MULTI-CONTACT CONNECTOR ELEMENT

• US 20100040332A1
• Filed: 08/12/2009
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Radiall SA
• Original Assignee: Radiall SA
• Inventors: VAN DEN MEERSSCHAUT, Bernard, VAN DER MEE, Marnix
• Application Number:
  US12/539,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20100040332A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/75
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/514 composed as a modular blocks or assembly, i.e. composed of co-operating parts provided with contact members or holding contact members between them
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6582 with resilient means for engaging mating connector
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6596 the conductive member being a metal grounding panel
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6598 Shield material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53209 Terminal or connector

Abstract

The present invention concerns a multi-contact connector element comprising at least one of electrical and optical contacts, a case and an insulating insert comprising more than two cells for receiving contacts, wherein the case is made from an electrically nonconductive material, and wherein the connector element comprises an envelope made from an electrically conductive material, housed inside the case and defining a housing for the insert.

Claims

1. A multi-contact connector element comprising:

at least one of electrical and optical contacts,

a case, and

an insulating insert comprising more than two cells for receiving contacts, wherein the case is made from an electrically nonconductive material, and wherein the connector element comprises an envelope made from an electrically conductive material, housed inside the case and defining a housing for the insert.

2. The connector element according to claim 1 wherein the envelope comprises at least one relief configured to cooperate with a maintenance element of the case in order to permanently secure the envelope in the case.

3. The connector element according to claim 1, wherein the envelope comprises at least one relief arranged in order to cooperate with a maintenance element of the case configured to removably maintain the envelope in the case.

4. The connector element according to claim 1, wherein the envelope comprises at least one relief configured to permanently secure the insert in the housing arranged in the envelope.

5. The connector element according to claim 1, wherein the envelope comprises at least one relief configured to removably maintain the insert in the housing arranged in the envelope.

6. The connector element according to claim 1, wherein the envelope comprises, at a first longitudinal end arranged in a socket, ground connection means on a panel.

7. The connector element according to claim 1 arranged in a plug, wherein said plug comprises a screening cover.

8. The connector element according to claim 7, wherein the envelope comprises, at a first longitudinal end, ground connection means on the screening cover.

9. The connector element according to claim 1, wherein the envelope comprising a plurality of elastic tabs cooperating with the envelope of another connector element upon coupling of these two connector elements, said tabs being configured to ensure the electrical continuity between the connector element cases by slight elastic deformation upon their coupling.

10. A method for assembling a multi-contact connector element according to claim 6, in which:

the insulating insert supporting the at least one of electrical and optical contacts is introduced into the housing defined by the envelope,

the assembly formed by the envelope and the insulating insert is introduced inside the case of the connector element, and

the ground connection means are folded toward their free end.

11. The connector element of claim 1, wherein the case is made as a single piece.

12. The connector element of claim 1, wherein it comprises a single envelope.

13. The connector of claim 2, wherein the at least one relief for permanently securing the envelope in the case and the at least one relief for permanently securing the insert in the housing are carried by the same face of the envelope.

14. The connector of claim 3, wherein the at least one relief for removably maintaining the envelope in the case and the at least one relief for removably maintaining the insert in the housing are carried by the same face of the envelope.

15. The connector of claim 7, wherein the plug is straight.