Patent Publication Number: US-10770808-B2

Title: Connector with a locking mechanism

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of and claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/898,247, filed Feb. 16, 2018, which is a divisional application and claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/711,170, filed Sep. 21, 2017, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/397,912, filed Sep. 21, 2016, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference. This application further claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/675,608, filed May 23, 2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to electrical apparatus, and more particularly to coaxial cable connectors. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Coaxial cables transmit radio frequency (“RF”) signals between transmitters and receivers and are used to interconnect televisions, cable boxes, DVD players, satellite receivers, modems, and other electrical devices and electronic components. Typical coaxial cables include an inner conductor surrounded by a flexible dielectric insulator, a foil layer, a conductive metallic tubular sheath or shield, and a polyvinyl chloride jacket. The RF signal is transmitted through the inner conductor. The conductive tubular shield provides a ground and inhibits electrical and magnetic interference with the RF signal in the inner conductor. 
     Coaxial cables must be terminated with cable connectors to be coupled to mating posts of electrical devices. Connectors typically have a connector body, a threaded fitting mounted for rotation on an end of the connector body, a bore extending into the connector body from an opposed end to receive the coaxial cable, and an inner post within the bore coupled in electrical communication with the fitting. Generally, connectors are crimped onto a prepared end of a coaxial cable to secure the connector to the coaxial cable. The connectors must maintain electrical connection and signal shielding with the cable despite rotation, tugging, bending, or other movement of the cable and the connector. 
     Further, the connectors must mitigate the introduction of interference or ingress noise into the connector and signal pathway. Ingress noise causes a variety of problems, including not just reduced signal quality to the home, but large aggregated return path noise issues at the plant. Without properly seating a connector on a female connector or post, ingress noise can leak into the connector. However, it is difficult to know whether a connector is properly seated on a post; without a tool, some ingress noise is nearly guaranteed. An improved connector that mitigates the introduction of ingress noise is needed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A coaxial cable termination device includes a barrel having opposed front and rear ends and a circumferential channel therebetween. A collet is at the front end of the barrel, and a sleeve is mounted over the barrel for reciprocal movement between a retracted position, in which the sleeve allows expansion and compression of the collet, and an advanced position, in which the sleeve prevents expansion and urges compression of the collet. A locking mechanism is formed integrally in the sleeve and includes an arm mounted in the sleeve at a living hinge for movement between an unlocked position of the arm and a locked position of the arm in which a tooth on the arm is disposed within the circumferential channel. A lever is opposite the tooth from the living hinge and releases the arm from the locked position thereof. 
     The above provides the reader with a very brief summary of some embodiments discussed below. Simplifications and omissions are made, and the summary is not intended to limit or define in any way the scope of the invention or key aspects thereof. Rather, this brief summary merely introduces the reader to some aspects of the invention in preparation for the detailed description that follows. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Referring to the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a device for terminating a coaxial cable, shown exploded from a mating post of an electronic component, the device including an outer sleeve mounted for reciprocation on a barrel; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are section views taken along the line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 , illustrating the sleeve of in retracted and advanced positions, respectively; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are section views taken along the line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 , illustrating a cable applied to the device, the device applied on a mating post, and the sleeve in the retracted and advanced positions thereof, respectively; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a device for terminating a coaxial cable, shown exploded from a mating post of an electronic component, the device including an outer sleeve mounted for rotation on a barrel; 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are section views taken along the line  5 A- 5 A of  FIG. 4 , illustrating the sleeve in retracted and advanced positions, respectively; and 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are section views taken along the line  5 A- 5 A of  FIG. 4 , illustrating a cable applied to the device, the device applied on a mating post, and the sleeve in the retracted and advanced positions thereof, respectively. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference now is made to the drawings, in which the same reference characters are used throughout the different figures to designate the same elements.  FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a coaxial cable termination device or connector  10  useful for terminating coaxial cables and connecting them to female F-type coaxial mating posts  9  of electronic components. The connector  10  includes a generally cylindrical barrel  12  and an outer sleeve  11  mounted coaxially over the barrel  12  for reciprocation along the barrel  12 . Integrally formed in the barrel  12  is a collet  13  and an opposed rear body  14 , each of which surrounds a common cylindrical interior  15 . As is discussed in detail below, the sleeve  11  reciprocates between retracted and advanced positions over the barrel  12  to allow and prevent expansion of the collet  13 , respectively, and to urge the collet  13  into radial compression or deformation and thereby engage the collet  13  securely on a mating post  9 . 
       FIG. 2A  illustrates the connector  10  in section view taken along the line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 . The barrel  12  includes opposed front and rear ends  20  and  21  and a generally cylindrical sidewall  22  extending therebetween. The collet  13  is at the front end  20 , the cylindrical rear body  14  is at the rear end  21 , and between, a circumferential annular channel  23  is recessed into the sidewall  22  from the outer surface of the barrel  12 . The rear body  14  has generally constant inner and outer diameters, while the collet  13  is slightly conical. The collet  13  has an inner diameter which is generally constant from proximate to the annular channel  23  to the front end  20 , but the outer diameter of the collet  13  expands slightly from the annular channel  23  to the front end  20 , so that the collet  13  is tapered from front to back. 
