# US 8,465,321 B2 · Protruding contact receiver for multi-conductor compression cable connector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,465,321 B2 - Document ID: US8465321B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/015,073 - Filed: 2011-01-27 - Published: 2011-12-15 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2010-06-09 - Assignees: Ppc Broadband, Inc. - Applicants: Noah Montena - Inventors: Noah Montena - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465321B2 ## CPC - H01R 9/0524: {Connection to outer conductor by action of a clamping member, e.g. screw fastening means (H01R9/0515 takes precedence)} - H01R 24/28: Coupling parts carrying pins, blades or analogous contacts and secured only to wire or cable - H01R 13/6275: {Latching arms not integral with the housing (H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence)} - H01R 24/86: Parallel contacts arranged about a common axis - H01R 2105/00: Three poles - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract A multi-conductor cable connector is provided, the connector including a contact receiver, having a first end and a second end, disposed substantially within an outer housing of a multi-conductor cable connector, wherein a portion of the contact receiver extends an axial distance beyond the outer housing, a plurality of openings configured to receive a plurality of non-concentrically aligned electrical contacts, the plurality of openings being surrounded by the contact receiver, and a securing mechanism positioned proximate the contact receiver, the securing mechanism having a latch arm, wherein axial compression of the contact receiver establishes and maintains firm electrical and physical contact with the received non-concentrically aligned electrical contacts and biases the latch arm of the securing mechanism. Furthermore, an associated method is also provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A multi-conductor cable connector comprising: a contact receiver, having a first end and a second end, disposed substantially within an outer housing of the multi-conductor cable connector, wherein a portion of the contact receiver extends an axial distance beyond the outer housing; and a plurality of openings surrounded by the contact receiver; a plurality of electrical contacts disposed within the plurality of openings, the plurality of electrical contacts configured to receive a plurality of non-concentrically aligned electrical contacts; wherein axial compression of the contact receiver when the multi-conductor cable connector is in a mated position with a corresponding multi-conductor cable connector establishes and maintains firm electrical and physical contact between the plurality of electrical contacts and the received non-concentrically aligned electrical contacts. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The multi-conductor cable connector of claim 1, wherein axial compression of the contact receiver occurs when the contract receiver engages a plate of the corresponding multi-conductor cable connector. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The multi-conductor cable connector of claim 1, further including a securing mechanism positioned proximate the contact receiver, the securing mechanism having a latch arm, wherein the axial compression of the contact receiver also biases the latch arm of the securing mechanism. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The multi-conductor cable connector of claim 1, wherein, when in the mated position, the contact receiver is displaced in every direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The multi-conductor cable connector of claim 1, wherein the received non-concentrically aligned electrical contacts are male terminal pins from the corresponding multi-conductor cable connector. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The multi-conductor cable connector of claim 1, further comprising a cable connection portion operably connected to the outer housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The multi-conductor cable connector of claim 1, wherein the contact receiver is an elastomer. ### Claim 8 A multi-conductor cable connector comprising: an elastomeric member positioned substantially within an outer housing of a multi-contact portion of the multi-conductor cable connector, wherein a portion of the elastomeric member protrudes from the outer housing, the elastomeric member surrounding at least one electrical contact, the at least one electrical contact having a socket positioned at one end of the electrical contact; wherein, when in a mated position with a corresponding multi-conductor cable connector, the elastomeric member engages a surface of the corresponding multi-conductor cable connector causing the elastomeric member to be axially compressed and radially expanded to bias the at least one electrical contact. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The multi-conductor cable connector of claim 8, wherein the axial compression of the elastomeric member biases a component of a securing mechanism, the securing mechanism being located proximate the elastomeric member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The multi-conductor cable connector of claim 8, wherein the multi-contact portion is coupled to a cable connection portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The multi-conductor cable connector of claim 8, wherein the cable connection portion is a compression connector. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The multi-conductor cable connector of claim 8, wherein the elastomeric member radially expands outward to bias against the socket of the at least one electrical contact. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The multi-conductor cable connector of claim 8, wherein the corresponding multi-conductor cable connector is a male multi-conductor cable connector. ### Claim 14 A multi-conductor cable connector comprising: a cable connection portion, wherein the cable connection portion receives a plurality of conductive strands; and a multi-contact portion coupled to the cable connection portion, the multi-contact portion including: an outer housing disposed over a connector body; a contact receiver having a first end and a second end, the contact receiver positioned substantially within the outer housing, wherein a portion of the contact receiver proximate the second end axially protrudes a distance beyond the outer housing; wherein the multi-conductor cable connector further includes a plurality of electrical contacts at least partially disposed within a plurality of openings of the contact receiver, the plurality of electrical contacts are in communication with the plurality of conductive strands received by the cable connection portion; wherein the contact receiver of the multi-contact portion compress to bias the plurality of electrical contacts when a corresponding multi-conductor cable connector engages the portion of the contact receiver. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The multi-conductor cable connector of claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of electrical contacts have a socket to facilitate acceptance of an incoming electrical contact. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The multi-conductor cable connector of claim 14, wherein the cable connection portions includes a post at least partially disposed within the outer housing, the post configured for receiving a prepared portion of a multi-conductor cable having the plurality of conductive strands, a conductive member radially disposed over the post, wherein the conductive member has a first end and a second end, and the connector body physically and electrically contacting the conductive member proximate the second end of the conductive member. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The multi-conductor cable connector of claim 14, wherein the contact receiver is axially compressed when in a mated position with a corresponding multi-conductor cable, such that the axial compression of the contact receiver causes the contact receiver to displace within the outer housing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The multi-conductor cable connector of claim 15, wherein a displacement within the outer housing simultaneously biases a securing mechanism and provides firm electrical and physical contact between the socket of each of the plurality of electrical contacts and the incoming electrical contact. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The multi-conductor cable connector of claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of electrical contacts is a female terminal pin. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The multi-conductor cable connector of claim 15, wherein the incoming electrical contact is a male terminal pin of a corresponding multi-conductor cable connector. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The multi-conductor cable connector of claim 14, wherein the contact receiver is an elastomer. ### Claim 22 A multi-conductor cable connector comprising: a cable connection portion, wherein the cable connection portion receives a plurality of conductive strands; a multi-contact portion coupled to the cable connection portion, the multi-contact portion having a plurality of electrical contacts in communication with the plurality of conductive strands, the plurality of electrical contacts configured to receive a plurality of non-concentrically aligned contacts of a corresponding multi-conductor cable connector; and means for establishing and maintaining electrical and physical contact between the plurality of electrical contacts and the received non-concentrically aligned electrical contacts, the means being a fixed component configured to compress the plurality of electrical contacts; wherein the means also biases a latch arm of a securing mechanism of the multi-conductor cable connector. ### Claim 23 A method comprising: providing a multi-conductor cable connector having a cable connection portion and a multi-contact portion coupled to the cable connection portion, wherein the cable connection portion receives a plurality of conductive strands, the multi-contact portion including: an outer housing; a contact receiver having a first end and a second end, the contact receiver positioned substantially within the outer housing, wherein a portion of the contact receiver proximate the second end axially protrudes a distance beyond the outer housing; a plurality of electrical contacts disposed within a plurality of openings of the contact receiver, the plurality of electrical contacts being in communication with the plurality of conductive strands received by the cable connection portion; wherein, when the multi-conductor cable connector is in a mated position with a corresponding multi-conductor cable connector, the contact receiver engages a surface of the corresponding multi-conductor cable connector causing the contact receiver to be axially compressed and radially expanded to bias the plurality of electrical contacts; wherein the contact receiver of the multi-contact portion biases the plurality of electrical contacts when a corresponding multi-conductor cable connector engages the portion of the contact receiver. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the contact receiver is an elastomer. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein each of the plurality of electrical contacts is a female terminal pin.