Grounded connector

• US 20090104801A1
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Inventors: Silva, Mark Da
• Granted Patent: US 7,744,383 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/108
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/502 composed of different pieces H01R13/514 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/622 Screw-ring or screw-casing H01R13/623 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/64 Means for preventing incorrect coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/65917 Connection to shield by means of resilient members

Abstract

Ground connections are made between first and second electrical connectors (1, 27). The first connector has a first sleeve (5) and has contact elements (23) mounted on the first sleeve. The second connector has a second sleeve (31) with slots (35) that receive the contact elements (23) when the connectors mate. Locating ribs (21) lie forward (F1) of the contact elements to align the slots in the second sleeve with the contact elements.

Claims

1. An electrical connector comprising a conductive sleeve for providing an electrical grounding connection, the sleeve having at least one discrete radial protrusion provided around the circumference of the sleeve, wherein at least one side surface of the protrusion is provided with a resilient conductive electrical connecting means arranged such that, when the protrusion is mated with a corresponding recess in a sleeve of a mating connector, the connecting means is deformed and thereby bears on the sleeves of both connectors.

2. An electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion comprises an axially extending rib, and wherein the connecting means comprises an elongate metallic element arranged around a first end of the axial rib, the ends of the metallic element being incurvately arranged for bearing on the side surfaces of the axial rib.

3. An electrical connector according to claim 2, wherein the protrusion defines a flange at a second end of the axial rib for restricting axial and rotational movement of the metallic element.

4. An electrical connector according to claim 2, wherein the protrusion defines a recess at the second end of the axial rib for receiving the ends of the metallic element.

5. An electrical connector according to claim 2, wherein the metallic element is biased towards the side surfaces of the axial rib.

6. An electrical connector according to claim 5, wherein the metallic element is arranged for an interference fit with the recess in the sleeve of the mating connector.

7. An electrical connector according to claim 2, wherein the sleeve further has a second discrete radial protrusion arranged axially in front of the axial rib for circumferentially locating the connectors with respect to each other, and wherein the circumferential dimension of the second protrusion is greater than the corresponding dimension of the axial rib and less than the corresponding dimension of the metallic element.

8. An electrical connector according to claim 1, further comprising a second sleeve arranged coaxially with the conductive sleeve, wherein the connecting means is captively arranged between the conductive sleeve and the second sleeve.

9. An electrical connector according to claim 8, wherein the second sleeve is rotatable relative to the first sleeve and is provided with a thread or other means for axially locking the connectors together.

10. An electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve has a plurality of the discrete radial protrusions equally or non-equally spaced around the circumference of the sleeve, and wherein the connector comprises a corresponding plurality of the connecting means associated with respective ones of the protrusions.

11. An electrical connector assembly (10) comprising first and second connectors (1, 27) that are mateable by each moving forward (F1, F2) towards the other along a mating axis (12), said first connector having a conductive first sleeve (5) and said second connector having a conductive second sleeve (31) with one of said sleeves fitting into the other one, and said first connector has at least one resilient contact member (23) that engages said second sleeve when said connectors mate, wherein:

said second sleeve has at least one radial sleeve slot (35) that extends parallel to said axis and that has circumferentially opposite slot walls (36, 37), and said resilient contact element (23) has an engaging part (28) that fits into said slot when the connectors mate, with said engaging part having opposite contacting sides (26, 27) that engage said slot sides (36, 37) when said connectors mate.

12. The assembly described in claim 11, wherein:

said first sleeve has a connector locating rib (21) lying forward of said contact element engaging part (28) and locating said opposite slot walls in line with said opposite engaging sides of said resilient contact element.

13. The assembly described in claim 11 wherein:

said contact element comprises an elongated element with a middle bent into a loop of more than 180°

, and with opposite ends forming legs (29) extending parallel to each other;

said first sleeve has a pair of parallel axially-extending grooves (25) and said legs of said resilient contact member lie in said grooves with said engaging part projecting forward of said grooves.

14. The assembly described in claim 13, wherein:

said first sleeve has an axially-extending rib (19) that lies between said opposite engaging sides of said contact element and that has a rib front end that lies within said bent middle of said contact element.