Patent ID: 8801448
Filing Date: 2014-08-12
Classification: H01R,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A connector configured to extend an electrical grounding continuity path of an outer conductor of a coaxial cable to an interface port when the connector is in an assembled state, when the connector is engaged with the interface port and the coaxial cable, and when the connector is in a loose state, the connector comprising: a body structure having a forward portion, an opposing rearward portion, and a forward facing body portion; a post structure configured to engage the body structure when the connector is in the assembled state, the post structure including an outwardly extending flange having a first step and a second step, the first step including a first rearward facing post portion, and the second step including a forward facing post portion and a second rearward facing post portion; a coupler structure including a forward coupler portion configured to engage the interface port and an inwardly extending lip having a rearward facing coupler portion and a forward facing coupler portion configured to engage the second rearward facing post portion of the second step of the outwardly extending flange of the post structure when the connector is in an unaltered, assembled state, the coupler structure being configured to move between a first assembled position, where the forward facing coupler portion of the inwardly extending lip of the coupler structure engages the second rearward facing post portion of the second step of the outwardly extending flange of the post structure and forms a grounding path between the forward facing coupler portion of the inwardly extending lip of the coupler structure and the second rearward facing post portion of the second step of the outwardly extending flange of the post structure, and a second assembled position, where the forward facing coupler portion of the inwardly extending lip of the coupler structure does not engage the second rearward facing post portion of the second step of the outwardly extending flange of the post structure and does not form a grounding path between the forward facing coupler portion of the inwardly extending lip of the coupler structure and the second rearward facing post portion of the second step of the outwardly extending flange of the post structure and where the connector is in a loose state; a continuity structure configured to extend an electrical grounding continuity path of an outer conductor of the coaxial cable through the connector and to the interface port when the connector is in an assembled state, when the connector is engaged with the interface port and the coaxial cable, and when the connector is in the loose state; wherein the continuity structure comprises a fully conductive component configured to extend and maintain a consistent electrical grounding path from the coaxial cable, through the rearward facing coupler portion of the inwardly extending lip of the coupler structure, and through the first rearward facing post portion of the first step of the outwardly extending flange of the post structure when the connector is in the assembled state and when the connector is in the loose state; wherein the continuity structure is not configured to form an environmental seal; wherein the continuity structure is configured to extend the electrical grounding continuity path of the outer conductor of the coaxial cable to the interface port when the coupler structure moves to the second assembled position, where the forward facing coupler portion of the inwardly extending lip of the coupler structure does not engage the second rearward facing post portion of the second step of the outwardly extending flange of the post structure and does not form the electrical grounding continuity path between the forward facing coupler portion of the inwardly extending lip of the coupler structure and the second rearward facing post portion of the second step of the outwardly extending flange of the post structure; wherein the continuity structure is located reward of the forward facing coupler portion of the inwardly extending lip of the coupler structure when the connector is in an assembled state; wherein the body structure and the post structure are separate and distinct components of the connector, and are not formed as a single integral component of the connector; wherein the continuity structure extends between the rearward facing coupler portion of the inwardly extending lip of the coupler structure and the forward facing body portion of the body structure and forms a gap between the rearward facing coupler portion of the inwardly extending lip of the coupler structure and the forward facing body portion of the body structure so as to prevent the rearward facing coupler portion of the inwardly extending lip of the coupler structure and the forward facing body portion of the body structure from contacting each other when the connector is in the unaltered, assembled state; wherein the continuity structure extends between the first rearward facing post portion of the first step of the outwardly extending flange of the post structure and the forward facing body portion of the body structure and forms a space between the first rearward facing post portion of the first step of the outwardly extending flange of the post structure and the forward facing body portion of the body structure so as to prevent the first rearward facing post portion of the first step of the outwardly extending flange of the post structure and the forward facing body portion of the body structure from contacting each other when the connector is in an unaltered, assembled state; wherein the continuity structure includes a coupler contact portion configured to contact the rearward facing coupler portion of the inwardly extending lip of the coupler structure when the connector is in an unaltered, assembled state, a post contact portion configured to contact the first rearward facing post portion of the first step of the outwardly extending flange of the post structure when the connector is in an unaltered, assembled state, a body contact portion configured to contact the forward facing body portion of the body structure when the connector is in an unaltered, assembled state; wherein the continuity structure is configured to exert a biasing force to help maintain the consistent electrical grounding path from the coaxial cable, through the rearward facing coupler portion of the inwardly extending lip of the coupler structure, and through the first rearward facing post portion of the first step of the outwardly extending flange of the post structure when the connector is in an assembled state and when the connector is in the loose state; and wherein the electrical grounding continuity path is configured to be formed by the continuity structure when the connector is in the assembled state, the electrical grounding continuity path including: a first ground path portion extending at least partially axially between the rearward facing coupler portion of the inwardly extending lip of the coupler structure and the coupler contact portion of the continuity structure; a second ground path portion extending through the continuity structure; and a third ground path portion extending at least partially axially between the post contact portion of the continuity structure and the first rearward facing post portion of the first step of the outwardly extending flange of the post structure.