Abstract:
A terminal includes a connecting portion having a through hole to which a core wire of the coaxial cable is inserted to be electrically connected therewith, and a flat projection formed in the vicinity of the through hole on the connecting portion. The connecting portion is formed as a vertical wall member extending perpendicular to an insertion direction of the coaxial cable, and the flat projection is formed as a horizontal table member projected therefrom so as to extend parallel with the insertion direction of the coaxial cable. A corner portion defined by the vertical wall member and the horizontal table portion is utilized for a portion where a leading end of a soldering iron for soldering the connecting portion and the core wire is abutted.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a coaxial cable connector and a method for assembling the same connector and in particular to a technique for improving in particular the workability in soldering a core wire at the time of assembly. 
     A related coaxial cable connector will be explained with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. In the construction of a coaxial cable connector shown in FIG. 6, a terminal  72  is provided at a leading end of a terminal holder  71  formed from an insulating material, and with one of two-part lids  73  being closed which are provided at the leading end of the holder  71  in such a manner as to be opened and/or closed via an integral hinge or the like, a shield cover  74  is attached to the external circumference of the holder  71 , the shield cover  74  being constructed so as to extend as far as a leading end a coaxial cable  50  in such a manner as to cover the outer circumference of the one of the lids  73  which is closed. 
     A method for assembling the connector constructed as described above to the coaxial cable  50  comprises, as shown in FIG. 6, the steps of allowing a core wire  52  of the coaxial cable  50  to pass through a connecting hole  72   a  formed in a vertical wall at the leading end of the terminal  72 , applying a soldering iron  60  to this portion for soldering, thereafter closing the other lid  73 , introducing a sleeve  79  over the outer circumference of the holder  71  as shown in FIG. 7, and a clamping members  79   a  at a leading end of the sleeve  79  are clamped to secure the sleeve  79  with the coaxial cable  50  for completion of the assembly. 
     With the coaxial cable connector constructed as described above, however, since soldering has to be carried out with respect to the surface extending vertically, it is difficult to apply the soldering iron to the proper position needing soldering, and in addition, it is also difficult to secure a leading end of the soldering iron  60  during the soldering. Thus, there is caused a problem that the workability in soldering tend to be reduced. 
     In addition, in a case where fused solder is sagged on the insulator (the lid  73  or the like) to thereby open a hole in the insulator, there is caused a concern of short circuit when a bent portion is provided to the core wire  52  as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention was made in view of the aforesaid problems and an object thereof is to provide a coaxial cable connector which can improve the workability in soldering by making it possible for the leading end of the soldering iron to be stably fixed to a soldering surface at the time of soldering and which is free from a risk of sagging of fused solder and a method for assembling the same connector to a coaxial cable. 
     In order to achieve the above object, there is provided a connector for a coaxial cable comprising: 
     a terminal including: 
     a connecting portion having a through hole to which a core wire of the coaxial cable is inserted to be electrically connected therewith; and 
     a flat projection formed in the vicinity of the through hole on the connecting portion; and 
     a terminal holder made of an insulating material for accommodating the terminal. 
     Preferably, the connecting portion is formed as a vertical wall member extending perpendicular to an insertion direction of the coaxial cable, and the flat projection includes a horizontal table member projected therefrom so as to extend parallel with the insertion direction of the coaxial cable. 
     According to the above configuration, soldering can be carried out with the leading end of the soldering iron being stably supported on the horizontal table member and the workability in soldering can be improved, thereby making it possible to perform soldering work quickly and with high quality. In addition, since fused solder is received by the horizontal table member, sagging of fused solder can be prevented, whereby a risk of generation of short circuit can be prevented. 
     Preferably, the terminal holder includes a lid body for opening/closing a space where the connecting portion is located. A soldering iron is inserted into the space formed by opening the lid body to solder the connecting portion and the core wire. 
     According to the above configuration, the soldering iron for performing soldering work is placed on the horizontal table member through the space opened by the lid body, whereby the workability in soldering can be improved. 
