Cable connector structured for reassembly and method thereof
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A coaxial cable connector comprising:
- a coupler assembly comprising;
a coupler member extendable along an axis, the coupler member defining a coupler space, and including;
(i) a forward coupler portion having a forward outer threaded surface that is configured to threadably engage a threaded interface port; and
(ii) a rearward coupler portion having a rearward outer threaded surface;
a contact pin configured to be at least partially received by the coupler member, the contact pin configured to extend along the axis, the contact pin comprising;
(i) a forward pin section configured to extend outside of the coupler space, the forward pin section configured to be electrically connected to the interface port; and
(ii) a rearward pin section configured to be positioned within the coupler space;
an inner conductor engager configured to be connected to the rearward pin section, and defining an inner conductor engager space, the inner conductor engager comprising a plurality of flexible fingers configured to surround the inner conductor engager space, the inner conductor engager space configured to receive an inner conductor of a coaxial cable;
a compressor configured to be received by the coupler body, and defining a compressor opening arranged to receive the inner conductor, the compressor opening further configured to;
move relative to the coupler member until at least a portion of the flexible fingers receive the inner conductor, andcompress the flexible fingers in a radially inward direction so as to engage the inner conductor when the inner conductor is inserted into the inner conductor engager space; and
wherein the compressor further comprises a compressor interlock, the compressor interlock comprising a compressor interlock wall extending along the axis, the compressor interlock wall being predisposed to define an inner diameter, at least part of the compressor interlock wall being flexible so as to increase the inner diameter;
a body assembly comprising;
a body configured to extend along the axis, the body defining a body space configured to receive the inner conductor, the body comprising;
(i) a forward body portion configured to at least partially receive the rearward coupler member portion, the forward body portion comprising a forward inner threaded surface configured to be threadably engaged with the rearward outer threaded surface; and
(ii) a rearward body portion;
a support moveably received within the body space, the support extending along the axis and defining a support space configured to receive the outer conductor, the support comprising;
(i) a forward support portion comprising a collar and a support interlock, the support interlock configured to be moved between;
a locked position in which the compressor interlock and the support interlock are locked together through a snap-fit arrangement; and
an unlocked position in which the compressor interlock and the support interlock are unlocked from each other, the inner diameter varying during the movement; and
(ii) a rearward support portion comprising a sleeve extending rearwardly from the collar, the sleeve configured to engage an insulator of the coaxial cable, the insulator at least partially surrounding the inner conductor;
a clamp defining a clamp opening configured to at least partially receive an outer conductor portion of the coaxial cable, the outer conductor portion at least partially surrounding the insulator, the clamp also configured to at least partially receive the rearward support portion, the clamp comprising a split-ring structure having an outer clamp surface, the outer clamp surface comprising a ramp, the forward body portion configured to cooperate with the ramp to cause the clamp to compress the sleeve radially toward the extension so that the outer conductor portion is sandwiched between the clamp and the support; and
a plurality of seals including;
(i) an interface seal configured to engage the interface port;
(ii) an intermediary seal configured to seal the coupler member and the body; and
(iii) a cable seal configured to seal the body assembly to an outer jacket of the coaxial cable.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A connector includes, in one embodiment, a body assembly configured to be secured to a prepared end of a coaxial cable. The connector has a coupler assembly connected to the body assembly for connecting the body assembly to an interface port. The connector also has a flexible interlock to facilitate repeated assembly and disassembly of the connector.
84 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A coaxial cable connector comprising:
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a coupler assembly comprising; a coupler member extendable along an axis, the coupler member defining a coupler space, and including; (i) a forward coupler portion having a forward outer threaded surface that is configured to threadably engage a threaded interface port; and (ii) a rearward coupler portion having a rearward outer threaded surface; a contact pin configured to be at least partially received by the coupler member, the contact pin configured to extend along the axis, the contact pin comprising; (i) a forward pin section configured to extend outside of the coupler space, the forward pin section configured to be electrically connected to the interface port; and (ii) a rearward pin section configured to be positioned within the coupler space; an inner conductor engager configured to be connected to the rearward pin section, and defining an inner conductor engager space, the inner conductor engager comprising a plurality of flexible fingers configured to surround the inner conductor engager space, the inner conductor engager space configured to receive an inner conductor of a coaxial cable; a compressor configured to be received by the coupler body, and defining a compressor opening arranged to receive the inner conductor, the compressor opening further configured to; move relative to the coupler member until at least a portion of the flexible fingers receive the inner conductor, and compress the flexible fingers in a radially inward direction so as to engage the inner conductor when the inner conductor is inserted into the inner conductor engager space; and wherein the compressor further comprises a compressor interlock, the compressor interlock comprising a compressor interlock wall extending along the axis, the compressor interlock wall being predisposed to define an inner diameter, at least part of the compressor interlock wall being flexible so as to increase the inner diameter; a body assembly comprising; a body configured to extend along the axis, the body defining a body space configured to receive the inner conductor, the body comprising; (i) a forward body portion configured to at least partially receive the rearward coupler member portion, the forward body portion comprising a forward inner threaded surface configured to be threadably engaged with the rearward outer threaded surface; and (ii) a rearward body portion; a support moveably received within the body space, the support extending along the axis and defining a support space configured to receive the outer conductor, the support comprising; (i) a forward support portion comprising a collar and a support interlock, the support interlock configured to be moved between;
a locked position in which the compressor interlock and the support interlock are locked together through a snap-fit arrangement; and
an unlocked position in which the compressor interlock and the support interlock are unlocked from each other, the inner diameter varying during the movement; and(ii) a rearward support portion comprising a sleeve extending rearwardly from the collar, the sleeve configured to engage an insulator of the coaxial cable, the insulator at least partially surrounding the inner conductor; a clamp defining a clamp opening configured to at least partially receive an outer conductor portion of the coaxial cable, the outer conductor portion at least partially surrounding the insulator, the clamp also configured to at least partially receive the rearward support portion, the clamp comprising a split-ring structure having an outer clamp surface, the outer clamp surface comprising a ramp, the forward body portion configured to cooperate with the ramp to cause the clamp to compress the sleeve radially toward the extension so that the outer conductor portion is sandwiched between the clamp and the support; and a plurality of seals including; (i) an interface seal configured to engage the interface port; (ii) an intermediary seal configured to seal the coupler member and the body; and (iii) a cable seal configured to seal the body assembly to an outer jacket of the coaxial cable.
