Universal sheath bond for communications cable

Claim 2

A universal attachment for bonding shielded cables enclosed in a sheath comprising: a first transversely curved conductive member adapted to be inserted beneath the shielding of said cable and having a post fixed thereto and adapted to extend outwardly through the cable sheath; a separate similarly transversely curved second conductive member having a hole therein adapted to be positioned over said post from the exterior side of the cable sheath; and means adapted to be placed on said post for tightly comprEssing said shielding and said sheath between substantially the entire juxtaposed curved surfaces of said first and second members whereby said first member is in electrical contact with said shielding and whereby said shielding and said sheath are firmly clamped together between said first and second members substantially throughout their juxtaposed surface areas to provide a high strength electrical and mechanical connection with a cable shield and sheath.

Claim 3

A universal attachment as defined in claim 1 wherein said second member further comprises: a plurality of sharp burrs extending inwardly from the curved inner surface thereof effective to dig into said plastiC sheath to prevent rotation of said second member while said locking nut is being tightened.

Claim 4

A universal attachment as defined in claim 1 wherein said second member further comprises: a hook shaped extension positioned adjacent one end of said second conductive member and extending away from said cable when said member is secured thereto and having a radial height effective to hold captive a clamp positioned around said cable over said second member so as to be held captive between said post and said extension.

Claim 5

A universal attachment as defined in claim 1 characterized in the provision of a third member of conductive material having a plurality of pointed burrs extending from one face thereof and adapted to be positioned between the inner surface of the cable shielding and said first member effective to dig into the inwardly facing surface of said shielding to assure electrical continuity between said shielding and said first member even through said inner surface is coated with a non-conductive film.

Claim 6

A universal attachment as defined in claim 1 further comprising: a third member of conductive material having a hole therein adapted to be positioned over said post and inserted beneath said shielding of said cable with said first member, said third member having a plurality of pointed burrs extending from the side thereof in contact with said shielding effective to dig into said shielding through any non-conductive film thereon to assure electrical continuity between said shielding and said first member.

Claim 7

A universal attachment as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said first member includes means supported thereby and facing toward said second member and having a plurality of sharp low-height burrs projecting toward said second member and toward the adjacent side of a cable shielding jacket effective to dig into the shielding jacket and make excellent electrical contact therewith as said first and second members are compressed toward one another from the remote sides of a cable sheath and shielding jacket.

Claim 8

A universal attachment for bonding shielded cables according to claim 1 wherein said post is threaded and wherein said means placed on said post for compressing said shielding and said sheath comprises a locking nut.

Claim 9

A universal attachment for bonding shielded cables according to claim 7 further comprising: a flat, elongated strip of conductive material having a plurality of holes therein, said threaded post adapted to be extended into one of said holes; and a further locking nut adapted to be placed on said post and tightened to secure said strip between said nuts, whereby a second threaded post attached to a second shielded cable may be extended into another of said holes in said strip and secured thereto to bond the shielding of said cables.

Claim 10

A universal attachment for bonding shielded cables according to claim 1 wherein said first member comprises: a generally wedge-shaped member curved to approximate the curvature of the shielded cable.

Claim 11

A universal attachment as defined in claim 9 in combination with a shielded cable having a plastic enclosing sheath, said sheath and said shielding having three longitudinal cuts extending lengthwise of said cable to form a pair of elongated tabs thereby to facilitate entry of said wedge-shaped member beneath said shielding With said post extending outwardly between the tabs to either side of the middle one of said cuts, said tabs being taped down by servings of adhesively coated tape to secure said first and second members in place.

Claim 12

A universal attachment as defined in claim 9 wherein said second member further comprises: a plurality of sharp burrs extending from one side thereof effective to dig into said cable sheath to prevent rotation of said second member while said locking nut is being tightened.

Claim 13

A universal attachment as defined in claim 9 wherein said wide end of said first member has a tab extending therefrom and a cut-out extending therein, said tab and said cut-out being equally spaced on opposite sides of the center line of said first member, the width of said cut-out being slightly greater than the width of said tab.

