Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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COAXIAL CABLE CONNECTORS HAVING PORT GROUNDING
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This nonprovisional application claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional
Application No. 62/643,192, filed March 15, 2018, the contents of which are
incorporated herein
by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Broadband communications have become an increasingly
prevalent form
of electromagnetic information exchange and coaxial cables are common conduits
for
transmission of broadband communications. Coaxial cables are typically
designed so that an
electromagnetic field carrying communications signals exists only in the space
between inner
and outer coaxial conductors of the cables. This allows coaxial cable runs to
be installed next to
metal objects without the power losses that occur in other transmission lines,
and provides
protection of the communications signals from external electromagnetic
interference.
[0001] Connectors for coaxial cables are typically connected onto
complementary
interface ports to electrically integrate coaxial cables to various electronic
devices and cable
communication equipment. Connection is often made through rotatable operation
of an
internally threaded nut of the connector about a corresponding externally
threaded interface port.
Fully tightening the threaded connection of the coaxial cable connector to the
interface port helps
to ensure a ground connection between the connector and the corresponding
interface port.
[0002] However, often connectors are not fully and/or properly
tightened or
otherwise installed to the interface port and proper electrical mating of the
connector with the
interface port does not occur. Moreover, typical component elements and
structures of common
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connectors may permit loss of ground and discontinuity of the electromagnetic
shielding that is
intended to be extended from the cable, through the connector, and to the
corresponding coaxial
cable interface port. In particular, in order to allow the threaded nut of a
connector to rotate
relative to the threaded interface port, sufficient clearance must exist
between the matching male
and female threads. When the connector is left loose on the interface port
(i.e., not fully and/or
properly tightened), gaps may still exist between surfaces of the mating male
and female threads,
thus creating a break in the electrical connection of ground.
[0003] Lack of continuous port grounding in a conventional threaded
connector,
for example, when the conventional threaded connector is loosely coupled with
an interface port
(i.e., when in a loose state relative to the interface port), introduces noise
and ultimately
performance degradation in conventional RF systems. Furthermore, lack of
ground contact prior
to the center conductor contacting the interface port may also introduce an
undesirable "burst" of
noise upon insertion of the center conductor into the interface port.
[0004] Accordingly, there is a need to overcome, or otherwise
lessen the effects
of, the disadvantages and shortcomings described above. Hence a need exists
for a coaxial cable
connector having improved grounding between the coaxial cable, the connector,
and the coaxial
cable connector interface port.
SUMMARY
[0005] According to various aspects of the disclosure, a coaxial
cable connector
includes a body configured to engage a coaxial cable having a conductive
electrical grounding
property, a post configured to engage the body and the coaxial cable when the
connector is
installed on the coaxial cable, a nut assembly configured to engage an
interface port at a first
retention force, and a conductive insert configured to be coupled with the nut
assembly. The
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conductive insert is configured to engage the interface port at a second
retention force that is
greater than the first retention force, and the conductive insert is
configured to maintain electrical
contact between the interface port and the nut assembly, even when the nut
assembly is in a
loosely tightened position on the interface port.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] Features and advantages of the present disclosure are
described in, and
will be apparent from, the following Brief Description of the Drawings and
Detailed Description.
[0007] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective cut-away view of a
conventional coaxial
cable connector.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a side view of an exemplary conductive insert in
accordance with
various aspects of the disclosure.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a side-front perspective view of the conductive
insert of FIG. 2.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the conductive
insert of FIG. 2
coupled with a coaxial connector.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a side-front perspective cross-sectional view of
the conductive
insert of FIG. 2 coupled with a coaxial connector.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of another exemplary
conductive
insert coupled with a coaxial connector.
[0013] FIG. 7 is a side view of an exemplary conductive insert in
accordance with
various aspects of the disclosure.
[0014] FIG. 8 is a side-front perspective view of the conductive
insert of FIG. 7.
