Electrical connectors – With vitreous-type envelope – Having bayonet-coupling contact
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-30
2001-05-29
Donovan, Lincoln (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With vitreous-type envelope
Having bayonet-coupling contact
C439S098000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06238246
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a connector assembly terminating a shielded cable and, more particularly, to an improved grounding bracket for use in such an assembly which engages the shield of the cable and provides continuity of that shield with a shield of a complementary mating connector assembly.
Local area networks interconnecting computers in a workplace are becoming more prevalent. One of the factors limiting the speed with which the computers can communicate over the network is the type of transmission medium connecting the computers to the network. For reasons of economy, twisted pair shielded cable has been developed that provides a sufficiently high data transfer rate. One such proposed type of cable is known as Category
7
twisted pair cable. Category
7
cable includes four pairs of individually insulated wires which are twisted together with a very tightly controlled twist specification. Each twisted pair is covered with its own individual conductive shield. All of the pairs are then bundled together and covered with a common shield. Typically, both the individual shields and the common shield are grounded. The common shield is covered with an outer plastic protective jacket.
When two such cables are connected together, or when connections are made from computers or network hubs to a cable, in order to insure good shielding qualities, especially at high frequencies, it is necessary to have good quality connections between the cable shields and the connectors, and also between mating connectors.
It would therefore be desirable to have a grounding bracket for a shielded cable connector which results in the aforedescribed good quality shield connections.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, a grounding bracket for a shielded cable connector uses a crimped spring loaded cantilevered beam to insure a good ground connection at the cable/connector interface. A split ring, with the braided shield of the cable folded back over the ring, is used underneath the spring contacts to support the cable braid and maintain good electrical contact. When the grounding bracket is crimped, the split ring contracts until it bottoms out—then the grounding bracket is able to tightly clamp against the braid. Stored elastic energy in the cantilever arms of the bracket maintain a good ground connection and tightly clamp the cable for strain relief. Individual parts of the bracket are crimped to conductively engage each of the individual twisted pair shields to the bracket, again insuring good grounding at high frequencies.
In accordance with an aspect of this invention, the grounding bracket is provided with structure adapted for conductive engagement with a conductive shield portion of a complementary mating connector.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5372513 (1994-12-01), Rodrigues et al.
patent: 5829991 (1998-11-01), Murphy et al.
patent: 6080018 (2000-06-01), Ferrill et al.
Ferrill Jess Britton
Pitts Terry Lee
Donovan Lincoln
Prasad Chandrika
The Whitaker Corporation
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