Abstract:
A coaxial cable connector assembly includes a bracket defining an upright locating plate and a horizontal holder plate, a coaxial cable connector fastened to the upright locating plate for the connection of a coaxial cable, and a grounding wire connector consisting of an externally threaded male connector member and an internally threaded female connector member and fastened to the horizontal holder plate to hold a grounding wire for discharging of magnetic waves, surge or shocks occurred during signal transmission through the coaxial cable to avoid system damage and to assure signal transmission stability.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates electrical connectors and more particularly to a coaxial cable connector assembly consisting of a bracket, a grounding wire connector and a coaxial cable connector, which effectively eliminates electromagnetic interference, avoiding system damage and assuring signal transmission stability. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     CATA (Community Antenna Television) is a cable TV system of providing television to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses though fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber&#39;s property. FM radio programming, high-speed Internet, telephony and other non-television services may also be provided. 
     Coaxial cables of a cable TV system are exposed to the outside of the community building and can easily be damaged by a high voltage produced upon a thunder strike. When a TV system or any other electronic equipment is attacked by a thunder strike or strong magnetic waves, the system or equipment circuit may be fatally damaged. 
     To decrease in induction voltage on a coaxial cable, a grounding arrangement is necessary for discharge of magnetic waves and noises, assuring impedance matching and avoiding transmission energy loss. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a ground isolation coaxial cable connector according to the prior art. According to this design, the ground isolation coaxial cable connector comprises an electric connector member A, a stepped bracket B and a lock screw B 13 . The stepped bracket B comprises two mounting lugs B 1  disposed at two opposite lateral sides thereof, a horizontal through hole B 11  disposed adjacent to one mounting lug B 1  for the insertion of a grounding wire D, and a screw hole B 12  vertically disposed in communication with the horizontal through hole B 11 . The electric connector member A is fastened to the stepped bracket B for the connection of a coaxial cable C. After insertion of the grounding wire D through the horizontal through hole B 11 , the lock screw B 13  is threaded into the screw hole B 12  to lock the grounding wire D. According to this design, the stepped bracket B is made by means of metal injection molding. The tooling cost for the fabrication of the stepped bracket B is quite expensive. Further, because the lock screw B 13  is directly stopped against the periphery of the grounding wire D, the periphery of the grounding wire D may be damaged by the lock screw B 13  easily, causing increase of impedance. 
     Therefore, it is desirable to provide a coaxial cable connector, which eliminates the drawbacks of the aforesaid prior art design. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a coaxial cable connector assembly, which effectively eliminates electromagnetic interference, avoiding system damage and assuring signal transmission stability. 
     To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a coaxial cable connector assembly comprises a bracket defining an upright locating plate and a horizontal holder plate, a coaxial cable connector fastened to a through hole on the upright locating plate for the connection of a coaxial cable, and a grounding wire connector consisting of an externally threaded male connector member and an internally threaded female connector member and fastened to a receiving hole on the horizontal holder plate to hold a grounding wire for discharging of magnetic waves, surge or shocks occurred during signal transmission through the coaxial cable to avoid system damage and to assure signal transmission stability. The externally threaded male connector member has a wire hole transversely cut through the shank thereof for the insertion of the grounding wire. The internally threaded female connector member is rotatable on the shank of the externally threaded male connector member to lock/unlock the grounding wire. 
     Further, the bracket further comprises at least one flat bearing edge defined in the receiving hole on the horizontal holder plate. The externally threaded male connector member further comprises at least one cut plane vertically located on the periphery of the shank thereof around the wire hole and respectively attached to the at least one flat bearing edge of the bracket to prohibit rotation of the grounding wire connector relative to the bracket. 
     Further, the bracket is made of a single piece metal plate member by means of stamping technology, facilitating fabrication, and saving much material consumption and reducing the manufacturing cost. 
     The grounding wire connector further comprises a washer attached to the shank of the male connector member and stopped between the grounding wire and the female connector member to prevent direct contact between the female connector member and the grounding wire, avoiding friction damage and assuring excellent ground effects. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an elevational view of a coaxial cable connector assembly in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the coaxial cable connector assembly in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  corresponds to  FIG. 2  when viewed from another angle. 
         FIG. 4  is an applied view of the present invention before installation of the grounding wire. 
         FIG. 5  corresponds to  FIG. 4 , illustrating the grounding wire inserted through the wire hole of the male connector member before installation of the female connector member and the coaxial cable. 
         FIG. 6  corresponds to  FIG. 5 , illustrating the female connector member fastened to the shank of the male connector member and the coaxial cable connected to the coaxial cable connector. 
         FIG. 7  corresponds to  FIG. 6 , illustrating the female connector member removed from the male connector member and a washer attached to the shank of the male connector member. 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded view of a ground isolation coaxial cable connector according to the prior art. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a coaxial cable connector assembly in accordance with the present invention is shown comprising a bracket  1 , a grounding wire connector  2 , and a coaxial cable connector  3 . 
     The bracket  1  is made of a single piece metal plate member by means of stamping technology, comprising an upright locating plate  11 , at least one, for example, one through hole  111  horizontally cut through the upright locating plate  11  for receiving the coaxial cable connector  3 , at least one, for example, two mounting eyelets  12  horizontally disposed at two opposite lateral sides thereof, a horizontal holder plate  13  horizontally disposed at one lateral side relative to the upright locating plate  11  above the elevation of the mounting eyelets  12 , a receiving hole  131  vertically cut through the horizontal holder plate  13 , at least one flat bearing edge  132  defined in the receiving hole  131 , and a V-groove  133  located on the top wall of the horizontal holder plate  13  and extending across the receiving hole  131  in a parallel manner relative to the axis of the through hole  111 . 