     Preferably, a part of the vertical wall member is cut and erected to form the horizontal table member. The terminal holder has a projection on an inner wall thereof, which is engaged with an opening formed on the connecting portion due to the formation of the horizontal table member. 
     According to the above configuration, there is no need to provide a separate table member for assembly, a construction being thus provided which is simple and free from wastefulness. 
     Preferably, a corner portion defined by the vertical wall member and the horizontal table portion is utilized for a portion where a leading end of a soldering iron for soldering the connecting portion and the core wire is abutted. 
     According to the above configuration, since soldering work can be performed with the leading end of the soldering iron being supported on the table portion, the workability in soldering can be improved and soldering work can be carried out quickly and with high quality. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the accompanying drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a coaxial cable connector according to one embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing a terminal of the coaxial cable connector; 
     FIG. 2B is a sectional view taken along the line A—A of FIG. 2A; 
     FIG. 3A is an exploded perspective view showing the terminal and a holder of the coaxial cable connector; 
     FIG. 3B is a perspective view showing the state in which the terminal and the holder are fitted into a sleeve; 
     FIGS. 4A to  5 D are perspective views showing a process for assembling the coaxial cable connector; 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a state in which soldering is performed in a related coaxial cable connector; and 
     FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a state in which the assembling of the related coaxial cable connector is completed. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the accompanying drawings, a coaxial cable connector and a method for assembling the same according to one embodiment of the invention will be described in detail below. 
     FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a coaxial cable connector (hereinafter, referred to as connector). FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing a terminal of the coaxial cable connector. FIG. 2B is a sectional view taken along the line A—A of FIG.  2 A. FIG. 3A is an exploded perspective view showing the terminal and a holder of the coaxial cable connector. FIG. 3B is a perspective view showing the state in which the terminal and the holder are fitted into a sleeve. As shown in FIG. 1, a connector  100  according to the invention comprises a terminal  10 , a tubular holder  12  in which the terminal is inserted for fixation, a sleeve  14  fitted over a half of the outer circumference of the holder  12 , and in addition, a shield cover and an outer cover formed of an insulator, which will be described later. 
     The terminal  10  is prepared by pressing a metal having good conductivity such as copper, and as shown in FIG. 2, and it comprises a hollow part  16  formed substantially into a triangular prism, a bottom portion  18  extending to one of end portions of the hollow part  16 , a vertical wall raised perpendicularly at a leading end of the bottom portion  18  as a solder joint surface, a core wire connection hole  22  opened in the vertical wall  20 , an opening  24  opened at a transversely central portion in a lower portion of the vertical wall  20  for engaging with a lance  34  of the holder  12 , which will be described later, and a table portion  26  formed at an upper end of the opening  24  by folding back part of the vertical wall  20  in such a manner as to project at right angles relative to the vertical wall  20 . 
     In addition, formed in the hollow part  16  are a connector  16   a  stamped inwardly out of an inclined face of the terminal main body and an elastic contact piece  16   b  cut out of a bottom of the terminal main body so as to be raised therefrom, as shown in FIG.  2 B. 
     The holder  12  is an injection molded body of a synthetic resin which is an insulator, comprises a cylindrical portion  28  which is a main body of the holder  12  and a lid  30  adapted to open an upper half portion of the holder  12  at one end thereof, and allows the terminal  10  to be inserted into the interior thereof. 
     Fixation grooves  28   a  are formed in the outer circumference of the cylindrical portion  28  of the holder at both sides thereof, and the lid  30  is made integral with the cylindrical portion  28  at the opening thereof via thin hinge  32 . In addition, a flexible lance  34  is provided at a portion of the bottom of the holder  12  in such a manner as to project therefrom for fixing the terminal through elastic deformation, and the lance  34  is brought into engagement with the opening  24  in the terminal  10  when the terminal  10  is inserted into the holder  12 , whereby the terminal  10  in the inserted state is positioned in place and is prevented from dislocation. 
