CABLE CONNECTOR

• US 20100081321A1
• Filed: 09/28/2009
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomas & Betts International Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Rodrigues, Julio F., Malloy, Allen L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,062,063 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/578
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/187 with spring member in the socket
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6584 formed by conductive elastomeric members, e.g. flat gaskets or O-rings
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/40 specially adapted for high frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/48 utilising a spring, clip, or other resilient member H01R4/52 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A coaxial cable connector for coupling a coaxial cable to a mating connector includes a connector body having a forward end and a rearward cable receiving end for receiving a cable. A nut is rotatably coupled to the forward end of the connector body. An annular post is disposed within the connector body, the post having a forward flanged base portion disposed within a rearward extent of the nut, the forward flanged base portion having a forward face. A biasing element is attached to the forward flanged base portion of the post and includes a deflectable portion extending outwardly in a forward direction beyond the forward face of the post shoulder portion.

Claims

1. A coaxial cable connector for coupling a coaxial cable to a mating connector, the connector comprising:

a connector body having a forward end and a rearward cable receiving end for receiving a cable;

a nut rotatably coupled to said forward end of said connector body;

an annular post disposed within said connector body, said post having a forward flanged base portion disposed within a rearward extent of said nut, said forward flanged base portion having a forward face; and

a biasing element attached to said forward flanged base portion of said post and having a deflectable portion extending outwardly in a forward direction beyond said forward face of said post shoulder portion.

2. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein said biasing element comprises a base portion fixed in said forward face of said post shoulder portion and a deflectable skirt portion extending in said forward direction beyond said forward face of said post shoulder portion.

3. The coaxial cable connector of claim 2, wherein said deflectable skirt portion extends in a direction radially inward from said base portion.

4. The coaxial cable connector of claim 2, wherein said deflectable skirt portion extends in a direction radially outward from said base portion.

5. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein said biasing element comprises:

a cylindrical wall;

a retaining lip extending radially inward from a rearward end of said cylindrical wall and received in a peripheral groove of said post shoulder portion; and

a deflectable skirt portion disposed at a forward end of said cylindrical wall opposite said retaining lip, said deflectable skirt extending in a direction radially inward from said cylindrical wall and extending in said forward direction beyond said forward face of said post shoulder portion.

6. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein said biasing element comprises:

a cylindrical wall;

a retaining lip extending radially inward from a rearward end of said cylindrical wall and received in a peripheral groove of said post shoulder portion; and

a reverse-bent deflectable rim disposed at a forward end of said cylindrical wall opposite said retaining lip, said deflectable rim extending in a direction radially inward from said cylindrical wall and extending in said forward direction beyond said forward face of said post shoulder portion.

7. In combination:

a connector terminal including a rearward facing wall; and

a coaxial cable connector connected to said connector terminal, said coaxial cable connector comprising;

a connector body having a forward end and a rearward cable receiving end for receiving a cable;

a nut rotatably coupled to said forward end of said connector body;

an annular post disposed within said connector body, said post having a forward flanged base portion disposed within a rearward extent of said nut, said forward flanged base portion having a forward face; and

a biasing element attached to said forward flanged base portion of said post and having a deflectable portion extending outwardly in a forward direction beyond said forward face of said post shoulder portion.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein said biasing element comprises a base portion fixed in said forward face of said post shoulder portion and a deflectable skirt portion extending in said forward direction beyond said forward face of said post shoulder portion.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein said deflectable skirt portion extends in a direction radially inward from said base portion.

10. The combination of claim 8, wherein said deflectable skirt portion extends in a direction radially outward from said base portion.

11. The combination of claim 7, wherein said biasing element comprises:

a cylindrical wall;

a retaining lip extending radially inward from a rearward end of said cylindrical wall and received in a peripheral groove of said post shoulder portion; and

a deflectable skirt portion disposed at a forward end of said cylindrical wall opposite said retaining lip, said deflectable skirt extending in a direction radially inward from said cylindrical wall and extending in said forward direction beyond said forward face of said post shoulder portion.