[0015] FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view of the conductive
insert of FIG. 7
coupled with a coaxial connector.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0016] The accompanying figures illustrate various exemplary
embodiments of
coaxial cable connectors that provide improved grounding between the coaxial
cable, the
connector, and the coaxial cable connector interface port. Although certain
embodiments of the
present invention are shown and described in detail, it should be understood
that various changes
and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended
claims. The
scope of the present invention will in no way be limited to the number of
constituting
components, the materials thereof, the shapes thereof, the relative
arrangement thereof, etc., and
are disclosed simply as an example of embodiments of the present invention.
[0017] As a preface to the detailed description, it should be noted
that, as used in
this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a", "an" and
"the" include plural
referents, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0018] Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 depicts a conventional
coaxial cable
connector 100. The coaxial cable connector 100 may be operably affixed, or
otherwise
functionally attached, to a coaxial cable 10 having a protective outer jacket
12, a conductive
grounding shield 14, an interior dielectric 16 and a center conductor 18. The
coaxial cable 10
may be prepared as embodied in FIG. 1 by removing the protective outer jacket
12 and drawing
back the conductive grounding shield 14 to expose a portion of the interior
dielectric 16. Further
preparation of the embodied coaxial cable 10 may include stripping the
dielectric 16 to expose a
portion of the center conductor 18. The protective outer jacket 12 is intended
to protect the
various components of the coaxial cable 10 from damage which may result from
exposure to dirt
or moisture and from corrosion. Moreover, the protective outer jacket 12 may
serve in some
measure to secure the various components of the coaxial cable 10 in a
contained cable design
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that protects the cable 10 from damage related to movement during cable
installation. The
conductive grounding shield 14 may be comprised of conductive materials
suitable for providing
an electrical ground connection, such as cuprous braided material, aluminum
foils, thin metallic
elements, or other like structures. Various embodiments of the shield 14 may
be employed to
screen unwanted noise. For instance, the shield 14 may comprise a metal foil
wrapped around
the dielectric 16, or several conductive strands formed in a continuous braid
around the dielectric
16. Combinations of foil and/or braided strands may be utilized wherein the
conductive shield
14 may comprise a foil layer, then a braided layer, and then a foil layer.
Those in the art will
appreciate that various layer combinations may be implemented in order for the
conductive
grounding shield 14 to effectuate an electromagnetic buffer helping to prevent
ingress of
environmental noise that may disrupt broadband communications. The dielectric
16 may be
comprised of materials suitable for electrical insulation, such as plastic
foam material, paper
materials, rubber-like polymers, or other functional insulating materials. It
should be noted that
the various materials of which all the various components of the coaxial cable
10 are comprised
should have some degree of elasticity allowing the cable 10 to flex or bend in
accordance with
traditional broadband communication standards, installation methods and/or
equipment. It
should further be recognized that the radial thickness of the coaxial cable
10, protective outer
jacket 12, conductive grounding shield 14, interior dielectric 16 and/or
center conductor 18 may
vary based upon generally recognized parameters corresponding to broadband
communication
standards and/or equipment.
[0019]
Referring further to FIG. 1, the connector 100 may be configured to be
coupled with a coaxial cable interface port 20. The coaxial cable interface
port 20 includes a
conductive receptacle for receiving a portion of a coaxial cable center
conductor 18 sufficient to
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make adequate electrical contact. The coaxial cable interface port 20 may
further comprise a
threaded exterior surface 23. It should be recognized that the radial
thickness and/or the length
of the coaxial cable interface port 20 and/or the conductive receptacle of the
port 20 may vary
based upon generally recognized parameters corresponding to broadband
communication
standards and/or equipment. Moreover, the pitch and height of threads which
may be formed
upon the threaded exterior surface 23 of the coaxial cable interface port 20
may also vary based
upon generally recognized parameters corresponding to broadband communication
standards
and/or equipment. Furthermore, it should be noted that the interface port 20
may be formed of a
single conductive material, multiple conductive materials, or may be
configured with both
conductive and non-conductive materials corresponding to the port's operable
electrical interface
with the connector 100. However, the receptacle of the port 20 should be
formed of a conductive
material, such as a metal, like brass, copper, or aluminum. Further still, it
will be understood by
those of ordinary skill that the interface port 20 may be embodied by a
connective interface
component of a coaxial cable communications device, a television, a modem, a
computer port, a
network receiver, or other communications modifying devices such as a signal
splitter, a cable
line extender, a cable network module and/or the like.