     Thus, in the state in which the terminal  10  is inserted into the holder  12 , as shown in FIG. 1, the vertical wall  20  of the terminal  10  is exposed to the outside when the lid  30  is opened. 
     The sleeve  14  is of a substantially cylindrical shape which is open at an upper half portion at one end thereof and comprises a pair of braided wire clamping pieces  36  and a pair of sheath clamping pieces  38  which are provided at the opening end thereof in such a manner as to project therefrom, holder positioning pieces  40  provided on the sleeve cylindrical portion in such a manner as to project inwardly of the sleeve for engagement with the grooves  28   a  of the holder  12  and holder engagement pieces  42  formed on a cylindrical body of the sleeve  14 . 
     When the holder  12  is inserted into the sleeve  14 , the holder  12  is positioned with the holder positioning pieces  40 . 
     The connector  100  is assembled to the coaxial cable  50  after it is assembled to the above described state. Next, described will be a method for assembling the connector  100  to the coaxial cable  50 . 
     In this assembling procedure, as shown in FIG. 4A, for example, a peeling machine or the like is used to peel an outer sheath  58  off of a core wire  52 , an inner sheath  54  and a braided wire  56  in that order to expose one end of the coaxial cable  50  at a predetermined longitudinal ratio. 
     Next, as shown in FIG. 4B, the core wire  52  is pinched with a fixture so as to provide a wavelike bent portion (refer to FIG.  1 ). 
     Then, as shown in FIG. 4C, the leading end of the coaxial cable  50  is inserted into the connector  100  assembled as described above. The leading end of the core wire  52  is allowed to pass through the connection hole  22  formed in the vertical wall  20  of the terminal  10 . Here, as shown in FIG. 4D, the braided wire clamping pieces  36  and the sheath clamping pieces  38  are clamped together so as to hold the coaxial cable  50 . 
     Next, soldering work is performed in this stage. In other words, as shown in FIG. 5A, the leading end of a soldering iron  60  is applied diagonally so as to press against the vertical wall  20  of the terminal  10  for soldering (refer to FIG.  1 ). When this takes place, the soldering iron  60  can stably be held by allowing the leading end of the soldering iron  60  to press against a comer portion between the vertical wall  20  and the table portion  26 . This remarkably improves the workability in soldering and therefore remarkably reduces the frequency at which soldering failures take place. In addition, since solder which is surplus adheres to the table portion  26 , there is no way that the solder so adhering sags off from the table portion  26 , and therefore a risk of fusion of the holder  12  by the solder is avoided and a problem of short circuit that would be generated by such a short circuit is prevented. 
     After the soldering is completed, the lid  30  is closed, and as shown in FIG. 5B, the aforesaid shield cover  62  is placed over the holder  12 . Then, as shown in FIG. 5C, the outer cover  64  comprising an insulator which has already been introduced onto the coaxial cable  50  is moved so as to mount on the outer circumference of the assembled connector, when the connector assembling work is completed as shown in FIG.  5 D. 
     Here, since the table portion  26  of the terminal  10  is formed by folding back the part of the vertical wall  20  at right angles when the opening  24  is formed, there is no need to form a separate table portion  26 , whereby a construction can be provided which is simple and free from wastefulness. 
     As has been described heretofore, with the coaxial cable connector according to the invention, by forming at the vertical wall  20  of the terminal  10  the table portion  26  which projects at right angles relative to the vertical wall  20  the leading end of the soldering iron  60  can be placed on the table portion  26  so formed in soldering the core wire  52  of the coaxial cable  50  to the core wire connection hole  22  of the terminal  10 , whereby the soldering iron  60  can stably be held. Thus, the workability in soldering can be improved, whereby soldering work can be carried out quickly and with high quality. In addition, since fused solder accumulates at the table portion  26 , sagging of solder is prevented, whereby short circuit attributed to the sagging of fused solder can be prevented. 
     Although the present invention has been shown and described with reference to specific preferred embodiments, various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the teachings herein. Such changes and modifications as are obvious are deemed to come within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the invention as defined in the appended claims.