Snap lock connector
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A socket, comprising:
- a socket housing;
an insulator disposed within said socket housing;
a first contact, wherein the insulator is configured to electrically insulate the first contact from the socket housing;
a lock ring disposed about a distal end of said socket housing; and
a shroud disposed about said distal end of said socket housing and said lock ring and moveable relative to said socket housing between a first position and a second position, said shroud having an outer wall and an inner wall, wherein, said shroud and said lock ring are configured so that when said shroud moves from said first position to said second position, said inner wall contacts said lock ring and causes said lock ring to flex outwardly, whereinthe socket is configured such that when a plug is inserted into the distal end of the socket and locked in place by the lock ring, the lock ring exerts an axial force on the plug, but the axial force does not cause a front surface of the plug to press against any (a) electrically conductive surface of the socket or (b) electrically conductive component of the socket.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention, in one aspect, provides a connector apparatus that can be used in, among other things, applications requiring RF or high-speed digital electrical signals.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. A socket, comprising:
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a socket housing; an insulator disposed within said socket housing; a first contact, wherein the insulator is configured to electrically insulate the first contact from the socket housing; a lock ring disposed about a distal end of said socket housing; and a shroud disposed about said distal end of said socket housing and said lock ring and moveable relative to said socket housing between a first position and a second position, said shroud having an outer wall and an inner wall, wherein, said shroud and said lock ring are configured so that when said shroud moves from said first position to said second position, said inner wall contacts said lock ring and causes said lock ring to flex outwardly, wherein the socket is configured such that when a plug is inserted into the distal end of the socket and locked in place by the lock ring, the lock ring exerts an axial force on the plug, but the axial force does not cause a front surface of the plug to press against any (a) electrically conductive surface of the socket or (b) electrically conductive component of the socket. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A socket, comprising:
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a housing having an annular groove formed in an inner surface of the housing; and an annular ground contact disposed in the annular groove, wherein the annular ground contact is arranged so that it is coaxial with the socket housing, the ground contact includes a first split ring, a second split ring and two or more generally U shaped contacts connecting the first split ring with the second split ring, and the first split ring and the second split ring have substantially the same inner and outer diameters, but the width of the first split ring is substantially greater than the width of the second split ring. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A connector apparatus comprising:
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a socket, comprising; a socket housing; an insulator disposed within said socket housing; a first contact disposed within said insulator; a lock ring disposed about a distal end of said housing; a shroud disposed about said distal end of said socket housing and said lock ring and moveable relative to said socket housing between a first position and a second position, said shroud having an outer wall and an inner wall, wherein, said shroud and said lock ring are configured so that when said shroud moves from said first position to said second position, said inner wall contacts said lock ring and causes said lock ring to flex outwardly; and a plug comprising; a generally cylindrical, conductive plug housing that houses an insulator and a contact disposed within the insulator, wherein, on its outer wall, the plug housing has a protuberance having a first sloping surface on one side thereof and a second sloping surface on an opposite side thereof, wherein, the socket is configured such that when the plug is inserted into the distal end of the socket and locked in place by the lock ring, the lock ring exerts an axial force on the protuberance of the plug housing, but the axial force does not cause the front surface of the plug housing to press against (a) any electrically conductive surface of the socket or (b) any electrically conductive component of the socket. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification