Continuity providing port

• US 9,147,955 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2012
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Inventors: Hanson, Brian K., Montena, Noah
• Primary Examiner(s): Riyami, Abdullah
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Harshad
• Application Number:
  US13/661,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20130115809A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 439/578, 439/583, 439/584, 439/585, 439/589, 439/593, 439/594, 439/598, 439/599, 439/319, 439/448, 439/507, 439/513, 439/700, 439/728, 439/729, 439/739, 439/743, 439/786, 439/826, 439/819, 439/824, 439/837, 439/843, 439/510, 439/533, 295/07, 298/76
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2421 using coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6583 with separate conductive resilient members between mating shield members
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6591 Specific features or arrangements of connection of shield to conductive members
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/542 Adapters
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/10 effected solely by twisting, wrapping, bending, crimping, or other permanent deformation
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/4863 Coil spring
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/05 for coaxial cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0527 Connection to outer conductor by action of a resilient member, e.g. spring

Abstract

A port for providing electrical continuity to a coaxial cable connector comprising an outer housing having a first end and a second end, the outer housing configured to terminate a coaxial cable connector at one or both of a first end and a second end, and a biasing member disposed within the outer housing to bias a post of the coaxial cable to extend continuity between the port and a mated connector is provided. Furthermore, an associated method is also provided.

Claims

1. A port comprising:

an outer housing having a first end and a second end, the outer housing configured to terminate a coaxial cable connector at one or both of a first end and a second end, the outer housing configured to house;

a biasing member disposed between a collar operably affixed to a first insulator body and a second insulator body, the biasing member configured to bias a post of the coaxial cable connector into contact with a coupling member of the coaxial cable connector;

wherein the contact between the post and the coupling member extends electrical continuity through the post and the coupling member.

2. The port of claim 1, wherein an outer surface is threaded to allow threaded engagement with the coaxial cable connector.

3. The port of claim 1, wherein the biasing member is a spring.

4. The port of claim 1, wherein the biasing member is one or more resilient fingers disposed between the first insulator body and the second insulator body.

5. The port of claim 1, wherein the biasing member is a rubber gasket disposed between the first insulator body and the second insulator body.

6. The port of claim 1, wherein extends electrical continuity through the post and the coupling member comprises maintaining continuous electrical contact between the post and the coupling member when the biasing member biases a portion of the post of the coaxial cable connector against a portion of the coupling member.

7. The port of claim 1, wherein extends electrical continuity through the post and the coupling member comprises maintaining a continuous and uninterrupted electrical path between the post and the coupling member when the biasing member biases a portion of the post of the coaxial cable connector against a portion of the coupling member.

8. The port of claim 7, wherein the continuous and uninterrupted electrical pathway between the post and the coupling member is established prior to full or substantial advancement of a coaxial connector onto the outer housing.

9. The port of claim 7, wherein extends electrical continuity through the post and the coupling member comprises maintaining a non-intermittent electrical path between the post and the coupling member when the biasing member biases a portion of the post of the coaxial cable connector against a portion of the coupling member.

10. A port comprising:

an outer housing having a first end and a second end, the outer housing configured to terminate a coaxial cable connector at one or both of a first end and a second end, the outer housing configured to house;

a biasing member disposed between a conductive collar operably affixed to a first insulator and a second insulator and configured to bias against a post of the coaxial cable connector; and

wherein contact between the post and the biasing member extends electrical continuity through the coaxial cable connector and the port.

11. The port of claim 10, wherein an outer surface of the port is threaded to allow threaded engagement with the coaxial cable connector.

12. The port of claim 10, wherein the biasing member is a spring.

13. The port of claim 10, wherein the biasing member is one or more resilient fingers disposed between a first insulator and a second insulator.

14. The port of claim 10, wherein the biasing member is a rubber gasket disposed between a first insulator and a second insulator.

15. The port of claim 10, wherein extends electrical continuity through the coaxial cable connector and the port comprises maintaining continuous electrical contact between the post and a coupling member when the biasing member biases a portion of the post of the coaxial cable connector against a portion of a coupling member of a coaxial cable connector.

16. The port of claim 10, wherein extends electrical continuity through the coaxial cable connector and the port comprises maintaining a continuous and uninterrupted electrical path between the post and the coupling member when the biasing member biases a portion of the post of the coaxial cable connector against a portion of a coupling member of a coaxial cable connector.

17. The port of claim 16, wherein extends electrical continuity through the post and the coupling member comprises maintaining a non-intermittent electrical path between the post and the coupling member when the biasing member biases a portion of the post of the coaxial cable connector against a portion of the coupling member.

18. The port of claim 16, wherein the continuous and uninterrupted electrical pathway between the post and the coupling member is established prior to full or substantial advancement of a coaxial connector onto the outer housing.

19. A port comprising:

an outer housing having a first portion and a second portion;

a first insulator disposed within the first portion of the outer housing;

a collar operably attached to the first insulator, the collar having a flange; and

a biasing member disposed between the collar and a second insulator body, the biasing member configured to exert a biasing force against the collar in a first direction and against the second insulator body in a second direction when being compressed;

wherein the biasing force against the collar is transferred to a post of a coaxial cable connector to bias the post into continuous electrical contact with a coupling member of the coaxial cable connector.