Claim 14

A universal attachment as defined in claim 9 wherein said second member comprises: a generally wedge-shaped member whose shape is substantially the same as that of said first member, the wide end of said second member being curved similarly to the curvature of said first member.

Claim 15

A universal attachment for bonding shielded cables as defined in claim 13 wherein said second member further comprises: a hook shaped extension projecting outwardly from one end of said second wedge shaped member and spaced from said post sufficiently to accommodate a clamping band, and said hook shaped extension being effective to retain a clamping band in place about said wedge-shaped member and a shielded cable to which the same is assembled.

Claim 16

A universal attachment as defined in claim 13 further comprising: a third member of relatively thin resilient conductive material having a hole therein adapted to be positioned over said post and inserted beneath said shielding of said cable with said first member, said third member having a plurality of sharp pointed burrs extending from the side thereof in contact with said shielding effective to dig into said shielding through any non-conductive film thereon to assure electrical continuity between said shielding and said first member.

Claim 17

A universal attachment for bonding shielded cables as defined in claim 15 wherein the radius of curvature of said third member is smaller than that of said first member whereby the flattening of said third member as said attachment is clamped in assembled position causes said burrs to scratch and gouge through any non-conductive film sometimes present into good electrical contact with the cable shielding.

Claim 18

A universal attachment as defined in claim 1 wherein said second member further comprises: an outwardly extending hook at one end thereof for preventing slippage of a clamp wrapped around said cable and over said second member in the portion thereof between said post and said hook.

Claim 19

That method defined in claim 17 characterized in providing the underside of said anchor plate with short sharp teeth, and causing said teeth to penetrate into the cable sheath as said retainer is tightened thereby to restrain said anchor plate from rotating.

Claim 20

That method of making a solderless electrical connection to a thin metal shielding jacket snugly embraced by an insulative cable sheath which comprises: slitting the shielding jacket and sheath for a short distance generally lengthwise of the cable, forming a separate passage through said shielding jacket and sheath offset circumferentially from said slit, inserting a shank through said passage from the inner end thereof and having wide area curved metallic shoe means conforming generally to the cylindrical contour of said cable and rigidly attached centrally thereof to one end of said shank, reclosing the expanded shielding jacket and sheath against the cable conductors, placing a perforated anchor plate curved similarly to said shoe means over the outer end of said shank and having a juxtaposed surface area substantially coextensive with said shoe means, and assembling a retainer over the outer end of said shank to clamp said shIeld jacket and cable sheath tightly together between the similarly curved surfaces of said metallic shoe means and said anchor plate with the outer end of said shank and said anchor plate available for connection to an electrical conductor.

Claim 21

That method of making a solderless electrical connection to a thin metal shielding jacket snugly embraced by an insulative cable sheath which comprises: slitting the shielding jacket and sheath for a short distance generally lengthwise of the cable, forming a separate passage through said shielding jacket and sheath offset circumferentially from said slit, inserting a shank through said passage from the inner end thereof and having wide area curved metallic shoe means conforming generally to the cylindrical contour of said cable and rigidly attached centrally thereof to one end of said shank, reclosing the expanded shielding jacket and sheath against the cable conductors, placing a perforated anchor plate curved similarly to said shoe means over the outer end of said shank and having a juxtaposed surface area substantially coextensive with said shoe means, and assembling a retainer over the outer end of said shank to clamp said shIeld jacket and cable sheath tightly together between the similarly curved surfaces of said metallic shoe means and said anchor plate with the outer end of said shank and said anchor plate available for connection to an electrical conductor.

Claim 22

That method defined in claim 19 characterized in the step of wrapping said cable sheath with a plurality of convolutions of tensioned tape throughout the length and beyond the ends of said slit to bind said sheath firmly compressed against the underlying portion of the cable and to hold said slit closed.

Claim 23

That method defined in claim 20 characterized in the step of applying said anchor plate over said shank after wrapping the sheath with said convolutions of tape.

