Abstract: A connector for a shielded electrical cable. The cable has at least one insulated central conductor surrounded by conductive shielding. The connector comprises a dielectric spacing element for receiving the at least one central conductor of the cable and a conductive shielding arrangement provided around the spacing element and having a first end which defines an annular surface for contacting the shielding of the cable. The connector further comprises a spring arrangement coupled to the shielding arrangement for resiliently urging the shielding of the cable against the annular surface of the shielding arrangement to thereby provide a reliable electrical connection between the cable and the shielding arrangement.

Abstract: A connector for a shielded electrical cable. The cable has at least one insulated central conductor surrounded by conductive shielding. The connector comprises a dielectric spacing element for receiving the at least one central conductor of the cable and a conductive shielding arrangement provided around the spacing element and having a first end which defines an annular surface for contacting the shielding of the cable. The connector further comprises a spring arrangement coupled to the shielding arrangement for resiliently urging the shielding of the cable against the annular surface of the shielding arrangement to thereby provide a reliable electrical connection between the cable and the shielding arrangement.

Abstract: A connection arrangement includes a first connector (12) with an opening leading to first and second contacts (14, 16), where the first contact includes a beam (40) that is biased upwardly against the second contact but which can be depressed out of engagement with the second contact. The beam is depressed by a plug inner contact (32) of a mating second connector (30) that passes into the opening and depresses the beam, in an arrangement that assures firm engagement of the plug inner contact with the beam despite small beam movement. A stop (70) lying under the beam, limits its downward movement by the plug inner contact. The plug inner contact is spring biased downwardly with respect to the second connector frame (36) but can move up, so the second connector can continue to move down a short distance after the plug inner contact has pushed the beam against the stop, to enable-full engagement of largely coaxial outer contacts (26, 34) of the first and second connectors.

Abstract: An electrical component includes an initial structure (40) molded of an insulative first material and having a plurality of regions (81, 82, 83) that each forms a passage (42), with the regions being largely separated to leave gaps (90, 92, 94) between them, but with the regions joined by small tabs (44). The initial structure is plated everywhere, including along the passages and on the tabs. A quantity of second insulative material (108) is overmolded to the plated initial structure to fill the gaps between them but not some portions of the passages. The tabs then can be cut away to electrically isolate the platings on the different regions, and to thereby electrically isolated contacts, such as the outer conductors of coaxial connectors, installed in the passages while the regions that form the passages are mechanically held together by the overmolding second material.

Abstract: An electrical component includes an initial structure (40) molded of an insulative first material and having a plurality of regions (81, 82, 83) that each forms a passage (42), with the regions being largely separated to leave gaps (90, 92, 94) between them, but with the regions joined by small tabs (44). The initial structure is plated everywhere, including along the passages and on the tabs. A quantity of second insulative material (108) is overmolded to the plated initial structure to fill the gaps between them but not some portions of the passages. The tabs then can be cut away to electrically isolate the platings on the different regions, and to thereby electrically isolated contacts, such as the outer conductors of coaxial connectors, installed in the passages while the regions that form the passages are mechanically held together by the overmolding second material.

Abstract: A switch assembly is provided for mounting on a circuit board and for receiving a coax connector plug that opens the switch and connects the central coax plug element to one of the switch contacts, which enables the use of a plug (100) without a long projecting center contact element (102) and which enables many degrees of misalignment between the plug and switch. The switch (10) includes a housing (11) with an exposed upper face (22) having an entrance (24) for receiving the connector plug. First and second contacts (12, 14) are mounted on the housing, with the first contact including a resilient beam (18) biased up against the second contact but deflectable downwardly out of engagement with the second contact. An electrically conductive projection (19) projects upward at least partially through an opening (26) at the bottom entrance, so the center contact element of the plug does not have to project deeply through the opening in order to operate the switch and electrically connect to the beam.

Abstract: A connector (1) including a contact (3) for connecting to a mating half and a locking element (2), the locking element (2) having a locked position preventing connection or disconnection of the contact (3) with the mating half and an unlocked position preventing connection or disconnection, wherein transition between the locked and unlocked positions is governed by a spring means (5) formed as an integral part of the locking element (2), the spring means (5) being unbiased when the locking element (2) is in the locked position.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing (12) and a coupling assembly (35) that has a mateable contact (32) at the front of the housing and a conductor-terminating coupling (34). The coupling has a pair of arms (38, 40) with jaws (48) that are biased toward an axis (37). A holder member (54) has a pair of projections (58, 60) with surfaces that hold the arms in a ready position wherein they have been resiliently deflected away from the axis. When a cable conductor (66) is inserted forwardly (F) through a bore (28) in the housing, the forward tip of the cable presses the coupling assembly forwardly. As the coupling assembly moves forward, the arms are released from the holder members, so the arms can move toward the axis and the jaws (48) on the arms can engage the cable conductor.

Abstract: A coax unit with outer and inner coaxial terminals (21, 22), is held in a housing passageway (11) by coupling elements (14). Each coupling element is formed of sheet metal and lies in the passageway beside the coax unit. The housing passageway has a cross-section that includes opposite part cylindrical sides (56) that are each parts of an imaginary cylinder (59), and has bottom and top extensions (12, 13) that extend beyond the imaginary cylinder. The coax unit is closely positioned by the part cylindrical sides. Each coupling element has a rear portion with a tongue (17) that presses against the coax unit, and each coupling unit forms a finger with a forward portion (60) having a contacting location (62) that presses against a coax mating device (32) that is inserted into the passageway, to electrically connect the outer terminals of the coax unit and of the mating device.