Electrical connectors – With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in... – Coupling part with relatively pivotable concentric...
Reexamination Certificate
1996-08-16
2001-10-23
Vu, Hien (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...
Coupling part with relatively pivotable concentric...
C439S314000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305963
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the field of electrical connectors and more specifically to BNC connectors.
BACKGROUND
Various kinds of electrical connectors exist and have been used for decades to provide a removable electrical connection between various types of electrical components and devices. One such kind of removable electrical connector is known as a BNC or Bayonet Neil-Concelman connector. BNC connectors were developed many years ago and are typically used to connect coaxial (i.e., two conductor) cables, frequently in low-power, radio-frequency, and test applications, although they may be used in other applications as well.
Referring to
FIG. 1
, a typical BNC connector may comprise a female connector assembly
11
and a male connector assembly
13
that are designed to be engaged and disengaged with one another. The female connector assembly
11
includes a sleeve
15
that surrounds a female receptacle
21
designed to receive the center conductor
23
of the male connector assembly
13
. The sleeve
15
also includes a pair of diametrically opposed engagement pins
17
,
19
that extend radially outward from the sleeve
15
. The male connector assembly
13
includes a male BNC center terminal
33
having a center conductor
23
. The male center terminal
33
and conductor
23
are designed to be received by the sleeve
15
and female receptacle
21
, respectively. The male connector assembly
13
also includes a locking collar
29
having a pair of slots
25
,
27
that are adapted to engage the engagement pins
17
,
19
on the female connector
11
to lock the connectors together.
The female and male connectors
11
and
13
can be connected and locked together by first engaging the male BNC center terminal
33
with the sleeve
15
and then rotating the locking collar
29
to the locked position. This twist-lock coupling action is a central feature of the BNC connector and allows a reliable electrical connection to be made without the danger of the female and male connectors
11
and
13
from gradually working loose or from becoming accidently unplugged.
While such twist-lock BNC connectors provide a convenient and reliable means for electrically connecting various electronic components and devices, they are not without their disadvantages. For example, in a conventional twist-lock BNC connector, sufficient space must be associated with the connector installation to allow the user's thumb and forefinger to push-on the male connector (e.g.,
13
) and then twist the locking collar (e.g.,
29
) to the locked position. If the BNC connector is aged or dirty, excessive friction between the locking collar and the body of the male center terminal (e.g.,
33
) or the sleeve (e.g.,
15
) of the female connector (e.g.,
11
) may make it difficult to twist the locking collar to the locked position, particularly if other connectors or components are located nearby. Another problem is that there is no guaranteed radial alignment between the locking collar and the cable (e.g.,
31
) or probe housing to which it is attached. That is, since the collar on the male connector portion is free to rotate 360°, no specific rotational alignment is guaranteed between the cable or probe housing and the panel to which it is attached. This can be a problem if the male BNC connector is associated with an “active” probe assembly having associated with it supplemental connectors (e.g., power or communication connectors) that need to be aligned with corresponding mating connectors adjacent the female BNC connector.
Consequently, a need exists for an improved connector which solves or at least ameliorates some of the problems associated with conventional twist-lock BNC connectors, but that retains the advantages associated with such connectors. Ideally, such an improved connector should retain the ability to be locked to the female portion of the connector, but without requiring excessive manual dexterity on the part of the user and without requiring a large amount of space between the BNC connector and adjacent connectors or components. Additional utility could be achieved if the improved BNC connector could be used with conventional female BNC connectors. Still other advantages could be realized if such an improved connector would provide for a guaranteed radial alignment between the panel and the attached cable or pod housing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a locking assembly for releasably locking together a mating connector pair according to the present invention may comprise a housing having a central aperture and configured to be mounted to the first connector portion of the mating connector pair. A locking sleeve also having a central aperture is sized to receive the first connector portion and is also sized to be slidably received by the central aperture of the housing so that the locking sleeve can be rotated within the housing from a locked position to an unlocked position. The locking sleeve also includes a locking pin engaging boss for releasably engaging a locking pin associated with the second connector portion of the mating connector pair. Specifically, the locking pin engaging boss rotates the locking sleeve to the disengaged position as the first connector portion is engaged with the second connector portion. The locking pin engaging boss also allows the locking sleeve to be rotated to the locked position when the first and second connector portions are fully engaged. A biasing device associated with the locking sleeve biases the locking sleeve to the locked position.
Also disclosed is a push-lock connector assembly for releasably locking together a mating BNC connector pair. The push-lock connector comprises a male BNC center terminal and a housing sized to receive the male BNC center terminal. The housing also includes a substantially circular opening at one end that is sized to receive the sleeve associated with the female BNC connector. The circular opening also includes a pair of alignment notches positioned at substantially diametrically opposed positions to receive the locking pins located on the sleeve of the female BNC connector. A locking sleeve having a central aperture is sized to be received by the housing so that the central aperture of the locking sleeve is substantially aligned with the circular opening in the housing. The locking sleeve is also sized so that it can be rotated within the housing from a locked position to an unlocked position. The locking sleeve includes a pair of locking pin engaging bosses positioned within the central aperture at substantially diametrically opposed positions. The pair of locking pin engaging bosses cause the locking sleeve to rotate to the disengaged position as the push-lock connector assembly is moved axially along the sleeve of the female BNC connector. They also allow the locking sleeve to be rotated to the locked position when the male BNC center terminal is fully engaged with the female BNC connector. A biasing device associated with the locking sleeve biases said locking sleeve to the locked position.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2984811 (1961-05-01), Hennessey, Jr. et al.
patent: 3332052 (1967-07-01), Rusiuyak
patent: 3719918 (1973-03-01), Kerr
patent: 4423373 (1983-12-01), LeCroy, Jr.
patent: 4672306 (1987-06-01), Thong
patent: 4708661 (1987-11-01), Morland et al.
patent: 5015947 (1991-05-01), Chism
patent: 5293122 (1994-03-01), Cake et al.
patent: 5474466 (1995-12-01), Sakuraoka et al.
patent: 3042185A1 (1981-05-01), None
patent: 3248154C1 (1984-04-01), None
patent: 8814808U1 (1989-02-01), None
patent: 2253528A (1992-02-01), None
T.M.W., BNCS series, “One Touch Push/Pull Locking BNC Coaxial RF Connector (50 &OHgr;/75 &OHgr;)/BNCS series” (undated).
Tajimi Electronics Co., Ltd., Data Sheet for BNCS502-P() (undated).
Stonewells Corporation, Data Sheet for BNCS502-P() (undated).
12C Bus specification, Dec., 1988.
Agilent Technologie,s Inc.
Vu Hien
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