Claim 24

That method defined in claim 21 characterized in the step of applying a metallic clamping band about said cable and the exposed outer surface of said anchor plate and tightening said clamp to further increase the anchorage of said shoe means, shank and anchor plate to the cable and to safeguard against the risk of damage to the electrical connection with said thin metal shielding.

Claim 25

That method defined in claim 19 characterized in the step of encircling the slit portion of the cable sheath with snug banding cooperating with said anchor plate and retainer to hold the slit end of the cable sheath compressed and pressed snugly about the cable.

Claim 26

That method defined in claim 23 characterized in the step of using electrically conductive material to encircle said cable sheath and tensioning the same about the cable with a portion thereof overlying and in pressure contact with said anchor plate.

Claim 27

That method defined in claim 19 characterized in providing the side of said metallic shoe means adjacent the interior face of the metallic shield with a multiplicity of sharp burr-like protrusions capable of biting into and making good electrical contact with the shielding as said retainer is tightened thereby to augment assurance of excellent electrical contact with the cable shielding.

Claim 28

That method defined in claim 25 characterized in the step of utilizing metallic shoe means adjacent the interior face of the metallic shield which includes an innermost rigid wide-area metallic shoe means and a relative thin initially arched metallic plate having said multiplicity of said sharp burr-like protrusions projecting therefrom and adapted to scratch and penetrate into said overlying metallic shielding jacket as said metallic shoe means and said anchor plate are compressed toward one another from the remote sides of a cable sheath and its shielding jacket.

Claim 29

That method defined in claim 19 characterized in the steps of utilizing metallic shoe means which is substantially longer than the width thereof and curved crosswise of its width to conform to the cable contour, and utilizing the longer opposite ends of said shoe means to engage said thin shield and the cable sheath to resist rotation of the shank as the retainer is being tightened.

Claim 30

That method defined in claim 27 characterized in that one of the longer ends of said shoe means is relatively narrow, and inserting said narrow end of said shoe means first between the out-turned edges of the slit shielding and cable sheath.

Claim 31

That method defined in claim 27 characterized in the steps of utilizing an elongated anchor plate curved cross-wise thereof and generally complementally to the curvature of said shoe means and of said cable sheath, and applying tensioned band means about the exterior of said cable sheath with a portion thereof embracing one longer end of said anchor plate to clamp the same firmly in place over said slit and against the cable sheath.

Claim 32

A solderless connector assembly for use in making a high strength electrical connection to a thin and frail layer of metallic shield embracing a bundle of electrical conductors beneath a thick walled snug-fitting sheath, said connector assembly comprising an elongated metal shoe curved crosswise thereof and having a threaded shank mounted to and projecting from the mid length thereof, a generally complementary curved clamping plate having a central hole fitting loosely over said shank, a metallic shim arched crosswise thereof on a shorter radius than said shoe and formed with a multiplicity of sharp burrs on the face thereof facing said shielding layer, said elongated shoe, shank and shim assembled over said shank being insertable through registering passages extending through the shielding layer and sheath of a cable of conductors with the shank projecting outwardly through said registering passages, said clamping plate being assembled over the shank on the exterior side of said sheath, and a clamping nut on said shank wrenchable to clamp said conductor assembly tight with said metal shoe and said clamping washer holding said shielding layer and sheath clamped together therebetween with the inner surface of said shield layer in solderless conductive contact with said metallic shoe with said shim having a central opening for loose reception of said shank, said burrs biting into and making positive electrical contact with the shielding layer as said clamping nut is tightened thereby flattening the arch in said shim, and said elongated shoe being held against rotation by abutment with the adjacent curved walls of said sheath while said clamping nut is being tightened.

