Cable connector

• US 8,591,244 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2011
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Inventors: Thomas, Charles, Dean, Michael, Phillips, Roger, Malloy, Allen L.
• Primary Examiner(s): HARVEY, JAMES R
• Application Number:
  US13/179,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20130012063A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 439/321, 439/322, 439578-585
• US Class Current: 439/321
• 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

One embodiment relates to a cable connector. The cable connector includes a body having a forward end and a rearward end opposite the forward end, a post disposed at least partially within the body, a fastener coupled to the forward end of the body, and a compressible member disposed on an outer surface of the body. The post includes a flange portion extending radially from a forward end of the post. The fastener is axially movable between a forward position and a rearward position, and wherein the fastener comprises an interior surface configured to contact the flange portion of the post when the fastener is in the forward position. The compressible member is configured to force the fastener toward the forward position such that the interior surface of the fastener provides a continuous pressure against the flange of the post when the fastener is in the forward position.

Claims

1. A cable connector, comprising:

a body having a forward end and a rearward end opposite the forward end, the rearward end configured to receive a cable;

a post disposed at least partially within the body and comprising a flange portion extending radially from a forward end of the post; and

a fastener coupled to the forward end of the body and configured to engage a mating connector, wherein the fastener is axially movable between a forward position and a rearward position, and wherein the fastener comprises an interior surface configured to contact the flange portion of the post when the fastener is in the forward position; and

a compressible member disposed on an outer surface of the body, the compressible member having a ring-shaped base element and at least one wedge-shaped flexible portion, wherein the compressible member is configured to force the fastener toward the forward position such that the interior surface of the fastener provides a continuous pressure against the flange of the post when the fastener is in the forward position.

3. The cable connector of claim 1, wherein the ring-shaped base element is configured to contact an outward-facing shoulder of the body, and wherein the at least one wedge-shaped flexible portion extends from the ring-shaped base element and contacts the fastener, and wherein the at least one wedge-shaped flexible portion is configured to exert a force on the fastener in a forward direction toward the forward position.

7. The cable connector of claim 1, further comprising a non-conductive sealing element within a rearward portion of a threaded cavity of the fastener.

8. The cable connector of claim 1, wherein the compressible member is disposed external to the fastening element in at least one of an axial direction and a radial direction.

9. The cable connector of claim 1, wherein the compressible member comprises a non-conductive material.

10. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the continuous pressure comprises a pressure of at least 0.5 pounds.

2. A coaxial cable connector, comprising:

a connector body having a forward end and a rearward end opposite the forward end, the rearward end configured to receive a coaxial cable;

an annular post disposed at least partially within the connector body and comprising a flange portion extending radially from a forward end of the annular post; and

a fastener coupled to the forward end of the body and configured to engage a mating connector, wherein the fastener is axially movable between a forward position and a rearward position, and wherein the fastener comprises an interior surface configured to contact the flange portion of the post when the fastener is in the forward position; and

a spring element disposed between the fastener and an outer surface of the connector body, wherein the spring element comprises a plurality of wedge-shaped flexible elements and is configured to exert a force on the fastener in a forward direction toward the forward position such that the interior surface of the fastener remains in substantially continuous contact with the flange of the post unless another force is exerted on the fastener in a rearward direction.

11. The coaxial cable connector of claim 2, further comprising a non-conductive sealing element within a rearward portion of a threaded cavity of the fastener.

12. The coaxial cable connector of claim 2, wherein the spring element is disposed external to the fastening element in at least one of an axial direction and a radial direction.

13. The coaxial cable connector of claim 2, wherein the spring element is disposed between the fastener and an outer surface of the connector body, wherein each of the wedge-shaped flexible elements comprises a vertex about which the wedge-shaped flexible element is bent, a first side on one side of the vertex configured to contact the fastener, and a second side on the other side of the vertex configured to contact the connector body, wherein the wedge-shaped flexible elements are configured to exert compressive force on the fastener in a forward direction toward the forward position.

14. The coaxial cable connector of claim 13, wherein the fastener comprises a hexagonal nut portion, wherein the spring element comprises six wedge-shaped flexible elements, each of which is configured to contact the fastener at a position adjacent to a different edge of the hexagonal nut portion.

15. The coaxial cable connector of claim 2, wherein the connector body comprises a first radially extending shoulder and the fastener comprises a second shoulder that is opposite the first shoulder, wherein the spring element is compressed between the first shoulder and the second shoulder.

4. A coaxial cable connector, comprising:

a connector body having a forward end and a rearward end opposite the forward end, the rearward end configured to receive a coaxial cable;

an annular post disposed at least partially within the connector body and comprising a flange portion extending radially from a forward end of the annular post; and

a fastener coupled to the forward end of the body and configured to engage a mating connector, wherein the fastener is axially movable between a forward position and a rearward position, and wherein the fastener comprises an interior surface configured to contact the flange portion of the post when the fastener is in the forward position;

an elastomeric element having a flat, elongated inner surface, wherein the elastomeric element is disposed over at least a portion of an outer surface of the fastener, wherein the elastomeric element is compressed between the body and the fastener in both the forward position and the rearward position and configured to exert force on the fastener to press the fastener in a forward direction toward the forward position; and

a non-conductive sealing element within a rearward portion of a threaded cavity of the fastener.

5. The coaxial cable connector of claim 4, wherein the connector body comprises a first radially extending shoulder and the fastener comprises a second shoulder that is opposite the first shoulder, wherein an overmold element is compressed between the first shoulder and the second shoulder.

6. The coaxial cable connector of claim 4, wherein the elastomeric element comprises a non-conductive material.