Band spring continuity member for coaxial cable connector

• US 9,711,917 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2015
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Inventors: Parker, Robert M., Montena, Noah P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Hien
• Application Number:
  US14/920,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20160036174A1
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 439578, 439584, 439585
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/38 having concentrically or coaxially arranged contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/48 utilising a spring, clip, or other resilient member H01R4/52 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/05 for coaxial cables

Abstract

A connector including coupling and sleeve flanges defining opposing recesses separated by an axial gap along an elongate axis. The connector also includes a conductive band radially biased outwardly against at least one of the internal contact surfaces of the opposing recesses and spanning the axial gap. The conductive band maintains electrical conductivity across the axial gap even when the sleeve does not electrically contact the coupling member. At least one of the contact surfaces defines a conical surface which is responsive to the radially biased conductive member to produce a radial force against the internal contact surfaces. The radial force produces an axial force component along the elongate axis.

Claims

1. A coaxial cable connector comprising:

a post comprising a first flange and defining an elongate axis;

an outer sleeve positioned around the post comprising a second flange, the post and the sleeve configured to retain an end of a coaxial cable;

a coupling member comprising a third flange which is positioned around the forward end of the post and is configured to be disposed at least partially between the first flange and the second flange,

the flanges of the sleeve and coupling member forming recesses defining internal contact surfaces separated by an axial gap, each annular recess having an outwardly facing contact surface which, in combination with the respective internal contact surface, defines a radial gap, the internal contact surfaces being radially equidistant from the elongate axis at the location of the axial gap, and

an arcuate conductive band radially biased outwardly against the internal contact surfaces, the arcuate conductive band contacting each of the internal contact surfaces to span the axial gap and contacting at least one of the outwardly facing contact surfaces of the recesses to span the radial gap, the arcuate conductive band maintaining electrical conductivity across the axial and radial gaps even when the sleeve does not electrically contact the coupling member.

2. The connector of claim 1 further comprising an annular seal interposing the third flange of the coupling member and the first flange of the post.

3. The connector of claim 2 wherein the annular seal is an elastomer O-ring and wherein the annular seal is disposed radially inboard of the arcuate conductive band.

4. A coaxial cable connector comprising:

a post comprising a first flange and defining an elongate axis;

an outer sleeve positioned around the post comprising a second flange, the post and the sleeve configured to retain an end of a coaxial cable;

a coupling member comprising a third flange which is positioned around the forward end of the post and is configured to be disposed at least partially between the first flange and the second flange,

the flanges of the sleeve and coupling member forming recesses defining internal contact surfaces separated by an axial gap; and

a conductive band radially biased outwardly against the internal contact surfaces and spanning the axial gap so as to maintain electrical conductivity even when the sleeve does not electrically contact the coupling member.

5. The connector of claim 4 wherein the second and third flange are disposed along an interface disposed normal to the elongate axis.

6. The connector of claim 4 wherein the recesses are disposed in substantially face-to-face relation in the face surfaces of the second flange of the sleeve and the third flange of the coupling member.

7. The connector of claim 4 wherein the recesses circumscribe the elongate axis of the post.

8. The connector of claim 4 wherein the conductive band is substantially C-shaped.

9. The connector of claim 4 wherein the recess is annular and the band is a flat arcuate spring extending partially around the annular recess.

10. The connector of claim 4 wherein the internal contact surfaces are radially equidistant from the elongate axis at the location of the axial gap.

11. The connector of claim 4 wherein the internal contact surfaces and an outwardly facing contact surface of each recess defines a radial gap and wherein the band is disposed within at least one of the recesses to provide an electrical path across the radial gap.

12. The connector of claim 11 wherein the band contacts the outwardly facing contact surface of one recess and the internal contact surface of another recess to electrically span the radial gap.

13. The connector of claim 12 wherein the ends of the band contact the internal contact surfaces of the recesses and wherein an intermediate portion of the band contacts the outwardly facing contact surface of the band to electrically span the radial gap.

14. The connector of claim 4 wherein the conductive band is fabricated from a resilient material and wherein an outwardly facing contact surface of the conductive band is coated with a conductive material.

15. The connector of claim 4 further comprising an annular seal interposing the third flange of the coupling member and the first flange of the post.

16. The connector of claim 15 wherein the annular seal is an elastomer O-ring and wherein the annular seal is disposed radially inboard of the conductive band.

17. The connector of claim 4 wherein at least one of the internal contact surfaces is conically shaped such that a radial force produced by the arcuate conductive band develops an axial force component along the conical surface, the axial force component biasing the third flange of the coupling member against the first flange of the post to urge the post against an interface port.

18. A coaxial cable connector comprising:

a post comprising a first flange and defining an elongate axis;

an outer sleeve positioned around the post comprising a second flange, the post and the sleeve configured to retain an end of a coaxial cable;

a coupling member comprising a third flange which is positioned around the forward end of the post and is configured to be disposed at least partially between the first flange and the second flange,

the flanges of the sleeve and coupling member forming recesses defining internal contact surfaces separated by an axial gap, at least one internal contact surface defining a conical surface; and

a conductive member configured to produce a radial force against the internal contact surfaces such that an axial force component is generated along the elongate axis, the conductive member spanning the axial gap so as to maintain electrical conductivity across the axial gap even when the sleeve does not electrically contact the coupling member, and constantly biasing the third flange of the coupling member against the first flange of the post to urge the post against an interface port.

19. The connector of claim 18 wherein the conductive member is a conductive band having an outwardly directed contact surface complementing the conical surface of the internal contact surface.

20. The connector of claim 18 wherein the conductive member is a coil spring having a diameter dimension which is oversized relative to the size of the recesses such that when the connector is in an assembled state, the coil spring deforms radially such that the axial component of force is produced by the interaction of the coil spring with the conical surface of the coupling member.