Devices for biasingly maintaining a port ground path

• US 10,116,099 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2017
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Inventors: Hanson, Brian K., Montena, Noah P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Harshad C
• Application Number:
  US15/397,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20170201047A1
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 439578
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2421 using coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6583 with separate conductive resilient members between mating shield members
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6591 Specific features or arrangements of connection of shield to conductive members
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/542 Adapters
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/10 effected solely by twisting, wrapping, bending, crimping, or other permanent deformation
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/4863 Coil spring
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/05 for coaxial cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0527 Connection to outer conductor by action of a resilient member, e.g. spring

Abstract

A coaxial cable connector includes a connector body having a longitudinal axis passing through first and second opposed body ends, a connector center conductor for transporting a signal through the connector, and a coil spring that is coiled about the longitudinal axis. The second body end is for engaging a male coaxial cable connector, and the coil spring urges an electromagnetic shield to protrude from the second body end.

Claims

1. A device for biasingly forming a first ground path between a collar portion and a post portion and biasingly forming a second ground path between the post portion and a coupler portion when a coaxial cable connector moves toward a port from a first port-engaged position to a second port-engaged position comprising:

a biasing portion configured to biasingly urge the collar portion against the post portion of the coaxial cable connector so as to biasingly form a first electrical ground path between the coaxial cable connector and the port during operation of the coaxial cable connector when the coaxial cable connector moves toward the port from the first port-engaged position to the second port-engaged position;

wherein the biasing portion is configured to biasingly urge the post portion against the coupler portion of the coaxial cable connector so as to biasingly form the second ground path between the post portion and the coupler portion when the coaxial cable connector moves toward the port from the first port-engaged position to the second port-engaged position;

wherein the collar portion includes a flange portion configured to engage the post portion of the coaxial cable connector;

wherein the biasing portion is configured to at least partially encircle a first insulator body portion;

wherein the biasing portion includes a forward end configured to be biased against the collar portion and a rearward end configured to engage a second insulator body portion;

wherein the first insulator body portion is configured to be disposed in a first portion of an outer housing and engage the flange portion;

wherein the second insulator body portion is configured to be disposed in a second portion of the outer housing;

wherein the biasing portion is configured to bias the collar portion against the post portion of the coaxial cable connector when the coaxial cable connector is moved related to the outer housing so as to biasingly form the first electrical ground path between the coaxial cable connector and the port during operation of the coaxial cable connector when the coaxial cable connector moves toward the port from the first port-engaged position to the second port-engaged position;

wherein the biasing portion is configured to bias the post portion against the coupler portion when the coaxial cable connector is moved relative to the outer housing so as to biasingly form the second ground path between the post portion and the coupler portion when the coaxial cable connector moves toward the port from the first port-engaged position to the second port-engaged position;

wherein the biasing portion comprises a biasing member, the collar portion comprises a collar member, the post portion comprises a post member, and the coupler portion comprises a coupler member;

wherein the biasing member, the collar member, the post member, and the coupler member are each separate components from one another;

wherein the collar portion, the post portion, and the coupler portion are each conductive;

wherein the biasing portion is configured to biasingly restrain axial movement of the second insulator body portion relative to the second portion of the outer housing when the coaxial cable connector moves toward the port from the first port-engaged position to the second port-engaged position;

wherein the second portion of the outer housing includes a stopper portion configured to biasingly restrain axial movement of the second insulator body portion relative to the second portion of the outer housing when the coaxial cable connector moves toward the port from the first port-engaged position to the second port-engaged position;

wherein the biasing portion is configured to biasingly urge the post portion against the coupler portion of the coaxial cable connector so as to biasingly form the second ground path between the post portion and the coupler portion when the coaxial cable connector moves toward the port from the first port-engaged position to the second port-engaged position and before the cable connector has moved to a fully tightened position on the port;

wherein the port comprises a port assembly;

wherein the port assembly includes the collar portion;

wherein the port assembly includes the first and second insulator body portions;

wherein the port assembly includes the outer housing;

