Continuity maintaining biasing member

• US 8,480,430 B2
• Filed: 12/24/2012
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Inventors: Ehret, Trevor, Montena, Noah, Zraik, Souheil, Haube, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond, Briggitte R
• Application Number:
  US13/726,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20130109230A1
• Time in Patent Office: 197 Days
• Field of Search: 439584-587
• US Class Current: 439/578
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5025 one or more pieces being of resilient material
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5202 Sealing means between parts of housing or between housing part and a wall, e.g. sealing rings
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/62 Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/622 Screw-ring or screw-casing H01R13/623 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/48 utilising a spring, clip, or other resilient member H01R4/52 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors of trolley lines B60M1/28
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/16 for manufacturing contact members, e.g. by punching and by bending
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/20 for assembling or disassembling contact members with insulating base, case or sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/26 for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device structural association with two-part coupling device H01R13/629
• 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 9/0527 Connection to outer conductor by action of a resilient member, e.g. spring
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49174 Assembling terminal to elongated conductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49204 Contact or terminal manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49208 by assembling plural parts

Abstract

A post having a first end, a second end, and a flange proximate the second end, wherein the post is configured to receive a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric of a coaxial cable, a connector body attached to the post, a coupling element attached to the post, the coupling element having a first end a second end, and a biasing member disposed within a cavity formed between the first end of the coupling element and the connector body to bias the coupling element against the post is provided. Moreover, a connector body having a biasing element, wherein the biasing element biases the coupling element against the post, is further provided. Furthermore, associated methods are also provided.

Claims

1. A coaxial cable connector comprising:

a post having a flange, the post configured to receive a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric of a coaxial cable;

a coupling element configured to engage the post and axially move between a first position, where the coupling element is partially tightened on an interface port, and a second position, where the coupling element is fully tightened on the interface port, the second position being axially spaced from the first position, the coupling element including an inward lip and also including a biasing contact surface facing a rearward direction; and

a connector body configured to engage the coaxial cable when the connector is in the assembled state, the connector body including;

a resilient biasing structure extending from the body, wherein the resilient biasing structure is configured to contact the biasing contact surface of the coupling element when the connector is in the assembled state; and

an annular groove configured to allow the resilient biasing structure to deflect along the axial direction and exert a biasing force against the biasing contact surface of the coupling element sufficient to axially move the inward lip of the coupling element toward the flange of the post when the coupling element axially moves between the first position, where the coupling element is partially tightened on the interface port, and the second position, where the coupling element is fully tightened on the interface port, and at least until the post contacts the interface port, so as to improve electrical grounding continuity between the coupling element and the post even when the coupling element is not fully tightened relative to the interface port.

2. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the resilient biasing structure extends a radial distance to engage the coupling element.

3. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the resilient biasing structure extends an axial distance to engage the coupling element.

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein the coupling element includes an internal wall extending along an axial direction and toward a rearward direction, and wherein the biasing contact surface of the coupling element is substantially perpendicular to the internal wall of the coupling element.

5. The connector of claim 4, wherein the biasing contact surface of the coupling element is located axially rearward from the internal wall of the coupling element.

6. The connector of claim 1, wherein the resilient biasing structure is configured to exert a constant biasing force against the coupling element.

7. The connector of claim 1, wherein the resilient biasing structure is integrally formed with the connector body.

8. The connector of claim 1, wherein the resilient biasing structure is made of substantially non-metallic and non-conductive material.

9. The connector of claim 1, wherein the resilient biasing structure is configured to exert a constant biasing force against the coupling element when the connector is in the assembled state and when the coupling element moves between the first position and the second position.

10. The connector of claim 9, wherein the biasing force is exerted against the coupling element along the axial direction and toward a forward direction.

11. The connector of claim 10, wherein the resilient biasing structure is configured to improve electrical grounding reliability between the coupling element and the post only when the biasing force is greater than a counter force exerted against the coupling element along the axial direction and toward a rearward direction opposite from the forward direction.

12. The connector of claim 11, wherein the biasing force is exerted against the connector body along the axial direction and toward a rearward direction.

13. The connector of claim 12, wherein the resilient biasing structure is configured to improve electrical grounding reliability between the coupling element and the post only when the biasing force is greater than a counter force exerted against the connector body along the axial direction and toward a forward direction opposite from the rearward direction.

14. The connector of claim 1, wherein the post does not engage an interface port when the coupling element is in the first position, and wherein the post engages the interface port when the coupling element is in the second position.

15. The connector of claim 1, wherein coupling element and the post are configured to move relative to one another when the connector is in the assembled state, a gap is formed between the coupling element and the connector body when the connector is in an assembled state so as to allow electrical grounding continuity to be interrupted when the coupling element and the post move out of contact relative to one another, and wherein the resilient biasing structure is configured to axially extend through the gap between the coupling element and the connector body and exert the biasing force against the biasing contact surface when the coupling element moves between the first position and the second position.

16. The connector of claim 15, wherein the resilient biasing structure of the connector body is configured to help prevent the gap between the coupling element and the connector body from allowing electrical grounding continuity to be interrupted when the coupling element and the post move relative to one another.

