Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/156,373 filed Jun. 9, 2011, entitled TIGHTENING INDICATOR FOR COAXIAL CABLE CONNECTOR, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/830,398 filed Jul. 5, 2010, and entitled TIGHTENING INDICATOR FOR COAXIAL CABLE CONNECTOR, which is a continuation of and claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/768,831 filed on Jun. 26, 2007 and entitled TIGHTENING INDICATOR FOR COAXIAL CABLE CONNECTOR, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,749,022, which in turn is a continuation in part of and claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/735,449 filed on Apr. 14, 2007 and entitled TIGHTENING INDICATOR FOR COAXIAL CABLE CONNECTOR, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,507,117, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY 
     The following relates generally to the field of coaxial cable connectors, and more particularly to a coaxial cable connector with a visual indicator showing when the connector is fully tightened onto an equipment port. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A common problem with RCA coaxial cable connectors is that they do not stay tight on the ports they are connected to. Especially in vertical installations, the weight of the coaxial cable is great enough to loosen or pull the connector off the port. An RCA coaxial cable connector was devised that included a locking feature to prevent the RCA connector from pulling loose from the port. However, the RCA connector still needs to be locked properly upon installation for the locking feature to work properly. Determining whether the RCA connector is properly installed is not always easy to do when installing the RCA connector onto the equipment port. 
     With CATV (cable television) technology, it is extremely important to ensure that all connections are tight in order to prevent unwanted interference from getting into the transmission path. For bidirectional systems, it has been estimated that 70%-95% of the unwanted RF interference on the return path, from the subscriber to the headend, originates within the subscriber&#39;s premises or home. Because all the return signals funnel back into the headend, a single source of unwanted RF interference (RFI), also known as “ingress”, affects the service of all the subscribers. The RFI enters the system from improperly installed F-connectors, cracked or improperly shielded coaxial cable, or simply bad shielding around a television set&#39;s tuner. Improper installation includes the failure to tighten fully the connector into an equipment port, thus causing signal leakage and intermittent grounding. 
     Cable operators are spending enormous amounts of money and resources to maintain the headend plant free from the RFI caused by loose and improper connections. New digital products such as VOIP (voice over internet protocol) are extremely sensitive to RFI ingress. Small levels of ingress can disrupt voice service or cause dropped calls. 
     SUMMARY 
     Briefly stated, a coaxial cable connector includes an outer body having a first end and an opposing second end, an inner body having a first inner end and a second inner end, and a post interconnected with the inner body. A fastener portion is at the first end of the outer body. A compression sleeve is disposed to fit on the second inner end. The post, the inner body, and the compression sleeve are movable with respect to the outer body between a first position in which the connector is not mounted to an equipment port and a second position when the connector is mounted to the equipment port. When the fastener portion is mounted to the equipment port, an indicator portion on the compression sleeve is made visible to a user. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, a coaxial cable connector includes an outer body having a first end and an opposing second end; an inner body having a first inner end and a second inner end; a post interconnected with the inner body; a fastener portion at the first end of the outer body; a compression sleeve disposed to fit on the second inner end; wherein the post, the inner body, and the compression sleeve are movable with respect to the outer body between a first position in which the connector is not mounted to an equipment port and a second position when the connector is mounted to the equipment port; and wherein when the fastener portion is mounted to the equipment port, an indicator portion on the compression sleeve is made visible to a user. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, a coaxial cable connector for connection to an equipment port includes a connector body having a first end and a second end; the first end including a fastener portion which is connectable to the equipment port; the second end including an indicator portion; and an outer sleeve mounted on the connector body for movement between a first position wherein the outer sleeve covers the indicator portion and a second position wherein the outer sleeve visibly exposes the indicator portion on the connector body. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, a method for making a coaxial cable connector for connection to an equipment port includes the steps of: (a) forming an outer body having a first end and an opposing second end; (b) forming an inner body having a first inner end and a second inner end; (c) forming a post interconnected with the inner body; (d) forming a fastener portion at the first end of the outer body; (e) forming a compression sleeve disposed to fit on the second inner end; (f) wherein the post, the inner body, and the compression sleeve are movable with respect to the outer body between a first position in which the connector is not mounted to the equipment port and a second position when the connector is mounted to the equipment port; and (g) wherein when the fastener portion is mounted to the equipment port, an indicator portion on the compression sleeve is made visible to a user. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, a method of installing coaxial cable connector to an equipment port, wherein the connector includes an outer body having a first end and an opposing second end; an inner body having a first inner end and a second inner end; a post interconnected with the inner body; a fastener portion at the first end of the outer body; a compression sleeve disposed to fit on the second inner end; wherein the post, the inner body, and the compression sleeve are movable with respect to the outer body between a first position in which the connector is not mounted to an equipment port and a second position when the connector is mounted to the equipment port; and wherein when the fastener portion is mounted to the equipment port, an indicator portion on the compression sleeve is made visible to a user; the method including the steps of: (a) fitting the fastener portion over the equipment port; (b) moving the outer body to the second position; and (c) checking to ensure that the indicator portion is not concealed by the outer sleeve. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a side elevation view of a coaxial cable connector according to an embodiment of the invention before the connector is tightened onto an equipment port. 
         FIG. 2  shows a side elevation view of a coaxial cable connector according to an embodiment of the invention as the connector is tightened onto an equipment port. 
         FIG. 3A  shows a side elevation view of a coaxial cable connector according to an embodiment of the invention after the connector is fully tightened onto an equipment port. 
         FIG. 3B  shows a side elevation view of a coaxial cable connector according to an embodiment of the invention after the connector is fully tightened onto an equipment port. 
         FIG. 4  shows a cutaway view of a coaxial cable connector according to an embodiment of the invention, with the connector not fastened (uncompressed) to a coaxial cable. 
         FIG. 5A  shows a cutaway view of a coaxial cable connector according to an embodiment of the invention, with the connector fastened (compressed) to a coaxial cable but not tightened onto an equipment port, where the equipment port is an RF port. 
         FIG. 5B  shows a cutaway view of a coaxial cable connector according to an embodiment of the invention, with the connector fastened (compressed) to a coaxial cable and tightened onto an equipment port. 
         FIG. 6  shows a side elevation view of an RCA coaxial cable connector according to an embodiment of the present invention in an unlocked position. 
         FIG. 7  shows a side elevation view of an RCA coaxial cable connector according to an embodiment of the present invention in a locked position. 
         FIG. 8  shows a cross-sectional view of an RCA coaxial cable connector according to an embodiment of the present invention in an uninstalled position. 
         FIG. 9  shows a cross-sectional view of an RCA coaxial cable connector according to an embodiment of the present invention in the unlocked position. 
         FIG. 10  shows a cross-sectional view of an RCA coaxial cable connector according to an embodiment of the present invention in the locked position. 
         FIG. 11  shows a partial cutaway view of a BNC coaxial cable connector according to an embodiment of the invention in the unlocked position. 
