Connector

Claim 2

An electrical connector for coupling together the individual conductors in a pair of shielded multiconductor cables, said connector including a pair of electrically conductive housings having a passage extending axially inwardly from open ends thereof, said ends being adapted to mate with each other whereby said passages are aligned, annular faces on said ends of said housings surrounding the passages, said faces forming electrically conductive surfaces which register with each other when said housing are mated but are separated by a predetermined space therebetween, an electrically nonconductive insert disposed in each of said passages and having an electrically nonconductive face exposed through said open end of said passage, said exposed faces being surrounded by said electrically conductive annular faces and separated from each other by a predetermined space when the housings are mated, a plurality of electrical contacts in each of said inserts, each of said contacts being accessible through the face of the insert and positioned to mate with a corresponding contact in the other insert to form electrical circuits therebetween, means for electrically interconnecting the shielding on said cables with their respective housings and for interconnecting the conductors in said cables with the contacts in the respective inserts, and a seal disposed between said housings and including an electrical nonconductive resilient body and an electrically conductive outer rim, said body being disposed in the predetermined space between the faces of the inserts and compressed therebetween, said outer rim being disposed on the periphery of the body and surrounding said center, said rim being disposed in the predetermined space between the annular faces and positioned to engage said faces and maintain an electrically conductive path between the housings.

Claim 3

The connector of claim 1 including fastening means for securing said housings together with the ends thereof mated, said fastening means being effective to axially compress said resilient body and said rim whereby the axial forces on said seal are distributed throughout all portions of the seal.

Claim 4

The connector of claim 1 wherein said rim is an annulus having a pair of radially inwardly directed flanges which encompass the opposite sides of said periphery, said flanges being positioned to electrically engage the annular faces on the housing, fastening means for securing said housings together with the ends thereof mated, said fastening means being effective to compress said resilient body between the faces on said inserts whereby said body tends to flow radially outwardly into said rim and effective to compress said flanges against said periphery whereby said periphery tends to flow radially inward into said body.

Claim 5

An electrical connector for coupling a pair of shielded multiconductor cables together, said connector including a pair of electrically conductive housings adapted to be electrically connected to the shielding an electrically nonconductive insert inside each of said housings, each of said inserts having a face exposed through the end of its respective housing, an electrically conductive annular face on each of said housings surrounding the faces on the inserts, a plurality of electrical contacts in each of said inserts accessible through the exposed faces of the inserts, each of said electrical contacts being positioned to mate with a corresponding contact in the other insert to form electrical circuits therebetween, an electrically nonconductive seal having a center position disposed between the faces on said inserts and a peripheral portion disposed between the annular faces, said seal including a resilient material for sealing the faces of said inserts, an electrically conductive rim disposed between the annular faces on said housings and effective to maintain an electrically conductive path from the shielding on one cable through the housings to the shielding on the other cable, said rim surrounding the peripheral portion of the seal, and fastening means for securing said housings together and forcing them axially together whereby the faces of the inserts compress said seal therebetween and tend to cause the seal to flow radially outwardly toward said rim and force the rim against the annular faces and whereby the annular faces force the rim against the peripheral portion and tend to cause said portion to flow radially inwardly.

Claim 6

An electrical connector for coupling a pair of shielded multiconductor cables together, said connector including a pair of electrically conductive housings adapted to be electrically connected to the shielding an electrically nonconductive insert inside each of said housings, each of said inserts having a face exposed through the end of its respective housing, an electrically conductive annular face on each of said housings surrounding the faces on the inserts, a plurality of electrical contacts in each of said inserts accessible through the exposed faces of the inserts, each of said electrical contacts being positioned to mate with a corresponding contact in the other insert to form electrical circuits therebetween, an electrically nonconductive seal having a center position disposed between the faces on said inserts and a peripheral portion disposed between the annular faces, said seal including a resilient material for sealing the faces of said inserts, an electrically conductive rim disposed between the annular faces on said housings and effective to maintain an electrically conductive path from the shielding on one cable through the housings to the shielding on the other cable, said rim surrounding the peripheral portion of the seal, and fastening means for securing said housings together and forcing them axially together whereby the faces of the inserts compress said seal therebetween and tend to cause the seal to flow radially outwardly toward said rim and force the rim against the annular faces and whereby the annular faces force the rim against the peripheral portion and tend to cause said portion to flow radially inwardly.

Claim 7

A combined seal and RF gasket for use in an electrical connector having a pair of housings, an electrically nonconductive insert within each housing having a face exposed through the end of its respective housing, a plurality of electrical contacts in each of said inserts positioned to mate with a corresponding contact in the other insert, an electrically conductive annular face on each of said housings surrounding the faces on the inserts, said combined seal and RF gasket including the combination of an electrically nonconductive member of resiliently deformable material, a center portion of said member being adapted to be disposed between the faces on said inserts, a peripheral portion of said member being adapted to be disposed between the annular faces on said housing, and an electrically conductive rim disposed on said peripheral portion, said rim being positioned to electrically engage the annular faces on said housings to maintain an electrically conductive path between said housings.