     The collet  13  is sized and shaped to engage with the mating post  9  of  FIG. 1 . The inner diameter of the collet  13  corresponds in size and shape to the mating post  9 . The collet  13  includes an inner surface  24  bounding and defining a forward bore  25  for receiving the mating post  9 . The forward bore  25  includes a large open forward section  26  and an opposed, smaller rear section  27 . The forward section  26  extends from the front end  20  of the collet  13  to an intermediate wall  30 ; the inner diameter in the forward section  26  is generally constant. The rear section  27 , however, extends from the intermediate wall  30  to an interior wall defined by an annular flange  31  extending inwardly from the inner surface  24 . 
     A radially-directed lip  32  extends inwardly at the intermediate wall  30 , which lip  32  projects inward past the inner surface  24  in the rear section  27 . The inner diameter of the forward bore  25  in the rear section narrows from just behind the lip  32  to the annular flange  31 . Between the lip  32  and the annular flange  31 , the barrel  12  defines an annular shoulder  33  extending inwardly into the rear section  27  of the forward bore  25 . The annular shoulder  33  has a circumferentially concave inner surface; moving rearward from the lip  32 , the outer diameter of the annular shoulder  22  increases to an inflection point, at which it decreases to the base of the annular flange  31 , at which point it increases to the annular flange  31 . In other words, just behind the lip  32 , the annular shoulder  33  includes an annular face  34  directed diagonally rearwardly toward the rear end  21  of the barrel  12 . That face opposes an annular face  35  directed diagonally forwardly toward the front end  20  of the barrel  12 . These opposing faces  34  and  35  create the annular shoulder  33 , a type of annular saddle or seat into which a button  40  is set, the button  40  being useful for maintaining electrical contact and continuity, as will be described. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 2A , the collet  13  includes axial slots  36  formed therein, which allow compression of the collet  13  and the front end  20  of the barrel  12 . The slots  34  extend rearward from the front end  20  to proximate to the annular channel  23 . There are preferably eight slots  34 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , but one having ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that there may be a greater or fewer number of slots  34 . The slots define fingers  37  of the collet  13 , which fingers  37  are flexible and structured to flex in a radial direction. The inner surface  24  of the collet  13  is preferably smooth, and so the inner surfaces of each of the fingers  37  are smooth. In other embodiments, however, the inner surface  24  at the front end  20  has a single thread or ridge, or a plurality of threads or ridges for engaging with corresponding threads on a mating post  9 . 
     Carried within the collet  13  is a small floating element, referred to herein as a “button  40 .” The button  40  is a contact means, effective at preventing the ingress of noise and interference into the connector  10  by maintain contact between the end of the mating post  9  and the inner surface  24  of the collet  13 . It maintains circumferential contact, as will be described, thereby maintain continuous electrical continuity in the connector  10  and around a center conduct applied to the connector  10 . 
     The button  40  is somewhat disc-shaped and includes a body  41  with a front end  42  and a rear end  43 . The button  40  is separate from the barrel  12  and the inner post  16 ; in other words, it is not formed to or attached to the barrel  12  and the inner post  16 . Rather, the button  40  floats near them, carried loosely in the forward bore  25  proximate to the annular flange  31  for contact with the barrel  12 . At the front end  42 , the button  40  has a annular front flange  44  with an outer diameter just smaller than the inner diameter of the collet  13  in front of the intermediate wall  30 , so that the front flange  40  is loosely received within the forward section  26  of the forward bore  25 . The flange  41  extends radially outwardly from the cylindrical body  41 . Near the rear end  43 , a small annular lip, or ridge  45 , projects radially outwardly from the body  41 . The ridge  45  extends outward a distance less than the front flange  44 . The ridge  45  has a forwardly-directed diagonal face  46  and an opposed rearwardly-directed diagonal face  47 . Between the front flange  44  and the ridge  45 , the body  41  of the button  40  has a reduced outer diameter. 
     The button  40  has a bore  48  extending therethrough which is coaxial to, aligned with, and in communication with the forward and rear sections  26  and  27  of the bore forward  25 . Axial slots  49  formed into the body  41  and extending from the rear end  43  to the base of the front flange  44  allow the rear end  43  of the body  41  to flex and compress into the bore  48  radially. 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 2A , the annular flange  31  separates the interior  15  between the forward bore  25  and a rearward bore  50 . The annular flange  31  directly radially opposes the annular channel  23 . A hole  51 , encircled by the annular flange, is coaxial to the forward and rearward bores  25  and  50  and in open communication with both. The rearward bore  50  is substantially cylindrical. The rearward bore  50  corresponds to the size and shape to a coaxial cable, and the hole  51  corresponds in size and shape to the center conductor and surrounding dielectric of said coaxial cable. The rearward bore  50  is encircled by the rear body  14 . The rear body  14  extends rearwardly. The rear body  14  is generally cylindrical and extends from an inner wall  52  to the rear end  21  of the barrel  12 . The rear body  14  bounds the rearward bore  50 . An inner post  16  is carried coaxially within the rear body  14 . The inner post  16  includes a relatively thin sidewall  53  extending from a front end  54  to a back end  55  and having a forward flange  56  proximate to the front end  54 , and rear annular barbs  57  proximate to the back end  55 . The sidewall  53  of the inner post  16  bounds a bore  58  extending axially entirely through the inner post  16 . The forward flange  56 , when the inner post  16  is installed in the rear body  14 , is flush in contact against the inner wall  52  and extends entirely diametrically within the rear body  14 ; the inner post  16  is preferably press fit into the rear body  14 . 
