Cable connector

• US 8,113,875 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2009
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Belden Inc.
• Inventors: Malloy, Allen L., Thomas, Charles, Dean, Mike, Hauver, Bruce Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Duverne, Jean F
• Application Number:
  US12/568,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20110117774A1
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 439/578, 439/63, 439/584
• US Class Current: 439/578
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/187 with spring member in the socket
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6584 formed by conductive elastomeric members, e.g. flat gaskets or O-rings
• 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 coaxial cable connector for coupling a coaxial cable to a mating connector includes a connector body having a forward end and a rearward cable receiving end for receiving a cable. A nut is rotatably coupled to the forward end of the connector body. An annular post is disposed within the connector body, the annular post having a forward flanged base portion located adjacent a rearward portion of the nut. An annular notch is formed in the forward flanged base portion. A biasing element is retained in the annular notch, and the biasing element extends towards a forward end of the nut in an uncompressed state.

Claims

1. A coaxial cable connector for coupling a coaxial cable to a mating connector, the coaxial cable connector comprising:

a connector body having a forward end and a rearward cable receiving end for receiving a cable;

a nut rotatably coupled to the forward end of the connector body;

an annular post disposed within the connector body, the annular post having a forward flanged base portion located adjacent a rearward portion of the nut;

an annular notch formed in the forward flanged base portion; and

a biasing element retained in the annular notch,

wherein the biasing element extends towards a forward end of the nut in an uncompressed state.

2. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the biasing element comprises a compression spring, a wave spring, a conical spring washer, Belleville washer, or a conductive resilient element.

3. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the biasing element is electrically conductive.

4. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the forward flanged base portion has a step configuration including a first annular step portion formed in a forward portion of the forward flanged base portion, and a second annular step portion formed rearward of the first annular step portion, and wherein the annular notch is formed in the second annular step portion.

5. The coaxial cable connector of claim 4, wherein the annular notch comprises an annular groove formed in the second annular step portion, and wherein the biasing element is retained in the annular groove.

6. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the biasing element is configured to compress toward the forward flanged base portion upon axial insertion of a port connector into the nut.

7. A coaxial cable connector configured to connect with a mating connector having a rearward surface, the coaxial cable connector comprising:

a connector body having a forward end and a rearward cable receiving end for receiving a cable;

a nut rotatably coupled to the forward end of the connector body;

an annular post disposed within the connector body, the annular post having a forward flanged base portion located adjacent a rearward portion of the nut;

an annular notch formed in the forward flanged base portion; and

a biasing element retained in the annular notch,

wherein the biasing element is configured to be compressed between the rearward surface of the mating connector and the forward flanged base portion of the annular post.

8. The coaxial cable connector of claim 7, wherein the biasing element comprises a compression spring, a wave spring, a conical spring washer, a Belleville washer, or a conductive resilient element.

9. The coaxial cable connector of claim 7, wherein the mating connector includes a substantially cylindrical body having a number of external threads, and wherein the nut includes a number of internal threads for engaging the external threads of the mating connector, and wherein compression of the biasing element induces a spring load force between the internal threads and the external threads.

10. A method, comprising:

providing a coaxial cable connector configured to connect a coaxial cable to a second connector, the coaxial cable connector comprising;

a connector body having a forward end and a rearward end, the forward end being configured to connect to the second connector and the rearward end configured to receive the coaxial cable,

a nut rotatably coupled to the forward end of the connector body, and

an annular post disposed within the connector body;

inserting a biasing element inside the nut,

wherein at least a portion of the biasing element contacts the annular post when the biasing element is in an uncompressed state; and

coupling the coaxial cable connector to the second connector, wherein during the coupling, the biasing element is compressed.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the coupling comprises:

screwing the nut of the coaxial cable connector onto the second connector, the second connector having external threads that mate with internal threads of the nut, and

wherein when the nut is tightened, a larger portion of the biasing element directly contacts the annular post than when the biasing element is in the uncompressed state.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the biasing element imparts a biasing force ranging from about 5.5 to about 7.5 pounds of force when the biasing element is compressed about 0.03 inches from its free or uncompressed length.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the biasing element comprises a wave washer.

