Cable connector with universal locking sleeve

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6817896
  • Patent Number
    6,817,896
  • Date Filed
    Friday, March 14, 2003
    21 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, November 16, 2004
    20 years ago
Abstract
A cable connector is provided for allowing a plurality of varying diameter cables to be coupled to the cable connector via a locking sleeve. The cable connector includes a connector body and a post coupled to the connector body at a secured end that includes a receiving end axially opposite the secured end. The post has an annular lip integrally formed at the receiving end. The cable connector also includes a generally hollow, rigid sleeve adapted to receive the plurality of varying diameter cables therein. The sleeve has an unlocked position and a locked position wherein it is at least partially disposed within the connector body. A forward end is releasably coupled to the connector body and a rearward end is adapted to receive the cable therein. A protrusion is integrally formed within the sleeve and has a leading edge and a trailing edge such that when the cable is inserted into the sleeve and the sleeve is transitioned from the unlocked position to the locked position, at least part of the cable is compressed between the lip of the post and the protrusion. When the sleeve is in the locked position at least part of the cable is forced away from the post toward the sleeve at the lip, and forced away from the sleeve toward the post at the protrusion, crimping of the cable.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




In general the present invention relates to cable connectors and, in particular, to a cable drop connector having a universal locking sleeve for allowing a plurality of cable waving varying diameters to be coupled to the cable connector.




BACKGROUND




Present cable television, broadband Internet, and satellite systems employ three primary types of cable. The cable commonly referred to as “standard” cable has a center conductor, an inner dielectric encasing the center conductor, a layer of foil surrounding the inner dielectric, a braided shield encasing the foil, and an outer dielectric called the “jacket.” The second type of cable is called the “tri-shield” and consists of a center conductor, an inner dielectric encasing the center conductor, a first layer of foil surrounding the inner dielectric, a braided shield encasing the foil, a second layer of foil surrounding the braided shield, and an outer jacket. The third type of cable is called the “quad-shield” and comprises a center conductor, an inner dielectric encasing the center conductor, a first layer of foil surrounding the inner dielectric, a first braided shield encasing the first layer of foil, a second layer of foil surrounding the first braided shield, a second braided shield encasing the second layer of foil, and an outer jacket. Each type of cable has a different diameter due to the presence of the multiple layers of foil and braided shields, and offers various degrees of RF shielding for the center conductor.




In addition, two primary series of cable sizes are used in the industry: Series RG 6 and Series RG 59. Each of these series employs the use of the three types of cable mentioned above. This variation in cable types and series has required cable connector manufacturers to produce a wide variety of connectors of differing sizes to service all the cable types and series.




Current “universal” connectors all require deformation of a non-rigid locking sleeve to annularly compress the various types of cable. This kind of locking sleeve is disadvantageous because uniform annular compression is difficult to obtain when thinned or weakened plastic or metallic material is forced inward under various axial compression forces and differing cable sizes. Therefore, current “universal” connectors may perform poorly in water migration and cable pull out tests and have therefore not been well accepted by the industry.




It would therefore be advantageous from manufacturing, advertising, shipping, and cost perspectives to have a single cable connector to service all Series RG 6 cables and a single connector to service all Series RG 59 cables. Most importantly, it would be desirable to have a universal connector that passes water migration and cable pull out tests for varying diameters of cable while receiving the three different types of cable via the use of a rigid locking sleeve that is not compressed during cable installation.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention eliminates the above difficulties and disadvantages by providing a cable connector with a rigid locking sleeve for allowing a plurality of varying diameter cables to be coupled to the connector via the locking sleeve. The cable connector includes a connector body and a post coupled to the connector body at a secured end. The post also includes a receiving end axially opposite the secured end and preferably an annular lip integrally formed at the receiving end.




A sleeve is adapted to receive one of the plurality of varying diameter cables therein. The sleeve has an unlocked and a locked position wherein the sleeve is at least partially disposed within the connector body. The sleeve has a forward end for being inserted into the connector body and a rearward end for receiving the cable therein. A protrusion is at least partially housed within the sleeve and is preferably integrally formed in the sleeve and is annular. In an alternate embodiment the protrusion is an O-ring or non-annular rubber material disposed inside the sleeve. The protrusion can be of the same material and hardness of the sleeve or of a different hardness.




The protrusion preferably includes a leading edge that is complimentary to the lip of the post to ease the sleeve over the lip of the post and cable during transition from the unlocked position to the locked position. The protrusion further includes a trailing edge that can be formed at a complimentary angle to the leading edge. The leading edge may also be disposed at a lesser angle than the trailing edge to ease insertion of the sleeve around the post and cable when transitioned to the locked position.




