Patent ID: 7841896
Filing Date: 2010-11-30
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
1. A compressible F-connector adapted to be electrically and mechanically attached to the prepared end of a coaxial cable for thereafter establishing an electrical connection to an appropriate threaded socket, the coaxial cable comprising a center conductor surrounded by insulation that is coaxially surrounded by an outer conductive braid and an outermost insulating jacket, said F-connector comprising: a nut adapted to be threadably coupled to said socket; an elongated, hollow post having a flanged end mechanically coupled to said nut and a reduced diameter trailing end adapted to be inserted into said prepared cable end around the center conductor insulation and coaxially beneath said outer conductive braid; a hollow tubular body coaxially disposed over said post, the body having a front end disposed adjacent said nut, said body comprising an integral, elongated tubular shank and an internal passageway with a diameter greater than the diameter of said post such that an annular void is formed between said post and said body; a tubular end cap comprising an open end and a terminal end, the end cap comprising a smooth hollow interior, and the end cap adapted to be slidably coupled to said body shank, the end cap comprising an interior passageway through which coaxial cable may pass, and an internal ring groove adjacent the terminal end, the hollow interior of the tubular end cap comprising teeth means for frictionally gripping said body shank; an enhanced, generally toroidal sealing grommet disposed within said internal ring groove within said end cap, the enhanced sealing grommet comprising innermost and outermost portions that are integral and coaxial, the outermost portion forming the outer diameter of said enhanced grommet and having a generally squarish profile and a first grommet length enabling the grommet to snugly seat within the end cap internal ring groove, the innermost portion of the enhanced grommet being bulbous and comprising a convex nose aimed at the interior of the connector and a second length greater than said first length, and the grommet comprising a neck disposed between said nose and said outermost portion; wherein said first length is approximately 90% of said second length; wherein said nose comprises a radius dimensioned approximately 20% of said first length; wherein an annular void exists between said post and said body in which the coaxial cable outer conductive braid is restrained between said post and said body and electrically conductively contacted by said post; wherein the end cap is frictionally attached by compressively axially deflecting said end cap towards said nut such that it will lock along said shank, and wherein the coaxial cable end is axially restrained after end cap compression within said connector substantially by compression and deformation of said enhanced sealing grommet, with an uninsulated portion of the cable center conductor extending through said nut thereby forming the male part of the resulting electrical connection and, a travel limiting stop ring defined on said body comprising external tactile regions that are sensed by touch, thus aiding in the manual assembly and positioning of the connector both before and after assembly.