Coaxial cable continuity connector

• US 8,506,326 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2012
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Inventors: Purdy, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THANH TAM T
• Application Number:
  US13/659,298
• Publication Number:
  US 20130045627A1
• Time in Patent Office: 293 Days
• Field of Search: 439/314, 439/320, 439/322, 439578-585
• US Class Current: 439/578
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/622 Screw-ring or screw-casing H01R13/623 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/40 specially adapted for high frequency
• 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 29/49195 with end-to-end orienting

Abstract

A coaxial cable continuity connector comprising a connector body, a post engageable with connector body, wherein the post includes a flange having a tapered surface, a nut, wherein the nut includes an internal lip having a tapered surface, wherein the tapered surface of the nut oppositely corresponds to the tapered surface of the post when the nut and post are operably axially located with respect to each other when the coaxial cable continuity connector is assembled, and a continuity member disposed between and contacting the tapered surface of the post and the tapered surface of the nut, so that the continuity member endures a moment resulting from the contact forces of the opposite tapered surfaces, when the continuity connector is assembled, is provided.

Claims

1. A coaxial cable continuity connector comprising;

a connector body, having a first end and an axially opposed second end, wherein the opposite axial location of the first end and the second end of the connector body exists with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the coaxial cable continuity connector;

a post engageable with the connector body, an end of the post configured to be inserted under a conductive shield of a coaxial cable, wherein the post includes a flange and a tapered surface, the tapered surface of the post forming a non-radial face extending at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the coaxial cable continuity connector;

a nut, wherein the nut includes an internal lip, the internal lip of the nut extending radially inward into a general opening of the nut, wherein the internal lip of the nut is located proximate the tapered surface of the post when the coaxial cable continuity connector is assembled; and

a C-shaped continuity member, the C-shaped continuity member contacting the tapered surface of the post and the internal lip of the nut when the continuity connector is assembled.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein, when the continuity connector is assembled, the continuity member maintains continuous physical contact between the post and the nut.

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein the C-shaped continuity member radially expands as the continuity connector is mated onto an interface port.

4. The connector of claim 3, wherein the radial expansion of the C-shaped continuity member occurs while the continuity member is axially advanced by the internal lip of the nut.

5. The connector of claim 1, wherein the continuity member is a split ring lock washer.

6. The connector of claim 1, wherein the continuity member is an external tooth washer.

7. A coaxial cable continuity connector comprising;

a connector body, having a first end and an axially opposed second end, wherein an opposite axial location of the first end and the second end of the connector body exists with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the coaxial cable continuity connector;

a nut rotatable with respect to the connector body, wherein the nut includes an internal lip;

a post securely engageable with the connector body, an end of the post configured to be inserted under a conductive shield of a coaxial cable wherein the post includes a tapered surface, the tapered surface of the post forming a non-radial face extending at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the coaxial cable continuity connector, wherein the tapered surface of the post is axially located proximate the internal lip of the nut when the coaxial cable continuity connector is assembled; and

a continuous ground path located between the nut and the post, the ground path facilitated by the disposition of a continuity member positioned between the tapered surface of the post and a surface of the internal lip of the nut to continuously contact the nut and the post, wherein the continuity member expands about the tapered surface of the post as the continuity connector is mated onto an interface port.

8. The connector of claim 7, wherein the continuity member is C-shaped.

9. The connector of claim 7, wherein the continuity member radially expands as the continuity connector is mated onto the interface port.

10. The connector of claim 9, wherein the radial expansion of the continuity member occurs while the continuity member is axially advanced by the surface of the internal lip of the nut.

11. The connector of claim 7, wherein the continuity member is arcuately shaped.

12. The connector of claim 7, wherein the continuity member is a split ring lock washer.

13. The connector of claim 7, wherein the continuity member is an external tooth washer.

14. A coaxial cable continuity connector comprising;

a connector body, having a first end and an axially opposed second end, wherein the opposite axial location of the first end and the second end of the connector body exists with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the coaxial cable continuity connector;

a nut rotatable with respect to the connector body, wherein the nut includes an internal lip;

a post securely engageable with the connector body, an end of the post configured to be inserted under a conductive shield of a coaxial cable, wherein the post includes a tapered surface, the tapered surface of the post forming a non-radial face extending at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the coaxial cable continuity connector, wherein the tapered surface of the post is axially located proximate the internal lip of the nut when the coaxial cable continuity connector is assembled; and

an arcuately shaped continuity member positioned between the tapered surface of the post and a surface of the internal lip of the nut to continuously contact the surface of the internal lip of the nut and the post, wherein the arcuately shaped continuity member expands about the tapered surface of the post as the continuity connector is mated onto an interface port.

15. The continuity connector of claim 14, wherein the arcuately shaped continuity member is shaped to extend around the tapered surface of the post over an arc of at least 225 degrees.

16. The connector of claim 14, wherein the continuity member radially expands as the continuity connector is mated onto the interface port.

17. The connector of claim 16, wherein the radial expansion of the continuity member occurs while the continuity member is axially advanced by the surface of the internal lip of the nut.

18. The connector of claim 14, wherein the continuity member is a split ring lock washer.

19. The connector of claim 14, wherein the continuity member is an external tooth washer.

20. A method of extending an electrical ground path from a coaxial cable, through a coaxial cable connector, to an interface port, the method comprising:

providing a coaxial cable continuity connector including;

a connector body, having a first end and an axially opposed second end, wherein the opposite axial location of the first end and the second end of the connector body exists with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the coaxial cable continuity connector;

a nut rotatable with respect to the connector body, wherein the nut includes an internal lip;

a post securely engageable with the connector body, an end of the post configured to be inserted under a conductive shield of a coaxial cable, wherein the post includes a tapered surface, the tapered surface of the post forming a non-radial face extending at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the coaxial cable continuity connector, wherein the tapered surface of the post is axially located proximate the internal lip of the nut when the coaxial cable continuity connector is assembled; and

an arcuately shaped continuity member positioned between the tapered surface of the post and a surface of the internal lip of the nut to continuously contact the surface of the internal of the nut and the post, wherein the arcuately shaped continuity member expands about the tapered surface of the post as the continuity connector is mated onto an interface port; and

assembling the coaxial cable continuity connector.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the continuity member is C-shaped.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the continuity member radially expands as the continuity connector is mated onto the interface port.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the radial expansion of the continuity member occurs while the continuity member is axially advanced by the surface of the internal lip of the nut.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the continuity member is a split ring lock washer.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the continuity member is an external tooth washer.

26. A coaxial cable continuity connector comprising;

a connector body, having a first end and an axially opposed second end, wherein the opposite axial location of the first end and the second end of the connector body exists with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the coaxial cable continuity connector;

a nut rotatable with respect to the connector body, wherein the nut includes an internal lip;

a post securely engageable with the connector body, the post having a first end and a second end, the first end having a flange, the second end configured to be inserted under a conductive shield of a coaxial cable, wherein the post includes a tapered surface, the tapered surface of the post forming a non-radial face extending at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the coaxial cable continuity connector, wherein the tapered surface of the post is axially located proximate the internal lip of the nut when the coaxial cable continuity connector is assembled; and

an arcuately shaped continuity member positioned between the tapered surface of the post and a surface of the internal lip of the nut to continuously contact the surface of the internal lip of the nut and the post, wherein the arcuately shaped continuity member radially expands about the tapered surface of the post when the arcuately shaped continuity member axially moves towards the first end of the post as the continuity connector is mated onto an interface port.