Patent Publication Number: US-6905364-B2

Title: High frequency right angle connector

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims priority from Provisional Patent Application No. 60/503,619, filed Sep. 17, 2003. 

   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   This invention relates to electrical connectors and more particularly to high frequency right angle connectors. 
   BACKGROUND ART 
   High frequency right angle connectors C, shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , are known and a previous type was composed of a die cast body  100 , three Teflon® screw machine dielectrics,  102 ,  104  and  106 , a contact  108  and a die cast cap  110 . The contact  108  was press-fitted into one of the dielectrics  102  to form a sub-assembly, which was then inserted into the die cast body  100 . A second dielectric  104  was then placed over the corner of the contact  108 . The third dielectric  106  was then placed over the short end of the contact  108  and pressed into an opening in the die cast body  100 . The die cast cap  110  was then seated into the body  100  to complete the assembly. 
   This structure does not provide adequate shielding because of the gap  120  that exists at the bend of the contact  108 . The gap extends completely around the bend. Also, the short dielectric  106  has no stop feature to prevent it from being pushed too fair into the die cast body. Therefore, the true position of the contact  108  was determined by the fit of the pin into the dielectric and the associated tolerances of each component. These conditions proved unacceptable for the use of the connector. 
   DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
   It is, therefore, an object of the invention to obviate the disadvantages of the prior art. 
   It is another object of the invention to enhance high frequency right angle connectors. 
   It is another object of the invention to reduce the number of parts necessary for the connector. 
   These objects are accomplished, in one aspect of the invention, by the provision of a high frequency, right angle socket comprising a body including a longitudinal bore extending completely through the body and a transverse bore intersecting the longitudinal bore. A first dielectric is formed to frictionally engage the longitudinal bore, the dielectric having a proximal end and a distal end and including a longitudinal electric contact-receiving chamber. A right angle electrical contact has a longitudinal portion and a transverse portion, the longitudinal portion including a first contact retainer. The transverse portion has a second contact retainer. The longitudinal portion is fitted into the longitudinal electrical contact-receiving chamber of the first dielectric with the contact retainer on the longitudinal portion engaging the interior wall of the longitudinal contact-receiving chamber. A second dielectric is formed to frictionally engage the transverse bore and includes a transverse electrical contact-receiving chamber. The transverse portion of the right angle electrical contact is fitted into the transverse electrical contact-receiving chamber with the contact retainer on the transverse portion engaging the interior wall of the transverse electrical receiving chamber. A cap closes one end of the longitudinal bore. 
   This construction provides fewer components and makes easier the correct positioning of the contact pin for both its mating end (the long portion) and the circuit board end (the short end). Shielding is effected by completely eliminating the gap around the bend of the contact pin. The cap is coined into place thus ensuring that it will remain in place during a soldering process. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a prior art connector; 
       FIG. 2  is a longitudinal sectional view of the connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a longitudinal sectional view of the connector of  FIG. 3 ; and 
       FIG. 5  is a longitudinal sectional view of the connector body alone. 
   

   BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
   For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects, advantages and capabilities thereof, reference is made to the following disclosure and appended claims in conjunction with the above-described drawings. 
   Referring now to the invention with greater particularity, there is shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  a high frequency, right angle socket  10  comprising a body  12  including a longitudinal bore  14  extending completely through the body  12  and a transverse bore  16  intersecting the longitudinal bore  14 . The bores  14  and  16  are seen most clearly in  FIG. 5. A  first dielectric  18  is formed to frictionally engage the longitudinal bore  14 . The dielectric  18  has a proximal end  20  and a distal end  22  and includes a longitudinal electric contact-receiving chamber  24 . A right angle electrical contact  26  has a longitudinal portion  28  and a transverse portion  30 . The longitudinal portion  28  includes a first contact retainer  32 . The transverse portion  30  includes a contact retainer  33 . The longitudinal portion  28  is fitted into the longitudinal electrical contact-receiving chamber  24  of the first dielectric  18  with the contact retainer  32  on the longitudinal portion  28  engaging the interior wall of the longitudinal contact-receiving chamber  24 . A second dielectric  34  is formed to frictionally engage the transverse bore  16  and includes a transverse electrical contact-receiving chamber  36  . The transverse portion  30  of the right angle electrical contact  26  is fitted into the transverse electrical contact-receiving chamber  36  with the contact retainer  33  on the transverse portion  30  engaging the interior wall of the transverse electrical contact-receiving chamber  36 . A cap  38  closes one end of the longitudinal bore  14 . 
   To aid in the accuracy of positioning the parts, the distal end  22  of the first dielectric  18  includes an external shoulder  40  that engages an internal shoulder  42  (see  FIG. 5 ) formed in the longitudinal bore  14 . Likewise, the second dielectric  34  includes a chamfered end  44  that engages a chamfered edge  46  at the terminus of the transverse bore  16 . 
   The distal end  22  of the first dielectric  18  also includes an alignment slot  46  that fittingly receives an alignment tab  48  formed on the second dielectric  34  and the proximal end  20  of the first dielectric  18  has a cup-shaped depression  50  formed for a portion of its length to receive a connecting member. 
   To assemble the connector  10 , the longitudinal portion  28  of the contact  26  is press-fitted into the first dielectric  18  to form a sub-assembly, which is then inserted into the die cast body  12 . The contact retainer  32  engages the interior surface of the longitudinal contact receiving chamber  24  to fix the position of the contact. The second dielectric  34  is then placed upon the transverse portion  30  of the electrical contact  26  and inserted until contact is made between the chamfered end  44  of the second dielectric  34  and the chamfered edge  46  of the transverse bore  16 . At that time the alignment tab  48  fills the alignment slot  46  formed in the distal end  22  of the first dielectric  18  completely sealing the contact  26  to achieve adequate shielding. The die cast cap  38  is then seated into the body  12  and coined into place, thus completing the assembly. 
   The dielectrics  18  and  34  are preferably plastic injection to accommodate the complex shapes. 
   Additionally the mounting posts  52  are round as opposed to square, as was the case with the prior connector, to provide improved soldering with the printed circuit board to which the connector  10  is mounted. 
   While there have been shown and described what are at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modification can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.