[0020] Referring still further to FIG. 1, the conventional coaxial
cable connector
100 may include a coupler, for example, threaded nut 30, a post 40, a
connector body 50, a
fastener member 60, a grounding member 98 formed of conductive material, and a
connector
body sealing member 99, such as, for example, a body 0-ring configured to fit
around a portion
of the connector body 50. The nut 30 at the front end of the post 40 serves to
attach the
connector 100 to an interface port.
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[0021] The threaded nut 30 of the coaxial cable connector 100 has a
first forward
end 31 and opposing second rearward end 32. The threaded nut 30 may comprise
internal
threading 33 extending axially from the edge of first forward end 31 a
distance sufficient to
provide operably effective threadable contact with the external threads 23 of
the standard coaxial
cable interface port 20. The threaded nut 30 includes an internal lip 34, such
as an annular
protrusion, located proximate the second rearward end 32 of the nut. The
internal lip 34 includes
a surface 35 facing the first forward end 31 of the nut 30. The forward facing
surface 35 of the
lip 34 may be a tapered surface or side facing the first forward end 31 of the
nut 30. The
structural configuration of the nut 30 may vary according to differing
connector design
parameters to accommodate different functionality of a coaxial cable connector
100. For
instance, the first forward end 31 of the nut 30 may include internal and/or
external structures
such as ridges, grooves, curves, detents, slots, openings, chamfers, or other
structural features,
etc., which may facilitate the operable joining of an environmental sealing
member, such a
water-tight seal or other attachable component element, that may help prevent
ingress of
environmental contaminants, such as moisture, oils, and dirt, at the first
forward end 31 of a nut
30, when mated with the interface port 20. Moreover, the second rearward end
32 of the nut 30
may extend a significant axial distance to reside radially extent, or
otherwise partially surround, a
portion of the connector body 50, although the extended portion of the nut 30
need not contact
the connector body 50. The threaded nut 30 may be formed of conductive
materials, such as
copper, brass, aluminum, or other metals or metal alloys, facilitating
grounding through the nut
30. Accordingly, the nut 30 may be configured to extend an electromagnetic
buffer by
electrically contacting conductive surfaces of an interface port 20 when a
connector 100 is
advanced onto the port 20. In addition, the threaded nut 30 may be formed of
both conductive
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and non-conductive materials. For example, the external surface of the nut 30
may be formed of
a polymer, while the remainder of the nut 30 may be comprised of a metal or
other conductive
material. The threaded nut 30 may be formed of metals or polymers or other
materials that
would facilitate a rigidly formed nut body. Manufacture of the threaded nut 30
may include
casting, extruding, cutting, knurling, turning, tapping, drilling, injection
molding, blow molding,
combinations thereof, or other fabrication methods that may provide efficient
production of the
component. The forward facing surface 35 of the nut 30 faces a flange 44 of
the post 40 when
operably assembled in a connector 100, so as to allow the nut to rotate with
respect to the other
component elements, such as the post 40 and the connector body 50, of the
connector 100.
[0022]
Referring still to FIG. 1, the connector 100 may include a post 40. The
post 40 may include a first forward end 41 and an opposing second rearward end
42.
Furthermore, the post 40 may include a flange 44, such as an externally
extending annular
protrusion, located at the first end 41 of the post 40. The flange 44 includes
a rearward facing
surface 45 that faces the forward facing surface 35 of the nut 30, when
operably assembled in a
coaxial cable connector 100, so as to allow the nut to rotate with respect to
the other component
elements, such as the post 40 and the connector body 50, of the connector 100.
The rearward
facing surface 45 of flange 44 may be a tapered surface facing the second
rearward end 42 of the
post 40. Further still, an embodiment of the post 40 may include a surface
feature 47 such as a
lip or protrusion that may engage a portion of a connector body 50 to secure
axial movement of
the post 40 relative to the connector body 50. However, the post need not
include such a surface
feature 47, and the coaxial cable connector 100 may rely on press-fitting and
friction-fitting
forces and/or other component structures having features and geometries to
help retain the post
40 in secure location both axially and rotationally relative to the connector
body 50. The
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location proximate or near where the connector body is secured relative to the
post 40 may
include surface features 43, such as ridges, grooves, protrusions, or
knurling, which may enhance
the secure attachment and locating of the post 40 with respect to the
connector body 50.