wherein the outer housing is configured to at least partially encircle the collar portion; and

wherein the coaxial cable connector comprises a coaxial cable connector assembly that includes the post portion and the coupler portion.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the biasing member includes one or more resilient finger portions configured to be disposed between the first insulator body portion and the second insulator body portion such that compression of the one or more resilient fingers portion exerts a compressive force against the first insulator body portion toward a first direction and against the second insulator body portion toward a second direction different from the first direction.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the biasing portion comprises a spring.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the biasing portion comprises a gasket configured to be disposed between the first insulator body portion and the second insulator body portion such that compression of the gasket exerts a compressive force against the first insulator body portion in a first direction and against the second insulator body portion in a second direction different from the first direction.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein advancing the coaxial cable connector onto the outer housing is configured to exert a biasing force against the collar to contact the post, and wherein the biasing force biases the post portion into contact with the coupler portion to maintain physical and electrical contact between the post portion and the coupler portion.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the stopper portion is a stopper surface configured to restrain axial movement of the second insulator body when the biasing member exerts a compressive force when the coaxial cable connector moves toward the port from the first port-engaged position to the second port-engaged position.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the coaxial cable connector is configured to advance onto a portion of the outer housing, and wherein physical and electrical contact between the post portion and the coupler portion is established prior to full or substantial advancement of the coaxial cable connector.

8. A device for biasingly forming a ground path between a port and a coaxial cable connector comprising:

a biasing portion configured to biasingly urge a collar portion against a post portion of the coaxial cable connector so as to biasingly form a first ground path between the coaxial cable connector and the port during operation of the coaxial cable connector when the coaxial cable connector moves toward the port from a first port-engaged position to a second port-engaged position;

wherein the biasing portion is configured to biasingly urge the post portion against a coupler portion of the coaxial cable connector so as to biasingly form a second ground path between the post portion and the coupler portion when the coaxial cable connector moves toward the port from the first port-engaged position to the second port-engaged position;

wherein the collar portion, the post portion, and the coupler portion are each conductive;

wherein the biasing portion comprises a biasing member, the collar portion comprises a collar member, the post portion comprises a post member, and the coupler portion comprises a coupler member;

wherein the biasing member, the collar member, the post member, and the coupler member are each separate components from one another; and

wherein the biasing portion is configured to biasingly push the post portion against the coupler portion of the coaxial cable connector so as to biasingly form the second ground path between the post portion and the coupler portion when the coaxial cable connector moves toward the port from the first port-engaged position to the second port-engaged position and before the coaxial cable connector has moved to a fully tightened position on the port.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the collar portion includes a flange portion configured to engage the post portion of the coaxial cable connector.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the biasing portion is configured to at least partially encircle a first insulator body portion.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the biasing portion includes a forward end configured to be biased against the collar portion and a rearward end configured to engage a second insulator body portion.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the first insulator body portion is configured to be disposed in a first portion of an outer housing and engage the flange portion.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the second insulator body portion is configured to be disposed inside a second portion of the outer housing.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the biasing portion is configured to bias the collar portion against the post portion of a coaxial cable connector when the coaxial cable connector is moved relative to the outer housing so as to biasingly form the first electrical ground path between the coaxial cable connector and the port during operation of the coaxial cable connector when the coaxial cable connector moves toward the port from the first port-engaged position to the second port-engaged position.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the biasing portion is configured to bias the post portion against the coupler portion when the coaxial cable connector is moved relative to the outer housing so as to biasingly form the second ground path between the post portion and the coupler portion when the coaxial cable connector moves toward the port from the first port-engaged position to the second port-engaged position.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the biasing portion is configured to biasingly restrain axial movement of the second insulator body portion relative to the second portion of the outer housing when the coaxial cable connector moves toward the port from the first port-engaged position to the second port-engaged position.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein the second portion of the outer housing includes a stopper portion configured to biasingly restrain axial movement of the second insulator body portion relative to the second portion of the outer housing when the coaxial cable connector moves toward the port from the first port-engaged position to the second port-engaged position.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the stopper portion is a stopper surface configured to restrain axial movement of the second insulator body portion when the biasing portion exerts a compressive force when the coaxial cable connector moves toward the port from the first port-engaged position to the second port-engaged position.

