Connector having a constant contact nut

• US 8,323,053 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2010
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Montena, Noah
• Primary Examiner(s): HYEON, HAE M
• Application Number:
  US12/906,559
• Publication Number:
  US 20120094532A1
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 439/578, 439/584, D13/154
• US Class Current: 439/578
• 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

Abstract

A connector comprising a connector body attached to a post, the post including a first end portion and an opposing second end portion, and a flange proximate the second end portion, a port coupling element rotatably attached to the post, wherein the port coupling element has a first end and a second end, and a plurality of openings on the port coupling element, the plurality of openings extending a distance toward the first end from the second end of the port coupling element. Furthermore, a method of maintaining ground continuity in a connector comprising the steps providing a connector body attached to a post, the post having a first end, an opposing second end, and port coupling element having a plurality of openings positioned thereon, and biasing the port coupling element in a position of interference with the post is also provided.

Claims

1. A coaxial cable connector comprising:

a connector body attached to a post, the post including a first end portion and an opposing second end portion, and a flange proximate the second end portion;

a port coupling element rotatably attached to the post, the port coupling element has a first end and a second end, wherein the port coupling element includes internal threads configured to threadably mate with a port; and

a plurality of openings on the port coupling element, the plurality of openings extending a distance toward the first end from the second end of the port coupling element.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the port coupling element exerts a constant radial force against an outer edge of the post to establish and maintain physical and electrical continuity between the post and the port coupling element.

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein the plurality of openings are axially extending slots across the port coupling element which allow radial movement of the port coupling element proximate the second end.

4. The connector of claim 1, further comprising:

a fastener member, wherein the fastener member is configured to operate on and deform the connector body sealingly compressing it against and affixing it to a coaxial cable.

5. A coaxial cable connector comprising:

a connector body attached to a post, the post having a first end portion, an opposing second end portion, and a flange proximate the second end portion, the flange having an outer edge;

a port coupling element rotatable about the post, wherein the port coupling element includes a first end and an opposing second end, the first end of the port coupling element configured to threadably mate with a port; and

a plurality of engagement fingers proximate the second end, wherein the plurality of engagement fingers are biased into a position of interference with the post.

6. The connector of claim 5, wherein an inner surface of each of the plurality of engagement fingers exerts a constant radial force against the outer edge of the flange to establish and maintain physical and electrical continuity between the post and the port coupling element.

7. The connector of claim 5, further comprising:

a fastener member, wherein the fastener member is configured to operate on and deform the connector body sealingly compressing it against and affixing it to a coaxial cable.

8. The connector of claim 5, wherein the plurality of engagement fingers are spaced apart by axially aligned slots positioned on the port coupling element proximate the second end.

9. A coaxial cable connector comprising:

a slotted port coupling element attached to a post, the slotted port coupling element having a first end, an opposing second end, wherein the slotted port coupling element is resilient in the radial direction and includes internal threads configured to threadably mate with a port; and

a connector body attached to the post, the post having a first end portion, an opposing second end portion, wherein a positioning of the post radially expands the slotted port coupling element, further wherein the slotted port coupling element exerts an opposing radial contact force against an outer surface of the post; and

wherein the opposing radial contact force establishes and maintains physical and electrical contact between the slotted port coupling element and the post regardless of the axial position of the post and the slotted port coupling element.

10. The connector of claim 9, wherein a plurality of slots are axially aligned openings that space apart portions of the slotted port coupling element.

11. The connector of claim 9, further comprising:

a fastener member, wherein the fastener member is configured to operate on and deform the connector body sealingly compressing it against and affixing it to a coaxial cable.

12. The connector of claim 9, wherein the opposing radial contact force is constant.

13. A method for establishing and maintaining electrical continuity in a connector comprising:

providing a connector body attached to a post, the post having a first end and an opposing second end; and

a port coupling element having a plurality of openings positioned thereon, wherein the port coupling element includes internal threads configured to threadably mate with a port; and

biasing the port coupling element in a position of interference with the post to establish and maintain electrical continuity.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein an inner surface of the port coupling element exerts a constant radial contact force against an outer edge of a flange, wherein the flange is attached to the post.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

a fastener member, wherein the fastener member is configured to operate on and deform the connector body sealingly compressing it against and affixing it to a coaxial cable.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the port coupling element is resilient.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of openings are axially aligned slots, that space apart portions of the port coupling elements.

18. A method for maintaining electrical continuity with a port comprising:

providing a connector body attached to a post, the post having a first end portion and an opposing second end portion; and

a port coupling element rotatable about the post, wherein the port coupling element has a first end, a second end, internal threads configured to threadably mate with a port, and a plurality of engagement fingers proximate the second end, the plurality of engagement fingers being resilient in a radial direction; and

expanding the plurality of engagement fingers in a radially outward direction, wherein the expansion of the plurality of engagement fingers by a positioning of the post results in the plurality of engagement fingers exerting a radially inward force against the post; and

wherein the radially inward force against the post establishes and maintains physical and electrical continuity between the post and the port coupling element regardless of the relative axial position between the post and the port coupling element.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the inner surface of each of the plurality of engagement fingers constantly contact the outer surface of the post when the plurality of engagement fingers exert the radially inward force against the post.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

a fastener member, wherein the fastener member is configured to operate on and deform the connector body sealingly compressing it against and affixing it to a coaxial cable.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the plurality of engagement fingers are spaced apart by axially aligned slots positioned on the port coupling element proximate the second end.