Abstract:
A connector having a front end for attachment to a terminal and a back end for attachment to a coaxial cable includes a body, a post mounted within the body; and a contact assembly movably mounted within the post and body. The contact assembly includes a guide, a contact mounted to the guide, and preferably a clip mounted to the contact for making electrical and mechanical connection with the center conductor of the coaxial cable and a sabot. The contact assembly moves longitudinally toward the front end of the connector, such that the front end of the contact moves from a first position completely within the body to a second position proximate the connector interface, as the connector receives the coaxial cable. Preferably, the guide has an opening for the center conductor, which is viewable to a user during attachment until the center conductor enters the opening. The sabot moves with the contact assembly in a telescoping fashion enabling a greater distance of axial displacement. In addition, the contact assembly preferably contains a means to prevent the cable from being forced backward after installation.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of, and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/001,182 filed on Oct. 31, 2007 entitled, “Coaxial Connector with Telescoping Center Conductor Mechanism”, the content of which is relied upon and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to coaxial cable connectors, and more particularly to coaxial cable connectors capable of being connected to a terminal. 
     2. Technical Background 
     Coaxial cable connectors, such as axially-compressible Type N connectors, are used to attach a coaxial cable to another object, such as an appliance or junction, having a terminal adapted to engage the connector. After an end of the coaxial cable is trimmed using one of several known cable preparation techniques, the trimmed end of the coaxial cable is inserted into a back end of the connector. Then, the connector is axially compressed using one of several known installation tools, and the connector and the coaxial cable become permanently attached to each other. 
     Disadvantageously, most known connectors require “blind entry” of the coaxial cable into the connector, meaning that a small opening in the connector into which it is necessary to insert the center conductor of the coaxial cable becomes blocked from a user&#39;s view by a dielectric or jacket of the coaxial cable. The dielectric or jacket blocks the user&#39;s view of the small opening primarily because the small opening is disadvantageously recessed too deeply in the connector. Such known connectors provide no means to ensure that the dielectric, or foam core, of the coaxial cable is properly centered within the connector during insertion of the coaxial cable into the connector. 
     During use, a contact of the connector is positioned near the front end of the connector. However, prior to use, there is no need for the contact to be positioned near the front end of the connector. 
     Many known connectors utilize separate or loose components that must be manipulated during installation, and, therefore, are subject to loss. For example, a known Type N connector is supplied with a loose pin, meaning that the pin is not integral with the body of the connector, when shipped. The loose pin is subject to loss. Extra manipulation such as crimping or soldering is required to install the separate component. 
     Another known coaxial connector uses the center conductor of the coaxial cable to push out the pin of the connector. Using the center conductor of the coaxial cable to push out the pin does not work well, if at all, when the center conductor is a small gauge wire. 
     Often times, said connectors are long in overall length due to application and design constraints and require a relatively long center contact arrangement. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A connector is disclosed herein for attachment to a coaxial cable. The coaxial cable comprises a center conductor and a dielectric layer surrounding the center conductor. The connector comprises: a longitudinal axis; a back end for receiving the coaxial cable; a front end; a body; a post fixedly mounted within the body; and a contact assembly movably mounted to the post, the contact assembly comprising a guide, a contact mounted to the guide, the contact having a front end and a back end, and preferably including a clip for making electrical and mechanical contact with the center conductor of the coaxial cable, the clip being fixedly mounted to a back end of the contact; wherein the contact assembly is capable of moving along the longitudinal axis toward the front end of the connector in response to insertion of the coaxial cable into the back end of the connector, wherein the front end of the contact extends within the connector body when the coaxial cable is fully inserted into the back end of the connector. The connector further comprises a sabot that moves with the contact assembly within the body preferably in a telescoping fashion enabling a greater distance of axial displacement. Preferably, a back side of the guide has an opening at the longitudinal axis for receiving the center conductor of the coaxial cable. In preferred embodiments, the back side of the guide is funnel-shaped to guide the center conductor of the coaxial cable toward the opening in the guide. Preferably, the dielectric layer of the coaxial cable moves the contact assembly. Preferably, the opening in the guide is viewable to a user during attachment until the center conductor of the coaxial cable enters the opening. In preferred embodiments, a back side of the guide is funnel-shaped with an opening at the longitudinal axis for receiving the center conductor of the coaxial cable, such that the dielectric layer, and not the center conductor, of the coaxial cable moves the contact assembly. 
