Device for mounting an electrical connector to a conductive panel

An electrical connector is mounted to a panel of conductive material by means of a board of dielectric material secured with one face engaging the panel and having a layer of electrically-conductive material on its other face. The layer of electrically conductive material is in conductive contact with the exterior of the connector. The exterior of the connector can thus be connected to the panel by inserting a conductive screw through the panel so that it contacts the metal layer.

This invention relates to a device for mounting an electrical connector to 
a conductive panel. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
It is frequently desired to mount an electrical connector for coaxial cable 
to a conductive panel. Connectors for coaxial cable are generally 
cylindrical in form, having a conductive core and a metal shell. The shell 
itself is connected to the shield conductor of the cable, and is known as 
the shield connector. It is often desired to maintain electrical isolation 
between the shield connector and the conductive panel, but it may also be 
desired to ground the shield connector to the panel. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
According to the first aspect of the present invention there is provided, 
in combination, and electrical connector having an electrically conductive 
exterior portion, and a device for mounting the electrical connector to a 
conductive panel formed with an aperture which is sufficiently large to 
enable the connector to be disposed therein without said exterior portion 
contacting the panel, said device comprising a board of dielectric 
material having first and second main faces and formed with an opening in 
which said connector can be fitted, the board being secured in use to the 
panel with the first main face of the board contacting the panel and so 
that a connector fitted in the opening of the board extends in the 
aperture of the panel without contacting the panel, and the device further 
comprising a layer of electrically conductive material on the second main 
face of the board and surrounding the opening therein, so as to enter into 
electrically-conductive contact with said exterior portion of the 
connector when the connector is fitted in said opening, and an 
electrically-conductive member for selectively connecting the layer of 
conductive material to the conductive panel. 
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided in 
combination, an electrical connector having an electrically conductive 
exterior portion, a panel of electrically conductive material formed with 
an aperture which is sufficiently large to enable the connector to be 
disposed therein without said exterior portion contacting the panel, and a 
device for mounting the electrical connector to the panel, said device 
comprising a board of dielectric material having first and second main 
faces and formed with an opening in which said connector can be fitted, 
the board being secured in use to the panel with the first main face of 
the board contacting the panel and so that a connector fitted in the 
opening of the board extends in the aperture of the panel without 
contacting the panel, and the device further comprising a layer of 
electrically-conductive material on the second main face of the board and 
surrounding the opening therein, so as to enter into 
electrically-conductive contact with said exterior portion of the 
connector when the connector is fitted in said opening, and an 
electrically-conductive member for selectively connecting the layer of 
electrically-conductive material to the panel.

The conductive panel 2 shown in FIG. 1 may be, for example, the front panel 
of a television monitor or of an accessory therefor. The panel is formed 
with several holes 4 for receiving connectors, such as BNC (Bayonet 
Neil-Concelman) connectors 6. A BNC connector (hereinafter referred to 
simply as "BNC") is a bayonet-coupled connector for coaxial cable and 
comprises two conductors, namely a core conductor 8 and a shell 10 
maintained in predetermined relative positions by a body of dielectric 
material 12. 
As illustrated in FIG. 1, it is conventional to mount the BNC 6 in the hole 
4 using a metal plate 14 formed with a D hole 24 in which the BNC is 
secured by means of a nut 16 engaging threads 18 at the rear of the BNC. A 
foil 32 of dielectric material is positioned between the plate and the 
panel, and the screws 20 that are used to secure the plate 14 to the panel 
2 are each provided with a dielectric bushing 26 so as to maintain 
electrical isolation between the panel and the plate. If it is desired to 
ground the shield connection 10 of the BNC, an additional screw 27 is 
fitted through a hole 28 in the panel and engages an internally-threaded 
hole 30 in the metal plate, and thus connects the plate 14 electrically to 
the panel 2. 
In the arrangement shown in FIG. 2, the metal plate 14 and foil 32 are 
replaced by a board 34 of dielectric material having a layer 36 of metal 
on one side. The BNC is secured to the board 34 in the same manner as it 
is secured to the plate 14 in the case of FIGS. 1 and 2. The screws 20 
securing the dielectric board 34 to the panel 2 engage internally-threaded 
metal sleeves 38 which are secured in holes in the dielectric board. The 
layer 36 is deposited on the face of the dielectric board that is further 
from the panel 2 and is in electrically-conductive contact with the shield 
connection of the BNC, and this layer can be connected to the panel 2, for 
grounding the shield connection, by means of a screw, such as shown at 40, 
engaging an internally-threaded metal sleeve 42 which is secured in a hole 
in the board 34 and is in electrically-conductive contact with the layer 
36. 
The sleeves 38 are disposed outside the area of the layer 36, and 
accordingly the screws 38 are not electrically connected to the shield 
connection. Consequently, it is not necessary to use insulating bushings 
to avoid electrical connection between the panel and the shield connection 
by way of the screws 38. As in the case of FIG. 1, insertion and removal 
of the screws 40 establishes and breaks electrical connection between the 
panel and the shield connection. 
The board 34 is manufactured of the same type of material as an etched 
circuit board, e.g. epoxy glass, and the layer 36 is deposited on the 
board using conventional etched circuit board techniques. A board 1.5 mm 
thick has adequate structural strength. 
It will be appreciated that when the term "conductive" is used herein, it 
means electrically conductive, as opposed to thermally conductive. 
It will be appreciated that the invention is not restricted to the 
particular arrangement which has been shown and described with reference 
to FIG. 2, since variations may be made therein without departing from the 
scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims, and equivalents 
thereof. In particular, the invention is not restricted to use with BNCs, 
since it may be used with any type of coaxial connector.