Electrical connector

Abstract: An electrical connector comprises a tubular connector member (1;1';6) having a generally axial opening (13;12';64) for receiving a cable (4), terminal means comprising a terminal carrier (2;2') or plug (7) and cable supporting means (3;8) located within the opening (13;12';64). The connector member (1;1';6) is threadedly engaged with a connector housing (5;9) at its end nearest the cable supporting means (3;8). As the connector housing (5;9) is tightened onto the tubular connector member (1;1';6) the cable (4) is urged against the cable supporting means (3;8) and thereby bent and pinched between the housing (5;9) and the end of the cable supporting means (3;8). In preferred arrangements, protrusions (36,36;84,84) are also provided on the cable supporting means (3;8) for digging into the cable (4).

Description: This invention relates to electrical connectors, and more particularly to microphone connectors. Known electrical connectors of U.S. Patent No. 4,647,127 and NO. 4,657,327 use a cable pinching method wherein a ring 26 engages a connector member 13, forcing a tubular clamping sleeve 7 to open its rear end 8 for clamping a cable. However, the clamping sleeve is tubular, so a great force has to be used to engage a female thread of a ring with a housing when clamping a large diameter cable in the clamping sleeve. Persons working continually to assemble this kind of connector may become extremely tired and in severe cases the right thumb may become painful or grow watery swells. In this case, the person may have to stop his work after engaging thirty or forty of such known connectors. DE-A-2 647 043 discloses an electrical connector in which a connector housing is threadedly engaged with a pressure component located in a generally axially extending opening within a connector member, so as to pull the pressure component against an inclined surface of the connector member and exert a retaining force on a cable by virtue of a wedging action. This has certain disadvantages. Viewed from one aspect, the present invention provides an electrical connector comprising a tubular connector member having a generally axially extending opening therein, a connector housing, terminal means located in use within said connector member for connecting to a cable located within said generally axial opening, and cable supporting means located in use within said generally axial opening of said connector member, characterised in that said connector housing is threadedly engageable with said connector member at a cable receiving end thereof being an end of said connector member which receives a said cable, said cable supporting means includes an annular or part annular wall portion for locating about a said cable and an elongate cable supporting portion extending from said wall portion towards said cable receiving end of said connector member, said elongate cable supporting portion turning radially inwardly at the end thereof which is nearest said cable receiving end of said connector member, the arrangement being such that when said connector housing is threadedly engaged with said connector member and tightened, said elongate cable supporting portion is pressed inwards by an inner surface of said connector housing so as to pinch and thereby secure a said cable within the connector. Preferably the cable supporting means and the terminal means comprise separate members which are removably located within the generally axially extending opening of the tubular connector member, the cable supporting member being located axially closest to the end of the connector member which receives the cable and with which the housing is engaged. The terminal means may comprise any suitable plug or terminal carrier such as may be used in a microphone or electrical connector. The wall portion of the cable supporting member preferably includes locating means such as a protrusion for engaging with a groove in the inner wall of the connector member to prevent rotation. The wall portion acts to guide the cable through to the terminal means, for example comprising a closed annulus or more preferably an annular ring having an axial slit therein to accommodate variations in cable diameter. A portion of the terminal means may also co-operate with a part annular wall portion of the cable supporting means to guide the cable within said generally axial opening. The cable supporting portion of such a cable supporting member extends axially from the wall portion, and turns radially inwardly towards a free end. Preferably the inwardly extending portion is curved, the curvature preferably increasing towards the free end so that at its free end the cable supporting member extends substantially completely radially to define a generally circumferential ridge at the free end, upon which the cable is supported. Preferably the inner surface of the cable supporting portion is curved (or otherwise suitably shaped) to conform substantially to the outer surface of a said cable. In such arrangements, when the connector housing is threadedly engaged with the connector member and is tightened to a sufficient degree, the cable is urged by the housing against the cable supporting portion of the cable supporting member. The cable supporting member pinches the cable against the housing, preferably being resiliently compressed and/or deflected to a small degree. Preferably two protrusions formed at the circumferential ends of a supporting ridge as previously described dig into the cable to some degree to assist in gripping and retaining the cable within the connector. Furthermore, in at least preferred embodiments the cable supporting member bends the cable to hold it securely within the connector. It will be seen in certain embodiments described hereinafter that a cable is guided through the opening in the outer end of a connector housing, over the end of a cable supporting member, along the length of the supporting member and through an annular portion to said terminal means. It will thus be seen that the securing of the cable does not necessarily rely solely on cylindrical compression of the cable. The housing preferably has an internal thread which engages with an external thread on the connector member. An annular ring may be provided inside the housing for pressing against the cable, in some embodiments having a tapered section for pressing against the cable. Preferably the connector member has a holding portion towards one end, a smooth intermediate portion and an externally threaded portion towards the other end for engagement with the connector housing. For ease of engagement, the intermediate smooth portion is preferably longer than said externally threaded portion. Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of a microphone connector in accordance with the present invention. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the microphone connector shown in Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a magnified cross-sectional view of a cable pincher in the first embodiment of microphone connector shown in Fig. 1; Figure 4 is a rear view of the cable pincher in the first embodiment of microphone connector shown in Fig. 1; Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of microphone connector in accordance with the present invention; Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of a third embodiment of the microphone connector in accordance with the present invention; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the third embodiment of microphone connector shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 is a magnified cross-sectional view of a cable pincher of the third embodiment of microphone connector shown in Fig. 6; and Figure 9 is a rear view of the cable pincher of the third embodiment of microphone connector. A first embodiment of a female microphone connector in accordance with the present invention, as shown in Figs. 1-4, comprises a connector member 1, a terminal carrier 2, a cable support member or cable pincher 3, and a connector housing 5 as main components. The connector member 1 is generally cylindrically shaped, having a proximal hand holding surface portion 10 with two opposite grips 11,11 for a user to grip the connector, an intermediate smooth portion 14 and a distal male-threaded portion 15. An axially extending through hole 13 is provided for receiving the terminal carrier 2 and the cable pincher 3 therein. The connector member 1 also has a push button 12 on the holding surface portion 10 and a front end 120 for assembling with the connector housing 5. The intermediate smooth portion 14 is relatively long and the distal male-threaded portion 15 is relatively short so that the connector member 1 can be assembled with the connector housing 5 with little force. Two opposing axially extending grooves 16,17 are provided in an inner surface of the hole 13 for aligning the terminal carrier 2 and the cable pincher 3 unrotatably in the hole 13. The terminal carrier 2 is fitted in the through hole 13 of the connector member 1. It has a plate spring 20 fixed axially on its surface, two terminals 21,21 to fit in terminal holes 24,24, a negative terminal 22 fixed on the carrier body with a bolt 23, and the end of each terminal is soldered with a wire of the cable 4. The cable pincher 3 has an annular wall 30 with a slot 31 therein, which slot 31 allows pinching of cables of various sizes. The cable pincher 3 is further provided with an engaging block 32 on the bottom of the wall 30 to engage with the groove 17 of the connector member 1, a supporting portion 33 with an upper recessed and curved surface 34 and an upwardly curved end 35 and two pinching points 36,36 on the curve end 35. Therefore, after the cable 4 is put through the pincher 3, the connector housing 5 is screwed on to the connector member 1, by engaging the female-thread 50 with the male thread 15. Then, after the cable 4 is placed through the cable pincher 3 and the connector housing 5 is screwed relative to the connector member 1 the cable 4 can be bent up a little by a compact ring 51 in the connector housing 5, as shown in Fig. 3. In addition, the pinching points 36,36 stick into the outer surface of the cable 4, which is then difficult to pull off. Fig. 5 shows a second embodiment of a male microphone connector according to the present invention, which comprises a connector member 1', a terminal carrier 2', a cable pincher 3 having the same structure as that of the first embodiment, and a connector housing 5 of the same structure as that of the first embodiment. The connector member 1' is cylindrical, having a proximal hand holding surface portion 10' with two opposite grips 11',11', an intermediate smooth portion 13', a distal male-threaded portion 14', an axially extending through hole 12' and two lengthwise grooves 14',15' in an inner surface for the terminal carrier 2' and the cable pincher 3 to fit unrotatably therein. Two terminals 20' are fixed with the terminal carrier 2' and the number of the terminals should be the same as that of the connector member 1'. Figs. 6-8 show a third embodiment of a plug-in microphone connector according to the present invention, which comprises a connector member 6, a plug 7, a cable pincher 8 and a connector housing 9. The connector member 6 has a long proximal hand holding portion 60 with 4 curved grips 61 for fingers to grip thereon, an intermediate smooth portion 62 and a distal male-threaded portion 63. An axially extending through hole 64 is provided for receiving an inserting portion 70 of the plug 7, and a lengthwise groove 65 for locating the plug 7 against rotation therein. The plug 7 has an inserting portion 70 and an inner end of semi-circular cross-section forming a cylindrical wall together with a semi-cylindrical wall 80 of the cable pincher 8, for pinching a cable therein. The cable pincher 8 has a semi-cylindrical wall 80, a locating block 81 underneath for fitting with the groove 65 of the connector member 6, a supporting portion 82 having a recessed and curved surface 83 and two pinching points 84 on an outer end, and an upwardly curved lower surface 85. The connector housing 9 has a female-threaded portion to engage the male-threaded portion 63 of the connector member 6, a compact ring 90 urging a cable against the cable pincher 8 and letting the pinching points 84 stick in the cable 4, for attaining the purpose of securely pinching the cable 4. Thus, in at least preferred embodiments there is provided an electrical or microphone connector with a cable pincher shaped to conform to a connector member; and there is provided a cable pincher having a pinching block with a shaped and recessed upper surface for a cable to lie on, bending up sharply for tightly pinching a cable; and there is provided a pinching block having two pinching points on the outer end of the upper surface for sticking in the surface of a cable to reinforce pinching of the cable.

