Plug connector with adapter
A plug and jack electrical connector arrangement for connecting together the conductors of a pair of cables, comprising a connector housing containing an open-ended chamber, a plurality of contacts adapted for connection with the bare ends of the conductors, and a contact mounting unit for mounting the contacts in the connector housing chamber, which mounting unit includes a contact support member containing a plurality of parallel longitudinal passages, a contact holder member arranged to retain the contacts relative to the contact support member, and a connecting arrangement connecting together the contact support and contact holder members. In one embodiment, the contact hold member contains a plurality of bores in alignment with the contact support member passages. In a second embodiment, the contact holder member contains a through passage for receiving the contact support member, thereby to retain certain contacts in external grooves contained in the support member.
1. A plug and jack electrical connector arrangement for connecting together the conductors ( 15 ; 115 ) of a pair of cables ( 16 ; 116 ), comprising:
(a) a housing ( 4 ; 5 ) containing an open-ended chamber having a first end for receiving one cable end;
(b) a plurality of cylindrical contacts ( 11 ; 12 ) connected with the bare ends of the conductors of the cable, respectively;
(c) a contact support member ( 17 ; 117 ; 217 ) containing a plurality of parallel longitudinal support passages ( 18 ; 118 ; 218 ) terminating at one end in corresponding outwardly projecting resilient guide sleeve portions ( 18 a , 118 a ; 218 a ), respectively, said contacts being mounted concentrically within, and having free ends projecting collinearly outwardly from, said guide sleeve portions, respectively;
(d) a contact holder member ( 21 ; 121 ; 221 ) containing a plurality of parallel longitudinal holder passages ( 20 ; 120 ; 220 ) collinearly arranged opposite said sleeve projections, respectively; and
(e) a latch arrangement for positioning said contact holder member longitudinally relative to said contact support member, including:
(1) at least one latch hook ( 23 ; 123 ) connected with one of said contact holder and contact support members and extending longitudinally in the direction of the other of said contact holder and contact support members;
(2) a first recess ( 24 a ; 124 a ) arranged in the other of said contact holder and contact support members for engagement with said latch hook when said members are longitudinally displaced toward a first partially-assembled spaced condition in which said contact free ends extend partially into the adjacent ends of said support passages, respectively; and
(3) a second recess ( 24 b ; 124 b ) arranged in said other member for engagement with said latch hook when said members are longitudinally displaced toward a completely assembled contiguous condition, thereby to cause said resilient guide sleeve portions ( 18 a ; 118 a ) to extend partially into said passages contained in said contact holder member, respectively, whereby said contacts are locked in said holder passages, respectively;
(f) said completely assembled contact holder and contact support members defining a contact mounting unit ( 9 ; 10 ; 210 ) that is mounted within the other end of said housing chamber.
2. A plug and jack electrical connector arrangement as defined in claim 1 , wherein said contact support member ( 217 ) contains a plurality of parallel longitudinal passages ( 218 ), and a plurality of longitudinal external grooves ( 219 ), some of said contacts extending through said passages, and some of said contacts being supported in said grooves, respectively; and further wherein said contact holder member ( 221 ) contains a through chamber for concentrically receiving said contact support member and said contacts, thereby to maintain said contacts in said grooves.
3. A plug and jack electrical connector arrangement as defined in claim 1 , wherein said contacts are female contacts ( 11 ).
4. A plug and jack electrical connector arrangement as defined in claim 1 , wherein said contacts are male contacts ( 12 ).
5. A plug and jack electrical connector arrangement as defined in claim 1 , wherein said contact support member ( 217 ) also contains a plurality of longitudinal external grooves ( 219 ), some of said contacts being supported in said passages, and some of said contacts being supported in said grooves, respectively.
6. A plug and jack electrical connector arrangement as defined in claim 5 , wherein said contact mounting means further includes:
(4) a zinc support plate ( 239 ) connected with the bottom of said mounting unit.
7. A plug and jack electrical connector arrangement as defined in claim 1 , wherein said housing chamber and said contact mounting unit have corresponding generally rectangular cross-sectional configurations; and further wherein said contacts are arranged in horizontal rows.
8. A plug and jack electrical connector arrangement as defined in claim 7 , wherein said contact member is rectangular; and further wherein a latch arrangement is provided at each of the four corners of said contact mounting member.
9. A plug and jack electrical connector arrangement as defined in claim 1 , wherein said guide sleeve portions are axially-slit.
10. A plug and jack electrical connector arrangement as defined in claim 9 , wherein said sleeve portions extend with a force fit within said bores, respectively.
11. A plug and jack electrical connector arrangement as defined in claim 10 , wherein the end portions of said contact holder member bores adjacent said contact support member are constricted to define guide funnels ( 20 ; 120 ).
12. A plug and jack electrical connector arrangement as defined in claim 1 , and further including:
(d) a sheet metal shield device ( 26 ; 126 ) for at least partially enclosing and electrically shielding said contact mounting unit and said latch arrangement.
13. A plug and jack electrical connector arrangement as defined in claim 12 , wherein said metal shield device includes a zinc support plate ( 139 ) connected with the bottom of said mounting unit.
14. A plug and jack electrical connector arrangement as defined in claim 12 , wherein said shield device includes a plurality of sheet metal sections ( 127 , 127 a ).
15. A plug and jack electrical connector arrangement as defined in claim 14 , wherein at least some of said sheet metal sections ( 31 , 32 ) are pivotally connected together.
16. A plug and jack electrical connector arrangement as defined in claim 12 , and further including a stop arrangement ( 133 , 134 ) affording limited axial displacement of one of said contact support and contact holder members relative to said shield device.
17. A plug and jack electrical connector arrangement as defined in claim 16 , and further including flap and slot means ( 135 , 136 ) for limiting the axial displacement of said shield device relative to said contact mounting unit.