Moreover, the portion of the post 40 that contacts embodiments of a grounding
member 98 may
be of a different diameter than a portion of the nut 30 that contacts the
connector body 50. Such
diameter variance may facilitate assembly processes. For instance, various
components having
larger or smaller diameters can be readily press-fit or otherwise secured into
connection with
each other. Additionally, the post 40 may include a mating edge 46, which may
be configured to
make physical and electrical contact with a corresponding mating edge 26 of
the interface port
20. The post 40 should be formed such that portions of a prepared coaxial
cable 10 including the
dielectric 16 and center conductor 18 may pass axially into the second end 42
and/or through a
portion of the tube-like body of the post 40. Moreover, the post 40 should be
dimensioned, or
otherwise sized, such that the post 40 may be inserted into an end of the
prepared coaxial cable
10, around the dielectric 16 and under the protective outer jacket 12 and
conductive grounding
shield 14. Accordingly, where an embodiment of the post 40 may be inserted
into an end of the
prepared coaxial cable 10 under the drawn back conductive grounding shield 14,
substantial
physical and/or electrical contact with the shield 14 may be accomplished
thereby facilitating
grounding through the post 40. The post 40 should be conductive and may be
formed of metals
or may be formed of other conductive materials that would facilitate a rigidly
formed post body.
In addition, the post may be formed of a combination of both conductive and
non-conductive
materials. For example, a metal coating or layer may be applied to a polymer
of other non-
conductive material. Manufacture of the post 40 may include casting,
extruding, cutting, turning,
drilling, knurling, injection molding, spraying, blow molding, component
overmolding,
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combinations thereof, or other fabrication methods that may provide efficient
production of the
component.
[0023] The coaxial cable connector 100 may include a connector body
50. The
connector body 50 may comprise a first end 51 and opposing second end 52.
Moreover, the
connector body may include a post mounting portion 57 proximate or otherwise
near the first end
51 of the body 50, the post mounting portion 57 configured to securely locate
the body 50
relative to a portion of the outer surface of post 40, so that the connector
body 50 is axially
secured with respect to the post 40, in a manner that prevents the two
components from moving
with respect to each other in a direction parallel to the axis of the
connector 100. The internal
surface of the post mounting portion 57 may include an engagement feature 54
that facilitates the
secure location of the grounding member 98 with respect to the connector body
50 and/or the
post 40, by physically engaging the grounding member 98 when assembled within
the connector
100. The engagement feature 54 may simply be an annular detent or ridge having
a different
diameter than the rest of the post mounting portion 57. However other features
such as grooves,
ridges, protrusions, slots, holes, keyways, bumps, nubs, dimples, crests,
rims, or other like
structural features may be included to facilitate or possibly assist the
positional retention of
embodiments of the electrical grounding member 98 with respect to the
connector body 50.
Nevertheless, embodiments of the grounding member 98 may also reside in a
secure position
with respect to the connector body 50 simply through press-fitting and
friction-fitting forces
engendered by corresponding tolerances, when the various coaxial cable
connector 100
components are operably assembled, or otherwise physically aligned and
attached together.
Various exemplary grounding members are illustrated and described in U.S.
Patent
No. 8,287,320, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. In
addition, the
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connector body 50 may include an outer annular recess 58 located proximate or
near the first end
51 of the connector body 50. Furthermore, the connector body 50 may include a
semi-rigid, yet
compliant outer surface 55, wherein an inner surface opposing the outer
surface 55 may be
configured to form an annular seal when the second end 52 is deformably
compressed against a
received coaxial cable 10 by operation of a fastener member 60. The connector
body 50 may
include an external annular detent 53 located proximate or close to the second
end 52 of the
connector body 50. Further still, the connector body 50 may include internal
surface features 59,
such as annular serrations formed near or proximate the internal surface of
the second end 52 of
the connector body 50 and configured to enhance frictional restraint and
gripping of an inserted
and received coaxial cable 10, through tooth-like interaction with the cable.