20. The port of claim 19, wherein the second portion of the outer housing includes a stopper to retain axial movement of the second insulator in the second direction.

21. The port of claim 19, wherein the first direction is towards an end of the first portion.

22. The port of claim 19, wherein the second direction is towards an end of the second portion.

23. The port of claim 19, wherein an electrical contact is disposed within the outer housing, the electrical contact including at least one socket to receive a center conductor of a coaxial cable connector.

24. The port of claim 19, wherein the biasing member is a spring.

25. The port of claim 19, wherein the biasing member is one or more resilient fingers disposed between a first insulator and a second insulator.

26. The port of claim 19, wherein the biasing member is a rubber gasket disposed between a first insulator and a second insulator.

27. The port of claim 19, wherein biasing a portion of the post against a portion of the coupling member maintains a continuous and uninterrupted electrical path between the post and the coupling member.

28. The port of claim 27, wherein the continuous and uninterrupted electrical pathway between the post and the coupling member is established prior to full or substantial advancement of a coaxial connector onto the outer housing.

29. A port comprising:

an outer housing configured to house a biasing member, the biasing member configured to engage a first insulator operatively attached to a collar and a second insulator;

wherein the biasing member is configured to exert a biasing force against the collar in a first direction and against the second insulator in a second direction; and

wherein the biasing force against the collar is transferred to a post of a coaxial cable connector to bias the post into continuous physical and electrical contact with a coupling member.

30. The port of claim 29, wherein biasing a portion of the post against a portion of the coupling member maintains a continuous and uninterrupted electrical path between the post and the coupling member.

31. The port of claim 30, wherein the continuous and uninterrupted electrical pathway between the post and the coupling member is established prior to full or substantial advancement of a coaxial connector onto the outer housing.

32. A port comprising:

an outer housing having a first portion and a second portion;

a first moveable insulator disposed within the first portion, wherein a first collar is operably attached to the first moveable insulator;

a second moveable insulator disposed within the second portion, wherein a second collar is operably attached to the second moveable insulator; and

a biasing member disposed within the outer housing, the biasing member biasingly engaging the first collar and the second collar; and

wherein advancement of a first coaxial cable connector onto the first portion biases a post of the first coaxial cable connector into continuous electrical contact with a coupling member of the first coaxial cable connector.

33. The port of claim 32, wherein a first coaxial cable connector is advanced onto the first portion and a second coaxial cable connector is advanced onto the second portion.

34. The port of claim 33, wherein an electrical contact is disposed within the outer housing, the electrical contact including at least one socket to receive a center conductor of at least one of the first coaxial cable connector and the second coaxial cable connector.

35. The port of claim 32, wherein the biasing member is a spring.

36. The port of claim 32, wherein the biasing member is one or more resilient fingers disposed between the first moveable insulator and the second moveable insulator.

37. The port of claim 32, wherein the biasing member is a rubber gasket disposed between first moveable insulator and second moveable insulator.

38. The port of claim 32, wherein biasing a portion of the post of the first coaxial cable connector against a portion of the coupling member of the first coaxial cable connector maintains a continuous and uninterrupted electrical path between the post and the coupling member.

39. The port of claim 38, wherein the continuous and uninterrupted electrical pathway between the post and the coupling member is established prior to full or substantial advancement of the coaxial connector onto the first portion.

40. A port comprising:

an outer housing having a first end and a second end

at least one collar at least partially disposed within one of the first end and the second end, the at least one collar operatively attached to an insulator; and

a biasing member disposed within the outer housing;

wherein engagement of a post of a coaxial cable connector and the at least one collar biases the post into continuous physical and electrical contact with a coupling member of a coaxial cable connector to maintain a continuous and uninterrupted electrical pathway between the post and the coupling member when the biasing member biases a portion of the post against a portion of the coupling member.

41. The port of claim 40, wherein the continuous and uninterrupted electrical pathway between the post and the coupling member is established prior to full or substantial advancement of a coaxial connector onto the outer housing.

42. A method of providing continuity to a coaxial cable connector, comprising:

providing an outer housing having a first end and a second end, the outer housing configured to terminate a coaxial cable connector at one or both of a first end and a second end;

disposing a biasing member within the outer housing to bias at least one collar; and

advancing the coaxial cable connector onto the outer housing to bring

a post of the coaxial cable connector into engagement with the at least one collar; and

wherein the engagement between the post and the at least one collar biases the post into a coupling member of the coaxial cable connector to extend electrical continuity through the connector.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the cable connector is advanced onto at least one of the first end, the second end, and both the first end and the second end.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the biasing member is a spring.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein the biasing member is one or more resilient fingers disposed between a first insulator and a second insulator.

46. The method of claim 42, wherein the biasing member is a rubber gasket disposed between a first insulator and a second insulator.

47. The method of claim 42, wherein extends electrical continuity through the connector comprises maintaining continuous electrical contact between the post and the coupling member when the biasing member biases a portion of the post of the coaxial cable connector against a portion of the coupling member.

48. The method of claim 42, wherein extends electrical continuity through the connector comprises maintaining a continuous and uninterrupted electrical path between the post and the coupling member when the biasing member biases a portion of the post of the coaxial cable connector against a portion of the coupling member.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the continuous and uninterrupted electrical pathway between the post and the coupling member is established prior to full or substantial advancement of the coaxial connector onto the outer housing.