Grounding base for connector

Claim 1

A coaxial electrical connector assembly comprising: a. a pair of cooperable plug members carrying a plurality of coaxially-engageable, pin-and-socket connector elements in opposed end faces of the plug members; b. certain ones of the said connector elements having mating ends extending outwardly of said end face of said plug member, each said pin element having a conically-tapered, enlargeddiameter portion spaced inwardly from said mating end, said diameter of said tapered portion increasing in the direction away from said mating end; c. a thin, flexible metal grounding plate separate from said plug members disposed in between the opposed end faces of said plug members; d. the body of said grounding plate defining a sufficient number of insert-free, cylindrical holes to permit passage therethrough of all of the connector pin elements projecting outwardly from said plug member; and e. the diameters of the individual holes being made such that when the plug members are moved into mating engagement with each other, said tapered portions of said connector pin elements become engaged in wedging pressure contact with the encircling walls of their mating holes, of said grounding plate while one side of said plate remains spaced from said end face of said plug member containing said pin elements, and while said other end face of said other plug member engages the opposite side of said plate, each such pressure contact establishing a mechanical and electrical contact with the grounding plate.