     The grounding wire connector  2  is mountable in the receiving hole  131  of the horizontal holder plate  13  of the bracket  1 , comprising a male connector member  21  and a female connector member  22 . The male connector member  21  is a screw member comprising a head  211  located on one end thereof and stoppable at the bottom side of the horizontal holder plate  13 , a shank  212  perpendicularly extended from the head  211  and insertable through the receiving hole  131  of the horizontal holder plate  13 , outer threads  213  extending around the periphery of the shank  212 , a wire hole  214  of circular, oval, rectangular or polygonal configuration transversely cut through the shank  212  in a parallel manner relative to the axis of the through hole  111 , and at least one cut plane  215  vertically located on the periphery of the shank  212  around the wire hole  214 . The female connector member  22  is a nut having inner threads  221  threadable onto the outer threads  213  of the male connector member  21 . 
     The coaxial cable connector  3  is a metal cylindrical member having outer threads  31  extending around the periphery thereof and a center contact hole  311  axially disposed at the center thereof. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4-6 , during installation of the present invention, insert the shank  212  of the male connector member  21  vertically upwardly or downwardly through the receiving hole  131  of the horizontal holder plate  13  to stop an inner stop wall  2111  of the head  211  of the male connector member  21  around the shank  212  at the bottom side of the horizontal holder plate  13  and to keep the at least one cut plane  215  in contact with the at least one flat bearing edge  132  of the horizontal holder plate  13 , and then insert a grounding wire  4  through the wire hole  214  of the male connector member  21 , and then fasten the female connector member  22  to the male connector member  21  by threading the inner threads  221  onto the outer threads  213  to lock the male connector member  21  to the horizontal holder plate  13  and also to lock the grounding wire  4  to the wire hole  214  of the male connector member  21 . 
     When inserting the shank  212  of the male connector member  21  vertically upwardly or downwardly through the receiving hole  131  of the horizontal holder plate  13 , the at least one cut plane  215  is kept in contact with the at least one flat bearing edge  132  of the horizontal holder plate  13 . Subject matching between the at least one cut plane  215  and the at least one flat bearing edge  132 , the male connector member  21  is prohibited from rotation relative to the horizontal holder plate  13 . Further, the grounding wire  4  is kept attached to the V-groove  133  at the top wall of the horizontal holder plate  13 , assuring positive and accurate positioning. 
     Thereafter, mount the coaxial cable connector  3  in the through hole  111  of the upright locating plate  11  of the bracket  1 , and then insert the center conductor, referenced by  52 , of a coaxial cable  5  into the center contact hole  311  of the coaxial cable connector  3 , and then thread the locknut, referenced by  51 , onto the outer threads  31  of the coaxial cable connector  3  to lock the coaxial cable  5  and the coaxial cable connector  3  to the upright locating plate  11  of the bracket  1 . Further, by means of the mounting eyelets  12 , the bracket  1  can be fixedly fastened to a CCTV (closed circuit television) system or any other video equipment. If any magnetic waves, surge or shocks occurred during signal transmission through the coaxial cable  5 , they will be released through the grounding wire  4 , avoiding system damage and assuring signal transmission stability. 
     Further, the head  211  of the male connector member  21  can be stepped-configured for engagement into the receiving hole  131  of the horizontal holder plate  13  positively to keep the wire hole  214  of the male connector member  21  between the horizontal holder plate  13  and the female connector member  22  for allowing insertion of the grounding wire  4 . After insertion of the grounding wire  4  through the wire hole  214  of the male connector member  21 , the female connector member  22  is fastened tight to lock the male connector member  21 , the grounding wire  4  and the horizontal holder plate  13  together. In an alternate form of the present invention, the wire hole  214  of the male connector member  21  is disposed between the head  211  and the horizontal holder plate  13 , and the female connector member  22  is threaded onto the shank  212  of the male connector member  21  above the horizontal holder plate  13 . As stated above, the bracket  1  is made of a single piece metal plate member by means of stamping technology, facilitating fabrication. When compared to metal injection molding, the fabrication of the bracket  1  according to the present invention consumes less amount of material, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 2  again, the grounding wire connector  2  further comprises a washer  23  attached to the shank  212  of the male connector member  21  and stopped at one side of the female connector member  22 . When rotating the female connector member  22  relative to the shank  212  of the male connector member  21 , the washer  23  is moved along the shank  212  to adjust the gap between the washer  23  and the horizontal holder plate  13 , thereby locking or unlocking the grounding wire  4 . Further, the washer  23  has at least one cut plane  231  fitting the at least one cut plane  215  of the male connector member  21 . Subject to the use of the washer  23 , the female connector member  22  is prohibited from direct contact with the grounding wire  4 , avoiding friction damage and assuring positive excellent ground effect. 
     In conclusion, the invention provides a coaxial cable connector assembly, which comprises a bracket  1 , which comprises an upright locating plate  11 , two mounting eyelets  12  and a horizontal holder plate  13 , a grounding wire connector  2 , which comprises a male connector member  21  inserted through a receiving hole  131  on the horizontal holder plate  13  and adapted to hold a grounding wire  4  in a wire hole  214  on a threaded shank  212  thereof and a female connector member  22  threaded onto the threaded shank  212  to lock the grounding wire  4  to the horizontal holder plate  13 , and a coaxial cable connector  3  fastened to a through hole  111  on the upright locating plate  11  of the bracket  1  for the connection of a coaxial cable  5 . Subject to the use of the grounding wire to discharge magnetic waves, surge or shocks occurred during signal transmission through the coaxial cable  5 , the invention avoids system damage and assures signal transmission stability. 
     Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.