PCB MOUNTED TRIAXIAL CONNECTOR
ASSEMBLY
RELATED APPLICATION 5
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 895,964, filed Aug. 12, 1986 now abandoned.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 10
The invention relates to an electrical connector assembly for mounting on a printed circuit board, PCB, and to an electrical connector of either coaxial or triaxial construction and assembled with electrical contacts for mounting in a PCB, having apertures arranged in a 15 pattern wherein one of the apertures is surrounded by other apertures of the pattern.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A locking clasp for an electrical connector is known 20 from U.S. Pat. No. 3,121,583, and from Japanese Patent Publication No. 52-107385, published Aug. 16, 1977. The known locking clasp is retained in a housing that receives the connector for interlocking engagement with the locking clasp. The locking clasp has opposed 25 resilient springs that are resiliently biased to move toward each other to register in a slot on the exterior of the connector and to clamp the connector.
An electrical connector for mounting on a PCB is disclosed in pending U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 30 748,264, filed June 24, 1985. The known connector includes an electrical contact projecting from a conductive shell of the connector for insertion into an aperture of a PCB. The contact is assembled with the shell prior to assembly of the shell in the connector. The contact is 35 inserted in a recess of the conductive shell and is retained by partial collapse of the shell onto the contact.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to an aspect of the invention, by way of 40 example, an electrical connector assembly includes an electrical connector mounted in an interior of an insulative body, and an electrical contact engaging an exterior shell of the connector and projecting from the exterior of the insulative body to provide electrical terminals for 45 insertion into a PCB. The shell of the connector is held by the insulative body in position with respect to an opening in the insulative body. The contact is inserted into the opening and moved toward the connector. The contact has a holder with an open side that faces toward 50 the connector. The open side receives the shell of the connector and resiliently engages and clasps the shell to establish an electrical connection. Electrical terminals project from the holder and latch to the insulative body to retain the contact in the electrical connector assem- 55 bly. Thus, the construction of the connector assembly provides for ease of assembly of the contact in the insulative body and into electrical connection with the shell of the connector that is already positioned in the connector assembly. 60
According to another aspect of the invention, by way of example, a connector assembly provides for the assembly of plural electrical contacts, each into a corresponding opening of an insulative body of the connector assembly, and each with a clasp portion to engage 65 and clasp onto a corresponding conductive portion of an electrical connector positioned in the connector assembly. According to another aspect of the invention,
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by way of example, the corresponding openings are of similar construction, and the corresponding conductive portions of the electrical connector are of similar construction, thereby to be capable of assembly with a corresponding one of plural electrical contacts of similar form and construction.
According to another aspect of the invention, by way of example, an electrical connector assembly includes an electrical connector, electrical contacts that engage corresponding conductive portions of the connector and electrical terminals of the contacts that project outwardly from the connector in a common direction and are spaced apart from one another, and the terminals are arranged in a pattern wherein one of the terminals is surrounded by the other terminals, and said other terminals provide electrical shunts for absorbing radiant electrical energy in the form of electrical signals emitted from the surrounded terminal or in the form of electrical interference that interferes with electrical signals transmitted along the surrounded terminal.
An object of the invention is to provide an electrical connector assembly with an electrical connector, electrical contacts and electrical terminals of the contacts that project outwardly from the connector in a common direction and arranged in a pattern wherein one of the terminals is surrounded by the other terminals.
An object of the invention is to provide an electrical connector assembly including an insulative body, an electrical connector and with means providing for ease of assembly of an electrical contact with the body and in electrical engagement with the connector.
Another object of the invention is to provide an electrical connector assembly including an insulative body having an interior that holds an electrical connector in position over an opening in the insulative body into which an electrical contact is inserted for clasped engagement with a conductive shell of the connector and for latched engagement with the insulative body.
Another object of the invention is to provide an electrical connector assembly that provides for the assembly of plural electrical contacts of similar form and construction, and constructed for insertion into corresponding openings of an insulative body of the connector assembly, and with clasp portions to engage and clasp onto corresponding conductive portions of similar form and construction and provided on an electrical connector positioned in the connector assembly.
Other advantages of the invention are apparent from a detailed description, that follows, and from drawings that accompany the description.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings,
FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective view of an electrical connector assembly of triaxial configuration and with parts in exploded configuration.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a PCB, and further illustrating the parts shown in FIG. 1 assembled to form an electrical connector assembly.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section view of the assembly shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross section view of the assembly shown in FIG. 2, and taken generally along the line 4—4 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section view of an electrical connector assembly of coaxial configuration.
