Fully insulated, fully shielded electrical connector arrangement

• US 5,618,208 A
• Filed: 06/03/1994
• Issued: 04/08/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Draeger Medical Systems Incorporated (FPS Vermögensverwaltung GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Medical Systems, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Rosenfeldt, Bernd, Crouse, Helen C., Naylor, Thomas K., Muz, Edwin
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, HIEN D
• Application Number:
  US08/253,653
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• Field of Search: 439/607, 439/608, 439/609, 439/610, 439/98, 439/101, 439/108, 439/931
• US Class Current: 439/607.17
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6584 formed by conductive elastomeric members, e.g. flat gaskets or O-rings
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6585 Shielding material individually surrounding or interposed between mutually spaced contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6593 the shield being composed of different pieces

Abstract

A shielded electrical connector having an elongated annular housing composed of an electrically insulative material molded so as to form an elongated structure for the connector and at least a portion of a grasp for a user of said connector. The housing defines outside and inside surfaces and front and rear ends for said connector. A contact holding portion composed of an electrically insulative material is positioned inside said annular housing and includes a plurality of electrically conductive signal contacts positioned therein so as to be completely surrounded by, yet spaced a distance away from, the inside surface of the housing. An elongated annular electrically conductive shield having inner and outer sides is insert molded with the housing so as to be disposed between its outside and inside surfaces. The elongated shield has a proximal end adapted for being coupled to a common shield associated with the plurality of signal conductors and a distal end extending to and encapsulated by the front end of the housing, yet the front end of the housing leaving an unencapsulated portion of the inside surface of the shield which is spaced a predetermined distance away from the front end of the housing. The un-encapsulated portion of the inside surface of the shield is adapted for making electrical contact with a shield of a mating multi-conductor connector so as to provide an effectively continuous conductive shield which completely surrounds the electrically conductive signal contacts.

Claims

1. A shielded electrical connector arrangement for defining a first connector, comprising:

an elongated annular housing portion composed of an electrically insulative material for forming an elongated structure for said first connector and at least a portion of a grasp for a user of said first connector, said housing having outside and inside surfaces and front and rear ends for defining said first connector;

a contact holding portion composed of an electrically insulative material positioned inside said annular housing portion, said contact holding portion including a plurality of electrically conductive signal contacts of a given length positioned therein in a longitudinal direction of said housing portion so as to be completely surrounded by, yet spaced a distance away from, the inside surface of said housing portion, with a rear end of each of said electrically conductive signal contacts adapted for being coupled to a respective one of a plurality of signal conductors having a common shield associated therewith, and a front end of each of said electrically conductive signal contacts extending in the direction of, but stopping a given distance short of, the front end of said housing portion; and

an elongated annular electrically conductive shield having inner and outer sides, disposed between the outside surface of said housing portion and said electrically conductive signal contacts so as to surround, yet be spaced away from, said electrically conductive signal contacts, said elongated shield having a rear end connected to said common shield associated with the plurality of signal conductors and a front end portion extending in the direction of the front end of said housing portion a predetermined distance past the front end of said electrically conductive signal contacts but stopping short of the front end of said housing portion, with the front end of said housing portion being in direct annular contact with the outer side of the front end portion of said elongated shield, wherein said housing portion provides direct support for the front end portion of said elongated shield, as well as a continuous insulation for covering said elongated shield, wherein the front end portion of said shield includes on an inside surface thereof an annular depression portion that is adapted to make electrical contact and latch with at least one tab-like protrusion of a shield of a mating multi-conductor connector so as to provide an effectively continuous conductive shield which completely surrounds said electrically conductive signal contacts over their given length and wherein the front end of said housing portion extends past a front-most tip portion of said front end portion of said elongated shield, thereby preventing a user from touching the front end portion of said elongated shield.

2. The connector arrangement of claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive signal contacts comprise pin terminals.

3. The connector arrangement of claim 1, wherein:

said shield is insert molded with said housing portion so that the inside surface of said housing portion insulates the shield over substantially the given length of the electrically conductive signal contacts.

4. The connector arrangement of claim 3, wherein:

a front-most tip portion of the front end portion of said elongated shield is bent radially and outwardly away from said contact holding portion.

5. The connector arrangement of claim 4, wherein:

said elongated shield is insert molded with said housing portion so that the inside surface of said housing portion is in direct contact with not only the outer side of said elongated shield, but also in direct contact with the inner side of said front-most tip portion of the front end of said elongated shield, whereby the front end of said housing portion encapsulates the front-most tip portion of said front end of said elongated shield therein.

