Coaxial cable connector having electrical continuity member
First Claim
1. A connector for coupling an end of a coaxial cable to an interface port, the coaxial cable having a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric, the dielectric being surrounded by a conductive grounding shield, the conductive grounding shield being surrounded by a protective outer jacket, the connector comprising:
- a body having a forward facing body surface and configured to engage a coaxial cable;
a post configured to engage the body and the coaxial cable when the connector is installed on the coaxial cable, the post including a first rearward facing post surface and a second rearward facing post surface, the second rearward facing post surface configured to be located axially rearward from the first rearward facing post surface and located radially inward from the first rearward facing post surface when the connector is assembled;
a coupler having a forward facing coupler surface configured to engage the first rearward facing post surface when the connector is assembled, a first rearward facing coupler surface, and a second rearward facing coupler surface, the second rearward facing coupler surface configured to be located axially rearward from the first rearward facing coupler surface and located radially outward from the first rearward facing coupler surface when the connector is assembled, the coupler being configured to move between a first position, where the forward facing coupler surface contacts the first rearward facing post surface, and a second position, where the forward facing coupler surface is spaced away from and does not contact the first rearward facing post surface;
an electrical grounding continuity member including;
a body contact surface configured to contact the forward facing body surface;
a coupler contact surface configured to be maintained in contact with the first rearward facing coupler surface so as to maintain a continuous electrical coupler contact path through the electrical grounding continuity member and through the coupler, the coupler contact surface being comprised of a metallic material sufficient to form the continuous electrical coupler contact path through the electrical grounding continuity member and the coupler during operation of the connector; and
a post contact surface configured to be maintained in electrical contact with the second rearward facing post surface so as to maintain a continuous electrical post contact path through the electrical grounding continuity member and through the post contact surface at all times during operation of the connector, the post contact surface being comprised of a metallic material sufficient to extend an electrical grounding property of the coaxial cable to the second rearward facing post surface and form the continuous electrical post contact path through the electrical grounding continuity member and the second rearward facing post surface during operation of the connector; and
a resilient sealing member configured to provide a physical seal between the coupler and the body during operation of the connector;
wherein the electrical grounding continuity member is configured to maintain the continuous electrical post contact path through the post at all times during operation of the connector, including, but not limited to, when the coupler is in the first position, when the coupler is in the second position, and while the coupler moves between the first and second positions such that the electrical grounding continuity member maintains the continuous electrical post contact path at all times during operation of the connector regardless of the location of the coupler relative to the post;
wherein the continuous electrical post contact path and the continuous electrical coupler contact path maintained by the electrical grounding continuity member together form a continuous electrical coupler-to-post ground path extending between the coupler and the post when the coupler and the post are not in direct electrical contact with one another during operation of the connector;
wherein no surface of the electrical grounding continuity member is located forward from the first rearward facing coupler surface during operation of the connector;
wherein the electrical grounding continuity member is comprised of a metallic material such that the continuous electrical coupler-to-post path extends through a central portion of the electrical grounding continuity member during operation of the connector;
wherein the second rearward facing post surface is configured to be oriented parallel to the forward facing body surface such that the second rearward facing post surface and the forward facing body surface face each other when the connector is in a loosely installed state on an interface port, where the coupler contacts the interface port and where the post does not contact the interface port;
wherein a portion of the electrical grounding continuity member is configured to extend between the second rearward facing post surface and the forward facing body surface when the connector is in the loosely installed state;
wherein the coupler is configured to be coupled to the interface port, and the body contact surface of the electrical grounding continuity member is configured to contact the forward facing body surface even when the coupler is not coupled to the interface port; and
wherein the post contact surface is configured to be maintained in contact with the second rearward facing post surface even when the coupler is not coupled to the interface port.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A coaxial cable connector comprising a connector body; a post engageable with the connector body, wherein the post includes a flange; a nut, axially rotatable with respect to the post and the connector body, the nut having a first end and an opposing second end, wherein the nut includes an internal lip, and wherein a second end portion of the nut corresponds to the portion of the nut extending from the second end of the nut to the side of the lip of the nut facing the first end of the nut at a point nearest the second end of the nut, and a first end portion of the nut corresponds to the portion of the nut extending from the first end of the nut to the same point nearest the second end of the nut of the same side of the lip facing the first end of the nut; and a continuity member disposed within the second end portion of the nut and contacting the post and the nut, so that the continuity member extends electrical grounding continuity through the post and the nut is provided.
