Patent Publication Number: US-2022216658-A1

Title: Coaxial cable and connector assemblies

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     The present application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/133,922, filed Jan. 5, 2021, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to electrical cable connectors, and more particularly to coaxial connectors for electrical cables. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Coaxial cables are commonly utilized in RF communications systems. A typical coaxial cable includes an inner conductor, an outer conductor, a dielectric layer that separates the inner and outer conductors, and a jacket that covers the outer conductor. Coaxial cable connectors may be applied to terminate coaxial cables, for example, in communications systems requiring a high level of precision and reliability. 
     Coaxial connector interfaces provide a connect/disconnect functionality between (a) a cable terminated with a connector bearing the desired connector interface and (b) a corresponding connector with a mating connector interface mounted on an electronic apparatus or on another cable. Typically, one connector will include a structure such as a pin or post connected to an inner conductor of the coaxial cable and an outer conductor connector body connected to the outer conductor of the coaxial cable which are mated with a mating sleeve (for the pin or post of the inner conductor) and another outer conductor connector body of a second connector. Coaxial connector interfaces often utilize a threaded coupling nut or other retainer that draws the connector interface pair into secure electro-mechanical engagement when the coupling nut (which is captured by one of the connectors) is threaded onto the other connector. 
     Passive Intermodulation Distortion (PIM) is a form of electrical interference/signal transmission degradation that may occur with less than symmetrical interconnections and/or as electro-mechanical interconnections shift or degrade over time. Interconnections may shift due to mechanical stress, vibration, thermal cycling, and/or material degradation. PIM can be an important interconnection quality characteristic, as PIM generated by a single low-quality interconnection may degrade the electrical performance of an entire RF system. Thus, the reduction of PIM through connector design is typically desirable. 
     SUMMARY 
     A first aspect of the present invention is directed to a coaxial cable-connector assembly. The assembly includes (a) a coaxial cable including an inner conductor, a dielectric layer circumferentially surrounding the inner conductor; an outer conductor circumferentially surrounding the dielectric layer, and a jacket circumferentially surrounding the outer conductor; (b) a coaxial connector including an inner contact electrically connected with the inner conductor of the cable, an outer connector body spaced apart from and circumferentially surrounding the inner contact, a spring basket electrically connected with the outer conductor of the cable, wherein the spring basket is configured to mate to an inner surface of the outer conductor, and an insulator interposed between the inner contact and the outer connector body; and (c) a polymeric sleeve residing between the outer conductor of the cable and the outer connector body of the connector, the outer connector body crimped onto the polymeric sleeve, wherein the polymeric sleeve separates the spring basket from the outer conductor body to prevent direct electrical connection therebetween. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a coaxial cable-connector assembly. The assembly includes (a) a coaxial cable, including an inner conductor, a dielectric layer circumferentially surrounding the inner conductor, a corrugated outer conductor circumferentially surrounding the dielectric layer, and a jacket circumferentially surrounding the corrugated outer conductor; and (b) a coaxial connector including an inner contact electrically connected with the inner conductor of the cable via a first spring basket, an outer connector body spaced apart from and circumferentially surrounding the inner contact, a second spring basket electrically connected with the outer conductor of the cable, wherein the second spring basket is configured to mate to an inner surface of the outer conductor, and a polymeric insulator interposed between the inner contact and the outer connector body, wherein the inner contact is formed of a rolled sheet, the inner contact including an axial gap, and wherein polymeric material from the insulator is present within a lumen of the inner contact. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a coaxial cable-connector assembly. The assembly includes (a) a coaxial cable including an inner conductor, a dielectric layer circumferentially surrounding the inner conductor, an outer conductor circumferentially surrounding the dielectric layer, and a jacket circumferentially surrounding the outer conductor; (b) a coaxial connector including an inner contact electrically connected with the inner conductor of the cable, an outer connector body spaced apart from and circumferentially surrounding the inner contact and an insulator interposed between the inner contact and the outer connector body; and (c) a PIM stabilizer having a tubular main body and overlying a portion of the outer connector body and a portion of the cable, the PIM stabilizer having a first feature that engages the outer connector body and a plurality of fingers that engage the jacket of the cable to maintain the PIM stabilizer in position. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a method of assembling a coaxial cable-connector assembly. The method includes (a) providing a coaxial cable having an inner conductor, a dielectric layer circumferentially surrounding the inner conductor, an outer conductor circumferentially surrounding the dielectric layer, and a jacket circumferentially surrounding the outer conductor; (b) providing a coaxial connector having an inner contact, an outer connector body spaced apart from and circumferentially surrounding the inner contact, a spring basket configured to mate to an inner surface of the outer conductor, and an insulator interposed between the inner contact and the outer connector body; (c) stripping the jacket of the cable to expose a portion of the outer conductor; (d) stripping the outer conductor and dielectric layer to expose the end of the inner conductor; (e) sliding a PIM stabilizer over the end of the cable and onto an unstripped portion of the cable jacket; (f) securing a polymeric sleeve around the outer conductor; (g) sliding the connector onto the cable until a shoulder on an inner surface of the outer connector body contacts the sleeve such that the spring basket makes electrical contact with outer conductor of the cable and the inner contact make electrical contact with inner conductor of the cable; (h) crimping the outer connector body of the connector onto the sleeve; and (i) sliding the PIM stabilizer back toward the end of the cable to engage the connector. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a method of assembling a coaxial cable-connector assembly. The method includes (a) providing a coaxial cable having an inner conductor, a dielectric layer circumferentially surrounding the inner conductor, an outer conductor circumferentially surrounding the dielectric layer, and a jacket circumferentially surrounding the outer conductor; (b) providing an inner contact and a first insulator coupled to the inner contact; (c) providing a coaxial connector sub-assembly having an outer connector body, a spring basket configured to mate to an inner surface of the outer conductor, and a second insulator interposed radially inward of the spring basket; (d) stripping the jacket of the cable to expose a portion of the outer conductor; (e) stripping the outer conductor and dielectric layer to expose the end of the inner conductor; (f) sliding a PIM stabilizer over the end of the cable and onto an unstripped portion of the cable jacket; (g) soldering the inner contact to the inner conductor; (h) securing a polymeric sleeve around the outer conductor; (i) sliding the connector sub-assembly onto the cable until a shoulder on an inner surface of the outer connector body contacts the sleeve such that the spring basket makes electrical contact with outer conductor of the cable; (j) crimping the outer connector body of the connector onto the sleeve; and (k) sliding the PIM stabilizer back toward the end of the cable to engage the connector 
     It is noted that aspects of the invention described with respect to one embodiment, may be incorporated in a different embodiment although not specifically described relative thereto. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination. Applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim and/or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to be able to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim or claims although not originally claimed in that manner. These and other objects and/or aspects of the present invention are explained in detail in the specification set forth below. Further features, advantages and details of the present invention will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art from a reading of the figures and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments that follow, such description being merely illustrative of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a coaxial cable-connector assembly according to embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2A  is a side view of a connector of the coaxial cable-connector assembly of  FIG. 1  according to embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2B  is a section view of the connector of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of a sleeve of the coaxial cable-connector assembly of  FIG. 1  according to embodiments of the present invention, shown in an opened position. 
         FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of the sleeve of  FIG. 3A  in a closed position. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a PIM stabilizer of the coaxial cable-connector assembly of  FIG. 1  according to embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5A  is a side view of a prepared cable end of the coaxial cable-connector assembly of  FIG. 1  according to embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5B  is a side view of the prepared cable end of  FIG. 5A  with the sleeve of  FIGS. 3A-3B  installed on the cable. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the connector of  FIG. 2A  pushed onto the prepared cable end of  FIG. 5B . 
         FIG. 7  is a section view of the coaxial cable-connector assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged view of the squared section labeled “A” in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a section view of an alternative coaxial cable-connector assembly according to embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention now is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
     Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. In the figures, the thickness of certain lines, layers, components, elements or features may be exaggerated for clarity. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the specification and relevant art and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. Well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity. 
     As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
     As used herein, phrases such as “between X and Y” and “between about X and Y” should be interpreted to include X and Y. As used herein, phrases such as “between about X and Y” mean “between about X and about Y.” As used herein, phrases such as “from about X to Y” mean “from about X to about Y.” 
     It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on”, “attached” to, “connected” to, “coupled” with, “contacting”, etc., another element, it can be directly on, attached to, connected to, coupled with or contacting the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being, for example, “directly on”, “directly attached” to, “directly connected” to, “directly coupled” with or “directly contacting” another element, there are no intervening elements present. It will also be appreciated by those of skill in the art that references to a structure or feature that is disposed “adjacent” another feature may have portions that overlap or underlie the adjacent feature. 
     Spatially relative terms, such as “under”, “below”, “lower”, “over”, “upper”, “lateral”, “left”, “right” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature&#39;s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is inverted, elements described as “under” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “over” the other elements or features. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated  90  degrees or at other orientations) and the descriptors of relative spatial relationships used herein interpreted accordingly. 
     Low PIM with cable movement is a critical performance requirement for wireless network connectors and jumpers. Traditional methods to attach a connector to achieve this requirement involve soldering, laser welding or clamping to the outer conductor. Current pre-attached connectors typically use soldering for attachment of the connector to the cable, and field attachable connectors typically use clamping. Another desire is to reduce cost of attachment for pre-attached connectors, either from connector cost or attachment labor cost or both. The coaxial cable-connector assembly of the present invention may attain the goals of low PIM with cable movement for low-cost cables, such as jumper cables. 
     Referring now to the figures, a coaxial cable-connector assembly according to embodiments of the present invention, designated broadly at  100 , is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-8 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the assembly  100  includes a coaxial cable  110  and a connector  130  attached to one end thereof. The connector  130  may be secured to the coaxial cable  110 , in part, via a PIM stabilizer  150 . 
     The cable  110  includes an inner conductor  112 , a dielectric layer  114  that circumferentially overlies the inner conductor  112 , an annularly corrugated outer conductor  116  that circumferentially overlies the dielectric layer  114 , and a polymeric cable jacket  120  that circumferentially overlies the outer conductor  116  (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 5A-5B ). These components will be well-known to those of ordinary skill in the art and need not be described in detail herein. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2A-2B , the connector  130  includes an inner contact  132 , an outer connector body  134 , and an insulator  136 . The inner contact  132  has a generally cylindrical post  132 a and is mounted on and is in electrical contact with the inner conductor  112  of the cable  110 . In some embodiments, the inner contact  132  is in electrical contact with the inner conductor  112  via a spring basket  133  (see also, e.g.,  FIG. 7 ). 
     The outer connector body  134  includes a mating end  138  that is configured to mate with the outer conductor body of a mating jack. The mating end  138  extends forwardly from one end of a main section  140  of the outer connector body  134 . In some embodiments, the mating end  138  may be tapered. A flange  142  extends radially outwardly from the main section  140  and provides a bearing surface for a coupling nut  180 . At its rearward end, the outer connector body  134  has a tail section  139  that is configured to mate with the polymeric cable jacket  120  of the cable  110 . A taper edge or shoulder  135  is located on an inner surface of the tail section  139  and adjacent to the open end of the tail section  139 . A first recess  134   a  is located on an outer surface of the tail section  139 . The recess  134   a  provides a location to crimp the connector  130  and secure the connector  130  to the cable  110 . 
     In some embodiments, the tail section  139  of the outer connector body  134  may comprise a second shoulder  141 . The second shoulder  141  may be located forwardly from the first recess  134   a  on an inner surface of the tail section  139 . The second shoulder  141  provides a stop point and may help to prevent the connector  130  from being slid or pushed too far onto a cable  110  during assembly. A second recess  134   b  may be located forwardly from shoulder  141  (and recess  134   a ). As discussed in further detail below, the second recess  134   b  (in combination with the tapered edge  135 ) provides a location for the PIM stabilizer  150  to engage the connector  130 . In some embodiments, the recess  134 b is may also be configured to receive and hold an  0 -ring or gasket  161 . 
