Locking coupling assembly

• US 6,010,349 A
• Filed: 06/04/1998
• Issued: 01/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carlisle Interconnect Technologies Inc. (Carlisle Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Carlisle Interconnect Technologies Inc. (Carlisle Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Porter, Frank Kendall Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bradley, Paula
• Assistant Examiner(s): GUSHI, ROSS N
• Application Number:
  US09/090,435
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 439/320, 439/321, 439/322, 439/323, 439/338, 439/339, 439/340, 439/583, 439/584, 439/551, 439/641, 439/642, 439/643, 439/648, 439/661, 439/727, 439/784, 439/579, 439/578 , 439/580, 439/581, 411/431, 411/222, 411/232, 411/223
• US Class Current: 439/320
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/622 Screw-ring or screw-casing H01R13/623 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0521 Connection to outer conductor by action of a nut

Abstract

A cable connecting system for interconnection with a mating connector includes a connecting element, a first securing element, and a second securing element. The first securing element is rotatably mounted to the connector and the second securing member is rotatably mounted to the first securing element. In operation, the first and second securing elements are first threaded onto a receiving section of the mating connector. Once fully positioned on the receiving section of the mating connector, torque is applied in a conventional direction to the first securing element to secure the connecting element to the mating connector. Then, torque is applied in a counter direction to the second securing element to lock the first and second securing elements. The cable connecting system and the method of interconnection utilizing the cable connecting system is reversible so as to allow repeated connection and disconnection of various assemblies of cable assemblies.

Claims

1. A locking coupling assembly for a coaxial cable, said locking coupling assembly being adapted to be removably and replaceably connected to a complementary coupling assembly the coaxial cable having an inner conductor and an outer conductor, a dielectric body electrically isolating the inner and outer conductors, said locking coupling assembly comprising:

(a) a connecting means, said connecting means configured to be connected to a coaxial cable;

(b) a first securing means mounted on said connecting means, said first securing means being constrained for rotatable movement relative to said connecting means, said first securing means having an inner surface, said inner surface of said first securing means having first attachment means; and

(c) a second securing means operatively connected to one of said first securing means and said connecting means, said second securing means being constrained for rotatable movement relative to both said connecting means and said first securing means, said second securing means having an inner surface, said inner surface of said second securing means having second attachment means.

2. The coupling assembly of claim 1 wherein said first attachment means of said first securing means is first thread means.

3. The coupling assembly of claim 2 wherein said second attachment means of said second securing means is second thread means.

4. The coupling assembly of claim 3 wherein said first thread means and said second thread means are substantially identical thread means.

5. The coupling assembly of claim 1 wherein said connecting means includes a casing means, said casing means having a first forward section and second rearward section.

6. The coupling assembly of claim 5 wherein said first forward section of said casing means includes means for movably seating said first securing means on said connecting means.

7. Th e coupling assembly of claim 6 wherein said second securing means is rotatably mounted to said first securing means.

8. The coupling assembly of claim 1 wherein said first securing means and said second securing means are rotatable about a longitudinal axis of said connecting means.

9. A locking coupling assembly for a coaxial cable, said locking coupling assembly being adapted to be removably and replaceably connected to a complementary coupling assembly, the coaxial cable having an inner conductor and an outer conductor, a dielectric body electrically isolating the inner and outer conductors, said locking coupling assembly comprising:

(a) a connecting means having an inner contact means and an outer contact means, said inner contact means and said outer contact means being electrically insulated from one another, said connector means configured to receive a coaxial cable, one end of the coaxial cable received in said connecting means with said inner conductor of the coaxial cable being in electrical contact with said inner contact means and said outer conductor of the coaxial cable being in electrical contact with said outer contact means, said inner and outer connectors of the coaxial cable being electrically isolated from one another when secured in said connector means, the coaxial cable extending outwardly from said connecting means; and

(b) a first securing means mounted on said connecting means, said first securing means being constrained for rotatable movement relative to said connecting means, said first securing means having an inner surface, said inner surface of said first securing means having a first attachment means; and

(c) a second securing means operatively connected to one of said first securing means and said connecting means, said second securing means being constrained for rotatable movement relative to both said connecting means and said first securing means, said second securing means having an inner surface, said inner surface of said second securing means having second attachment means.

10. The locking coupling assembly of claim 9 wherein said first attachment means of said first securing means is first thread means.

11. The locking coupling assembly of claim 10 wherein said second attachment means of said second securing means are second thread means, said second thread means having a configuration that is substantially identical to said first thread means.

