Coaxial cable connector

• US 7,063,565 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2004
• Issued: 06/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomas & Betts International Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Ward, Randy
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Tulsidas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, HARSHAD C
• Application Number:
  US10/846,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20050255735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 439/578, 439/584, 439/585
• US Class Current: 439/578
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/506 assembled by snap action of the parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0524 Connection to outer conductor by action of a clamping member, e.g. screw fastening means H01R9/0515 takes precedence

Abstract

A connector is provided for terminating coaxial cable. The connector includes a connector body having a cable receiving end and an opposed connection end. The connector includes a nut member, a collar, an inner post, and an axially movable locking sleeve. The annular sleeve is movable back and forth within a range between a first open position and a second closed position. In the open position, the inner post extends outwardly beyond a cable receiving end of the locking sleeve such that the post is exposed for easy insertion of the prepared end of a coaxial cable. Upon insertion of the prepared end of the coaxial cable, the annular sleeve can be moved or expanded into the closed position to allow the inserted cable to be clamped securely in the inner post and the annular sleeve of the connector body.

Claims

1. A coaxial cable connector comprising:

a connector body having a cable receiving end and an opposed connection end, said connector body including an attachment member having a first end adapted to be connected to an electronic device and a second end opposite the first end, and a tubular post having a first end adapted to receive a prepared end of a coaxial cable and an opposing second end fitted within the second end of the attachment member; and

a locking sleeve movably coupled to the connector body having a cable receiving end, said locking sleeve being movable with respect to said tubular post, wherein the first end of the post extends a distance outwardly from the cable receiving end of the locking sleeve in an open position, wherein the prepared end of a coaxial cable can be inserted into the connector, and the locking sleeve substantially covers said post in a closed position, wherein the prepared end of a coaxial cable is fixed between said post and said locking sleeve.

6. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 1, wherein a prepared coaxial cable is locked into the connector by compression between the locking sleeve and post.

7. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 1, wherein said connector body and locking sleeve include cooperating structures to lock the locking sleeve in the first open position.

8. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 1, wherein the connector body and locking sleeve include cooperating structures to lock the locking sleeve in the second closed position.

9. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 1, wherein the locking sleeve is made of metal or plastic.

2. A coaxial cable connector comprising:

a connector body having a cable receiving end and an opposed connection end, said connector body including an attachment member having a first end adapted to be connected to an electronic device and a second end opposite the first end, and a tubular post having a first end adapted to receive a prepared end of a coaxial cable and an opposing second end fitted within the second end of the attachment member; and

a locking sleeve movably coupled to the connector body having a cable receiving end, wherein the first end of the post extends a distance outwardly from the cable receiving end of the locking sleeve in an open position, wherein the prepared end of a coaxial cable can be inserted into the connector, and the locking sleeve substantially covers said post in a closed position, wherein the prepared end of a coaxial cable is fixed between said post and said locking sleeve, and

wherein said locking sleeve is movable to the closed position by moving the locking sleeve in an axial direction away from the attachment member.

3. A coaxial cable connector comprising:

a connector body having a cable receiving end and an opposed connection end, said connector body including an attachment member having a first end adapted to be connected to an electronic device and a second end opposite the first end, and a tubular post having a first end adapted to receive a prepared end of a coaxial cable and an opposing second end fitted within the second end of the attachment member; and

a locking sleeve movably coupled to the connector body having a cable receiving end, wherein the first end of the post extends a distance outwardly from the cable receiving end of the locking sleeve in an open position, wherein the prepared end of a coaxial cable can be inserted into the connector, and the locking sleeve substantially covers said post in a closed position, wherein the prepared end of a coaxial cable is fixed between said post and said locking sleeve, and

wherein said connector body further includes a collar coupled to the tubular post, said collar including an external surface upon which the locking sleeve is guided when said locking sleeve is moved.

4. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 3, wherein said collar is made of metal or plastic.

5. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 3, wherein said collar inner surface of said collar and an outer surface of said tubular post form a chamber for receiving the braid and outer jacket of a prepared coaxial cable.

10. A connector for coupling an end of a coaxial cable to a threaded part, the coaxial cable having a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric, the dielectric being surrounded by a conductive sheath, and the conductive sheath being surrounded by an insulative outer jacket, said connector comprising:

a tubular post having a first end adapted to receive a prepared end of the coaxial cable such that the dielectric is housed within the post and the conductive sheath and outer jacket reside on an outer surface of said post, said post having an opposing second end;

an attachment member having a first end for rotatably engaging the second end of the post and having an opposing second end with an internally threaded bore for threadedly engaging the threaded part;

a cylindrical collar having a first end coupled with the post and attachment member and a second end having an inner diameter radially spaced from an outer diameter of the post to form a chamber therebetween for receiving the cable jacket and conductive sheath; and

a locking sleeve having a first end movably coupled to the collar and a second end having a cable receiving opening, wherein the first end of the post extends beyond the locking sleeve first end in a first cable insertion position, the locking sleeve being movable in a direction away from the attachment member to a second locked position whereby the cable is compressed between an inner surface of the locking sleeve and an outer surface of the post to secure the cable in the connector.

11. A coaxial connector as defined in claim 10, wherein the collar and locking sleeve include cooperating structures to lock the sleeve in the locked position.

12. A coaxial connector as defined in claim 10, wherein the collar and locking sleeve include cooperating detent structures to releasably retain the locking sleeve in the cable insertion position.

13. A method of terminating a prepared end of coaxial cable in a coaxial cable connector, wherein the connector includes a connector body having a cable receiving end and an opposed connector end, the body including an attachment member having a first end adapted to be connected to an electronic device and a second end opposite the first end and a tubular post having a first end adapted to receive the prepared end of the coaxial cable and an opposing second end coupled to the attachment member, the connector further including a locking sleeve movably coupled to the connector body, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an unencumbered cable receiving end of the post whereby an end portion of said post extends beyond a cable receiving end of said locking sleeve;

inserting said prepared cable into the unencumbered cable receiving end of the post;

moving said locking sleeve axially along said connector body in a direction opposite from the attachment member and toward the inserted coaxial cable thereby compressing a jacket of the prepared cable between an interior surface of the locking sleeve and an exterior surface of said post to secure the cable within the connector.