Patent ID: 8512060

Claim:
A connector adapter, comprising: a spin coupling having a first end and a second end, an axial bore through said spin coupling with cable connection structure in said axial bore proximate said first end, and connection interface retaining features in said axial bore proximate said second end, and further including a movable locking element disposed proximate said first end, a fixed locking feature disposed around the exterior of said spin coupling, and retaining elements on said second end; a generally cylindrical connection interface having a first end for insertion into said second end of said spin coupling, and further including retaining elements on said first end, and a stop element disposed on said connection interface second end; an adapter body having an internal bore into which said spin coupling and said connection interface are inserted, said adapter body including fixed locking features disposed proximate the opening of said internal bore that cooperate with said fixed locking features and said movable locking element on said spin coupling, a stop feature disposed in the end of said internal bore which cooperates with said stop element of said interface connector, retaining structure disposed in said internal bore for cooperating with said retaining features on said second end of said spin coupling, and an external branch to which a cable shield braid is permanently attached; electrical conductivity continuity element disposed between said connection interface and said adapter body; and wherein when said connection interface is inserted into said internal bore of said spin coupling, and said spin coupling is then inserted into said adapter body, said fixed locking features on said spin coupling and said adapter body cooperate with said movable locking element on said spin coupling to provide a positive locked configuration that prevents rotation of said adapter body in relation to said spin coupling while completing a ground path between a cable connector shell attached to said spin coupling and said cable shielding braid on said branch, and an unlocked rotatable configuration which permits rotation of said adapter body in relation to said spin coupling in a range defined by said stop feature and said stop element.