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2. A hardline connector comprising:
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a coupler assembly comprising; a coupler member extendable along an axis; a contact pin at least partially received by the coupler member, the contact pin configured to be electrically connected to an interface port; an inner conductor engager connected to the contact pin, the inner conductor engager comprising a plurality of fingers that are arranged to surround a space shaped to receive an inner conductor of a coaxial cable; a seizure bushing configured to be received by the coupler body, and having a first interlock portion configured to; (i) move relative to the coupler member; and (ii) compress the fingers in a radially inward direction; a body assembly including a body extendable along the axis, and a support moveably received within the body and configured to receive the outer conductor, the support having a second interlock portion configured to be moved between a locked position, where the first and second interlock portions are locked together, and an unlocked position, where the first interlock portion and the second interlock portion are unlocked from each other, and wherein at least one of the first and second interlock portions is configured to flex when the second interlock portion of the support of the body assembly moves between the locked position and the unlocked position. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A coaxial cable connector comprising:
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a body configured to be secured to a prepared end of a coaxial cable; a coupler interposing the body and an interface port, and detachably connected to each, the coupler supporting an inner conductor engager having a pin socket at one end thereof; an interlock disposed within a cavity defined by the body and coupler assemblies, the interlock including a seizure bushing and a support mandrel, the interlock including a snap-fit connection between the seizure bushing and a support mandrel; wherein the seizure bushing is configured to separate from the inner conductor engager in response to a first axial displacement of the interlock; and wherein the body is configured to separate from the coupler in response to a second axial displacement relative to the first axial displacement. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A coaxial cable connector comprising:
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a body configured to engage a coaxial cable; a coupler configured to be coupled to the body and an interface port and move between a locked position relative to the body, where the coupler is electrically coupled to an inner conductor of the coaxial cable and snap-fit engaged with the body so as to prevent the body from being disassembled from the coupler, and an unlocked position relative to the body, where the coupler is not electrically coupled to the inner conductor of the coaxial cable and is not snap-fit engaged with the body so as to allow the body to be disassembled from the coupler, and wherein the coupler includes a bushing that is configured to form a mechanical connection with the inner conductor of the coaxial cable when the coupler is in the locked position relative to body; and wherein the bushing of the coupler is configured to release the mechanical connection with the inner conductor of the coaxial cable before the coupler moves to the unlocked position so as to allow the body to be disassembled from the coupler after the mechanical connection with the inner conductor of the coaxial cable has been released and avoid damaging internal components of the connector. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A coaxial cable connector comprising:
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a body configured to engage a coaxial cable a coupler configured to be coupled to the body and an interface port; wherein the coupler is configured to move to a locked position, where the coupler forms a first connection with an inner conductor of the coaxial cable and forms a second connection with the body so as to prevent the body from being disassembled from the coupler when the coupler is in the locked position, in response to a first displacement force; wherein the coupler is configured to move to an unlocked position, where the coupler has released the first connection with the inner conductor of the coaxial cable and has released the second connection with the body so as to allow the body to be disassembled from the coupler, in response to a second displacement force greater than the first displacement force; and wherein the coupler is configured to release the first connection with the inner conductor of the coaxial cable before releasing the second connection with the body so as to allow the body and coupler to be disassembled from one another without damaging internal components of the connector; wherein the body includes an internal mandrel, wherein the coupler includes a bushing, and wherein the bushing and mandrel are configured to form the second connection between the body and the coupler and wherein the second connection includes a snap-fit interlock between the bushing and the mandrel. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A coaxial cable connector comprising:
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a body configured to engage a coaxial cable; a coupler configured to engage an interface port and the body, and move between a locked position, where the coupler forms a first connection with an inner conductor of the coaxial cable and forms a second connection with the body so as to prevent the body from being disassembled from the coupler when the coupler is in the locked position, and an unlocked position, where the coupler has released the first connection with the inner conductor of the coaxial cable and has released the second connection with the body so as to allow the body to be disassembled from the coupler; wherein the coupler is configured to release the first connection before releasing the second connection so as to prevent the first connection from damaging the inner conductor of the coaxial cable when the body and coupler are disassembled from one another, wherein the body includes an internal mandrel, wherein the coupler includes a bushing, and wherein the bushing and mandrel are configured to form the second connection between the body and the coupler, and wherein the second connection includes a snap-fit interlock between the bushing and the mandrel. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification