US3678445A - Electrical connector shield - Google Patents

Abstract

A shielding arrangement for eliminating electromagnetic interference in an electrical connector. A first shell member contains a bore portion on its outer surface and an annular groove adjacent to the bore portion. A conductive shielding member having a section contiguous to the bore portion and a first spring portion adjacent one side of the surface snaps into the groove for removably securing the shield to the shell and a second spring portion adjacent the other side of the section. The second spring portion may be formed at an acute angle with respect to the section and yieldable to provide good electrical contact between the first shell member and a second shell member movable with respect to said first shell member. The first shell member may contain a second annular groove opposite the first annular groove, the shield section at junction of the section and the second spring member being insertable into the second annular groove. Further, the spring members may be formed of finger portions.

Description

United States Patent Bran'caleone 1451 July 18, 1972 [54] ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR SHIELD [72] Inventor: Salvatore T. Brancaleone, Temple City,

[21] Appl.No.: 59,978

[52] U.S. Cl... ..339/l43 R, 339/258 A OTHER PUBLICATIONS IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin Fingerstock Expander" By M. A. Lockhart, Vol. 12, No. 3, Aug. 1969, page 413,

Primary Examiner-Richard E. Moore AttorneyC. Cornell Remsen, Jr., Walter J. Baum, Paul W. Hemminger, Charles L. Johnson, Jr. and Thomas E. Kristofferson ABSTRACT A shielding arrangement for eliminating electromagnetic interference in an electrical connector. A first shell member contains a bore portion on its outer surface and an annular groove adjacent to the bore portion. A conductive shielding member having a section contiguous to the bore portion and a first spring portion adjacent one side of the surface snaps into the groove for removably securing the shield to the shell and a second spring portion adjacent the other side of the section. The second spring portion may be formed at an acute angle with respect to the section and yieldable to provide good electrical contact between the first shell member and a second shell member movable with respect to said first shell member. The first shell member may contain a second annular groove opposite the first annular groove, the shield section at junction of the section and the second spring member being insertable into the second annular groove. Further, the spring members may be formed of finger portions.

2 Clalns, 7 Drawing Figures Patented July 18, 1972 INVENTOR. S/QLVQTO/E 7. BRQA/C/QLEO/VE ATTORNEY.

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR SHIELD The invention relates in general to shielding devices for eliminating electromagnetic interference in electrical connectors and, more particularly, to an electrical connector having a snap-in electromagnetic shield.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The use of shielding in electrical connectors to eliminate unwanted electromagnetic interference from interfering with signals being carried by a coaxial line is well known. Typically, multi-fingered strip contacts normally have to be soldered, crimped or spot welded in place. Alternatively, closed loop preforms for use as shields are expensive and cannot be installed in a recessed single portion of a connector. In order to overcome the attendant disadvantages of prior art electrical connector shielding members, the present invention provides a'shield which can be installed on a connector member with a simple snap-in operation. Moreover, since no bonding or intermediate joining processes are required, fast and simple replacement of the shield is possible.

The advantages of this invention, both as to its construction and mode of operation, will be readily-appreciated as the same becomes better understood by references to thefollowing detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like referenced numerals designate like parts throughout the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of the outer shell of a plug connector with the contact strip shield partially engaged therein.

FIG. 2 illustrates a blown up perspective view of a portion of the contact strip shield shown in FIG. I.

FIG. 3 shows an edge (end) view of the contact strip shield prior to insertion into the shell of the plug connector.

FIG. 4 depicts the shield shown in FIG. 1 through 3 mountedin the plug connector with a mating receptacle connector shell partially engaged with the plug connector shell.

FIG. 5 illustrates the plug and receptacle connector shells of FIG. 3 fully engaged.

FIG. 6 shows the contact strip shield mounted in a rectangular plug connector shell; and

FIG. 7 illustrates the strip shield mounted in a flat access opening such as a door. 7

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 aplug connector 12 having mounted therein acontact strip shield 14 in accordance with the invention. The plug connector may comprise an outer shell which has contact members (not shown) mounted therein. Thefront end 16 of theplug connector 12 may be formed of a cylindrical member having a keying arrangement formed of key members 18 formed on its outer surface for mating with a receptacle connector in a fixed orientation. 1