Claim 33

A solderless connector assembly for use in making a high strength electrical connection to a thin and frail layer of metallic shield embracing a bundle of electrical conductors beneath a thick walled snug-fitting sheath, said connector assembly comprising an elongated metal shoe curved crosswise thereof and having a threaded shank mounted to and projecting from the mid length thereof, a generally complementary curved clamping plate having a central hole fitting loosely over said shank, a metallic shim arched crosswise thereof on a shorter radius than said shoe and formed with a multiplicity of sharp burrs on the face thereof facing said shielding layer, said elongated shoe, shank and shim assembled over said shank being insertable through registering passages extending through the shielding layer and sheath of a cable of conductors with the shank projecting outwardly through said registering passages, said clamping plate being assembled over the shank on the exterior side of said sheath, and a clamping nut on said shank wrenchable to clamp said conductor assembly tight with said metal shoe and said clamping washer holding said shielding layer and sheath clamped together therebetween with the inner surface of said shield layer in solderless conductive contact with said metallic shoe with said shim having a central opening for loose reception of said shank, said burrs biting into and making positive electrical contact with the shielding layer as said clamping nut is tightened thereby flattening the arch in said shim, and said elongated shoe being held against rotation by abutment with the adjacent curved walls of said sheath while said clamping nut is being tightened.

Claim 34

A solderless connector assembly as defined in claim 30 characterized in that said clamping plate is elongated and curved crosswise thereof in general conformity with the curvature of the cable sheath.

Claim 35

A solderless connector assembly as defined in claim 30 characterized in that one end of said shoe is relatively narrow and pointed for use as a pilot while inserting said shoe lengthwise of the entrance end of said slits in the shielding layer and sheath.

Claim 36

A solderless connector assembly as defined in claim 32 characterized in that the inner surface of said clamping plate has at least one tooth adapted to penetrate into said sheath during tightening of said clamping washer to prevent the latter from rotating relative to the axis of said shank.

Claim 37

A universal attachment for bonding shielded cables enclosed in a tubular sheath comprising: electrical bonding means including an inner metallic member having a plurality of sharp pointed burrs protruding from the surface thereof and adapted to penetrate a film of non-conductive material and into electrical contact with the cable shield when compressed thereagainst, the burr-carrying portion of said inner metallic member being flexible and shaped to be deformed while being compressed against the inner surface of a cable shield thereby causing said pointed burrs to gouge and penetrate through any protective film present on the inner surface of the shield and to make pressurized electrical contact with the cable shield, and mechanical clamping means for applying pressure between said metallic member and the adjacent surface of the cable shield to force the same into high pressure contact with one another.

Claim 38

A universal attachment for bonding shielded cables enclosed in a tubular sheath comprising: electrical bonding means including an inner metallic member having a plurality of sharp pointed burrs protruding from the surface thereof and adapted to penetrate a film of non-conductive material and into electrical contact with the cable shield when compressed thereagainst, the burr-carrying portion of said inner metallic member being flexible and shaped to be deformed while being compressed against the inner surface of a cable shield thereby causing said pointed burrs to gouge and penetrate through any protective film present on the inner surface of the shield and to make pressurized electrical contact with the cable shield, and mechanical clamping means for applying pressure between said metallic member and the adjacent surface of the cable shield to force the same into high pressure contact with one another.

Claim 39

A universal attachment as defined in claim 34 characterized in that said mechanical clamping means includes manually adjustable split ring clamping band means adapted to encircle the exterior of a cable in an area overlying said inner metallic member and effective as said band is tightened to compress the cable while compressing said metallic member against the interior surface of the cable shield thereby to provide a high strength mechanical and electrical connection to the cable shield.

Claim 40

A universal attachment as defined in claim 34 characterized in that said electrical bonding means includes inner and outer metallic portions electrically interconnected to one another when assembled astride the end of a cable shield and an encircling cable sheath, at least said inner portion having sharp pointed burr means positioned to penetrate the inner surface of the cable sheath, and manually adjustable clamping band means adapted to embrace the cable outwardly of and in contact with said ouTer metallic portion and effective when tightened to compress said cable shield and sheath between said inner and outer metallic portions to provide a high strength mechanical assembly and an excellent electrical connection between the cable shield and said electrical bonding means.

Claim 41

A universal attachment as defined in claim 34 characterized in that said metallic member is insertable beneath the cable shield in a direction axially of the cable, and said mechanical clamping means including means operable from the exterior side of the cable sheath.

