Fully insulated, fully shielded electrical connector arrangement

Claim 2

A shielded electrical connector arrangement for defining a first connector, comprising: an elongated annular housing portion composed of an electrically insulative material for forming an elongated structure for said first connector and at least a portion of a grasp for a user of said first connector, said housing having outside and inside surfaces and front and rear ends for defining said first connector; a contact holding portion composed of an electrically insulative material positioned inside said annular housing portion, said contact holding portion including a plurality of electrically conductive signal contacts of a given length positioned therein in a longitudinal direction of said housing portion so as to be completely surrounded by, yet spaced a distance away from, the inside surface of said housing portion, with a rear end of each of said electrically conductive signal contacts adapted for being coupled to a respective one of a plurality of signal conductors having a common shield associated therewith, and a front end of each of said electrically conductive signal contacts extending in the direction of, but stopping a given distance short of, the front end of said housing portion; and an elongated annular electrically conductive shield having inner and outer sides, disposed between the outside surface of said housing portion and said electrically conductive signal contacts so as to surround, yet be spaced away from, said electrically conductive signal contacts, said elongated shield having a rear end connected to said common shield associated with the plurality of signal conductors and a front end portion extending in the direction of the front end of said housing portion a predetermined distance past the front end of said electrically conductive signal contacts but stopping short of the front end of said housing portion, with the front end of said housing portion being in direct annular contact with the outer side of the front end portion of said elongated shield, wherein said housing portion provides direct support for the front end portion of said elongated shield, as well as a continuous insulation for covering said elongated shield, wherein the front end portion of said shield includes on an inside surface thereof an annular depression portion that is adapted to make electrical contact and latch with at least one tab-like protrusion of a shield of a mating multi-conductor connector so as to provide an effectively continuous conductive shield which completely surrounds said electrically conductive signal contacts over their given length and wherein the front end of said housing portion extends past a front-most tip portion of said front end portion of said elongated shield, thereby preventing a user from touching the front end portion of said elongated shield.

Claim 3

The connector arrangement of claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive signal contacts comprise pin terminals.

Claim 4

The connector arrangement of claim 1, wherein: said shield is insert molded with said housing portion so that the inside surface of said housing portion insulates the shield over substantially the given length of the electrically conductive signal contacts.

Claim 5

The connector arrangement of claim 3, wherein: a front-most tip portion of the front end portion of said elongated shield is bent radially and outwardly away from said contact holding portion.

Claim 6

The connector arrangement of claim 4, wherein: said elongated shield is insert molded with said housing portion so that the inside surface of said housing portion is in direct contact with not only the outer side of said elongated shield, but also in direct contact with the inner side of said front-most tip portion of the front end of said elongated shield, whereby the front end of said housing portion encapsulates the front-most tip portion of said front end of said elongated shield therein.

Claim 7

The connector arrangement of claim 1, further including a second connector for mating with said first connector, said second connector comprising: an elongated annular housing portion composed of an electrically insulative material for forming outer and inner surfaces and front and rear ends for defining said second connector; a contact holding portion composed of an electrically insulative material positioned inside said annular housing portion, said contact holding portion including a plurality of electrically conductive signal contacts of a given length positioned therein in an axial direction of said housing portion so as to be completely surrounded by, yet spaced a distance away from, the inside surface of said housing, with a rear end of each of said electrically conductive signal contacts being coupled to a respective one of a plurality of signal conductors having a common shield associated therewith, and a front end of each of said electrically conductive signal contacts extending in the direction of, but stopping a given distance short of, the front end of said housing, with the housing portion, contact holding portion and the electrically conductive signal contacts of said first and second connector being dimensioned so as to make a physical and electrical mating connection therebetween; and an elongated annular electrically conductive shield disposed in a space between the inside surface of said housing and said electrically conductive signal contacts so as to surround, yet be spaced away from, said electrically conductive signal contacts, said elongated shield having a rear end connected to said common shield associated with the plurality of signal conductors and a front end portion extending in the direction of said front end of said housing, the front end portion of said shield including at least one curved tab-like protrusion which extends into said space and is shaped so as to correspond with the shape of the annular depression portion in the elongated shield of said first connector, thereby forming a spring-like latch useful for making electrical connection to said annular depression portion in the shield of the first connector.

Claim 8

The connector arrangement of claim 6, wherein; the shield of said first connector is insert molded with said housing portion so that the inside surface of said housing portion insulates the shield over the given length of the electrically conductive signal contacts; the shield of said second connector comprises a plurality of said curved tab-like protrusions circumferentially arranged in said space about said electrically conductive signal contacts; and said space is dimensioned so as to receive therein the front end of the housing portion of said first connector, thereby allowing the tab-like protrusions of the shield of said second connector to make a circumferential connection to the annular contact portion in the shield of said first connector, thereby providing for continuity of the electrically conductive shields of the first and second connectors when they are connected together, in a manner which also insulates a user of the connectors from their respective shields.

Claim 9

The connector arrangement of claim 1, wherein said grasp comprises a portion of said housing having an overmold thereon of a material which is softer than the material composing the housing portion.

Claim 10

The connector arrangement of claim 1, wherein said annular depression portion is positioned in a portion of said shield that extends past the ends of said electrically conductive signal contacts.

