Claims
- 1. A coaxial connector comprising:a first shell comprising a cavity; a second shell residing in said cavity and being movable relative to said first shell; a first contact residing in said first shell; and a second contact residing in said second shell in direct contact with said first contact, wherein said first and second contacts have first and second contact surfaces, respectively, that engage one another in a contact plane and that slide relative to one another along said contact plane while remaining in direct contact with one another at said contact plane.
- 2. The coaxial connector of claim 1 wherein said first and second contacts are aligned along first and second longitudinal axes, respectively, that directly overlap and are common with one another when said first and second shells are in an unbiased position, said first and second contact surfaces radially floating with respect to one another such that said first and second longitudinal axes no longer overlap one another when said first and second shells are in a biased position with respect to one another.
- 3. The coaxial connector of claim 1 wherein said first contact includes upper and lower contact arms joined by an intermediate portion that biases said upper contact arm into direct engagement with said second contact.
- 4. The coaxial connector of claim 1 wherein said first and second shells define first and second longitudinal axes, respectively, that directly overlap and are common with one another when said first and second shells are in an unbiased position, said being moveable relative to one another while remaining in direct contact with one another when said first and second shells are in a biased position with respect to one another such that said first and second longitudinal axes are at an acute angle with respect to one another.
- 5. The coaxial connector of claim 1 further comprising a spring residing between said first and second shells and urging said first and second shells together, said spring being a tapered spring defining a first and second diameter, said spring contacting said first shell at said first diameter and contacting said second shell at said second diameter.
- 6. The coaxial connector of claim 1, further comprising a flared end configured to receive a mating coaxial connector.
- 7. The coaxial connector of claim 1, wherein said second contact is movable with respect to said first shell to align with a mating contact in a mating coaxial connector, said second contact remaining physically abutted to said first contact throughout movement to align with the mating contact.
- 8. The coaxial connector of claim 1, wherein said second contact is configured to engage a center coaxial contact of a mating connector, and one of said first and second shells is configured to engage an outer coaxial contact of a mating connector.
- 9. The coaxial connector of claim 1, wherein said second shell is movable with respect to said first shell to align with a mating contact in a mating coaxial connector, said second contact remaining physically abutted against said first contact throughout movement to align with the mating contact.
- 10. The coaxial connector of claim 1, wherein said first contact has a closed C-shape with a top leg of said first contact being biased with respect to a bottom leg of said first contact to provide a direct electrical path between said top and bottom legs.
- 11. An electrical connector system comprising:a first circuit board; a second circuit board; a first connector mounted to said first circuit board, said first connector comprising an outer body comprising a mounting area for mounting to said first circuit board and a cavity, an inner body residing in said cavity and being in contact with and movable relative to said outer body, a first contact residing in and being radially fixed to said outer body and having a contacting surface for electrically communicating with said first circuit board, and a second contact residing in said inner body in direct contact with said first contact, said first and second contacts being movable relative to each other while maintaining direct contact therebetween; and a second connector mounted to said second circuit board and matable to said first connector, said second connector comprising a body and a contact residing in said body, said contact having a contacting surface for electrically communicating with said second circuit board, said contact engaging said second contact of said inner body when said first and second connectors are mated to provide electrical communication between said first and second circuit boards.
- 12. The electrical system of claim 11 wherein said first contact includes upper and lower contact arms joined by an intermediate portion that biases said upper contact arm into direct engagement with said second contact.
- 13. The electrical system of claim 11 further comprising a spring residing between said inner and outer bodies, said spring urging said inner and outer bodies together.
- 14. The electrical system of claim 13, wherein said spring is a tapered spring defining a first and second diameter, said spring contacting said outer body at said first diameter and contacting said inner body at said second diameter.
- 15. The electrical system of claim 11, wherein said second contact of said inner body and said contact of said second connector are configured to engage each other and provide a first path of electrical communication between said first and second circuit boards, and said inner body of said first connector and said body of said second connector are configured to engage each other and provide a second path of electrical communication between said first and second circuit boards.
- 16. The electrical connector system of claim 11 wherein said first and second contacts have first and second contact surfaces, respectively, and are aligned along first and second longitudinal axes, respectively, that directly overlap and are common with one another when said outer and inner bodies are in an unbiased position, said first and second contact surfaces radially floating with respect to one another such that said first and second longitudinal axes no longer overlap one another when said inner and outer bodies are in a biased position with respect to one another.
- 17. A coaxial connector comprising:a first shell comprising a cavity; a second shell residing in said cavity, contacting said first shell, and being movable relative to said first shell while remaining in contact; a first contact mounted in said first shell, said first contact having a closed C-shape with a top leg of said first contact being biased with respect to a bottom leg of said first contact to provide a direct electrical path between said top and bottom legs; and a second contact mounted in said second shell in direct contact with said first contact, said first and second contacts remaining in direct contact with one another while said first and second shells are moved relative to each other.
- 18. The coaxial connector of claim 17 further comprising a first dielectric residing in said first shell and a second dielectric residing in said second shell, said first and second contacts mounted to said first and second dielectrics, respectively.
- 19. The coaxial connector of claim 17 wherein said first and second shells have substantially planar first and second contact surfaces, respectively, that slide parallel to one another while remaining in direct contact with one another.
- 20. The coaxial connector of claim 17 wherein said first and second shells define first and second longitudinal axes, respectively, that directly overlap and are common with one another when said first and second shells are in an unbiased position, said first and second contacts having first and second contact surfaces, respectively, that move relative to one another while remaining in direct contact with one another when said first and second shells are in a biased position with respect to one another such that said first and second longitudinal axes no longer overlap one another.
- 21. The coaxial connector of claim 17 wherein said first and second shells define first and second longitudinal axes, respectively, that directly overlap and are common with one another when said first and second shells are in an unbiased position, said first and second contacts having first and second contact surfaces, respectively, that move relative to one another while remaining in direct contact with one another when said first and second shells are in a biased position with respect to one another such that said first and second longitudinal axes are at an acute angle with respect to one another.
- 22. The coaxial connector of claim 17 further comprising a spring residing between said first and second shells and urging said first and second shells together, said spring being a tapered spring defining a first and second diameter, said spring contacting said first shell at said first diameter and contacting said second shell at said second diameter.
- 23. The coaxial connector of claim 17, wherein said second contact is configured to engage an inner contact of a mating connector and provide a first path of electrical communication between said coaxial connector and a mating connector, and said second shell is configured to engage an outer contact of a mating connector and provide a second path of electrical communication between said coaxial connector and a mating connector.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/252,535, filed Nov. 22, 2000, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
US Referenced Citations (6)
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60/252535 |
Nov 2000 |
US |