Continuity maintaining biasing member

• US 8,485,845 B2
• Filed: 12/24/2012
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• 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, Haube, Richard A., Montena, Noah, Zraik, Souheil
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond, Briggitte R
• Application Number:
  US13/726,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20130115813A1
• Time in Patent Office: 204 Days
• Field of Search: 439578-584
• 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 first end, a second end, and a flange, wherein the first end of the post is configured to receive a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric of a coaxial cable;

a connector body, having a first end, a second end, and a body contact surface, the first end configured to receive a portion of the coaxial cable and the second end configured to be engaged with the post, when the connector is in an assembled state;

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 having a first end, a second end, an internal lip having a lip contact surface extending along a radial direction and facing a rearward direction, and an outer internal wall surface extending along an axial direction substantially perpendicular to the radial direction so as to form a substantially orthogonal shaped cavity between the coupling element and the connector body when the connector is in the assembled state, the cavity being configured to allow the coupling element to move toward the connector body and away from the flange of the post when the connector is in the assembled state and permit electrical continuity to be interrupted when the coupling element and the post move away from one another; and

a biasing member configured to fit within the cavity between the coupling element and the connector body and exert a biasing force between the lip contact surface of the coupling element and the body contact surface of the body, the biasing force being sufficient to axially bias the coupling element towards the flange of the post and help prevent the cavity from interrupting electrical continuity by keeping the coupling element urged the post when the coupling element rotates relative to the post, as the coupling element 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 electrically contacts the post;

wherein the biasing force exerted by the biasing member helps improve electrical grounding reliability between the coupling element, the post, and the interface port, even when the post is not fully tightened relative to the interface port by helping to prevent the cavity from allowing electrical continuity to be interrupted;

wherein the biasing member is configured to provide a physical seal between the coupling element and the connector body when the connector is in the assembled state; and

wherein the biasing member is made of substantially non-metallic and non-conductive material.

2. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the biasing member simultaneously contacts the outer internal wall of the coupling element and a contact surface of the connector body, and urges the coupling element toward to post to close an axial gap between the internal lip of the coupling element and the flange of the post while substantially preventing movement of the coupling element toward the connector body, when the connector is in the assembled state.

3. The coaxial cable connector of claim 2, wherein the axial gap between the internal lip of the coupling element and the flange of the post is void of any physical structure.

4. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the biasing member is configured to exert the biasing force against the coupling element along a direction opposite an interface port engagement force resultant upon the coupling element by the interface port as the coupling element is advanced onto the interface port, and wherein the biasing force exerted by the biasing member is greater than the interface port engagement force, so that the coupling element does not substantially move toward the connector body, and further wherein the biasing member promotes electrical continuity between the post and the coupling element, but does not substantially impede the rotational movement of the coupling element with respect to the post and the connector body, as the coupling element is advanced onto the interface port.

5. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the biasing member biases the internal lip of the coupling element against a surface of the flange of the post.

6. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the biasing member is configured to exert a constant biasing force against the coupling element when the coupling element moves between the first and second positions.

7. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the biasing member is resilient and 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 partially tightened position and the fully tightened position.

8. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the biasing member is an over-sized O-ring having an axial dimension larger than the axial depth of the cavity between the body contact surface of the connector body and the internal lip of the coupling element.

9. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the biasing member resists degradation and rust.

10. The connector of claim 1, 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 biasing member 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 1, 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 biasing member 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. A coaxial cable connector for coupling an end of a coaxial cable and facilitating electrical connection with a coaxial cable interface port having a conductive surface, the coaxial cable having a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric, the dielectric being surrounded by a conductive grounding shield, the conductive grounding shield being surrounded by a protective outer jacket, the connector comprising:

a post having a first end, a second end, and a flange proximate the second end, wherein the post is configured to receive the center conductor and the dielectric of the coaxial cable;

a connector body having a first end and a second end, the first end configured to receive a prepared portion of the coaxial cable and the second end configured to engage the post, the second end including a body contact surface;

a coupling element rotatably attached to the post, the coupling element having a first end including a cavity and a second end configured to mate with an interface port,

