Coaxial cable connector having electrical continuity member

• US 8,287,320 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2009
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Purdy, Eric, Montena, Noah, Amidon, Jeremy
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Tulsidas C
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, TRAVIS SLOAN
• Application Number:
  US12/633,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20100297875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 439/792, 439583-585
• US Class Current: 439/792
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/622 Screw-ring or screw-casing H01R13/623 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6592 the conductive member being a shielded cable
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/38 having concentrically or coaxially arranged contacts
• 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 9/05 for coaxial cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0521 Connection to outer conductor by action of a nut
• 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 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49123 Co-axial cable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49208 by assembling plural parts

Abstract

A coaxial cable connector comprising a connector body; a post engageable with connector body, wherein the post includes a flange; a nut, axially rotatable with respect to the post and the connector body, the nut having a first end and an opposing second end, wherein the nut includes an internal lip, and wherein a second end portion of the nut corresponds to the portion of the nut extending from the second end of the nut to the side of the lip of the nut facing the first end of the nut at a point nearest the second end of the nut, and a first end portion of the nut corresponds to the portion of the nut extending from the first end of the nut to the same point nearest the second end of the nut of the same side of the lip facing the first end of the nut; and a continuity member disposed within the second end portion of the nut and contacting the post and the nut, so that the continuity member extends electrical grounding continuity through the post and the nut is provided.

Claims

1. A coaxial cable connector comprising:

a connector body;

a post engaged with the connector body, wherein the post includes a flange;

a nut, axially rotatable with respect to the post and the connector body, the nut having a first end configured for coupling to an interface port, and an opposing second end, wherein the nut includes an internal lip, and wherein the second end portion of the nut starts at a side of the lip of the nut facing the first end of the nut and extends rearward to the second end of the nut;

a continuity member disposed only rearward of the start of the second end portion of the nut and contacting the post and the nut, so that the continuity member extends electrical grounding continuity through the post and the nut; and

wherein the nut does not touch the connector body, and the continuity member is configured to contact a rearward facing surface of the lip of the nut and extend between a portion of the post and a portion of the connector body.

2. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the location of the continuity member, as assembled in the coaxial cable connector, prevents the connector body from contacting the nut.

3. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, further comprising a sealing member positioned between the nut and the connector body and configured to provide an environmental seal.

4. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein:

the coaxial cable includes a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric covered by a conductive grounding shield, the conductive grounding shield being configured to be surrounded by a protective outer jack;

the post includes a first end facing a forward direction and a second end facing a rearward direction, the second end of the post being configured to be inserted into an end of the coaxial cable around the dielectric and under at least a portion of the conductive grounding shield so as to form an electrical connection with the conductive grounding shield; and

the connector body includes a first end facing the forward direction and a second end facing the rearward direction, the connector body being configured to engage the post when the connector is assembled.

5. The coaxial cable connector of claim 4, wherein the continuity member is configured to contact the first end of the connector body when the connector is assembled.

6. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the nut is configured to move between a partially tightened position on the interface port and fully tightened position on the interface port, and wherein the continuity member facilitates the extension of an electrical ground path and obtains electrical continuity, even when the nut is not fully tightened on the port.

7. The coaxial cable connector of claim 6, wherein only a few threads of the nut are needed to be engaged around the interface port in the partially tightened position to extend electrical continuity through the nut, the continuity member, the post, and a cable shielding.

8. The coaxial cable connector of claim 7, wherein the continuity member is configured to maintain electrical continuity when the nut is in both the partially tightened position on the interface port and in the fully tightened position on the interface port.

9. A coaxial cable connector comprising:

a connector body;

a post engaged with the connector body, wherein the post includes a flange;

a nut, axially rotatable with respect to the post and the connector body, the nut having a first end configured for coupling to an interface port, and an opposing second end, wherein the nut includes an internal lip, and wherein the second end portion of the nut starts at a side of the lip of the nut facing the first end of the nut and extends rearward to the second end of the nut;

a continuity member disposed only rearward of the start of the second end portion of the nut and contacting the post and the nut, so that the continuity member extends electrical grounding continuity through the post and the nut;

a fastener member having a central passageway with an internal ramped surface that deformably compresses the outer surface of the connector body when the fastener member is pressed into tight and secure position on the connector body; and

wherein the continuity member is configured to contact a rearward facing surface of the lip of the nut and extend between a portion of the post and a portion of the connector body.

10. A coaxial cable connector comprising

a connector body;

a post operably attached to the connector body, the post having a flange;

a nut axially rotatable with respect to the post and the connector body, the nut including an inward lip, wherein the nut has a first end configured for coupling to an interface port, and an opposing second end;

an electrical continuity member disposed axially rearward of a surface of the internal lip of the nut that faces the flange and the first end of the nut, wherein the continuity member electrically contacts both the nut and the post; and

wherein the nut does not touch the connector body, and the continuity member is configured to contact a rearward facing surface of the lip of the nut and extend between a portion of the post and a portion of the connector body.

11. The coaxial cable connector of claim 10, wherein the location of the continuity member, as assembled in the coaxial cable connector, prevents the connector body from contacting the nut.

12. The coaxial cable connector of claim 10, wherein:

the coaxial cable includes a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric covered by a conductive grounding shield, the conductive grounding shield being configured to be surrounded by a protective outer jacket;

the post includes a first end facing a forward direction and a second end facing a rearward direction, the second end of the post being configured to be inserted into an end of the coaxial cable around the dielectric and under at least a portion of the conductive grounding shield so as to form an electrical connection with the conductive grounding shield; and

the connector body includes a first end facing the forward direction and a second end facing the rearward direction, the connector body being configured to engage the post when the connector is assembled.

