CONNECTOR HAVING A COUPLING MEMBER FOR LOCKING ONTO A PORT AND MAINTAINING ELECTRICAL CONTINUITY

• US 20120315788A1
• Filed: 06/10/2011
• Published: 12/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Montena, Noah
• Granted Patent: US 8,758,050 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/507
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/622 Screw-ring or screw-casing H01R13/623 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6275 Latching arms not integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/38 having concentrically or coaxially arranged contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/003 the coupling part being secured only to wires or cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/48 utilising a spring, clip, or other resilient member H01R4/52 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/05 for coaxial cables

Abstract

A coupling member including a body defined by an inner surface and an outer surface between a first end and a second end, at least one resilient contact extending a distance from the inner surface of the body, the at least one resilient contact configured to provide a retention force, and at least one resilient protrusion extending a distance from the inner surface of the body, the at least one resilient protrusion positioned proximate the second end of the body and configured to contact a conductive surface is provided. A cable connector for mating with an interface port having external threads, comprising a coupling member attached to the post, the coupling member having one or more resilient contacts and resilient protrusions, wherein the resilient contacts are configured to provide a retention force between a coupling member and a port and the resilient protrusions facilitate electrical continuity through the connector is further provided. Furthermore, associated methods are also provided.

Claims

1. A coupling member comprising:

a body defined by an inner surface and an outer surface between a first end a second end;

at least one resilient contact extending a distance from the inner surface of the body, the at least one resilient contact configured to provide a retention force; and

at least one resilient protrusion extending a distance from the inner surface of the body, the at least one resilient positioned proximate the second end of the body and configured to contact a conductive surface.

2. The coupling member of claim 1, wherein the at least one resilient contact provides a retention force with a coaxial cable interface port.

3. The coupling member of claim 1, wherein the conductive surface is a conductive post of a coaxial cable connector.

4. The coupling member of claim 1, wherein the at least one resilient contact includes a tip

5. The coupling member of claim 1, wherein the body is formed of plastic and the at least one resilient contact and the at least one resilient protrusion are connected by a conductive strip embedded into the body.

6. The coupling member of claim 1, wherein the body is formed of a metal.

7. A coaxial cable connector for mating with an interface port having external threads, comprising:

a post configured to receive a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric of a coaxial cable;

a connector body attached to the post;

a coupling member attached to the post, the coupling member having one or more resilient contacts, wherein the resilient contacts are configured to pass over the external threads in a first axial direction, and physically engage the external threads in a second axial direction.

8. The coaxial cable connector of claim 7, wherein the one or more resilient contacts are radially inward protrusions.

9. The coaxial cable connector of claim 7, wherein the one or more resilient contacts are structurally integral with the coupling member.

10. The coaxial cable connector of claim 7, further comprising a fastener member radially disposed over the connector body to radially compress the coaxial cable.

11. The coaxial cable connector of claim 7, wherein the physical engagement of the resilient contacts prevents axial movement of the connector in the second axial direction.

12. The coaxial cable connector of claim 11, wherein the physical engagement between the resilient contacts and the threads includes a tip of at least one of the resilient contacts lodged securely against a working surface of the threads of the port.

13. A coaxial cable connector for connecting to an interface port comprising:

a post configured to receive a prepared end of a coaxial cable having a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric;

a connector body attached to the post;

a coupling member attached to the post, the coupling member having a first end and a second end, wherein the coupling member includes a first set of contacts proximate the second end configured to maintain electrical continuity through the connector, and a second set of contacts configured to provide a retention force in an axial direction between the coupling member and the port.

14. The coaxial cable connector of claim 13, wherein the electrical continuity is maintained through the connector by physical contact between the coupling member and the post.

15. The coaxial cable connector of claim 13, wherein the first set of contacts biasingly engage an outer surface of the post to extend electrical continuity.

16. The coaxial cable connector of claim 13, wherein each of the second set of contacts include a tip that securely contacts at least one thread of the port to provide the retention force.

17. The coaxial cable connector of claim 13, wherein the first set of contacts and the second set of contacts are integral with the coupling member.

18. The coaxial cable connector of claim 13, wherein the first set of contacts are located along an internal lip of the coupling member.

19. The coaxial cable connector of claim 13, further comprising a fastener member radially disposed over the connector body to radially compress the coaxial cable.

20. A coaxial cable connector adapted to mate with a port, comprising:

a post configured to receive a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric of a coaxial cable;

a connector body attached to the post;

a coupling member operably attached to the post, the coupling member having a first end and a second end; and

a means for providing a retention force in an axial direction between the coupling member and the port, wherein the means for providing the retention force is integral with the coupling member.

21. The coaxial cable of claim 20, further comprising a means for maintaining electrical continuity through the connector, wherein the means for maintaining electrical continuity is integral with the coupling member.

22. A connector for connecting to an interface port comprising:

a post having configured to receive a prepared end of a coaxial cable having a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric;

a connector body attached to the post;

a coupling member, the coupling member having a first end and a second end, wherein the coupling member includes a first set of contacts proximate the second end configured to maintain electrical continuity between a conductive component and the coupling member, and a second set of contacts configured to provide a retention force in an axial direction between the coupling member and the port.

23. The connector of claim 22, wherein the connector is a N-Male connector.

24. The connector of claim 22, wherein the connector is a DIN Male connector.

25. The connector of claim 22, wherein the conductive member does not engage the prepared end of the coaxial cable.

26. A method of retaining a connector onto a port in an axial direction, comprising:

providing a post configured to receive a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric of a coaxial cable, a connector body attached to the post, a coupling member attached to the post, wherein the coupling member has a first end and second end; and

forming one or more resilient contacts on the coupling member, wherein the resilient contacts are configured to pass over the external threads in a first axial direction, and physically engage the external threads in a second axial direction.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the resilient contacts are radially inward fingers configured to physically engage threads of a corresponding port.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising facilitating continuity through the coaxial cable connector.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein facilitating continuity includes forming one or more resilient protrusions proximate the second end of the coupling member, the resilient protrusions configured to physically and electrically contact the post.

30. A jumper comprising:

a first connector, wherein the first connector includes a post configured to receive a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric of a coaxial cable, a connector body attached to the post, and a coupling member attached to the post, the coupling member having one or more resilient contacts, wherein the resilient contacts are configured to pass over the external threads in a first axial direction, and physically engage the external threads in a second axial direction; and

a second connector;

wherein the first connector is operably affixed to a first end of the coaxial cable, and the second connector is operably affixed to a second end of the coaxial cable.

31. The jumper of claim 30, wherein the second connector includes the same components as the first connector.