     In one set of preferred embodiments, a connector is disclosed herein for attachment to a coaxial cable, wherein the coaxial cable comprises a center conductor and a dielectric layer surrounding the center conductor. The connector comprises a longitudinal axis; a back end for receiving the coaxial cable; a front end; a body; a post fixedly mounted within the body; and a contact assembly movably mounted within the post, the body, the post and the contact assembly having a common longitudinal axis, the contact assembly comprising a guide, a contact fixedly mounted to the guide, the contact having a front end and a back end, and preferably including a clip for making electrical and mechanical contact with the center conductor of the coaxial cable, the clip being fixedly mounted to a back end of the contact; wherein the contact assembly is capable of longitudinally moving toward the front end of the connector, such that the front end of the contact moves from a first position completely within the body to a second position, at least partially extending within the connector body in response to insertion of the coaxial cable into the back end of the connector. The connector further comprises a sabot that moves with the contact assembly within the body preferably in a telescoping fashion enabling a greater distance of axial displacement. 
     In another set of preferred embodiments, a connector is disclosed herein for attachment to a coaxial cable, wherein the coaxial cable comprises a center conductor and a dielectric layer surrounding the center conductor. The connector comprises a longitudinal axis; a back end for receiving the coaxial; a front end; a body; a post fixedly mounted within the body; and a contact assembly movably mounted within the post, the body, the post and the contact assembly having a common longitudinal axis, the contact assembly comprising a guide, a contact fixedly mounted to the guide, the contact having a front end and a back end, and preferably including a clip for making electrical and mechanical contact with the center conductor of the coaxial cable, the clip being fixedly mounted to a back end of the contact; wherein the contact assembly is capable of longitudinally moving toward the front end of the connector, such that the front end of the contact moves from a first position completely within the body to a second position, at least partially extending within the connector body in response to insertion of the coaxial cable into the back end of the connector. 
     The connector further comprises a sabot that moves with the contact assembly within the body preferably in a telescoping fashion enabling a greater distance of axial displacement. The said guide of the contact assembly provides a means to prevent appreciable backward movement of the contact assembly and cable core after the contact assembly and cable core have been moved fully forward within the connector. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the present invention can provide a coaxial connector that is more “installer friendly” and incorporates a positive visual indication that the connector is properly installed on a coaxial cable. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the present invention can provide a connector that has a contact that does not reside proximate the front end of the connector prior to use. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the present invention can provide a connector that provides a user with a view of an opening of the contact assembly into which the center conductor of a coaxial cable is to be inserted, while the coaxial cable is being inserted into the connector during attachment. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the present invention can provide a connector that uses the dielectric layer of the coaxial cable to move the contact of the connector. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the present invention can provide a connector with a relatively long center contact arrangement that can guide said contact arrangement. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the present invention can provide a connector that contains a simple and inexpensive means to prevent the assembled contact assembly and cable core from being forced appreciably backward by a load applied to the front end of the contact during mating with corresponding connectors. 
     Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the invention as described herein, including the detailed description which follows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description present embodiments of the invention, and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles and operations of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be described with greater specificity and clarity with reference to the following drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a partial cross-sectional view of a Type N connector  1000  and a side view of a coaxial cable, prior to attachment, including a contact assembly, a post and a sabot, the connector having a front end female contact; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial cross-sectional view of a Type N connector  1000  and a side view of a coaxial cable, prior to attachment, including a contact assembly, a post and a sabot, the connector having a front end male contact; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlargement of area  1 A of  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 3A  is an enlargement of area  1 B of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3B  is an enlargement of area  1 B of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial cross-sectional view of the Type N connector of  FIG. 1  and a side view of the coaxial cable, at a first stage of attachment; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial cross-sectional view of the Type N connector of  FIG. 1  and a side view of the coaxial cable, at a second stage of attachment; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial cross-sectional view of the Type N connector of  FIG. 1  and a side view of the coaxial cable, fully assembled together; 
         FIG. 7  is a partial cross-sectional view of the Type N connector  2000  and a side view of the coaxial cable, fully assembled together, the connector having a front end female contact; 
         FIG. 8  is a partial cross-sectional view of the Type N connector  3000  and a side view of the coaxial cable, fully assembled together, the connector having a front end female contact; 
         FIG. 9  is a partial cross-sectional view of the Type N connector  4000  and a side view of the coaxial cable, fully assembled together, the connector having a front end female contact; 
         FIG. 10  is a partial cross-sectional view of the Type N connector  1000 , prior to attachment to a coaxial cable, including a contact assembly, a post, a sabot and a free floating ring, the connector having a front end female contact; 
         FIG. 10A  is an enlargement of area  12 A of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a partial cross-sectional view of the Type N connector  1000  and a side view of the coaxial cable, fully assembled together, the connector having a front end male contact; 
         FIG. 12A  is an enlargement of area  14 A of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 12B  in an enlarged partial cross-sectional end view of the mechanism illustrated in  FIG. 12A ; and 
         FIG. 12C  in an enlarged perspective view (opposite end from  FIG. 12B ) of the mechanism illustrated in  FIG. 12A ; 
     
    
    
     For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figures illustrate the general manner of construction, and descriptions and details of well-known features and techniques are omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Furthermore, elements in the drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows and will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the description or recognized by practicing the invention as described in the following description together with the claims and appended drawings. 
     As used herein, the term “contact assembly” refers to an assembly that is longitudinally movable within a connector and contacts a center conductor of a coaxial cable at one end and has a male or female contact at the other end, wherein the male or female contact can be used to interface or mate with corresponding connectors. In at least one preferred embodiment, the contact assembly includes a guide at one end for electrically and mechanically contacting the center conductor of a coaxial cable. The guide is preferably a female component into which the center conductor of the coaxial cable is inserted, thereby establishing electrical and mechanical contact between the center conductor of the cable and the contact. 
     As used herein, the term “sabot” refers to a component that is longitudinally movable within a connector and circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the contact assembly and helps to guide and center the contact assembly within the body of the connector. In at least one preferred embodiment, the sabot is capable of slidably engaging at least a portion of the outer diameter of the contact assembly while slidably engaging at least a portion of an inner diameter of a bore longitudinally extending within at least a portion of the connector. In at least one preferred embodiment, the sabot includes a front portion, a middle portion, and a rear portion, wherein the front portion has a plurality of axial slits forming a plurality of segments and the rear portion of the sabot has a plurality of axial slits forming a plurality of segments. 
       FIG. 1  is a partial cross-sectional view of an axially-compressible Type N connector  1000  and a side view of the cable  300 , prior to attachment together in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of Type N connector  1000  as it preferably appears prior to use, such as during transport, or shipment, and during storage, hereinafter an “as shipped” state. Type N connector  1000  is generally tubular, and has a front end  101 , a back end  102 , and a central longitudinal axis  103 . Front end  101  is for removable attachment to a terminal (not shown). Back end  102  is for attachment to coaxial cable  300 . Type N connector  1000  comprises a compression ring  110  that is generally tubular shaped. Preferably, compression ring  110  is made of metallic material. Compression ring  110  is mounted onto a deformable body  115 , preferably by a press-fit. Preferably, deformable body  115  is made of plastic material. Deformable body  115  is attached to a generally tubular shaped post  116  preferably by means of a snap fit. Preferably, post  116  is made of metallic material. Post  116  is attached to a connector body  114 , preferably by a press-fit. Preferably connector body  114  is made of metallic material. A generally tubular shaped guide  118  is mounted within post  116 . Preferably, guide  118  is made of dielectric material. Contact assembly  800  comprises guide  118 , contact  200 , and spring clip or clip  402 . Preferably contact  200  is metallic as is clip  402 . Sabot  119  is preferably slidably engaged with connector body  114 , post  116  and contact assembly  800 . Preferably, sabot  119  is made of dielectric material. Compression ring  110 , connector body  114 , deformable body  115 , post  116  and guide  118 , contact assembly  800  and sabot  119  preferably share the same longitudinal axis  103 . A small opening in guide  118  near back end  102  of Type N connector  1000  at longitudinal axis  103  forms a target area  120  that is advantageously near back end  102  of Type N connector  1000 . Advantageously, contact  200  is not proximate front end  101  of Type N connector  1000  when in the “as shipped” state. As a result, connector body  114  of connector  1000  protects contact  200  from damage during shipment. Cable  300  comprises a center conductor  431 , surrounded by a dielectric layer  432 , which may be a foam core, surrounded by an outer conductor  433  (shown in  FIG. 1  as being wrapped back), surrounded by a jacket  434 . 
       FIG. 2  shows an analogous Type N connector  1000  as that shown in  FIG. 1 , except instead of having a front end female contact, the connector has a front end male contact. 
       FIG. 3  is an enlargement of Area  1 A of  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 2  showing guide  118  prior to insertion of center conductor  431  of cable  300 . Post  116  has an inner surface defining a cylindrical bore  422  along longitudinal axis  103  of the post. Bore  422  extends the length of post  116 . Guide  118  is mounted within the bore  422  of the post  116 . Guide  118  includes an outer diameter  404  and an inner bore  405 . A rear portion of guide  118  preferably includes an angled surface  424 , forming a funnel, which aids in the insertion of the center conductor  431  of the cable  300  into the target area  120 . In preferred embodiments, guide  118  is machined or molded from a plastic material such as acetal. Locating guide  118  and contact  200  near the back end  102  of Type N connector  1000  reduces blind entry of the cable  300 . The circumferential relationship between guide  118  and the bore  422  in the post  116  ensures that the guide engages the inner surface of the post  116  and keeps contact  200  centered in bore  422  of the post along longitudinal axis  103 . Outer diameter  404  of the guide  118  bears against bore  422  of post  116  with enough force to maintain position in the as shipped state but not with so much force that it can not be dislodged by dielectric layer  432  during installation. 
       FIG. 3A  is an enlargement of Area  1 B of  FIG. 1  showing the relationship of sabot  119  with front end of contact  200  prior to insertion of center conductor  431  of cable  300 . Connector body  114  has an inner surface defining body bore  133  along longitudinal axis  103 . Sabot  119  is mounted within bore  133  of the connector body  114 . Sabot  119  includes a front portion  310  a middle portion  311  and a rear portion  312 . Front portion  310  of sabot  119  has a plurality of axial slits forming a plurality of segments. In one preferred embodiment, front portion  310  has two (2) axial slits, thereby forming four (4) segments. Segments  313  and  314  of sabot  119  are visible in  FIG. 3A . Rear portion  312  of sabot  119  has a plurality of axial slits forming a plurality of segments. In one preferred embodiment, rear portion  312  has one (1) axial slit, thereby forming two (2) segments. Segments  315  and  316  are visible in  FIG. 3A . The outside of the front portion segments ( 313  and  314  shown) are circumferentially outwardly disposed and slidably or frictionally engage bore  113 . The inside surfaces illustrated by  317  of the rear portion  312  of sabot  119  are circumferentially inwardly disposed and slidably or frictionally engage the outside diameter of contact  200 . Portion  318  of sabot  119  joining segments  315  and  316  with middle portion  311  slidably or frictionally engages post bore  422  when the connector is in the as shipped condition. 
     The frictional engagements described above causes contact assembly  800 , guide  118  and sabot  119  to remain in place in the as shipped condition and allows contact assembly  800 , guide  118  and sabot  119  to move forward within connector  1000  relative to post  116  and connector body  114  when a sufficient axial force in a forward direction is applied by dielectric layer  432 . Guide  118  further comprises front annular face  131  and rear face  425 . The contact  200  further comprises annular shoulder  132 . 
       FIG. 3B  is an analogous enlargement of Area  1 B of  FIG. 2 , wherein instead of having a front end female contact, the connector has a front end male contact. 
