Coaxial cable connector

• US 20050233636A1
• Filed: 04/12/2005
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomas & Betts International Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Ward, Randy, Rodrigues, Julio, Thayer, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 7,241,172 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/578
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6277 comprising annular latching means, e.g. ring snapping in an annular groove
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/40 specially adapted for high frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0521 Connection to outer conductor by action of a nut

Abstract

A coaxial cable connector including an annular post defining an axial bore therein, a cylindrical collar movably coupled to the post and a nut rotatably coupled to the post. The post has a shoulder portion defined by an outer surface and a tubular extension extending axially rearwardly from the shoulder portion and the collar has a forward end movably coupled to the outer surface of the post shoulder portion. The collar may also be movably coupled to a rearward interior surface of the rotatable nut in a first position and movable forward to a second position, wherein the collar is coupled to the outer surface of the annular post.

Claims

1. A coaxial cable connector comprising:

an annular post defining an axial bore therein, said post having a shoulder portion including an outer surface and a tubular extension extending axially from said shoulder portion;

a cylindrical collar having a forward end movably coupled to said outer surface of said post shoulder portion for movement between a first open position to receive a prepared coaxial cable and a second closed position to lock the cable in the connector; and

a nut rotatably coupled to said post shoulder portion.

2. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 1, wherein said collar and said post tubular extension define an annular chamber therebetween.

3. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 1, further comprising a sealing ring disposed between said post, said collar and said nut.

4. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 1, wherein said post shoulder portion includes a flanged base portion for securing said post in said nut.

5. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 1, wherein said outer surface of said post shoulder portion and said forward end of said collar include cooperating detent structure for permitting axial movement of said collar and said post from said first position to said second position.

6. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 5, wherein said cooperating detent structure comprises an annular rib formed on one of said forward end of said collar and said outer surface of said post shoulder portion and two axially spaced annular grooves formed on the other of said forward end of said collar and said outer surface of said post shoulder portion.

7. A coaxial cable connector as-defined in claim 6, wherein said annular rib is provided on said collar and is defined by a rearwardly facing perpendicular wall and a forwardly facing chamfered wall and said grooves are provided on said outer surface of said post shoulder portion and are defined by a forwardly facing perpendicular wall and a rearwardly facing chamfered wall to permit only forward movement of said collar on said post.

8. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 1, wherein said collar is movable with respect to said post from a first position for loosely retaining a coaxial cable within the connector to a forward second position for securing the cable within the connector.

9. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 1, wherein said forward end of said collar is press-fit on said outer surface of said post shoulder portion.

10. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 1, wherein said forward end of said collar is threadably engaged with said outer surface of said post shoulder portion.

11. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 1, wherein said post shoulder portion includes a rearwardly facing chamfered wall at a transition between said shoulder portion and said tubular extension to facilitate attachment of said collar to said post.

12. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 1, wherein said collar is detachably coupled to said post.

13. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 1, wherein said collar includes a detachable arm extending outwardly therefrom for temporarily attaching said collar to said post in an initial configuration.

14. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 13, wherein said detachable arm comprises a ring extension extending radially outwardly from said collar and a ring disposed at an end of said ring extension for attaching said collar to said post, said ring being sized to be snugly fit on said outer surface of said post shoulder portion.

15. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 14, wherein said ring includes a slot breaking the continuity of said ring for facilitating perpendicular attachment of said ring to said post shoulder portion.

16. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 14, wherein said outer surface of said post shoulder portion and said ring include cooperating detent structure for facilitating attachment of said ring to said post shoulder portion.

17. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 14, wherein said ring extension includes a frangible portion disposed where the extension meets the collar.

18. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 1, wherein said post further includes an annular sleeve portion extending rearwardly from said shoulder portion, said sleeve portion and said tubular extension defining an annular pocket therebetween.

19. A method for terminating a coaxial cable within a coaxial cable connector, the method comprising the steps of:

inserting a prepared end of a coaxial cable into a rearward end of a cylindrical collar of the connector, said collar having a forward end movably coupled to an outer surface of an annular post of the connector; and

moving said collar axially forward on said outer surface of said annular post to a locked position wherein said cable is secured within said connector.