     Still referring to  FIGS. 2A-2B , the connector  130  further includes a second spring basket  137 . The second spring basket  137  is configured to mate to the inner surface of the outer conductor  116  of the cable  110  (see also, e.g.,  FIG. 7 ). An insulator  144  is positioned radially inwardly of the forward end of the spring basket  137  and surrounds the forward end of the inner conductor  112 . As described in further detail below, the fingers of the spring basket  137  and the outer conductor  116  are separated from the outer connector body  134  of the connector  130  by a sleeve  160  ( FIGS. 3A-3B ) that mates to the outer surface of the outer conductor  116 . This configuration separates the mechanical crimp attachment (i.e., between the outer connector body  134  of the connector  130  and the cable  110 ) from the electrical contact (i.e., between the second spring basket  137  and the outer conductor  116 , and between the spring basket  137  and the outer connector body  134 ) (see also, e.g.,  FIG. 8 ). Such an arrangement can improve PIM performance by eliminating potential imperfect and partial contact points which allow oxide formation and shifting contact with cable movement that can be present with conventional crimping of the outer connector body to the outer conductor of a cable. 
     Insulator  136  is positioned radially outwardly of the post  132 a. To further reduce manufacturing costs, in some embodiments, the inner contact  132  and outer connector body  134  of the connector  130  may be made through the process of stamping and rolling. Insert molding of the insulator  136  over the inner contact  132  is a common way to produce a low-cost insulator and reduce handling during manufacture of the connector  130 . Typically, with a machined inner contact  132 , features are machined to allow the insulator  136  to be locked or secured to the inner contact  132  by plastic flowing into these features. In some embodiments of the present invention, the insulator  136  may be insert molded over the inner contact  132 . Insulating material  136 a (e.g., a polymeric material) is allowed to flow through an axial slot (not shown) from the forming process (i.e., stamping and rolling) and into a lumen of the inner contact  132 . This approach allows the insulator  136  to be locked into place with the inner contact  132  without sacrificing electrical performance by adding other features for locking the insulator  136  or the additional cost of creating such features after stamping and rolling the inner contact  132 . In some embodiments, the tapered spring basket  133  of the connector  130  may also be formed in the stamping design, thereby eliminating a swaging operation. 
     During assembly of the connector  130 , the inner contact  132  (and insulator  136 ) will be inserted into the outer connector body  134  thru mating end  138 . In some embodiments, the inner surface of the outer connector body  134  may have a shoulder  145  that provides a stop point for the insulator  136  (and inner contact  132 ) and help prevent the insulator  136  and inner contact  132  from being inserted too far into the outer connector body  134 . The spring basket  137  will be press-fit into the outer connector body  134  through tail section  139 . As the spring basket  137  also has an axial slot or gap (not shown) due to the forming process, this gap will close when being press-fit into the outer connector body  134 . The outer diameter of the spring basket  137  is increased such that when this gap is closed, the interference with the outer diameter of the spring basket  137  and the receiving inner diameter of the outer connector body  134  is maintained to provide adequate pressure to maintain low PIM level. Additionally, the thickness of the spring basket  137  may be sized such that the spring basket  137  can decrease in diameter during the press-fit process while still maintaining the proper force. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3A-3B , the sleeve  160  which separates the spring basket  137  from the outer connector body  134  of the connector  130  is illustrated. As shown in  FIGS. 3A-3B , the sleeve  160  comprises a pair of partial tubular sections  162   a,    162   b.  In some embodiments, the tubular sections  162   a,    162   b  are pivotably coupled together via a living hinge  164 . In some embodiments, each tubular section  162   a,    162   b  may comprise one or more corrugations  166  that are sized and configured to cooperate or engage with the corrugated profile of the outer conductor  116  of the cable  110 . For example, when the tubular sections  162   a,    162   b  of the sleeve  160  are pivoted to a closed position ( FIG. 3B ) around the outer conductor  116  of the cable  110 , the corrugations  166  of the sleeve  160  are configured to engage the corrugated outer conductor  116 , thereby securing the sleeve  160  around the outer conductor  116  of the cable  110  (see also, e.g.,  FIG. 5B  and  FIG. 8 ). 