Claim 42

A universal attachment as defined in claim 37 characterized in that said mechanical clamping means is operable to clamp the cable sheath against the cable shield and said metallic member in a manner to maintain said sharp pointed burrs in high pressure electrical contact with the shield and in a manner to utilize the strength of the cable sheath to reinforce the anchorage of said metallic member to the shield.

Claim 43

A universal attachment as defined in claim 38 characterized in that said mechanical clamping means includes means for anchoring a conductor in electrical circuit with said metallic member.

Claim 44

An article of manufacture comprising a thin, resilient flexible metal plaque useful in making good electrical contact with the inwardly-facing insulation-coated surface of the electrical shielding jacket of an electrical cable, said metal plaque having a plurality of low-height sharp pointed burrs struck outwardly from areas within the periphery thereof for a distance in excess of the thickness of the insulation coating on a cable shielding jacket and effective to penetrate and scratch the same and make positive electrical contact with the metal shield as the shield is compressed against the burrs of said plaque as an incident to being sandwiched under radial compressive forces between cable conductors and the cable shielding jacket.

Claim 45

An article of manufacture comprising a thin, resilient flexible metal plaque useful in making good electrical contact with the inwardly-facing insulation-coated surface of the electrical shielding jacket of an electrical cable, said metal plaque having a plurality of low-height sharp pointed burrs struck outwardly from areas within the periphery thereof for a distance in excess of the thickness of the insulation coating on a cable shielding jacket and effective to penetrate and scratch the same and make positive electrical contact with the metal shield as the shield is compressed against the burrs of said plaque as an incident to being sandwiched under radial compressive forces between cable conductors and the cable shielding jacket.

Claim 46

An article of manufacture as defined in claim 40 characterized in that said plaque is arched to a curvature of shorter radius than the radius of the shielding jacket with which the same is to be used, said sharp pointed burrs projecting outwardly from the exterior surface of said arched plaque and effective to form short scratches in the insulation coating on a shielding jacket as said plaque is being flattened and compressed into conformity with the surface of a cable shielding jacket of longer radius.

Claim 47

An article of manufacture as defined in claim 41 characterized in the provision of pressure shoe means adapted to be placed against the exterior surface of a cable sheath opposite said plaque, said pressure shoe means being wider at one end than at the other and having a long-height outwardly projecting tang at one end thereof, and an adjustable clamping band adapted to be assembled about the cable and embracing said pressure shoe means in an area located between the wider end thereof and said tang and effective when tightened to apply pressure to hold the cable shield jacket compressed against the sharp pointed burrs of said plaque.

Claim 48

A cable shield jacket grounding assembly for use in grounding a cable shield jacket and in anchoring the cable to a fixed support therefor, said assembly comprising a metal shank having a large area thin head at one end and which shank is adapted to be assembled through a cable sheath and shield jacket from the interior side of said shield jacket, clamping shoe means thereafter installable over the outer end of said shank, said clamping shoe means having a low-height outturned tang at one end thereof, and clamping band means installable about the cable and about said shoe means between said shank and said tang and effective when tightened to hold said shield jacket and cable sheath tightly clamped between the thin head of said shank and said shoe means to provide a grounding contact between said shielding jacket and the thin head of said shank.

Claim 49

A cable shield jacket grounding assembly for use in grounding a cable shield jacket and in anchoring the cable to a fixed support therefor, said assembly comprising a metal shank having a large area thin head at one end and which shank is adapted to be assembled through a cable sheath and shield jacket from the interior side of said shield jacket, clamping shoe means thereafter installable over the outer end of said shank, said clamping shoe means having a low-height outturned tang at one end thereof, and clamping band means installable about the cable and about said shoe means between said shank and said tang and effective when tightened to hold said shield jacket and cable sheath tightly clamped between the thin head of said shank and said shoe means to provide a grounding contact between said shielding jacket and the thin head of said shank.

Claim 50

The grounding assembly defined in claim 43 characterized in the provision of an elongated meTallic grounding terminal and cable anchorage, said grounding terminal being insertable between the exterior of a cable sheath and said clamping band before the latter is tightened and having an end projecting beyond one lateral edge of said band and securable to a fixed rigid grounding conductor.

