Security coaxial connector

• US 5,514,001 A
• Filed: 04/29/1994
• Issued: 05/07/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates Incorporated
• Original Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Szegda, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams , Neil
• Application Number:
  US08/236,418
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 439/133, 439/259, 439/263, 439/264, 439/578-585, 439/848
• US Class Current: 439/263
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/193 Means for increasing contact pressure at the end of engagement of coupling part , e.g. zero insertion force or no friction
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/542 Adapters

Abstract

The connector of the invention is particularly suited for use in combination with a coaxial cable and an equipment port having an internal first conductor. The end connector of the invention includes a connector element, a deflecting unit and a component interlocking unit. The connector element has one end adapted to be secured to the coaxial cable and includes a tubular connector wall at an opposite end surrounding a second electrical conductor. The connector wall is configured and dimensioned to axially receive a tubular port wall therein, with the first and second conductors being normally spaced one from the other. The deflecting unit is responsive to axial reception of the port wall in the connector wall for deflecting one of the conductors into electrical contact with the other of the conductors. The interlocking unit is associated with the port and connector walls for establishing an interlocked relationship between the equipment port and the connector element.

Claims

1. For use in combination with a coaxial cable system component having a tubular first wall surrounding a first conductor, and a coaxial cable having an axially protruding second conductor, an end connector for mechanically coupling said cable to said system component and for establishing an electrical connection between said first and second conductors,

said end connector comprising:

a connector element having a first end adapted to be secured to said cable and having an open-ended tubular second wall at an opposite second end surrounding said second conductor, said second wall being configured and dimensioned to axially receive said first wall therein, with said first and second conductors being normally spaced one from the other, said second wall being freely rotatable with respect to said first end;

deflecting means associated with and freely rotatable with respect to said second wall responsive to axial reception of said first wall in said second wall for directly contacting said first conductor and deflecting said first conductor into electrical contact with said second conductor; and

connecting means associated with said second wall for establishing an interlocked relationship with said first wall, wherein

said coaxial cable system component further includes a front wall retained within said tubular first wall, said front wall having at least one opening therethrough for receiving both said second conductor and said deflecting means.

2. An end connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first conductor includes a bifurcated portion within said first wall, said bifurcated portion having two conductive members that are normally spread one from the other and that are deflected into electrical contact with said second conductor by said deflecting means upon receipt of said first wall in said second wall.

3. An end connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein said deflecting means includes two deflecting members each for deflecting one of said conductive members into electrical contact with said second conductor upon receipt of said first wall in said second wall.

4. An end connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of said conductive members is arcuately shaped and radially oppositely disposed such that the concave portions of said conductive members face one another.

5. An end connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of said conductive members includes a dielectric material on a portion of its radially inwardly facing surface.

6. An end connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connector means includes an exteriorly threaded portion on said first wall and an internally threaded portion on said second wall configured to receive said exteriorly threaded portion on said first wall.

7. An end connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connector means includes an exteriorly threaded portion on said second wall, and an external locking element on said second wall rotatably engageable with said threaded portion of said second wall following insertion of said first wall into said second wall.

9. An end connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said receiving means further includes a second radially displaceable contact member that is radially displaced responsive to receipt of said displacing means from an open position in which said second contact member is not in electrical communication with said inner electrical conductor, to a closed position in which said contact member is in electrical communication with said inner electrical conductor.

10. An end connector assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein said first and second contact members are radially oppositely disposed.

8. An end connector assembly for connecting a coaxial cable to a port, said end connector assembly comprising:

a generally tubular shaped connector including port attachment means at a front end portion of said connector for attaching said connector to said port, and cable attachment means at a rear end portion of said connector for attaching said connector to said coaxial cable, said port attachment means being freely rotatable with respect to said cable attachment means; and

receiving means associated with said port for receiving an inner electrical conductor of said coaxial cable through said connector, said receiving means including at least one radially displaceable contact member;

said connector further including displacing means associated with and freely rotatable with respect to said front end portion of said connector and adapted for receipt within said port, said displacing means being responsive to receipt of said port within said connector for directly contacting said contact member and displacing said contact member from an open position in which said contact member is not in electrical communication with said inner electrical conductor, to a closed position in which said contact member is in electrical communication with said inner electrical conductor, wherein

said port further including a front wall retained there within, said front wall having at least one opening therethrough for receiving both said inner electrical conductor and said displacing means.

11. An end connector assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein said radially displaceable contact member includes a dielectric material on a radially inwardly facing surface thereof.

12. An end connector assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein said displacing means includes at least one displacing element adapted for receipt within said port, said displacing element for engaging said contact member upon attachment of said connector to said port and for urging said contact member to be displaced from said open position to said closed position.

13. An end connector assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein said radially displaceable contact member of said port is in electrical communication with a bifurcated electrical contact element within said port.

14. A coupling connector assembly for connecting two coaxial cables together in series, said connector assembly comprising:

a first and a second generally tubular shaped connector, each connector including coupling attachment means at the front end portions of said connectors for attaching said connectors to a coupling element, and each including cable attachment means at rear end portions of said connectors for attaching said connectors to first and second coaxial cables respectively, each of said coupling attachment means being freely rotatable with respect to its associated cable attachment means; and

first and second receiving means associated with said coupling element for receiving an electrical inner conductor of each of said coaxial cables through said first and second connectors respectively, said receiving means each including at least one radially displaceable contact member;

each of said connectors further including displacing means associated with and freely rotatable with respect to said front end portions of said connectors and each adapted for receipt within said coupling element, each said displacing means being responsive to receipt of said coupling element within each said connector for directly contacting said contact members and displacing said contact members from an open position in which said contact members are not in electrical communication with said electrical inner conductors, to a closed position in which said contact members are in electrical communication with each said respective electrical inner conductor, wherein

each of said receiving means of said coupling element further including a front wall retained therein, each of said front walls having at least one opening therethrough for receiving both said electrical inner conductors and said displacing means.

15. A coupling connector assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein said first and second receiving means each include a bifurcated contact member, and each of said displacing means includes a two pronged displacing member for displacing each of said contact members from said open position to said closed position.