Coaxial cable connector sleeve

• US 7,997,930 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2009
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Haberek, Andrew, Ehret, Trevor
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THANH TAM T
• Application Number:
  US12/636,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20110143586A1
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 439/320, 439/322, 439/323, 439/578, 439/583, 439/584
• 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 24/54 Intermediate parts, e.g. adapters, splitters or elbows
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/26 for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device structural association with two-part coupling device H01R13/629

Abstract

An adapter sleeve for a coaxial cable connector is provided to transmit torque to a nut member on the cable connector. The adapter sleeve includes a cylindrical body having a first end and a second end defining a bore along a longitudinal axis therethrough. The bore defines an interior surface; the interior surface has a torque transmission feature sized to slideably engage the nut member. The first end of the body has at least one radially inward defined retainer lip. The retainer lip is dimensioned and adapted to engage with a corresponding retaining structure on an external surface of the nut member.

Claims

1. An adapter sleeve for a coaxial cable connector having a nut member including a retaining structure on an external surface of the nut member, said adapter sleeve comprising:

a cylindrical body comprising a first end and a second end defining a bore along a longitudinal axis therethrough, the bore defining an interior surface, the interior surface having a torque transmission feature sized to slideably engage the nut member on the coaxial cable connector, the first end of the body having at least one radially inward defined retainer lip, wherein the retainer lip is dimensioned and adapted to engage with the corresponding retaining structure on the external surface of the nut member, wherein the corresponding retaining structure is at least one of a retaining groove and a protrusion, and wherein the torque transmission feature is a keyway, dimensioned and adapted to fit a corresponding key slot on the nut member.

2. The adapter sleeve of claim 1, wherein the torque transmission feature is the interior surface of the body having a hexagonal shape corresponding to the nut member.

3. The adapter sleeve of claim 1, wherein the retainer lip on the first end of the body is inwardly offset from the first end.

4. The adapter sleeve of claim 1, wherein the retainer lip is a continuous ring.

5. The adapter sleeve of claim 1, wherein the retainer lip is segmented.

6. The adapter sleeve of claim 5, wherein the retainer lip comprises one or more tabs.

7. The adapter sleeve of claim 1, wherein the protrusion comprises a continuous ring.

8. The adapter sleeve of claim 1, wherein the protrusion comprises discontinuous structures.

9. The adapter sleeve of claim 1, wherein the adapter sleeve body is comprised of plastic.

10. The adapter sleeve of claim 1, wherein an external surface of the adapter sleeve body is textured.

11. A device comprising:

a coaxial cable connector comprising a connector body and a nut member, the nut member being independently rotatable with respect to the connector body and having a retaining structure on an external surface of the nut member, wherein the retaining structure is at least one of a retaining groove and a protrusion; and

an adapter sleeve comprising a cylindrical body comprising a first end and a second end defining a bore along a longitudinal axis therethrough, the bore defining an interior surface, the interior surface having a torque transmission feature sized to slideably engage the nut member on the coaxial cable connector, the first end of the body having at least one radially inward defined retainer lip, wherein the retainer lip is dimensioned and adapted to engage with the corresponding retaining structure on external surface of the nut member to prevent removal of the adapter sleeve from the coaxial cable connector, wherein the torque transmission feature is a keyway, dimensioned and adapted to fit a corresponding key slot on the nut member.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the retainer lip is a continuous ring.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the torque transmission feature is the interior surface of the body having a hexagonal shape corresponding to the nut member.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein an external surface of the adapter sleeve body is textured.

15. A method for positioning a coaxial cable connector on a port of an electrical device, the connector comprising a body and a nut member including a retaining structure on an external surface of the nut member, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an adapter sleeve, the sleeve comprising a first end and a second end defining a bore along a longitudinal axis therethrough, the bore defining an interior surface, the interior surface having a torque transmission feature sized to slideably engage the nut member, the first end of the body having at least one radially inward defined retainer lip, wherein the retainer lip is dimensioned and adapted to engage with the corresponding retaining structure on the external surface of the nut member, wherein the corresponding retaining structure is at least one of a retaining groove and a protrusion, and wherein the torque transmission feature is a keyway, dimensioned and adapted to fit a corresponding key slot on the nut member;

slideably engaging the adapter sleeve including the torque transmission feature over the cable connector in an axial direction;

engaging the retainer lip into the corresponding retaining structure on the nut member to prevent removal of the adapter sleeve relative to the nut member;

positioning the cable connector and adapter sleeve to the port; and

turning the adapter sleeve to transmit torque to the nut member.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of connecting a jumper cable to the coaxial connector.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the adapter sleeve is pre-assembled to the coaxial connector.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the surface of the adapter is grooved.