One-piece compression connector body for coaxial cable connector

• US 8,113,879 B1
• Filed: 07/27/2010
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Zraik, Souheil
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THANH TAM T
• Application Number:
  US12/843,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20120028499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 439/578, 439/584, 439/585
• US Class Current: 439/584
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/20 for assembling or disassembling contact members with insulating base, case or sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0524 Connection to outer conductor by action of a clamping member, e.g. screw fastening means H01R9/0515 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49208 by assembling plural parts

Abstract

A connector for mounting to the terminal end of a coaxial cable includes a connector body having a first body section and a second axially adjacent body section. The first and second body sections are frangibly connected to one another wherein axial compressive force upon the second body section towards the first body section causes the second body section to fracture and be displaced axially over the exterior of the first body section. As such, the second body section is a compression sleeve which when so moved radially compresses at least a portion of the first body section of the connector body to permit compression of a prepared coaxial cable end.

Claims

1. A single connector body for a coaxial cable connector, said single connector body comprising:

a hollow member having a first end and a second end;

a first body section, the first body section including a post mounting portion, at least a portion of said first body section being radially deformable; and

an axially adjacent second body section frangibly connected to the first body section at a weakened annular portion, wherein an inner diameter of said second body section is tapered between a first inner diameter starting at the weakened annular portion and a second inner diameter which is smaller than an exterior diameter of said first body section;

wherein axial force applied upon said second end of said connector body towards said first body section causes said second body section to fracture relative to said first body section, said second body section being caused to move over an exterior surface of said first body section and form a compression sleeve.

2. A connector body as recited in claim 1, including said weakened annular portion between said first and second body sections that is caused to fracture when axial force is applied, thereby allowing said compression sleeve to move relative to a remainder of said connector body.

3. A connector body as recited in claim 1, wherein said connector body is formed from a moldable plastic material.

4. A connector body as recited in claim 1, wherein axial movement of said second body section causes radial compression of said first body section.

5. A coaxial cable connector comprising:

a coupling nut;

a hollow post having a first end and a second end, said second end being configured for engaging a coaxial cable end; and

a single connector body being defined by a hollow member having opposing ends, said single connector body including a first body section and an axially adjacent second body section, wherein said second end of said hollow post is disposed within said first body section, at least a portion of said first body section being radially deformable;

an annular portion separating the first and second body sections, the annular portion caused to fracture when the axial force is applied;

wherein the second body section includes a tapered surface defined by a first inner diameter starting at the annular portion and a second inner diameter which is smaller than an exterior diameter of said first body section;

wherein compressive axial force applied upon said second end of said connector body causes said second body section to fracture relative to said first body section, said second body section being caused to move over an exterior surface of said first body section and form a compression sleeve.

6. A connector as recited in claim 5, wherein said second body section includes an interior axial portion tapering from the first inner diameter to the second smaller inner diameter such that movement of said second body section over the exterior surface of said first body section causes engagement of said tapering portion to create deformation thereof.

7. A connector as recited in claim 5, wherein said connector body is entirely formed from a moldable plastic.

8. A method for manufacturing a coaxial cable single connector body, said single connector body including a hollow member having a central bore and respective first and second ends, said method comprising:

integrally providing a first body section adjacent said first end and an axially adjacent second body section adjacent said second end in a single molded component, wherein the first body section includes a post mounting portion; and

providing a frangible annular seam between said first body section and said second body section enabling said second body section to be detached from said first body section and to pass over an exterior of said first body section when said seam is broken under the application of an axial force;

wherein the second body section includes a tapered surface defined by a first inner diameter starting at the frangible annular seam and a second inner diameter which is smaller than an exterior diameter of said first body section.