Push-on cable connector with a coupler and retention and release mechanism

• US 9,071,019 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2011
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Corning Gilbert Incorporated (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Burris, Donald Andrew, Lutz, William Bernard
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilman, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US13/281,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20120108098A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,343 Days
• Field of Search: 439/352, 439/358, 439/372, 439/578, 439/584, 439/843, 439/839, 439/378, 439/382, 439/583, 439/607.11, 439/57, 439/394, 439/322, 439/321
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/18 with the spring member surrounding the socket
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0518 Connection to outer conductor by crimping or by crimping ferrule

Abstract

A cable connector comprising a coupler and a retainer having a base with an internal channel and a latching assembly is disclosed. The coupler has a first end, a second end, and a bore extending therethrough. The latching assembly comprises a beam having a first end and a second end. The latching assembly pivotably connects to the base and has a plurality of teeth extending radially inwardly through a latch slot towards the bore of the coupler. A spring clip radially inwardly biases the coupler. The coupler has at least one compression slot that responds to the radially inwardly bias of the coupler, compressing the coupler radially inwardly and, thereby, providing a resiliently friction fit function to the coupler.

Claims

1. A cable connector, comprising:

a coupler comprising first and second ends and at least one latch slot, wherein the coupler is radially inwardly biased;

a retainer attached to the coupler, the retainer having a pivotable latching assembly a beam having first and second ends and a plurality of comprising teeth adapted to engage a thread of an equipment port and extending radially inwardly towards a bore of the coupler, wherein the second end of the beam and at least one of the plurality of teeth extend radially inwardly through the at least one latch slot in the second end of the coupler into the bore of the coupler and the latching assembly is biased in a latched position such that, when a force is applied to a grip portion of the latching assembly, the latching assembly pivots in a direction moving from the latched position, and when the force is removed from the latching assembly, the latching assembly pivots in an opposite direction moving toward the latched position.

2. The cable connector of claim 1, wherein, in the latched position, the latching assembly is adapted to automatically engage an equipment port and releasably retain the equipment port when the equipment port is received by the connector.

3. The cable connector of claim 1, wherein:

the latching assembly of the retainer is pivotably connected to a base of the retainer at a location on the beam between the first end and the second end of the beam;

and in the latched position, an end of the latching assembly beam and at least one of the latching assembly teeth extend radially inwardly through the at least one latch slot in the second end of the coupler into the bore of the coupler such that, when a force is applied to a grip portion of the latching assembly, the latching assembly pivots in a direction moving from the latched position.

4. The cable connector of claim 1, wherein the radially inward bias of the coupler allows the coupler to provide a resilient friction fit function.

5. The cable connector of claim 1, wherein the coupler is adapted to receive an equipment port such that the coupler is resiliently friction fitted to the equipment port.

6. The cable connector of claim 1, wherein the latching assembly is adapted to automatically engage an equipment port received by the cable connector.

7. The cable connector of claim 6, wherein the latching assembly is adapted to releasably retain the equipment port to the retainer.

8. The cable connector of claim 7, wherein the latching assembly is adapted to engage a thread of the equipment port.

9. The cable connector of claim 1, wherein the coupler has a first end and a second end.

10. The cable connector of claim 9, and wherein the first end is adapted to receive an end of a cable.

11. A cable connector, comprising:

a coupler having a first end, a second end comprising at least one latch slot, and a bore extending therethrough, wherein the second end is radially inwardly biased;

a retainer having a base with an internal channel, and a latching assembly pivotably connected to the base, wherein the latching assembly of the retainer comprises a beam having first and second ends,

the first end of the coupler is positioned within the internal channel of the base,

the latching assembly comprises a plurality of teeth extending radially inwardly from the second end of the beam through the latch slot in the second end of the coupler towards the bore of the coupler proximate to the second end of the coupler; and

the latching assembly is biased in a latched position such that, when a force is applied to a grip portion of the latching assembly, the latching assembly pivots in a direction moving from the latched position and the latching assembly is adapted to automatically engage an equipment port and releasably retain the equipment port when the equipment port is received by the connector.

12. The cable connector of claim 11, wherein the latching assembly is configured to automatically latch the retainer using at least one of the plurality of teeth.

13. The cable connector of claim 11, wherein the latching assembly is configured to unlatch the retainer by applying a force to the latching assembly.

14. The cable connector of claim 11, wherein the latching assembly pivotably connects to the base at a location on the beam between the first end and the second end.

15. The cable connector of claim 14, wherein the first end of the beam has a grip portion adapted for receiving force applied to the beam for pivoting the beam and unlatching the retainer.

16. The cable connector of claim 11, wherein the first end of the coupler comprises a tubular post, wherein the tubular post extends in the channel and, wherein the tubular post is adapted to receive an end of a cable.

17. The cable connector of claim 11, further comprising a spring clip, wherein the spring slip attaches at least partially around the coupler and provides the radially inwardly bias to the coupler.

18. The cable connector of claim 11, wherein the first end of the coupler is adapted to receive an equipment port such that the equipment port is resiliently friction fitted to the cable connector.

19. The cable assembly of claim 11, wherein the latching assembly is adapted to engage a thread of the equipment port.

20. The cable assembly of claim 19, wherein the at least one of a plurality of teeth engages a thread of the equipment port.

21. A cable connector comprising a coupler and a retainer, wherein:

the retainer comprises a base and a latching assembly;

the base of the retainer comprises an internal channel;

the coupler comprises a first end, a second end, and a bore extending therethrough;

the first end of the coupler is positioned within the internal channel of the retainer;

the second end of the coupler is radially inwardly biased;

the latching assembly of the retainer comprises a beam having a first end and a second end and is pivotably connected to the base at a location on the beam between the first end and the second end of the beam;

the latching assembly comprises a plurality of teeth extending radially inwardly from the second end of the beam towards the bore of the coupler proximate to the second end of the coupler;

the second end of the coupler comprises at least one latch slot;

the second end of the beam and at least one of the plurality of teeth extend radially inwardly through the at least one latch slot in the second end of the coupler into the bore of the coupler.

22. The cable connector of claim 21, wherein the beam comprises a plurality of beams.

23. The cable connector of claim 21, wherein the coupler has an annular groove, and wherein a spring clip positions in the annular groove at least partially around the coupler and provides the radially inwardly bias to the coupler.

24. The cable connector of claim 21, wherein the coupler has at least one compression slot, wherein the at least one compression slot responds to the radially inwardly bias of the coupler providing a resiliently friction fit function to the coupler.

25. The cable connector of claim 21, wherein at least one of the plurality of teeth extends past the second end of the body.

26. The cable connector of claim 21, wherein the base of the retainer comprises one or more strain relief slots to provide strain relief to a cable installed in the cable connector.

27. The cable connector of claim 21, wherein the latching assembly is biased in a latched position where the second end of the beam and at least one of the plurality of teeth extend radially inwardly through the at least one latch slot in the second end of the coupler into the bore of the coupler such that, when a force is applied to a grip portion of the latching assembly, the latching assembly pivots in a direction moving from the latched position.

28. The cable connector of claim 27, wherein, in the latched position, the latching assembly is adapted to automatically engage an equipment port and releasably retain the equipment port when the equipment port is received by the connector.