Switch activating plug for a coaxial connector

• US 4,861,284 A
• Filed: 04/14/1988
• Issued: 08/29/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AMP Limited
• Original Assignee: AMP Limited
• Inventors: Sheesley, Wilmer L., Pauza, William V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US07/181,458
• Time in Patent Office: 502 Days
• Field of Search: 439/578-585, 439/746-749, 439/872, 439/675, 439/470, 439/603
• US Class Current: 439/580
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/46 comprising switches

Abstract

A switch activating plug 10 comprises a housing 12, an inner conductor 17, an intermediate conductor 18 spaced apart from the inner conductor 17, and a dielectric member 19 supporting the inner and intermediate 17,18 conductors. The dielectric member 19 is constructed with axial cavities 88,92 for slidable assembly with the conductive parts of the inner and intermediate conductors 17,18 and in such manner that the inner and intermediate conductors 17,18 are maintained by the dielectric member 19 in electrical isolation from one another. The inner conductor 17 comprises a shaft 58 having a contact head 60 at one end and a terminal 62 at another end. The inner conductor 17 further comprises a flange 66 along the shaft 58 and an offset portion 64 of the shaft 68 spaced from the flange 66. Upon slidable assembly with the dielectric member 19, the flange 66 prevents movement of the inner conductor 17 in one direction, while the offset portion 64 of the shaft 58 prevents movement in an opposite direction, relative to the dielectric member 19. The intermediate conductor 18 includes a cantilevered lancet 80 projecting toward the dielectric member 19. Upon assembly with the dielectric member 19, the cantilevered lancet 80 abuts against an edge 96 of the dielectric member 19 to prevent further slidable movement of the intermediate electrical conductor 18 relative to the dielectric member 19.

Claims

1. An electrical plug with coaxial mating regions for engaging a corresponding connector, comprising

a housing having a longitudinal axis,

an inner conductor,

an intermediate conductor, and

a dielectric member for supporting said inner and intermediate conductors in said housing and for separating said inner and intermediate conductors from each other, said dielectric member including a first axial passageway for slidably receiving said inner conductor and a second axial passageway for slidably receiving said intermediate conductor,

said inner conductor comprising an elongated shaft and including a flange and a slanted central region along said elongated shaft, said flange coming into contact with a first edge region of said dielectric member when said inner conductor is moved in a first axial direction and said slanted central region of said shaft coming into contact with a second edge region of said dielectric member when said inner conductor is moved in an opposite axial direction thereby to prevent axial movement of said inner conductor,

said intermediate conductor including projecting means which abuts against a third edge region of said dielectric member to prevent movement of said intermediate conductor in an axial direction.

2. The plug of claim 1 wherein said projecting means comprises a cantilevered lancet.

3. The plug of claim 1 wherein said intermediate conductor comprises a pair of contact legs at one end and a flat terminal at another end, said projecting means extending out of the plane of said flat terminal.

4. The plug of claim 1 wherein said dielectric member includes a sleeve extending beyond said housing.

5. The plug of claim 1 wherein said inner conductor further comprises a contact head and a flat terminal.

6. The plug of claim 5 wherein said flange comprises an annular flange, said flange including a diverging side which abuts against said first edge region.

7. The plug of claim 1 further including a bayonet locking assembly connected to said housing.

8. The plug of claim 1 further including a cover for said housing.

9. The plug of claim 1 wherein said housing includes axially projecting legs and said dielectric member includes recessed portions on its outer surface, said legs being received with said recessed portions.

10. A switch activating electrical plug with coaxial mating regions for engaging a corresponding connector, comprising

a housing having a longitudinal axis,

an inner conductor,

an intermediate conductor, and

a dielectric member for supporting said inner and intermediate conductors in said housing and for separating said inner and intermediate conductors from each other, said dielectric member including a sleeve projecting beyond said housing for activating a switch when said plug is mated with a jack, said dielectric member including a first axial passageway for slidably receiving said inner conductor and a second axial passageway for slidably receiving said intermediate conductor,

said inner conductor comprising an elongated shaft having a contact head at one end and a terminal at another end, said shaft including a flange and a slanted central region spaced apart from said flange, said flange coming into contact with a first inner edge region of said dielectric member when said inner conductor is moved in a first axial direction and said slanted central region of said shaft coming into contact with a second inner edge region of said dielectric member when said inner conductor is moved in an opposite axial direction thereby to prevent axial movement of said inner conductor,

said intermediate conductor comprising a pair of contact legs at one end, a terminal at another end, and a cantilevered lancet projecting out of the plane of said terminal, said cantilevered lancet coming into contact with a third inner edge region of said dielectric member to prevent axial movement of said intermediate contact.

11. The plug of claim 10 wherein said flange comprises an annular flange having a diverging side which abuts against said first edge.

12. The plug of claim 10 further including a bayonet locking assembly for locking a jack to said housing.

13. A switch activating electrical plug with coaxial mating regions for engaging a corresponding connector, comprising

a housing having a longitudinal axis,

an inner conductor made from a metallic material,

an intermediate conductor made from a metallic material, and

a dielectric member made from a thermoplastic insulating material for supporting said inner and intermediate conductors in said housing and for separating said inner and intermediate conductors from each other, said dielectric member including a sleeve projecting beyond said housing for activating a switch when said plug is mated with a jack, said dielectric member including a first axial passageway for slidably receiving said inner conductor and a second axial passageway for slidably receiving said intermediate conductor,

said inner conductor comprising an elongated shaft having a contact head at a first end and a terminal at a second end, said shaft including a flange in the region of said first end, and a slanted central region between said flange and said terminal, said slanted central region forming a transition region in said shaft connecting said first and second ends, said flange coming in contact with a first inner edge region of said dielectric member when said inner conductor is moved in a first axial direction and said slanted central region of said shaft coming into contact with a second inner edge region of said dielectric member when said inner conductor is moved in an opposite axial direction thereby to prevent axial movement of said inner conductor,

said intermediate conductor comprising a pair of contact legs at one end, a terminal at another end, and a cantilevered lancet made from a metal projecting out of the plane of said terminal, said cantilevered lancet coming into contact with a third inner edge region of said dielectric member to prevent axial movement of said intermediate contact.