Cable connecting assembly

Claim 2

In a cable connecting assembly, the combination of a male connector member including a body and a connector head including an outer portion, a frusto-conic intermediate section, and an inner section, the inner section and the intermediate section meeting at a circular contact line, with a female connector member including a body and an annular, open ended connector end portion having a substantially cylindrical socket therein for receiving the connector head of the male member, there being lengthwise slots in the connector end portion of the female member extending from the open end and dividing the end portion of the female member into a plurality of spring teeth, the normal diameter of the socket of the female member being less than the diameter of the contact line and substantially equal to the diameter of the outer portion of the connector head so that the teeth of the female member are engageable with the head of the male member at the contact line to resiliently engage the head of the male member while the outer portion of the head of the male member aligningly cooperates with a portion of said female member spaced from said contact line.

Claim 3

A cable connecting assembly as in claim 1 wherein the outer portion of the head of the male member is provided with a lengthwise slot dividing the outer portion into spring teeth and walls of the teeth of the outer portion are substantially cylindrical and said teeth diverge sufficiently so that ends of the male outer portion can resiliently engage the interior of the socket of the female member when the teeth of the female member engage the head of the male member at the contact line.

Claim 4

In a cable connecting assembly, the combination of a male connector member including a body and a connector head including an outer portion, a frusto-conic intermediate section, and an inner section, the inner section and the intermediate section meeting at a circular contact line, with a female connector member including a body and an annular, open ended connector end portion having a substantially cylindrical socket therein, there being lengthwise slots in the connector end portion of the female member extending from the open end and dividing the end portion of the female member into a plurality of spring teeth, the normal diameter of the socket of the female member being less than the diameter of the contact line so that the teeth of the female member are engageable with the head of the male member at the contact line to resiliently engage the head of the male member, the outer portion of the head of the male member is provided with a lengthwise slot dividing the outer portion into spring teeth and walls of the teeth of the outer portion are substantially cylindrical and diverge sufficiently so that ends of the male outer portion can resiliently engage the interior of the socket of the female member when the teeth of the female member engage the head of the male member at the contact line, and a dielectric cAp is mounted on the outer portion of the male member spanning the teeth thereof and substantially covering the outer ends of the teeth of the outer portion inboard of the cylindrical walls of the teeth of the outer portion.

Claim 5

In a cable connecting assembly, the combination of a male connector member including a body and a connector head including an outer portion, a frusto-conic intermediate section, and an inner section, the inner section and the intermediate section meeting at a circular contact line, with a female connector member including a body and an annular, open ended connector end portion having a substantially cylindrical socket therein, there being lengthwise slots in the connector end portion of the female member extending from the open end and dividing the end portion of the female member into a plurality of spring teeth, the normal diameter of the socket of the female member being less than the diameter of the contact line so that the teeth of the female member are engageable with the head of the male member at the contact line to resiliently engage the head of the male member, the outer portion of the head of the male member is provided with a lengthwise slot dividing the outer portion into spring teeth and walls of the teeth of the outer portion are substantially cylindrical and diverge sufficiently so that ends of the male outer portion can resiliently engage the interior of the socket of the female member when the teeth of the female member engage the head of the male member at the contact line, and a dielectric cAp is mounted on the outer portion of the male member spanning the teeth thereof and substantially covering the outer ends of the teeth of the outer portion inboard of the cylindrical walls of the teeth of the outer portion.

Claim 6

In a cable connecting assembly, the combination of a male connector member including a body and a connector head including an outer portion, a frusto-conic intermediate section, and an inner section, the inner section and the intermediate section meeting at a circular contact line, with a female connector member including body and an annular, open ended connector end portion having a substantially cylindrical socket therein, there being lengthwise slots in the connector end portion of the female member extending from the open end and dividing the end portion of the female member into a plurality of spring teeth, the normal diameter of the socket of the female member being less than the diameter of the contact line so that the teeth of the female member are engageable with the head of the male member at the contact line to resiliently engage the head of the male member, a circumferential slot in the outer walls of the teeth of the female member adjacent the open end of said member, a continuous ring mounted in the slot and movable therein relative to the teeth, the ring having an inner circumference which is greater than the circumference of the bottom of the slot when the teeth of the female member are in normal full engagement with a male connector member but less than the circumference of the bottom of the slot when any tooth is forced outward to closely approach the elastic limit of the tooth and less than the circumference necessary to removal of the ring from the groove when the teeth are in their normal undistorted condition out of contact with the male member, the ring cooperating with the teeth to link them in mutual supporting relation in which they restrain outward movement of each of the teeth of the female member to prevent outward movement thereof beyond the elastic limit thereof.

