Connector and method

Claim 2

A connector for making an electrical connection to an end of a tubular electrically conductive plastic coated shield with an electrically insulating outer jacket on a communication cable, said connector comprising: an electrically conductive screw having a head and a generally pointed helically threaded end; and a generally U-shaped resilient clip having first and second opposed jaws projecting from an interconnecting end wall, said jaws terminating with spaced ends adapted to receive the conductive shield and jacket therebetween with the first jaw adjacent the inner surface of said shield and said end wall adjacent the end of said conductive shield, said end wall having an opening receiving the threaded end of said screw to project from said end wall between the jaws, said clip including means for guiding the screw along the first jaw and said jaws being spaced to resiliently press said screw against said conductive shield when said clip is engaged over said jacketed shield to engage the adjacent edges of the threads with the conductive shield, thereby wiping away the plastic coating on the shield as the screw is rotated between the jaws to provide an electrical connection between the screw and the cOnductive shield, and resiliently retaining said electrical connection after the screw is completely engaged with its head at the end wall.

Claim 3

A connector according to claim 1, wherein said clip is conductive, and includes a threaded stud projecting from the second jaw.

Claim 4

A connector according to claim 1, wherein said second jaw has a plurality of spaced slits formed along each edge and extending inwardly from said edges away from the end wall to form triangular barbs, with each of the barbs being curved to protrude from the second jaw with the point thereof directed generally toward said first jaw and said end wall.

Claim 5

A connector according to claim 1, wherein said first jaw comprises a longitudinally extending channel with a depth less than the major diameter of said screw thread, said channel being positioned with its open side adjacent the second jaw and its end adjacent the end wall aligned with the opening to provide said means for guiding the screw along the first jaw.

Claim 6

A connector according to claim 4, wherein said channel has a central wall and two side walls attached to and projecting from the central wall toward said second jaw, the height of the side walls from the central wall being tapered from the ends of the side walls adjacent the end wall toward the opposite end of the first jaw.

Claim 7

A connector according to claim 5, wherein the ends of said side walls adjacent the end wall extend from said central wall about to the center of said opening.

Claim 8

A generally U-shaped resilient clip adapted for engagement around an end of a tubular electrically conductive plastic coated shield with an electrically insulating outer jacket on a communication cable, and for receiving a screw having a head and a threaded end to make an electrical connection between the screw and the conductive shield, said clip having first and second longitudinal opposed jaws projecting from an interconnecting end wall having an opening therethrough adapted to receive the screw; the first jaw comprising a central wall and two side walls attached to and projecting from the central wall toward said second jaw, the height of the side walls from the central wall being tapered from their ends adjacent the end wall toward the opposite end of the first jaw to form a wedge adapted to be pressed under the end of a conductive shield, and said central and side walls forming a longitudinally extending channel with a depth less than the major diameter of the screw thread positioned with its open side adjacent the second jaw and its end adjacent the end wall aligned with the opening to guide a said screw inserted through the opening along the first jaw, and the jaws being spaced to resiliently press a said screw inserted through the opening into the channel against a said conductive shield over which the clip is engaged thereby causing the edges of the threads adjacent the conductive shield to wipe away the plastic coating and engage the shield to make electrical contact therewith as the screw is rotated between the jaws, and causing the electrical contact to be resiliently maintained after the screw is completely engaged with its head at the end wall.

Claim 9

A generally U-shaped resilient clip adapted for engagement around an end of a tubular electrically conductive plastic coated shield with an electrically insulating outer jacket on a communication cable, and for receiving a screw having a head and a threaded end to make an electrical connection between the screw and the conductive shield, said clip having first and second longitudinal opposed jaws projecting from an interconnecting end wall having an opening therethrough adapted to receive the screw; the first jaw comprising a central wall and two side walls attached to and projecting from the central wall toward said second jaw, the height of the side walls from the central wall being tapered from their ends adjacent the end wall toward the opposite end of the first jaw to form a wedge adapted to be pressed under the end of a conductive shield, and said central and side walls forming a longitudinally extending channel with a depth less than the major diameter of the screw thread positioned with its open side adjacent the second jaw and its end adjacent the end wall aligned with the opening to guide a said screw inserted through the opening along the first jaw, and the jaws being spaced to resiliently press a said screw inserted through the opening into the channel against a said conductive shield over which the clip is engaged thereby causing the edges of the threads adjacent the conductive shield to wipe away the plastic coating and engage the shield to make electrical contact therewith as the screw is rotated between the jaws, and causing the electrical contact to be resiliently maintained after the screw is completely engaged with its head at the end wall.

Claim 10

A clip according to claim 7, wherein the ends of said side walls adjacent the end wall extend from said central wall about to the center of said opening.

