Compression ring for coaxial cable connector

• US 7,364,462 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2006
• Issued: 04/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Holland Electronics LLC (Amphenol Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Michael Holland
• Inventors: Holland, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond; Briggitte R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TSUKERMAN, LARISA Z
• Application Number:
  US11/591,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20070259565A1
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 439/578, 439583-585
• US Class Current: 439/584
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0527 Connection to outer conductor by action of a resilient member, e.g. spring

Abstract

The present invention discloses an improvement in coaxial compression connectors used in, inter alia, CATV, satellite, and home theater electronics. The present connectors accept a large range of cable sizes, allow replacement of the holding or compression element to accommodate a range of sizes, and allow the connector to be re-uesable. The connector comprises an attachment nut operable for electrically connecting the coaxial cable to another device, a tubular shank attached to the connector nut operable for accepting the dielectric layer of the coaxial cable therewithin, a body portion connecting the nut and tubular shank, a compression ring and an outer shell. In a first embodiment, the compression ring is a relatively short tubular member removably housed within the outer shell. The compression ring has an annular compression groove on the outer circumference thereof which causes a mid-portion of the ring to deform inwardly in response to a longitudinal force applied to opposing ends of the compression ring to securely hold the cable within the connector and create a 360 degree moisture seal. In a second embodiment, the body portion deforms inwardly. In both embodiments, a shoulder within the shell abuts the trailing end of the compressive member and exerts a longitudinal compression force thereon that causes the compressive member to circumferentially buckle inwardly against the cable.

Claims

1. A coaxial cable connector comprising a connector nut, a tubular shank extending rearwardly from said connector nut, a tubular body portion having a leading end abutting said connector nut and a trailing end in opposition thereto, said tubular body portion concentrically overlying said tubular shank, a tubular outer shell having a leading end, a trailing end and an axial bore with an abruptly reduced inner diameter defining a shoulder therewithin disposed rearward of said leading end of said shell, said leading end of said tubular shell being slidingly attached to a trailing end of said body portion, and a compression ring removably disposed within said axial bore of said shell rearward of trailing end of said body portion and forward of said shoulder, said compression ring comprising a tubular member having a leading end, a trailing end and a cylindrical outer surface with a circumferential annular groove on said cylindrical outer surface.

2. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1 wherein said axial bore of said shell is tapered conically inwardly rearward of said shoulder and forward of said trailing end thereof.

3. In a compression-type coaxial cable connector comprising a connector nut, a tubular shank defining a centerpost having a leading end attached to said connector nut and a trailing end extending rearwardly from said connector nut, a tubular sleeve overlying said centerpost, said tubular sleeve having a leading end abutting said connector nut and a trailing end and a body portion therebetween, and a rigid tubular shell slidably mounted on said trailing end of said tubular sleeve, said rigid tubular shell having a cylindrical axial bore with an abruptly reduced inner diameter at a trailing end thereof defining a shoulder, the improvement wherein said tubular sleeve is an elastically deformable tubular member having an annular groove in an outer surface thereof and wherein when said shoulder is forced against said trailing end of said sleeve, a portion of said sleeve underlying said groove deforms radially inwardly inwardly to press against a cable housed within said axial bore of said sleeve.

4. The compression-type coaxial cable connector of claim 3 wherein said outer surface of said sleeve has a plurality of annular grooves thereon.

5. The coaxial cable connector of claim 3 wherein said shell is made from a rigid, substantially nondeformable material and wherein when said shell is moved toward said connector nut, said shoulder in said shell is urged against said trailing end of said tubular sleeve and said sleeve is longitudinally compressed such that an annular portion of said sleeve underlying said groove is forced radially inwardly.

6. The coaxial cable connector of claim 3 wherein said tubular sleeve is made from rubber.