Claim 7

In a cable connecting assembly, the combination of a male connector member including a body and a connector head including an outer portion, a frusto-conic intermediate section, and an inner section, the inner section and the intermediate section meeting at a circular contact line, with a female connector member including body and an annular, open ended connector end portion having a substantially cylindrical socket therein, there being lengthwise slots in the connector end portion of the female member extending from the open end and dividing the end portion of the female member into a plurality of spring teeth, the normal diameter of the socket of the female member being less than the diameter of the contact line so that the teeth of the female member are engageable with the head of the male member at the contact line to resiliently engage the head of the male member, a circumferential slot in the outer walls of the teeth of the female member adjacent the open end of said member, a continuous ring mounted in the slot and movable therein relative to the teeth, the ring having an inner circumference which is greater than the circumference of the bottom of the slot when the teeth of the female member are in normal full engagement with a male connector member but less than the circumference of the bottom of the slot when any tooth is forced outward to closely approach the elastic limit of the tooth and less than the circumference necessary to removal of the ring from the groove when the teeth are in their normal undistorted condition out of contact with the male member, the ring cooperating with the teeth to link them in mutual supporting relation in which they restrain outward movement of each of the teeth of the female member to prevent outward movement thereof beyond the elastic limit thereof.

Claim 8

In a cable connector assembly, the combination of a first housing member and a second housing member, a connector element in each of the housing members, the connector elements being engageable to provide electrical connection therebetween, the housing member and the connector elements being relatively movable in reciprocation with a latch mechanism which includes a latch bar mounted in the first housing member and extending parallel to the direction of reciprocation, there being a transverse latch notch in the latch bar, there being an elongated lengthwise extending bore in the second housing member for receiving the latch bar and a transverse opening in the second housing member intersecting the lengthwise bore, a hollow latch keeper reciprocably mounted in the transverse opening, said latch keeper surrounding the lengthwise bore and including side wall members extending on opposite sides of the lengthwise bore, an inner cross piece underlying the lengthwise bore and an outer cross piece overlying the lengthwise bore, a latch bar mounted on the inner cross piece and engageable with the latch notch of the latch bar to hold the housings in latched position, and spring means urging the latch keeper in latching direction, the outer cross piece being inwardly urgable to release the latch deeper from latch bar.

Claim 9

In a cable connector assembly, the combination of a first housing member and a second housing member, a connector element in each of the housing members, the connector elements being engageable to provide electrical connection therebetween, the housing member and the connector elements being relatively movable in reciprocation with a latch mechanism which includes a latch bar mounted in the first housing member and extending parallel to the direction of reciprocation, there being a transverse latch notch in the latch bar, there being an elongated lengthwise extending bore in the second housing member for receiving the latch bar and a transverse opening in the second housing member intersecting the lengthwise bore, a hollow latch keeper reciprocably mounted in the transverse opening, said latch keeper surrounding the lengthwise bore and including side wall members extending on opposite sides of the lengthwise bore, an inner cross piece underlying the lengthwise bore and an outer cross piece overlying the lengthwise bore, a latch bar mounted on the inner cross piece and engageable with the latch notch of the latch bar to hold the housings in latched position, and spring means urging the latch keeper in latching direction, the outer cross piece being inwardly urgable to release the latch deeper from latch bar.

Claim 10

A cable connector assembly as in claim 5 wherein there is a latch releasing bar mounted in the lengthwise bore for axial movement therein and spring means urging the latch releasing bar in a latch releasing direction, the latch bar engaging the latch releasing bar when in latched position.

Claim 11

A cable connector assembly as in claim 6 wherein the latch releasing bar includes a signal portion which extends outwardly of the second housing member when the latch releasing bar is engaged by the latch bar in latched position.

Claim 12

A cable connector assembly as in claim 5 wherein there is a resilient dielectric diaphragm overlying the latch kEeper and the diaphragm is deformable to cause the latch keeper to move in latch releasing direction.