     The collet  13  is joined in mechanical communication with the rear body  14  as a single, unitary body. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the collet  13  is formed integrally and monolithically to the rear body  14 , preferably from a common piece of material. The sleeve  11  is carried outside of the barrel  12 , and is mounted for reciprocal movement thereon. In  FIG. 2A , the sleeve  11  is shown in a retracted position, while  FIG. 2B  shows the sleeve  11  in an advanced position. The sleeve  11  is useful to force the collet  13  into radial compression. As is explained in greater detail below, when the sleeve  11  is slid forward over the barrel  12 , the collet  13  radially compresses, preferably on a mating post  9 . Thus, in the retracted position of the sleeve  11 , the sleeve  11  allows either radial expansion or radial compression of the collet  13 , but in the advanced position of the sleeve  11 , the sleeve  11  prevents radial expansion of the collet  13  and urges compression thereof. 
     The sleeve  11  includes a front  60 , an opposed rear  61 , and a cylindrical sidewall  62  extending therebetween. The sidewall  62  includes an inner surface  63  and an opposed outer surface  64 . The inner surface  63  defines the cylindrical space in which the barrel  12  is received. The inner surface  63  is generally cylindrical, straight, and smooth. However, at the front  60  of the sleeve  11 , the inner surface  63  angles slightly radially outwardly, such that there is a chamfer  68  at the front  60  of the sleeve  11 . This chamfer  68  provides room for the conical collet  13 . 
     Two locking mechanisms  65  are carried in the sleeve  11  and are useful for locking the sleeve  11  with respect to the barrel  12 . The locking mechanisms  65  are identical but for their diametrically opposed locations on the sleeve  11 , and as such, only one of the locking mechanisms  65  will be referred to, with the understanding that the description applies equally to both. Further, two locking mechanisms  65  are shown in the drawings, but one having ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that other numbers of locking mechanisms  65 , such as one, three, four, etc., may be useful depending on the sizes of the connector  10  and cable as well as the desired strength and security of the engagement of the connector  10  on the mating post  9 . 
     The locking mechanism  65  is carried in an axial slot  66  within the sleeve  11 , and includes a rocking arm  67  having a jaw  70  projecting forwardly from a pivot  71  and a lever  72  projecting backward from the pivot  71 . The locking mechanism  65  is arrangeable between a locked condition, in which the sleeve  11  is prevented from moving out of the advanced position, and an unlocked condition, in which the sleeve  11  is allowed to reciprocate between the advanced and retracted positions. The pivot  71  is a pivot pin carried in the sleeve  11 . The rocking arm includes an inwardly-directed tooth  73  at its forward end, oriented normal to the arm  67 . The rocking arm  67  moves from an unlocked position (corresponding to the unlocked condition of the locking mechanism  65 ), shown in  FIG. 2A , to a locked position (corresponding to the locked condition of the locking mechanism  65 ), shown in  FIG. 2B . It rocks in this movement, such that the arm  67  and the lever  72  rock about the pivot  71  to move the tooth  73  into and out of the annular channel  23 . The rocking arm  67  is biased toward the locked position, such as by torsional springs on the pivot  71 . Opposed from the jaw  70 , the lever  72  extends outward and is useful to move, or reset, the rocking arm  67  from the locked position to the unlocked position. The lever  72  may be depressed radially inward to move, or rock, the rocking arm  67  radially outward from the locked position to the unlocked position. 
     At the rear  61  of the sleeve  11 , an inwardly-extending lip  74  is formed and defines a mouth at the back of the connector  10 . The mouth receives a coaxial cable applied to the connector  10 . The lip  74  acts as a stop against the rear end  21  of the barrel  12  to prevent forward movement of the sleeve  11  on the barrel  12  beyond the advanced position of the sleeve  11 . 
     In operation, the connector  10  is useful as a push-on locking connector that can be quickly and easily applied and locked onto a mating post  9 , and then securely left in place. To apply the connector  10  to a mating post  9 , the connector  10  is first preferably applied to a cable  80 . A cable  80 , such as a coaxial cable  80 , is conventionally prepared, such as by stripping back the jacket  81  and foil and braid  82 . The cable  80  is then applied into the connector  10 . As shown in  FIG. 3A , the cable  80  passes through the mouth defined by the lip  61 , and the dielectric  83  and center conductor  84  of the cable  80  pass into the bore  58  inside the inner post  16 , while the jacket  81 , foil, and braid pass over the inner post  16 , between the inner post  16  and the rear body  14 . The cable  80  is advanced until the jacket  81  and foil and braid  82  encounter the forward flange  56  and the inner wall  52 . The center conductor  84 , which is typically prepared to be longer than the dielectric  83 , jacket  81 , and foil and braid  82 , extends through the hole  51 , through the bore  48  of the button  40 , and into the forward bore  25  of the collet  13 . The center conductor thus terminates within the collet  13 . 
