Coaxial cable connector having conductive engagement element and method of use thereof

• US 7,097,499 B1
• Filed: 08/18/2005
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Purdy, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): GUSHI, ROSS N
• Application Number:
  US11/206,726
• Time in Patent Office: 376 Days
• Field of Search: 439578-585
• US Class Current: 439/578
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5205 Sealing means between cable and housing, e.g. grommet H01R13/5221 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0521 Connection to outer conductor by action of a nut

Abstract

A coaxial cable connector is provided, wherein the connector comprises a conductive engagement element slidably positionable around a post element of the connector and entirely within an internal cavity of a connector body of the connector. The conductive engagement element is configured to physically and electrically contact a lengthwise portion of a coaxial cable as securely affixed to the connector with a fastener member facilitating an annular environmental seal between the cable and the connector.

Claims

1. A connector for coupling an end of a coaxial cable, the coaxial cable having a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric, the dielectric being surrounded by a conductive grounding shield, the conductive grounding shield being surrounded by a protective outer jacket, said connector comprising:

a connector body, having an internal cavity;

a post element, operable within the internal cavity of the connector body, the post element having a first end adapted to be inserted into an end of the coaxial cable around the dielectric and to engage the conductive grounding shield thereof;

a conductive engagement element, slidably positionable around the post element and entirely within the internal cavity of the connector body, wherein the conductive engagement element is configured with a substantially annular ring adapted to fit around the conductive grounding shield of the coaxial cable, the substantially annular ring having flexible members extending therefrom and away from the first end of the post element when the conductive engagement element is slidably positioned around the post element; and

a fastener member, wherein said fastener member facilitates an annular environmental seal around the coaxial cable as said fastener member is compressed toward the connector body.

2. The connector of claim 1 further comprising a threaded nut.

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein the flexible members are divided by slots equidistantly interspersed between the flexible members.

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein the flexible members of the conductive engagement element further extend in a direction parallel with the axis of the substantially annular ring.

5. The connector of claim 1, wherein the flexible members of the conductive engagement element further extend in a diagonal, helical-like fashion forming a twisted casing-like structure surrounding a central passageway of the conductive engagement element.

6. The connector of claim 1, wherein the flexible members of the conductive engagement element further extend to and connect with another substantially annular ring formed on the conductive engagement element.

7. A connector for coupling an end of a coaxial cable, the coaxial cable having a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric, the dielectric being surrounded by a conductive grounding shield, the conductive grounding shield being surrounded by a protective outer jacket, said connector comprising:

a connector body, having a first end for receiving the coaxial cable;

a post element, adapted to be fastened to an end of the coaxial cable when the cable is received into the first end of the connector body;

a fastener member, wherein said fastener member operates with the post element and connector body to form an annular compression seal around the coaxial cable; and

a conductive engagement element having flexible members divided by equidistantly interspersed slots, said conductive engagement element configured to substantially encircle and electrically contact a lengthwise portion of the conductive grounding shield of the coaxial cable as the coaxial cable is received by the connector body and fastened to the post element.

8. The connector of claim 7 further comprising a threaded nut.

9. The connector of claim 7, wherein the flexible members of the conductive engagement element further extend in a direction parallel with the axis of the substantially annular ring.

10. The connector of claim 7, wherein the flexible members of the conductive engagement element further extend in a diagonal, helical-like fashion forming a twisted casing-like structure surrounding a central passageway of the conductive engagement element.

11. The connector of claim 7, wherein the flexible members of the conductive engagement element further extend to and connect with another substantially annular ring formed on the conductive engagement element.

12. A method for electrically coupling a coaxial cable and a connector, the coaxial cable having a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric, the dielectric being surrounded by a conductive grounding shield, the conductive grounding shield being surrounded by a protective outer jacket, said method comprising:

providing a connector, wherein the connector includes a connector body having an internal cavity adapted to receive the coaxial cable, a post element adapted to be fastened to an end of the coaxial cable when the cable is received into the internal cavity of the connector body, a fastener member, wherein said fastener member operates with the post element and connector body to form an annular compression seal around the coaxial cable, and a conductive engagement element, configured to substantially encircle and electrically contact a lengthwise portion of the conductive grounding shield of the coaxial cable as the coaxial cable is received by the connector body and fastened to the post element;

enhancing electrical contact between the coaxial cable and the connector body by fastening the post element to the coaxial cable, positioning the conductive engagement element around a lengthwise portion of the conductive grounding shield of the coaxial cable, and inserting the coaxial cable into the internal cavity of the connector body, wherein the conductive engagement element resides physically and electrically between the connector body and the conductive grounding shield of the coaxial cable as fastened to the post element; and

securing the coaxial cable to the connector by slidingly compressing the fastener member and forming an annular seal around the coaxial cable protecting the connector against entry of unwanted environmental contaminants and fixing the cable to the connector.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein securing the coaxial cable to the connector is facilitated by the compression of a fastener member.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising a step of advancing the connector onto an interface port.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the connector includes a threaded nut facilitating threaded advancement of the connector onto the interface port.