US 6,705,884 B1 · Electrical connector apparatus and method

Abstract

The subject invention relates to an electrical connector for coupling to an insulated electrical conductor or a coaxial cable of the type having an inner conductor enclosed in an inner concentric insulation and having a generally concentric conductive sheath therearound and an outer insulation enclosing the conductive sheath. The subject connector can have a housing having an electrically conductive portion and a bore therein. The subject connector can also have an electrically conductive pin mounted in the housing with one end protruding axially into the housing bore. A second end of the conductive pin can extend in an opposite direction within a second housing bore. The electrically conductive center pin can have a hollow portion extending thereinto from the protruding end and can have an annular sharpened edge on the protruding end. One or more slits can extend along the side of the center pin from the protruding end to form a plurality of center pin segments. Inserting an insulating electrical conductor into the housing bore and into engagement with the hollow center pin drives the center pin into the insulation of the electrical conductor and around the electrical conductor's inner conductor. A segmented center pin can allow the plurality of segments to expand where necessary in order to accommodate various sizes of electrical conductors. One or more conductive arms can be electrically connected to the conductive housing portion and have pointed ends sized for piercing the outer insulation of the insulated electrical conductor. A closure member can be used for forcing and/or securing engagement of the pointed ends of the conductive arms through the outer insulation. For embodiments for use with coaxial cable, the conductive arms are insulated from the electrical conductive pin and the conductive arms are insulated from the electrical conductive pin and the pointed ends of the conductive arms can be shaped relative to one another to pierce the conductive sheath without contacting the center conductor.

Claims49

Dependent claims

An electrical connector for coupling to an electrical conductor having an inner conductor enclosed with an inner insulation and a generally concentric conductive sheath and enclosed in an outer insulation, said electrical connector comprising:

a housing having an electrically conductive portion;
an electrically conductive prong, wherein at least a portion of said prong is hollow for receiving the inner conductor of the electrical conductor, wherein said hollow portion of said prong comprises a plurality of slits which extend a length of the hollow portion of said prong which receives the inner conductor, wherein said plurality of slits create a plurality of prong segments;
and
at least one conductive clamping arm connected to said electrically conductive portion of said housing and insulated from said electrically conductive prong, said at least one conductive clamping arm having an end for driving through an outer insulation layer of the electrical conductor and making electrical contact with the conductive sheath of the electrical conductor without contacting the inner conductor.

1 more element

a housing having an electrically conductive portion;
an electrically conductive prong, wherein at least a portion of said prong is hollow for receiving the inner conductor of the electrical conductor;
and
at least one conductive clamping arm connected to said electrically conductive portion of said housing and insulated from said electrically conductive prong, said at least one conductive clamping arm each having an end for driving through an outer insulation layer of the electrical conductor and making electrical contact with the conductive sheath of the electrical conductor without contacting the inner conductor,
wherein the electrical conductor is designed to receive an end of the electrical conductor that is flush, wherein the hollow portion of the electrically conductive prong penetrates the flush end of the electrical conductor as the hollow portion of the electrically conductive prong receives the inner conductor of the electrical conductor.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electrical connector apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Electrical connector apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims49