Patent ID: 8585438

Claim:
A mechanism for maintaining an electrical ground connection between the electrically conductive shells of mated male and female coaxial cable of connectors in the event the mechanical coupling therebetween loosens, comprising: said female coaxial cable connector including captively retained with its shell: a circular cap of electrically non-conductive material having a lowermost portion of maximum diameter with outer wall portions slideable against inside walls of said shell, and an uppermost portion less in diameter than said lowermost portion, said uppermost portion jutting partly out of the top opening of said shell, a top of said cap including a centrally located hole configured for receiving and guiding a male pin of said male connector into a cavity of said shell; a female pin secured within said cavity for receiving said male pin; an electrically conductive unitary cover secured to said cap, said cover being configured to form an outer circumferential band on the top of said uppermost portion of said cap spaced away from its centrally located hole, said cover extending around an outer sidewall portion of said uppermost portion, and further extending around at least an upper portion of a sidewall of said lowermost portion of said cap, for maintaining electrical and mechanical contact with said shell; and spring biasing means within said shell configured for pushing said cap upward to extend the uppermost portion of said cap upward to retain electrical contact with an outer face of the shell of said male connector if it mechanically loosens over a range from rigid securement with said female connector, said spring biasing means further permitting said cap to move downward to a maximum extent upon rigid securement of said connector to said female connector.