wherein the cavity of the coupling element is bounded by;

an internal lip extending along a radial direction and facing a rearward direction, the internal lip having a lip contact surface, and

an internal wall extending in an axial direction and facing a forward direction;

wherein the internal wall has an axial length that is greater than the radial length of the lip contact surface of the internal lip;

wherein the radially extending lip contact surface of the internal lip of the coupling element is spaced away from the body contact surface of the second end of the connector body so as to form a gap between the connector body and the internal lip of the coupling element when the connector is in the assembled state, the gap being shaped to allow the coupling element and the connector body to move axially toward and away from one another and disrupt electrical continuity between the coupling element and the post when the connector is in the assembled state; and

a biasing structure located within the cavity bounded by the internal lip and the internal wall and axially disposed within the gap formed between the connector body and the internal lip of the coupling element, the biasing member configured to extend between the coupling element and the connector body and exert a biasing force on the lip contact surface of the internal lip of the coupling element and axially bias the coupling element towards the flange of the post, the biasing force being sufficient to prevent the gap from allowing the coupling element and the post from moving away from one another and disrupting electrical continuity between the coupling element and the post when the connector is in the assembled state;

wherein the biasing structure is non-metallic and non-conductive and is configured to form a physical seal against the body contact surface of the connector body; and

wherein the gap between the connector body and the internal lip of the coupling element is bounded by an axial depth and the biasing structure member comprises an over-sized O-ring having an axial dimension larger than the axial depth of the gap.

15. The coaxial cable connector of claim 14, wherein the biasing structure is resilient and is configured to exert a constant biasing force against the coupling element when the connector is in the assembled state.

16. The coaxial cable connector of claim 14, wherein the biasing member biases the internal lip of the coupling element against a surface of the flange of the post.

17. The coaxial cable connector of claim 14, wherein the biasing member resists degradation and rust.

18. The coaxial cable connector of claim 14, wherein the biasing member simultaneously contacts the outer internal wall of the coupling element, the lip contact surface of the internal lip of the coupling element, and the body contact surface of the connector body, so as to substantially prevent axial movement of the coupling element toward the connector body, when the connector is in the assembled state.

19. The connector of claim 14, wherein the biasing force is exerted against the coupling element along the axial direction and toward a forward direction.

20. The connector of claim 19, wherein the biasing member 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.

21. The connector of claim 14, wherein the biasing force is exerted against the connector body along the axial direction and toward a rearward direction.

22. The connector of claim 21, wherein the biasing member 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.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein the biasing force is exerted against the connector body along the axial direction and toward a rearward direction.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the biasing member 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.

23. A method of facilitating electrical continuity through a coaxial cable connector, comprising:

providing a coaxial cable connector including;

a post having a first end, a second end, and a flange, wherein the first end of the post is configured to receive a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric of a coaxial cable;

a connector body, having a first end, a second end, and a body contact surface, the first end configured to receive a portion of the coaxial cable and the second end configured to be engaged with the post, when the connector is in an assembled state;

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 engaged with the interface port by an initial threaded section of the coupling element, 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 having a first end, a second end, an internal lip having a lip contact surface extending along a radial direction and facing a rearward direction, and an outer internal wall surface extending along an axial direction substantially perpendicular to the radial direction, the lip contact surface and the outer internal wall surface forming a non-circular cavity between the coupling element and the connector body, when the connector is in the assembled state, the cavity forming an axial gap extending between the coupling element and the connector body that allows the coupling element and the connector body to move relative to one another and allow an electrical grounding path extending between the coupling element and the post to be interrupted when the coupling element and the connector body move relative to one another;

disposing a non-conductive and non-metallic biasing member within the cavity between the coupling element and the connector body, wherein the biasing member is configured to exert a biasing force between the lip contact surface of the coupling element and the body contact surface of the body, the biasing force being sufficient to axially move the coupling element towards the flange of the post when the coupling element axially moves relative to the post 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 to help prevent the gap between the coupling element and the connector body from allowing the electrical grounding path extending between the coupling element and the post to be interrupted;

