Electrical connector and frequency shielding means therefor and method of making same

• US 4,106,839 A
• Filed: 09/12/1977
• Issued: 08/15/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: G&H Techniology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Automation Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Cooper, Earl A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lake, Roy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Desmond, E. F.
• Application Number:
  US05/832,717
• Time in Patent Office: 337 Days
• Field of Search: 339/143 R, 339/143 C, 339/258 R, 339/258 A, 339/90 C, 339/89 C, 339/89 M, 339/91 P, 29/629
• US Class Current: 439/607.18
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/187 with spring member in the socket
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/424 Securing in base or case composed of a plurality of insulating parts having at least one resilient insulating part
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/622 Screw-ring or screw-casing H01R13/623 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/629 Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances separate tools or apparatus H01R43/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/64 Means for preventing incorrect coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6583 with separate conductive resilient members between mating shield members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

An electrical connector having a plug means with a plug shell and a receptacle means with a receptacle shell receivable within said plug shell in coaxial relation for interconnecting a plurality of electrical conductors; and an annular resilient member between said plug and receptacle shells for providing a low resistance electrical connection between said shells, bridging the annular space therebetween, and shielding against transmission of radio frequencies. An annular biased frequency interference shielding member having securement tabs for mounting said annular member in said plug shell, and having folded resilient fingers having base and distal portions respectively engagable with said plug and receptacle shells under resilient pressure engagement. A method of making an annular resilient frequency shielding member whereby said folded resilient fingers are precisely dimensioned and whereby forming of said fingers about an axis provides minimal space intervals between adjacent edges of adjacent resilient fingers so that virtually 360° shielding integrity is afforded.

Claims

1. Means for shielding an electrical connector against interfering frequencies, the connector including plug and receptacle means, each having shell members relatively movable along an axis into and out of mating engagement, comprising:

an annular member including

a band having a cylindrical surface seated against the internal surface of one of said shells;

means connected with one edge portion of said band for securing the annular member to said one shell;

and a plurality of folded resilient fingers connected with the other edge portion of said band and in converging relation to said axis for biased pressure contact with said internal surface of said one shell and for biased pressure contact with other of said shells;

said resilient folded fingers having adjacent edges spaced apart to provide minimal openings between said fingers.

2. In a means as stated in claim 1 wherein

said folded resilient fingers include a first cantilever portion normally diverging from the internal surface of said one shell when said connector is in unmated relation.

3. In a means as stated in claim 2 wherein

said folded resilient fingers include a second cantilever portion folded over said first portion and normally diverging therefrom in connector unmated relation.

4. A means as stated in claim 3 wherein

said second cantilever portion includes a contact surface biased into pressure wiping contact with said other shell by the resiliency of both cantilever portions of each of said resilient fingers.

5. A frequency interference shield means for an electrical connector means including at least two members relatively movable along an axis into and out of mated and unmated positions, comprising:

a rectangular blank of conductive stock material having portions thereof removed to provide

a longitudinally extending uninterrupted base band of selected width located on one side of the longitudinal axis of said blank;

a plurality of spaced rectangular securement tabs extending laterally from said band at one side thereof;

and a plurality of elongated spaced trapezoidal shaped fingers extending from the other side of said band,

the trapezoidal shape of said fingers providing outwardly expanding openings between said fingers;

said securement tabs formed into a U-shaped section adapted to cooperate with an annular rib on one of said members;

said fingers being folded to form a spring having a first cantilever portion integral with said band and second cantilever portion joined with said first portion;

said second cantilever portion including a return curved finger extremity which terminates adjacent to the U-section securement tab;

said first cantilever portion being disposed at an angle to the plane of said band;

whereby when said shield means is formed into an annulus the adjacent edges of the fingers are moved into virtually uniform close proximity with each other and the area of the openings between said fingers in annular form is minimal.

6. In an electrical connector the combination of:

a plug means having a plug shell provided with an annular internal rib thereon;

a receptacle means having a receptacle shell provided with a cylindrical edge portion adapted to enter said plug shell and to define an annular space therebetween;

and means for shielding electrical conductors carried within said shells in mated relation;

said shielding means including

an annular band seated in electrical contact with said plug shell adjacent said rib;

means connecting said band to said annular rib;

and a plurality of folded resilient fingers extending from said band away from said rib,

said folded fingers being normally biased radially inwardly and out of contact with both plug and receptacle shells,

said cylindrical portion of the receptacle shell being received within said plug shell for biased pressure wiping contact with said resilient fingers and urging said resilient fingers into additional contact with said plug shell;

said folded fingers having a configuration minimizing the space interval between fingers.

