US 7,396,249 B2Granted

Electrical connector with snap-fastening coupling mechanism

OwnerGeorge M. Kauffmaninventor

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Abstract

An electrical connector includes an inner conductor, an annular insulator which surrounds the inner conductor and an outer conductor which surrounds the annular insulator. The electrical connector is provided with both a threaded coupling mechanism and a snap-fastening coupling mechanism. In one embodiment, the threaded coupling mechanism is in the form of an outwardly projecting spiral threading which protrudes out from the mating end of the outer conductor. In the same embodiment, the snap-fastening coupling mechanism is in the form of an annular groove which is formed in the central body of the outer conductor, the annular groove being sized and shaped to receive a resilient, C-shaped snap ring from a mating electrical connector. In this manner, it is to be understood that the electrical connector is capable of being mechanically and electrically coupled to various types of mating electrical connectors using either threaded coupling means or snap-fastening coupling means.

Claims4

Dependent claims

A first electrical connector adapted to be electrically and mechanically connected to a second electrical connector, the second electrical connector comprising a threaded coupling mechanism and a snap-fastening coupling mechanism, said first electrical connector comprising:

(a) an inner conductor;
(b) an insulator surrounding the inner conductor;
(c) a conductive collar surrounding the insulator;
(d) an outer body surrounding the conductive collar;
the outer body having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the outer body being shaped to define a groove;
and
(e) a snap-fastening coupling mechanism retained within the groove in the outer body, the snap-fastening coupling mechanism being adapted to engage the snap-fastening coupling mechanism for the second electrical connector to retain the first and second electrical connectors in electrical and mechanical connection with one another;
(f) wherein the conductive collar and the outer body together define an annular gap which is sized and shaped to receive the threaded coupling mechanism for the second electrical connector when the first and second electrical connectors are electrically and mechanically connected together.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/818,918Filed 15 Jun 2007 · continuation
Priority: 2 Sep 2005
Published: US 2008/0003861 A13 Jan 2008
Granted: 8 Jul 2008
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification3 codes

H01R 13/6277
Snap or like fastening: comprising annular latching means, e.g. ring snapping in an annular groove
H01R 13/5219
Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof cases: sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal
H01R
Electrically-conductive connections

Family

Application60/713,862Us provisional application · filed 2 Sep 2005
Application11/358,741Parent of this continuation · filed 21 Feb 2006
US 2008/0003861 A1Pre-grant publication · published 3 Jan 2008
US 7,234,956 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2007/0054534 A1Published application
US 7,396,249 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.