       FIG. 4  is a partial cross-sectional view of connector  1000  illustrated in  FIG. 1  and a side view of cable  300 , at a first stage of attachment showing cable  300  partially inserted. A tip of center conductor  431  of cable  300  has entered clip  402  of contact assembly  800 . A standard cable preparation tool exposes center conductor  431  of cable  300  a shorter amount than distance  502 . As a result, dielectric layer  432  of cable  300 , and not center conductor  431  of cable  300 , pushes contact assembly  800  forward within connector body  114  and post  116 . In  FIG. 4 , contact assembly  800  and guide  118  have been moved forward an intermediate distance as a result of dielectric layer  432  pushing against guide  118 . 
       FIG. 5  is a partial cross-sectional view of connector  1000  illustrated in  FIG. 1  and a side view of cable  300 , showing a second stage of attachment in which cable  300  fully seated within connector  1000 . In  FIG. 5 , contact  200  is in a final position, that is, it has been moved fully forward within the connector as a result of the relationship of sabot  119  with other components of the connector. Sabot  119 , which provides a means to guide and center contact assembly  800  within connector body  114 , has been moved fully forward, as a result of being driven by guide  118 , which in turn has been driven by dielectric layer  432 . When contact  200  and sabot  119  are moved fully forward, segments  313  and  314  of front portion  310  of sabot  119  abut annular shoulder  130  and bore  133  of connector body  114  while segments  315  and  316  of rear portion  312  of sabot  119  simultaneously abut annular shoulder  132  of contact  200 , the outside diameter of contact  200  and annular face  131  of guide  118  while rear face  425  of guide  118  simultaneously abuts dielectric layer  432 . Thus compiled, these components create a firm tactile stop, or positive stop to the forward motion of cable  300 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , an advantage of connector  1000  is that proper seating of cable  300  is indicated by the final position of contact  200 , which, when pushed toward the front end of the connector, visibly extends from within front end  101  and thus can provide visual confirmation of proper insertion of cable  300 . 
       FIG. 6  is a partial cross-sectional view of connector  1000  and cable  300 , assembled together, with contact  200  remaining in the fully pushed up position.  FIG. 6  shows compression ring  110 , moved into a closed position, which drives deformable body  115  to sandwich outer conductor  433  and jacket  434  of cable  300  with post  116 . Additional description relevant to this configuration for securing the cable within the compression ring is set forth, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,951, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In  FIG. 6 , connector  1000  is shown in an “in use” state wherein contact  200  has been moved fully forward and sabot  119 , contact assembly  800 , guide  118  and dielectric layer  432  are compiled are as described with reference to  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 7  is a partial cross-sectional view of a Type N connector  2000 , and a side view of a coaxial cable fully assembled together, including a contact assembly, a post and a sabot.  FIG. 7  embodies the concepts described above and offers an alternative embodiment for securing the cable within the compression ring. Additional description relevant to the configuration shown in  FIG. 7  for securing the cable within the compression ring is set forth, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,018,235 and 7,182,629, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. While  FIG. 7  shows a connector with a front end female contact, connectors having a front end male contact are also within the scope of this embodiment. 
       FIG. 8  is a partial cross-sectional view of a Type N connector  3000 , and a side view of a coaxial cable fully assembled together, including a contact assembly, a post and a sabot.  FIG. 8  embodies the concepts described above and offers an alternative embodiment for securing the cable. Additional description relevant to the configuration shown in  FIG. 8  for securing the cable is set forth, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,790,081, 7,108,548, 7,128,603, 7,144,272, and 7,153,159, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. While  FIG. 8  shows a connector with a front end female contact, connectors having a front end male contact are also within the scope of this embodiment. 
       FIG. 9  is a partial cross-sectional view of a Type N connector  4000 , and a side view of a coaxial cable fully assembled together, including a contact assembly, a post and a sabot.  FIG. 9  embodies the concepts described above and offers an alternative embodiment for securing the cable. Additional description relevant to the configuration shown in  FIG. 9  for securing the cable is set forth, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,451, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. While  FIG. 9  shows a connector with a front end female contact, connectors having a front end male contact are also within the scope of this embodiment. 