Claim 51

The grounding assembly as defined in claim 43 characterized in that said shank is threaded, and nut means assembled over the outer end thereof for supplementing said clamping band in holding said shoe means clamped under pressure against the exterior of a cable sheath.

Claim 52

The grounding assembly as defined in claim 45 characterized in the provision of a metallic shim assembled over said shank between the thin head thereof and the inner surface of said shield jacket and having a multiplicity of sharp pointed burrs facing said shield jacket and adapted to penetrate into said jacket as the jacket and said shim are pressed firmly against one another.

Claim 53

An article of manufacture comprising an electrical connector useful in making good electrical contact with a thin metallic electrical conductor in an area coated with a layer of non-conductive material, said electrical connector being arched with only a portion thereof initially in contact with a thin conductor, a multiplicity of low-height sharp pointed burrs protruding outwardly from the face of said arched connector and effective to make short fully-penetrating scratches through a non-conductive coating thereon as said arched connector is compressed and flattened thereagainst thereby to provide highly effective electrical contact between said connector and said conductor so long as the same are held in contact with one another.

Claim 54

An article of manufacture comprising an electrical connector useful in making good electrical contact with a thin metallic electrical conductor in an area coated with a layer of non-conductive material, said electrical connector being arched with only a portion thereof initially in contact with a thin conductor, a multiplicity of low-height sharp pointed burrs protruding outwardly from the face of said arched connector and effective to make short fully-penetrating scratches through a non-conductive coating thereon as said arched connector is compressed and flattened thereagainst thereby to provide highly effective electrical contact between said connector and said conductor so long as the same are held in contact with one another.

Claim 55

An article of manufacturing as defined in claim 47 characterized in that said connector is made of relatively stiff resilient material whereby said sharp pointed burrs tend to make scratches again upon any relaxation of pressure on said connector and upon any arching recovery movement thereof.

Claim 56

An article of manufacture as defined in claim 48 characterized in the provision of an opening through the arched area of said connector adapted to receive an assembly fastener useful in applying compressive pressure to said arched connector.

Claim 57

An article of manufacture as defined in claim 47 characterized in the provision of clamping means including a plurality of pressure pad means and means for holding said pressure pad means pressed toward one another from opposite the remotely located faces of said pressure pad means while said connector and said conductor are sandwiched between said pressure pad means.

Claim 58

An article of manufacture as defined in claim 50 characterized in that said means for holding said pressure pad means pressed toward one another comprises bolt means.

Claim 59

An article of manufacture as defined in claim 51 characterized in that said bolt means extends through openings in said connector and at least one of said pressure pad means.

Claim 60

An article of manufacture as defined in claim 51 characterized in that said bolt means comprises part of an electrically conductive path between said metallic conductor and a second conductor anchorable to said bolt means.

Claim 61

A solderless connector assembly for use in making a strong mechanical and electrical connection to a thin and frail metallic shield embracing a bundle of electrical conductors and underlying a thick tough cable sheath, said solderless connector assembly comprising a threaded shank projecting outwardly through an elongated transversely-arched wide-area inner metallic shoe the advance end of which is insertable lengthwise of the cable beneath and in contact with the inner surface of said metallic cable shield, an elongated wide-area rigid metallic clamping shoe transversely arched complementally to said inner shoe having a hole fitting loosely over the outer end of said threaded shank, the large area transversely arched adjacent surfaces of said inner shoe and of said clamping shoe being juxtaposed to one anothEr substantially throughout the area of one thereof, and nut means on said threaded shank adapted to be tightened to force said shoes toward each other to compress said shield and sheath together between the transversely arched juxtaposed surfaces of said inner shoe and said clamping shoe thereby to provide wide area electrical contact between said shield and said inner shoe and utilizing the strength of said cable sheath to provide a strong mechanical anchorage for said solderless connector assembly to said cable and to the metallic shield thereof.