Claim 8

A combined seal and RF gasket for use in an electrical connector having a pair of housings, an electrically nonconductive insert within each housing having a face exposed through the end of its respective housing, a plurality of electrical contacts in each of said inserts positioned to mate with a corresponding contact in the other insert, an electrically conductive annular face on each of said housings surrounding the faces on the inserts, said combined seal and RF gasket including the combination of an electrically nonconductive member of resiliently deformable material, a center portion of said member being adapted to be disposed between the faces on said inserts, a peripheral portion of said member being adapted to be disposed between the annular faces on said housing, and an electrically conductive rim disposed on said peripheral portion, said rim being positioned to electrically engage the annular faces on said housings to maintain an electrically conductive path between said housings.

Claim 9

The combined seal and RF gasket of claim 5 wherein said rim includes a pair of resilient flanges which are disposed on the opposite sides of the peripheral portion for electrically engaging said annular conductive faces, said center portion being effective when axially compressed between the faces of the insert to tend to flow radially outwardly toward said rim and force said flanges axially against the annular faces, said flanges being effective when compressed between said annular faces to compress the peripheral portion therebetween whereby it tends to flow radially inwardly.

Claim 10

A combined seal and RF gasket for use in an electrical connector having a pair of electrically conductive housings, an electrically nonconductive insert within each housing having a face exposed through the end of its respective housing, a plurality of electrical contacts in each of said inserts positioned to mate with a corresponding contact in the other insert, an electrically conductive annular face on each of said housings surrounding the faces on the inserts, said combined seal and RF gasket including the combination of a substantially cylindrical resiliently deformable sealing member of an incompressible insulating material, an electrically conductive ring surrounding said sealing member, said ring having a hollow arcuate cross section with the open side surrounding the edge of said sealing member, said sealing member having apertures enabling said electrical contacts to pass therethrough, and raised bosses adjacent each aperture, whereby said inserts deform said bosses and cause radial deformation of said sealing member upon assembly of said connector.

Claim 11

A combined seal and RF gasket for use in an electrical connector having a pair of electrically conductive housings, an electrically nonconductive insert within each housing having a face exposed through the end of its respective housing, a plurality of electrical contacts in each of said inserts positioned to mate with a corresponding contact in the other insert, an electrically conductive annular face on each of said housings surrounding the faces on the inserts, said combined seal and RF gasket including the combination of a substantially cylindrical resiliently deformable sealing member of an incompressible insulating material, an electrically conductive ring surrounding said sealing member, said ring having a hollow arcuate cross section with the open side surrounding the edge of said sealing member, said sealing member having apertures enabling said electrical contacts to pass therethrough, and raised bosses adjacent each aperture, whereby said inserts deform said bosses and cause radial deformation of said sealing member upon assembly of said connector.

Claim 12

In the structure of claim 7, said ring closely encompassing the periphery of said sealing member and restraining radial deformation of said resilient sealing member.

Claim 13

In the structure of claim 8, said ring having slits in the arcuate walls enabling axial expansion of said ring by deformation of said sealing member to electrically contact said annular faces on said housings and maintaining electrical conductivity between said housings.

Claim 14

An electrical connector for coupling together the individual conductors in a pair of shielded multiconductor cables, said connector including a pair of electrically conductive housings having a passage extending axially inwardly from open ends thereof, said ends being adaptEd to mate with each other whereby said passages are aligned, annular faces on said ends of said housings surrounding the passages, said faces forming electrically conductive surfaces which register with each other when said housings are mated but are separated by a predetermined space therebetween, an electrically nonconductive insert disposed in each of said passages and having an electrically nonconductive face exposed through said open end of said passage, said exposed faces being surrounded by said electrically conductive annular faces and separated from each other by a predetermined space when the housings are mated, a plurality of electrical contacts in each of said inserts, each of said contacts being accessible through the face of the insert and positioned to mate with a corresponding contact in the other insert to form electrical circuits therebetween, means for electrically interconnecting the shielding on said cables with their respective housings and for interconnecting the conductors in said cables with the contacts in the respective inserts, and a seal disposed between said housings and including an electrically conductive outer rim and an electrical nonconductive resilient body having an annular periphery, said body being disposed in the predetermined space between the faces of the inserts and compressed therebetween, whereby the body flows radially outwardly toward the periphery when the inserts compress it therebetween, said outer rim having a pair of flanges surrounding the periphery of the body, said rim being disposed with said flanges engaging said faces and maintaining an electrically conductive path between the housings, said flanges compressing said periphery therebetween so as to force it to flow radially inwardly until said flows are balanced.