The connector body
50 may be formed of materials such as plastics, polymers, bendable metals or
composite
materials that facilitate a semi-rigid, yet compliant outer surface 55.
Further, the connector body
50 may be formed of conductive or non-conductive materials or a combination
thereof.
Manufacture of the connector body 50 may include casting, extruding, cutting,
turning, drilling,
knurling, injection molding, spraying, blow molding, component overmolding,
combinations
thereof, or other fabrication methods that may provide efficient production of
the component.
[0024] With further reference to FIG. 1, the coaxial cable
connector 100 may
include a fastener member 60. The fastener member 60 may have a first end 61
and opposing
second end 62. In addition, the fastener member 60 may include an internal
annular protrusion
63 located proximate the first end 61 of the fastener member 60 and configured
to mate and
achieve purchase with the annular detent 53 on the outer surface 55 of
connector body 50.
Moreover, the fastener member 60 may comprise a central passageway 65 defined
between the
first end 61 and second end 62 and extending axially through the fastener
member 60. The
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central passageway 65 may comprise a ramped surface 66 which may be positioned
between a
first opening or inner bore 67 having a first diameter positioned proximate
with the first end 61
of the fastener member 60 and a second opening or inner bore 68 having a
second diameter
positioned proximate with the second end 62 of the fastener member 60. The
ramped surface 66
may act to deformably compress the outer surface 55 of a connector body 50
when the fastener
member 60 is operated to secure a coaxial cable 10. For example, the narrowing
geometry will
compress squeeze against the cable, when the fastener member is compressed
into a tight and
secured position on the connector body. Additionally, the fastener member 60
may comprise an
exterior surface feature 69 positioned proximate with or close to the second
end 62 of the
fastener member 60. The surface feature 69 may facilitate gripping of the
fastener member 60
during operation of the connector 100. Although the surface feature 69 is
shown as an annular
detent, it may have various shapes and sizes such as a ridge, notch,
protrusion, knurling, or other
friction or gripping type arrangements. The first end 61 of the fastener
member 60 may extend
an axial distance so that, when the fastener member 60 is compressed into
sealing position on the
coaxial cable 100, the fastener member 60 touches or resides substantially
proximate
significantly close to the nut 30. It should be recognized, by those skilled
in the requisite art, that
the fastener member 60 may be formed of rigid materials such as metals, hard
plastics, polymers,
composites and the like, and/or combinations thereof. Furthermore, the
fastener member 60 may
be manufactured via casting, extruding, cutting, turning, drilling, knurling,
injection molding,
spraying, blow molding, component overmolding, combinations thereof, or other
fabrication
methods that may provide efficient production of the component.
[0025] The manner in which the coaxial cable connector 100 may be
fastened to a
received coaxial cable 10 may also be similar to the way a cable is fastened
to a common CMP-
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type connector having an insertable compression sleeve that is pushed into the
connector body 50
to squeeze against and secure the cable 10. The coaxial cable connector 100
includes an outer
connector body 50 having a first end 51 and a second end 52. The body 50 at
least partially
surrounds a tubular inner post 40. The tubular inner post 40 has a first end
41 including a flange
44 and a second end 42 configured to mate with a coaxial cable 10 and contact
a portion of the
outer conductive grounding shield or sheath 14 of the cable 10. The connector
body 50 is
secured relative to a portion of the tubular post 40 proximate or close to the
first end 41 of the
tubular post 40 and cooperates, or otherwise is functionally located in a
radially spaced
relationship with the inner post 40 to define an annular chamber with a rear
opening. A tubular
locking compression member may protrude axially into the annular chamber
through its rear
opening. The tubular locking compression member may be slidably coupled or
otherwise
movably affixed to the connector body 50 to compress into the connector body
and retain the
cable 10 and may be displaceable or movable axially or in the general
direction of the axis of the
connector 100 between a first open position (accommodating insertion of the
tubular inner post
40 into a prepared cable 10 end to contact the grounding shield 14), and a
second clamped
position compressibly fixing the cable 10 within the chamber of the connector
100, because the
compression sleeve is squeezed into retraining contact with the cable 10
within the connector
body 50.