12. The locking coupling assembly of claim 9 wherein said connecting means includes a ferrule means, said ferrule means configured for telescopically receiving and supporting and locating the coaxial cable.

13. The locking coupling assembly of claim 12 wherein said connecting means includes a casing means, said casing means having a first forward section and second rearward section.

14. The locking coupling assembly of claim 13 wherein said first forward section of said casing means includes means for movably seating said first securing means on said connecting means.

15. The locking coupling assembly to claim 14 wherein said second securing means is rotatably mounted to said first securing means, said first and second attachment means being in spaced registration with one another and rotatable about a longitudinal axis of said connecting means.

16. A method for lockingly connecting a first coaxial cable in coaxial alignment to a second coaxial cable, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a first coaxial cable connector, said first coaxial cable connector having a connector means, a rotatable securing means and a rotatable locking means, said securing means rotatably mounted to said connecting means, said locking means being mounted for rotational movement relative to said securing means;

(b) providing a second coaxial cable connector that is sized and shaped to mate with the first coaxial cable connector;

(c) connecting said first coaxial cable connector to the first coaxial cable;

(d) connecting said second coaxial cable to said coaxial cable connector;

(e) placing said locking means of said first coaxial cable connector in juxtaposition to the second coaxial cable connector;

(f) bringing said locking means of said first coaxial cable connector into engagement with the second coaxial cable connector;

(g) bringing said securing means of said first coaxial cable connector into engagement with the second coaxial cable connector while concurrently maintaining said engagement with said locking means;

(h) torquing said securing means of said first coaxial cable connector in a first direction for securing said securing means to said second coaxial cable connector, said locking means of said first coaxial cable connector being freely rotatable relative to said securing means; and

(i) torquing said locking means of said first coaxial cable connector in a second direction that is opposite said first direction for locking said locking means and said securing means together in fixed relationship whereby the first coaxial cable connector is in locking engagement with the second coaxial cable connector.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said step of bringing said locking means into engagement with the second coaxial cable connector includes the step of threading said locking means onto said second coaxial cable connector.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said step of bringing said first securing means into engagement with the second coaxial cable connector includes the step of threading said securing means onto said second coaxial cable connector.

19. A coaxial cable connector assembly adapted to be in fixed locking engagement with a mating coaxial cable connector, said coaxial cable connector comprising:

(a) a coaxial cable having an inner conductor and an outer conductor, a dielectric body electrically isolating the inner and outer conductors;

(b) a connecting means having an inner contact means and an outer contact means, said inner contact means and said outer contact means being electrically insulated from one another, said connecting means configured to receive said coaxial cable, one end of said coaxial cable received in said connecting means with said inner conductor of said coaxial cable being in electrical contact with said inner contact means and said outer conductor of said coaxial cable being in electrical contact with said outer contact means, said inner and outer connectors of said coaxial cable being electrically isolated from one another when secured in said connector means, said coaxial cable extending outwardly from said connecting means; and

(c) a first securing means mounted on said connecting means, said first securing means being constrained for rotatable movement relative to said connecting means, said first securing means having an inner surface, said inner surface of said first securing means having a first attachment means; and

(d) a second securing means mounted on said first connecting means, said second securing means being constrained for rotatable movement relative to both said connecting means and said first securing means, said second securing means having an inner surface, said inner surface of said second securing means having second attachment means.

20. A locking coupling assembly adapted for fixed locking engagement of complementary electrical connectors, said locking coupling assembly comprising:

(a) a connecting means, said connecting means extending along a longitudinal axis;

(b) a first securing means mounted on said connecting means and constrained for rotatable movement about said longitudinal axis of said connecting means, said first securing means having an inner surface, said inner surface of said first securing means having a first attachment means; and

(c) a second securing means operatively connected to one of said first securing means and said connecting means, said second securing means being rotatable relative to both said connecting means and said first securing means about the longitudinal axis of said connecting means, said second securing means having an inner surface, said inner surface of said second securing means having second attachment means;

(d) said first and second securing means being configured to be turned in opposite directions into engagement with one another, whereby compression forces are applied to said first and second securing means for fixed locking engagement of the complementary electrical connectors in fixed axial alignment.

21. The coupling assembly of claim 20 wherein said first attachment means of said first securing means includes first thread means and said second attachment means of said second securing means includes second thread means, said first thread means and said second thread means being substantially identical thread means.

22. The coupling assembly of claim 20 wherein said connecting means includes a casing means, said casing means having a first forward section and second rearward section, said first forward section of said casing means including means for movably seating said first securing means on said connecting means, said second securing means being rotatably mounted to said first securing means.