Electrical connectors – Including or for use with coaxial cable
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-08
2001-07-03
Paumen, Gary (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Including or for use with coaxial cable
C439S438000, C439S439000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254430
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a coaxial connector for connecting a coaxial cable to electrical equipment or the like. More particularly, it relates to a coaxial connector whose central contact makes resilient contact with a central conductor of a coaxial cable to establish electric connections between the connector and the cable without the use of solder and without the need to trim the central conductor after connecting.
Referring to
FIG. 12
, it is customary in the prior art to connect a coaxial cable
104
and a coaxial connector
100
by soldering the tip of a central conductor
105
to a plug pin
103
. A clamping part
107
clamps a shielded conductor
106
that surrounds central conductor
105
.
The following is a brief description of a prior art procedure for connecting coaxial connector
100
to coaxial cable
104
. To begin with, plug pin
103
, ultimately serving as a central contact, is forced into an insulating housing
102
. An external contact
101
is slid over and fixed to insulating housing
102
. Then, central conductor
105
of coaxial cable
104
is prepared by stripping and exposing a long portion of central conductor
105
and stripping and exposing a much smaller portion of shielded conductor
106
. The stripped forward end portion is inserted into plug pin
103
and passes through a hole
108
. Shielded conductor
106
is clamped by clamping part
107
. Clamping part
107
electrically connects shielded conductor
106
to external contact
101
. Coaxial cable
104
is also clamped by clamping part
107
along with shielded conductor
106
, and hence it is fixed to coaxial connector
100
.
Central conductor
105
is soldered to the tip of plug pin
103
. The portion of central conductor
105
projecting out of hole
108
is trimmed away. Next, an insulating cover
109
is mounted on the connector assembly with a contact piece
110
of external contact
101
protruding through a cutout (not shown) in insulating cover
109
. The above is atypical prior art procedure to connect coaxial connector
100
to coaxial cable
104
.
With the conventional coaxial connector it is necessary to solder central conductor
105
to the tip of plug pin
103
. After soldering, it is also necessary to cut off the portion of central conductor
105
that projects beyond hole
108
. The soldering and cutting requirements complicate the assembly of a prior art coaxial connector to a coaxial cable and hence increases manufacturing costs. It also increase the time it takes to assemble the coaxial connector in the field. In addition, such solder joints are a frequent cause of poor connections.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a coaxial connector that overcomes the limitations of the prior art.
It is another object of the invention to provide a coaxial connector that is easily assembled.
It is another object of the invention to provide a coaxial connector which does not require soldering, thus reducing the cost and time required to connect a coaxial cable to a connector.
It is another object of the invention to provide a coaxial connector which does not require trimming after connecting, thus reducing the time spent connecting a coaxial cable to a connector.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a coaxial connector that is cheaper to manufacture than the prior art.
Briefly stated, the present invention provides a connection part that has at least two matingly interengaging contact pieces that electrically connect the central conductor of a coaxial cable without soldering or trimming. In the preferred embodiment, the connection part includes a bifurcated segment and another segment resiliently disposed between the bifurcated segment. A jig is inserted through an opening into the connection part, separating and pushing the segments apart, creating a space where the central conductor of a coaxial cable is inserted. The central conductor is pressed against a groove formed by an arcuate section of the connection part segments. When the jig is removed, the resilient action of the segments grip and bend the central conductor holding it firmly and electrically connecting it to the connection part. Bendable cover pieces close the opening. An insulative covering closes and protects the coaxial connector. Grounding arms are connected to the shielding conductor of the coaxial cable and project from slots in the insulative covering. A clamping section clamps the outermost layer of the coaxial cable securing it to the coaxial connector.
According to an embodiment of the invention there is provided a coaxial connector comprising: a plug pin having a connection part; the connection part having at least two contact pieces that matingly interengage; and means for permitting urging of a central conductor against metal springback between the at least two contact pieces whereby the central conductor is positionable between same, the central conductor is resiliently retained between the at least two contact pieces by the metal springback without requiring soldering for mechanical and electrical connection.
According to another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a coaxial connector for attachment to a coaxial cable which has been prepared by stripping back an outer conductor exposing a portion of an inner conductor, comprising: an external contact; a plug pin coaxially disposed in the external contact; means for electrically isolating the external contact from the plug pin; the plug pin having a plug end extending beyond an end of the external contact; the external contact having at least one external contact surface for contacting a socket; the plug pin also having a connection part disposed at an other end; the connection part having at least two contact pieces that matingly interengage; and means for urging a central conductor against metal springback between the at least two contact pieces whereby the central conductor is positionable between same, the central conductor is resiliently retained between the at least two contact pieces without requiring soldering for mechanical and electrical connection.
According to yet another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a coaxial connector comprising: a plug pin having a connection part; the connection part having at least two contact pieces that resiliently interengage; and means for temporarily urging the at least two contact pieces apart forming a channel, whereby the central conductor is insertable in the channel and once the central conductor is inserted in the channel, the at least two contact pieces resiliently move back together deforming the central conductor, resiliently retaining the central conductor against axial forces without requiring soldering for mechanical and electrical connection.
The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate the same elements.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3977752 (1976-08-01), Freutag
patent: 4133594 (1979-01-01), Laverick et al.
patent: 5651699 (1997-07-01), Holliday
Endo Takayoshi
Fukuda Kiyohito
Yoshiura Yasuo
Gilman Alexander
Morrison Law Firm
Paumen Gary
Yazaki -Corporation
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