Electricity: conductors and insulators – Overhead – Ground clamps and cable clips
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-23
2001-10-02
Reichard, Dean A. (Department: 2831)
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Overhead
Ground clamps and cable clips
C174S068300, C174S078000, C174S08800C, C439S098000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06297447
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to brackets used to electrically ground coaxial cables.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Coaxial cables are used in vehicles to transmit signals received by an antenna. The outer conductor of the cable, commonly known as the shield, is usually connected to an electrical ground. It is known to ground the shield by crimping a terminal around the cable such that a sharp contact portion of the terminal cuts through the outer insulation to contact the shield. The terminal is then bolted to a grounding surface. It is often difficult to achieve a reliable grounding connection using this method, and the crimping process has been shown to damage the coaxial cable.
Another known grounding bracket has three metal tabs which are bent around the cable at spaced intervals. The insulation is removed from a short section of the cable so that the center tab may be soldered to the cable shield. The two outer tabs are bent around the cable to tightly grip the insulation so that the soldered joint is not subjected to stress. This type of connection has been found to be unreliable because the outer tabs tend to loosen their grip on the cable over time so that the soldered connection can break.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is a ground connection bracket for use with one or more coaxial cables which offers improved reliability of the electrical connection and reduced likelihood of damage to the cables. These objectives are achieved by a bracket having two clamping members connected by a hinge such that they may be squeezed together around the cables to grip them. Contacts are disposed on the clamping members to contact conductive portions of the cables and the bracket is secured to the electrical ground.
In the illustrative embodiment of the invention disclosed herein, the first and second clamping members are connected along a common edge by an integral living hinge. Each of the clamping members is composed of a generally flat, rectangular panel and has two parallel side walls extending therefrom along edges perpendicular to the hinge edge. At least one contact projects from the panel of each clamping member, and generally semi-circular notches are formed in the side walls of the clamp members adjacent the contacts. A hole passes through the panel of one of the clamp members to receive a bolt for fastening the bracket to a grounding surface.
One or more coaxial cables are inserted between the clamping members so as to extend through the notches. A short length of insulation on each cable is stripped to expose the shield where the cables pass through the bracket. The clamping members are then bent relative to one another about the hinge, the side walls overlapping one another such that the notches therein grip the outer insulation of the cable and the contacts are urged against opposite sides of the exposed shield. The contacts are then soldered to the shield. The grip of the notches on the cable insulation acts as a strain relief, isolating the soldered connection between the shield and the contact from physical stresses to provide a reliable and long-lasting electrical connection.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a plurality of locator tabs are formed integrally with the clamp members to engage the bolt head and so prevent the bolt from turning relative to the bracket as a nut is threaded onto the bolt to fasten it to the grounding surface. This allows the bracket to be secured to a grounding panel with one hand if necessary.
The bracket is preferably formed from a single piece of conductive metal which is stamped and bent to the described configuration, thereby enabling the bracket to be fabricated economically.
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Toyota, “Bracket with 3 metal strips”, Aug., 1996.
Yazaki Corporation, “Earth Terminal”, Drawing No. 7158-7278-12:M, Jul. 7, 1997.
Burnett Jason T.
Tezuna Toshitaka
Umemoto Hiroshi
Nino Adolfo
Reichard Dean A.
Yazaki North America, Inc.
Young & Basile
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