Sealed tamper resistant terminator

• US 7,144,271 B1
• Filed: 02/18/2005
• Issued: 12/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Corning Gilbert Incorporated (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Burris, Donald Andrew, Kisling, Brian L., Lutz, William B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilman, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US11/060,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20060292927A1
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 439/578, 439/583, 439/584, 174/88.C, 174/88.S, 385/87, 411/432
• US Class Current: 439/578
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5219 Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6397 with means for preventing unauthorised use
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/18 for television
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/40 specially adapted for high frequency

Abstract

A tamper-resistant coaxial terminator includes an inner body rotatably captivated within an outer shield. A deformable portion of the inner body extends within an annular recess formed in the outer shield. An optional RF port, containing a resistor, is press-fit within the inner body. The RF port, or alternatively, the inner body, is internally-threaded for engaging the outer conductor of an equipment port. A seal ring extends over the outer conductor of the equipment port and is urged by the outer shield to directly engage the internally-threaded portion of the terminator. A seal is also optionally disposed between the outer shield and the inner body to minimize moisture induced corrosion. A shipping cap, usable at either end of the terminator, helps protect the terminator during shipment and prevents entry of debris.

Claims

1. A tamper resistant coaxial terminator for securing and terminating a coaxial equipment port of an equipment box, the coaxial equipment port being of the type having a female center conductor adapted to receive a center conductor of a coaxial connector, the coaxial equipment port also being of the type including an externally threaded outer conductor surrounding the female center conductor and spaced apart therefrom by a dielectric, the tamper resistant coaxial terminator comprising in combination:

a. an electrically-conductive RF port having first and second opposing ends, the first end of the RF port having a central bore, and the first end of the RF port including an internally threaded region to threadedly engage the outer conductor of the coaxial equipment port through rotation of the RF port relative to the coaxial equipment port;

b. an inner body having first and second ends, a first end of the inner body having a central bore for receiving the second end of the RF port, the inner body and the RF port being coupled to each other for rotating as a unit, the second end of the inner body including a surface for receiving a tool used to rotate the inner body; and

c. an outer shield having a central bore and surrounding the inner body and rotatably secured thereover, the outer shield having a first end disposed around the RF port for restricting access thereto, the outer shield including a second opposing end having a bore formed therein for allowing insertion of said tool to rotate the inner body.

2. The tamper resistant coaxial terminator recited by claim 1 further including a resistor housed within the RF port and having first and second ends, the first end of the resistor including a central pin extending within the central bore of the RF port proximate the first end of the RF port for being inserted within the female center conductor of the coaxial equipment port, the second end of the resistor being electrically coupled to the RF port.

3. The tamper resistant coaxial terminator recited by claim 1 wherein:

a. the central bore of the outer shield is defined by an internal annular wall, at least a portion of the internal annular wall of the outer shield having a predetermined internal diameter, and the outer shield being made of a non-metallic material that does not corrode in the presence of moisture, and

b. the inner body is made of a metallic material and includes a first outer generally-cylindrical surface having an outer diameter commensurate with said predetermined internal diameter for supporting the inner body within the central bore of the outer shield while permitting relative rotation therebetween.

4. The tamper resistant coaxial terminator recited by claim 1 wherein:

a. the central bore of the outer shield is defined by an internal annular wall, at least a portion of the internal annular wall of the outer shield having a predetermined internal diameter,

b. the inner body having a first outer generally-cylindrical surface proximate the first end thereof having an outer diameter commensurate with said predetermined internal diameter for supporting the inner body within the central bore of the outer shield while permitting relative rotation therebetween, the inner body including a second outer generally-cylindrical surface proximate the second end thereof having an outer diameter smaller than that of the first outer generally-cylindrical surface, the second generally-cylindrical surface being spaced radially inward from the internal annular wall; and

c. a sealing member disposed about the inner body generally proximate the second end thereof and engaged with the internal annular wall of the outer shield for preventing moisture from passing along the internal annular wall of the outer shield from the second end of the inner body toward the first end of the inner body.

5. The tamper resistant coaxial terminator recited by claim 4 wherein an annular recess is formed within the second outer generally-cylindrical surface of the inner body, and wherein the sealing member is retained within the annular recess.

6. The tamper resistant coaxial terminator recited by claim 1 wherein the first end of the outer shield has an enlarged internal diameter for creating an annular space between the first end of the RF port and the surrounding first end of the outer shield, the tamper resistant coaxial terminator further including a generally tubular seal for extending around the externally-threaded outer conductor of the coaxial equipment port, the generally tubular seal extending between first and second opposing ends, the first end of the generally tubular seal being adapted to engage a surface of the equipment box, and a second end of the generally tubular seal extending within the annular space between the first end of the outer shield in the first end of the RF port.

7. The tamper resistant coaxial terminator recited by claim 6 wherein the enlarged internal diameter provided at the first end of the outer shield includes a beveled surface for compressing a second end of the generally tubular seal inwardly toward the first end of the RF port as the terminator is tightened over the coaxial equipment port.

8. The tamper resistant coaxial terminator recited by claim 1 wherein:

a. the first end of the inner body includes a deformable lip;

b. the central bore of the outer shield is defined by an internal annular wall, the internal annular wall having an annular recess formed therein generally proximate to the first end of the outer shield; and

c. the deformable lip extends into the annular recess to secure the inner body within the outer shield while permitting relative rotation therebetween.

