Electrical connector for a shielded cable

Claim 2

A connector for a cable of the type having an array of conductors and a shield. comprising: a shielding member arranged to surround the array of conductors, the shielding member having a flange that is electrically connectable to the shield; a dielectric casing surrounding the shielding member to form a plug-like terminal. the casing having a cutout exposing a portion of the shielding member: a latch pivotally mounted to the exterior of the casing; and. a receptacle having a latch camming surface thereon and a ground connection contact therein, the ground connection contact being disposed within the receptacle in a position registrable with the portion of the shielding member exposed by the cutout in the casing: movement of the terminal into the casing causing the latch to engage the camming surface and to pivot with respect to the terminal to facilitate introduction of the same into the receptacle into a position therein in which the exposed portion of the shielding member electrically engages the ground connection contact.

Claim 3

The connector of claim 1 wherein the latch is resiliently mounted to the casing and wherein the receptacle has an abutment surface disposed therein. the abutment surface being arranged such that the latch, upon clearing the camming surface, resiliently snaps into mated engagement against the abutment surface to hold the terminal in the receptacle with the ground connection contact in electrical engagement with the shielding member.

Claim 4

The connector of claim 2 wherein the edge of the casing is set back a predetermined distance from the shielding member to expose a peripheral portion thereof.

Claim 5

The connector of claim 1 wherein the edge of the casing is set back a predetermined distance from the shielding member to expose a peripheral portion thereof.

Claim 6

The connector of claim 1 wherein the axis of the cable is substantially parallel to the axis of the terminal.

Claim 7

The connector of claim 1 wherein the axis of the cable is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the terminal.

Claim 8

The connector of claim 1 wherein the receptacle has an upstanding wall therein, the wall being adapted to carry an array of pin connectors. each pin connector being electrically engagable with one of the array of conductors of the cable.

Claim 9

The connector of claim 2 wherein the receptacle has an upstanding wall therein, the wall being adapted to carry an array of pin connectors. each pin connector being electrically engagable with one of the array of conductors of the cable.

Claim 10

The connector of claim 5 wherein the receptacle has an upstanding wall therein, the wall being adapted to carry an array of pin connectors. each pin connector being electrically engagable with one of the array of conductors of the cable.

Claim 11

The connector of claim 6 wherein the receptacle has an upstanding wall therein. the wall being adapted to carry an array of pin connectors. each pin connector being electrically engagable with one of the array of conductors of the cable.

Claim 12

The connector of claim 3 wherein the receptacle has an upstanding wall therein, the wall being adapted to carry an array of pin connectors. each pin connector being electrically engagable with one of the array of conductors of the cable with the pin connectors being surrounded by the peripheral portion of the shielding member.

Claim 13

The connector of claim 4 wherein the receptacle has an upstanding wall therein, the wall being adapted to carry an array of pin connectors. each pin connector being electrically engagable with one of the array of conductors of the cable with the pin connectors being surrounded by the peripheral portion of the shielding member.

Claim 14

A connector for a cable of the type having an array of conductors and a shield. comprising: a housing adapted to receive each of the conductors in the array: a shielding member surrounding the housing. the shielding member having a flange that is electrically connectable to the shield: a dielectric casing surrounding the shielding member to form a plug-like terminal. the casing having a cutout exposing a portion of the shielding member, the casing being set back from the edge of the shielding member to expose a peripheral portion thereof communicating with the portion exposed by the cutout: a resilient latch pivotally connected to the exterior of the casing: and. a receptacle having a latch camming surface and an abutment surface therein, a ground connection contact disposed within the receptacle in a position registrable with the portion of the shielding member exposed by the cutout in the casing, an array of pin connectors registrable with the housing to interconnect one-to-one with the conductors received thereby; movement of the terminal into the receptacle causing the latch to engage the camming surface and to pivot with respect to the casing to facilitate introduction of the terminal into the receptacle, the latch upon clearing the camming surface resiliently snapping into latched engagement against the abutment surface to hold the terminal in the receptacle with the ground connection contact in electrical engagement with the shielding member and the pin connectors in engagement with conductors in the housing, the peripheral portion of the shielding member surrounding the pin connectors.

Claim 15

A connector for a cable of the type having an array of conductors and a shield. comprising: a housing adapted to receive each of the conductors in the array: a shielding member surrounding the housing. the shielding member having a flange that is electrically connectable to the shield: a dielectric casing surrounding the shielding member to form a plug-like terminal. the casing having a cutout exposing a portion of the shielding member, the casing being set back from the edge of the shielding member to expose a peripheral portion thereof communicating with the portion exposed by the cutout: a resilient latch pivotally connected to the exterior of the casing: and. a receptacle having a latch camming surface and an abutment surface therein, a ground connection contact disposed within the receptacle in a position registrable with the portion of the shielding member exposed by the cutout in the casing, an array of pin connectors registrable with the housing to interconnect one-to-one with the conductors received thereby; movement of the terminal into the receptacle causing the latch to engage the camming surface and to pivot with respect to the casing to facilitate introduction of the terminal into the receptacle, the latch upon clearing the camming surface resiliently snapping into latched engagement against the abutment surface to hold the terminal in the receptacle with the ground connection contact in electrical engagement with the shielding member and the pin connectors in engagement with conductors in the housing, the peripheral portion of the shielding member surrounding the pin connectors.

Claim 16

The connector of claim 13 wherein the receptacle has a wall therein which carries the array of pin connectors.

Claim 17

The connector of claim 13 wherein the axis of the cable is substantially parallel to the axis of the terminal.

Claim 18

The connector of claim 14 wherein the axis of the cable is substantially parallel to the axis of the terminal.

Claim 19

The connector of claim 13 wherein the axis of the cable is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the terminal.

Claim 20

The connector of claim 14 wherein the axis of the cable is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the terminal.