12. The combination of claim 7, wherein said biasing element comprises:

a cylindrical wall;

a retaining lip extending radially inward from a rearward end of said cylindrical wall and received in a peripheral groove of said post shoulder portion; and

a reverse-bent deflectable rim disposed at a forward end of said cylindrical wall opposite said retaining lip, said deflectable rim extending in a direction radially inward from said cylindrical wall and extending in said forward direction beyond said forward face of said post shoulder portion.

13. A coaxial cable connector for coupling a coaxial cable to a mating connector, the coaxial cable connector comprising:

a connector body having a forward end and a rearward cable receiving end for receiving a cable;

a nut rotatably coupled to the forward end of the connector body;

an annular post disposed within the connector body, the annular post having a forward flanged base portion located adjacent a portion of the nut;

an annular notch formed in the forward flanged base portion; and

a biasing element retained in the annular notch,

wherein the biasing element includes a conical spring having a number of resilient, spaced apart fingers.

14. The coaxial cable connector of claim 13, wherein the biasing element includes a substantially cylindrical attachment portion formed rearward of the resilient, spaced apart fingers, wherein the attachment portion is configured to engage the annular notch to retain the biasing element to the annular post.

15. The coaxial cable connector of claim 14, wherein the attachment portion includes at least one detent located in an interior surface of the attachment portion, wherein the at least one detent engages the annular notch.

16. The coaxial cable connector of claim 15, wherein the at least one detent comprises a number of detents radially spaced around the attachment portion.

17. The coaxial cable connector of claim 13, wherein the resilient, spaced apart fingers have a radially curved configuration.

18. The coaxial cable connector of claim 13, wherein the biasing element is electrically conductive.

19. The coaxial cable connector of claim 13, wherein the resilient, spaced apart fingers are configured to compress toward the forward flanged base portion upon axial insertion of a port connector into the nut.

20. A coaxial cable connector for coupling a coaxial cable to a mating connector, the coaxial cable connector comprising:

a connector body having a forward end and a rearward cable receiving end for receiving a cable;

a nut rotatably coupled to the forward end of the connector body;

an annular post disposed within the connector body, the annular post having a forward flanged base portion located adjacent a rearward portion of the nut; and

a biasing element retained around the forward flanged base portion,

wherein the biasing element includes a conical spring having a number of resilient, spaced apart fingers.

21. The coaxial cable connector of claim 20,

wherein the biasing element includes a substantially cylindrical attachment portion formed rearward of the resilient, spaced apart fingers, wherein the attachment portion is configured to frictionally engage the flanged base portion to retain the biasing element to the annular post.

22. The coaxial cable connector of claim 20, wherein the attachment portion includes a flange.

23. In combination:

a connector having a rearward surface; and

a coaxial cable connector configured to connect to said connector, the coaxial cable connector comprising;

a connector body having a forward end and a rearward cable receiving end for receiving a cable;

a nut rotatably coupled to the forward end of the connector body;

an annular post disposed within the connector body, the annular post having a forward flanged base portion located adjacent a portion of the nut;

an annular notch formed in the forward flanged base portion; and

a biasing element that includes a conical spring having a number of resilient, spaced apart fingers, wherein the resilient, spaced apart fingers are configured to be compressed between the rearward surface of the connector and the forward flanged base portion of the annular post.

24. The combination of claim 23, wherein the biasing element includes a substantially cylindrical attachment portion formed rearward of the resilient, spaced apart fingers, wherein the attachment portion is configured to engage the annular notch to retain the biasing element to the annular post.

25. A coaxial cable connector for coupling a coaxial cable to a mating connector, the coaxial cable connector comprising:

a connector body having a forward end and a rearward cable receiving end for receiving a cable;

a nut rotatably coupled to the forward end of the connector body;

an annular post disposed within the connector body, the annular post having a forward flanged base portion located adjacent a portion of the nut;

an annular notch formed in the forward flanged base portion; and

a biasing element retained in the annular notch,

wherein the biasing element includes an attachment portion for engaging the annular notch and a resilient central portion having an opening therethrough,

wherein the resilient central portion includes at least one resilient structure configured to apply a biasing force between the annular post and the mating connector, upon insertion of the mating connector into the nut.

