Device and method for protecting spring-biased conductor elements

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10122131-B2
Application number	US-201615153835-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 13, 2016
Priority date	May 15, 2015
Publication date	Nov 6, 2018
Grant date	Nov 6, 2018

Abstract

A connector including first and second connector portions each comprising electrically-connecting inner and outer conductors and an inhibitor interposing the inner and outer conductors configured to inhibit the inadvertent insertion of a non-mating connector between the inner and outer conductors. In one embodiment an insert is disposed over a plurality of spring-biased fingers of the outer conductor to prevent deformation of the fingers in an unassembled condition/state by insertion of the non-mating connector. In another embodiment, the insert includes a plurality of radial members disposed between a central hub and an outer ring to prevent insertion of the non-mating connector.

First claim

The following is claimed:

1. A connector comprising:
first and second connector portions each having an electrically connecting inner conductor and an electrically connecting outer conductor, one of the connector portions having an inner conductor socket and an outer conductor basket; and
an insert, disposed between the inner conductor socket and the outer conductor basket of the first and second connector portions, the inner conductor socket and outer conductor basket each having a plurality of axially projecting fingers wherein adjacent fingers of the socket and basket are separated by an axial slot, the insert configured to:
(i) engage at least one of the axially projecting fingers of the outer conductor basket to prevent plastic deformation of a spring-biased finger upon attempting to mate improperly sized connectors; and
(ii) disengage the at least one axially projecting fingers upon assembly of properly mated connectors.

2. The connector of claim 1
wherein the insert includes an insert ring configured to circumscribe the outwardly-biased spring fingers, the insert ring inhibiting the plastic deformation of the outwardly-biased spring fingers in the unassembled condition.

3. The connector of claim 1
wherein the basket fingers are outwardly biased, and
wherein the insert includes a hub configured to circumscribe the conductive socket, an insert ring configured to circumscribe the outwardly-biased basket fingers and at least one radial member projecting from the hub and having a radial dimension selectively sized to prevent at least partial insertion of one connector portion into another connector portion.

4. The connector of claim 2 wherein the insert ring includes a plurality of spiral springs projecting from a side of the insert ring, the spiral springs configured to collapse and nest in combination with each other and with the insert ring when the first and second connectors engage in an assembled condition.

5. The connector of claim 4 wherein the each of the spiral springs define an angle within a range of between about five about degrees (5°) to about forty-five degrees (45°).

6. The connector of claim 3 wherein insert includes a plurality of radial members disposed in the radial area between the inner conductor and the outwardly biased conductor of the outer conductor.

7. The connector of claim 4 wherein the each of the spiral springs is formed from a low dielectric material.

8. The connector of claim 4 wherein each of the spiral springs is formed from the group of: a thermoplastic, thermoset, polyamid, and phenolic materials.

9. The connector of claim 3 wherein the each of the radial members is formed from a low dielectric material.

10. The connector of claim 3 wherein the radial members are formed from the group of: a thermoplastic, thermoset, polyamide, and phenolic materials.

11. The connector of claim 1 wherein the connector includes first and second connector portions each having inner and outer conductors, the outer conductor of at least one of the connector portions comprising a plurality of spring-biased fingers,
wherein the insert comprises an insert ring and a plurality of spiral springs projecting axially from one side of the insert ring, the spiral springs nesting with each other and against the insert ring in response to an axial displacement applied to a side of the insert ring; and
wherein, in an unassembled condition, the insert ring is disposed around the spring-biased fingers to mitigate plastic deformation of the spring-biased fingers in a radially outboard direction, and
wherein, in an assembled condition, the insert collapses such that the spiral springs nest with the insert ring as the insert ring is forced downwardly by the outer conductor sleeve of the second connector portion as the first and second connector portions are coupled.

12. The connector of claim 11 wherein one of the conductors includes a connector basket having a plurality of outwardly biased spring fingers, each spring finger having a shouldered lip, the shouldered lips collectively defining a first diameter dimension, and wherein the insert ring circumscribes the spring fingers and a defines second diameter dimension, the first diameter dimension of the shouldered lips being greater than the second diameter dimension of the insert ring.

13. The connector of claim 1 wherein the connector includes first and second connector portions each having inner and outer conductors, the outer conductor of at least one of the connector portions comprising a plurality of spring-biased fingers,
wherein the insert includes a plurality of radial members projecting from an inner ring disposed around the inner conductor of one of the connector portions, the radial members defining a radial gap between an outer peripheral edge of the radial members and the outer conductor of the respective connector portion;
wherein, in an unassembled condition, the insert prevents ingress of an improperly-sized outer conductor sleeve, and
wherein, in an assembled condition, a cylindrical sleeve of the other connector portion slides into the radial gap defined between the radial members and the compliant fingers of the respective connector portion to make electrical contact between the outer conductors of the first and second connectors.

14. The connector of claim 13 wherein insert includes
a hub disposed over an inner conductor;
a ring disposed within a radial gap defined by and between the outwardly biased spring members and the inner conductor basket, and
a plurality of radial members disposed in the radial area between the inner conductor and the outwardly biased conductor of the outer conductor.

15. The connector of claim 13 wherein the insert includes between two (2) and six (6) radial members.

16. The connector of claim 13 wherein the hub, ring and plurality of radial members are integrally molded.

17. The connector of claim 16 wherein the radial members are formed from a low dielectric material.

18. The connector of claim 17 wherein the radial members is formed from the group of: a thermoplastic, thermoset, polyamide, and phenolic materials.

19. In a connector having first and second connector portions operative to transmit RF signals across an interface of the connector, at least one of the connector portions, comprising:
an inner conductor socket for transmitting the RF signals from one connector portion to the other connector portion;
an outer conductor operative to electrically ground the respective one of the connector portions;
the conductor socket and the conductor basket each having a plurality of axially projecting fingers wherein adjacent fingers of the socket and basket are separated by an axial slot; and
an inhibitor interposing the inner conductor socket and the outer conductor basket and comprising an insert configured to:
(i) engage at least one of the axially projecting fingers of the outer conductor basket to prevent plastic deformation of a spring-biased finger upon attempting to mate improperly sized connectors; and
(ii) disengage the at least one axially projecting fingers upon assembly of properly mated connectors.

20. The connector of claim 19 wherein the insert includes an insert ring configured to engage a base portion of the axially projecting.

21. The connector of claim 20 wherein the insert ring includes a plurality of spiral springs projecting from a side of the insert ring, the spiral springs configured to collapse and nest in combination with each other a

Assignees

• John Mezzalingua Ass Llc

Inventors

• Stevens Brandon M
• Wild Werner

Classifications

• H01R13/6583

  with separate conductive resilient members between mating shield members · CPC title

• H01R24/40 Primary

  specially adapted for high frequency · CPC title

• H01R2201/02

  for antennas · CPC title