Patent ID: 12199385

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The description of illustrative embodiments according to principles of the present invention is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. In the description of embodiments of the invention disclosed herein, any reference to direction or orientation is merely intended for convenience of description and is not intended in any way to limit the scope of the present invention. Relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivative thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description only and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation unless explicitly indicated as such. Terms such as “attached,” “affixed,” “connected,” “coupled,” “interconnected,” and similar refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise.

Moreover, the features and benefits of the invention are illustrated by reference to the preferred embodiments. Accordingly, the invention expressly should not be limited to such embodiments illustrating some possible non-limiting combination of features that may exist alone or in other combinations of features, the scope of the invention being defined by the claims appended hereto.

As shown inFIG.1, an electrical connector assembly10has a shell housing12and a crosstalk shield14. The connector assembly10may be a plug connector assembly or a receptacle connector assembly.

The shell housing12has a mating end20and a conductor receiving end22. In the illustrative embodiment shown, the shell housing12has a mating portion24proximate the mating end20. The mating portion24has a smaller outside diameter D1than the remainder of the shell housing12. However, other configurations of the shell housing12may be used.

A recessed portion26is provided on the shell housing12proximate the conductor receiving end22. The recessed portion26has multiple projections28which extend from the surface thereof. The recessed portion26has an outer diameter of D2, which is larger than the outside diameter D1of the mating portion24. A shoulder30extends circumferentially around the conductor receiving end22of the shell housing12. The shoulder30is provided at one end of the recess portion26. However, other configurations of the shell housing12may be used.

Crosstalk shield receiving recesses or slots32extend from the conductor receiving end22toward the mating end20. The crosstalk shield receiving slots32extend through the shoulder30and into the recessed portion26. In the embodiment shown, four crosstalk shield receiving slots32are provided to accommodate the configuration of the crosstalk shield14. However, other numbers of crosstalk shield receiving slots32may be used to accommodate different configurations of the crosstalk shield14.

The crosstalk shield14has a first shield member40and a second shield member42. In the illustrative embodiment, the first shield member40and the second shield member42are made from nickel silver material, however, other materials, including corrosion resistant materials, may be used which exhibit the shielding characteristics required.

The first shield member40and the second shield member42have one or more first projections or embossments52and one or more second projections or embossments54which extend therefrom. The first embossments52extend from side edges56of the first shield member40and the second shield member42in a direction which is essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first shield member40and the second shield member42. The second embossments54extend from side edges56of the first portion44in a direction which is essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first shield member40and the second shield member42, and in a direction opposite from the first embossments52.

Referring toFIGS.4and5, a high speed cable60with differential pairs of signal conductors (not shown) is terminated to the shield housing12of the connector assembly10. The signal conductors have contacts (not shown) terminated thereto. The contacts are positioned in the contact receiving cavities52(FIG.1) defined by the first shield member40and the second shield member42of the crosstalk shield14. The high speed cable60includes an outer jacket64and an EMI braided shield66which surrounds the differential pairs of signal conductors.

A coil or constant force spring70is circumferentially wrapped about the EMI braided shield66, as will be more fully described. Referring toFIGS.2and3, the coil spring70is a rolled ribbon of spring steel which forms a coil with multiple layers. The spring70is in a rolled up form when relaxed, as shown inFIG.2. In this state, the spring70has a central opening or space71with an inner diameter of D3when the spring is at rest and not applied to an object. The inner diameter D3of the spring70is less than the outer diameter D2of the recessed portion26.

In the illustrative embodiment shown, the spring70has a plurality of projections72which extend from the outer end74of the spring70. The projections72are provided to facilitate the removal of the spring70from the EMI braided shield66and the shell housing12as needed. However, the use of projections72is optional.

In use, the outer jacket64of the cable60is stripped to expose the differential pairs of signal conductors and the EMI braided shield66. The shell housing12is positioned on the stripped end of the cable60. As this occurs, the differential pairs of signal conductors are positioned inside of the shell housing12and the EMI braided shield66outside of the shell housing12. As shown inFIG.4, the EMI braided shield66is positioned over the conductor receiving end22. In this position, the EMI braided shield66is positioned over the shoulder30and in line with the recessed portion26.

With the shell housing12and the cable60properly positioned relative to each other, the constant force spring70is inserted over the EMI braided shield66in the area of the recessed portion26, as shown inFIG.5. As this occurs, the constant force spring70is circumferentially wrapped about the EMI braided shield66and about the radially underlying recessed portion26of the shell housing12.

This causes a circumferential portion of the end of the EMI braided shield66radially inwardly toward the multiple projections28and the surface of the recessed portion26. Upon such wrapping installation, the EMI braided shield66and the recessed portion26reside within the spring's central opening or space71allowing the spring70securely clamps the EMI braided shield66in place. As the inner diameter D3of the spring70is less than the outside diameter D2of the recessed portion, the circumferentially wrapped spring70applies a clamping force to the EMI braided shield66and the recessed portion26to mechanically and electrically secure the EMI braided shield to the recessed portion of the shell housing. The multiple projections28engage the EMI braided shield66to provide an enhance interference engagement between the EMI braided shield66and the recessed portion26of the shell housing12. In one illustrative embodiment, the clamping force results in a peak pull force of greater than 40 lbs. In another illustrative embodiment, the clamping force results in a peak pull force of between approximately 45 lbs. to approximately 50 lbs.

As the constant force spring70is inserted over the EMI braided shield66in the area of the recessed portion26, the constant force spring70applies a force to the recessed portion26of the shell housing12causing respective walls of the walls of the one or more shield receiving recesses32to move toward each and applying force to the mounting projections or embossments52,54which are positioned in the one or more shield receiving recesses32. This provides an interference engagement to provide a secure mechanical and electrical connection between the shell housing and the crosstalk shield.

The constant force spring70is retained in the recessed portion26partially by the shoulder30. The shoulder30extends circumferentially around the conductor receiving end22of the shell housing12and cooperates with the constant force spring70to prevent the removal of the EMI braided shield66when a force is applied in the longitudinal direction of the cable60.

For at least the reasons recited above, the use of the constant force spring70to annularly clamp the EMI braided shield66upon the recessed portion26of the shell housing12advantageously resists extreme distally directed pulling forces which may otherwise undesirably detach the EMI braided shield66from the shell housing12and resists disengagement of the crosstalk shield14from the shell housing12.

While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention may be used with many modifications of structure, arrangement, proportions, sizes, materials and components and otherwise used in the practice of the invention, which are particularly adapted to specific environments and operative requirements without departing from the principles of the present invention. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being defined by the appended claims, and not limited to the foregoing description or embodiments.