[0026] Referring now to FIGS. 2-5, an exemplary conductive insert
272 in
accordance with various aspects of the disclosure is illustrated. As shown in
FIG. 2, the
conductive insert 272 may have an annular ring-like portion 274 at a first end
275 that is shaped
to match an inner profile of the lip 34 of the nut 30 and an outer profile of
the flange 44 of the
post 40. As shown in FIG. 4, the nut 30 is a portion of a nut assembly 30'
that includes a nut cap
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38. The nut cap 38 can be press fit on the nut 30 such that the nut 30 and the
nut cap 38 are
configured to rotate together. In some aspects, the nut cap 38 is integrally
formed with the nut
30 as a single monolithic structure. The nut cap 38 may include an outer
surface that is knurled
or otherwise modified to facilitate gripping by a user. In some aspects, the
nut cap 38 may be
surrounded by a rubber gripping portion.
[0027] The annular portion 274 may include a small diameter portion
276, a large
diameter portion 278, and a transition portion 277 connecting the large
diameter portion 278 with
the small diameter portion 276. When installed with a connector, the small
diameter portion 276
may be disposed between a radially inward facing surface of the lip 34 of the
nut 30 and a
radially outward facing surface of the post 40, and the large diameter portion
278 may be
disposed between a radially inward facing surface of the nut 30 and a radially
outward facing
surface of the flange 44 of the post 40. Meanwhile, the transition portion 277
is between the
forward facing surface 35 of the lip 34 of the nut 30 and the rearward facing
surface 45 of the
flange 44.
[0028] As best illustrated in FIG. 3, the large diameter portion
278 may include
one or more resilient tabs 279 that are cut from the large diameter portion
278 and bend radially
inward. For example, the tabs 279 remain connected to the large diameter
portion 278 at their
circumferential ends, but are separated from the large diameter portion 278
along their
circumferential lengths. The tabs 279 are resilient such that when the large
diameter portion 278
is disposed between a radially inward facing surface of the nut 30 and a
radially outward facing
surface of the flange 44 of the post 40, the tabs 279 provide a radial force
against the radially
outward facing surface of the flange 44, which urges the large diameter
portion 278 radially
outward against the radially inward surface of the nut 30.
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[0029] A hoop portion 280 extends radially outward from an end of
the large
diameter portion 278 that is opposite to the transition portion 277. One or
more fingers 282
extend from the hoop portion 280 in an axial direction away from the annular
portion 274.
According to various aspects of the disclosure, each of the fingers 282
includes two curved
portions 284, 285 that curve radially inward from radially outermost portions
286, 287, 288 of
the fingers 282. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the first
radially outermost portion
286 extends from the hoop portion 280 in the axial direction, and the first
curved portion 284
extends from the first outermost portion 286 to the second radially outermost
portion 287. The
second curved portion 285 extends from the second outermost portion 287 to the
third radially
outermost portion 288.
[0030] A second end 289 of the conductive insert 272 includes a
securing portion
290 formed by a radially extending portion 291 and an axially extending
portion 292 that extends
in the axial direction from the radially extending portion 291 toward the
first end 275 of the
conductive insert 272. With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the each finger 282 is
sized and
arranged such that the third radially outermost portion 288 can extend beyond
the forward end 31
of the nut assembly 30'. The radially extending portion 291 is structured and
arranged to extend
beyond an outer diameter of the forward end 31 of the nut assembly 30', and
the axially
extending portion 292 wraps back over the forward end 31 of the nut assembly
30'.
[0031] When assembled with a connector, for example, the connector
100, the
first end 275 of the conductive insert 272 is secured to the nut assembly 30'
and the post 40 by
the matching profiles of the conductive insert 272, the nut assembly 30', and
the post 40. The
fingers 282 are secured to the forward end 31 of the nut assembly 30' by the
securing portion
290. The nut assembly 30' includes one or more grooves 281, for example, one
or more axial
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grooves, that are each configured to receive the second radially outermost
portion 287 of one of
the fingers 282. The securing portion 290 is configured to restrict axial
movement of the fingers
282 relative to the nut assembly 30', while each of the one or more grooves
281 is configured to
restrict rotation of one of the fingers 282 relative to the nut assembly 30'.
