Patent ID: 6790081
Filing Date: 2004-09-14
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
A connector for coupling an end of a coaxial cable to a terminal, the coaxial cable comprising an inner conductor, a dielectric surrounding the inner conductor, an outer conductor surrounding the dielectric, and a jacket surrounding the outer conductor, the connector comprising:(a) a coupler comprising (i) a substantially cylindrical portion having a receiving port for engaging the terminal, and (ii) an annular collar extending radially inward from the substantially cylindrical portion to provide a collar opening having an opening diameter; (b) a body member comprising (i) a distal body end and a proximal body end, (ii) a proximal body section receivable in the collar opening and comprising a lip at the proximal body end, the lip having an outer lip diameter greater than the opening diameter, the body member being sufficiently resilient for flexible insertion of the lip through the collar opening, and (iii) a distal body section extending away from the proximal body section, the distal body section comprising an inner surface portion; and (c) a post comprising (i) a distal post end and a proximal post end, the distal post end sized for insertion between the dielectric and the outer conductor, (ii) a radially extending post flange movable within the receiving port, and (iii) a post shank extending from the post flange, the post shank forming a post channel sufficient in diameter to receive the inner conductor and the dielectric, the post shank being sufficient in length to extend from the lip to the inner surface portion, wherein the post is movable between a cable insertion position, in which the post flange is spaced apart from the lip and the distal post end is sufficiently spaced apart from the inner surface portion for inserting the coaxial cable into the body member, and a cable-installed position, in which the post shank is received in the body member to form an annular chamber between the post shank and the inner surface portion, the annular chamber being sufficiently narrow to compress the outer conductor and the jacket with the post shank and the inner surface portion for establishing a distal seal, and wherein tightening the coupler to the terminal compresses the lip between the post flange and the annular collar for establishing a proximal seal.