7. Means for shielding an electrical connector against interfering frequencies, the connector including plug and receptacle means, each having shell members relatively movable along an axis into and out of mating engagement, comprising:

an annular member including

a band having a contact face seated against one of said shells;

means connected with one edge portion of said band for securing the annular member to said one shell;

and a plurality of folded resilient fingers connected with the other edge portion of said band for biased pressure contact with said one shell and for biased pressure contact with the other of said shells;

said resilient folded fingers having adjacent edges spaced apart to provide minimal openings between said fingers;

said securement means including U-shaped spaced tabs adapted to grasp an annular rib on said one shell.

8. A frequency interference shield means for an electrical connector means including at least two members relatively movable along an axis into and out of mated and unmated positions, comprising:

a rectangular blank of conductive stock material having portions thereof removed to provide

a longitudinally extending uninterrupted base band of selected width located on one side of the longitudinal axis of said blank;

a plurality of spaced securement tabs extending laterally from said band at one side thereof;

and a plurality of elongated spaced fingers of diminishing width connected to and extending from the other side of said band,

the shape of said fingers providing outwardly expanding openings between said fingers;

said securement tabs being formed into a shape adapted to grasp attachment means on one of said members;

said fingers being folded to form a compound spring having a first cantilever portion integral with said band and a second cantilever portion joined with said first portion;

said second cantilever portion including a return curved finger extremity which terminates opposite said base band;

said first cantilever portion being disposed at an angle to the plane of said band;

whereby when said shield means is formed into an annulus the adjacent edges of the fingers are moved into virtually uniform close proximity with each other and the area of the openings between said fingers in annular form in minimal.

9. In an electrical connector, the combination of:

a plug means having a plug shell provided with an internal attachment portion;

a receptacle means having a receptacle shell provided with a cylindrical edge portion adapted to enter said plug shell and to define an annular space therebetween;

and means for shielding electrical conductors carried within said shells in mated relation;

said shielding means including

an annular band seated in electrical contact with said plug shell adjacent said attachment portion;

means connecting said band to said attachment portion;

and a plurality of folded resilient fingers extending from said band away from said attachment portion,

said folded fingers being normally biased radially inwardly and out of contact with both plug and receptacle shells,

said cylindrical portion of the receptacle shell being received within said plug shell for biased pressure wiping contact with said resilient fingers and urging said resilient fingers into additional contact with said plug shell;

said folded fingers having a configuration minimizing the space interval between said fingers.

10. Shielding means for an electrical connector having plug and receptacle means adapted to be moved into mated or unmated condition;

comprising;

an annular member having an axis including

a cylindrical band coaxial therewith and having edge portions;

a plurality of securement portions connected with one edge portion;

and a plurality of resilient fingers connected with the other edge portion,

said resilient fingers each including a first finger portion resiliently connected to said band and converging toward said axis in one direction, and

a second finger portion back folded relative to said first portion and converging in the opposite direction toward said axis,

said finger portions having a configuration adapted to provide minimal openings between edges of adjacent fingers in mated condition of said connector.

11. Shielding means as claimed in claim 10 including

means connecting each resilient finger with the other edge portion of said band including

a metal section narrower than the width of the resilient finger.

12. In combination with a shielding means as stated in claim 10 including

stop means on said electrical connector for limiting resilient movement of said first finger portion.

13. Shielding means for electrical connector having plug and receptacle connector means adapted to be moved into mated or unmated condition;

comprising;

an annular member having an axis including

a cylindrical band coaxial therewith and having edge portions;

securement means for said band along one edge portion;

and a plurality of resilient fingers connected with the other edge portion of the band,

said resilient fingers each including a first finger portion resiliently connected to said band and converging toward said axis in one direction and adapted to contact one of the connector means; and

a second finger portion back folded relative to said first portion and converging in the opposite direction toward said axis and adapted to contact the other of said connector means, said finger portions having a configuration adapted to provide minimal openings between edges of adjacent fingers in mated condition of said connector, said finger portions being adapted to be urged in a radial direction with respect to said axis.

14. A shielding means for an electrical connector having plug and receptacle connector means adapted to be moved into mated or unmated condition;

comprising;

an annular member having an axis and including

a band coaxial therewith and having edge portions;

securement means for said band adapted to secure said band to one of said connector means;

and a plurality of resilient fingers connected with one edge portion of the band,

said resilient fingers each including a first finger portion resiliently connected to said band and converging toward said axis in one direction and adapted to contact one of the connector means; and

a second finger portion resiliently connected to said first finger portion in back folded relation thereto and converging in the opposite direction toward said axis and adapted to contact the other of said connector means in pressure wiping engagement therewith,

said finger portions having a configuration adapted to provide minimal openings between edges of adjacent fingers in mated condition of said connector means.