Float adapter for electrical connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9735521-B2
Application number	US-201615044769-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 16, 2016
Priority date	Jan 9, 2013
Publication date	Aug 15, 2017
Grant date	Aug 15, 2017

Abstract

A float adapter for an electrical connector that includes a conductive shell that has opposite first and second ends, and at least one insulator received in the conductive shell. The at least one insulator has an engagement end and an interface end opposite the engagement end. The interface end has a lead-in tip portion that extends outside of one of the first and second ends of the shell. The at least one insulator has an inner bore for receiving an inner contact. A retaining sleeve is disposed around the conductive shell, the retaining sleeve having an engagement member for engaging the at least one insulator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A float adapter for an electrical connector, comprising:
a conductive shell having opposite first and second ends;
at least one insulator received in said conductive shell, said at least one insulator having an engagement end and an interface end opposite said engagement end, said interface end having a lead-in tip portion extending outside of one of said first and second ends of said shell, said at least one insulator having an inner bore for receiving an inner contact;
an inner contact being received in said inner bore; and
a retaining sleeve disposed around said conductive shell, said retaining sleeve having an engagement member for engaging said at least one insulator.

2. A float adapter according to claim 1 , wherein
said engagement end of said at least one insulator having an engagement member corresponding to said engagement member of said retaining sleeve.

3. A float adapter according to claim 1 , wherein
said retaining sleeve has a ring-shaped body; and
said engagement member is a tab extending inwardly from said ring-shaped body.

4. A float adapter according to claim 3 , wherein
said tab of said sleeve extends through a corresponding slot in said conductive shell to engage said at least one insulator.

5. A float adapter according to claim 4 , wherein
said tab engages an annular groove disposed in said engagement end of said at least insulator.

6. A float adapter according to claim 1 , wherein
said lead-in tip portion of said interface end has a tapered outer surface terminating in an end face surface, and a shoulder remote from said end face surface defining an outer diameter that is larger than the inner diameter of said conductive shell.

7. A float adapter according to claim 6 , wherein
said end face surface of said interface end of said at least one insulator includes an interface opening in communication with said inner bore, said interface opening having an inner surface that tapers inwardly toward said inner bore; and said interface end of said insulator includes an inner stopping shoulder at said interface opening.

8. A float adapter according to claim 6 , wherein
said at least one insulator includes a reduced diameter middle portion between said engagement and interface ends, said reduced diameter middle portion defining an annular space between said at least one insulator and said conductive shell.

9. A float adapter according to claim 1 , wherein
each of said first and second ends of said conductive shell includes an annular lip.

10. A float adapter according to claim 9 , wherein
each of said first and second ends of said conductive shell having slots that define spring fingers.

11. A float, adapter according to claim 1 , wherein
said engagement end of said at least one insulator has an outer diameter than is substantially the same as said inner diameter of said conductive shell.

12. An electrical connector assembly, comprising:
a first connector having at least one contact extending into at least one cavity;
a second connector having at least one contact extending into at least one cavity; and
at least one float adapter coupling said first and second connectors, said float adapter including:
a conductive shell having opposite first and second ends;
first and second insulators received in said conductive shell, each of said first and second insulators having an engagement end and an interface end opposite said engagement end, said interface end having a lead-in tip portion extending outside of said first and second ends of said shell, respectively, each of said first and second insulators having an inner bore;

an inner contact received in said inner bore of both of said first and second insulators; and
a retaining sleeve disposed around said conductive shell, said retaining sleeve having first and second engagement members for engaging said first and second insulators, respectively.

13. An electrical connector assembly according to claim 12 , wherein
said engagement end of each of said first and second insulators has an engagement member corresponding to said first and second engagement members, respectively, of said retaining sleeve.

14. An electrical connector assembly according to claim 12 , wherein
said retaining sleeve has a ring-shaped body; and
each of said first and second engagement members of said retaining sleeve is a tab extending inwardly from said ring-shaped body.

15. An electrical connector assembly according to claim 14 , wherein
each of said tabs of said retaining sleeve extends through a corresponding slot in said conductive shell to engage said first and second insulators, respectively.

16. An electrical connector assembly according to claim 15 , wherein
each of said tabs engages an annular groove disposed in said engagement ends of said first and second insulators, respectively.

17. An electrical connector assembly according to claim 12 , wherein
each of said first and second insulators includes a reduced diameter middle portion between said engagement and interface ends, said reduced diameter middle portion defining an annular space between each of said first and second insulators, respectively, and said conductive shell.

18. An electrical connector assembly according to claim 12 , wherein
each of said engagement ends of said first and second insulators has an outer diameter than is substantially the same as an inner diameter of said conductive shell.

19. An electrical connector assembly according to claim 12 , wherein
each of said contacts of said first and second connectors is either a socket or pin; and
each end of said inner contact of said at least one float adapter is either a socket or pin.

20. An electrical connector assembly according to claim 12 , wherein
each of said first and second connectors is adapted to connect to a printed circuit board.

21. An electrical connector assembly according to claim 12 , wherein
wherein said at least one float adapter provides axial and radial float between said first and second connectors.

Assignees

• Amphenol Corp

Inventors

• Zhu Juliver
• He Harry
• Qin Leo
• Hoyack Michael A
• Barthelmes Owen R

Classifications

• H01R12/91

  allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating or self aligning (for coupling devices not specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R13/6315 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01R12/724

  containing contact members forming a right angle · CPC title

• H01R2103/00

  Two poles · CPC title

• H01R24/50

  mounted on a PCB [Printed Circuit Board] · CPC title

• H01R13/6581

  Shield structure · CPC title