providing an electrically conductive path through the coupling element and the post of the connector, when the coupling element is biased toward the post by the non-metallic and non-conductive biasing member, even when the coupling element is only partially tightened onto the interface port; and

wherein the axial gap between the connector body and the internal lip of the coupling element is bounded by an axial depth and the biasing structure member comprises an over-sized O-ring having an axial dimension larger than the axial depth of the axial gap.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the non-metallic and non-conductive biasing member provides a physical seal between the coupling element and the connector body when the connector is in the assembled state.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the coupling element includes a plurality of threads and the initial threaded section of the coupling elements comprises two threads.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the coupling element includes a plurality of threads and the initial threaded section of the coupling elements comprises one thread.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the biasing force is exerted against the coupling element along the axial direction and toward a forward direction.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the biasing member 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.

31. The method of claim 23, wherein the biasing member simultaneously contacts the outer internal wall of the coupling element and the contact surface of the connector body, so as to fill the axial gap between the coupling element and the connector body and substantially prevent movement of the coupling element toward the connector body, when the connector is in the assembled state.

32. A coaxial cable connector comprising:

a threaded nut configured to engage an interface port and move between a first position, where the nut is partially threaded on the interface port, and a second position, where the nut is fully threaded on the interface port, the nut including an inward lip and also including a radial contact surface facing away from the interface port, when the nut is engaged with the interface port;

a post rotatably attached to the threaded nut, the post having a flange; and

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

an integral biasing structure having a surface extending a radial distance with respect to a general axis of the connector, wherein the integral biasing structure is configured to facilitate biasing engagement with the biasing surface of the nut, when the connector is in the assembled state; and

a groove located axially rearward of the integral biasing structure and configured to permit axial deflection of the integral biasing structure to provide a biasing force against the radial contact surface of the nut sufficient to move the inward lip of the nut toward the flange of the post until the nut is fully threaded onto the interface port and the post makes constant physical and electrical contact with the interface port.

33. The coaxial cable connector of claim 32, wherein the surface of the integral biasing structure extends along an axial distance to engage the nut.

34. The connector of claim 33, wherein the nut includes an internal wall extending along an axial direction and toward a rearward direction, and wherein the radial contact surface of the nut is substantially perpendicular to the internal wall of the nut.

35. The connector of claim 34, wherein the radial contact surface of the nut is located axially rearward from the internal wall of the nut.

36. The connector of claim 33, wherein the integral biasing structure is configured to exert a constant biasing force against the nut.

37. The connector of claim 33, wherein the integral biasing structure is made of substantially non-metallic and non-conductive material.

38. The connector of claim 33, wherein the integral biasing structure is configured to exert a constant biasing force against the radial contact surface of the nut when the connector is in the assembled state and when the nut moves between the first position and the second position.

39. The connector of claim 38, wherein the biasing force is axially exerted against the nut toward a forward axial direction.

40. The connector of claim 39, wherein the integral biasing structure is configured to improve electrical grounding reliability between the nut and the post only when the biasing force is greater than a counter force exerted against the nut toward a rearward axial direction opposite from the forward axial direction.

41. The connector of claim 38, wherein the biasing force is exerted against the connector body toward a rearward axial direction.

42. The connector of claim 41, wherein the integral biasing structure is configured to improve electrical grounding reliability between the nut and the post only when the biasing force is greater than a counter force exerted against the connector body toward a forward axial direction opposite from the rearward axial direction.

43. The connector of claim 32, wherein the post does not engage the interface port when the nut is in the first position, and wherein the post engages the interface port when the nut is in the second position.

44. The connector of claim 32, wherein nut and the post are configured to move relative to one another when the connector is in the assembled state, the gap is formed between the nut and the connector body when the connector is in an assembled state so as to allow electrical grounding continuity to be interrupted when the nut and the post move out of contact relative to one another, and wherein the integral biasing structure is configured to axially extend within the gap between the nut and the connector body and exert the biasing force against the radial contact surface when the nut moves between the first position and the second position.