Coax connector assembly

• US 5,203,717 A
• Filed: 04/21/1992
• Issued: 04/20/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Woven Electronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Woven Electronics Corporation
• Inventors: DeYoung, Clifford L., Beck, Herbert C., Shasteen, Sam S.
• Primary Examiner(s): PIRLOT, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US07/873,342
• Time in Patent Office: 364 Days
• Field of Search: 439/449-452, 439/457-460, 439/456, 439/586, 439/587, 439/578, 439/271, 439/274, 439/275, 439/427, 439/719
• US Class Current: 439/460
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5812 the cable clamping being achieved by mounting the separate part on the housing of the coupling device

Abstract

A coax retention comb adapted to be fittingly engaged within an interior area of a back shell of a coax assembly. The comb includes a plurality of slots formed across its top and bottom surfaces, the slots are vertically offset from each other and are tapered inwardly from rear to front which are adapted to receive an insulated coaxial wire. The coaxial wire has a diameter slightly larger that the inward tapered end of the slots so that the tapered ends are expanded where the wires are inserted therein. The interior area of the back shell is of a size which forces the comb back into its original configuration when the comb is fitted therein. This causes the inwardly tapered ends of the slots to bite into the insulation of the wires which fixedly position the wires relative to the comb.

Claims

1. A connector assembly comprising:

a non-conductive housing which includes a multi-position connector and a back shell;

said back shell having a hollow interior with a forward opening which receives a contact portion of said connector and a rearward opening through which insulated wires extend;

a multi-wire retention comb having a plurality of slots fittingly received within said hollow interior, said slots are adapted to each receive one of said wires substantially adjacent an end thereof and to hold said wire ends in fixed relationship;

said slots are tapered inwardly longitudinally along their length from a first end toward a second end to form an inwardly tapered and protruding portion so that when said wires are positioned within said slots to extend substantially longitudinally thereof and said comb is positioned within said back shell, said protruding portion of each of said slots bites into said insulation of said respective wire to provide positive retention of said wires in said fixed relationship.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said connector and said back shell are permanently connected.

3. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said comb comprises a plurality of horizontal rows of said slots arranged along different vertical planes.

4. The connector assembly of claim 3 wherein said slots are vertically offset across the width of said comb.

5. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said comb comprises an upper surface, a lower surface, opposite side surfaces, a front surface and a rear surface, said slots are formed in said upper and lower surfaces and taper inwardly from said back surface toward said front surface.

6. The connector assembly of claim 5 wherein said hollow interior is configurated and sized to receive said comb with minimum frictional contact when said comb is absent said wires.

7. The connector assembly of claim 6 wherein said slots are expanded by said wires at said tapered end when said wires are inserted therein so that said side surfaces are forced outwardly whereby when said wire filled comb is inserted in said hollow interior, said side surfaces are forced inwardly back into their normal position thereby causing said tapered ends to bite into said insulation.

8. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said wires comprise dielectric foam core.

9. The connector assembly of claim 8 wherein said insulation comprises an extruded plastic.

10. The connector assembly of claim 9 wherein said plastic is PVC.

11. A retention comb adapted to be fittingly engaged within an interior area of a back shell of a connector assembly:

said comb includes a front and a rear surface and top and bottom surfaces, a plurality of slots are formed across at least one of said top and bottom surfaces, said slots are tapered inwardly from said rear towards said front surface to define an inwardly projecting portion;

said slots are adapted to receive an insulated wire, said wire having a diameter slightly larger than the inward tapered portion of said slots so that said comb is expanded from an original configuration upon insertion of said wire; and

said interior area of said back shell is of a size to force said comb into substantially said original configuration when said comb is fitted into said interior area;

whereby

said inwardly tapered portions of said slots bite into said insulation so as to fixingly position and retain said wires within said comb.

12. The retention comb of claim 11 wherein said comb is rectangular, its width is greater than its length and height;

and

said slots are formed across the width of said comb to extend perpendicular thereto.

13. The retention comb of claim 11 wherein said comb and said back shell are plastic.

14. The coax assembly of claim 11 wherein said assembly is permanently united.

15. The retention comb of claim 11 wherein each of said slots are formed across both said top and bottom surfaces and area vertically offset from each other.

16. A assembly comprising:

a connector having a shaped rear surface from which a plurality of contacts extend, said connector including a shaped area adjacent said rear surface;

a back shell having a multi-dimensioned hollow interior, said interior including a forward area adapted to fittingly receive said shaped area of said connector, a rearward area of less dimension than said forward area which is adapted to receive a bundle of wires and an intermediate area adapted to fittingly receive a retention comb;

said retention comb having a plurality of slots in substantial coaxial longitudinal relationship, each adapted to receive one of said wires, each said slot being inwardly tapered substantially along its longitudinal axis from first of its ends toward a second of its ends so that said wires are fixedly engaged within said slots by substantially only said first of said ends when said comb is positioned within said back shell and are removably engaged within said slots when said comb is separated from said back shell;

whereby

said wires are easily positioned within said slots during forming of said assembly and are positively positioned within said slots relative to said contacts upon completion of said assembly.

17. The coax assembly of claim 16 wherein said assembly is plastic.

18. The coax assembly of claim 16 wherein there are a plurality of horizontal rows of slots which are vertically spaced and offset.

19. The coax assembly of claim 16 wherein said wires have a plastic insulation surrounding an elastic core.

20. The coax assembly of claim 16 wherein said comb acts to spread said wires so as to align the ends thereof with said contacts of said connector.