In the locked position, clearance is provided between the lip and the sleeve to accommodate the plurality of varying diameter cables while sealing the cable connector from environmental elements between the post and the trailing edge of the protrusion by compression crimping the cable. The protrusion is disposed in the connector body apart from the lip so that the cable is crimped instead of the locking sleeve. The protrusion is also disposed toward the secured end of the post when the locking sleeve is in the locked position.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a cable connector of the present invention.





FIG. 2

is a cutaway view of the cable connector of the present invention taken along sight line A of

FIG. 1

before cable installation.





FIG. 3

is a cutaway view of the cable connector of the present invention taken along sight line A of

FIG. 1

during cable installation.





FIG. 4

is a cutaway view of the cable connector of the present invention taken along sight line A of

FIG. 1

before cable installation and showing an alternate embodiment.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)




The summarized and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will now be discussed in the following detailed description and appended claims, which are to be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which identical reference characters designate like elements throughout the views.




Full incorporation by reference herein is made to U.S. Pat. No. 6,530,807, entitled: “Coaxial connector having detachable locking sleeve” and having an application filing date of May 9, 2001, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/202,972 filed May 10, 2000.




Shown in

FIG. 1

is a cable connector


10


, which is preferably a cable drop connector for terminating a cable TV, satellite dish, or broadband Internet cable to a device such as a television of the present invention.




Connector


10


includes two major components, a connector body


12


and a rigid locking sleeve


18


detachably coupled to body


12


. Body


12


is an elongate generally cylindrical conductive member typically formed of metal, preferably brass. Body


12


includes an annular collar


14


for accommodating a coaxial cable therein and an annular nut


16


rotatably coupled to collar


14


for providing mechanical attachment of the connector


10


to an external device such as a television. Interposed between collar


14


and nut


16


is a fixed annular post


36


that axially extends into collar


14


. A resilient sealing O-ring


38


is positioned between collar


14


and nut


16


at the rotatable juncture thereof to provide a seal. A portion of nut


16


is internally threaded for permitting screw attachment of body


12


to the external device. As will be described in further detail below, the post


36


and the collar


14


define an annular chamber for accommodating at least a layer of foil


46


, and a braided shield


48


of the inserted coaxial cable, as shown in

FIGS. 2-4

.




Locking sleeve


18


is a generally cylindrical member formed of rigid material that is preferably a synthetic plastic such as an acetate resin. As further shown in

FIGS. 2-4

, locking sleeve


18


includes a flared rearward end


54


through which cable


40


may be inserted. Opposite rearward end


54


is a forward end


56


that is insertable into collar


14


. The post


36


preferably includes an annular lip


28


integrally formed adjacent the forward end


56


of the locking sleeve


18


. The function of the annular lip


28


will be discussed in greater detail below.




An O-ring


20


is annularly disposed about the locking sleeve


18


to prevent environmental elements from entering the connector


10


between the annular collar


14


and the locking sleeve


18


. The forward end


56


of locking sleeve


18


and the collar


14


include cooperative detent structure that allows for the detachable, re-attachable connection of locking sleeve


18


to body


12


. Furthermore, connector


10


is designed such that locking sleeve


18


is axially moveable towards nut


16


from an unlocked position


60


shown in

FIGS. 2 and 4

, which loosely retains the cable


40


within connector body


12


, to a forward locked position


62


shown in

FIG. 3

, which couples or secures the cable


40


to connector body


12


.




The connector


10


of the present invention is preferably supplied in the assembled condition shown in

FIGS. 2 and 4

. In such assembled condition, the coaxial cable


40


is inserted through the rearward end


54


of locking sleeve


18


and through connector body


12


. The locking sleeve


18


may be moved from the unlocked position


60


loosely retaining the cable


40


to the locked position


62


that is axially forward thereby locking the cable


40


to the connector body


12


and preventing cable


40


from being pulled out. At no time does the rigid locking sleeve


18


compress axially or deform inwardly. It is, however, contemplated that the locking sleeve


18


may be detached from connector body


12


, so as to allow the coaxial cable


40


to be inserted directly into the annular collar


14


of the connector body


12


after the locking sleeve


18


is slid up the cable


40


. Thereafter, the locking sleeve


18


that has been placed around the cable


40


may be reattached to the annular collar


14


of body


12


where it can be moved from the unlocked position


60


to the locked position


62


locking the cable


40


to the connector body


12


. The sleeve


18


is at least partially disposed within the connector body


10


in the locked position


62


.




The cable


40


shown in

FIGS. 2-4

is a “tri-shield” cable that consists of a center conductor


42


, an inner dielectric


44


encasing the center conductor


42


, a first layer of foil


46


surrounding the inner dielectric


44


, a braided shield


48


encasing the first layer of foil


46


, a second layer of foil


50


surrounding the braided shield


48


, and an outer dielectric jacket


52


. It is appreciated that the “tri-shield” cable


40


is only exemplary and that the present connector


10


will operate with a plurality of cables of varying diameter, such as standard cables only having one braided shield and one layer of foil, or a “quad-shield” cable.




