Click-tight coaxial cable continuity connector

• US 7,892,005 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2010
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Haube, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ta; Tho D
• Application Number:
  US12/783,131
• Publication Number:
  US 20100297871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 279 Days
• Field of Search: 439/315, 439/320, 439/321, 439/489, 439/578
• US Class Current: 439/321
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5202 Sealing means between parts of housing or between housing part and a wall, e.g. sealing rings
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/40 specially adapted for high frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/48 utilising a spring, clip, or other resilient member H01R4/52 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A click-tight coaxial cable continuity connector is provided comprising a connector body, a post engageable with connector body, the post including a flange having a plurality of spaced-apart surface features. A nut is rotatably movable with respect to the post, wherein the nut includes an internal lip having a plurality of spaced-apart surface features, wherein the plurality of spaced-apart surface features of the nut are dimensioned to oppositely correspond in size, number and location to the plurality of spaced-apart surface features of the post. A click-tight continuity member is structurally configured to operably correspond with the dimensions of the plurality of spaced-apart surface features of the nut and also the spaced apart surface features of the post, the click-tight continuity member residing between the nut and the post. When the nut is rotated with respect to the post, the click-tight continuity member affords intermittent rotational resistance upon the nut, via structurally-induced compression forces resultant when the plurality of spaced-apart surface features of the nut are not oppositely correspondingly aligned with the plurality of spaced-apart surface features of the post.

Claims

1. A click-tight coaxial cable continuity connector comprising;

a connector body;

a post engageable with connector body, the post including a flange having a plurality of spaced-apart surface features;

a nut, rotatably movable with respect to the post, wherein the nut includes an internal lip having a plurality of spaced-apart surface features, wherein the plurality of spaced-apart surface features of the nut are dimensioned to oppositely correspond in size, number and location to the plurality of spaced-apart surface features of the post; and

a click-tight continuity member, structurally configured to operably correspond with the dimensions of the plurality of spaced-apart surface features of the nut and also the spaced apart surface features of the post, the click-tight continuity member residing between the nut and the post;

wherein, when the nut is rotated with respect to the post, the click-tight continuity member affords intermittent rotational resistance upon the nut, via structurally-induced compression forces resultant when the plurality of spaced-apart surface features of the nut are not oppositely correspondingly aligned with the plurality of spaced-apart surface features of the post.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein continuity member is disposed between the internal lip of the nut and the flange of the post, so that the continuity member physically and electrically contacts both the nut and the post.

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein the continuity member is a corrugated wave washer.

4. The connector of claim 3, wherein, when the nut is rotated with respect to the post, the wave washer bends to conform into the oppositely structured surface features between the lip of the nut and the flange of the post.

5. The connector of claim 4, wherein, the bending of the click-tight continuity member is associated with a physical catch comprising a noticeable surge in the tendency of the nut to resist rotational movement with respect to the post.

6. The connector of claim 4, wherein, the physical catch is associated with an audible click sound.

7. The connector of claim 1, wherein the nut is spaced apart from and does not contact the connector body.

8. The connector of claim 1, further comprising a body sealing member disposed between the nut and the connector body.

9. The connector of claim 1, further comprising a fastener member slidably secured to the connector body, wherein the fastener member includes an internal ramped surface that acts to deformably compress the outer surface the connector body when the fastener member is operated to secure a coaxial cable to the coaxial cable continuity connector.

10. A coaxial cable continuity connector comprising;

a connector body

a nut rotatable with respect to the connector body, wherein the nut includes an internal lip having a plurality of spaced-apart surface features;

a post securely engageable with the connector body, wherein the post includes a flange having a plurality of spaced-apart surface features; and

a click-tight continuity member residing between the surface features of the lip of the nut and the surface features of the flange of the post, such that when the nut is rotated with respect to the post, the continuity member bends between the surface features of the lip of the nut and the surface features of the flange of the post, wherein, the bending of the continuity member is associated with a physical catch comprising a noticeable surge in the tendency of the nut to resist rotational movement with respect to the post.

11. The connector of claim 10, wherein, the physical catch is associated with an audible click sound.

12. The connector of claim 10, wherein the continuity member is a corrugated wave washer.

13. The connector of claim 10, wherein the the plurality of spaced-apart surface features of the internal lip of the nut are dimensioned to oppositely correspond in size, number and location to the plurality of spaced-apart surface features of the flange of the post.

14. The connector of claim 10, wherein the nut is spaced apart from and does not contact the connector body.

15. The connector of claim 10, further comprising a body sealing member disposed between the nut and the connector body.

16. The connector of claim 10, further comprising a fastener member slidably secured to the connector body, wherein the fastener member includes an internal ramped surface that acts to deformably compress the outer surface the connector body when the fastener member is operated to secure a coaxial cable to the coaxial cable continuity connector.

17. The connector of claim 10, wherein continuity member is disposed between the internal lip of the nut and the flange of the post, so that the continuity member physically and electrically contacts both the nut and the post.

18. A coaxial cable continuity connector comprising:

a post, axially secured to a connector body;

a nut, coaxially rotatable with respect to the post and the connector body, when the coaxial cable continuity connector is assembled; and

means for introducing intermittent rotational resistance upon the nut, when the nut is rotated with respect to the post;

wherein the means help maintain anti-rotational locking and decrease the potential for wiggling and looseness between the nut and the post.

19. A method of for introducing intermittent rotational resistance upon the nut of a coaxial cable connector, the method comprising:

providing a coaxial cable continuity connector including;

a connector body;

a post engageable with connector body, wherein the post includes a flange having a plurality of spaced-apart surface features;

a nut, wherein the nut includes an internal lip having a plurality of spaced-apart surface features; and

a click-tight continuity member residing between the surface features of the lip of the nut and the surface features of the flange of the post, such that, when the nut is rotated with respect to the post, the continuity member bends between the surface features of the lip of the nut and the surface features of the flange of the post;

rotating the nut with respect to the post so that the continuity member bends, such that the bending of the continuity member affords a physical catch comprising a noticeable surge in the tendency of the nut to resist rotational movement with respect to the post;

further rotating the nut with respect to the post, until the continuity member is located in a position between the post and the nut so that the bending of the continuity member subsides; and

still further rotating the nut with respect to the post until the continuity member is again located in a position between the post and the nut, such that renewed bending of the continuity member again affords a physical catch comprising another noticeable surge in the tendency of the nut to resist rotational movement with respect to the post.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the wherein, the physical catch is associated with an audible click sound.