Connector having a grounding member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10038284-B2
Application number	US-201715431018-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 13, 2017
Priority date	Nov 24, 2004
Publication date	Jul 31, 2018
Grant date	Jul 31, 2018

Abstract

A grounding member for maintaining a ground path in a cable connector includes, in one embodiment, an inner core configured to flex when a force is applied to the grounding member during operation of the connector. The grounding member further includes an outer conductive coating applied to the inner core. The outer conductive coating is configured to flex from a first state to a second state when a force is applied to the grounding member, so as to maintain a conductive path through the connector when the outer conductive coating flexes between the first and second states during operation of the connector.

First claim

The following is claimed:

1. A conductive ground member for a cable connector, comprising:
a conductively coated component configured to form a conductive ground path between a first component and a second component; the conductively coated component including an inner core and an outer conductive coating configured to maintain an electrical ground path between the first component and the second component during operation of the connector; and
wherein the outer conductive coating is configured to flex in one direction when a force is applied to the conductively coated component and wherein the outer conductive coating is configured to flex in another direction in response to at least a partial release of the force so as to maintain an electrically conductive ground path between the first component and the second component of the cable connector during operation of the connector.

2. The conductive ground member of claim 1 , wherein the force applied to the conductively coated component is a first force induced by tightening the cable connector and wherein the at least partial release of the force is a second force induced by loosening the cable connector.

3. The conductive ground member of claim 2 , wherein the first force is a vector having a first direction along the axis of the cable connector and the second force is a vector having a second direction which is along the axis in the opposite direction.

4. The conductive ground member of claim 2 , wherein the first force is a vector having a first direction along the axis of the cable connector and the second force is a vector having a second direction which is orthogonal to the axis of the cable connector.

5. The conductive ground member of claim 3 , wherein the conductively coated component is an elastomer ring having a flexible core and an outer layer comprising an conductive particulate coating.

6. The conductive ground member of claim 1 wherein the first component is a coupling element and the second component is a post.

7. The conductive ground member of claim 1 wherein the first component is a post and the second component is an interface port.

8. The conductive ground member of claim 1 wherein the first component is a body member and the second component is a coupling element.

9. The conductive ground member of claim 1 , wherein the inner core is non-conductive.

10. The conductive ground member of claim 1 , wherein the inner core is formed from an elastomeric material.

11. The conductive ground member of claim 1 , wherein the inner core is silicone rubber.

12. The conductive ground member of claim 1 , wherein the outer conductive coating comprises a conductive ink.

13. The conductive ground member of claim 12 , wherein the conductive ink is a silver-based ink.

14. A connector for coupling a prepared end of a coaxial cable to an interface port, the connector comprising:
a body member having a central bore;
a post disposed within the central bore and having an outwardly projecting flange at one end configured to produce a first portion of a mating interface, the post having tubular sleeve at the other end configured to mechanically and electrically engage the prepared end of the coaxial cable;
a conductive coupling element having an engagement surface at a first end configured to mechanically and electrically engage the interface port, a lip at a second end configured to produce a second portion of the mating interface, the first and second portions sliding along the mating interface to rotate about an elongate axis of the cable connector, and a mounting groove disposed between the engagement surface of the coupling element and the mating interface, and
a conductive grounding element comprising a compressible ring disposed within the mounting groove of the conductive coupling element, the grounding element configured to be displaced in one direction as the engagement surface of the coupling element is tightened about the interface port, and displaced in another direction as the engagement surface of the coupling element loosens from the interface port.

15. The connector of claim 14 wherein the compressible ring of the conductive grounding element produces a supplemental conductive ground path between the post and the coupling element.

16. The connector of claim 14 wherein the compressible ring of the conductive grounding element produces a supplemental conductive ground path between the post and the interface port.

17. The connector of claim 14 wherein the compressible ring of the conductive grounding element produces a supplemental conductive ground path between the coupling element and the interface port.

18. The connector of claim 14 wherein the compressive ring is an elastomer ring having a flexible core and an outer layer comprising an conductive particulate coating.

19. The connector of claim 14 , wherein the inner core is non-conductive.

20. The connector of claim 14 , wherein the inner core is formed from an elastomeric material.

21. The connector of claim 14 , wherein the inner core is silicone rubber.

22. The connector of claim 14 , wherein the outer layer comprises a conductive ink.

23. The connector of claim 22 , wherein the conductive ink is a silver-based ink.

24. A connector comprising:
a body member having a first end, a second end, and a central bore, the first end defining a first cavity portion;
a post disposed within the central bore and having an outwardly projecting flange at one end configured to produce a first portion of a mating interface, the post having a barbed sleeve at the other end configured to mechanically and electrically engage a prepared end of a coaxial cable;
a conductive coupling element having an engagement surface at a first end configured to mechanically and electrically engage an interface port, a lip at a second end configured to produce a second portion of the mating interface, the first and second portions sliding along the mating interface to rotate about an elongate axis of the cable connector, a mounting groove disposed between the engagement surface and the mating interface, and a second cavity portion at the second end of the coupling element and axially aft of the lip, the first and second cavity portions defining an RF shielding cavity; and
a conductive grounding element comprising a compressible ring disposed within the mounting groove of the coupling element, the grounding element configured to be displaced in one direction as the engagement surface of the coupling element is tightened about the interface port, and displaced in another direction as the engagement surface of the coupling element loosens from the interface port; and
a conductive sealing element disposed in the RF sealing cavity for preventing the ingress or egress of RF energy into or out of the cable connector.

25. The connector of claim 24 wherein the RF cavity for containing the conductive sealing element disposed is disposed radially outboard of the mating interface.

26. The connector of claim 24 wherein the conductive sealing element comprises an elastomeric ring loaded with a conductive particulate.

27. The connector of claim 24 wherein the conductive sealing element comprises an elastomer ring having a flexible core and a conductive outer coating.

28. The connector of claim 24 wherein the conductive sealing element provides a supplemental ground path between the

Assignees

• Ppc Broadband Inc

Inventors

• Krenceski Mary
• Mathews Roger
• Montena Noah P

Classifications

• H01R13/5219

  Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal · CPC title

• H01R13/5202

  Sealing means between parts of housing or between housing part and a wall, e.g. sealing rings · CPC title

• H01R13/6584

  formed by conductive elastomeric members, e.g. flat gaskets or O-rings · CPC title

• H01R9/0524 Primary

  Connection to outer conductor by action of a clamping member, e.g. screw fastening means (H01R9/0515 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01R9/0512

  Connections to an additional grounding conductor · CPC title