Self-seating connector adapter

• US 5,435,760 A
• Filed: 01/24/1995
• Issued: 07/25/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sunbank Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sunbank Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Miklos, Alan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHIEM M
• Application Number:
  US08/377,488
• Time in Patent Office: 182 Days
• Field of Search: 439/312, 439/320, 439/321, 439/323, 439/469, 439/470, 439/472, 439/904, 439/905
• US Class Current: 439/321
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/516 Means for holding or embracing insulating body, e.g. casing , hoods
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/622 Screw-ring or screw-casing H01R13/623 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/625 Casing or ring with bayonet engagement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/905 Axially joined sections

Abstract

A self-seating backshell includes a backshell body, a coupling ring, and a spring. The backshell body has a first plurality of teeth. The coupling ring is mounted on the backshell body for coupling the backshell body to an electrical connector. The electrical connector has a second plurality of teeth. The first plurality of teeth are arranged to seat against the second plurality of teeth. A spring retains the coupling ring on the backshell body and biases the first plurality of teeth into seating engagement against the second plurality of teeth even though the first plurality of teeth initially are not properly seated against the second plurality of teeth.

Claims

1. A self-seating electrical adapter comprising:

an adapter body;

coupling means for coupling the adapter body to an electrical connector; and

,

biasing means cooperating with the adapter body and the coupling means for biasing the adapter body into proper seating engagement against the electrical connector even though the adapter body initially is not properly seated against the electrical connector and for preventing separation of the coupling means from the adapter body by interfering with the adapter body in first and second opposing directions.

2. The self-seating electrical adapter of claim 1 wherein one of the adapter body and the coupling means comprises a flange the flange and the biasing means being arranged to cooperate in order to capture the coupling means on the adapter body in the first opposing direction.

3. The self-seating electrical adapter of claim 2 wherein the biasing means comprises a wave spring.

4. The self-seating electrical adapter of claim 2 further comprising rotation resisting means for resisting rotation between the coupling means and the adapter body.

5. The self-seating electrical adapter of claim 4 wherein the rotation resisting means comprises rotation resisting elements on the adapter body and a clip on the coupling means, the rotation resisting elements being arranged so that, when the clip engages the rotation resisting elements, relative movement between the adapter body and the coupling means is resisted.

6. The self-seating electrical adapter of claim 5 wherein the rotation resisting elements comprise teeth arranged around a perimeter of the adapter body.

7. The self-seating electrical adapter of claim 6 wherein the biasing means comprises a wave spring.

8. The self-seating electrical adapter of claim 1 further comprising rotation resisting means for resisting rotation between the coupling means and the adapter body.

9. The self-seating electrical adapter of claim 8 wherein the rotation resisting means comprises rotation resisting elements on the adapter body and a clip on the coupling means, the rotation resisting elements being arranged so that, when the clip engages the rotation resisting elements, relative movement between the adapter body and the coupling means is resisted.

10. The self-seating electrical adapter of claim 9 wherein the rotation resisting elements comprise teeth arranged around a perimeter of the adapter body.

11. The self-seating electrical adapter of claim 1 wherein the biasing means comprises a wave spring.

12. The self-seating electrical adapter of claim 3 wherein the wave spring has an outer perimeter, an inner perimeter, and first and second surfaces extending between the outer and inner perimeters, wherein the first and second surfaces are oppositely facing surfaces, wherein the coupling means has a recess to receive the outer perimeter of the wave spring, and wherein the first surface of the wave spring engages the adapter body in order to prevent separation of the coupling means from the adapter body in the first direction.

13. The self-seating electrical adapter of claim 7 wherein the wave spring has an outer perimeter, an inner perimeter, and first and second surfaces extending between the outer and inner perimeters, wherein the first and second surfaces are oppositely facing surfaces, wherein the coupling means has a recess to receive the outer perimeter of the wave spring, and wherein the first surface of the wave spring engages the adapter body in order to prevent separation of the coupling means from the adapter body in the first direction.

14. The self-seating electrical adapter of claim 11 wherein the wave spring has an outer perimeter, an inner perimeter, and first and second surfaces extending between the outer and inner perimeters, wherein the first and second surfaces are oppositely facing surfaces, wherein the coupling means has a recess to receive the outer perimeter of the wave spring, and wherein the first surface of the wave spring engages the adapter body in order to prevent separation of the coupling means from the adapter body in the first direction.

15. A self-seating electrical adapter comprising:

an adapter body having first engaging elements thereon;

coupling means for coupling the adapter body to an electrical connector, wherein the electrical connector has second engaging elements thereon, wherein the first engaging elements are arranged to seat against the second engaging elements, and wherein the adapter body and the coupling means are arranged without interference in at least a first direction such that the adapter body and the coupling means are separatable in the first direction; and

,

biasing means cooperating with the adapter body and the coupling means for biasing the first engaging elements into seating engagement with the second engaging elements even though the first engaging elements of the adapter body initially are not properly seated against the second engaging elements of the electrical connector and for preventing separation between the coupling means and the adapter body in the first direction.

16. The self-seating electrical adapter of claim 15 wherein one of the adapter body and the coupling means comprises a flange preventing separation of the coupling means from the adapter the flange and the biasing means being arranged to cooperate in order to capture the coupling means on the adapter body in the first direction.