     Once so properly prepared, the connector  10  is ready for application to the mating post  9 .  FIG. 3A  shows the connector  10  applied to the mating post  9 . The connector  10 , with the cable  80  extending out the rear  61 , is taken up, such as by hand, and aligned and registered with the mating post  9 . With the sleeve  11  in the unlocked position thereof, as shown in  FIG. 2A , the connector  10  is advanced along a forward axial direction illustrated by line A of  FIG. 3A . While the sleeve  11  is in the unlocked position thereof, and is retracted on the barrel  12 , the collet  13  is free to expand and contract or compress radially. The collet  13  is applied over the mating post  9 , causing the collet  13  to expand: the slots  34  expand such that the fingers  37  splay radially outward slightly, and the collet  13  passes onto and over the mating post  9 . The connector  10  is advanced until the mating post  9  is firmly seated within the forward section  26  of the forward bore  25 . The fingers  37  are slightly expanded. 
     With the mating post  9  seated in the forward bore  25 , the front of the mating post  9  is in contact against the front flange  44  of the button  40 . The button  40  “floats,” such that before a mating post  9  is applied to the collet  13 , the button  40  may freely move in an axial direction with the ridge  45  within the rear section  27  of the forward bore  25 . When it does, the rear end  43  of the button  40  expands and contracts radially to maintain contact with the annular shoulder  33  of the barrel  12 : the slots  49  in the back of the button  40  are slightly compressed and thus the rear end  43  is biased radially outwardly such that they contact and ride against the annular shoulder  33  as the button  40  floats along the axial direction. 
     The button  40  is biased forward, toward the front end  20  of the barrel  12 . The outward bias in the rear end  43  of the button  40  urges the ridge  45  to move into the inflection point between the faces  46  and  47 . This urges the button  40  forward along the annular shoulder  33 . As such, the button  40  contacts the front of the mating post  9  before the mating post is fully applied to the connector  10 . This thus creates electrical continuity between the mating post  9  and the connector  10  even before the mating post  9  is fully captured. 
     When the front of the mating post  9  is in contact against the front flange  44 , and the connector  10  continues to be advanced and applied onto the mating post  9 , the mating post  9  pushes the button  40  rearwardly into the rear section  27  of the forward bore  25 . When the button  40  is so pushed, the ridge  45  is pressed against the annular shoulder, and the rear end  43  of the button  40  is radially compressed. 
     Partial engagement of the mating post  9  with the collet  13  thus provides electrical continuity between the two, and seated engagement of the mating post  9  with the collet  13  ensures electrical continuity between the mating post  9  and the button  40  and between the button  40  and the annular shoulder  43 . The button  40  is limited in axial movement and forms an annular electrical continuity with the inner surface  24  surrounding the center conductor. This engagement, shown in  FIG. 3A , prevents the introduction of outside interference and signals into the connector  10 , thereby preserving much of the quality of the RF signal transmitted through the connector  10 . 
     To ensure the security of the engagement of the connector  10  on the mating post  9 , the sleeve  11  is moved forward, again along line A, to the advanced position as shown in  FIG. 3B . In the advanced position of the sleeve  11 , the front  60  of the sleeve  11  is advanced to proximate the front end  20  of the barrel  12 , squeezing the barrel  12  inwardly along the lines B in  FIG. 2B . The sleeve  11  constricts the collet  13  in a radially inward direction, with the chamfer  68  compressing the collet  13  and causing the collet  13  and the fingers  37  of the collet  13  to deform and compress in a radial inward direction. The fingers  37  deform onto the mating post  9  and bind against the mating post  9 , increasing the hold of the connector  10  on the mating post  9 . The sleeve  11  prevents expansion of the collet  13 , such that the collet  13  cannot release its grip on the mating post  9 . In this state, the connector  10  cannot be pulled accidentally off the mating post  9 . 
     In response to the sleeve  11  moving into the advanced position thereof, the locking mechanism  65  automatically locks the sleeve  11  to prevent rearward movement. As the sleeve  11  moves forward, the tooth  73  moves forward until it is disposed over the annular channel  23  formed into the outer surface of the barrel  12 . 
     The arm  67  is biased into the locked position thereof. The jaw  70 , biased radially inward, pivots toward and into the annular channel  23 , along the arrowed line C in  FIG. 3B , in response to the sleeve  11  moving into the advanced position. When the sleeve  11  moves to the advanced position, the front of the slot  66  becomes aligned with the annular channel  23 , and the rocking arm  67  pivots so that the tooth  73  moves into the annular channel  23 . The tooth  73 , biased inwardly by the sprung rocking arm  67 , is thus caught in and catches the annular channel  23 ; the sleeve  11  is prevented from moving axially forward or rearward by the interaction of the tooth  73  in the annular channel  23 . This corresponds to a locked position of the connector  10 : with the tooth  73  engaged in the annular channel  23 , the sleeve  11  is prevented from axial movement rearwardly over the barrel  12 , the front  60  of the sleeve cannot be moved back off the collet  13 , and the collet  13  is prevented from moving out of compression moving off the mating post  9 . 
