Coaxial electrical connector

• US 5,704,809 A
• Filed: 07/26/1995
• Issued: 01/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation (Meggitt PLC)
• Original Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation (Meggitt PLC)
• Inventors: Davis, Jeffrey Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): SWANN, JUDY J
• Application Number:
  US08/506,938
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 439/578-585, 439/347, 439/349, 439/741, 439/744-747
• US Class Current: 439/578
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/434 by separate resilient locking means on contact member, e.g. retainer collar or ring around contact member
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/52 mounted in or to a panel or structure

Abstract

An electrical coaxial precision connector is disclosed that is manufactured from die castings and deep drawn parts. A first connector (80) includes a receptacle contact 86, a conductive body (88) attached at one end to the receptacle contact, a central pin contact (90), and a dielectric member disposed between the pin and the conductive body (88). A second connector (82), which mates with the first connector (80), includes a conductive body (160) having a pin contact (166) formed integral thereto, an inner receptacle contact (162), and a dielectric member (164) disposed between the receptacle contact and the conductive body (160). Each of the connectors includes a retaining ring that loosely encircles a recessed diameter (100, 170) in the connector and secures the connector in an opening (148, 202) in a housing (84). The retaining ring (130) includes camming surfaces (144, 146) on its ends (140, 142) and is made of a relatively soft plastic so that it does not mar the plated surfaces (100, 170) of the connector when assembled thereto.

Claims

1. A coaxial electrical connector comprising:

(a) a conductive body of unitary construction having an outer pin contact for interconnecting with a receptacle contact of a mating connector, an outer diameter adjacent said outer pin contact, and a hole extending axially therethrough, said hole having a counterbore in an end of said conductive body terminating in a shoulder;

(b) an inner receptacle contact arranged coaxially within said outer receptacle contact for interconnection with a pin contact of a mating connector;

(d) a dielectric member having a first end in engagement with said inner receptacle contact and said hole of said conductive body and a second end in engagement with said inner receptacle contact and said counterbore adjacent said end of said conductive body, including a flange intermediate said first and second ends in abutting engagement with said shoulder of said counterbore, and wherein said end of said conductive body is deformed to engage said second end of said dielectric member so that said dielectric member is retained between said shoulder and said deformed end; and

(e) wherein said conductive body includes a reduced diameter in said outer diameter and said connector includes a retaining ring, formed of a material which is softer than said reduced diameter of said conductive body and having radiused camming surfaces, surrounding a portion of said reduced diameter for holding said connector in an opening in a housing.

2. The connector according to claim 1 wherein said retaining ring is adapted to be loosely received in surrounding engagement with said reduced diameter of said shank, the surface of said reduced diameter being relatively soft and malleable, said ring having an outer wall and an inner wall terminating at a first edge and a second edge spaced from said first edge a distance that is smaller than said reduced diameter, said outer and inner walls being concentric with an axis of said ring,

wherein said first and second edges include said radiused camming surfaces that cause said first and second edges to deflect away from each other when said radiused camming surfaces are forced laterally against said reduced diameter until said edges pass over said reduced diameter and resiliently deflect toward each other into said loose surrounding engagement therewith, without marring said surface of said reduced diameter.

3. An electrical connector having a retaining ring adapted to be loosely received in surrounding engagement with a reduced diameter in an outer surface of said electrical connector for holding said connector within an opening in a housing, the surface of said reduced diameter being relatively soft and malleable characterized by:

said retaining ring being formed of a material which is softer than said reduced diameter and having an outer wall and an inner wall terminating at a first edge and a second edge spaced from said first edge a distance that is smaller than said reduced diameter,

wherein said first and second edges include rounded camming surfaces that cause said first and second edges to deflect away from each other when said rounded camming surfaces are forced laterally against said reduced diameter until said edges pass over said reduced diameter and resiliently deflect toward each other into said loose surrounding engagement therewith, without marring said surface of said reduced diameter.

4. A coaxial electrical connector having a conductive body being profiled to have a reduced diameter portion comprising:

a retaining ring surrounding a portion of said reduced diameter and adapted to be loosely received in surrounding engagement therewith, said retaining ring having an outer wall and an inner wall, each wall being concentric and terminating at respective first and second edges, each edge having rounded camming surfaces, and being spaced from the other a distance that is smaller than the reduced diameter,

whereby said rounded camming surfaces cause said first and second edges to deflect away from each other when said rounded camming surfaces are forced laterally against said reduced diameter until said edges pass over said reduced diameter and resiliently deflect toward each other into loose surrounding engagement therewith, without marring the surface of the reduced diameter portion.

5. A coaxial electrical connector having an inner conductor and an outer conductor separated by a dielectric material wherein the outer conductive is profiled to have a retaining ring receiving area, the electrical connector comprising:

a retaining ring adapted to be loosely received in surrounding engagement with the retaining ring receiving area, the ring having an outer wall and an inner wall concentric to the outer wall terminating at a first edge and a second edge spaced from the first edge to define a ring opening which is smaller than an outer diameter of the retaining ring receiving area,

wherein said first and second edges include camming surfaces that cause said first and second edges to deflect away from each other when said retaining ring receiving area is forced laterally into said ring opening until said edges pass over said retaining ring receiving area and resiliently deflect toward each other into loose surrounding engagement therewith, without marring said retaining ring receiving area.