17. The self-seating electrical adapter of claim 16 wherein the biasing means comprises a wave spring.

18. The self-seating electrical adapter of claim 16 further comprising rotation resisting means for resisting rotation between the coupling means and the adapter body.

19. The self-seating electrical adapter of claim 18 wherein the rotation resisting means comprises rotation resisting elements on the adapter body and a clip on the coupling means, the rotation resisting elements being arranged so that, when the clip engages the rotation resisting elements, relative movement between the adapter body and the coupling means is resisted.

20. The self-seating electrical adapter of claim 19 wherein the rotation resisting elements comprise teeth arranged around a perimeter of the adapter body.

21. The self-seating electrical adapter of claim 20 wherein the biasing means comprises a wave spring.

22. The self-seating electrical adapter of claim 15 further comprising rotation resisting means for resisting rotation between the coupling means and the adapter body.

23. The self-seating electrical adapter of claim 22 wherein the rotation resisting means comprises rotation resisting elements on the adapter body and a clip on the coupling means, the rotation resisting elements being arranged so that, when the clip engages the rotation resisting elements, relative movement between the adapter body and the coupling means is resisted.

24. The self-seating electrical adapter of claim 23 wherein the rotation resisting elements comprise teeth arranged around a perimeter of the adapter body.

25. The self-seating electrical adapter of claim 15 wherein the biasing means comprises a wave spring.

26. The self-seating electrical adapter of claim 17 wherein the wave spring has an outer perimeter, an inner perimeter, and first and second surfaces extending between the outer and inner perimeters, wherein the first and second surfaces are oppositely facing surfaces, wherein the coupling means has a recess to receive the outer perimeter of the wave spring, and wherein the first surface of the wave spring engages the adapter body in order to prevent separation of the coupling means from the adapter body in the first direction.

27. The self-seating electrical adapter of claim 21 wherein the wave spring has an outer perimeter, an inner perimeter, and first and second surfaces extending between the outer and inner perimeters, wherein the first and second surfaces are oppositely facing surfaces, wherein the coupling means has a recess to receive the outer perimeter of the wave spring, and wherein the first surface of the wave spring engages the adapter body in order to prevent separation of the coupling means from the adapter body in the first direction.

28. The self-seating electrical adapter of claim 25 wherein the wave spring has an outer perimeter, an inner perimeter, and first and second surfaces extending between the outer and inner perimeters, wherein the first and second surfaces are oppositely facing surfaces, wherein the coupling means has a recess to receive the outer perimeter of the wave spring, and wherein the first surface of the wave spring engages the adapter body in order to prevent separation of the coupling means from the adapter body in the first direction.

29. A self-seating backshell comprising:

a backshell body having a first plurality of teeth and having first and second ends;

a coupling ring mounted on the backshell body and arranged to couple the backshell body to an electrical connector, wherein the coupling ring has first and second ends, wherein the backshell body and the coupling ring are formed so that the first end of the backshell body may be inserted in a first direction through the second end of the coupling ring without interference, wherein the electrical connector has a second plurality of teeth, and wherein the first plurality of teeth are arranged to seat against the second plurality of teeth; and

,

a wave spring arranged to bias the backshell body toward the electrical connector so that the first plurality of teeth seat against the second plurality of teeth even though the first plurality of teeth initially are not properly seated against the second plurality of teeth, wherein the wave spring has an outer perimeter, an inner perimeter, and first and second surfaces extending between the outer and inner perimeters, wherein the first and second surfaces are oppositely facing surfaces, wherein the coupling ring has a recess to receive the outer perimeter of the wave spring, and wherein the first surface of the wave spring engages the backshell body in order to prevent separation of the coupling ring from the backshell body in a second direction which is substantially opposite to the first direction.

30. The self-seating backshell of claim 29 wherein the backshell body comprises a flange for preventing separation of the coupling ring from the backshell body in the first direction, and wherein the flange and the wave spring are arranged to cooperate in order to capture the coupling ring on the backshell body.

31. The self-seating backshell of claim 30 further comprising rotation resisting means for resisting rotation between the coupling ring and the backshell body.

32. The self-seating backshell of claim 31 wherein the rotation resisting means comprises rotation resisting elements on the backshell body and a clip on the coupling ring, the rotation resisting elements being arranged so that, when the clip engages the rotation resisting elements, relative movement between the backshell body and the coupling ring is resisted.

33. The self-seating backshell of claim 32 wherein the rotation resisting elements comprise teeth arranged around a perimeter of the backshell body.

34. The self-seating backshell of claim 29 further comprising rotation resisting means for resisting rotation between the coupling ring and the backshell body.

35. The self-seating backshell of claim 34 wherein the rotation resisting means comprises rotation resisting elements on the backshell body and a clip on the coupling ring, the rotation resisting elements being arranged so that, when the clip engages the rotation resisting elements, relative movement between the backshell body and the coupling ring is resisted.

36. The self-seating backshell of claim 35 wherein the rotation resisting elements comprise teeth arranged around a perimeter of the backshell body.

37. A self-seating electrical adapter comprising:

an adapter body;

coupling means for coupling the adapter body to an electrical connector; and

,

biasing means cooperating with the adapter body and the coupling means for biasing the adapter body into proper seating engagement against the electrical connector even though the adapter body initially is not properly seated against the electrical connector and for solely preventing separation of the coupling means from the adapter body in at least a first direction.