     To confirm that the connector  10  is in the locked condition thereof, a visual indicator is exposed. The visual indicator is preferably concealed when the locking mechanism  65  is in the unlocked condition and is exposed when the locking mechanism  65  is in the locked condition, so that a user can quickly determine the locked status of the connector  10 . Turning back to  FIG. 1 , the connector  10  is in the locked position (for clarity, the connector  10  is not shown installed on a mating post  9 ); the rocking arm  67  is pivoted, the tooth  73  is down into the annular channel  23 , and the lever  72  opposed from the rocking arm  67  is up. The lever  72  has a side face  75 , which is a visual indicator or may carry a visual indicator. When the lever  72  is up, the side face  75 , or a portion thereof, is exposed which is not exposed when the lever  72  is down. The side face  75  preferably carries a color, such as green, which contrasts with the color of the exterior surface of the sleeve  11 , which may be black or silver. As such, when the side face  75  (or portion thereof) is exposed and the user can see the color of the side face  75 , the connector  10  immediately conveys to the user that the lever  72  is up, the jaw  70  is down, the tooth  73  is in the annular channel  23 , and the connector  10  is thus in the locked position thereof. As such, the user can quickly determine whether the connector  10  is locked onto a mating post  9  or loose. In other embodiments, the side face  75  carries another indicator, such as a symbol or word, that allows the user to determine whether the connector  10  is locked. 
     When the user decides to remove the connector  10  from the mating post  9 , the user merely takes up the connector  10 , such as by hand, and depresses the lever  72  on each of the locking mechanisms  65 , until the lever  72  pivots into the slot  66  and the jaw  70  pivots outward, thereby releasing the tooth  73  from the annular channel  23 . The side face  72  of the lever is concealed in the slot  66  so that the color on the side face  75  of the lever  72  is hidden. When the tooth  73  is so released from the annular channel  23 , the sleeve  11  can be slid rearward on the barrel  12  into the unlocked position thereof, thereby releasing the collet  13  from compression, and allowing the fingers  37  to spring away from the mating post  9 . In this state, the connector  10  can now be removed from the mating post  9 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a coaxial cable termination device or connector  110  useful for terminating coaxial cables and connecting them to female F-type coaxial mating posts  9  of electronic components. The connector  110  includes a generally bell-shaped outer sleeve  111  mounted coaxially over a generally cylindrical barrel  112  for reciprocation along the barrel  112 . Integrally formed in the barrel  112  is a collet  113  and an opposed rear body  114 , each of which surrounds a common cylindrical interior  115 . As is discussed in detail below, the sleeve  111  reciprocates between retracted and advanced positions over the barrel  112  to allow and prevent expansion of the collet  113 , respectively, and to urge the collet  113  into radial compression or deformation and thereby engage the collet  113  securely on a mating post  9 . 
       FIG. 5A  illustrates the connector  110  in section view taken along the line  5 A- 5 A in  FIG. 4 . The barrel  112  includes opposed front and rear ends  120  and  121  and a generally cylindrical sidewall  122  extending therebetween. The collet  113  is at the front end  120 , the cylindrical rear body  114  is at the rear end  121 , and between, a circumferential annular channel  123  is recessed into the sidewall  122  from the outer surface of the barrel  112 . The rear body  114  has generally constant inner and outer diameters, while the collet  113  is slightly conical. The collet  113  has an inner diameter which is generally constant from proximate to the annular channel  123  to the front end  120 , but the outer diameter of the collet  113  expands slightly from the annular channel  123  to the front end  120 , so that the collet  113  is tapered from front to back. 
     The collet  113  is sized and shaped to engage with the mating post  9  of  FIG. 4 . The inner diameter of the collet  113  corresponds in size and shape to the mating post  9 . The collet  113  includes an inner surface  124  bounding and defining a forward bore  125  for receiving the mating post  9 . Proximate the rear end of the collet  113 , the forward bore  125  is constricted by a series of stepped-inner diameter reductions, just in front of the annular channel  123 . The inner diameter of the forward bore  125  thus narrows, defining several annular shoulders  130  which terminate eventually at an inward annular flange  131 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 5A , the collet  113  includes axial slots  134  formed therein, which allow compression of the collet  113  and the front end  120  of the barrel  112 . The slots  134  extend rearward from the front end  120  toward the annular channel  123 . There are preferably four slots  134 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , but one having ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that there may be a greater or fewer number of slots  134 . The slots  134  define fingers  137  of the collet  113 , which fingers  137  are flexible and structured to flex in a radial direction. The inner surface  124  of the collet  113  is preferably smooth, and so the inner surfaces of each of the fingers  137  are smooth as well. In other embodiments, however, the inner surface  124  at the front end  120  has a single thread or ridge, or a plurality of threads or ridges for engaging with corresponding threads on a mating post  9 . 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 5A , the annular flange  131  separates the interior  115  between the forward bore  125  and a rearward bore  126 . The annular flange  131  is just behind the annular channel  123 . A hole  127 , encircled by the annular flange  131 , is coaxial to the forward and rearward bores  125  and  126  and in open communication with both. The rearward bore  126  is substantially cylindrical. The rearward bore  126  corresponds to the size and shape to a coaxial cable, and the hole  127  corresponds in size and shape to the center conductor and surrounding dielectric of said coaxial cable. The rearward bore  126  is encircled by the rear body  114 . 
