COAXIAL CABLE CONNECTOR

• US 20140213106A1
• Filed: 03/07/2014
• Published: 07/31/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates, Llc
• Original Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates, Llc
• Inventors: Chawgo, Shawn M., Montena, Noah P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,956,184 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/578
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/38 having concentrically or coaxially arranged contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/56 specially adapted to a specific shape of cables, e.g. corrugated cables, twisted pair cables, cables with two screens or hollow cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0524 Connection to outer conductor by action of a clamping member, e.g. screw fastening means H01R9/0515 takes precedence

Abstract

A coaxial cable connector includes, in one embodiment, a coupler, a body, an inner conductor engager and an outer conductor engager. The connector also includes a driver configured to axially move along an axis as a result of at least one axial installation force.

Claims

1. A coaxial cable connector comprising:

a coupler comprising a first coupler end and a second coupler end;

a body configured to be rotatably coupled to the second coupler end, the body being extendable along an axis, the body configured to receive a cable end of a coaxial cable, the coaxial cable comprising an inner conductor, an insulator surrounding the inner conductor, and an outer conductor surrounding the insulator;

an inner conductor engager configured to be at least partially received by the body, the inner conductor engager defining a space configured to at least partially receive the inner conductor, the inner conductor engager comprising a plurality of fingers surrounding the space;

an outer conductor engager configured to at least partially receive the outer conductor; and

a driver configured to at least partially receive the body, the driver having a first driver end and a second driver end, the first driver end configured to be located closer to the coupler than the second driver end,

wherein the coupler and the driver are configured to be arranged so that there is a first distance between the first coupler end and the second driver end,

wherein the coaxial cable connector is configured to enable the driver to axially move along the axis relative to the coupler as a result of at least one axial installation force acting along the axis, and

wherein the space at least partially receives the inner conductor resulting from the axial movement, the fingers engage the inner conductor resulting from the axial movement, the outer conductor engager engages the outer conductor resulting from the axial movement, the engagement of the outer conductor applies an engagement force to the outer conductor resulting from the axial movement, wherein at least part of the engagement force acts in a radial direction, and also resulting from the axial movement, the coupler and the driver move closer together along the axis so that there is a second distance between the first coupler end and the second driver end, wherein the second distance is less than the first distance.

2. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the coupler comprises a threaded nut.

3. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the fingers are configured to flex.

4. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the outer conductor engager comprises a clamp.

5. The coaxial cable connector of claim 4, wherein the outer conductor engager comprises a support configured to be at least partially received by the outer conductor to withstand at least part of the engagement force transmitted by the clamp.

6. The coaxial cable connector of claim 5, wherein the support comprises a mandrel.

7. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1, wherein the driver has a substantially tubular shape.

8. The coaxial cable connector of claim 7, wherein the driver comprises a compression sleeve.

9. A coaxial cable connector comprising:

a coupler;

a body configured to be rotatably coupled to the coupler, the body being extendable along an axis, the body configured to receive an end of a coaxial cable, the coaxial cable comprising an inner conductor and an outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor;

an inner conductor engager configured to be at least partially received by the body, the inner conductor engager defining a space configured to at least partially receive the inner conductor;

an outer conductor engager configured to at least partially surround the outer conductor; and

a driver configured to be coupled to the body;

wherein the coaxial cable connector is configured to have a first length when the coaxial cable connector is in an uninstalled state,

wherein the coaxial cable connector is configured to enable the driver to axially move along the axis relative to the coupler as a result of at least one axial installation force acting along the axis, and

wherein the space at least partially receives the inner conductor resulting from the axial movement, the outer conductor engager engages the outer conductor resulting from the axial movement, the engagement of the outer conductor applies an engagement force to the outer conductor resulting from the axial movement, wherein at least part of the engagement force acts in a radial direction, and also resulting from the axial movement, the coaxial cable connector has a second length when the coaxial cable connector is in an installed state, wherein the second length is less than the first length.

10. The coaxial cable connector of claim 9, wherein the coupler comprises a threaded nut.

11. The coaxial cable connector of claim 9, wherein the inner conductor engager comprises a plurality of flexible fingers.

12. The coaxial cable connector of claim 9, wherein the outer conductor engager comprises a clamp.

13. The coaxial cable connector of claim 9, wherein the outer conductor engager comprises a support configured to be at least partially received by the outer conductor to withstand at least part of the engagement force transmitted by the clamp.

14. The coaxial cable connector of claim 13, wherein the support comprises a mandrel.

15. The coaxial cable connector of claim 9, wherein the driver has a substantially tubular shape.

16. The coaxial cable connector of claim 15, wherein the driver comprises a compression sleeve.

17. A coaxial cable connector comprising:

means for coupling;

means for housing, the housing means configured to be rotatably coupled to the coupling means, the housing means being extendable along an axis, the housing means configured to receive an end of a coaxial cable, the coaxial cable comprising an inner conductor and an outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor;

means for engaging the inner conductor, the inner conductor engaging means configured to be at least partially received by the housing means, the inner conductor engaging means defining a space configured to at least partially receive the inner conductor;

means for engaging the outer conductor, the outer conductor engaging means configured to at least partially surround the outer conductor; and

means for driving, the driving means configured to be coupled to the housing means;

wherein the coaxial cable connector is configured to have a first length when the coaxial cable connector is in an uninstalled state,

wherein the coaxial cable connector is configured to enable the driving means to axially move along the axis relative to the coupling means as a result of at least one axial installation force acting along the axis, and

wherein the space at least partially receives the inner conductor due to the axial movement, the outer conductor engaging means engages the outer conductor due to the axial movement, the engagement of the outer conductor applies an engagement force to the outer conductor due to the axial movement, wherein at least part of the engagement force acts in a radial direction, and also due to the axial movement, the coaxial cable connector has a second length when the coaxial cable connector is in an installed state, wherein the second length is less than the first length.

18. The coaxial cable connector of claim 17, wherein the coupling means comprises a threaded nut.

19. The coaxial cable connector of claim 17, wherein the inner conductor engaging means comprises means for flexing.

20. The coaxial cable connector of claim 17, wherein the outer conductor engaging means comprises a clamp.