26. The coaxial cable connector of claim 25, wherein the attachment portion comprises a substantially octagonal attachment portion formed rearward of the resilient central portion, wherein the attachment portion is configured to engage the annular notch to retain the biasing element to the annular post.

27. The coaxial cable connector of claim 26, wherein the substantially octagonal attachment portion includes at least one detent located in an interior surface of the attachment portion, wherein the at least one detent engages the annular notch.

28. The coaxial cable connector of claim 27, wherein the at least one detent comprises a number of detents radially spaced around the attachment portion.

29. The coaxial cable connector of claim 26, wherein the resilient central portion comprises a number of angled surfaces integrally formed with the attachment portion.

30. The coaxial cable connector of claim 26, wherein the resilient central portion comprises a U-shaped surface having at least one low portion and at least one high portion integrally formed with the attachment portion, wherein the biasing force between the annular post and the mating connector is caused by deflection of the at least one low portion toward the at least one high portion.

31. The coaxial cable connector of claim 26, wherein the biasing element comprises stainless steel.

32. The coaxial cable connector of claim 25,

wherein the resilient central portion comprises a number of tabbed portions, wherein each tabbed portion includes a first end and a second end formed lower than the first end,

wherein the biasing force between the annular post and the mating connector is caused by deflection, in each tabbed portion, of the second end toward the first end.

33. The coaxial cable connector of claim 32, wherein the attachment portion comprises a substantially octagonal attachment portion formed rearward of the resilient central portion, and wherein each tabbed portion is integrally formed substantially perpendicularly with a side of the substantially octagonal attachment portion.

34. The coaxial cable connector of claim 32, wherein the attachment portion comprises a substantially cylindrical attachment portion formed rearward of the resilient central portion, wherein the coaxial cable connector further comprises:

a number of spoke portions integrally formed substantially perpendicularly with the substantially cylindrical attachment portion,

wherein each tabbed portion projects radially from one of the number of spoke portions.

35. The coaxial cable connector of claim 32, wherein the attachment portion comprises a substantially cylindrical attachment portion formed rearward of the resilient central portion, wherein the coaxial cable connector further comprises:

a hub portion integrally formed substantially perpendicularly with the substantially cylindrical attachment portion having a number of spaced openings therein,

wherein each tabbed portion projects axially from one of the number of spaced openings in the hub portion.

36. The coaxial cable connector of claim 25, wherein biasing element comprises an electrically conductive material.

37. In combination:

a connector having a rearward surface; and

a coaxial cable connector configured to connect to said connector, the coaxial cable connector comprising;

a connector body having a forward end and a rearward cable receiving end for receiving a cable;

a nut rotatably coupled to the forward end of the connector body;

an annular post disposed within the connector body, the annular post having a forward flanged base portion located adjacent a portion of the nut;

an annular notch formed in the forward flanged base portion; and

a biasing element retained in the annular notch,

wherein the biasing element includes an attachment portion for engaging the annular notch and a resilient central portion having an opening therethrough,

wherein the resilient central portion includes at least one resilient structure configured to apply a biasing force between the annular post and the mating connector, upon insertion of the mating connector into the nut.

38. A coaxial cable connector for coupling a coaxial cable to a mating connector, the coaxial cable connector comprising:

a connector body having a forward end and a rearward cable receiving end for receiving a cable;

a nut rotatably coupled to the forward end of the connector body; and

an annular post disposed within the connector body, the annular post having a biasing portion located adjacent a portion of the nut,

wherein the biasing portion is integral with the annular post.

39. The coaxial cable connector of claim 38, wherein annular post comprises a substantially tubular structure, and wherein the biasing portion comprises a helical slot formed in an outer side wall of the annular post.

40. The coaxial cable connector of claim 39, wherein the annular post comprises a flanged base portion located adjacent a portion of the nut, and wherein the flanged base portion includes the biasing portion.

41. The coaxial cable connector of claim 40, wherein the outer side wall of the annular post has a reduced thickness in the biasing portion.

42. The coaxial cable connector of claim 39, wherein the helical slot has a thickness ranging from 0.010 inches to 0.025 inches.