COAXIAL CABLE CONNECTOR WITH QUICK-LOCKING CONNECTION

• US 20150064952A1
• Filed: 07/29/2014
• Published: 03/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Andrew LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vaccaro, Ronald A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,362,671 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/320
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/622 Screw-ring or screw-casing H01R13/623 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/625 Casing or ring with bayonet engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0521 Connection to outer conductor by action of a nut

Abstract

A coaxial cable plug includes: an inner conductor extension configured to mate with the inner conductor extension of a mating coaxial cable jack; an outer conductor extension configured to mate with the outer conductor extension of the mating coaxial cable jack; a coupling nut positioned radially outwardly of the outer conductor extension of the coaxial cable plug and having an internal cavity; and a thread-engaging member residing within the internal cavity of the coupling nut. The thread-engaging member includes radially-inwardly extending projections configured to intermesh with outer threads of a housing of the mating coaxial cable jack and is movable relative to the coupling nut. Rotation of the coupling nut relative to the outer threads of the housing of the mating coaxial cable jack causes the projections of the thread-engaging member to move relative to the threads of the jack housing, thereby securing the jack to the plug.

Claims

1. A coaxial cable plug, comprising:

an inner conductor extension configured to mate with the inner conductor extension of a mating coaxial cable jack;

an outer conductor extension configured to mate with the outer conductor extension of the mating coaxial cable jack;

a coupling nut positioned radially outwardly of the outer conductor extension of the coaxial cable plug and having an internal cavity; and

a thread-engaging member residing within the internal cavity of the coupling nut, the thread-engaging member including radially-inwardly extending projections configured to intermesh with outer threads of a housing of the mating coaxial cable jack, the thread-engaging member being movable relative to the coupling nut;

wherein rotation of the coupling nut relative to the outer threads of the housing of the mating coaxial cable jack causes the projections of the thread-engaging member to move relative to the threads of the jack housing, thereby securing the jack to the plug.

2. The coaxial cable plug defined in claim 1, wherein the thread-engaging member comprises a flex member configured to at least partially circumferentially surround the housing, and wherein rotation of the coupling nut relative to the flex member compresses the projections of the flex member into the threads of the housing.

3. The coaxial cable plug defined in claim 2, wherein the flex member includes a bayonet, the coupling nut includes a slot that receives the bayonet, and rotation of the coupling nut relative to the flex member forces the flex member to move axially relative to the coupling nut.

4. The coaxial cable plug defined in claim 3, wherein the coupling nut includes a first beveled face, the flex member includes a second beveled face, and rotation of the coupling nut forces the first and second beveled faces into contact with each other.

5. The coaxial cable plug defined in claim 1, wherein the thread-engaging member is a toothed gear pivotally mounted to the coupling nut, and wherein rotation of the coupling nut causes the gear to rotate relative to the coupling nut and the threads of the housing.

6. The coaxial cable plug defined in claim 5, wherein the gear has a generally square shape.

7. The coaxial cable plug defined in claim 5, further comprising a ratchet spring mounted to the coupling nut and positioned to prevent counter-rotation of the gear relative to the coupling nut.

8. The coaxial cable plug defined in claim 5, wherein the thread-engaging member is a toothed endless belt mounted to the coupling nut, and wherein rotation of the coupling nut causes the endless belt to rotate relative to the coupling nut and to the threads of the housing.

9. The coaxial cable plug defined in claim 1, further comprising a spring that biases the thread-engaging member toward the mating coaxial cable jack.

10. A coaxial connector assembly, comprising:

a coaxial cable jack having a housing with external threads; and

a coaxial cable plug, comprising;

an inner conductor extension configured to mate with an inner conductor extension of the coaxial cable jack;

an outer conductor extension configured to mate with an outer conductor extension of the coaxial cable jack;

a coupling nut positioned radially outwardly of the outer conductor extension of the coaxial cable plug; and

a thread-engaging member positioned between the external threads of the coaxial cable jack housing and the coupling nut, the thread-engaging member including radially-inwardly extending projections configured to intermesh with the external threads the housing of the mating coaxial cable jack, the thread-engaging member being movable relative to the coupling nut;

wherein rotation of the coupling nut relative to the external threads of the housing causes the projections of the thread-engaging member to move relative to the external threads of the housing, thereby securing the jack to the plug.

11. The assembly defined in claim 10, wherein rotation of the coupling nut relative to the thread-engaging member compresses the projections of the thread engaging member into the external threads of the housing.

12. The assembly defined in claim 11, wherein the thread-engaging member comprises a flex member configured to at least partially circumferentially surround the housing.

13. The assembly defined in claim 12, wherein the flex member includes a bayonet, the coupling nut includes a slot that receives the bayonet, and rotation of the coupling nut relative to the flex member forces the flex member to move axially relative to the coupling nut.

14. The assembly defined in claim 13, wherein the coupling nut includes a first beveled face, the flex member includes a second beveled face, and rotation of the coupling nut forces the first and second beveled faces into contact with each other.

15. The assembly defined in claim 10, further comprising a spring that biases the thread-engaging member toward the mating coaxial cable jack.

16. The assembly defined in claim 10, wherein the coaxial cable jack is mounted on a piece of electrical equipment and comprises a connector port thereon.

17. A coaxial connector assembly, comprising:

a coaxial cable jack having a housing with external threads; and

a coaxial cable plug, comprising;

an inner conductor extension configured to mate with an inner conductor extension of the coaxial cable jack;

an outer conductor extension configured to mate with an outer conductor extension of the coaxial cable jack;

a coupling nut positioned radially outwardly of the outer conductor extension of the coaxial cable plug; and

a thread-engaging member positioned between the external threads of the coaxial cable jack housing and the coupling nut, the thread-engaging member including radially-inwardly extending projections configured to intermesh with the external threads the housing of the mating coaxial cable jack, the thread-engaging member being movable relative to the coupling nut;

wherein rotation of the coupling nut relative to the external threads of the housing causes the coupling nut to move toward the coaxial cable jack along an axis parallel to the housing and the projections of the thread-engaging member to engage the external threads of the housing, thereby securing the jack to the plug.

18. The assembly defined in claim 17, wherein rotation of the coupling nut relative to the thread-engaging member compresses the projections of the thread engaging member into the external threads of the housing.

19. The assembly defined in claim 18, wherein the thread-engaging member comprises a flex member configured to at least partially circumferentially surround the housing.

20. The assembly defined in claim 17, wherein the thread-engaging member is a toothed gear pivotally mounted to the coupling nut, and wherein rotation of the coupling nut causes the gear to rotate relative to the coupling nut and the threads of the housing.