Coaxial cable connector with energy loss prevention

Claim 2

An electrical cable connector, comprising: a conductive hollow shell having axially opposite open forward and rearward ends, the rearward end being equipped for receiving the end of the cable to be attached to said connector; first electrical contact means in said shell adapted to effect an electrical connection between said shell and the electrically conductive means of the cable; inner and outer second electrical contact means at the forward end of said shell adapted to effect an electrical connection between said shell and the counterpart shell of a mating connector; and shielding means unitary with said inner and outer second electrical contact means in coaxial relationship therewith for preventing electrical interference and loss of energy through the inner one of said second electrical contact means in couple condition of said connector, said shielding means being defined by a forward annular portion of said shell and having an inner cylindrical surface and an outer periphery of frusto-conical configuration, said inner surface abuttingly engaging the inner one of said second electrical contact means and extending substantially the entire length thereof, and said outer periphery being adapted to frictionally engage and urge the mating surface of the counterpart shell into tight mechanical and electrical contact with the outer one of said second electrical contact means in the coupled electrically conductive condition of the shells.

Claim 3

An electrical cable connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein said second electrical contact means comprises a main body enclosed by said shell forward annular wall portion in abutting engagement with the axial section of bore of said shell adjacent said shell forward end.

Claim 4

An electrical cable connector in accordance with claim 2, wherein said second electrical contact means further comprises an annular contacting portion extending forwardly and radially outwardly with respect to the axial section of bore adjacent said shell forward end, said annular contacting portion being radially compressible by the shell of a mating connector against which said annular contacting portion seats in coupled condition of said connector.

Claim 5

An electrical cable connector in accordance with claim 3, wherein said annular contacting portion is integral with said main body, said main body comprising a plurality of individual spring contacting fingers spaced a distance apart by slots and having their free ends terminating in radially outwardly extending flange portions together constituting said annular contacting portion.

Claim 6

An electrical cable connector in accordance with claim 3, wherein the axial section of bore adjacent said bore forward end is of stepped configuration so as to define a rearwardly facing shoulder, and wherein said second electrical contact means further comprises anchor means cooperating with said rearwardly facing shoulder.

Claim 7

An electrical cable connector in accordance with claim 5, wherein said anchor means comprises an annular radial lip portion seated against said rearwardly facing shoulder, and comprising support means for maintaining said main body in position in the axial section of bore adjacent said shell forward end.

Claim 8

An electrical cable connector in accordance with claim 6, wherein said support means comprises an insulator body mounted in the axial section of bore adjacent said shell forward end, said insulator body being of stepped configuration so as to define a forwardly facing annular shoulder abuttingly engaging said radial lip portion seated against said rearwardly facing shoulder.

Claim 9

An electrical cable connector, comprising: a conductive hollow shell having axially opposite open forward and rearward ends, the rearward end being equipped for receiving the end of the cable to be attached to said connector; first electrical contact means in said shell adapted to effect an electrical connection between said shell and the electrically conductive means of the cable; second electrical contact means at the forward end of said shell adapted to effect an electrical connection between said shell and the shell of a mating connector in the coupled electrically conductive condition of the shells; and shielding means mating with said second electrical contact means in coaxial relationship therewith for preventing electrical interference and loss of energy through said second electrical contact means in coupled condition of said connector; said shell comprising an axial through-bore and said shielding means being integral with said shell and defined by a forward annular portion thereof in electrical contact with said second contact means, said second electrical contact means comprising a main body enclosed by said shell forward annular wall portion in abutting engagement with the axial section of bore adjacent said shell forward end, said second electrical contact means further comprising an annular contacting portion extending forwardly and radially outwardly with respect to the axial section of bore adjacent said shell forward end, said annular contacting portion being radially compressible by the shell of the mating connector against which said annular contacting portion seats in coupled condition of said container, said axial section of bore adjacent said bore forward end being of stepped configuration so as to define a rearwardly facing shoulder, said second electrical contact means comprising anchor means cooperating with said rearwardly facing shoulder, said anchor means comprising an annular radial lip portion seated against said rearwardly facing shoulder, and support means for maintaining said main body in position in the axial section of bore adjacent said shell forward end and comprising an insulator body mounted in the axial section of bore adjacent said shell forward end, said insulator body being of stepped configuration so as to define a forwardly facing annular shoulder abuttingly engaging said radial lip portion seated against said rearwardly facing shoulder, and wherein said shell forward end has structure associated therewith which provides frictional retention between said shell and the counterpart shell of the mating connector.