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Citations
128 Claims
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1. A connector for coupling an end of a coaxial cable to an interface port, the coaxial cable having a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric, the dielectric being surrounded by a conductive grounding shield, the conductive grounding shield being surrounded by a protective outer jacket, the connector comprising:
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a body having a forward facing body surface and configured to engage a coaxial cable; a post configured to engage the body and the coaxial cable when the connector is installed on the coaxial cable, the post including a first rearward facing post surface and a second rearward facing post surface, the second rearward facing post surface configured to be located axially rearward from the first rearward facing post surface and located radially inward from the first rearward facing post surface when the connector is assembled; a coupler having a forward facing coupler surface configured to engage the first rearward facing post surface when the connector is assembled, a first rearward facing coupler surface, and a second rearward facing coupler surface, the second rearward facing coupler surface configured to be located axially rearward from the first rearward facing coupler surface and located radially outward from the first rearward facing coupler surface when the connector is assembled, the coupler being configured to move between a first position, where the forward facing coupler surface contacts the first rearward facing post surface, and a second position, where the forward facing coupler surface is spaced away from and does not contact the first rearward facing post surface; an electrical grounding continuity member including; a body contact surface configured to contact the forward facing body surface; a coupler contact surface configured to be maintained in contact with the first rearward facing coupler surface so as to maintain a continuous electrical coupler contact path through the electrical grounding continuity member and through the coupler, the coupler contact surface being comprised of a metallic material sufficient to form the continuous electrical coupler contact path through the electrical grounding continuity member and the coupler during operation of the connector; and a post contact surface configured to be maintained in electrical contact with the second rearward facing post surface so as to maintain a continuous electrical post contact path through the electrical grounding continuity member and through the post contact surface at all times during operation of the connector, the post contact surface being comprised of a metallic material sufficient to extend an electrical grounding property of the coaxial cable to the second rearward facing post surface and form the continuous electrical post contact path through the electrical grounding continuity member and the second rearward facing post surface during operation of the connector; and a resilient sealing member configured to provide a physical seal between the coupler and the body during operation of the connector; wherein the electrical grounding continuity member is configured to maintain the continuous electrical post contact path through the post at all times during operation of the connector, including, but not limited to, when the coupler is in the first position, when the coupler is in the second position, and while the coupler moves between the first and second positions such that the electrical grounding continuity member maintains the continuous electrical post contact path at all times during operation of the connector regardless of the location of the coupler relative to the post; wherein the continuous electrical post contact path and the continuous electrical coupler contact path maintained by the electrical grounding continuity member together form a continuous electrical coupler-to-post ground path extending between the coupler and the post when the coupler and the post are not in direct electrical contact with one another during operation of the connector; wherein no surface of the electrical grounding continuity member is located forward from the first rearward facing coupler surface during operation of the connector; wherein the electrical grounding continuity member is comprised of a metallic material such that the continuous electrical coupler-to-post path extends through a central portion of the electrical grounding continuity member during operation of the connector; wherein the second rearward facing post surface is configured to be oriented parallel to the forward facing body surface such that the second rearward facing post surface and the forward facing body surface face each other when the connector is in a loosely installed state on an interface port, where the coupler contacts the interface port and where the post does not contact the interface port; wherein a portion of the electrical grounding continuity member is configured to extend between the second rearward facing post surface and the forward facing body surface when the connector is in the loosely installed state; wherein the coupler is configured to be coupled to the interface port, and the body contact surface of the electrical grounding continuity member is configured to contact the forward facing body surface even when the coupler is not coupled to the interface port; and wherein the post contact surface is configured to be maintained in contact with the second rearward facing post surface even when the coupler is not coupled to the interface port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A connector comprising:
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a body having an outer body surface and configured to engage a coaxial cable having an electrical grounding property; a post configured to be separably engaged with the body and prepared portion of the coaxial cable when the connector is installed on the coaxial cable, the post including a first post surface and a second post surface, the second post surface being configured to face a rearward direction, be located rearward from the first post surface, and be located radially inward from the first post surface; a coupler having a first coupler surface configured to engage the first post surface when the connector is assembled, and a second coupler surface configured to face a rearward direction during operation of the connector, the coupler being configured to move between a first position, where the first coupler surface contacts the first post surface, and a second position, where a forward facing coupler surface is spaced away from and does not contact the first post surface; a conductive continuity member including; a body contact surface configured to contact the outer body surface during operation of the connector; and a coupler contact surface configured to electrically contact the second coupler surface so as to create an electrical contact path through the conductive continuity member and through the coupler, the coupler contact surface being made of a metallic material sufficient to extend the electrical grounding property of the coaxial cable to the coupler and form the electrical contact