Thestrip shield 14 shown in greater detail in FIG. 2 and 3 may be formed of a spring material such as spring steel, beryllium, copper, or phosphor bronze, which is flexible, may be readily stamped, and contains good conductive characteristics. The contact strip shield which is depicted as being utilized to provide a ground connection between the mating 'plug and receptacle shells is formed of aflat ribbon portion 22 one edge of which containsfingers 24 which are bent at an acute angle with respect to theribbon portion 22. Thefingers 24 are approximately two-thirds as long as the strip itself,

although the exact length is not critical. The other edge side of v thestrip 22 contains a plurality offingers 26 which are formed in its unstressed shape at an obtuse angle with respect to the strip and extend away therefrom.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is depicted a cross sectional view of a portion of aplug connector 12 as well as a portion of the shell of areceptacle connector 32 having aninner surface 34. Theplug connector 12 contains anannular groove portion 42 along its outer surface. Thegroove 42 is approximately as long as the width of theribbon portion 22 of the contact strip shield. The front end of the groove terminates in a rearwardly facingshoulder 44, the outer surface of the shoulder being adjacent to theouter surface 46 of the front portion of theplug 16. Formed in theshoulder 44 is anannular groove 48 which defines the area between theshoulder 44 and thebore 42. An outwardly extendingflange 52 contains a forward facingshoulder 54 and defines the rear end of thegroove 42. Formed in theshoulder 54 is anannular groove 56, which faces forwardly and has a height which is approximately the length of thefingers 26 of the contact strip shield and a depth approximately twice as thick as the thickness of each of thefingers 26. The inner surface of thegrooves 48 and 56 adjacent thegroove 42 actually form a continuation of the groove surface.

In the position shown in FIG. 3, the distance X between the end of thefingers 24 remote from theportion 22 to theportion 22 is greater than the distance between the ofgroove 42 and theouter surface 46. Thecontact strip shield 22 is inserted with its bottom surface contiguous to the surface ofgroove 42 with the junction of thefingers 24 andportion 22 being inserted into thegroove 48 intermediate the top wall 62 a andbottom wall 64 which define concentric cylinders. Then thefingers 26 are inserted into thegroove 56 with the resultant bending of thefingers 26 so'that they are almost at approximately right angles to theportion 22. The free end of thefingers 26 abut thetop wall 66 ofannular groove 56 and the junction of thefingers 26 andportion 22 abut thebottom wall 68. Thewalls 66 and 68 also define concentric cylinders with thesurfaces 64 and 68 being continuation ofsurface groove 42. The ends of theshield 14 at theportion 22 may abut each other when mounted or a slight overlap is permissible. It should be further noted that thegroove 48 could be eliminated and the shield retained only by use of thegroove 56.

As shown in FIG. 4, thereceptacle shell 32 is slid over thesurface 46 until the front end thereof abuts thefingers 24 causing thefingers 24 to bend inwardly with the tips thereof abutting theinner surface 34 of thereceptacle shell 32, thus making a good contact between the plug and the receptacle shell. Further, the shell may be further mated until its front surface abutsshoulder 54 as shown in FIG. 5.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 aplug connector 82 has mounted therein acontact strip 84 which is similar in shape to thecontact strip 14 of FIGS. 1 through 5. However, due to the rectangular shape of the connector, pre-bent forms may bemade in the strip in order for the strip shield to more readily fit into the rectangular connector shell. Operationally, however, the devices are the same.

In FIG. 7,theshield 92 is mounted on aflat surface 94 such as a door to an equipment access screen room where shielding is required for preventing leakage of electromagnetic interference from equipment utilized in the room as well as preventing electromagnetic interference from entering the room.

What is claimed is:

I. A shielding arrangement for eliminating electromagnetic interference in an electrical connector comprising:

a shell member having a longitudinally extending axis and having a groove on its outer surface defined by a first surface concentric with the axis of said shell member and a second and third surface, one end of said second and third surfaces extending normally and outwardly from said first surface at opposite ends thereof, respectively, and projections extending from the other ends of said second and third surfaces towards each other and concentrically with said first surface; and conductive shielding member comprising a first section position adjacent said first surface, a second section extending from one end of said first section and being positioned adjacent said second surface and held by the adjacent projection, and a third section having one end positioned against said third surface and extending from the other end of said first section at an acute angle toward said second section.

2. A shielding arrangement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said third section extends beyond said portion extend- 5 ing from said third surface, and further comprising a second shell member mated with said shell member, with said third section deflected inwardly toward said first surface.

I i l t i 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTHHGATE 0F CQRRECTHNN Patent No. 7 Dated July 18; 1972 Invent Salvatore T. Brancaleone It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:-

In Clainll Line 72 Change: [postfion]to ggs1ggg Signed and sealed this 2nd day of January 1973.

(SEAL).

Attest: I

EDWARD MTPLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims (2)

1. A shielding arrangement for eliminating electromagnetic interference in an electrical connector comprising: a shell member having a longitudinally extending axis and having a groove on its outer surface defined by a first surface concentric with the axis of said shell member and a second and third surface, one end of said second and third surfaces extending normally and outwardly from said first surface at opposite ends thereof, respectively, and projections extending from the other ends of said second and third surfaces towards each other and concentrically with said first surface; and a conductive shielding member comprising a first section position adjacent said first surface, a second section extending from one end of said first section and being positioned adjacent said second surface and held by the adjacent projection, and a third section having one end positioned against said third surface and extending from the other end of said first section at an acute angle toward said second section.

2. A shielding arrangement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said third section extends beyond said portion extending from said third surface, and further comprising a second shell member mated with said shell member, with said third section deflected inwardly toward said first surface.

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