Claim 62

A solderless connector assembly for use in making a strong mechanical and electrical connection to a thin and frail metallic shield embracing a bundle of electrical conductors and underlying a thick tough cable sheath, said solderless connector assembly comprising a threaded shank projecting outwardly through an elongated transversely-arched wide-area inner metallic shoe the advance end of which is insertable lengthwise of the cable beneath and in contact with the inner surface of said metallic cable shield, an elongated wide-area rigid metallic clamping shoe transversely arched complementally to said inner shoe having a hole fitting loosely over the outer end of said threaded shank, the large area transversely arched adjacent surfaces of said inner shoe and of said clamping shoe being juxtaposed to one anothEr substantially throughout the area of one thereof, and nut means on said threaded shank adapted to be tightened to force said shoes toward each other to compress said shield and sheath together between the transversely arched juxtaposed surfaces of said inner shoe and said clamping shoe thereby to provide wide area electrical contact between said shield and said inner shoe and utilizing the strength of said cable sheath to provide a strong mechanical anchorage for said solderless connector assembly to said cable and to the metallic shield thereof.

Claim 63

A solderless connector assembly as defined in claim 54 characterized in that the end of said inner shoe serves as a pilot and is insertable first beneath the metallic shield of the cable and lengthwise of the cable and can the shield and sheath outwardly to make room for the advancing shoe.

Claim 64

A solderless connector assembly as defined in claim 54 characterized in the provision of adjustable clamping band means assembled about the cable in an area closely beside said threaded shank and embracing the adjacent ends of said inner shoe and of said clamping shoe and effective as said band is tightened to utilize the adjacent portion of the cable to assure good electrical contact with the cable shield and to strengthen the mechanical anchorage of the solderless connector assembly to the cable.

Claim 65

In combination, a multiple conductor cable of the type having a thin metal shield underlying a thick tough elastomeric sheath, a solderless connector assembly rigidly clamped to said shield and sheath in a manner making highly advantageous use of the strength of said tough sheath as an anchorage for a grounding conductor to said metal shield, said connector assembly comprising inner and outer elongated rigid metal shoes having large area juxtaposed surfaces shaped complementally to one another substantially throughout said juxtaposed surfaces, said inner shoe being inserted endwise and lengthwise of said cable with one entire face thereof pressed against the inner surface of said metal shield and having a shank projecting outwardly therefrom, said outer shoe having a hole therethrough and assembled over said shank and having substantially one entire surface lying against the exterior of said tough sheath in an area opposite said inner shoe, keeper means on said shank tightened against said outer shoe to clamp said shield and sheath together between said large area complementally shaped adjacent faces of said inner and outer shoes with said inner shoe in pressurized electrical contact with the inner surface of said inner shoe and with said shield clamped in pressure contact with a large area of said tough sheath thereby to provide a strong mechanical anchorage between said solderless connector and said sheath and the conductors enclosed thereby, and said shank providing means for clamping thereto a grounding conductor for the cable shield.

Claim 66

In combination, a multiple conductor cable of the type having a thin metal shield underlying a thick tough elastomeric sheath, a solderless connector assembly rigidly clamped to said shield and sheath in a manner making highly advantageous use of the strength of said tough sheath as an anchorage for a grounding conductor to said metal shield, said connector assembly comprising inner and outer elongated rigid metal shoes having large area juxtaposed surfaces shaped complementally to one another substantially throughout said juxtaposed surfaces, said inner shoe being inserted endwise and lengthwise of said cable with one entire face thereof pressed against the inner surface of said metal shield and having a shank projecting outwardly therefrom, said outer shoe having a hole therethrough and assembled over said shank and having substantially one entire surface lying against the exterior of said tough sheath in an area opposite said inner shoe, keeper means on said shank tightened against said outer shoe to clamp said shield and sheath together between said large area complementally shaped adjacent faces of said inner and outer shoes with said inner shoe in pressurized electrical contact with the inner surface of said inner shoe and with said shield clamped in pressure contact with a large area of said tough sheath thereby to provide a strong mechanical anchorage between said solderless connector and said sheath and the conductors enclosed thereby, and said shank providing means for clamping thereto a grounding conductor for the cable shield.