path through the conductive continuity member and the coupler during operation of the connector; and a resilient sealing member configured to provide a physical seal between the coupler and the body during operation of the connector; wherein the conductive continuity member is configured to maintain a continuous electrical contact path through the post and the coupler at all times during operation of the connector, including, but not limited to, when the coupler is in the first position, when the coupler is in the second position, and while the coupler moves between the first and second positions such that the conductive continuity member maintains the continuous electrical contact path through the post and the coupler at all times during operation of the connector regardless of the location of the coupler relative to the post; wherein the continuous electrical contact path through the post and the coupler maintained by the conductive continuity member remains even when the coupler and the post are not in direct electrical contact with one another during operation of the connector; wherein the continuous electrical contact path extends through the conductive continuity member during operation of the connector; wherein the second post surface is configured to be oriented substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the outer body surface when the connector is in a loosely installed state on an interface port; and wherein the conductive continuity member is configured to be clamped between the second post surface and the outer body surface when the connector is in the loosely installed state, and even when the connector does not contact the interface port. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A connector comprising:
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a body configured to engage a coaxial cable having a conductive electrical grounding property; a post configured to be separably coupled to the body when the connector is assembled, the post including a first post surface and a second post surface, the second post surface configured to face a rearward direction, be located rearward from the first post surface, and be located radially inward from the first post surface when the connector assembled; a coupler having a first coupler surface configured to engage the first post surface when the connector is assembled, and a second coupler surface configured to face a rearward direction when the connector is assembled, the coupler being configured to move between a first position, where the first coupler surface contacts the first post surface, and a second position, where the first coupler surface is spaced away from and does not contact the first post surface; and a continuity element having a base portion configured to be pressed flat between the second post surface and the body and having a biasing portion configured to be maintained in contact with the coupler so as to form a continuous electrical contact path through the coupler, the continuity element, and the post at all times during operation of the connector, including, but not limited to, when the coupler is in the first position, when the coupler is in the second position, and while the coupler moves between the first and second positions such that the continuity element maintains the continuous electrical contact path through the coupler, the continuity element, and the post even when the connector is in a loosely installed state on an interface port; wherein the connector is configured to engage the interface port, and the continuity element is made of a conductive material sufficient to extend the conductive grounding property of the coaxial cable through the coupler, the continuity element, the port, and to the interface port during operation of the connector; and wherein the base portion of the continuity element is configured to be pressed against the second post surface even when the connector is not engaged to the interface port, and even when the body is not engaged to the coaxial cable. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77)
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78. A connector for coupling an end of a coaxial cable to an interface port, the coaxial cable having a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric, the dielectric being surrounded by a conductive grounding shield, the conductive grounding shield being surrounded by a protective outer jacket, the connector comprising:
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a body having a forward facing body surface and configured to engage a coaxial cable; a post configured to engage the body and the coaxial cable when the connector is installed on the coaxial cable, the post including a first rearward facing post surface and a second rearward facing post surface, the second rearward facing post surface configured to be located axially rearward from the first rearward facing post surface and located radially inward from the first rearward facing post surface; a coupler having a forward facing coupler surface configured to engage the first rearward facing post surface when the connector is assembled, a first rearward facing coupler surface, and a second rearward facing coupler surface, the second rearward facing coupler surface configured to be located axially rearward from the first rearward facing coupler surface and located radially outward from the first rearward facing coupler surface when the connector is assembled, the coupler being configured to move between a first position, where the forward facing coupler surface contacts the first rearward facing post surface, and a second position, where the forward facing coupler surface is spaced away from and does not contact the first rearward facing post surface; an electrical grounding continuity member including; a body contact surface configured to contact with the forward facing body surface when the connector is assembled, and even when the coupler is not coupled to an interface port; and a coupler contact surface configured to be biasingly maintained in electrical contact with the first rearward facing coupler surface at all times during operation of the connector so as to biasingly maintain a continuous electrical contact path through the electrical grounding continuity member and through the coupler at all times during operation of the connector, the coupler contact surface being made of a metallic material sufficient to form the continuous electrical contact path through the electrical grounding continuity member and the coupler during operation of the connector; and a resilient sealing member configured to provide a physical leak path seal between the coupler and the body during operation of the connector; wherein the electrical grounding continuity member is configured to maintain the continuous electrical contact path through the post and the coupler—