Claim 13

In a cable connecting assembly, the combination of a male connector member including a body and a connector head including an outer portion, a frusto-conic intermediate section, and an inner section, the inner section and the intermediate section meeting at a circular contact line, with a female connector member including a body and an annular, open ended connector end portion having a substantially cylindrical socket therein, there being lengthwise slots in the connector end portion of the female member extending from the open end and dividing the end portion of the female member into a plurality of spring teeth, the normal diameter of the socket of the female member being less than the diameter of the contact line so that the teeth of the female member are engageable with the head of the male member at the contact line to resiliently engage the head of the male member, the outer end portion of the outer portion of the male connector head having a reduced cross-section, a dielectric cap mounted on and coveringly receiving the outer end portion of the outer portion of the male member, the exposed surface of the cap being a substantial longitudinal extension of the longitudinal surface of the outer portion of the male member to a transverse end face of the cap.

Claim 14

In a cable connecting assembly, the combination of a male connector member including a body and a connector head including an outer portion, a frusto-conic intermediate section, and an inner section, the inner section and the intermediate section meeting at a circular contact line, with a female connector member including a body and an annular, open ended connector end portion having a substantially cylindrical socket therein, there being lengthwise slots in the connector end portion of the female member extending from the open end and dividing the end portion of the female member into a plurality of spring teeth, the normal diameter of the socket of the female member being less than the diameter of the contact line so that the teeth of the female member are engageable with the head of the male member at the contact line to resiliently engage the head of the male member, the outer end portion of the outer portion of the male connector head having a reduced cross-section, a dielectric cap mounted on and coveringly receiving the outer end portion of the outer portion of the male member, the exposed surface of the cap being a substantial longitudinal extension of the longitudinal surface of the outer portion of the male member to a transverse end face of the cap.

Claim 15

A cable connecting assembly as in claim 9 characterized by the fact that the outer end portion of the outer portion of the male connector head has a groove in its laterally facing surface and that the dielectric cap is of cup form and a flange extends inwardly from the rim thereof, said flange being received in said groove to mechanically couple and secure the cap to the male member.

Claim 16

In a cable connecting assembly, the combination of a male connector member including a body and a connector head including an outer portion, a frustoconic intermediate section, and an inner section, the inner section and the intermediate section meeting at a circular contact line, with a female connector member including a body and an annular, open ended connector end portion having a substantially cylindrical socket therein, there being lengthwise slots in the connector end portion of the female member extending from the open end and dividing the end portion of the female member into a plurality of spring teeth, the normal diameter of the socket of the female member being less than the diameter of the contact line so that the teeth of the female member are resiliently engageable with the head of the male member at the contact line, a hoop-ring annularly of and supported by the spring teeth adjacent the free ends of the teeth, the spring teeth being severally deflectable further than they are deflected by normal engagement thereof with the head of the male member at the contact line such that before any spring tooth is deflected beyond its elastic limit the hoop-ring cooperates with the spring teeth to resist forces tending to effect further outward deflection of at least one of said teeth, and the outer portion of the head of the male member aligningly cooperates with a portion of said female member spaced from said contact line.

Claim 17

In a cable connecting assembly, the combination of a male connector member including a body and a connector head including an outer portion, a frustoconic intermediate section, and an inner section, the inner section and the intermediate section meeting at a circular contact line, with a female connector member including a body and an annular, open ended connector end portion having a substantially cylindrical socket therein, there being lengthwise slots in the connector end portion of the female member extending from the open end and dividing the end portion of the female member into a plurality of spring teeth, the normal diameter of the socket of the female member being less than the diameter of the contact line so that the teeth of the female member are resiliently engageable with the head of the male member at the contact line, a hoop-ring annularly of and supported by the spring teeth adjacent the free ends of the teeth, the spring teeth being severally deflectable further than they are deflected by normal engagement thereof with the head of the male member at the contact line such that before any spring tooth is deflected beyond its elastic limit the hoop-ring cooperates with the spring teeth to resist forces tending to effect further outward deflection of at least one of said teeth, and the outer portion of the head of the male member aligningly cooperates with a portion of said female member spaced from said contact line.

Claim 18

A cable connecting assembly as in claim 11 wherein the outer portion of the head of the male member is provided with a lengthwise slot dividing the outer portion into spring teeth and walls of the teeth of the outer portion are substantially cylindrical and said teeth diverge sufficiently so that ends of the male outer portion can resiliently engage the interior of the socket of the female member when the teeth of the female member engage the head of the male member at the contact line.