Cable connector having a biasing element

• US 8,506,325 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2011
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Belden Inc.
• Inventors: Malloy, Allen L., Rodrigues, Julio F.
• Primary Examiner(s): HYEON, HAE M
• Application Number:
  US13/290,820
• Publication Number:
  US 20120171894A1
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 439/578, 439/583, 439/584, 439/585, 439/321
• US Class Current: 439/578
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/187 with spring member in the socket
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6584 formed by conductive elastomeric members, e.g. flat gaskets or O-rings
• 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: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A coaxial cable connector for coupling a coaxial cable to a mating connector includes a connector body having a forward end and a rearward cable receiving end for receiving the cable. A nut is rotatably coupled to the forward end of the connector body. An annular post is disposed within the connector body, the post having a forward flanged base portion disposed within a rearward extent of the nut, the forward flanged base portion having a forward face. A biasing element is attached to the forward flanged base portion of the post and includes a deflectable portion extending outwardly in a forward direction beyond the forward face of the post shoulder portion.

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 the coaxial cable;

a nut rotatably coupled to said forward end of said connector body;

an annular post disposed within said connector body, said annular post having a forward flanged base portion disposed within a rearward extent of said nut, said forward flanged base portion having a forward face and a recess formed in an outer surface of the forward flanged base portion; and

a biasing element attached to said forward flanged base portion of said annular post and having a deflectable portion extending outwardly in a forward direction beyond said forward face of said forward flanged base portion, the biasing element further comprising an attachment portion received in the recess of the forward flanged base portion.

2. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein said biasing element comprises a base portion fixed to said forward flanged base portion and a deflectable portion extending in said forward direction beyond said forward face of said forward flanged base portion.

3. The coaxial cable connector of claim 2, wherein said deflectable portion extends in a direction radially inward from said base portion of the biasing element.

4. The coaxial cable connector of claim 2, wherein said deflectable portion extends in a direction radially outward from said base portion of the biasing element.

5. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein said biasing element comprises:

a cylindrical wall; and

a deflectable portion disposed at a forward end of said cylindrical wall opposite said attachment portion, said deflectable portion extending in a direction radially inward from said cylindrical wall and extending in said forward direction beyond said forward face of said forward flanged base portion.

6. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein said biasing element comprises:

a cylindrical wall;

a retaining lip extending radially inward from a rearward end of said cylindrical wall and received in a peripheral groove of said forward flanged base portion; and

a reverse-bent deflectable rim disposed at a forward end of said cylindrical wall opposite said retaining lip, said deflectable rim extending in a direction radially inward from said cylindrical wall and extending in said forward direction beyond said forward face of said forward flanged base portion.

7. 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 the coaxial cable;

a nut rotatably coupled to the forward end of the connector body;

an annular post disposed within the connector body, the annular post having a forward flanged base portion located adjacent a portion of the nut;

an annular notch formed in the forward flanged base portion; and

a biasing element retained in the annular notch,

wherein the biasing element includes a conical spring having a number of resilient, spaced apart fingers.

8. The coaxial cable connector of claim 7, wherein the biasing element includes a substantially cylindrical attachment portion formed rearward of the resilient, spaced apart fingers, wherein the attachment portion is configured to engage the annular notch to retain the biasing element to the annular post.

9. The coaxial cable connector of claim 8, wherein the attachment portion includes at least one detent located in an interior surface of the attachment portion, wherein the at least one detent engages the annular notch.

10. The coaxial cable connector of claim 9, wherein the at least one detent comprises a number of detents radially spaced around the attachment portion.

11. The coaxial cable connector of claim 7, wherein the resilient, spaced apart fingers have a radially curved configuration.

12. The coaxial cable connector of claim 7, wherein the biasing element is electrically conductive.

13. The coaxial cable connector of claim 7, wherein the resilient, spaced apart fingers are configured to compress toward the forward flanged base portion upon axial insertion of the mating connector into the nut.

14. 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 the coaxial cable;

a nut rotatably coupled to the forward end of the connector body;

an annular post disposed within the connector body, the annular post having a forward flanged base portion located adjacent a rearward portion of the nut; and

a biasing element retained around the forward flanged base portion and configured to provide a biasing force between the annular post and the mating connector,

wherein the biasing element includes a conical spring having a number of resilient, spaced apart fingers.

15. The coaxial cable connector of claim 14,

wherein the biasing element includes a substantially cylindrical attachment portion formed rearward of the resilient, spaced apart fingers, wherein the attachment portion is configured to frictionally engage the flanged base portion to retain the biasing element to the annular post.

16. The coaxial cable connector of claim 14, wherein the attachment portion includes a flange.

17. 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 the cable;

a nut rotatably coupled to the forward end of the connector body;

an annular post disposed within the connector body, the annular post having a forward flanged base portion located adjacent a portion of the nut;

an annular notch formed in the forward flanged base portion; and

a biasing element retained in the annular notch,

wherein the biasing element includes an attachment portion for engaging the annular notch and a resilient central portion having an opening therethrough,

wherein the resilient central portion includes a plurality of resilient members configured to apply a biasing force between the annular post and the mating connector, upon insertion of the mating connector into the nut.

18. The coaxial cable connector of claim 17,

wherein the resilient central portion comprises a number of tabbed portions, wherein each tabbed portion includes a first end and a second end formed lower than the first end,

wherein the biasing force between the annular post and the mating connector is caused by deflection, in each tabbed portion, of the second end toward the first end.

19. The coaxial cable connector of claim 18, wherein the attachment portion comprises a substantially octagonal attachment portion formed rearward of the resilient central portion, and wherein each tabbed portion is integrally formed substantially perpendicularly with a side of the substantially octagonal attachment portion.

20. The coaxial cable connector of claim 18, wherein the attachment portion comprises a substantially cylindrical attachment portion formed rearward of the resilient central portion, wherein the coaxial cable connector further comprises:

a number of spoke portions integrally formed substantially perpendicularly with the substantially cylindrical attachment portion,

wherein each tabbed portion projects radially from one of the number of spoke portions.

21. The coaxial cable connector of claim 18, wherein the attachment portion comprises a substantially cylindrical attachment portion formed rearward of the resilient central portion, wherein the coaxial cable connector further comprises:

a hub portion integrally formed substantially perpendicularly with the substantially cylindrical attachment portion having a number of spaced openings therein,

wherein each tabbed portion projects axially from one of the number of spaced openings in the hub portion.