In some aspects, the
one or more grooves 281 may be circumferential grooves.
[0032] The first and second curved portions 284, 285 are structured
and arranged
to extend radially inward beyond threads of the internal threading 33 of the
nut 30. Thus, when
coupled with the threaded exterior surface 23 of the coaxial cable interface
port 20, the first and
second curved portions 284, 285 promote redundant contact, higher retention
forces, and
continuous grounding from the interface port 20 through to the post 40, even
when loosely
connected (i.e., not fully tightened) to the interface port 20.
[0033] Referring again to FIG. 4, the nut 30 may include a recess
283 arranged to
receive a portion of the fingers 282 that may be pushed radially outward when
the nut 30 is
coupled with the interface port 20. Also, nut cap 38 may include an extension
portion 48 that
extends forward relative to the internal threading 33 of the nut 30 and
relative to a forward end of
the center conductor 18. As a result, the second curved portion 285 can make
contact with the
interface port 20 before the center conductor 18 in order to create a ground
from the interface
port 20 through to the post 40 and thus limit burst that would otherwise occur
upon insertion of
the center conductor 18 into the interface port 20 in the absence of a ground.
[0034] Referring now to FIG. 6, a conductive insert 672 similar to
the conductive
insert 272 described above is illustrated. As shown in FIG. 6, the axial
length of the second
radially outermost portion 687 of the fingers 682 may be lengthened and the
axial length of the
first and second curved portions 684, 685 may be shortened such that a
radially innermost
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portion 693 of the second curved portion 685 is moved toward the second end
689 of the
conductive insert 672. As a result, the conductive insert 672 insures that the
second curved
portion 685 can make contact with the interface port 20 before the center
conductor 18 in order
to create a ground from the interface port 20 through to the post 40 and thus
limit burst that
would otherwise occur upon insertion of the center conductor 18 into the
interface port 20 in the
absence of a ground.
[0035] Referring now to FIGS. 7-9, another exemplary conductive
insert 772 in
accordance with various aspects of the disclosure is illustrated. As shown in
FIG. 7, the
conductive insert 772 may have an annular ring-like portion 774 at a first end
775 that is shaped
to match an inner profile of the lip 34 of the nut 30 and an outer profile of
the flange 44 of the
post 40. For example, the annular portion 774 may include a tapered portion
777, and a large
diameter portion 778 that extends in an axial direction from an end of the
tapered portion 777
opposite to the first end 775.
[0036] When installed with a connector, the small diameter portion
776 may be
disposed between a radially inward facing surface of the lip 34 of the nut 30
and a radially
outward facing surface of the post 40, and the large diameter portion 778 may
be disposed
between a radially inward facing surface of the nut 30 and a radially outward
facing surface of
the flange 44 of the post 40. Meanwhile, the transition portion 777 is between
the forward facing
surface 35 of the lip 34 of the nut 30 and the rearward facing surface 45 of
the flange 44.
[0037] As best illustrated in FIG. 8, the large diameter portion
778 may include
one or more resilient tabs 779 that are cut from the large diameter portion
778 and bend radially
inward. For example, the tabs 779 remain connected to the large diameter
portion 778 at their
circumferential ends, but are separated from the large diameter portion 778
along their
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circumferential lengths. The tabs 779 are resilient such that when the large
diameter portion 778
is disposed between a radially inward facing surface of the nut 30 and a
radially outward facing
surface of the flange 44 of the post 40, the tabs 779 provide a radial force
against the radially
outward facing surface of the flange 44, which urges the large diameter
portion 778 radially
outward against the radially inward surface of the nut 30.
[0038] A hoop portion 780 extends radially outward from an end of
the large
diameter portion 778 that is opposite to the transition portion 777. One or
more fingers 782
extend from the hoop portion 780 in an axial direction away from the annular
portion 774.
According to various aspects of the disclosure, each of the fingers 782
includes two curved
portions 784, 785 that curve radially inward from radially outermost portions
786, 787, 788 of
the fingers 782. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the first
radially outermost portion
786 extends from the hoop portion 780 in the axial direction, and the first
curved portion 784
extends from the first outermost portion 786 to the second radially outermost
portion 787. The
second curved portion 785 extends from the second outermost portion 787 to the
third radially
outermost portion 788.
