Coaxial cable tap connector

• US 4,691,976 A
• Filed: 02/19/1986
• Issued: 09/08/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LRC Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: LRC Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Cowen, Judith A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weidenfeld, Gil
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pirlot, David
• Application Number:
  US06/831,007
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 339/177 R, 339/177 E, 339/97 R, 339/97 P, 339/99 R, 29/828, 29/748, 29/564.2, 408/113, 408/114, 408/97, 408/115 R, 269/87.3, 269/152, 269/903
• US Class Current: 439/394
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/24 Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0509 Tapping connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49123 Co-axial cable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53213 Assembled to wire-type conductor

Abstract

A connector to provide a coaxial cable tap without shorting the conductors and without significantly changing the coaxial cable parameters which would affect the data flow therein. The apparatus of the present invention can therefore be attached to the cable while the cable continues to pass signals. The connector itself provides a guide for a cutting operation and for the subsequent assembly of the finished connector. The cable tap mounts perpendicular to the coaxial cable, and includes a center pin which attaches to the coaxial cable center wire along the axis of the cable tap. The center pin has two prongs spaced apart in opposition to straddle and securely retain the center conductor. The assembled connector provides a top having a standard connector, such as an "F" or "BNC" connector. The resulting cable connection has a long and reliable life, installed without causing an interruption to information or signal flow on the cable at any time.

Claims

1. A connector tap for a coaxial cable having a center conductor, a dielectric material surrounding said center conductor, and a shield concentric to said dielectric material, comprising:

a top piece partially surrounding said coaxial cable having a first aperture orthogonal to and offset from the axis of said coaxial cable and a second aperture having an axis normal to and intersecting the axis of said coaxial cable disposed orthogonal to said first aperture;

a bottom piece maintained integrally with said top piece and partially surrounding said coaxial cable;

means for forming a conductive path between said concentric shield and at least one of said top piece and said bottom piece; and

a center contact pin further including axially extending laterally-displaceable parallel pins passing through said second aperture to mechanically and electrically engage said center conductor of the coaxial cable at two surfaces thereof,

wherein said bottom piece and said top piece are integrally maintained as selected portions of said concentric shield and said dielectric material are removed through said first aperture and said center contact pin is inserted through said second aperture to displace some of the unremoved portion of said dielectric material and mechanically and electrically engage said center conductor at two surfaces thereof.

2. The connector of claim 1 further including plug means insertable in said first aperture for closing and securing said connector tap.

3. The connector of claim 1 wherein said center contact pin is inserted through said second aperture of said top piece by screwing means.

4. The connector of claim 3, wherein said axial extending laterally-displaceable parallel pins comprise two pins each having a sector cross-section wherein the apex of each said sector is spaced apart to mechanically and electrically engage the center conductor at two surfaces thereof.

5. The connector of claim 3, wherein said contact pin is self-aligning to mechanically and electrically secure contact to the coaxial cable center conductor.

6. The connector of claim 3, wherein

said aperture is cylindrical.

7. A method of providing a tap to a coaxial cable having a center conductor, a shield conductor, and a dielectric layer therebetween, comprising the steps of:

securing said cable to a connector housing including a top piece and a bottom piece for cable support, said connector housing being maintained as an integral unit during subsequent steps for providing said tap to said coaxial cable;

providing a cutting path orthogonal to and offset from the axis of said coaxial cable through said connector top piece;

selectively removing a portion of the coaxial cable shield conductor and the dielectric layer without contacting said center conductor;

closing said cutting path to securely close said connector housing; and

inserting a center conductor pin to provide contact with two surfaces of said center conductor through said connector top piece.