19. The device of claim 12, wherein the port comprises a port assembly that includes the outer housing.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the outer housing is configured to at least partially encircle the collar portion.

21. The device of claim 12, wherein the coaxial cable connector is configured to advance onto a portion of the outer housing, and wherein physical and electrical contact between the post portion and the coupler portion is established prior to full or substantial advancement of the coaxial cable connector.

22. The device of claim 12, wherein the outer housing is configured to at least partially house the collar portion and the first and second insulator body portions, wherein the housing includes a radially inwardly projecting portion configured to restrain axial movement of the second insulator body portion when the biasing portion exerts a biasing force against it.

23. The device of claim 11, wherein the biasing member includes a resilient finger portion configured to be disposed between the first insulator body portion and the second insulator body portion such that compression of the finger portion exerts a compressive force against the first insulator body portion toward a first direction and against the second insulator body portion toward a second direction different from the first direction.

24. The device of claim 11, wherein the biasing portion comprises a gasket configured to be disposed between the first insulator body portion and the second insulator body portion such that compression of the gasket exerts a compressive force against the first insulator body portion in a first direction and against the second insulator body portion in a second direction different from the first direction.

25. The device of claim 10, wherein the biasing force exerted against the first insulator body portion is transferred to the post portion so as to bias the post portion into contact with the coupler portion to maintain physical and electrical contact between the coupler portion and the post portion.

26. The device of claim 8, wherein the biasing portion comprises a spring.

27. The device of claim 8, wherein the port comprises a port assembly.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the port assembly includes the collar portion.

29. The device of claim 8, wherein the coaxial cable connector comprises a coaxial cable connector assembly that includes the post portion and the coupler portion.

30. The device of claim 27, wherein the port assembly includes the first and second insulator body portions.

31. The device of claim 8, wherein advancing the coaxial cable connector onto the outer housing is configured to exert a biasing force against the collar portion to contact the post portion, and wherein the biasing force biases the post portion into contact with the coupler portion to maintain physical and electrical contact between the post portion and the coupler portion.

32. A device for biasingly forming a ground path between a port and a coaxial cable connector comprising:

a biasing portion configured to biasingly urge a collar portion against a post portion of the coaxial cable connector so as to biasingly form a first electrical ground path between the coaxial cable connector and the port during operation of the coaxial cable connector when the coaxial cable connector moves toward the port from a first port-engaged position to a second port-engaged position;

wherein the biasing portion is configured to biasingly urge the post portion against a coupler portion of the coaxial cable connector so as to biasingly form a second ground path between the post portion and the coupler portion when the coaxial cable connector moves toward the port from the first port-engaged position to the second port-engaged position; and

wherein the collar portion, the post portion, and the coupler portion are each conductive.

33. The device of claim 32, wherein the collar portion includes a flange portion configured to engage the post portion of the coaxial cable connector.

34. The device of claim 32, wherein the biasing portion is configured to at least partially encircle a first insulator body portion.

35. The device of claim 34, wherein the biasing portion includes a forward end configured to be biased against the collar portion and a rearward end configured to engage a second insulator body portion.

36. The device of claim 35, wherein the first insulator body portion is configured to be disposed in a first portion of an outer housing and engage the flange portion.

37. The device of claim 36, wherein the second insulator body portion is configured to be disposed inside a second portion of the outer housing.

38. The device of claim 37, wherein the biasing portion is configured to bias the collar portion against the post portion of a coaxial cable connector when the coaxial cable connector is moved relative to the outer housing so as to biasingly form the first electrical ground path between the coaxial cable connector and the port during operation of the coaxial cable connector when the coaxial cable connector moves toward the port from the first port-engaged position to the second port-engaged position.