During preparation of cable


40


, the layers of material surrounding the center conductor


42


are stripped back by the installer such that the center conductor


42


extends further into the connector


10


. Particular installations may require that jacket


52


is not striped back prior to insertion into connector


10


. The braid, foil and jacket layers are also stripped back from the inner dielectric


44


. Likewise, the outer jacket


52


is preferably stripped back from the foil and braid layers. As previously stated, the present locking sleeve


18


allows for a plurality of varying diameter cables


40


to be coupled to the connector


10


via the locking sleeve


18


.




In particular, the locking sleeve


18


has a forward end


56


for being inserted into the connector body


12


and a rearward end


54


for receiving the cable


40


therein. A flange


26


is formed within the collar


14


of the connector


10


that fits between a first outer annular ring


22


and a second outer annular ring


24


disposed on the outside of locking sleeve


18


in the unlocked position


60


, as shown in

FIGS. 2 and 4

.




Fundamental to the present invention is a protrusion


30


that is at least partially housed within the sleeve


18


and is preferably integrally formed in the sleeve


18


and formed of the same material as the sleeve


18


, each being rigid. Thus, in the preferred embodiment there is no compression of the sleeve


18


or of the protrusion


30


such that only the cable is crimped in an annular, uniform fashion. In an alternate embodiment, as shown in

FIG. 4

, the protrusion is an O-ring


72


disposed in recess


70


on the inside of sleeve


18


. The protrusion


30


can also be made of a rubber or thermo-formed plastic material disposed inside the sleeve


18


and formed therewith. The protrusion


30


can be of the same material and hardness as the sleeve


18


or of a different hardness. It is appreciated that a softer material such as rubber for the integrally formed protrusion


30


, or O-ring would simultaneously provide ease of transition of the sleeve


18


from the unlocked position


60


to the locked position


62


while providing better annular compression of the cable


40


without tearing or ripping a foil or braid layer of material.




As shown in

FIGS. 2-4

, the leading edge


32


of the protrusion


30


is preferably complimentary to the lip


28


of the post


36


to ease the sleeve


18


over the lip


28


of the post


36


and cable


40


during transition from the unlocked position


60


to the locked position


62


. During installation of the cable


40


into the connector


10


, the post


36


is inserted between the dielectric layer


44


and the first layer of foil


46


of the cable


40


thereby separating the dielectric layer


44


from the first layer of foil


46


. The protrusion


30


further includes a trailing edge


34


. As shown in

FIGS. 2 and 3

, and the leading edge


32


and trailing edge


34


can be formed at complimentary angles or at any combination of angles to ease transition to the locked position


62


while providing an environmental seal crimp or compression point in cable


40


between the trailing edge


34


and post


36


. The leading edge


32


, may be disposed at a small angle less than forty-five degrees to ease insertion of the sleeve


18


around the post


36


and cable


40


when transitioned to the locked position


62


.




When sleeve


18


is in the locked position


62


, as shown in

FIG. 3

, sufficient clearance is provided between the lip


28


and the sleeve


18


to accommodate the plurality of varying diameter cables while sealing the connector


10


from environmental elements entering between the post


36


and the trailing edge


34


of the protrusion


30


by annularly crimping the cable


40


. In addition, protrusion


30


is axially disposed apart from the lip


28


in the connector body


12


toward the secured end of the post


36


. The trailing edge


34


of the sleeve


18


is preferably formed at a forty-five degree angle such that when the sleeve


18


is in the locked position multiple layers of the cable are forced away from the post


36


toward the sleeve


18


while going over the lip


28


, and are forced away from the sleeve


18


down toward the post


36


at the trailing edge


34


of the protrusion


30


, annularly crimping the cable


40


by compression without deformation of the post


36


, sleeve


18


, or protrusion


30


.




Although the invention has been described in detail above, it is expressly understood that it will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that the invention may be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention. Various changes of form, design, or arrangement may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the above-mentioned description is to be considered exemplary, rather than limiting, and the true scope of the invention is that defined in the following claims.