     It has been found that an effective mitigation to PIM with cable movement involves shifting the point of the cable  110  bending away from the interface. According to embodiments of the present invention, this may be accomplished by utilizing the PIM stabilizer  150 , which is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
     The PIM stabilizer  150  of the present invention comprises a tubular main body  152 . In some embodiments, the main body  152  is formed of a polymeric material, e.g., plastic. At one end of the tubular main body  152  is a projection or flanged edge  156 . The projection  156  is configured to snap over or be received by a feature on the outer connector body  134  of the connector  130  (e.g., recess  134 b) (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 7-8 ). The tubular main body  152  of the PIM stabilizer  150  further comprises a second point of contact (e.g., a notch or tapered edge  154 ) on its inner surface. The notch or tapered edge  154  is configured to mate with a corresponding feature on the tail section  139  of the outer connector body  134  (e.g., tapered edge or shoulder  135 ) (see, e.g.,  FIG. 7 ). This configuration provides a stable mechanical structure to support the PIM stabilizer  150  and passes mechanical moment and stresses from bending of the cable  110  away from the interface of the connector  130 . 
     A common difficulty has been experienced in other types of stabilizers with regard to making a tight contact with the cable jacket  120  because the cable jacket tolerance is quite wide. To overcome these difficulties, the PIM stabilizer  150  of the present invention further comprises a spring basket  158  with axial slots  157  at the opposing end of the tubular main body  152  (i.e., opposite from the end with projection  156 ). The end of the tubular main body  152  (i.e., spring basket  158 ) is sized to provide interference with the minimum outer diameter of the cable jacket  120 . The slots  157  and flexibility of the polymeric tubular main body  152  allows the spring basket  158  to accommodate a larger cable jacket  120  outer diameter by flexing outward. The length, width, and number of slots  157 , as well as the cross-section thickness at the slot root, can be varied to create the proper force against the cable jacket  120 . In some embodiments, the coaxial cable-connector assembly  100  of the present invention may be installed in a controlled environment. Accordingly, a special tool may be used to provide adequate force to advance the PIM stabilizer  150  along the cable  110  and snap the PIM stabilizer  150  into place on the outer connector body  134  of the connector  130 , thereby allowing a much greater interference than if limited to hand force as with a typical field fit type connector. 
     Assembly of the coaxial cable-connector assembly  100  commences with the preparation of the cable  110 , which comprises stripping the cable jacket  120  to expose a portion of the outer conductor  116 . Additionally, the outer conductor  116  and dielectric layer  114  are stripped to expose the end of the inner conductor  112  ( FIG. 5A ). As shown in  FIG. 5A , an  0 -ring  118  is slipped over the end of the cable  110  and into a “valley”  116   a  of the corrugations of the outer conductor  116 . The O-ring  118  is positioned in the valley  116 a that is adjacent to the stripped cable jacket  120 . Next, the sleeve  160  is secured around the outer conductor  116  of the cable  110  such that the corrugations  166  of the sleeve  160  engage the corrugations of the outer conductor  116  ( FIG. 5B ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the connector  130  comprising the outer connector body  134 , the inner contact  132 , insulator  136 , insulator  144 , spring baskets  133 ,  137 , and coupling nut  180  is then slipped over the prepared end of the cable  110 . The connector  130  is slid onto the cable  110  until spring basket  137  contacts the outer conductor  116  of the cable  110  and spring basket  133  engages the inner conductor  112  of the cable  110  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 7 ). As shown in  FIG. 8 , in some embodiments, the shoulder  141  of the outer connector body  134  contacts the sleeve  160  to help prevent the connector  130  from being slid or pushed too far onto the cable  110 . 
