Coaxial cable continuity device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016181742-A1
Application number	US-201615058091-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 1, 2016
Priority date	Dec 6, 2011
Publication date	Jun 23, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A jumper sleeve configured to be installed on an outer side of a male F-connector to facilitate easy connection of and maintain ground continuity across the male F-connector and a female F-connector. In one embodiment, a conductive element is installed on an inner surface of the jumper sleeve and conductively engages an outer surface of the male F-connector to maintain ground continuity across the male and female F-connectors.

First claim

1 - 19 . (canceled)

20 . A ground continuity element for a coaxial cable connector, the coaxial cable connector having a connecting ring and a sleeve assembly, the ground continuity element comprising:
a ring portion comprising a conductive material; a first tine extending from the ring portion, wherein the first tine includes a first surface configured to conductively contact the connecting ring of the coaxial cable connector; and a second tine extending from the ring portion, wherein the second tine includes a second surface configured to conductively contact the sleeve assembly.

21 . The ground continuity element of claim 20 wherein the first surface of the first tine comprises a flat portion configured to contact a corresponding flat surface on the connecting ring of the coaxial cable connector.

22 . The ground continuity element of claim 20 wherein the first surface of the first tine comprises a protrusion configured to conductively contact at least a portion of the connecting ring of the coaxial cable connector.

23 . The ground continuity element of claim 22 wherein the protrusion comprises a V-shaped bend in the first tine.

24 . The ground continuity element of claim 20 wherein the second surface of the second tine comprises a protrusion configured to conductively contact at least a portion of the sleeve assembly.

25 . The ground continuity element of claim 24 wherein the protrusion comprises a V-shaped bend in the second tine.

26 . The ground continuity element of claim 24 wherein the sleeve assembly includes an outer surface having a groove therein, and wherein at least a portion of the protrusion is configured to engage the groove.

27 . The ground continuity element of claim 24 wherein the first tine extends from a first location on the ring portion, wherein the second tine extends from a second location on the ring portion, and wherein the first location is opposite the second location.

28 . The ground continuity element of claim 20 wherein the ground continuity element has a longitudinal axis extending through the ring portion and between the first and second tines, and wherein the first surface of the first tine is axially spaced from the second surface of the second tine relative to the longitudinal axis of the ground continuity element.

29 . A device for attaching a male coaxial cable connector to a female coaxial cable connector, the device comprising:
a gripping member configured to receive a rotatable ring of the male coaxial cable connector; and a ground continuity element configured to be at least partially inserted into the gripping member, wherein the ground continuity element includes:
a ring portion;
a first tine extending from the ring portion, wherein the first tine includes a first surface configured to conductively contact the rotatable ring of the male coaxial cable connector; and
a second tine extending from the ring portion, wherein the second tine includes a second surface configured to conductively contact an outer surface of the male coaxial cable connector axially spaced from the rotatable ring of the male coaxial cable connector.

30 . The device of claim 29 wherein the gripping member includes a hollow body configured to receive a portion of the male coaxial cable connector.

31 . The device of claim 29 wherein the gripping member includes a wrench portion having a hexagonal inner surface.

32 . The device of claim 29 wherein the first surface comprises two angled surfaces that define a V-shaped indentation in the first tine.

33 . The device of claim 29 wherein the first tine extends from a first location on the ring portion, wherein the second tine extends from a second location on the ring portion, and wherein the first location is opposite the second location.

34 . The device of claim 29 wherein the ground continuity element has a longitudinal axis extending through the ring portion and between the first tine and the second tine, and wherein the first surface of the first tine is axially spaced from the second surface of the second tine relative to the longitudinal axis of the ground continuity element.

35 . A device for facilitating grounding continuity across a first coaxial cable connector and a second coaxial cable connector, the device comprising:
a conductive body, wherein the conductive body extends axially between a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, and wherein the conductive body includes:
a plurality of first engagement features, wherein the plurality of first engagement features are configured to conductively contact a rotatable ring of the first coaxial cable connector; and
a plurality of second engagement features, wherein the plurality of second engagement features are configured to conductively contact a sleeve assembly of the first coaxial cable connector, and wherein the plurality of first engagement features are axially spaced from the plurality of second engagement features; and
means for gripping the first coaxial cable connector, wherein the means for gripping includes a hollow body configured to receive at least a portion of the conductive body and at least a portion of the first coaxial cable connector therein.

36 . The device of claim 35 wherein the means for gripping is further configured to facilitate rotational attachment of the first coaxial cable connector to the second coaxial cable connector.

37 . The device of claim 35 wherein the conductive body further includes a ring portion and a plurality of tines extending from a rear surface of the ring portion, and wherein the plurality of tines includes the second engagement features.

38 . The device of claim 35 wherein the plurality of first engagement features and the plurality of second engagement features individually comprise V-shaped protrusions.

39 . The device of claim 35 wherein the conductive body further includes:
a ring portion; and
a first tine and a second tine extending from the ring portion, wherein the first tine includes at least one of the plurality of first engagement features, and wherein the second tine includes at least one of the plurality of second engagement features.

40 . The device of claim 39 wherein the first tine extends from a first location on the ring portion, wherein the second tine extends from a second location on the ring portion, and wherein the first location is opposite the second location.

41 . The device of claim 39 wherein the conductive body has a longitudinal axis extending through the ring portion and between the first tine and the second tine, and wherein at least one of the plurality of first engagement features is axially spaced from at least one of the second engagement features on the second tine relative to the longitudinal axis of the conductive body.

42 . A male coaxial cable connector, comprising:
a connecting ring having a first outer surface; a cylindrical portion axially spaced from the connecting ring and having a second outer surface; a ground continuity element configured to conductively contact the first and second outer surfaces; and a gripping member at least partially surrounding the connecting ring and the ground continuity element.

43 . The cable connector of claim 42 wherein the ground continuity element comprises a metal plate.

44 . The cable connector of claim 42 wherein the ground continuity element is attached to the gripping membe

Assignees

• Pct int inc

Inventors

• Wilson Brandon
• Sterkeson Paul
• Youtsey Timothy L

Classifications

• H01R24/40 Primary

  specially adapted for high frequency · CPC title

• H01R9/05

  for coaxial cables · CPC title

• H01R9/0524

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

• H01R24/38

  having concentrically or coaxially arranged contacts · CPC title

• H01R43/26 Primary

  for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device (structural association with two-part coupling device H01R13/629) · CPC title