Coax connector having clutching mechanism

• US 7,727,011 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2005
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Montena, Noah, Jackson, David
• Primary Examiner(s): CHUNG TRANS, XUONG MY
• Application Number:
  US11/113,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20060240709A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,863 Days
• Field of Search: 439/578, 439/583, 439/584, 439/320, 439/322
• US Class Current: 439/578
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/622 Screw-ring or screw-casing H01R13/623 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/40 specially adapted for high frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/05 for coaxial cables

Abstract

The invention is directed to a clutching mechanism for a coax connector. The device comprises an extended nut having a standard connector contained within. The extended nut comprises internal threads and a first clutch face and the internal standard connector comprises a connector body having a second clutch face. In operation, the first clutch face and the second clutch face are engaged by forcing the nut toward the connector body/cable, thereby serving as an interlocking mechanism. The device further comprises a compression sleeve between the nut and the connector body, serving to secure the cable to the connector.

Claims

1. A coaxial cable connector having an interlocking mechanism to permit securement of a coaxial cable end, said connector comprising:

a nut having an internal cavity, said internal cavity having defined therein a first mating face disposed on an annular inner flange; and

,

a connector body having at one end defined thereon a second mating face disposed on the distal end of said connector body, said first mating face and said second mating face defining complementary interlocking portions to facilitate the securement of a coaxial cable;

said connector body being axially movable in relation to said nut to cause the second mating face to engage the first mating face in a locked position, thereby creating an interlocking relationship between said nut and said connector body in which independent rotation of said connector body relative to said nut is restricted, and in which the first mating face and the second mating face are axially disengageable to a free position, enabling independent rotation of said nut following securement of said coaxial cable.

2. The coax connector of claim 1, further comprising a compression sleeve to secure said connector body in relation to said cable.

3. The coax connector of claim 1, wherein said nut further comprises an outer surface having a plurality of grooves thereby providing an external gripping surface.

4. A connector assembly for connecting a cable to an externally threaded port, said connector assembly comprising:

a nut having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end comprises a internally threaded component and is adapted to receive an externally mounted port, and said second end receives a portion of a connector body within an internal cavity;

a post having a first end and a second end;

said connector body having an internal cavity adapted to receive said post through a first end, and a second end that receives a prepared coaxial cable end;

means for interlocking said nut relative to said connector body said means being engaged in a locked position by axially moving the nut toward the connector body wherein complementary interlocking features provided within the elongated nut and the first end of the connector body are axially joined, thereby preventing independent rotation of said connector body while permitting said prepared coaxial cable end to be attached to said post through said connector body in said locked position through two-handed user engagement of said nut and said cable, respectively, and said means being disengaged to a free position by axially moving the nut away from the connector body, thereby permitting independent rotation of said nut to permit securement of said nut to an externally mounted port in said free position wherein said means comprises a first face disposed on an inner annular flange of said nut, and a second face disposed on the first end of said connector body; and

,

a crimping means for securing said cable to said connector body.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein said nut further comprises an outer surface having a gripping means for allowing an installer to firmly grip the elongated body.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein said gripping means comprises a plurality of longitudinal grooves distributed along the outer surface of the nut.

7. The assembly of claim 4, wherein said crimping means for securing said cable to said connector body comprises a compression sleeve adapted to engage the outer surface of said connector body and said cable to thereby secure said cable within said connector body.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein said compression sleeve comprises an internal bore having a substantially flanged end terminating at an annular lip, and said outer surface of said connector body has a substantially annular groove, wherein advancing said compression sleeve upon said connector body serves to place said annular lip of said compression sleeve in locking engagement with said annular groove of said connector body.

9. A method of attaching a coax cable to a connector wherein said connector comprises a post, an extended nut, a connector body, and a compression sleeve, said extended nut including an internal cavity including an annular inner flange, said method comprising the steps of:

axially pushing the extended nut towards the connector body, thereby causing a first set of features of an inner cavity of the connector body to engage a second set of complementary features provided on the annular inner flange of the extended nut so as to create interlocking engagement therebetween, thereby defining a locked position and preventing rotation of the nut relative to the connector body in said locked position;

inserting a prepared end of the coaxial cable into the connector body until seated in relation to the post while said connector is in said locked position using two hands by holding the nut in one hand and the cable end in the remaining hand;

advancing the compression sleeve toward the connector body thereby securing the cable to the connector while in said locked position; and

axially disengaging the connector body from the extended nut after said advancing step to allow the extended nut to rotate independently from the connector body and cable.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said extended nut further comprises an internal threaded segment and said cable and connector are connected to a port by advancing said internal threaded segment of said extended nut upon a threaded segment of a port.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the nut is free to rotate with respect to the connector body when said nut and connector body are in an unlocked position when the nut is axially moved away from the connector body, thereby disengaging the first and second set of complementary interlocking features.

12. A coax connector having an operatively interlocking mechanism, said interlocking mechanism comprising:

a nut having at least one first interlocking surface disposed on an inner annular flange; and

a connector body having at least one second interlocking surface disposed at a distal end;

whereby the first and second interlocking surfaces engage by axially moving one of nut and the connector body toward each other thereby preventing independent rotation of said connector body to permit attachment of a prepared coaxial cable end to said connector; and

the first and second interlocking surfaces disengage by axially moving one of the nut and the connector body away from each other following attachment of said cable end, and in which said nut is rotatable when said first and second interlocking surfaces are disengaged.