     Once the connector  130  is positioned on the cable  110 , the connector  130  may be secured to the cable  110  by crimping the outer connector body  134  within recess  134   a.  While many known coaxial connectors use crimp for cable attachment, PIM performance may not be good due to imperfect and partial contact points which allow oxide formation and shifting contact with cable movement. As shown in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 , according to embodiments of the present invention, the mechanical crimp attachment is separated from the electrical contact at the outer connector body  134  by means of the outer electrical spring basket  137  mating to the inside of the outer conductor  116  of the cable  110 . The spring basket  137  is separated from the outer connector body  134  of the connector  130  at this location by the sleeve  160  that mates to the outer connector body  134 . The outer connector body  134  of the connector  130  is crimped over the sleeve  160  (i.e., within recess  134 a) to provide retention and mechanical attachment. 
     During crimp, in some embodiments, barbs  143  on the inner surface of the outer connector body  134  (below recess  134 a) may press into the sleeve  160  to provide pull-off resistance with the outer connector body  134 . The corrugation fitting profile of the sleeve  160  provides pull-off resistance with the cable  110 . This combination locks the connector  130  to the cable  110 . Since the sleeve  160  is made of a polymeric material (e.g., plastic), electrical contact between the outer conductor  116  of the cable  110  and the outer connector body  134  is prevented at that location. Instead, electrical contact is made between the outer conductor  116  and the spring basket  137 , and then between the spring basket  137  and the outer connector body  134  away from the crimping location (i.e., near insulator  144 ). As a result, the radial contact provides a good PIM performance and is isolated from the mechanical attachment. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , an alternative coaxial cable-connector assembly  100 ′ according to embodiments of the present invention is illustrated. Properties and/or features of the coaxial cable-connector assembly  100 ′ may be as described above in reference to the assembly  100  shown in  FIGS. 1-8  and duplicate discussion thereof may be omitted herein for the purposes of discussing  FIG. 9 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the coaxial cable-connector assembly  100 ′ differs from assembly  100  in that the connector  130 ′ does not include the first spring basket  133 . Instead, the inner contact  132 ′ of the connector  130 ′ is secured to the inner conductor  112  of the cable  110  via soldering. The remaining features of the coaxial cable-connector assembly  100 ′ are similar to those described herein with respect to assembly  100 . 
     Assembly of the coaxial cable-connector assembly  100 ′ is slightly different than assembly  100 . Preparation of the cable  110  is the same as describe above and illustrated in  FIGS. 5A-5B . After the cable  110  has been prepared, the inner contact  132 ′ (with insulator  136 ′) is soldered to the inner conductor  112  of the cable  110 . The connector  130 ′ comprising the outer connector body  134 ′, insulator  144 ′, spring basket  137 ′, and coupling nut  180 ′ is then slipped over the prepared end of the cable  110  with the inner contact  132  and insulator  136 . The connector  130 ′ is slid onto the cable  110  until spring basket  137 ′ contacts the outer conductor  116  of the cable  110  and a shoulder  145 ′ contacts the insulator  136 ′. In some embodiments, shoulder  141 ′ of the outer connector body  134 ′ contacts the sleeve  160  to help prevent the connector  130  from being slid or pushed too far onto the cable  110 . 
     Once the connector  130 ′ is positioned on the cable  110 , the connector  130 ′ may be secured to the cable  110  in the same manner as described herein with respect to assembly  100  (i.e., by crimping the outer connector body  134 ′. Similar to assembly  100 , in assembly  100 ′ , the mechanical crimp attachment is separated from the electrical contact at the outer connector body  134 ′ by means of the outer electrical spring basket  137 ′ which mates to the inside of the outer conductor  116  of the cable  110 . The spring basket  137 ′ is separated from the outer connector body  134 ′ of the connector  130  at this location by the sleeve  160  that mates to the outer connector body  134 ′. The outer connector body  134 ′ of the connector  130 ′ is crimped over the sleeve  160  (i.e., within recess  134   a ′) to provide retention and mechanical attachment. 
     Assembly of the coaxial cable-connector assemblies  100 , 100 ′ of the present invention is intended to reduce attachment complexity and thus labor cost, allowing the attachment to be moved from a factory setting and to a store-front type low overhead facility. 
     The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limiting thereof. Although a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the claims. The invention is defined by the following claims, with equivalents of the claims to be included therein.