Patent ID: 8647136
Filing Date: 2014-02-11
Classification: H01R,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A connector for coupling an end of a coaxial cable to an interface port, the coaxial cable having a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric, the dielectric being surrounded by a conductive grounding shield, the conductive grounding shield being surrounded by a protective outer jacket, the connector comprising: a body having a forward end, an opposing rearward end, and a forwardly facing surface, the reward end configured to receive a portion of the coaxial cable; a post configured to engage the body when the connector is attached to the interface port, the post including an outward flange having a forward facing surface and a protrusion having a rearward facing surface, the post being comprised of a substantially conductive material sufficient to form an electrical grounding path; a nut configured to move between a first axial position relative to the interface port, and a second axial position relative to the interface port, the nut including: wherein the nut is further structured to permit movement between a first nut position, where the forward facing nut surface of the nut contacts the rearward facing surface of the post, and a second nut position, where at least a portion of the forward facing nut surface of the nut is spaced away from and does not contact the rearward facing surface of the post, the nut being made of a substantially conductive material sufficient to form a continuous electrical contact path; a continuity member including; a sealing ring positioned between the nut and the body at a location rearwardly spaced from a continuity member, the sealing ring being formed of a substantially elastomeric and non-conductive material so as to form an environmental seal between the nut and body; and wherein a continuity member is configured to maintain a continuous electrical ground path between the post and the nut when the nut is in the first nut position, when the nut is in the second nut position, when the nut is attached to the interface port and in a first axial position relative to the interface port, and when the nut is attached to the interface port and in a second axial position relative to the interface port, such that a continuity member maintains the continuous electrical ground path between the post and the nut regardless of the location of the nut relative to the post and regardless of the axial position of the nut when the nut is axially attached to the interface port.