6. The connector arrangement of claim 1, further including a second connector for mating with said first connector, said second connector comprising:

an elongated annular housing portion composed of an electrically insulative material for forming outer and inner surfaces and front and rear ends for defining said second connector;

a contact holding portion composed of an electrically insulative material positioned inside said annular housing portion, said contact holding portion including a plurality of electrically conductive signal contacts of a given length positioned therein in an axial direction of said housing portion so as to be completely surrounded by, yet spaced a distance away from, the inside surface of said housing, with a rear end of each of said electrically conductive signal contacts being coupled to a respective one of a plurality of signal conductors having a common shield associated therewith, and a front end of each of said electrically conductive signal contacts extending in the direction of, but stopping a given distance short of, the front end of said housing, with the housing portion, contact holding portion and the electrically conductive signal contacts of said first and second connector being dimensioned so as to make a physical and electrical mating connection therebetween; and

an elongated annular electrically conductive shield disposed in a space between the inside surface of said housing and said electrically conductive signal contacts so as to surround, yet be spaced away from, said electrically conductive signal contacts, said elongated shield having a rear end connected to said common shield associated with the plurality of signal conductors and a front end portion extending in the direction of said front end of said housing, the front end portion of said shield including at least one curved tab-like protrusion which extends into said space and is shaped so as to correspond with the shape of the annular depression portion in the elongated shield of said first connector, thereby forming a spring-like latch useful for making electrical connection to said annular depression portion in the shield of the first connector.

7. The connector arrangement of claim 6, wherein;

the shield of said first connector is insert molded with said housing portion so that the inside surface of said housing portion insulates the shield over the given length of the electrically conductive signal contacts;

the shield of said second connector comprises a plurality of said curved tab-like protrusions circumferentially arranged in said space about said electrically conductive signal contacts; and

said space is dimensioned so as to receive therein the front end of the housing portion of said first connector, thereby allowing the tab-like protrusions of the shield of said second connector to make a circumferential connection to the annular contact portion in the shield of said first connector, thereby providing for continuity of the electrically conductive shields of the first and second connectors when they are connected together, in a manner which also insulates a user of the connectors from their respective shields.

8. The connector arrangement of claim 1, wherein said grasp comprises a portion of said housing having an overmold thereon of a material which is softer than the material composing the housing portion.

9. The connector arrangement of claim 1, wherein said annular depression portion is positioned in a portion of said shield that extends past the ends of said electrically conductive signal contacts.

10. A shielded electrical connector arrangement comprising a first and second connector,

said first connector comprising:

an elongated housing portion composed of an electrically insulative material for forming an elongated structure for said first connector and at least a portion of a grasp for a user of said first connector, said housing having outside and inside surfaces and front and rear ends for defining said first connector;

a contact holding portion composed of an electrically insulative material positioned inside said annular housing portion, said contact holding portion including a plurality of electrically conductive signal contacts positioned therein so as to be completely surrounded by, yet spaced a distance away from, the inside surface of said housing portion, and with a front end of each of said electrically conductive signal contacts extending in the direction of, but stopping a given distance short of, the front end of said housing portion; and

an elongated annular electrically conductive shield having inner and outer sides, disposed between the outside surface of said housing and said electrically conductive signal contacts so as to surround, yet be spaced away from, said electrically conductive signal contacts, said elongated shield having a rear end extending in the direction of the rear end of said housing portion and a front end portion extending in the direction of the front end of said housing portion, with the front end of said housing portion being in direct annular contact with the outer side of the front end portion of said elongated shield, wherein said housing portion provides a continuous direct support for the front end portion of said elongated shield, as well as insulation for covering said elongated shield, wherein the front end portion of said shield includes on an inside surface thereof an annular depression portion that is adapted to make electrical contact with at least one tab-like protrusion of a shield of a mating multi-conductor connector and wherein the front end of said housing portion extends past a front-most tip portion of said front end portion of said elongated shield, thereby preventing a user from touching the front end portion of said elongated shield;

and said second connector comprising;

an elongated annular housing portion composed of an electrically insulative material for forming outer and inner surfaces and front and rear ends for defining said second connector;

a contact holding portion composed of an electrically insulative material positioned inside said annular housing portion, said contact holding portion including a plurality of electrically conductive signal contacts of a given length positioned therein in an axial direction of said housing portion so as to be completely surrounded by, yet spaced a distance away from, the inside surface of said housing, with a rear end of each of said electrically conductive signal contacts being coupled to a respective one of a plurality of signal conductors having a common shield associated therewith, and a front end of each of said electrically conductive signal contacts extending in the direction of, but stopping a given distance short of, the front end of said housing, with the housing portion, contact holding portion and the electrically conductive signal contacts of said first and second connectors being dimensioned so as to make a physical and electrical mating connection therebetween; and

an elongated annular electrically conductive shield disposed in a space between the inside surface of said housing and said electrically conductive signal contacts so as to surround, yet be spaced away from, said electrically conductive signal contacts, said elongated shield having a rear end connected to said common shield associated with the plurality of signal conductors and a front end portion extending in the direction of said front end of said housing, the front end portion of said shield including at least one tab-like protrusion which extends into said space for making an electrical connection to said annular contact portion in the shield of the first connector.

11. The connector arrangement of claim 10, wherein said annular depression portion in the shield of said first connector is positioned in a portion of said shield that extends past the ends of said electrically conductive signal contacts.

12. The connector arrangement of claim 10, wherein:

a front-most tip portion of the front end portion of said elongated shield of said first connector is bent radially and outwardly away from said contact holding portion.

13. The connector arrangement of claim 12, wherein:

said elongated shield of said first connector is insert molded with said housing portion so that the inside surface of said housing portion is in direct contact with not only the outer side of said elongated shield, but also in direct contact with the inner side of said front-most tip portion of the front end of said elongated shield, whereby the front end of said housing portion encapsulates the front-most tip portion of said front end of said elongated shield therein.