     The rear body  114  extends rearwardly from the collet  113 . The rear body  114  is generally cylindrical and extends from an inner endwall  140  to the rear end  121  of the barrel  112 . The rear body  114  bounds the rearward bore  126 . An inner post  116  is carried coaxially within the rear body  114 . The inner post  116  includes a relatively thin sidewall  141  extending from a front end  142  to a back end  143  and having forward flanges  144  proximate to the front end  142 , and rear annular barbs  145  proximate to the back end  143 . The sidewall  141  of the inner post  116  bounds a bore  146  extending axially entirely through the inner post  116 . The forward flange  144 , when the inner post  116  is installed in the rear body  114 , is flush in contact against the shoulders  130  and extends entirely diametrically within the back of the collet  113 , just in front of the circumferential channel  123 ; the inner post  116  is preferably press fit into the shoulders  130  in this area. 
     The collet  113  is joined in mechanical communication with the rear body  114  as a single, unitary body. Indeed, in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4-6B , the collet  113  is formed integrally and monolithically to the rear body  114 , preferably from a common piece of material. The sleeve  111  is carried outside of the barrel  112 , and is mounted for reciprocal movement thereon. In  FIG. 5A , the sleeve  111  is shown in a retracted position, while  FIG. 5B  shows the sleeve  111  in an advanced position. The sleeve  111  is useful to force the collet  113  into radial compression and hold it there. As is explained in greater detail below, when the sleeve  111  is slid forward over the barrel  112 , the collet  113  radially compresses, preferably on a mating post  9 . Thus, in the retracted position of the sleeve  111 , the sleeve  111  allows either radial expansion or radial compression of the collet  113 , but in the advanced position of the sleeve  111 , the sleeve  111  prevents radial expansion of the collet  113  and urges compression thereof. 
     The sleeve  111  includes a front end  150 , an opposed rear end  151 , and a cylindrical sidewall  152  extending therebetween. The sidewall  152  includes an inner surface  153  and an opposed outer surface  154 . The inner surface  153  defines the cylindrical space in which the barrel  112  is received. The inner surface  153  is generally cylindrical, straight, and smooth. There are some deviations, however. 
     A compression nose  160  is formed at the front end  150  of the sleeve  111 . The compression nose  160  includes a plurality of circumferential slots  161  formed therein. The slots  161  are formed at the outer surface  154  and extend radially inwardly entirely through the sleeve  111  to the inner surface  153 . The slots  161  do not, however, extend entirely around the outer surface  154 , but rather only around a portion of the outer surface  154  or a portion of the circumference, so that they do not completely sever the sleeve  111 . These slots  161  define discontinuities in the inner surface  153  of the sleeve  111 . Moreover, the slots  161  are compression zones for the compression nose  160 ; when the sleeve  111  slides forward, the slots  161  decrease in axial width, thereby allowing the sleeve  111  to shorten in axial length. This further creates an axially-compressive bias in the sleeve  111 . Further still, at the compression nose  160 , the inner surface  153  angles slightly radially outwardly, such that there is a chamfer  168  at the compression nose  160 . This chamfer  168  provides room for the conical collet  113 . 
     At the opposed rear end  151  of the sleeve  111 , the sleeve  111  includes a bell  155 . The outer surface  154  of the sleeve  111  expands arcuately and radially outward to an increasingly larger diameter, resulting in a smooth, curved bell-shaped portion of the rear end  151 . The bell  155  is somewhat hollow, defining a large toroidal opening  156  between the outer surface of the barrel  112  and the inner surface  153  of the sleeve  111 . 
     Two locking mechanisms  165  are carried in the sleeve  111  and are useful for locking the sleeve  111  with respect to the barrel  112 . The locking mechanisms  165  are identical but for their diametrically opposed locations on the sleeve  111 , and as such, only one of the locking mechanisms  165  will be referred to, with the understanding that the description applies equally to both. Further, two locking mechanisms  165  are shown in the drawings, but one having ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that other numbers of locking mechanisms  165 , such as one, three, four, etc., may be useful depending on the sizes of the connector  110  and cable as well as the desired strength and security of the engagement of the connector  110  on the mating post  9 . 
     The locking mechanism  165  is carried in a wide axial slot  166  within the sleeve  111 ; it includes a rocking arm  167  having a jaw  170  projecting forwardly from a living hinge  171  and a lever  172  projecting backward from the living hinge  171 . The locking mechanism  165  is arrangeable between a locked condition, in which the sleeve  111  is prevented from moving out of the advanced position, and an unlocked condition, in which the sleeve  111  is allowed to reciprocate between the advanced and retracted positions. 
