CABLE CONNECTOR STRUCTURED FOR REASSEMBLY AND METHOD THEREOF
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A coaxial cable connector comprising:
- a coupler assembly comprising;
a coupler member extendable along an axis, the coupler member defining a coupler space, and including;
(i) a forward coupler portion having a forward outer threaded surface that is configured to threadably engage a threaded interface port; and
(ii) a rearward coupler portion having a rearward outer threaded surface;
a contact pin configured to be at least partially received by the coupler member, the contact pin configured to extend along the axis, the contact pin comprising;
(i) a forward pin section configured to extend outside of the coupler space, the forward pin section configured to be electrically connected to the interface port; and
(ii) a rearward pin section configured to be positioned within the coupler space;
an inner conductor engager configured to be connected to the rearward pin section, and defining an inner conductor engager space, the inner conductor engager comprising a plurality of flexible fingers configured to surround the inner conductor engager space, the inner conductor engager space configured to receive an inner conductor of a coaxial cable;
a compressor configured to be received by the coupler body, and defining a compressor opening arranged to receive the inner conductor, the compressor opening further configured to;
move relative to the coupler member until at least a portion of the flexible fingers receive the inner conductor, andcompress the flexible fingers in a radially inward direction so as to engage the inner conductor when the inner conductor is inserted into the inner conductor engager space; and
wherein the compressor further comprises a compressor interlock, the compressor interlock comprising a compressor interlock wall extending along the axis, the compressor interlock wall being predisposed to define an inner diameter, at least part of the compressor interlock wall being flexible so as to increase the inner diameter;
a body assembly comprising;
a body configured to extend along the axis, the body defining a body space configured to receive the inner conductor, the body comprising;
(i) a forward body portion configured to at least partially receive the rearward coupler member portion, the forward body portion comprising a forward inner threaded surface configured to be threadably engaged with the rearward outer threaded surface; and
(ii) a rearward body portion;
a support moveably received within the body space, the support extending along the axis and defining a support space configured to receive the outer conductor, the support comprising;
(i) a forward support portion comprising a collar and a support interlock, the support interlock configured to be moved between;
a locked position in which the compressor interlock and the support interlock are locked together through a snap-fit arrangement; and
an unlocked position in which the compressor interlock and the support interlock are unlocked from each other, the inner diameter varying during the movement; and
(ii) a rearward support portion comprising a sleeve extending rearwardly from the collar, the sleeve configured to engage an insulator of the coaxial cable, the insulator at least partially surrounding the inner conductor;
a clamp defining a clamp opening configured to at least partially receive an outer conductor portion of the coaxial cable, the outer conductor portion at least partially surrounding the insulator, the clamp also configured to at least partially receive the rearward support portion, the clamp comprising a split-ring structure having an outer clamp surface, the outer clamp surface comprising a ramp, the forward body portion configured to cooperate with the ramp to cause the clamp to compress the sleeve radially toward the extension so that the outer conductor portion is sandwiched between the clamp and the support; and
a plurality of seals including;
(i) an interface seal configured to engage the interface port;
(ii) an intermediary seal configured to seal the coupler member and the body; and
(iii) a cable seal configured to seal the body assembly to an outer jacket of the coaxial cable.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A connector includes, in one embodiment, a body assembly configured to be secured to a prepared end of a coaxial cable. The connector has a coupler assembly connected to the body assembly for connecting the body assembly to an interface port. The connector also has a flexible interlock to facilitate repeated assembly and disassembly of the connector.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A coaxial cable connector comprising:
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a coupler assembly comprising; a coupler member extendable along an axis, the coupler member defining a coupler space, and including; (i) a forward coupler portion having a forward outer threaded surface that is configured to threadably engage a threaded interface port; and (ii) a rearward coupler portion having a rearward outer threaded surface; a contact pin configured to be at least partially received by the coupler member, the contact pin configured to extend along the axis, the contact pin comprising; (i) a forward pin section configured to extend outside of the coupler space, the forward pin section configured to be electrically connected to the interface port; and (ii) a rearward pin section configured to be positioned within the coupler space; an inner conductor engager configured to be connected to the rearward pin section, and defining an inner conductor engager space, the inner conductor engager comprising a plurality of flexible fingers configured to surround the inner conductor engager space, the inner conductor engager space configured to receive an inner conductor of a coaxial cable; a compressor configured to be received by the coupler body, and defining a compressor