39. The device of claim 37, wherein the biasing portion is configured to bias the post portion against the coupler portion when the coaxial cable connector is moved relative to the outer housing so as to biasingly form the second ground path between the post portion and the coupler portion when the coaxial cable connector moves toward the port from the first port-engaged position to the second port-engaged position.

40. The device of claim 37, wherein the biasing portion is configured to biasingly restrain axial movement of the second insulator body portion relative to the second portion of the outer housing when the coaxial cable connector moves toward the port from the first port-engaged position to the second port-engaged position.

41. The device of claim 37, wherein the second portion of the outer housing includes a stopper portion configured to biasingly restrain axial movement of the second insulator body portion relative to the second portion of the outer housing when the coaxial cable connector moves toward the port from the first port-engaged position to the second port-engaged position.

42. The device of claim 36, wherein the port comprises a port assembly that includes the outer housing.

43. The device of claim 42, wherein the outer housing is configured to at least partially encircle the collar portion.

44. The device of claim 43, wherein the coaxial cable connector comprises a coaxial cable connector assembly that includes the post portion and the coupler portion.

45. The device of claim 36, wherein the coaxial cable connector is configured to be advanced onto the outer housing when the coaxial cable connector is coupled to the port.

46. The device of claim 36, wherein the biasing portion is configured to biasingly maintain the electrical contact between the post portion and the coupler portion before the coaxial cable connector is fully or substantially advanced onto the outer housing.

47. The device of claim 36, wherein the outer housing is configured to at least partially house the collar portion.

48. The device of claim 36, wherein the outer housing has a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is configured to at least partially house the collar portion.

49. The device of claim 48, wherein the second portion is configured to at least partially house the second insulator body portion.

50. The device of claim 36, wherein the coaxial cable connector is configured to be advanced onto the outer housing.

51. The device of claim 35, wherein the biasing member includes a resilient finger portion configured to be disposed between the first insulator body portion and the second insulator body portion such that compression of the finger portion exerts a compressive force against the first insulator body portion toward a first direction and against the second insulator body portion toward a second direction different from the first direction.

52. The device of claim 35, wherein the biasing portion comprises a gasket configured to be disposed between the first insulator body portion and the second insulator body portion such that compression of the gasket exerts a compressive force against the first insulator body portion in a first direction and against the second insulator body portion in a second direction different from the first direction.

53. The device of claim 35, wherein the outer housing includes a stopper configured to restrain axial movement of the second insulator body portion when the biasing portion exerts a biasing force at the second end.

54. The device of claim 32, wherein the biasing member biasingly maintains the post portion and the coupler portion of the coaxial cable connector in electrical contact with one another during operation of the coaxial cable connector.

55. The device of claim 32, wherein the biasing portion comprises a biasing member, the collar portion comprises a collar member, the post portion comprises a post member, and the coupler portion comprises a coupler member.

56. The device of claim 55, wherein the biasing member, the collar member, the post member, and the coupler member are each separate components from one another.

57. The device of claim 32, wherein the biasing portion comprises a spring.

58. The device of claim 32, wherein the biasing portion is configured to biasingly push the post portion against the coupler portion of the coaxial cable connector so as to biasingly form the second ground path between the post portion and the coupler portion when the coaxial cable connector moves toward the port from the first port-engaged position to the second port-engaged position and before the cable connector has moved to a fully tightened position on the port.

59. The device of claim 32, wherein the port comprises a port assembly.

60. The device of claim 59, wherein the port assembly includes the collar portion.

61. The device of claim 59, wherein the port assembly includes the first and second insulator body portions.

62. The device of claim 32, wherein the first end of the biasing portion is configured to exert a biasing force from the collar portion to the post portion of the coaxial cable connector when the coaxial cable connector is coupled to the port so as to biasingly maintain physical and electrical contact between the post portion and the coupler portion of the coaxial cable connector during operation of the coaxial cable connector coupled to the port.

63. The device of claim 35, wherein the second insulator body portion contacts the biasing portion at one end and a radially inwardly extending surface at another end, the radially inwardly extending surface is configured to restrain axial movement of the second insulator body portion when the biasing portion exerts a biasing force against it.