     The locking mechanism  165  is formed integrally and monolithically in the sleeve  111 , mounted thereto at the living hinge  171 . The living hinge  171  is a pivot point which is integrally and monolithically formed between the sidewall  152  of the sleeve  111  and the locking mechanism  165  itself; it flexes and bends when the locking mechanism  165  rocks. The arm  167  includes an inwardly-directed tooth  173  at its forward end, oriented normal to the arm  167 . The arm  167  moves from an unlocked position (corresponding to the unlocked condition of the locking mechanism  165 ), shown in  FIG. 5A , to a locked position (corresponding to the locked condition of the locking mechanism  165 ), shown in  FIG. 5B . It rocks in this movement, such that the arm  167  and the lever  172  rock about the living hinge  171  to move the tooth  173  into and out of the annular channel  123 . The arm  167  is biased toward the locked position by the spring force of the living hinge  171 . Opposed from the jaw  170 , the lever  172  extends outward and is useful to move, or reset, the arm  167  from the locked position to the unlocked position. The lever  172  may be depressed radially inward to move, or rock, the arm  167  radially outward from the locked position to the unlocked position. 
     The lever  172  itself moves into and out of the sleeve  111  during movement of the locking mechanism  165 . As can be seen in  FIG. 5A , in the unlocked condition of the locking mechanism  165 , the lever  172  is recessed within the bell  155  at the rear end  151  of the sleeve  111 . The outer surface  154  along the lever  172  is radially inward from the outer surface  154  at the rear end  151 , and the inner surface  153  along the lever  172  is flush in contact against the outer surface of the barrel  112 . The lever  172  is directed generally axially toward the rear end  151 . In contrast, as can be seen in  FIG. 5B , in the locked condition of the locking mechanism  165 , the lever  172  is raised outside of the bell  155  at the rear end  151  of the sleeve  111 . Both the inner and outer surfaces  153  and  154  along the lever  172  correspond roughly to the curvature of the bell  155  but are both radially outside of the outer surface  154  along the bell  155 , raised up off the outer surface of the barrel  112 . Moreover, the lever  172  is directed generally radially and axially toward the outer edge of the bell  155  proximate the rear end  151 . 
     In operation, the connector  110  is useful as a push-on locking connector that can be quickly and easily applied and locked onto a mating post  9 , and then securely left in place. To apply the connector  110  to a mating post  9 , the connector  110  is first preferably applied to a cable  80 . A cable  80 , such as a coaxial cable  80 , is conventionally prepared, such as by stripping back the jacket  81  and foil and braid  82 . The cable  80  is then applied into the connector  110 . As shown in  FIG. 6A , the cable  80  passes through the mouth at the rear end  121  of the barrel  112 , and the dielectric  83  and center conductor  84  of the cable  80  pass into the bore  146  inside the inner post  116 , while the jacket  81 , foil, and braid pass over the inner post  116 , between the inner post  116  and the rear body  114 . The cable  80  is advanced until the jacket  81  and foil and braid  82  encounter the endwall  140 . The center conductor  84 , which is typically prepared to be longer than the dielectric  83 , jacket  81 , and foil and braid  82 , extends through the hole  127  and into the forward bore  125  of the collet  113 . The center conductor  84  thus terminates within the collet  113 . 
     Once so properly prepared, the connector  110  is ready for application to the mating post  9 .  FIG. 6A  shows the connector  110  applied to the mating post  9 . The connector  110 , with the cable  80  extending out the rear end  121 , is taken up, such as by hand, and aligned and registered with the mating post  9 . With the sleeve  111  in the unlocked position thereof, as shown in  FIG. 5A , the connector  110  is advanced along a forward axial direction illustrated by line D of  FIG. 6A . While the sleeve  111  is in the unlocked position thereof, and is retracted on the barrel  112 , the collet  113  is free to expand and contract or compress radially. The collet  113  is applied over the mating post  9 , causing the collet  113  to expand: the slots  134  expand such that the fingers  137  splay radially outward slightly, and the collet  113  passes onto and over the mating post  9 . The connector  110  is advanced until the mating post  9  is firmly seated within the forward bore  125 . The fingers  137  are slightly expanded. 
     With the mating post  9  loosely seated in the forward bore  125 , the front of the mating post  9  is in contact against the front-most forward flange  144  in the connector  10  and in contact with the front end of the cable  80  and its constituent elements. This creates electrical continuity between the mating post  9  and the connector  110 . Loose engagement of the mating post  9  with the collet  113  thus provides electrical continuity between the two, and seated engagement of the mating post  9  with the collet  113  ensures electrical continuity between the mating post  9  and the collet  113 . This engagement, shown in  FIG. 6A , prevents the introduction of outside interference and signals into the connector  110 , thereby preserving much of the quality of the RF signal transmitted through the connector  110 . 