Claims
  • 1. A cable connector having for allowing a plurality of varying diameter cables to be coupled to the cable connector via the locking sleeve, the cable connector comprising:a connector body; a post coupled to the connector body at a secured end and including a receiving end axially opposite the secured end; and a rigid sleeve adapted to receive one of the plurality of varying diameter cables therein, the sleeve having a locked position wherein the sleeve is at least partially disposed within the connector body, a forward end for being inserted into the connector body and a rearward end for receiving the cable at least partially therein, a rigid protrusion that is at least partially housed within the sleeve such that when the sleeve is in the locked position at least part of the cable is forced away from the post toward the sleeve and forced away from the sleeve toward the post at the protrusion.
  • 2. The cable connector of claim 1 wherein the post includes a lip formed at the receiving end such that when the sleeve is in the locked position at least part of the cable is forced away from the post toward the sleeve at the lip.
  • 3. The cable connector of claim 2 wherein the protrusion is positioned, at least partially, over the lip when the sleeve is in the locked position.
  • 4. The cable connector of claim 1 wherein the protrusion of the sleeve is annular.
  • 5. The cable connector of claim 1 wherein the protrusion is of different hardness than the sleeve.
  • 6. The cable connector of claim 1 wherein the protrusion of the sleeve is an O-ring disposed at least partially within the sleeve.
  • 7. The cable connector of claim 2 wherein the protrusion includes a leading edge having an angle that is complimentary to the lip of the post.
  • 8. The cable connector of claim 1 wherein the protrusion includes a trailing edge and a leading edge at complimentary angles.
  • 9. The cable connector of claim 1 wherein the protrusion includes a trailing edge and a leading edge, the leading edge being disposed at a lesser angle than the trailing edge to ease insertion of the sleeve around the post and cable when transitioned to the locked position.
  • 10. The cable connector of claim 1 wherein the protrusion includes a trailing edge such that clearance is provided between the post and the trailing edge to accommodate the plurality of varying diameter cables while sealing the cable connector from environmental elements between the post and the trailing edge of the protrusion.
  • 11. A cable connector having for allowing a plurality of varying diameter cables to be coupled to the cable connector via the locking sleeve, the cable connector comprising:a connector body; a post coupled to the connector body at a secured end and including a receiving end axially opposite the secured end, the post having a lip formed at the receiving end; a sleeve adapted to receive one of the plurality of varying diameter cables therein, the sleeve having a locked position wherein the sleeve is at least partially disposed within the connector body, a forward end for being inserted into the connector body and a rearward end for receiving the cable at least partially therein, and a protrusion having a trailing edge and a leading edge at complimentary angles, the protrusion being at least partially housed within the sleeve such that when the cable is inserted into the sleeve and the sleeve is transitioned to the locked position at least part of the cable is compressed between the lip of the post and the protrusion, and when the sleeve is in the locked position at least part of the cable is forced away from the post toward the sleeve at the lip and forced away from the sleeve toward the post at the protrusion.
  • 12. The cable connector of claim 11 wherein the protrusion of the sleeve is an O-ring disposed at least partially within the sleeve.
  • 13. The cable connector of claim 11 wherein the protrusion includes a leading edge having an angle that is complimentary to the lip of the post.
  • 14. The cable connector of claim 11 wherein the protrusion is annular.
  • 15. The cable connector of claim 11 wherein the protrusion includes a trailing edge and clearance is provided between the lip and the sleeve to accommodate the plurality of varying diameter cables while sealing the cable connector from environmental elements between the post and the trailing edge of the protrusion.
  • 16. A cable connector for allowing a plurality of varying diameter cables to be coupled to the cable connector via the locking sleeve, the cable connector comprising:a connector body; a post coupled to the connector body at a secured end and including a receiving end axially opposite the secured end, the post having an annular lip integrally formed at the receiving end; a generally hollow sleeve adapted to receive the plurality of varying diameter cables therein, the sleeve having an unlocked position and a locked position wherein the sleeve is at least partially disposed within the connector body, a forward end releasably coupled to the connector body and a rearward end for receiving the cable therein, a protrusion integrally formed within the sleeve and having a leading edge and a trailing edge such that when the cable is inserted into the sleeve and the sleeve is transitioned from the unlocked position to the locked position at least part of the cable is compressed between the lip of the post and the protrusion, and when the sleeve is in the locked position at least part of the cable is forced away from the post toward the sleeve at the lip, and forced away from the sleeve toward the post at the protrusion, annularly crimping the cable; and wherein the leading edge is disposed at a lesser angle than the trailing edge to ease insertion of the sleeve around the post and cable when transitioned to the locked position.
  • 17. The cable connector of claim 16 wherein the leading edge of the protrusion had an angle that is complimentary to the lip of the post.
  • 18. The cable connector of claim 16 wherein the trailing edge and the leading edge are at complimentary angles.
  • 19. The cable connector of claim 16 wherein the protrusion is annular.
  • 20. The cable connector of claim 16 wherein the protrusion includes a trailing edge and clearance is provided between the lip and the sleeve to accommodate the plurality of varying diameter cables while sealing the cable connector from environmental elements between the post and the trailing edge of the sleeve.
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