Claims: An electrical connector comprising a tubular connector member (1;1';6) having a generally axially extending opening (13;12';64) therein, a connector housing (5;9), terminal means (2;2';7) located in use within said connector member (1;1';6) for connecting to a cable located within said generally axial opening (13;12';64), and cable supporting means (3;8) located in use within said generally axial opening (13;12';64) of said connector member (1;1';6), characterised in that said connector housing (5;9) is threadedly engageable with said connector member (1;1';6) at a cable receiving end thereof being an end of said connector member (1; 1';6) which receives a said cable, said cable supporting means includes an annular or part annular wall portion (30;80) for locating about a said cable and an elongate cable supporting portion (34;82) extending from said wall portion (30;80) towards said cable receiving end of said connector member (1;1';6), said elongate cable supporting portion (34;82) turning radially inwardly at the end thereof which is nearest said cable receiving end of said connector member (1;1';6), the arrangement being such that when said connector housing (5;9) is threadedly engaged with said connector member (1;1';6) and tightened, said elongate cable supporting portion (34;82) is pressed inwards by an inner surface of said connector housing (5;9) so as to pinch and thereby secure a said cable within the connector. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cable supporting portion (34;82) of said cable supporting means (3;8) is resilient. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said cable supporting portion (34;82) of said cable supporting means (3;8) is arranged to stick into and thereby to grip a said cable (4). An electrical connector as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said cable supporting means (3;8) cooperates with said connector housing (5;9) to bend said cable (4). An electrical connector as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said cable supporting portion (34;82) has a curved inner surface conforming generally to the outer surface of a cable (4). An electrical connector as claimed in claim 5, wherein two circumferentially spaced protrusions are formed at the end of said cable supporting portion (34;82) for pressing into said cable (4). An electrical connector as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said wall portion (30) comprises an annular ring (30) for encircling said cable (4) and includes an axial slit (31) for accommodating varying cable diameters. An electrical connector as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, wherein said wall portion (80) co-operates with a circumferentially extending portion of said terminal means (7) to encircle said cable (4). An electrical connector as claimed in any preceding claim, which comprises a microphone connector. A microphone connector comprising an electrical connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said connector member (1;1';6) has a proximal hand holding portion (10;10';60), an intermediate smooth portion (14;13';62), and a distal male-threaded portion (15;14';63) to engage a female-threaded portion (50) of said connector housing (5;9); said terminal means comprises a cylindrical terminal carrier (2,2') fitting in the generally axially extending opening (13;12';64) of said connector member (1;1';6), having a plate spring (20) on a longitudinally extending surface, and a plurality of terminal holes for terminals (21,22;20';70) to pass through, said terminals (21,22;20';70) having one end for soldering to wires of a said cable (4) ; said connector housing (5;9) has a female-threaded portion (50) to engage the male-threaded portion (15; 14';63) of the connector member (1;1';6) and a compact ring (51;90) on an inner surface; said cable supporting means (3;8) has an annular wall (30; 80) with a slot (31) for allowing cables (4) of various sizes to be received through the annular opening, the cable supporting portion (34;82) extending lengthwise from the wall (30;80) has a recessed and curved surface and two pinching points (36;84) on the end nearest the cable receiving end of said connector member (1;1';6), and the inner and outer surfaces (34,35;83,85) gradually curve radially inwardly to the end; and wherein said compact ring (51;90) in said connector housing (5;9) compresses the curved end portion (34;83) of said cable supporting portion (34;82) after the connector housing (5; 9) is combined with the connector member (1;1';6), said pinching points (36;84) of the cable supporting portion (34;82) then sticking in the surface of a cable (4) and said cable (4) being forced to bend according to the curvature of said cable supporting portion (34;82) so that the cable supporting portion (34;82) may sufficiently pinch the cable (4) so as to render the cable (4) substantially immovable and inseparable.

Inventors: LIN JIA SHENG, LIN, JIA SHENG
Applicants: NEW TIDE ENTERPRISE CO LTD, NEW TIDE ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.
Application year: 1993
Main classification: H01R13
IPC codes: H01R13