14. A connector configured to couple with a coaxial cable and mate with a mating connector, the connector comprising:

a connector body having a forward end and a rearward end, the forward end being configured to connect to the mating connector and the rearward end configured to receive the coaxial cable,

a nut rotatably coupled to the forward end of the connector body, wherein the wave washer is configured to be inserted inside the nut prior to connection of the connector to the mating connector, and

an annular post disposed within the connector body, the annular post contacting a portion of the wave washer.

15. The connector of claim 14, wherein the wave washer is configured to provide electrical and radio frequency connectivity from the annular post to the mating connector when the connector is loosened with respect to the mating connector.

16. A male coaxial cable connector for coupling a coaxial cable to a mating female coaxial cable connector, the male coaxial cable connector comprising:

a connector body having a forward end and a rearward cable receiving end for receiving a cable;

an annular post disposed within the connector body, the annular post having a forward flanged base portion located at a forward end,

a nut rotatably coupled to the forward end of the connector body, the nut having a forward portion for attachment to the female coaxial cable connector, and a rearward portion adjacent the forward flanged base portion, wherein the nut includes an annular notch rearwardly adjacent the forward portion, where the annular notch has an inside diameter greater than an inside diameter of the forward portion of the nut; and

a biasing element positioned in the annular notch between the forward flanged base portion and the forward portion of the nut.

17. The male coaxial cable connector of claim 16, wherein the biasing element comprises a compression spring, a wave spring, a conical spring washer, a Belleville washer, or a conductive resilient element.

18. The male coaxial cable connector of claim 16, wherein the nut includes an inwardly directed flange in the rearward portion that engages the annular post and retains the nut in an axially fixed position relative to the annular post.

19. The male coaxial cable connector of claim 16, wherein the biasing element is electrically conductive.

20. The male coaxial cable connector of claim 16, wherein the annular notch forms a cavity in the nut, the cavity bounded on a rearward side by the forward flanged base portion of the annular post, and on a forward side by a rearward facing surface of the forward portion of the nut exposed by the annular notch, and wherein the biasing element is positioned in the cavity.

21. The male coaxial cable connector of claim 16, wherein the biasing element is configured to compress toward the forward flanged base portion upon axial insertion of the female coaxial cable connector into the nut.

22. A male coaxial cable connector configured to connect to a female coaxial cable connector having a rearward surface, the male coaxial cable connector comprising:

a connector body having a forward end and a rearward cable receiving end for receiving a cable;

an annular post disposed within the connector body, the annular post having a forward flanged base portion located at a forward end,

a nut rotatably coupled to the forward end of the connector body, the nut having a forward portion for attachment to the female coaxial cable connector, and a rearward portion adjacent the forward flanged base portion, wherein the nut includes an annular notch rearwardly adjacent the forward portion, where the annular notch has a inside diameter greater than an inside diameter of the forward portion forming a rearward surface of the forward portion of the nut; and

a biasing element positioned in the annular notch between the forward flanged base portion and the rearward surface of the forward portion of the nut,

wherein the biasing element is configured to be compressed between the rearward surface of the female coaxial cable connector and the forward flanged base portion of the annular post upon movement of the female coaxial cable connector into the nut.

23. The male connector of claim 22, wherein the biasing element comprises a compression spring, a wave spring, a conical spring washer, a Belleville washer, or a conductive resilient element.

24. The male connector of claim 22, wherein the female coaxial cable connector includes a substantially cylindrical body having a number of external threads, and wherein the forward portion of the nut includes a number of internal threads for engaging the external threads of the female coaxial cable connector, and wherein compression of the biasing element induces a spring load force between the internal threads of the nut and the external threads of the female coaxial cable connector.