[0039] As shown in FIGS. 7-9, each of the first and second curved
portions 784,
785 includes a tab 794, 795 that extends radially inward from the respective
curved portions 784,
785. The tabs 794, 795 are punched out of the curved portions 784, 785 such
that the tabs 794,
795 are cantilevered at a forward end 796, 797 thereof. The tabs 794, 795 are
resilient such that
when the tabs engage the interface port 20, tabs 794, 795 provide a radial
force against an outer
surface 23 of the port 20 and are pushed outward by the port 20, thereby
ensuring contact with
the threaded surface 23 of the port 20. Also, as the nut 30 is coupled to the
port 20, the tabs 794,
795 engage the threaded outer surface 23 of the port 20 and make it difficult
for the nut 30 to be
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pulled off the port 20, even when the threads 33 of the nut 30 have not yet
engaged the threaded
outer surface 23 of the port 20.
[0040] A second end 789 of the conductive insert 772 includes a
securing portion
790 formed by a radially extending portion 791 and an axially extending
portion 792 that extends
in the axial direction from the radially extending portion 791 toward the
first end 775 of the
conductive insert 772. With reference to FIG. 9, the each finger 782 is sized
and arranged such
that the third radially outermost portion 788 can extend beyond the forward
end 31 of the nut
assembly 30'. The radially extending portion 791 is structured and arranged to
extend beyond an
outer diameter of the forward end 31 of the nut assembly 30', and the axially
extending portion
792 wraps back over the forward end 31 of the nut assembly 30'. The nut 30 may
include a
recess 783 arranged to receive a portion of the fingers 782 that may be pushed
radially outward
when the nut 30 is coupled with the interface port 20.
[0041] When assembled with a connector, for example, the connector
100, the
first end 775 of the conductive insert 772 is secured to the nut assembly 30'
and the post 40 by
the matching profiles of the conductive insert 772, the nut assembly 30', and
the post 40. The
fingers 782 are secured to the forward end 31 of the nut assembly 30' by the
securing portion
790. The securing portion 790 restricts axial movement of the fingers 782
relative to the nut
assembly 30', while the one or more grooves 281 restrict rotation of the
fingers 782 relative to
the nut assembly 30'.
[0042] The first and second curved portions 784, 785 are structured
and arranged
to extend radially inward beyond threads of the internal threading 33 of the
nut 30. Thus, when
coupled with the threaded exterior surface 23 of the coaxial cable interface
port 20, the first and
second curved portions 784, 785 promote redundant contact, higher retention
forces, and
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continuous grounding from the interface port 20 through to the post 40, even
when loosely
connected (i.e., not fully tightened) to the interface port 20. As shown in
FIGS. 7-9, the axial
length of the second radially outermost portion 787 of the fingers 782 may be
lengthened and the
axial length of the first and second curved portions 784, 785 may be shortened
such that a
radially innermost portion 793 of the second curved portion 785 is moved
toward the second end
789 of the conductive insert 772, similar to the embodiment discussed above
with reference to
FIG. 6. As a result, the conductive insert 772 insures that the second curved
portion 785 can
make contact with the interface port 20 before the center conductor 18 in
order to create a ground
from the interface port 20 through to the post 40 and thus limit burst that
would otherwise occur
upon insertion of the center conductor 18 into the interface port 20 in the
absence of a ground.
[0043] It should be understood that various changes and
modifications to the
embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
Such changes and
modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
present disclosure
and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that
such changes and
modifications be covered by the appended claims.
[0044] Although several embodiments of the disclosure have been
disclosed in
the foregoing specification, it is understood by those skilled in the art that
many modifications
and other embodiments of the disclosure will come to mind to which the
disclosure pertains,
having the benefit of the teaching presented in the foregoing description and
associated
drawings. It is thus understood that the disclosure is not limited to the
specific embodiments
disclosed herein above, and that many modifications and other embodiments are
intended to be
included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although specific
terms are
employed herein, as well as in the claims which follow, they are used only in
a generic and
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descriptive sense, and not for the purposes of limiting the present
disclosure, nor the claims
which follow.
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