20. A method as defined in claim 19, wherein during said moving step, the cable end is compressed within an annular chamber formed between said collar and a tubular extension of said post extending axially rearward from said shoulder portion.

21. A method as defined in claim 19, wherein said moving step comprises moving said collar from a first position wherein said cable is loosely retained within the connector to said locked position wherein said cable is secured within the connector.

22. A method as defined in claim 21, wherein said moving stop further comprises the step of disengaging a rib formed on one of said forward end of said collar and said outer surface of said annular post from a first groove formed on the other of said forward end of said collar and said outer surface of said annular post and engaging said rib in a second groove formed on the other of said forward end of said collar and said outer surface of said annular post.

23. A method as defined in claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

detaching an arm of said collar from said outer surface of said annular post;

detaching said arm from said collar; and

movably coupling said forward end of said collar to said outer surface of said annular post.

24. A method as defined in claim 19, wherein said inserting step includes the step of inserting a shield portion of the prepared end of the coaxial cable into an annular pocket defined between an annular sleeve portion and a tubular extension of said annular post.

25. A method for terminating a coaxial cable within a coaxial cable connector, the method comprising the steps of:

inserting a prepared end of a coaxial cable into a rearward end of a cylindrical collar of the connector;

movably coupling a forward end of said collar to an outer surface of an annular post of the connector; and

moving said collar axially forward on said outer surface of said annular post to a locked position wherein the cable is secured within the connector.

26. A method as defined in claim 25, wherein during said moving step, the cable end is compressed within an annular chamber formed between said collar and a tubular extension of said post extending axially rearward from said shoulder portion.

27. A method as defined in claim 25, wherein said moving step comprises moving said collar from a first position wherein said cable is loosely retained within the connector to said locked position wherein said cable is secured within the connector.

28. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 27, wherein said moving step further comprises the step of disengaging a rib formed on one of said forward end of said collar and said outer surface of said annular post from a first groove formed on the other of said forward end of said collar and said outer surface of said annular post and engaging said rib in a second groove formed on the other of said forward end of said collar and said outer surface of annular post.

29. A method as defined in claim 25, further comprising the steps of:

detaching an arm of said collar from said outer surface of said annular post prior to movably coupling said collar to said post; and

detaching said arm from said collar.

30. A method as defined in claim 25, wherein said inserting step includes the step of inserting a shield portion of the prepared end of the coaxial cable into an annular pocket defined between an annular sleeve portion and a tubular extension of said annular post.

31. A coaxial cable connector comprising:

an annular post defining an axial bore therein, said post having a shoulder portion including an outer surface and a tubular extension extending axially from said shoulder portion;

a nut rotatably coupled to said post shoulder portion, said nut having an interior surface; and

a cylindrical collar having a forward end movably coupled to said interior surface of said rotatable nut in a first open position to receive a prepared coaxial cable, said collar being movable forward to a second closed position securing the cable in said connector, wherein said collar is coupled to said outer surface of said annular post.

32. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 31, wherein said collar and said post tubular extension define an annular chamber therebetween.

33. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 31, wherein said interior surface of said nut, said outer surface of said post shoulder portion and said forward end of said collar include cooperating detent structure for permitting said forward movable connection of said collar and said post.

34. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 33, wherein said cooperating detent structure comprises an outwardly extending annular rib formed on an outer surface of said forward end of said collar, an inwardly extending annular rib formed on an inner surface of said forward end of said collar, a first annular groove formed on said inner surface of said nut and a second annular groove formed on said outer surface of said post shoulder portion.

35. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 34, wherein said annular ribs are defined by a rearwardly facing perpendicular wall and a forwardly facing chamfered wall and said annular grooves are defined by a forwardly facing perpendicular wall and a rearwardly facing chamfered wall to permit only forward movement of said collar.

36. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 31, wherein said post shoulder portion includes a rearwardly facing chamfered wall at a transition between said shoulder portion and said tubular extension to facilitate attachment of said collar to said post.

37. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 31, wherein said post further includes an annular sleeve portion extending rearwardly from said shoulder portion, said sleeve portion and said tubular extension defining an annular pocket therebetween.