at all times during operation of the connector, including, but not limited to, when the coupler is in the first position, when the coupler is in the second position, and while the coupler moves between the first and second positions such that the electrical grounding continuity member maintains the continuous electrical contact path through the post and the coupler at all times during operation of the connector regardless of the location of the coupler relative to the post;wherein the electrical grounding continuity member comprises a metallic material such that the continuous electrical contact path extends through the electrical grounding continuity member at all times during operation of the connector; wherein the second rearward facing post surface is configured to be oriented parallel to the forward facing body surface when the connector is in a loosely installed state; wherein a surface of the electrical grounding continuity member is configured to extend between the second rearward facing post surface and the forward facing body surface, be oriented parallel to the second rearward facing post surface, be oriented parallel to the forward facing body surface, while being sandwiched against the second rearward facing post surface when the connector is in the loosely installed state on an interface port, and even when the connector does not contact the interface port; and wherein the forward facing body surface comprises a forward most surface of the body. - View Dependent Claims (79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93)
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94. A connector comprising:
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a body having a forward most body surface, and configured to engage a coaxial cable having an electrical grounding property; a post having a first post surface and a second post surface, the second post surface configured to face a rearward direction, be located rearward from the first post surface, and be located radially inward from the first post surface when the connector is assembled, the post and the body each comprising separate and distinct unitary structures; a coupler having a first coupler surface configured to engage the first post surface when the connector is assembled, and a second coupler surface configured to face a rearward direction when the connector is assembled, the coupler being configured to move between a first position, where the first coupler surface contacts the first post surface, and a second position, where a forward facing coupler surface is spaced away from and does not contact the first post surface; and a conductive continuity member including; a body contact surface configured to contact the forward most body surface; a coupler contact surface configured to be biasing by maintained in electrical contact with the second coupler surface so as to biasingly maintain a continuous electrical contact path through the conductive continuity member and through the coupler at all times during operation of the connector, the coupler contact surface being made of a metallic material sufficient to extend the electrical grounding property of the coaxial cable to the coupler and form the continuous electrical contact path through the conductive continuity member and the coupler at all times during operation of the connector; and a post contact surface configured to be maintained in electrical contact with the second post surface so as to maintain a continuous electrical contact path through the conductive continuity member and through the post contact surface at all times during operation of the connector, the post contact surface being made of a metallic material sufficient to extend the electrical grounding property of the coaxial cable to the second post surface and form the continuous electrical contact path through the conductive continuity member and the second post surface during operation of the connector; wherein the conductive continuity member is configured to maintain the continuous electrical contact path through the post and through the coupler at all times during operation of the connector, including, but not limited to, when the coupler is in the first position, when the coupler is in the second position, and while the coupler moves between the first and second positions such that the conductive continuity member maintains the continuous electrical contact path through the post and through the coupler regardless of the location of the coupler relative to the post; wherein the continuous electrical contact path extends entirely through the conductive continuity member during operation of the connector; and wherein the second post surface is configured to be oriented substantially parallel to the forward most body surface when the connector is in a loosely installed state on an interface port and the conductive continuity member is configured to be clamped against the second post surface when the connector is in the loosely installed state, and even when the connector does not contact the interface port. - View Dependent Claims (95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108)
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109. A connector comprising:
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a body configured to engage a coaxial cable having a conductive electrical grounding property, and having a forward most body surface; a post having a first post surface and a second post surface, the second post surface configured to face a rearward direction, be located rearward from the first post surface, and be located radially inward from the first post surface when the connector is assembled; a coupler having a first coupler surface configured to engage the first post surface when the connector is assembled, and a second coupler surface configured to face a rearward direction when the connector is assembled, the coupler being configured to move between a first position, where the first coupler surface contacts the first post surface, and a second surface, where the first coupler surface is spaced away from and does not contact the first post surface; and a continuity element having a base portion configured to be clamped flat against the second post surface, and having a biasing portion configured to be biasingly maintained in contact with the coupler so as to form a continuous electrical contact path through the coupler, the continuity element, and the second post surface at all times during operation of the connector, including, but not limited to, when the coupler is in the first position, when the coupler is in the second position, and while the coupler moves between the first and second positions such that the continuity element maintains the continuous electrical contact path through the coupler, through the continuity element, and through the second post surface even when the connector is in a loosely installed state on an interface port; wherein the continuity element is made of a conductive material sufficient to extend the conductive grounding property of the coaxial cable through the coupler, through the continuity element, through the second post surface, and to the interface port even when the connector is in the loosely installed state; and wherein the base portion of the continuity element is configured to be sandwiched between the second post surface and the forward most body surface when the connector is in a pre-installed state, where the connector has not yet contacted the interface port and where the body has not yet engaged the coaxial cable. - View Dependent Claims (110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128)
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Specification