Connector for a shielded coaxial cable

• US 5,061,207 A
• Filed: 09/27/1990
• Issued: 10/29/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
• Original Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
• Inventors: Wright, John O.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCGLYNN, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US07/588,864
• Time in Patent Office: 397 Days
• Field of Search: 439/578-585, 439/741
• US Class Current: 439/578
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/428 by resilient locking means on the contact members; by locking means on resilient contact members
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/40 specially adapted for high frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/48185 adapted for axial insertion of a wire end

Abstract

A connector for use in effecting a solderless electrical and mechanical connection to a shielded coaxial cable including retaining tabs which extend from a ferrule and engage a bushing to mechanically connect the ferrule to a connector housing and electrical contact tabs which extend from the retaining tabs to electrically and mechanically connect the ferrule to an inner lead such as a signal lead of the cable.

Claims

1. A shielded coaxial cable having a connector mechanically and electrically attached thereto comprising:

an elongated metal tubular connector housing extending along a longitudinal axis;

a plastic bushing internal of and attached at one end of said housing, said bushing having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough along said longitudinal axis;

a shielded coaxial cable having an end portion extending into an opposite end of said housing, an exposed length of an inner lead and an exposed length of an inner lead insulator extending from said end portion along said longitudinal axis and into a first end of said longitudinal bore, said end portion having a shield layer folded back upon an outer surface of said shielded coaxial cable between said outer surface and an inner surface of said housing; and

,

a tubular ferrule having one end which extends into an opposite second end of said longitudinal bore and includes at least one retaining tab which is biased away from said longitudinal axis against an inner bore wall of said longitudinal bore, said at least one retaining tab including an electrical contact tab which is biased toward said longitudinal axis against an outer surface of said inner lead.

2. The shielded coaxial cable of claim 1 wherein said elongated metal tubular connector housing further includes at least one ribbed portion expanded away from an outer surface of said housing.

3. The shielded coaxial cable of claim 1 wherein said at least one retaining tab includes a plurality of retaining tabs.

4. The shielded coaxial cable of claim 3 wherein each retaining tab of said plurality of retaining tabs is integral with said tubular ferrule and protrudes at an angle away from an axis of said tubular ferrule and away from said one end of said tubular ferrule, and further wherein each electrical contact tab is integral with a respective retaining tab and protrudes at an angle toward said axis of said tubular ferrule and away from said one end of said tubular ferrule.

5. The shielded coaxial cable of claim 1 wherein said longitudinal bore includes a first bore length adjacent said first end of said longitudinal bore and a second bore length adjacent said opposite second end of said longitudinal bore, said second bore length having a diameter which is greater than the diameter of said first bore length and extending to said first bore length to form an annular abutment.

6. The shielded coaxial cable of claim 5 wherein said at least one retaining tab includes a plurality of retaining tabs each of which is biased away from said longitudinal axis against an inner bore wall of said first bore length.

7. The shielded coaxial cable of claim 6 wherein each retaining tab of said plurality of retaining tabs in integral with said tubular ferrule and protrudes at an angle away from an axis of said tubular ferrule and away from said one end of said tubular ferrule, and further wherein each electrical contact tab is integral with a respective retaining tab and protrudes at an angle toward said axis of said tubular ferrule and away from said one end of said tubular ferrule.

8. The shielded coaxial cable of claim 7 wherein said tubular ferrule further includes a ribbed portion which engages said annular abutment.

9. The shielded coaxial cable of claim 1 wherein said housing includes a flanged end portion at said one end and at least one flexible protuberance spaced from said flanged end portion and extending into said housing from an inner surface of said housing, said plastic bushing being held in place between said flanged end portion and said at least one flexible protuberance.

10. The shielded coaxial cable of claim 9 wherein said longitudinal bore includes a first bore length adjacent said first end of said longitudinal bore and a second bore length adjacent said opposite second end of said longitudinal bore, said second bore length having a diameter which is greater than the diameter of said first bore length and extending to said first bore length to form an annular abutment.

11. The shielded coaxial cable of claim 10 wherein said at least one retaining tab includes a plurality of retaining tabs each of which is biased away from said longitudinal axis against an inner bore wall of said first bore length.

12. The shielded coaxial cable of claim 11 wherein each retaining tab of said plurality of retaining tabs is integral with said tubular ferrule and protrudes at an angle away from an axis of said tubular ferrule and away from said one end of said tubular ferrule, and further wherein each electrical contact tab is integral with a respective retaining tab and protrudes at an angle toward said axis of said tubular ferrule and away from said one end of said tubular ferrule.

