Patent Publication Number: US-6709301-B2

Title: Clasper for a signal connector

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a clasper for a signal connector, particularly to one easily to be inserted by a guide needle of a male connector, with complete contact of the guide needle with an inner round hole of the clasper so as to transmit signals with high quality. 
     A conventional connector for coaxial cables disclosed in an U.S. Pat. No. 4,232,931 includes a clasp head consisting of two clasping pieces connected to a connect plate and extending for a certain length and then crossing with each other to form a clamping portion. The clamping portion is very simple, formed by means of mechanical pressing process, having no structure for receiving a guide needle of a male connector, resulting in breaking or scrubbing off a copper or a rubber galvanized inner surface of the clasper. Then the quality of transmitted signals is worsened or missed, and noise signals may easily mix in. In addition, there may happen swaying of the guide needle if the guide needle is not completely fitted in the clasper, producing disqualified signals to be received. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The first purpose of the invention is to offer a clasper for a signal connector having at least one connecting head consisting of two clasping pieces having an inner center portion contacting with each other. The two clasping pieces have a trumpet-shaped recessed mouth formed to extend and expand outward gradually from an outer end of the contacting center portion so that a guide needle of an male connector may be guided and inserted therein with only a little force owing to a comparatively little resistance of the trumpet-shaped recessed mouth, and accordingly may lower damage to galvanized metal surfaces of the clasping pieces. 
     The second purpose of the invention is to offer a clasper for a signal connector having the two clasping pieces formed with a round hole made up by a semicircular groove respectively formed in each clasping piece. Then the round hole is connected to the trumpet-shaped recessed mouth for the guide needle to insert and remain therein so as to clasp completely the guide needle of the male connector for ensuring superior quality of transmitted signals. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     This invention will be better understood by referring the accompanied drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clasper for a signal connector in the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an upper view of the clasper for a signal connector in the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the clasper for a signal connector in the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a front view of the clasper for a signal connector in the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the clasper for a signal connector in the present invention; and, 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the clasper for a signal connector in a used condition in the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED 
     EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of a clasper for a signal connector in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, includes a connecting plate  11  and two clasping heads  12  formed integral. 
     The connecting plate  11  is horizontal and flat, having a lengthwise projecting rib  111  in the center portion. 
     Each clasping head  12  is connected respectively to one of two ends of the connecting plate  11 , formed integral with the connecting plate  11  and having two clasping pieces  121 . 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the two clasping pieces  121  respectively extends forward from two ends of the connecting plate  11  and curves gradually inward for a certain distance to form an arm member  13 . Then the two clasping pieces  121  contact with each other to form a straight clasping section  14  abutting the arm member  13 , and further extend and expand gradually forward to form a wide mouth  15 . 
     Next, as shown in FIGS. 3,  4  and  5 . The straight clasping sections  14  of the two clasping pieces  121  respectively have a semicircular guide groove  141  to make up a round hole  142  for a guide needle  21  of a male connector  20  to fit therein and completely contact with each other, as shown in FIG.  6 . 
     The round hole  12  is located just at the center of the contact line of the inner surfaces of the two clasping pieces  121 , and then a trumpet-shaped recess  151  of the wide mouth  15  extends outward from the round hole  12  to reaches an intermediate section of the wide mouth  15  for guiding the guide needle  21  of the male connector  20  to insert in the round hole  12 . 
     Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the two clasping pieces  121  respectively have a lengthwise projecting rib  143  on an outer surface at a corresponding location of the round hole  12 , and a trumpet-shaped projection  152  also on the outer surface at a corresponding location to the trumpet-shape recessed mouth  151  for reinforcing the two clasping pieces  121 . 
     Then relative action of the components will be described as follows. 
     The main feature of the invention is the two clasping pieces  121  formed with the trumpet-shape recessed mouth  151 , which extends continually forward from the outer end of the round hole  142 . Therefore, when the guide needle  21  of the male connector  20  is inserted inward, the guide needle  21  firstly contacts the trumpet-shape recessed mouth  151  and received by the curved surface of the recessed mouth  151  and then slides in the round hole  142  to remain therein. 
     If there is not designed with the trumpet-shape recessed mouth  151  in the expanded mouth  15 , the guide needle  21  may directly contact the inner surfaces of the two clasping pieces  121 . Then the guide needle  21  has to be pushed inward through the two clasping pieces  121  with a comparatively large force for expanding the clasping pieces  21  so the copper or tin galvanized inner surfaces of the two clasping pieces  21  may be broken more or less. The recessed dimensions of the recessed mouth  151  is just the diameter of the guide needle  21 , enabling the contacting portions of the clasping pieces  21  with the guide needle  21  expanded outward with only a comparatively small dimensions and with only a little resistance. Then the guide needle  21  can be pushed in with only a light force with help of the curved surfaces of the recessed mouth  151  to reach the round hole  142 , completely inserted therein with little possibility of breaking the galvanized metal surfaces of the clasping pieces  121 . 
     In addition, the guide needle  21  is guided to slide and remain in the round hole  142  in the center of the trumpet-shaped recessed mouth  151  owing to the round hole  142  connected to the trumpet-shaped recessed mouth  151 . Therefore, the guide needle  21  may not incline to any side in moving in the round hole  142 , guided by the trumpet-shaped recessed mouth  151 , able to keep the superior quality of signal transmitting. 
     Moreover, the outer surface of the guide needle  21  may closely contact with the semicircular grooves  141  of the straight section  14  of the two clasping pieces  121 , with the arch-shaped arm members  13  having fine elastic force, and the guide needle  21  may completely fit in the round hole  142 . 
     While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications may be made therein and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications that may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.