The Whitaker Corporation

William P Moyer

Randall Robert Henry

David W Rupnik

David A Skotek

An electrical connector (10) is disclosed having an improved securing member (16) that serves to accurately position the connector on a circuit board (14), to secure the connector thereto, and to latchingly engage a mating connector (12) to hold the two connectors in mated engagement. The securing member (16) includes a U-shaped portion (60) that straddles an outer wall (46) of the connector housing (20), one side (62) of the U-shaped portion extending through an opening (42) in the housing and through a hole (92) in the circuit board (14). The other side (64) of the U-shaped portion extends along the outside of the outer wall (46) and terminates in a mounting foot (70) that extends outwardly at right angles thereto. The mounting foot (70) is soldered to a metalized mounting pad (90) on the circuit board (14). Latch projections (78, 80) extend from the U-shaped portion (60) inwardly into an opening (30) in the connector housing (20) that receives the end (32) of the mating connector (12).

Latch and mounting member for a surface mounted electrical connector

A miniature bulkhead connector (10) is disclosed having a novel anti-rotational mechanism for preventing rotation of the center conductor (90) during mating with a mating connector. The connector includes a metal housing (14) arranged to be mounted to a bulkhead (20) and an insulating insert (40) in a cavity (38) within the housing. The insert (40) has a central hole (54) therethrough on the longitudinal axis (43) of the insert. A series of ribs (62) are formed on the interior surface of the central hole (54) parallel with the axis and are arranged to form channels (64) between adjacent ribs. the channels (64) are sized to receive edges (94) that project from opposite sides of the contact (56). The edges (94) slide into the channels (64) allowing the contact to freely move along the longitudinal axis (43) but will not permit relative rotation thereof. Since there are a number of channels, there is a similar number of angular positions from which the contact may be inserted into the insulating insert.

Mini connector with anti-rotational contact

This invention in its preferred embodiment, is directed to a miniature UHF type plug, more particularly to a female, snap-on coaxial cable connector for use with radio-frequency and other transmission lines, where such connector is electrically connectable to a male, receptacle connector, typically panel mounted and of a design as known in the art. The snap-on, coaxial connector comprises three primary members identified as a circular sleeve, a circular shell, and a circular collar. The circular sleeve includes a plurality of spaced-apart, axially oriented tynes along a first end thereof, and the circular shell consists of a cable crimping section, an intermediate section to be received within the sleeve, and a third section having a like plurality of spaced-apart, axially oriented tynes. The latter tynes are arranged to intermate with the first tynes, and the intermated tynes are adapted to receive the male, receptacle connector. The shell is further characterized by means to retain the axial position of the shell within said sleeve, and by means cooperating with the male, receptacle connector to prevent rotative movement therebetween, where preferably such means comprise a compliant, elastomeric spacer member. The circular retaining collar is provided to receive the sleeve, and cooperative means are further provided between the collar and the sleeve to limit the axial movement therebetween.

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Middletown, PA, United States of America

William P Moyer