Grounding member for coaxial cable connector
First Claim
1. A coaxial cable connector, comprising:
- a post comprising a first flange and defining an elongate axis;
a sleeve positioned around the post and comprising a second flange, the post and the sleeve configured to retain an end of a coaxial cable;
a coupling member comprising a third flange and positioned around the forward end of the post and configured to be disposed at least partially between the first flange and the second flange;
the flanges of the sleeve and the coupling member forming recesses each defining an internal contact surface, the internal contact surfaces separated by an axial gap;
a grounding member, disposed in combination with one of the sleeve and the coupling member and biased outwardly against at least one of the internal contact surfaces, the grounding member configured to produce a force component in a radial direction to compensate for axial separation between the sleeve and the coupling member, the radial force causing the grounding member to bridge the axial gap between the internal contact surfaces and maintain electrical grounding between the sleeve and the coupling member even when the sleeve does not electrically contact the coupling member.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A connector including coupling and sleeve flanges defining opposing recesses separated by an axial gap along an elongate axis. The connector also includes a arcuate bridge member radially biased outwardly against at least one of the internal contact surfaces of the opposing recesses and spanning the axial gap. The arcuate bridge member maintains electrical conductivity across the axial gap even when the sleeve does not electrically contact the coupling member. At least one of the contact surfaces defines a conical surface which is responsive to the radially biased conductive bridge member to produce a radial force against the internal contact surfaces. The radial force produces an axial force component along the elongate axis.
690 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A coaxial cable connector, comprising:
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a post comprising a first flange and defining an elongate axis; a sleeve positioned around the post and comprising a second flange, the post and the sleeve configured to retain an end of a coaxial cable; a coupling member comprising a third flange and positioned around the forward end of the post and configured to be disposed at least partially between the first flange and the second flange;
the flanges of the sleeve and the coupling member forming recesses each defining an internal contact surface, the internal contact surfaces separated by an axial gap;a grounding member, disposed in combination with one of the sleeve and the coupling member and biased outwardly against at least one of the internal contact surfaces, the grounding member configured to produce a force component in a radial direction to compensate for axial separation between the sleeve and the coupling member, the radial force causing the grounding member to bridge the axial gap between the internal contact surfaces and maintain electrical grounding between the sleeve and the coupling member even when the sleeve does not electrically contact the coupling member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A connector comprising:
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a post comprising a first flange and defining an elongate axis; a sleeve positioned around the post and comprising a second flange, the post and the sleeve configured to retain an end of a coaxial cable; a coupling member comprising a third flange and positioned around the forward end of the post and configured to be disposed at least partially between the first flange and the second flange;
the flanges of the sleeve and the coupling member forming recesses defining inwardly-facing internal contact surfaces separated by an axial gap, each annular recess having an outwardly-facing external contact surface which, in combination with the respective internal contact surface, defines a radial gap; anda grounding member disposed in combination with one of the sleeve and the coupling member, the grounding member comprising an outwardly-facing external contact surface configured to engage the inwardly-facing internal contact surface of one of the sleeve and the coupling member, the outwardly-facing external contact surface spanning the axial gap therebetween and biased radially outwardly against the inwardly-facing internal contact surfaces to maintain an electrical ground path therebetween even when the sleeve does not electrically contact the coupling member. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A connector comprising:
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a post defining an elongate axis; a sleeve positioned around the post and configured to retain an end of a coaxial cable; a coupling member positioned around the forward end of the post;
the sleeve and the coupling member forming recesses defining internal contact surfaces separated by an axial gap; anda grounding member disposed in combination with one of the sleeve and the coupling member, the grounding member comprising an external contact surface configured to engage the internal contact surface of one of the sleeve and the coupling member, the external contact surface spanning the axial gap therebetween and biased radially outwardly against the internal contact surfaces to maintain electrical grounding therebetween even when the sleeve does not electrically contact the coupling member. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A grounding member between a sleeve and a coupling member of a coaxial cable connector when the sleeve and the coupling member are not electrically connected, the grounding member comprising:
an arcuate conductive portion having a generally C-shaped configuration and an external contact surface;
the arcuate conductive portion configured to;
(i) be disposed within a recess formed in at least one of the sleeve and the coupling member, (ii) be radially biased outwardly such that the external contact surface is configured to engage an internal contact surface of at least one of the sleeve and the coupling member, and (iii) span an axial gap between the internal contact surfaces disposed between the recesses of the sleeve and the coupling member.- View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
Specification