9. The tamper resistant coaxial terminator recited by claim 8 wherein the second end of the RF port is secured to the first end of the inner body by a press fit.

10. The tamper resistant coaxial terminator recited by claim 9 wherein the RF port includes an outwardly-beveled surface to deform the deformable lip outward as the RF port is press fit into the first end of the inner body.

11. A tamper resistant coaxial terminator for securing and terminating a coaxial equipment port of an equipment box, the coaxial equipment port being of the type having a female center conductor adapted to receive a center conductor of a coaxial connector, the coaxial equipment port also being of the type including an externally-threaded outer conductor surrounding the female center conductor and spaced apart therefrom by a dielectric, the tamper resistant coaxial terminator comprising in combination:

a. an inner body having first and second ends, the first end of the inner body having a central bore including an internally threaded region to threadedly engage the outer conductor of the coaxial equipment port through rotation of the inner body relative to coaxial equipment port, the second end of the inner body including a surface for receiving a tool used to rotate the inner body, the inner body including a radially deformable region having an outwardly projecting annular rib;

b. an outer shield having a central bore defined by any internal annular wall, the internal annular wall having an annular recess formed therein generally proximate to the first end of the outer shield and surrounding the inner body, the outer shield having a first end disposed around the first end of the inner body for restricting access thereto, the outer shield including a second opposing end having a bore formed therein for allowing insertion of said tool to rotate the inner body; and

c. wherein the outwardly projecting annular rib of the inner body extends into the annular recess formed in the internal annular wall of the outer shield to rotatably secure the inner body within the outer shield.

12. The tamper resistant coaxial terminator recited by claim 11 wherein the second end of the inner body has an inner wall defining a second end bore extending into the second end of the inner body from the second end thereof, the second end bore of the inner body extending at least to the radially deformable region of the inner body, the second end bore of the inner body communicating with the bore formed in the second end of the outer shield, whereby a deforming tool can be inserted through the second end of the outer shield, and into the second end bore of the internal body to radially deform the deformable region of the inner body outwardly.

13. The tamper resistant coaxial terminator recited by claim 11 wherein:

a at least a portion of the internal annular wall of the outer shield has a predetermined internal diameter, and the outer shield being made of a non-metallic material that does not corrode in the presence of moisture; and

b. the inner body is made of a metallic material and includes a first outer generally-cylindrical surface having an outer diameter commensurate with said predetermined internal diameter for supporting the inner body within the central bore of the outer shield while permitting relative rotation therebetween.

14. The tamper resistant coaxial terminator recited by claim 11 wherein:

a. at least a portion of the internal annular inner wall of the outer shield has a predetermined internal diameter;

b. the inner body has a first outer generally-cylindrical surface proximate the first end thereof having an outer diameter commensurate with said predetermined internal diameter for supporting the inner body within the central bore of the outer shield while permitting relative rotation therebetween, the inner body including a second outer generally-cylindrical surface proximate the second end thereof having an outer diameter smaller than that of the first outer generally-cylindrical surface, the second generally-cylindrical surface being spaced radially inward from the internal annular wall; and

c. a sealing member disposed about the inner body generally proximate the second end thereof and engaged with the internal annular wall of the outer shield for preventing moisture from passing along the internal annular wall of the outer shield from the second end of the inner body toward the first end of the inner body.

15. The tamper resistant coaxial terminator recited by claim 14 wherein an annular recess is formed within the second outer generally-cylindrical surface of the inner body, and wherein the sealing member is retained within the annular recess.

16. The tamper resistant coaxial terminator recited by claim 11 wherein the first end of the outer shield has an enlarged internal diameter for creating an annular space between the first end of the inner body and the surrounding first end of the outer shield, the tamper resistant coaxial terminator further including a generally tubular seal for extending around the externally-threaded outer conductor of the coaxial equipment port, a generally tubular seal extending between first and second opposing ends, the first end of the generally tubular seal being adapted to engage a surface of the equipment box, and a second end of the generally tubular seal extending within the annular space between the first end of the outer shield and the first end of the inner body.

17. The tamper resistant coaxial terminator recited by claim 16 wherein the enlarged internal diameter provided at the first end of the outer shield includes a beveled surface for compressing the second end of the generally tubular seal inwardly toward the first end of the inner body as the terminator is tightened over the coaxial equipment port.

18. The tamper resistant coaxial terminator recited by claim 11 wherein the inner body and the RF port member are each made of metal, and wherein the RF port member is press-fit into the inner body.

19. The tamper resistant coaxial terminator recited by claim 18 wherein the RF port member includes an outwardly-beveled surface to outwardly deform the radially deformable region of the inner body as the RF port member is press fit into the inner body for extending the outwardly projecting annular rib into the annular recess of the outer shield to rotatably secure the inner body within the outer shield.

20. The tamper resistant coaxial terminator recited by claim 11 including a deforming member press-fit inside the central bore of the inner body, the deforming member extending within the deformable region of the inner body.

21. The tamper resistant coaxial terminator recited by claim 20 wherein the deforming member is an electrically-conductive RF port member, the inner body and the RF port member being coupled to each other for rotating as a unit.

22. The tamper resistant coaxial terminator recited by claim 21 wherein the RF port member has a central bore extending therein, and wherein said terminator further includes a resistor housed within the RF port member and having first and second ends, the first end of the resistor including a central pin extending from the central bore of the RF port member for being inserted within the female center conductor of the coaxial equipment port, the second end of the resistor being electrically coupled to the RF port member.