13. The shielded coaxial cable of claim 12 wherein said tubular ferrule further includes a ribbed portion which engages said annular abutment.

14. The shielded coaxial cable of claim 13 wherein said tubular ferrule is a male ferrule.

15. The shielded coaxial cable of claim 13 wherein said tubular ferrule is a female ferrule.

16. A connector for electrical connection to a shielded coaxial cable which has an end portion including an exposed length of an inner lead and an exposed length of an inner lead insulator extending from said end portion and a shield layer folded back upon an outer surface of said shielded coaxial cable, said connector comprising:

an elongated metal tubular connector housing extending along a longitudinal axis;

a plastic bushing internal of and attached at one end of said housing, said bushing having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough along said longitudinal axis, said longitudinal bore having a first end for inserting said exposed length of said inner lead and said exposed length of said inner lead insulator when connecting said shielded coaxial cable to said connector; and

,

a metal tubular ferrule having one end for insertion into an opposite second end of said longitudinal bore when connecting said shielded coaxial cable to said connector, said tubular ferrule including at least one retaining tab which is biased away from said longitudinal axis and against an inner bore wall of said longitudinal bore during said insertion, said at least one retaining tab including an electrical contact tab which is biased toward said longitudinal axis against an outer surface of said inner lead during said insertion.

17. The connector of claim 16 wherein said elongated metal tubular connector housing further includes at least one ribbed portion expanded away from an outer surface of said housing.

18. The connector of claim 16 wherein said at least one retaining tab includes a plurality of retaining tabs.

19. The connector of claim 18 wherein each retaining tab of said plurality of retaining tabs is integral with said tubular ferrule and protrudes at an angle away from an axis of said tubular ferrule and away from said one end of said tubular ferrule, and further wherein each electrical contact tab is integral with a respective retaining tab and protrudes at an angle toward said axis of said tubular ferrule and away from said one end of said tubular ferrule.

20. The connector of claim 16 wherein said longitudinal bore includes a first bore length adjacent said first end of said longitudinal bore and a second bore length adjacent said opposite second end of said longitudinal bore, said second bore length having a diameter which is greater than the diameter of said first bore length and extending to said first bore length to form an annular abutment.

21. The connector of claim 20 wherein said at least one retaining tab includes a plurality of retaining tabs each of which is biased away from said longitudinal axis against an inner bore wall of said first bore length during said insertion.

22. The connector of claim 21 wherein each retaining tab of said plurality of retaining tabs is integral with said tubular ferrule and protrudes at an angle away from an axis of said tubular ferrule and away from said one end of said tubular ferrule, and further wherein each electrical contact tab is integral with a respective retaining tab and protrudes at an angle toward said axis of said tubular ferrule and away from said one end of said tubular ferrule.

23. The connector of claim 22 wherein said tubular ferrule further includes a ribbed portion for engagement with said annular abutment during said insertion.

24. The connector of claim 16 wherein said housing includes a flanged end portion at said one end and at least one flexible protuberance spaced from said flanged end portion and extending into said housing from an inner surface of said housing, said plastic bushing being held in place between said flanged end portion and said at least one flexible protuberance.

25. The connector of claim 24 wherein said longitudinal bore includes a first bore length adjacent said first end of said longitudinal bore and a second bore length adjacent said opposite second end of said longitudinal bore, said second bore length having a diameter which is greater than the diameter of said first bore length and extending to said first bore length to form an annular abutment.

26. The connector of claim 25 wherein said at least one retaining tab includes a plurality of retaining tabs each of which is biased away from said longitudinal axis against an inner bore wall of said first bore length during said insertion.

27. The connector of claim 26 wherein each retaining tab of said plurality of retaining tabs is integral with said tubular ferrule and protrudes at an angle away from an axis of said tubular ferrule and away from said one end of said tubular ferrule, and further wherein each electrical contact tab is integral with a respective retaining tab and protrudes at an angle toward said axis of said tubular ferrule and away from said one end of said tubular ferrule.

28. The connector of claim 27 wherein said tubular ferrule further includes a ribbed portion for engagement with said annular abutment during said insertion.

29. The connector of claim 28 wherein said tubular ferrule is a male ferrule.

30. The connector of claim 28 wherein said tubular ferrule is a female ferrule.