Abstract: A connector includes a connector body, a first sleeve rotatably coupled to the connector body, and a second sleeve receiving the first sleeve and being movable axially between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The second sleeve has a plurality of teeth extending from a surface thereof. A ratchet ring is positioned on the connector body, and the ratchet ring has a plurality of teeth corresponding to the plurality of teeth of the second sleeve. A biasing member is provided for biasing the second sleeve to the engaged position. The teeth of the ratchet ring engage the teeth of the second sleeve when the second sleeve is in the engaged position, and the teeth of second sleeve are spaced from the teeth of the ratchet ring when the second sleeve is in the disengaged position.

Abstract: A connector includes a connector body; a first sleeve rotatably coupled to the connector body; a second sleeve receiving the first sleeve and being movable axially between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the second sleeve having a plurality of teeth extending from a surface thereof; a ratchet ring positioned on the connector body, the ratchet ring having a plurality of teeth corresponding to the plurality of teeth of the second sleeve; and a biasing member biasing the second sleeve to the engaged position, wherein the teeth of the ratchet ring engage the teeth of the second sleeve when the second sleeve is in the engaged position, and the teeth of second sleeve being spaced from the teeth of the ratchet ring when the second sleeve is in the disengaged position.

Abstract: A connector system includes first and second mateable connectors (12, 14) with coaxial contacts, wherein the first connector has movable center and outer contacts (20, 22) that are each biased forward by a separate spring (24, 26) to engage stationary contact pads (34, 36) of the mating second connector. A stationary tubular insulator (100) surrounds much of the movable center contact, and a stationary sheet metal shield (102) lies around the tubular insulator and within the outer contact. The front end of the movable outer contact forms an internal flange (80) with a hole (84) that allows the front end of the movable center contact to pass through. The shield front-end has an internal flange (112) that lies between the front end of the tubular insulator and the movable outer contact internal flange, to maintain a constant impedance through out the first connector.

Abstract: Coaxial contacts of a second connector (14) are in the form of static pads (34, 36), while coax contacts of a first connector (12) are in the form of spring contacts (40, 42) with pins (52) that engage the static pads. The first connector includes a coax center spring contact (40) positioned to engage a center static pad (34) of the second connector, and the first connector includes a plurality of outer coax spring contacts (42A, 42B, 42C, 42D) positioned to engage the outer static pad (36) of the second connector. When fully mated, a static pad region (90) on the first connector lies facewise adjacent to the outer static pad. The connectors are constructed to mate by pivoting the first connector against the second one, to assure that an outer coax spring contact makes engagement before the center spring contact makes engagement.

Abstract: A method is described for fabricating an arrangement where a connector (12, FIG. 1) lies on a circuit board (14) and contacts (26) have forward contact parts lying in passages (18) of the connector insulator (16) and board-received contact parts lying in interference fit in holes (24) of the circuit board, which facilitates replacement of a single damaged contact. An installing tool (70, FIG. 3) has channels (80) that receive the forward contact parts (40) and leave the board-received contact parts (32) projecting therefrom. The installing tool with contacts therein is moved towards the circuit board to press the projecting board-received parts of the contacts into the circuit board holes (24). The installing tool is then removed, leaving the contacts behind with their forward parts projecting up from the circuit board. The connector insulator (16, FIG. 4) is then moved so its passages receive the forward contact parts, the connector then being fastened to the circuit board.

Abstract: A grounding clip (60, FIG. 3 ) is described for mounting in a connector insert (20) to connect the outside of a coaxial contact (26) to a metal shell that surrounds the insert. The clip is formed of a strip of sheet metal with a middle (82) bent into a circle to form a band that closely surrounds and contacts the coaxial contact, the strip having opposite end portions (90, 92) that are each bent in a reverse curve and extend to the outside of the insert to engage the shell. The forward edge (162, FIG. 5 ) of the band has axiallyextending slits (164), with a sheet metal portion (166) at one side of each slit being bent about an inclined bend line (168) to project radially inwardly towards the axis (84) of the band to provide a small area of high pressure contact with the coaxial contact. The band has slots (180) that form retainer tines (182) which extend forwardly and radially inwardly, to abut a shoulder on a flange (80, FIG. 3 ) of the coaxial contact. The clip end portions (90, 92, FIG.

Abstract: A receptacle connector is described, which has an EMI (electromagnetic interference) shield of low cost construction with many rearwardly-extending tines for engaging a fully mated plug connector and a pair of forwardly extending fingers for grounding the plug connector before contact mating occurs, in a low cost construction. The shield (60) is formed of a piece of sheet metal having an approximately 180.degree. bend (62) resulting in outer and inner legs (66, 64). The outer leg is mounted in a groove (70) on the inside of the connector shell (22), while the inner leg forms multiple tines (50) and a pair of early grounding fingers (80). A region of the inner leg has a pair of vertical slots (84, 86) forming a finger with a rear end (90) supported on adjacent portions of the inner leg and with a free finger outer end (82) that engages a plug connector when it is first inserted into the receptacle connector.

Abstract: A surface mount connector in which contacts mounted in two or more rows of contact passages have tails bent so that their end portions lie in a common plane for engaging traces on a printed circuit board. Each contact is a two piece part. The two parts are mounted in the corresponding contact passage from the opposite end faces of the insulator, so that the tails may be bent during the forming of the rear parts of the contacts rather than after mounting of the contacts in the passages. A retention arrangement is provided between the front and rear parts of the contacts which allows either a permanent connection between the parts, or a releasable connection so that the front and rear parts of the contacts may be removed from the passages and replaced if necessary.