Claim 15

An electrical connector for coupling together the individual conductors in a pair of shielded multiconductor cables, said connector including a pair of electrically conductive housings having a passage extending axially inwardly from open ends thereof, said ends being adaptEd to mate with each other whereby said passages are aligned, annular faces on said ends of said housings surrounding the passages, said faces forming electrically conductive surfaces which register with each other when said housings are mated but are separated by a predetermined space therebetween, an electrically nonconductive insert disposed in each of said passages and having an electrically nonconductive face exposed through said open end of said passage, said exposed faces being surrounded by said electrically conductive annular faces and separated from each other by a predetermined space when the housings are mated, a plurality of electrical contacts in each of said inserts, each of said contacts being accessible through the face of the insert and positioned to mate with a corresponding contact in the other insert to form electrical circuits therebetween, means for electrically interconnecting the shielding on said cables with their respective housings and for interconnecting the conductors in said cables with the contacts in the respective inserts, and a seal disposed between said housings and including an electrically conductive outer rim and an electrical nonconductive resilient body having an annular periphery, said body being disposed in the predetermined space between the faces of the inserts and compressed therebetween, whereby the body flows radially outwardly toward the periphery when the inserts compress it therebetween, said outer rim having a pair of flanges surrounding the periphery of the body, said rim being disposed with said flanges engaging said faces and maintaining an electrically conductive path between the housings, said flanges compressing said periphery therebetween so as to force it to flow radially inwardly until said flows are balanced.

Claim 16

A combined seal and RF gasket for use in an electrical connector having a pair of electrically conductive housings, an electrically nonconductive insert within each housing having a face exposed through the end of its respective housing, a plurality of electrical contacts in each of said inserts positioned to mate with a corresponding contact in the other insert, an electrically conductive annular face on each of said housings surrounding the faces on the inserts, said combined seal and RF gasket including the combination of a substantially cylindrical resiliently deformable sealing member of an incompressible insulating material having a main portion and a relatively thinner edge portion, an electrically conductive ring surrounding said sealing member, said ring having a hollow arcuate cross section with the open side surrounding the edge portion of said sealing member.

Claim 17

A combined seal and RF gasket for use in an electrical connector having a pair of electrically conductive housings, an electrically nonconductive insert within each housing having a face exposed through the end of its respective housing, a plurality of electrical contacts in each of said inserts positioned to mate with a corresponding contact in the other insert, an electrically conductive annular face on each of said housings surrounding the faces on the inserts, said combined seal and RF gasket including the combination of a substantially cylindrical resiliently deformable sealing member of an incompressible insulating material having a main portion and a relatively thinner edge portion, an electrically conductive ring surrounding said sealing member, said ring having a hollow arcuate cross section with the open side surrounding the edge portion of said sealing member.

Claim 18

An electrical connector for coupling a pair of shielded multiconductor cables together, said connector including a pair of electrically conductive housings adapted to be electrically connected to the shielding an electrically nonconductive insert inside each of said housing, each of said inserts having a face exposed through the end of its respective housing, an electrically conductive annular face on each of said housings surrounding the faces on the inserts, a plurality of electrical contacts in each of said inserts accessible through the exposed faces of the inserts, each of said electrical contacts being positioned to mate with a corresponding contact in the other insert to form electrical circuits therebetween, an electrically nonconductive seal having a center portion disposed between the faces on said inserts and a peripheral portion thinner than said center portion disposed between the annular faces, said seal including a resilient material for sealing the faces of said inserts, an electrically conductive rim disposed between the annular faces on said housings and effective to maintain an electrically conductive path from the shielding on one cable through the housings to the shielding on the other cable, said rim surrounding the peripheral portioN of the seal, and fastening for securing said housings together and forcing them axially together whereby the faces of the inserts compress said seal therebetween and tend to cause the seal to flow radially outwardly toward said rim and force the rim against the annular faces and whereby the annular faces force the rim against the peripheral portion and tend to cause said portion to flow radially inwardly.

Claim 19

An electrical connector for coupling a pair of shielded multiconductor cables together, said connector including a pair of electrically conductive housings adapted to be electrically connected to the shielding an electrically nonconductive insert inside each of said housing, each of said inserts having a face exposed through the end of its respective housing, an electrically conductive annular face on each of said housings surrounding the faces on the inserts, a plurality of electrical contacts in each of said inserts accessible through the exposed faces of the inserts, each of said electrical contacts being positioned to mate with a corresponding contact in the other insert to form electrical circuits therebetween, an electrically nonconductive seal having a center portion disposed between the faces on said inserts and a peripheral portion thinner than said center portion disposed between the annular faces, said seal including a resilient material for sealing the faces of said inserts, an electrically conductive rim disposed between the annular faces on said housings and effective to maintain an electrically conductive path from the shielding on one cable through the housings to the shielding on the other cable, said rim surrounding the peripheral portioN of the seal, and fastening for securing said housings together and forcing them axially together whereby the faces of the inserts compress said seal therebetween and tend to cause the seal to flow radially outwardly toward said rim and force the rim against the annular faces and whereby the annular faces force the rim against the peripheral portion and tend to cause said portion to flow radially inwardly.