     To ensure the security of the engagement of the connector  110  on the mating post  9 , the sleeve  111  is moved forward, again along line D, to the advanced position as shown in  FIG. 6B . In the advanced position of the sleeve  111 , the front end  150  of the sleeve  111  is advanced to proximate the front end  120  of the barrel  112 , squeezing the barrel  112  inwardly along the lines E in  FIG. 6A . The compression nose  160  of the sleeve  111  constricts the collet  113  in a radially inward direction, with the chamfer  168  compressing the collet  113  and causing the collet  113  and the fingers  137  of the collet  113  to deform and compress in a radial inward direction. The fingers  137  deform onto the mating post  9  and bind against the mating post  9 , increasing the hold of the connector  110  on the mating post  9 . The sleeve  111  prevents expansion of the collet  113 , such that the collet  113  cannot release its grip on the mating post  9 . In this state, the connector  110  cannot be pulled accidentally off the mating post  9 . 
     In response to the sleeve  111  moving into the advanced position thereof, the locking mechanism  165  automatically locks the sleeve  111  to prevent rearward movement. As the sleeve  111  moves forward, the tooth  173  moves forward until it is disposed over the annular channel  123  formed into the outer surface of the barrel  112 . 
     The arm  167  is biased into the locked position thereof, primarily by the spring constant of the living hinge  171 . The jaw  170 , biased radially inward, pivots toward and into the annular channel  123 , along the arrowed line F in  FIG. 6B , in response to the sleeve  111  moving into the advanced position. When the sleeve  111  moves to the advanced position, the front of the locking mechanism  165  becomes aligned with the annular channel  123 , and the arm  167  pivots so that the tooth  173  moves into the annular channel  123 . The tooth  173 , biased inwardly by the sprung arm  167 , is thus caught in and catches the annular channel  123 ; the sleeve  111  is prevented from moving axially forward or rearward by the interaction of the tooth  173  in the annular channel  123 . This corresponds to a locked position of the connector  110 : with the tooth  173  engaged in the annular channel  123 , the sleeve  111  is prevented from axial movement rearwardly over the barrel  112 , the front end  150  of the sleeve cannot be moved back off the collet  113 , and the collet  113  is prevented from moving out of compression moving off the mating post  9 . 
     Moreover, the compression nose  160  helps ensure the security of the locked position. When the sleeve  111  is moved forward, a forward force is applied along the line D to axially compress the compression nose  160 . As described above, the slots  161  axially compress, and as a result, the compression nose  160  axially compresses. However, the compression nose  160 , constructed integrally from the same material of the sleeve  111 , is resilient. Axial compression of it applies a spring potential to the compression nose  160 , so that it has a spring bias in a direction opposite the line D to return to its original position and arrangement, that of the unlocked condition. The compression nose  160  therefore pushes back on the sleeve  111  in a direction opposite the line D. This causes the tooth  173  to push axially against the annular channel  173 , thereby increasing the tightness of that engagement and securing it. With an axial force applied from the tooth  173  to the channel  123 , normal to the potential direction of movement of the tooth  173  out of the channel  123 , friction helps prevent inadvertent unlocking of the tooth  173 . 
     To confirm that the connector  110  is in the locked condition thereof, a visual indicator is exposed. The visual indicator is preferably concealed when the locking mechanism  165  is in the unlocked condition and is exposed when the locking mechanism  165  is in the locked condition, so that a user can quickly determine the locked status of the connector  110 . Turning back to  FIG. 4 , the locking mechanism  165  is in the locked condition (for clarity, the connector  110  is not shown installed on a mating post  9 ); the arm  167  is pivoted, the tooth  173  is down into the annular channel  123 , and the lever  172  opposed from the arm  167  is up. The lever  172  has a side face  175 , on which is a visual indicator  176 . When the lever  172  is up, the side face  175 , or a portion thereof, is exposed which is not exposed when the lever  172  is down and recessed within the bell  155 . The visual indicator  176  is preferably a color, such as green, which contrasts with the color of the exterior surface of the sleeve  111 , which may be black or silver. As such, when the side face  175  (or portion thereof) is exposed and the user can see the color of the visual indicator  176 , the connector  110  immediately conveys to the user that the lever  172  is up, the jaw  170  is down, the tooth  173  is in the annular channel  123 , and the connector  110  is thus in the locked position thereof. As such, the user can quickly determine whether the connector  110  is locked onto a mating post  9  or loose. In other embodiments, the side face  75  carries another visual indicator, such as a symbol or word, that allows the user to determine whether the connector  110  is locked. 
     When the user decides to remove the connector  110  from the mating post  9 , the user merely takes up the connector  110 , such as by hand, and depresses the lever  172  on each of the locking mechanisms  165 , until the lever  172  pivots into the slot  166  and the jaw  170  pivots outward, thereby releasing the tooth  173  from the annular channel  123 . The visual indicator  176  on the lever is concealed in the slot  166  so that the color on the side face  175  of the lever  172  is hidden. When the tooth  173  is so released from the annular channel  123 , the sleeve  111  can be slid rearward on the barrel  112  into the unlocked position thereof, thereby releasing the collet  113  from compression, and allowing the fingers  137  to spring away from the mating post  9 . In this state, the connector  110  can now be removed from the mating post  9 . 
     A preferred embodiment is fully and clearly described above so as to enable one having skill in the art to understand, make, and use the same. Those skilled in the art will recognize that modifications may be made to the description above without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that some embodiments include only those elements and features described, or a subset thereof. To the extent that such modifications do not depart from the spirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within the scope thereof.