Prepless coaxial cable connector

• US 7,347,729 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2006
• Issued: 03/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomas & Betts International Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Thomas, Charles E., Thayer, Brian T.
• Primary Examiner(s): GUSHI, ROSS N
• Application Number:
  US11/581,127
• Publication Number:
  US 20070093127A1
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 439/578, 439583-585
• US Class Current: 439/583
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/5033 using wedge or pin penetrating into the end of a wire in axial direction of the wire
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0521 Connection to outer conductor by action of a nut
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/053 using contact members penetrating insulation

Abstract

A coaxial cable connector includes a connector body and an annular post coupled to the connector body. The connector body has a rearward cable receiving end and an internal threaded surface defined in the rearward cable receiving end. The internal threaded surface is adapted to threadably engage an outer surface of a coaxial cable. The annular post has a rearward cable insertion end disposed within the connector body, which preferably defines a sharp edge adapted to penetrate an end of the cable as the connector body is threaded on the outer surface of the cable.

Claims

1. A coaxial cable connector comprising:

a connector body having a rearward cable receiving end, an outer wall and a continuous inner wall defining an opening for receiving a coaxial cable in said rearward cable receiving end, said continuous inner wall including an internally threaded cable engagement portion and a locking sleeve engagement portion, said internally threaded cable engagement portion being adapted to threadably engage an outer surface of the coaxial cable;

an axially movable locking sleeve coupled to said locking sleeve engagement portion of said connector body inner wall, said locking sleeve being movable between a rearward open position and a forward locking position for locking the cable in the connector; and

an annular post coupled to said connector body and having a rearward cable insertion end disposed within said connector body, said rearward cable insertion end being adapted to penetrate an end of the cable as said connector body is threaded on the outer surface of the cable.

2. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 1, wherein said rearward cable insertion end of said post defines a sharp edge to facilitate penetration into the cable.

3. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 1, further comprising an annular compression gasket seated within said connector body between said internally threaded cable engagement portion and said locking sleeve engagement portion of said inner wall, said compression gasket expanding in a radially inward direction upon compression between said locking sleeve and said connector body to grip the outer surface of the cable.

4. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 1, wherein said locking sleeve includes an outer threaded surface and said locking sleeve engagement portion of said connector body inner wall is internally threaded for cooperating with said sleeve outer threaded surface to facilitate axial movement of said locking sleeve in said connector body.

5. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 1, wherein said locking sleeve and said locking sleeve engagement portion of said inner wall of said connector body include cooperating structure for coupling said locking sleeve to said connector body, said cooperating structure preventing rearward axial movement of said sleeve when said sleeve is in said forward locking position.

6. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 5, wherein said cooperating structure comprises a recess formed in one of said connector body and said locking sleeve and a protrusion formed in the other of said connector body and said locking sleeve, said recess and said protrusion including opposite locking surfaces for preventing rearward axial movement of said sleeve when said sleeve is in said forward locking position.

7. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 1, wherein said connector body and said annular post include cooperating structure for permitting snap-fit coupling of said post in said connector body, said cooperating structure preventing forward axial movement of said post with respect to said body.

8. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 7, wherein said cooperating structure comprises a recess formed in one of said connector body and said post and a protrusion formed in the other of said connector body and said post, said recess and said protrusion including opposite locking surfaces for preventing forward axial movement of said post with respect to said body.

9. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 1, wherein said internally threaded cable engagement portion and said locking sleeve engagement portion of said connector body continuous inner wall are axially and radially fixed with respect to each other.

10. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 1, wherein said annular post further includes a terminal pin centrally disposed therein, said terminal pin including a rearward end having a central bore formed thereon for receiving a center conductor of the coaxial connector.

11. A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 10, wherein said rearward end of said pin terminates at a sharp edge to facilitate penetration of said pin between the center conductor and a surrounding insulator portion of the coaxial cable.

12. A method for terminating a coaxial cable in a connector comprising the steps of:

cutting an end of a coaxial cable square, wherein all of the components of the cable terminate on the same plane;

rotating a connector body of the connector on the square end of the cable so that an internal threaded portion formed on a continuous inner wall of the connector body threadably engages an outer surface of the jacket and wherein an annular post disposed within the connector body penetrates the square end of the cable as the connector body is rotated on the cable end; and

axially moving a locking sleeve into the connector body to lock the cable in the connector, wherein said locking sleeve engages a locking sleeve engagement portion of said continuous inner wall of said connector body.

13. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein an internal terminal pin of said annular post engages the center conductor of said coaxial cable connector as said post penetrates the square end of said cable.

14. A method as defined in claim 13, further comprising the step of separating the central conductor of the cable from the core insulator of the cable with a sharp rearward edge of said post internal terminal pin as said post penetrates the square end of said cable.

15. A method as defined in claim 12, further comprising the step of compressing a compression gasket with said locking sleeve during said axial movement step, whereby the compression gasket expands radially inward to grip the cable, said compression gasket being seated within said connector body between said internally threaded cable engagement portion and said locking sleeve engagement portion of said inner wall.

16. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein said internally threaded cable engagement portion and said locking sleeve engagement portion of said connector body continuous inner wall remain axially and radially fixed with respect to each other during said step of axially moving said locking sleeve.

17. A method for terminating a coaxial cable in a connector comprising the steps of:

cutting an end of a coaxial cable, whereby a length of a center conductor of the cable is permitted to extend a distance from the end of the cable;

rotating a connector body of the connector on the end of the cable so that an internal threaded cable engagement portion of a continuous inner wall of the connector body threadably engages an outer surface of the jacket and wherein an annular post disposed within the connector body penetrates the end of the cable as the connector body is rotated on the cable end; and

axially moving a locking sleeve into the connector body to lock the cable in the connector, wherein the locking sleeve engages a locking sleeve engagement portion of the continuous inner wall of said connector body.

18. A method as defined in claim 17, further comprising the step of compressing a compression gasket with said locking sleeve during said axial movement step, whereby the compression gasket expands radially inward to grip the cable, said compression gasket being seated within said connector body between said internally threaded cable engagement portion and said locking sleeve engagement portion.

19. A method as defined in claim 17, wherein said internally threaded cable engagement portion and said locking sleeve engagement portion of said connector body continuous inner wall remain axially and radially fixed with respect to each other during said step of axially moving said locking sleeve.