       FIG. 10  is a partial cross-sectional view of an axially-compressible Type N connector  1000  and a side view of cable  300 , prior to attachment together in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 10  shows Type N connector  1000  as it preferably appears prior to use, such as during transport, or shipment, and during storage, hereinafter an “as shipped” state.  FIG. 10  is a partial cross-sectional view of the present invention with an alternative embodiment of contact  200 ′ comprising barbs to engage it to guide  118 . While  FIG. 10  shows a connector with a front end female contact, connectors having a front end male contact are also within the scope of this embodiment. 
       FIG. 10A  is an enlargement of Area  12 A of  FIG. 10 . Post  116  has an inner surface defining a cylindrical bore  422  along longitudinal axis  103  of post  116 . Bore  422  extends the length of post  116 . Guide  118 ′ is mounted within bore  422  of post  116 . Guide  118 ′ includes an outer diameter  404  and inner bore  405 . A rear portion of guide  118 ′ preferably includes an angled surface  424 , forming a funnel, which aids in the insertion of center conductor  431  of cable  300  into the target area  120 . In preferred embodiments, guide  118 ′ is machined or molded from a plastic material such as acetal. The location of guide  118 ′ and contact  200 ′ being near the back end  102  of Type N connector  5000  reduces blind entry of cable  300 . The circumferential relationship between guide  118 ′ and bore  422  in post  116  ensures that the guide engages the inner surface of post  116  and keeps contact  200  centered in bore  422  of the post. In preferred embodiments, guide  118 ′ is engaged by contact  200  by means of a metallic barb  426  in the contact. Metallic barb  426  preferably embeds itself in the relatively pliable guide  118 ′ thereby comprising contact assembly  800 ′. Said guide  118 ′ of contact assembly  800 ′ provides a means to prevent appreciable backward movement of the contact assembly and cable core after the contact assembly and cable core have been moved fully forward within the connector. Encircling guide  118 ′ about groove  595  in rear portion of the guide is a free floating ring  525 . Preferably free floating ring  525  is made of electrically insulative material. Free floating ring  525  is kept in a coaxial relationship by bore  422  of post  116 . 
       FIG. 11  is a partial cross-sectional view of connector  1000  of  FIG. 10  and a side view of cable  300 , assembled together, with contact  200 ′ remaining in the fully pushed up position, where instead of having a front end female contact, the connector has a front end male contact.  FIG. 11  shows compression ring  110 , moved into a closed position, which drives deformable body  115  to sandwich outer conductor  433  and jacket  434  of cable  300  with post  116 . In  FIG. 11 , contact  200 ′ is in a final position, wherein it has been moved fully forward within the connector as a result of the relationship of sabot  119  with other components of the connector as described above with reference to  FIG. 5 . In  FIG. 11  free floating ring  525  drops off-axis within annular groove  595  of rear portion of guide  118 ′. 
       FIG. 12A  is an enlargement of area  14 A of  FIG. 11 . In  FIG. 12A  free floating ring  525  drops off-axis within annular groove  595  of rear portion of guide  118 ′ and a portion of free floating ring  525  extends beyond outer surface of guide  118 ′ as indicated by L 50 . The portion of free floating ring  525  expressed by L 50  acts as a rearward stop when force is applied to the connector interface pin during mating with corresponding connectors. 
       FIG. 12B  is an enlarged partial cross-sectional end view of the mechanism illustrated in  FIG. 12A  illustrating the circumferential relationship of the inside diameter of free floating ring  525  and outside diameter  582  of guide  118 ′. Further illustrated is slit  11518  that aids with the installation of free floating ring  525  over outer diameter  404  of guide  118 ′ and into annular groove  595 . 
       FIG. 12C  is an enlarged perspective view (opposite end from  FIG. 12B ) of the mechanism illustrated in  FIG. 12A  illustrating exposed portion L 50  of free floating ring  525  in relationship to outside diameter  404  of guide  118 ′. 
     While the present invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Various modifications and changes may be made to the described embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     For example, while the above embodiments were described with reference to Type N connectors, the present invention is not so limited. In particular, alternative embodiments of Type N connectors are also contemplated as being within the scope of the invention. In addition, the invention may be applied to almost any manner of coaxial connector, including Type F and BNC. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.