COAXIAL CABLE PORT LOCKING TERMINATOR AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF

• US 20100323541A1
• Filed: 06/17/2009
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Amidon, Jeremy, Purdy, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 8,070,504 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/133
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6397 with means for preventing unauthorised use
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/44 comprising impedance matching means

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a coaxial cable interface port locking terminator including an outer terminator housing and an inner connector body housed within the outer terminator housing. The coaxial cable interface port locking terminator further includes a ratcheting device in operable communication with the outer terminator housing and the inner connector body, the ratcheting device preventing rotation of the outer terminator housing with respect to the inner connector body when the outer terminator housing is rotated in the first direction, the ratcheting device including at least one separate component from the outer terminator housing and the inner connector body. Furthermore, rotation of the outer terminator housing in a second direction does not cause rotation of the inner connector body in the second direction.

Claims

1. A coaxial cable interface port locking terminator comprising:

an outer terminator housing;

an inner connector body housed within the outer terminator housing, wherein the inner connector body includes internal threads configured to engage external threads of a coaxial cable interface port; and

a ratcheting device in operable communication with the outer terminator housing and the inner connector body, the ratcheting device preventing rotation of the outer terminator housing with respect to the inner connector body when the outer terminator housing is rotated in the first direction, the ratcheting device including at least one separate component from the outer terminator housing and the inner connector body;

wherein rotation of the outer terminator housing in a second direction does not cause rotation of the inner connector body in the second direction.

2. The locking terminator of claim 1, wherein the ratcheting device comprises a first ratcheting ring attached to the outer terminator housing having a first ratcheting surface and a second ratcheting ring attached to the inner connector body having a second ratcheting surface, wherein the first ratcheting surface is facing and adjacent to the second ratcheting surface.

3. The locking terminator of claim 2, wherein the inner connector body, the outer terminator housing, the resistor, the first ratcheting ring and the second ratcheting ring are substantially rotationally symmetric about a longitudinal axis.

4. The locking terminator of claim 2, wherein the first ratcheting surface includes a first ramped protrusion located thereon.

5. The locking terminator of claim 4, wherein the second ratcheting surface includes a second ramped protrusion located thereon, wherein the first and second ramped protrusions have slopes extending in opposite radial directions.

6. The locking terminator of claim 5, wherein the first surface includes a plurality of the first ramped protrusions, and wherein the second surface includes a plurality of the second ramped protrusions, wherein the ramped protrusions are located in an equispaced arrangement.

7. The locking terminator of claim 1, further including a biasing member, the biasing member configured to keep the ratcheting device under tension.

8. The locking terminator of claim 1, wherein the rotation of the outer terminator housing in the second direction cannot cause rotation of the inner connector body in the second direction.

9. The locking terminator of claim 1, wherein one end of the inner connector body is internally threaded and wherein one end of the outer terminator is externally threaded.

10. The locking terminator of claim 1, wherein the inner connector body includes at least one slot for receiving a portion of a tool.

11. The locking terminator of claim 1, further comprising a resistor housed within the inner connector body.

12. The locking terminator of claim 2, wherein at least one of the first ratcheting ring and the second ratcheting ring are configured to break free from at least one of the outer terminator housing and the inner connector body when a predetermined amount of torque is applied.

13. A coaxial cable interface port locking terminator comprising:

an outer terminator housing;

an inner connector body housed within the outer terminator housing, wherein the inner connector body includes internal threads configured to engage external threads of a coaxial cable interface port; and

a means for preventing rotation of the outer terminator housing with respect to the inner connector body when the outer terminator is rotated in a first direction, the means including at least one component separate from the outer terminator housing and the inner connector body;

wherein rotation of the outer terminator housing in a second direction does not cause rotation of the inner connector body in the second direction.

14. A coaxial cable interface port locking terminator comprising:

a port end;

a drop line end;

an outer terminator housing operable with a first ratcheting surface, the first ratcheting surface facing the port end; and

an inner connector body including internal threads configured to engage external threads of a coaxial cable interface port, the inner connector body being operable with a second ratcheting surface, the second ratcheting surface facing the drop line end, the second ratcheting surface configured to engage the first ratcheting surface during rotation of the outer terminator body in a first direction, the second ratcheting surface configured to not significantly engage the first ratcheting surface during rotation of the outer terminator body in a second direction.

15. The locking terminator of claim 14, wherein the inner connector body, the outer terminator housing, and the resistor are substantially rotationally symmetric about a longitudinal axis.

16. The locking terminator of claim 14, wherein the first ratcheting surface includes a first ramped protrusion located thereon.

17. The locking terminator of claim 16, wherein the second surface includes a second ramped protrusion located thereon, wherein the first and second ramped protrusions have slopes extending in opposite radial directions when the first surface is facing the second surface.

18. The locking terminator of claim 17, wherein the first surface includes a plurality of the first ramped protrusions, and wherein the second surface includes a plurality of the second ramped protrusions.

19. The locking terminator of claim 14, further including a biasing member, the biasing member configured to keep the first and second ratcheting surfaces under tension.

20. The locking terminator of claim 14, wherein the rotation of the outer terminator housing in the second direction cannot cause rotation of the inner connector body in the second direction.

21. The locking terminator of claim 14, further comprising a resistor housed within the inner connector body.

22. A method of terminating a coaxial cable port comprising:

providing a locking terminator, the locking terminator including;

an outer terminator housing;

an inner connector body housed within the outer terminator housing, wherein the inner connector body includes internal threads configured to engage external threads of a coaxial cable interface port; and

a ratcheting device in operable communication with the outer terminator housing and the inner connector body, the ratcheting device preventing rotation of the outer terminator housing with respect to the inner connector body when the outer terminator housing is rotated in a first direction, the ratcheting device including at least one component separate from the outer terminator housing and the inner connector body;

wherein rotation of the outer terminator housing in a second direction does not cause rotation of the inner connector body in the second direction;

engaging the inner connector body with the coaxial cable port; and

rotating the outer terminator housing in the first direction to tighten the inner connector body onto the coaxial cable port.

23. The method of terminating a coaxial cable port of claim 22, further comprising inserting a tool into the locking terminator to engage the inner connector body and rotating the tool in the second direction to cause rotation of the inner connector body in the second direction.

24. The method of terminating a coaxial cable port of claim 22 wherein the locking terminator further includes a resistor housed within the inner connector body.