaining walls project along opposite sides of the flat portion. A pair of grooves are respectively defined in an inward lower corner of each retaining wall and oppose each other. Three recesses are angularly defined in an outer periphery of the tubular portion. Three mounting legs angularly depend from a bottom of the tubular portion. The legs are respectively received in the corresponding cutouts and abut against the bumps thereby securely fixing the tubular portion to the base portion. The terminal has a mating portion supported on said platform and a tail portion secured in the grooves. The shell comprises a planar portion supporting the housing, and a trunkportion bendably connected to the planar portion and enclosing the tubular portion of the housing. Three retentive tabs are inwardly formed in the trunk portion and received in the recesses of the tubular portion of the housing to press the tubular portion of the housing, thereby securely fixing the tubular portion to the base portion of the housing.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


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patent: 6099350 (2000-08-01), Wright

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