Claim 11

A clip according to claim 7, wherein said clip is conductive and includes a threaded stud projecting from the second jaw.

Claim 12

A clip according to claim 7, wherein said second jaw has a plurality of spaced slits formed along each edge and extending inwardly from said edges away from the end wall to form triangular barbs, with each of the barbs being curved to protrude from the second jaw with the point thereof directed generally toward said first jaw and said end wall.

Claim 17

A connector for making an electrical connection to an end of a tubular electrically conductive plastic coated shield with an electrically insulating outer jacket on a communication cable, said connector comprising: an electrically conductive screw having a head and a generally pointed helically threaded end; and a clip comprising first and second opposed jaws and means joining said jaws at one end and defining an interconnecting end wall, said jaws terminating with spaced ends adapted to receive the conductive shield and jacket therebetween with the first jaw adjacent the inner surface of said shield and said end wall adjacent the end of said conductive shield, said end wall having an opening receiving the threaded end of said screw to project from said end wall between the jaws, said clip including means for guiding the screw along the first jaw, and said means joining said jaws providing means for supporting said jaws adapted to resiliently press said screw against said shield when said clip is engaged over said jacketed shield to engage the adjacent edges of the threads with the conductive shield, thereby wiping away the plastic coating on the shield as the screw is rotated between the jaws to provide an electrical connection between the screw and the conductive shield, and resiliently retaining said electrical connection after the screw is completely engaged with its head at the end wall.

Claim 18

A connector for making an electrical connection to an end of a tubular electrically conductive plastic coated shield with an electrically insulating outer jacket on a communication cable, said connector comprising: an electrically conductive screw having a head and a generally pointed helically threaded end; and a clip comprising first and second opposed jaws and means joining said jaws at one end and defining an interconnecting end wall, said jaws terminating with spaced ends adapted to receive the conductive shield and jacket therebetween with the first jaw adjacent the inner surface of said shield and said end wall adjacent the end of said conductive shield, said end wall having an opening receiving the threaded end of said screw to project from said end wall between the jaws, said clip including means for guiding the screw along the first jaw, and said means joining said jaws providing means for supporting said jaws adapted to resiliently press said screw against said shield when said clip is engaged over said jacketed shield to engage the adjacent edges of the threads with the conductive shield, thereby wiping away the plastic coating on the shield as the screw is rotated between the jaws to provide an electrical connection between the screw and the conductive shield, and resiliently retaining said electrical connection after the screw is completely engaged with its head at the end wall.

Claim 19

A connector for making an electrical connection to an end of a tubular electrically conductive plastic coated shield with an electrically insulating outer jacket on a communication cable, said connector comprising: an electrically conductive screw-like member having a head and a generally pointed end having axially spaced ridges around its periphery; and a clip comprising first and second opposed jaws and means joining said jaws at one end and defining an interconnecting end wall, said jaws terminating with spaced ends adapted to receive the conductive shield and jacket therebetween with the firsT jaw adjacent the inner surface of said shield and said end wall adjacent the end of said conductive shield, said end wall having an opening receiving the pointed end of said screw-like member to project from said end wall between the jaws, said clip including means for guiding the screw-like member along the first jaw, and said means joining said jaws providing means for supporting said jaws adapted to resiliently press said screw-like member against said shield when said clip is engaged over said jacketed shield to engage the adjacent edges of said ridges with the conductive shield, thereby wiping away the plastic coating on the shield as the screw-like member is rotated between the jaws to provide an electrical connection between the screw-like member and the conductive shield, and resiliently retaining said electrical connection after the screw-like member is completely engaged with its head at the end wall.

Claim 20

A connector for making an electrical connection to an end of a tubular electrically conductive plastic coated shield with an electrically insulating outer jacket on a communication cable, said connector comprising: an electrically conductive screw-like member having a head and a generally pointed end having axially spaced ridges around its periphery; and a clip comprising first and second opposed jaws and means joining said jaws at one end and defining an interconnecting end wall, said jaws terminating with spaced ends adapted to receive the conductive shield and jacket therebetween with the firsT jaw adjacent the inner surface of said shield and said end wall adjacent the end of said conductive shield, said end wall having an opening receiving the pointed end of said screw-like member to project from said end wall between the jaws, said clip including means for guiding the screw-like member along the first jaw, and said means joining said jaws providing means for supporting said jaws adapted to resiliently press said screw-like member against said shield when said clip is engaged over said jacketed shield to engage the adjacent edges of said ridges with the conductive shield, thereby wiping away the plastic coating on the shield as the screw-like member is rotated between the jaws to provide an electrical connection between the screw-like member and the conductive shield, and resiliently retaining said electrical connection after the screw-like member is completely engaged with its head at the end wall.