Claim 10

An electrical cable connector, comprising: a conductive hollow shell having axially opposite open forward and rearward ends, the rearward end being equipped for receiving the end of the cable to be attached to said connector; first electrical contact means in said shell adapted to effect an electrical connection between said shell and the electrically conductive means of the cable; second electrical contact means at the forward end of said shell adapted to effect an electrical connection between said shell and the shell of a mating connector in the coupled electrically conductive condition of the shells; and shielding means mating with said second electrical contact means in coaxial relationship therewith for preventing electrical interference and loss of energy through said second electrical contact means in coupled condition of said connector; said shell comprising an axial through-bore and said shielding means being integral with said shell and defined by a forward annular portion thereof in electrical contact with said second contact means, said second electrical contact means comprising a main body enclosed by said shell forward annular wall portion in abutting engagement with the axial section of bore adjacent said shell forward end, said second electrical contact means further comprising an annular contacting portion extending forwardly and radially outwardly with respect to the axial section of bore adjacent said shell forward end, said annular contacting portion being radially compressible by the shell of the mating connector against which said annular contacting portion seats in coupled condition of said container, said axial section of bore adjacent said bore forward end being of stepped configuration so as to define a rearwardly facing shoulder, said second electrical contact means comprising anchor means cooperating with said rearwardly facing shoulder, said anchor means comprising an annular radial lip portion seated against said rearwardly facing shoulder, and support means for maintaining said main body in position in the axial section of bore adjacent said shell forward end and comprising an insulator body mounted in the axial section of bore adjacent said shell forward end, said insulator body being of stepped configuration so as to define a forwardly facing annular shoulder abuttingly engaging said radial lip portion seated against said rearwardly facing shoulder, and wherein said shell forward end has structure associated therewith which provides frictional retention between said shell and the counterpart shell of the mating connector.

Claim 11

An electrical connector for cables of the type having an inner conductor and an outer conductor insulated from the inner one, comprising: a tubular conductive shell defining the connector outer conductor, said shell having open forward and rearward ends and an axial bore between said ends, and having a forward outer circumferential contact surface adapted to electrically connect with the conductive shell of a mating connector, the axial section of bore adjacent said shell rearward end being equipped for receiving the end of the cable to be attached to said connector; means adapted to effect an electrical connection between the cable outer conductor and said shell; an insulator body mounted in the axial section of bore adjacent said shell forward end, said insulator body having an axial bore extending therethrough; a center contact mounted in the bore of said insulator body for attachment to the cable inner conductor; and an annular spring contact member having a slotted main body interposed between the axial section of bore adjacent said shell forward end and said insulator body in coaxial relationship with the forward outer contact surface of said shell, and having a contacting portion extending forwardly and radially outwardly relative to the axial section of bore adjacent said shell forward end and in close proximity relative to said end, said contacting portion being radially compressible by the counterpart shell of a mating connector to provide for a secure electrical connection between the respective contact surfaces, said forward outer contact surface of said shell being effective to shield said slotted main body of said spring contact member to thereby prevent electrical interference and loss of energy through the slots of said body.

Claim 12

An electrical connector for cables of the type having an inner conductor and an outer conductor insulated from the inner one, comprising: a tubular conductive shell defining the connector outer conductor, said shell having open forward and rearward ends and an axial bore between said ends, and having a forward outer circumferential contact surface adapted to electrically connect with the conductive shell of a mating connector, the axial section of bore adjacent said shell rearward end being equipped for receiving the end of the cable to be attached to said connector; means adapted to effect an electrical connection between the cable outer conductor and said shell; an insulator body mounted in the axial section of bore adjacent said shell forward end, said insulator body having an axial bore extending therethrough; a center contact mounted in the bore of said insulator body for attachment to the cable inner conductor; and an annular spring contact member having a slotted main body interposed between the axial section of bore adjacent said shell forward end and said insulator body in coaxial relationship with the forward outer contact surface of said shell, and having a contacting portion extending forwardly and radially outwardly relative to the axial section of bore adjacent said shell forward end and in close proximity relative to said end, said contacting portion being radially compressible by the counterpart shell of a mating connector to provide for a secure electrical connection between the respective contact surfaces, said forward outer contact surface of said shell being effective to shield said slotted main body of said spring contact member to thereby prevent electrical interference and loss of energy through the slots of said body.