Electrical connectors – Including or for use with coaxial cable
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-10
2001-10-30
Ta, Tho D. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Including or for use with coaxial cable
C439S581000, C439S675000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06309250
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Coaxial connectors include a center contact closest to the connector axis, a second contact that lies around and coaxial with the first contact, and possibly one or more additional contacts that lie around the second contact. One example is a cable that includes a twisted pair of wires forming cable conductors and a grounded shield around them.
A common approach for connecting the conductors of a twisted wire pair to the first and second coaxial contacts, is to form the first and second contacts with rear ends that are laterally spaced so their rear ends lie on opposite sides of the connector axis. A hole in the rear end of each contact receives a cable conductor, which is soldered or crimped in place to terminate it. One disadvantage of this approach is that the coaxial contacts may be disturbed and shifted during contact insertion and crimping or soldering, especially when the contacts are pulled out of a housing or shell for such terminations and then must be reinserted. Another disadvantage is that if the cable conductors are to be removed from a connector, this may lead to the coaxial contacts being unsuitable for reuse, as a result of crimping or of remaining solder in their holes.
The construction of the first and second contacts with their rear ends on laterally opposite sides of the connector axis, can result in a connector of large diameter. Another approach is to form a cable conductor-receiving hole at the axis of the inner contact, and to form a cable-receiving hole in the second conductor at a distance from the hole in the first conductor. This also results in a connector of large diameter. A coaxial connector of minimum diameter which avoided disturbance to the coaxial contacts during termination to the conductors of a cable and which permitted easy disconnection of the connector from the cable conductors, would be of value.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a coaxial connector is provided that effectively terminates to the conductors of a cable in a manner that avoids disturbance of the contacts during connection, which facilitates disconnection of the cable conductors from the connector, and which results in a connector of minimum width. The coaxial connector has a pair of contacts, including a first or inner contact with a mating end lying on the connector axis and including a second contact with a mating end that lies outside the first one. Each contact has a rear portion forming a passage. Each passage receives the pin-shaped front end of a terminal whose rear end is crimped to a cable conductor. The cable conductor front ends are fixed to the rear ends of the terminals as by crimping or soldering. Then, pin-shaped front ends of the terminals are inserted into the passages at the rear of the contacts. Sliding engagement of the pin-shaped front ends of the terminals with the walls of the passages in the contacts, is enabled by a clip in each passage that has tines that grip the inserted pin. The tines permit the pins to be pulled out for easy disconnection.
The second contact has a rear end with a pin-receiving passage on one side of the axis and with a larger recess on the other side of the axis. The first contact rear portion and an inner insulator, lie in the recess. This results in the passages for the two contacts both being offset from the connector axis but close to the connector axis, to produce a connector of small width.
The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention will be best understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 4307926 (1981-12-01), Smith
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patent: 4799902 (1989-01-01), Landing et al.
patent: 4869690 (1989-09-01), Frear et al.
patent: 4976632 (1990-12-01), Riches et al.
patent: 5116244 (1992-05-01), Cartier
ITT Manufacturing Enterprises Inc.
McCamey Ann
Ta Tho D.
Turner Roger C.
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