Abstract:
A connector structure includes a coaxial cable coupler, which receives therein at least one positioning block. The positioning block has a surface against which a water seal pad is positioned. A conductive pin is arranged to extend through the positioning block and the water seal pad. As such, the arrangement of the water seal pad effectively prevents invasion of water and simplifies the assembling process to thereby reduce the assembling costs.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to a connector, and more particularly to an improved structure of connector that improves water resistance, prevents invasion of water, and employs a simple assembling process to thereby reduce the assembling costs thereof. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
       [0002]    A variety of connectors are available in the market, such as coaxial cable connectors, USB connectors, SD connectors, and T-flash connectors. Generally speaking, a connector functions to provide an electrical connection between electronic devices and/or cards to realize operations of data communication, transmission, and reading. Taking a coaxial cable connector as an example, information technology (IT) facilities, such as notebook computers and small electronic devices, for example household electrical appliances, often use various coaxial cable connectors to build up internal wiring connections. Coaxial cable connectors of this category often function to provide electrical connection to conductors or substrates of other cables. 
         [0003]    A cable TV system or a shared TV antenna system comprises a primary connection cable that is connected to a distributor. The distributor supplies outputs to secondary cables that are connected to user terminals for receiving signals transmitted through the TV system. The primary cable comprises a coaxial cable having an end to which a coaxial cable connector is mounted for connection with the distributor. 
         [0004]    The coaxial cable connector comprises a terminal for connection. In an attempt to combine a conductive pin for electrical conduction and a spring clamp set at a front end, a tool is used to deform a coupling portion between the two in order to realize secured coupling. 
         [0005]    The conventional coaxial cable connector has the following drawbacks and disadvantages: 
         [0006]    For use in a humid environment, to prevent invasion of water that often leads to deterioration of signal transmission, a water-proof substance is often applied to seal joint portions on opposite ends of a coupler member of the connector. This increases the number of assembling steps and raises the costs. These problems need to be improved. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a coaxial cable terminal structure that is waterproof by adding a water seal pad and at least one positioning block, to thereby reduce steps and costs of assembling and improve water resistance performance. 
         [0008]    To achieve the above objective and effectiveness, the present invention provides a structure that comprises a coaxial cable coupler. The coaxial cable coupler receives therein at least one positioning block. The positioning block has one side surface against which a resilient water seal pad is positioned. A conductive pin is arranged to extend through both the positioning block and the water seal pad. The conductive pin has an end forming a stop block. As such, when the coaxial cable coupler is positioned in a humid site, the water seal pad, due to the resiliency thereof, gets expanded, when put into the coaxial cable couple, to engage an inner wall of the coaxial cable coupler so as to realize a sealing effect and thus provide an optimum water resistance performance for the whole structure. With the above described arrangement, the problems of the conventional coaxial cable connectors that the process of application of water sealing resin is complicated, and thus leads to an increase of manufacturing costs can be overcome. 
         [0009]    A second objective of the present invention is to provide a connector structure that comprises a coaxial cable coupler that receives therein an inner sleeve, which in turn receives therein a spring clamp. The spring clamp is coupled to an end of a conductive pin. The inner sleeve is fit into an outer tube. The outer tube receives therein the spring clamp and the conductive pin. Such an arrangement provides a simple process of assembling and also realizes effective water resistance for the coaxial cable coupler. 
         [0010]    The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts. 
         [0011]    Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the preferred embodiment according to the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment according to the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is perspective view illustrating combination of a spring clamp and a conductive pin according to the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a first phase of inserting a water seal pad into a coaxial cable coupler according to the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating a second phase of inserting the water seal pad into the coaxial cable coupler according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 , which are a perspective view, an exploded view, and a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the drawings clearly show that the present invention comprises a coaxial cable coupler  10 , which is hollow and receives therein a water seal pad  12  that is resilient, so as to realize a waterproof effect through the arrangement of the water seal pad  12 . 
         [0020]    The coaxial cable coupler  10  further receives therein a positioning block  11  and a conductive pin  13  extending through the positioning block  11  and the water seal pad  12 . The conductive pin  13  has an end forming a stop block  131 . 
         [0021]    The coaxial cable coupler  10  further receives therein an inner sleeve  14 , which in turn receives therein a spring clamp  15 . The spring clamp  15  comprises at least two petals that are arranged on opposite sides of the spring clamp and extend toward an end of the spring clamp. Each of the petals is first bent inward to form a retention section  151 . The retention section  151  has an end that is bent outward to form an engagement section  152 . A clamping section  153  is thus defined between the retention section  151  and the engagement section  152 . The spring clamp  15  comprises at least one support arm  154  that is formed to extend to the end of the spring clamp. Each support arm  154  has an end that forms a ring  155 . The spring clamp  15  is coupled to an end of the conductive pin  13  and the inner sleeve  14  is then received into an outer tube  16 . The outer tube  16  receives the spring clamp  15  and the conductive pin  13  to fit therein. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , which are respectively a perspective view, an exploded view, and a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a perspective view illustrating combination of the spring clamp and the conductive pin, and two perspective views sequentially illustrating insertion of the water seal pad into the coaxial cable coupler, these drawings clearly show that a transmission cable, when fit into the spring clamp  15 , first engages the outward-bent engagement sections  152 . A force is then applied to the transmission cable to force the transmission cable to get into the spring clamp  15 , whereby the transmission cable is clamped by the clamping sections  153  to complete the coupling of the transmission cable for signal transmission. During this coupling process of the transmission cable, when the transmission cable is inserted into the spring clamp  15 , the resiliency of the retention sections  151  forces the clamping sections  153  to tightly engage and thus clamp an outer surface of the transmission cable to thereby allow the transmission cable to be completely fit into the spring clamp  15 . 
         [0023]    Further, when the conductive pin  13  is set into the spring clamp  15 , the stop block  131  of the conductive pin  13  facilitates positioning of the conductive pin  13  with respect to the spring clamp  15 . 
         [0024]    Further, the water seal pad  12  that is received in the coaxial cable coupler  10  is made of a resilient material. Once the assembly of the spring clamp  15  according to the present invention is completed, the water seal pad  12  is put into an end of the coaxial cable coupler  10 . Due to the resiliency of the water seal pad  12 , the water seal pad  12  may undergo forced deformation in order to be received in to the coaxial cable coupler  10 . When being forced into the coaxial cable coupler  10 , a circumference of the water seal pad  12  is in engagement with an inner circumferential wall of the coaxial cable coupler  10  to establish a sealed condition, which allows the present invention to provide a waterproof effect. 
         [0025]    Thus, the connector structure according to the present invention provides the following feature that helps overcoming the drawbacks of the conventional devices: 
         [0026]    The resiliency of the water seal pad  12  allows the water seal pad  12  to resiliently expand after being forcibly fit into the coaxial cable coupler  10  to tightly engage the inner circumferential surface of the coaxial cable coupler  10  for forming a sealed condition, thereby realizing a coaxial cable terminal structure that is water proof and reduces steps and costs of assembling, and also improve water resistance performance. 
         [0027]    It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. 
         [0028]    While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.