Claim 11

A shielded electrical connector arrangement comprising a first and second connector, said first connector comprising: an elongated housing portion composed of an electrically insulative material for forming an elongated structure for said first connector and at least a portion of a grasp for a user of said first connector, said housing having outside and inside surfaces and front and rear ends for defining said first connector; a contact holding portion composed of an electrically insulative material positioned inside said annular housing portion, said contact holding portion including a plurality of electrically conductive signal contacts positioned therein so as to be completely surrounded by, yet spaced a distance away from, the inside surface of said housing portion, and with a front end of each of said electrically conductive signal contacts extending in the direction of, but stopping a given distance short of, the front end of said housing portion; and an elongated annular electrically conductive shield having inner and outer sides, disposed between the outside surface of said housing and said electrically conductive signal contacts so as to surround, yet be spaced away from, said electrically conductive signal contacts, said elongated shield having a rear end extending in the direction of the rear end of said housing portion and a front end portion extending in the direction of the front end of said housing portion, with the front end of said housing portion being in direct annular contact with the outer side of the front end portion of said elongated shield, wherein said housing portion provides a continuous direct support for the front end portion of said elongated shield, as well as insulation for covering said elongated shield, wherein the front end portion of said shield includes on an inside surface thereof an annular depression portion that is adapted to make electrical contact with at least one tab-like protrusion of a shield of a mating multi-conductor connector and wherein the front end of said housing portion extends past a front-most tip portion of said front end portion of said elongated shield, thereby preventing a user from touching the front end portion of said elongated shield; and said second connector comprising: an elongated annular housing portion composed of an electrically insulative material for forming outer and inner surfaces and front and rear ends for defining said second connector; a contact holding portion composed of an electrically insulative material positioned inside said annular housing portion, said contact holding portion including a plurality of electrically conductive signal contacts of a given length positioned therein in an axial direction of said housing portion so as to be completely surrounded by, yet spaced a distance away from, the inside surface of said housing, with a rear end of each of said electrically conductive signal contacts being coupled to a respective one of a plurality of signal conductors having a common shield associated therewith, and a front end of each of said electrically conductive signal contacts extending in the direction of, but stopping a given distance short of, the front end of said housing, with the housing portion, contact holding portion and the electrically conductive signal contacts of said first and second connectors being dimensioned so as to make a physical and electrical mating connection therebetween; and an elongated annular electrically conductive shield disposed in a space between the inside surface of said housing and said electrically conductive signal contacts so as to surround, yet be spaced away from, said electrically conductive signal contacts, said elongated shield having a rear end connected to said common shield associated with the plurality of signal conductors and a front end portion extending in the direction of said front end of said housing, the front end portion of said shield including at least one tab-like protrusion which extends into said space for making an electrical connection to said annular contact portion in the shield of the first connector.

Claim 12

A shielded electrical connector arrangement comprising a first and second connector, said first connector comprising: an elongated housing portion composed of an electrically insulative material for forming an elongated structure for said first connector and at least a portion of a grasp for a user of said first connector, said housing having outside and inside surfaces and front and rear ends for defining said first connector; a contact holding portion composed of an electrically insulative material positioned inside said annular housing portion, said contact holding portion including a plurality of electrically conductive signal contacts positioned therein so as to be completely surrounded by, yet spaced a distance away from, the inside surface of said housing portion, and with a front end of each of said electrically conductive signal contacts extending in the direction of, but stopping a given distance short of, the front end of said housing portion; and an elongated annular electrically conductive shield having inner and outer sides, disposed between the outside surface of said housing and said electrically conductive signal contacts so as to surround, yet be spaced away from, said electrically conductive signal contacts, said elongated shield having a rear end extending in the direction of the rear end of said housing portion and a front end portion extending in the direction of the front end of said housing portion, with the front end of said housing portion being in direct annular contact with the outer side of the front end portion of said elongated shield, wherein said housing portion provides a continuous direct support for the front end portion of said elongated shield, as well as insulation for covering said elongated shield, wherein the front end portion of said shield includes on an inside surface thereof an annular depression portion that is adapted to make electrical contact with at least one tab-like protrusion of a shield of a mating multi-conductor connector and wherein the front end of said housing portion extends past a front-most tip portion of said front end portion of said elongated shield, thereby preventing a user from touching the front end portion of said elongated shield; and said second connector comprising: an elongated annular housing portion composed of an electrically insulative material for forming outer and inner surfaces and front and rear ends for defining said second connector; a contact holding portion composed of an electrically insulative material positioned inside said annular housing portion, said contact holding portion including a plurality of electrically conductive signal contacts of a given length positioned therein in an axial direction of said housing portion so as to be completely surrounded by, yet spaced a distance away from, the inside surface of said housing, with a rear end of each of said electrically conductive signal contacts being coupled to a respective one of a plurality of signal conductors having a common shield associated therewith, and a front end of each of said electrically conductive signal contacts extending in the direction of, but stopping a given distance short of, the front end of said housing, with the housing portion, contact holding portion and the electrically conductive signal contacts of said first and second connectors being dimensioned so as to make a physical and electrical mating connection therebetween; and an elongated annular electrically conductive shield disposed in a space between the inside surface of said housing and said electrically conductive signal contacts so as to surround, yet be spaced away from, said electrically conductive signal contacts, said elongated shield having a rear end connected to said common shield associated with the plurality of signal conductors and a front end portion extending in the direction of said front end of said housing, the front end portion of said shield including at least one tab-like protrusion which extends into said space for making an electrical connection to said annular contact portion in the shield of the first connector.

Claim 13

The connector arrangement of claim 10, wherein said annular depression portion in the shield of said first connector is positioned in a portion of said shield that extends past the ends of said electrically conductive signal contacts.

Claim 14

The connector arrangement of claim 10, wherein: a front-most tip portion of the front end portion of said elongated shield of said first connector is bent radially and outwardly away from said contact holding portion.

Claim 15

The connector arrangement of claim 12, wherein: said elongated shield of said first connector is insert molded with said housing portion so that the inside surface of said housing portion is in direct contact with not only the outer side of said elongated shield, but also in direct contact with the inner side of said front-most tip portion of the front end of said elongated shield, whereby the front end of said housing portion encapsulates the front-most tip portion of said front end of said elongated shield therein.