         FIG. 12  shows a partial cutaway view of a BNC coaxial cable connector according to an embodiment of the invention in the locked position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a coaxial cable connector according to an embodiment of the invention is shown. Connector  10  is shown connected to a coaxial cable  12 , which connection leaves a center conductor  14  of coaxial cable  12  positioned to make contact with a signal input (not shown) of an equipment port (not shown) when connector  10  is connected into the equipment port. A plurality of elastomeric rings  18  are preferably around parts of outer body  20 . Elastomeric rings  18  increase the ease of tightening connector  10  to the equipment port. Connector  10  is shown in an un-tightened state, that is, connector  10  is not screwed onto the equipment port. Connector  10  is shown here as an F-type connector. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , connector  10  is shown in either a partially tightened state according to one embodiment of the invention, or in a fully tightened state in another embodiment of the invention. Part of a compression sleeve  22  is now visible as it extends past outer body  20 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3A-3B , a groove  24  in compression sleeve  22  is now visible as it extends past outer body  20  ( FIG. 3A ). An elastomeric band  172 , preferably colored, is positioned in groove  24  in the embodiment of  FIG. 3B . For the embodiment where  FIG. 2  represents a partially tightened state, the embodiments in  FIGS. 3A-3B  represent the fully tightened state. Otherwise, FIGS.  2  and  3 A- 3 B represent different embodiments with different visible indicators, i.e., in the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the visible indicator of the fully tightened state is the appearance of a part of compression sleeve  22 , while in the embodiment of  FIG. 3A , the visible indicator of the fully tightened state is the appearance of groove  24  and in  FIG. 3B , the visible indicator of the fully tightened state is the appearance of elastomeric band  172 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a cutaway view of an embodiment of the invention is shown, with connector  10  in this embodiment shown in both the uncompressed state and the untightened state. “Uncompressed state” in this embodiment means that the compression sleeve has not been compressed into outer body  20 , while “untightened state” continues to mean that connector  10  is not fastened onto the equipment port (not shown). When coaxial cable  12  ( FIGS. 1-3B ) is installed, a prepared end of cable  12  is inserted through an opening  30 , with a dielectric (not shown) and center conductor  14  ( FIGS. 1-3B ) passing through a post  28 , while an outer braid (not shown) and an outer covering (not shown) of cable  12  fit into a cavity  32 . A tip  40  of post  28  passes between the dielectric and the outer braid of cable  12 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5A , a cutaway view of an embodiment of the invention is shown, with connector  10  shown in both the compressed state and the untightened state. Note that compression sleeve  22  has been pushed between outer body  20  and inner body  26 , compressing inner body  26  against the outer covering (not shown) of cable  12 . Once cable  12  is properly connected to connector  10 , connector  10  may be connected to the equipment port (not shown). Connector  10  is screwed onto the equipment port (not shown), with threads  34  on a portion of an inside of outer body  20  screwing into corresponding grooves (not shown) on the equipment port (not shown). As connector  10  is screwed onto the equipment port (not shown), an end  44  of post  28  is pushed by the equipment port (not shown), thus forcing a shoulder  36  of post  28  preferably against a spring  42  which in turn is forced against a shoulder  38  of outer body  20 . As connector  10  becomes fully tightened onto the equipment port (not shown), the combination of post  28 , inner body  26 , and compression sleeve  22  moves with relation to outer body  20  so that eventually, in one embodiment, groove  24  on compression sleeve  22  is visible outside outer body  22  as is the case in  FIG. 3A . In another embodiment shown in  FIG. 5B , elastomeric band  172  is visible outside outer body  22  as is the case in  FIG. 3B .  FIG. 5B  also shows an equipment port  174 , with equipment port  174  being an RF port. In another embodiment, when connector  10  is fully tightened onto the equipment port (not shown), part of compression sleeve  22  appears outside outer body  22  as is the case in  FIG. 2 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , an embodiment of the present invention is an indicator, preferably visible, that shows when an RCA coaxial cable connector is fully tightened onto an equipment port. Such an RCA connector is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/371,807 filed Mar. 9, 2006 and entitled LOCKING PHONO PLUG, hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     An RCA cable connector  110  is shown connected to a coaxial cable  122 . Cable connector  110  includes a conductive pin  112 , an outer sleeve  116 , and preferably elastomeric rings  120  on either side of a knurled surface  118 . A plurality of engagement fingers  114  are present for connecting and locking onto an equipment port (not shown). Cable connector  110  is referred to in this state as installed on coaxial cable  122 , but unlocked. That is, cable connector  110  is not locked onto the equipment port. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , cable connector  110  is shown in the installed and locked state. Even though the equipment port is not shown, note that outer sleeve  116  has been advanced relative to the remainder of cable connector  110  in the direction as shown by an arrow a, so that engagement fingers  114  are no longer visible at one end of cable connector  110 , but leaving an indicator  124  extending or showing at another end of cable connector  110 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , cable connector  110  is in the uninstalled and unlocked state. That is, cable connector  110  is not connected to coaxial cable  122  ( FIGS. 6-7 ), nor is it connected to and locked on the equipment port (not shown). To install coaxial cable  122 , the end of coaxial cable  122  is prepared as is well known to one of ordinary skill in the art, leaving a center conductor (not shown) extending from a dielectric, ground sheath, and outer sheath (all not shown). When the prepared end of coaxial cable  122  is inserted into cable connector  110  through an opening  134 , the center conductor is guided and seized by a collet  130 , while a post  128  is inserted between the dielectric and the ground sheath. A compression sleeve  132  is then moved in the direction of an arrow b, where a friction fit between compression sleeve  132  and a connector body  126  holds coaxial cable  122  in place. After cable connector  110  is installed on coaxial cable  122 , cable connector  110  appears as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , coaxial connector  110  is shown in the installed (onto coaxial cable  122 ) but unlocked position. When coaxial connector  110  is connected to the equipment port (not shown), outer sleeve  116  is grasped by an installer and engagement fingers  114  are slid over the equipment port in the direction shown by arrow a. When outer sleeve  116  is pushed further in the direction of arrow a, a locking surface  136  on an underside of outer sleeve  16  rides over engagement fingers  114 , forcing and locking engagement fingers  114  onto the equipment port. Before this step, indicator  124  is not visible outside of outer sleeve  116 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , coaxial cable  110  is shown in the installed and locked position. Locking surface  136  is fully over engagement fingers  114 , locking engagement fingers  114  onto the equipment port, while the movement of outer sleeve  116  leaves indicator  124  visible to the installer. The installer thus does not have to see that engagement fingers  114  are fully connected to the equipment port because the same information is communicated by the appearance of indicator  124 . Indicator  124  optionally includes a colored annular stripe thereon, a textured annular stripe, an annular groove therein, or a colored elastomeric band that fits into the annular groove so as to make the indicator either more visible to the installer or capable of being felt easily by the installer. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , a BNC cable connector  140  is shown. An inner body  142  is positioned within an outer body  158  with a retaining washer  156 . A retaining ring  168  is preferably press-fitted onto inner body  142  to provide a surface for a wave washer  152  to press against. Wave washer  152  provides a biasing force to a bayonet sleeve  164 , which bayonet sleeve  164  makes the twist-lock connection to an equipment port (not shown) that is characteristic of BNC connectors. The space between a portion of outer body  158  and inner body  142  forms an air cavity  170 , which does not need to be sealed from the environment because BNC connectors are primarily used indoors or other enclosed spaces. 
     Inner body  142  contains a post/mandrel  144  which fits between the dielectric and the outer braid of the prepared coaxial cable (not shown) installed in cable connector  140 . The center conductor of the coaxial cable is captured within a collet  148 , which collet  148  is electrically conductive and mechanically connected to a contact pin  146  of cable connector  140 . Contact pin  146  is positioned within inner body  142  by an insulator  150 . A conductive gasket  154  provides RF sealing protection. A compression sleeve  160  fits inside an end of inner body  142  when the coaxial cable is fully installed in cable connector  140 . 
     In this embodiment of the present invention, bayonet sleeve  164  is one-piece with outer body  158 , so that when a knurled portion  166  of outer body  158  is grasped by a user and press-twisted to lock bayonet sleeve  164  onto the equipment port (not shown), the entire outer body  158  moves relative to inner body  142 , resulting in the relative positions shown in  FIG. 12 . Thus, after cable connector  140  is installed onto the equipment port, an indicator portion  162  of compression sleeve becomes visible to the user. In the prior art, the “outer body” generally consists of the “knurled portion” only. The major features of this embodiment is that outer body  158  is one-piece with bayonet sleeve  164  and outer body  158  is extended over inner body  142  to hide inner body  142  and compression sleeve  160  from the user&#39;s vision before cable connector  140  is installed onto an equipment port. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to a particular preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment and that various modifications and the like could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Technology Category: h