opening arranged to receive the inner conductor, the compressor opening further configured to; move relative to the coupler member until at least a portion of the flexible fingers receive the inner conductor, and compress the flexible fingers in a radially inward direction so as to engage the inner conductor when the inner conductor is inserted into the inner conductor engager space; and wherein the compressor further comprises a compressor interlock, the compressor interlock comprising a compressor interlock wall extending along the axis, the compressor interlock wall being predisposed to define an inner diameter, at least part of the compressor interlock wall being flexible so as to increase the inner diameter; a body assembly comprising; a body configured to extend along the axis, the body defining a body space configured to receive the inner conductor, the body comprising; (i) a forward body portion configured to at least partially receive the rearward coupler member portion, the forward body portion comprising a forward inner threaded surface configured to be threadably engaged with the rearward outer threaded surface; and (ii) a rearward body portion; a support moveably received within the body space, the support extending along the axis and defining a support space configured to receive the outer conductor, the support comprising; (i) a forward support portion comprising a collar and a support interlock, the support interlock configured to be moved between;
a locked position in which the compressor interlock and the support interlock are locked together through a snap-fit arrangement; and
an unlocked position in which the compressor interlock and the support interlock are unlocked from each other, the inner diameter varying during the movement; and(ii) a rearward support portion comprising a sleeve extending rearwardly from the collar, the sleeve configured to engage an insulator of the coaxial cable, the insulator at least partially surrounding the inner conductor; a clamp defining a clamp opening configured to at least partially receive an outer conductor portion of the coaxial cable, the outer conductor portion at least partially surrounding the insulator, the clamp also configured to at least partially receive the rearward support portion, the clamp comprising a split-ring structure having an outer clamp surface, the outer clamp surface comprising a ramp, the forward body portion configured to cooperate with the ramp to cause the clamp to compress the sleeve radially toward the extension so that the outer conductor portion is sandwiched between the clamp and the support; and a plurality of seals including; (i) an interface seal configured to engage the interface port; (ii) an intermediary seal configured to seal the coupler member and the body; and (iii) a cable seal configured to seal the body assembly to an outer jacket of the coaxial cable.
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2. A hardline connector comprising:
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a coupler assembly comprising; a coupler member extendable along an axis; a contact pin at least partially received by the coupler member, the contact pin configured to be electrically connected to an interface port; an inner conductor engager connected to the contact pin, the inner conductor engager comprising a plurality of fingers that are arranged to surround a space shaped to receive an inner conductor of a coaxial cable; a seizure bushing configured to be received by the coupler body, and having a first interlock portion; a compressor configured to; (i) move relative to the coupler member; and (ii) compress the fingers toward a radially inward direction; a body assembly including a body extendable along the axis, and a support moveably received within the body and configured to receive the outer conductor, the support having a second interlock portion configured to be moved between a locked position, where the first and second interlock portions are locked together, and an unlocked position, where the first interlock portion and the second interlock portion are unlocked from each other, and wherein at least one of the first and second interlock portions is configured to flex when the second interlock portion of the support of the body assembly moves between the locked position and the unlocked position. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A cable connector comprising:
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a body assembly configured to be secured to a prepared end of a coaxial cable; a coupler assembly configured to be connected to the body assembly and connect the body assembly to an interface port; and a flexible interlock configured to; be disposed between the body assembly and the coupler assembly; apply a first threshold force so as to separate the body assembly and the coupler assembly from each other by an axial displacement; and apply a second threshold force to disassemble the connector; and wherein the second threshold force is greater than the first threshold force. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method facilitating assembly and disassembly of a hardline connector having a coupler assembly connecting a body assembly to an interface port, comprising:
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configuring a seizure bushing so as to be axial displaced within a coupler assembly; connecting the seizure bushing of the coupler assembly to a support of the body assembly by a flexible interlock disposed between the body and coupler assemblies; and configuring the flexible interlock such that; a first separation force is required to separate the body assembly and the coupler assembly from each other by an axial displacement, and a second separation force is required to disassemble the hardline connector; and wherein the second separation force is greater than the first separation force.
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Specification