17. A method for improving electrical continuity through a coaxial cable connector, the method comprising:

positioning a post, so that at least a portion of the post surrounds a center conductor of a coaxial cable and also surrounds a dielectric surrounding the center conductor of the coaxial cable, wherein the post includes a flange;

coaxially positioning a coupling element so as to rotate with respect to the post, wherein the coupling element includes an inward lip and a biasing contact surface facing a rearward axial direction away from the flange of the post, when the connector is in an assembled state;

coaxially positioning a connector body to engage the post, the coupling element, and the coaxial cable when the connector is in an assembled state, the connector body including;

a resilient biasing structure extending from the body so as to contact the biasing contact surface of the coupling element when the connector is in the assembled state; and

an annular groove configured to allow the resilient biasing structure to deflect along the axial direction and exert a biasing force against the biasing contact surface of the coupling element sufficient to axially move the inward lip of the coupling element toward the flange of the post; and

axially moving the coupling element between a first position, where the coupling element is partially tightened on an interface port, and a second position, where the coupling element is fully tightened on the interface port, the second position being axially spaced from the first position, wherein the resilient biasing structure exerts a biasing force upon the biasing surface of the coupling element when the coupling element axially moves between the first position and the second position, at least until the post contacts the interface port, so that during movement of the coupling element between the first and the second positions the coupling element persistently contacts the post and improves electrical grounding reliability between the coupling element and the post even when the coupling element is not fully tightened relative to the interface port.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the resilient biasing structure extends a radial distance to engage the coupling element.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the resilient biasing structure extends an axial distance to engage the coupling element.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the coupling element includes an internal wall extending along an axial direction and toward a rearward direction, and wherein the biasing contact surface of the coupling element is substantially perpendicular to the internal wall of the coupling element.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the biasing contact surface of the coupling element is located axially rearward from the internal wall of the coupling element.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the resilient biasing structure is configured to exert a constant biasing force against the coupling element.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the resilient biasing structure is integrally formed with the connector body.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the resilient biasing structure is made of substantially non-metallic and non-conductive material.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the resilient biasing structure is configured to exert a constant biasing force against the coupling element when the connector is in the assembled state and when the coupling element moves between the first position and the second position.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the biasing force is exerted against the coupling element along the axial direction and toward a forward direction.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the resilient biasing structure is configured to improve electrical grounding reliability between the coupling element and the post only when the biasing force is greater than a counter force exerted against the coupling element along the axial direction and toward a rearward direction opposite from the forward direction.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the biasing force is exerted against the connector body along the axial direction and toward a rearward direction.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the resilient biasing structure is configured to improve electrical grounding reliability between the coupling element and the post only when the biasing force is greater than a counter force exerted against the connector body along the axial direction and toward a forward direction opposite from the rearward direction.

30. The method of claim 17, wherein the post does not engage an interface port when the coupling element is in the first position, and wherein the post engages the interface port when the coupling element is in the second position.

31. The method of claim 17, wherein coupling element and the post are configured to move relative to one another when the connector is in the assembled state, a gap is formed between the coupling element and the connector body when the connector is in an assembled state so as to allow electrical grounding continuity to be interrupted when the coupling element and the post move out of contact relative to one another, and wherein the resilient biasing structure is configured to axially extend through the gap between the coupling element and the connector body and exert the biasing force against the biasing contact surface when the coupling element moves between the first position and the second position.

32. The method of claim 18, wherein the resilient biasing structure of the connector body is configured to help prevent a gap between the coupling element and the connector body from allowing electrical grounding continuity to be interrupted when the coupling element and the post move relative to one another.

33. A coaxial cable connector comprising:

a post having a flange, the post configured to receive a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric of a coaxial cable;

a coupling means for engaging the post and axially moving between a first position, where the post does not engage an interface port, and a second position, where the post engages the interface port, the second position being axially spaced from the first position, the coupling element including an inward lip and also including a biasing contact means facing a rearward direction; and

a body means for engaging the coaxial cable when the connector is in the assembled state, the body means including;

a resilient biasing means for extending from the body and contacting the biasing contact means of the coupling means when the connector is in the assembled state; and

a deflection space means for allowing the resilient biasing means to deflect along an axial direction and flexibly exert a biasing force against the biasing contact means of the coupling means sufficient to axially move the inward lip of the coupling means toward the flange of the post when the coupling means axially moves between the first position and the second position so as to improve electrical grounding continuity between the coupling means and the post even when the coupling means is not fully tightened relative to the interface port.

34. The coaxial cable connector of claim 33, wherein the resilient biasing means extends a radial distance so as to engage the coupling element.

35. The coaxial cable connector of claim 33, wherein the resilient biasing means extends an axial distance so as to engage the coupling element.

36. The connector of claim 33, wherein the coupling means includes an internal wall extending along an axial direction and toward a rearward direction, and wherein the biasing contact means of the coupling means is substantially perpendicular to the internal wall of the coupling means.

37. The connector of claim 36, wherein the biasing contact means of the coupling means is located axially rearward from the internal wall of the coupling means.