13. The coaxial cable connector of claim 10, further comprising a sealing member positioned between the nut and the connector body and configured to provide an environmental seal.

14. The coaxial cable connector of claim 10, wherein the nut is configured to move between a partially tightened position on the interface port and fully tightened position on the interface port, and wherein the continuity member facilitates the extension of an electrical ground path and obtains electrical continuity, even when the nut is not fully tightened on the port.

15. The coaxial cable connector of claim 14, wherein only a few threads of the nut are needed to be engaged around the interface port in the partially tightened position to extend electrical continuity through the nut, the continuity member, the post, and a cable shielding.

16. The coaxial cable connector of claim 15, wherein the continuity member is configured to maintain electrical continuity when the nut is in both the partially tightened position on the interface port and in the fully tightened position on the interface port.

17. A coaxial cable connector comprising:

a connector body;

a post operably attached to the connector body, the post having a flange;

a nut axially rotatable with respect to the post and the connector body, the nut including an inward lip, wherein the nut has a first end configured for coupling to an interface port, and an opposing second end;

an electrical continuity member disposed axially rearward of a surface of the internal lip of the nut that faces the flange and the first end of the nut, wherein the continuity member electrically contacts both the nut and the post;

a fastener member having a central passageway with an internal ramped surface that deformably compresses the outer surface of the connector body when the fastener member is pressed into tight and secure position on the connector body; and

wherein the continuity member is configured to contact a rearward facing surface of the lip of the nut and extend between a portion of the post and a portion of the connector body.

18. A coaxial cable connector comprising:

a connector body;

a post attached to the connector body, the post having a flange, wherein the flange of the post has a forward facing surface and a rearward facing surface;

a nut axially rotatable with respect to the post and the connector body, the nut including an inward lip, wherein the inward lip of the nut has a forward facing surface, a rearward facing surface, and an innermost portion between the forward facing surface and the rearward facing surface; and

an electrical continuity member positioned to contact the post, and the nut, wherein the electrical continuity member contacts and electrically couples the post to the nut at a position other than between the rearward facing surface of the flange of the post and the forward facing surface of the lip of the nut;

wherein the forward facing surface of the inward lip of the nut rotates about the rearward facing surface of the flange of the post, and the continuity member is configured to contact the rearward facing surface of the lip of the nut and extend between a portion of the post and a portion of the connector body.

19. The connector of claim 18 wherein the rearward facing surface of the flange of the post is tapered.

20. The coaxial cable connector of claim 18, wherein the rearward facing surface of the flange of the post is configured to face the forward facing surface of the lip of the nut when the connector is assembled.

21. The coaxial cable connector of claim 18, wherein the flange of the post includes a surface configured to extend from the rearward facing surface of the flange of the post and face the innermost surface of the lip of the nut when the connector is assembled.

22. The coaxial cable connector of claim 18, wherein the rearward facing surface of the flange of the post is configured to face the forward facing surface of the lip of the nut when the connector is assembled.

23. The coaxial cable connector of claim 18, further comprising a sealing member positioned between the nut and the connector body and configured to provide an environmental seal.

24. The coaxial cable connector of claim 18, wherein the continuity member is configured to contact the nut while being positioned between the connector body and the post so as to extend electrical grounding continuity through the post and the nut even when the nut is not fully tightened on an interface port.

25. The coaxial cable connector of claim 18, wherein:

the coaxial cable includes a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric covered by a conductive grounding shield, the conductive grounding shield being configured to be surrounded by a protective outer jack; and

the post includes a first end facing a forward direction and a second end facing a rearward direction, the second end of the post being configured to be inserted into an end of the coaxial cable around the dielectric and under at least a portion of the conductive grounding shield so as to form an electrical connection with the conductive grounding shield; and

the connector body includes a first end facing the forward direction and a second end facing the rearward direction, the connector body being configured to engage the post when the connector is assembled.

26. The coaxial cable connector of claim 25, wherein the continuity member is configured to contact the first end of the connector body when the connector is assembled.

27. The coaxial cable connector of claim 18, wherein the continuity member is arranged to maintain contact with the nut while being positioned between the portion of the post and the portion of the connector body so as to extend electrical grounding continuity through the post and the nut even when the nut is not fully tightened on an interface port.

28. The coaxial cable connector of claim 27, wherein the portion of the post comprises an outer surface shaped to fit the portion of the connector body.

29. The coaxial cable connector of claim 18, wherein the nut is configured to engage a conductive interface port and move between a partially tightened position on the interface port and fully tightened position on the interface port, and wherein the continuity member facilitates the extension of an electrical ground path and obtains electrical continuity, even when the nut is not fully tightened on the port.

30. The coaxial cable connector of claim 29, wherein only a few threads of the nut are needed to be engaged around the interface port in the partially tightened position to extend electrical continuity through the nut, the continuity member, the post, and a cable shielding.

31. The coaxial cable connector of claim 30, wherein the continuity member is configured to maintain electrical continuity when the nut is in both the partially tightened position on the interface port and in the fully tightened position on the interface port.

32. A coaxial cable connector comprising

a connector body;

a post attached to the connector body, the post having a flange, wherein the flange of the post has a forward facing surface and a rearward facing surface;

a nut axially rotatable with respect to the post and the connector body, the nut including an inward lip, wherein the inward lip of the nut has a forward facing surface, and a rearward facing surface;

an electrical continuity member positioned to contact the post, the body, and the nut, wherein the electrical continuity member contacts and electrically couples the post to the nut at a position other than between the rearward facing surface of the flange of the post and the forward facing surface of the lip of the nut;

a fastener member having a ramped surface to seal the connector body against a cable; and

wherein the continuity member is configured to contact a rearward facing surface of the lip of the nut and reside between a portion of the post and a portion of the connector body.