Cable connector with biasing element

• US 8,157,588 B1
• Filed: 02/08/2011
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Belden Inc.
• Inventors: Rodrigues, Julio F., Magno, Joey D. Jr., Phillips, Roger Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US13/023,102
• Time in Patent Office: 434 Days
• Field of Search: 439578-585
• US Class Current: 439/578
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/24 resilient; resiliently-mounted
• 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 4/48 utilising a spring, clip, or other resilient member H01R4/52 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0521 Connection to outer conductor by action of a nut

Abstract

A coaxial cable connector for coupling a coaxial cable to a mating connector is disclosed. The coaxial cable connector may include a connector body having a forward end and a rearward cable receiving end for receiving a cable. The connector may include a nut rotatably coupled to the forward end of the connector body and an annular post disposed within the connector body for providing an electrical path between the mating connector and the coaxial cable. The connector may include a biasing element, wherein the biasing element is configured to provide a force to maintain the electrical path between the mating connector and the coaxial cable. In one embodiment, the biasing element is external to the nut and the connector body. In one embodiment, the biasing element surrounds a portion of the nut and/or the connector body.

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 for providing an electrical path between the mating connector and the coaxial cable; and

a biasing element external to the nut and surrounding a portion of the connector body, wherein the biasing element is configured to provide a force to maintain the electrical path between the mating connector and the annular post.

2. The coaxial connector of claim 1,

wherein the connector body includes an outwardly protruding flange on the outer surface of the connector body,

wherein the nut includes an outwardly protruding flange on the outer surface of the nut, and

wherein the biasing element contacts the outwardly protruding flange of the connector body and the outwardly protruding flange of the nut to provide the force.

3. The coaxial connector of claim 2, wherein the biasing element includes an annular portion to support hooks to hook onto the outwardly protruding flange of the nut and the outwardly protruding flange of the connector body.

4. The coaxial connector of claim 3, wherein the hooks include forward-facing hooks and rearward-facing hooks, wherein the forward-facing hooks are configured to snap over the outwardly protruding flange of the nut and the rearward-facing hooks are configured to snap over the outwardly protruding flange of the nut.

5. The coaxial connector of claim 2, wherein the biasing element includes an elastomeric material coupled to the annular flange of the nut and the annular flange of the connector body.

6. The coaxial connector of claim 5, wherein the biasing element is molded over the nut or molded over the connector body.

7. The coaxial connector of claim 5, wherein the biasing element is molded over the nut and an annular ring.

8. The coaxial connector of claim 7, wherein the biasing element is coupled to the flange of the connector body through the annular ring.

9. The coaxial connector of claim 8, wherein the biasing element or annular ring is configured to snap over the outwardly-protruding flange of the connector body.

10. The coaxial connector of claim 5, wherein the biasing element includes an uneven outer surface.

11. The coaxial connector of claim 1, wherein the biasing element provides a force to prevent the nut from backing off the mating connector.

12. 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, wherein the nut includes internal threads for mating to external threads of the mating connector;

an annular post disposed within the connector body for providing an electrical path between the mating connector and the coaxial cable; and

a biasing element external to the nut and surrounding a portion of the connector body, wherein the biasing element is configured to provide a force to maintain tension between the internal threads of the nut and the external threads of the mating connector.

13. The coaxial cable connector of claim 12, wherein the nut includes a forward portion and a rear portion, wherein the forward portion and rear portion are configured to move relative to each other along an axial direction.

14. The coaxial connector of claim 13,

wherein the rear portion of the nut is rotatably captured between the connector body and a flange of the post, and wherein the rear portion of the nut includes a recess, and

wherein the front portion of the nut includes an outwardly protruding flange on the outer surface of the front portion of the nut.

15. The coaxial connector of claim 14, wherein the biasing element is coupled to the outwardly protruding flange of the front portion of the nut and the recess of the rear portion of the nut.

16. The coaxial connector of claim 14, wherein the biasing element is an elastomeric material molded over the front portion of the nut and the rear portion of the nut.

17. The coaxial connector of claim 16, wherein the elastomeric material forms a sealing element between the connector body and the rear portion of the nut.

18. The coaxial connector of claim 14, wherein the front portion of the nut includes an inwardly facing flange and the rear portion of the nut includes an outwardly facing flange, wherein the inwardly facing flange and the outwardly facing flange abut to prevent the front portion of the nut and the rear portion of the nut from moving in the axial direction away from each other.

19. 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, wherein the nut includes internal threads for mating to external threads of the mating connector;

an annular post disposed within the connector body for providing an electrical path between the mating connector and the coaxial cable; and

a biasing element external to the nut, wherein the biasing element is configured to provide a force to maintain electrical contact between the post and the mating connector.

20. The coaxial cable connector of claim 19, wherein the biasing element includes elastomeric material.

21. 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 for providing an electrical path between the mating connector and the coaxial cable; and

an elastomeric biasing element external to the nut and surrounding a portion of the connector body, wherein the biasing element is configured to provide a force to maintain the electrical path between the mating connector and the annular post.