38. The connector of claim 33, wherein the resilient biasing means is configured to exert a constant biasing force against the coupling means.

39. The connector of claim 33, wherein the resilient biasing means is integrally formed with the body means.

40. The connector of claim 33, wherein the resilient biasing means is made of substantially non-metallic and non-conductive material.

41. The connector of claim 33, wherein the resilient biasing means is configured to exert a constant biasing force against the coupling means when the connector is in the assembled state and when the coupling means moves between the first position and the second position.

42. The connector of claim 41, wherein the biasing force is exerted against the coupling means along the axial direction and toward a forward direction.

43. The connector of claim 42, wherein the resilient biasing means is configured to improve electrical grounding reliability between the coupling means and the post only when the biasing force is greater than a counter force exerted against the coupling means along the axial direction and toward a rearward direction opposite from the forward direction.

44. The connector of claim 43, wherein the biasing force is exerted against the body means along the axial direction and toward a rearward direction.

45. The connector of claim 44, wherein the resilient biasing means is configured to improve electrical grounding reliability between the coupling means and the post only when the biasing force is greater than a counter force exerted against the body means along the axial direction and toward a forward direction opposite from the rearward direction.

46. The connector of claim 33, wherein the connector is in a partially tightened position when the coupling element is in the first position, and wherein the connector is in a fully tightened position when the coupling element is in the second position.

47. The connector of claim 33, wherein the coupling means and the post are configured to move relative to one another when the connector is in the assembled state, a gap is formed between the coupling means and the body means when the connector is in an assembled state so as to allow electrical grounding continuity to be interrupted when the coupling means and the post move out of contact relative to one another, and wherein the resilient biasing means is configured to axially extend through the gap between the coupling means and the body means and exert the biasing force against the biasing contact means when the coupling means moves between the first position and the second position.

48. The connector of claim 33, wherein the resilient biasing means of the connector body is configured to help prevent a gap between the coupling means and the body means from allowing electrical grounding continuity to be interrupted when the coupling means and the post move relative to one another.

49. A coaxial cable connector comprising:

a post having a flange, the post configured to receive a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric of a coaxial cable;

a body means for engaging the post, the body means including a body biasing means;

a coupling means configured to engage the post and move between a first position, where the post does not engage an interface port, and a second position, where the post engages the interface port, when the connector is in an assembled state, the second position being axially spaced from the first position, the coupling element including;

an inwardly extending lip having a rearwardly facing biasing means; and

an outer wall means extending toward a rearward direction;

the rearwardly facing biasing means and the outer wall means being configured to at least partially define a cavity means between the coupling element and the body means when the connector is in an assembled state, the cavity means being configured to allow electrical grounding continuity to be interrupted when the coupling means and the post means move out of contact relative to one another;

a biasing means configured to fit within the cavity means and cooperate with the rearwardly facing biasing means of the inwardly extending lip of the coupling means and the body biasing means of the body means so as to exert a constant axial biasing force between rearwardly facing biasing means of the inwardly extending lip of the coupling means and the body biasing means of the body means when the coupling means moves between the first position and the second position, the constant axial biasing force being sufficient to axially bias the coupling means towards the post along an axial direction and help prevent the cavity means from allowing electrical grounding continuity to be interrupted when the coupling means and the post move out of contact relative to one another; and

wherein the biasing means is configured to provide a physical seal between the coupling means and the body means when the connector is in the assembled state, the biasing means is made of a resilient and substantially non-metallic and non-conductive material, and the biasing means simultaneously contacts both the outer wall means of the coupling means and the body biasing means of the body means when the coupling means moves between the first position and the second position.

50. The coaxial cable connector of claim 49, wherein the post includes an outwardly extending flange, and the biasing means is configured to bias the inwardly extending lip of the coupling means toward the outwardly extending flange of the post means.

51. The coaxial cable connector of claim 49, wherein the biasing means is configured to facilitate an electrically conductive path through the coupling means and the post when the coupling means is biased toward the post by the biasing means and even when the coupling means is in the first position.

52. The coaxial cable connector of claim 49, wherein the biasing means is an over-sized O-ring having an axial dimension larger than the axial depth of the cavity between the rearwardly facing biasing means of the inwardly extending lip of the coupling element and the body biasing means of the body means.

53. The coaxial cable connector of claim 49, wherein the connector is in a partially tightened position when the coupling means is in the first position, and wherein the connector is in a fully tightened position when the coupling means is in the second position.

54. The coaxial cable connector of claim 49, wherein the coupling means and the post are configured to move relative to one another when the connector is in the assembled state, a gap is formed between the coupling means and the body means when the connector is in an assembled state so as to allow electrical grounding continuity to be interrupted when the coupling means and the post move out of contact relative to one another, and wherein the biasing means is configured to axially extend through the gap between the coupling means and the body means and exert the biasing force against the rearwardly facing biasing contact means of the coupling means when the coupling means moves between the first position and the second position.

55. The connector of claim 49, wherein the biasing means is configured to help prevent a gap between the coupling means and the body means from allowing electrical grounding continuity to be interrupted when the coupling means and the post move relative to one another.