Coaxial Connector and Method for Connecting Cable to Same

Abstract

A connector is provided for electrically connecting a coaxial cable having a conductive inner wire surrounded by a conductive outer jacket and an insulator therebetween to a two-wire circuit. The connector comprises a conductive bottom contact member having a first passageway dimensioned to fit only the inner wire and the insulator therethrough and to block the conductive outer jacket. A conductive top contact member has a second passageway for the inner wire and the insulator and a clamping member for securing the inner wire to the top contact member. An insulating member for electrically separates the bottom contact member from the top contact member. A pendant-style light fixture using the coaxial connector is also disclosed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an implementation of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the advantages and principles of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an embodiment of a coaxial connector in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the coaxial connector of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 a and 3b illustrate a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of a connector base cap or bottom cover of the coaxial connector of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4 a and 4b illustrate a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of a bottom contact member of the coaxial connector of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5 a and 5b illustrate a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of an upper contact member of the coaxial connector of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side view of an embodiment of a coaxial cable which may be used with the coaxial connector of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 7A-7B illustrate cross-sectional views of two embodiments of the coaxial connector of FIG. 1, each having a coaxial cable operably disposed therein in accordance with the invention, and

FIG. 8 illustrates schematically an electrical fixture connected to a ceiling fixture via a coaxial cable and the connector of FIG. 1 in accordance with the invention.

Claims

1. A connector for electrically connecting a coaxial cable having a conductive inner wire surrounded by a conductive outer jacket and an insulator therebetween to a two-wire circuit, the connector comprising: a conductive bottom contact member having a first passageway dimensioned to fit only said inner wire and said insulator therethrough to block said conductive outer jacket;a conductive top contact member having a second passageway, located downstream of said first passageway in a feeding direction of said coaxial cable into said connector, for said inner wire and said insulator and a clamping member for electrically contacting and securing said inner wire to said top contact member; andan insulating member for electrically separating said bottom contact member from said top contact member.

2. The connector of claim 1, further comprising a bottom cover member threadably engaging said bottom contact member for securing said outer jacket therebetween.

3. The connector of claim 2, wherein said bottom cover member is made of a conductive material.

4. The connector of claim 1, further comprising a conductive outer contact member rotatably surrounding said bottom contact member and removably secured to said bottom contact member for securing said connector to a mating connector.

5. The connector of claim 1, wherein said bottom contact member has a tubular extension having an outer diameter narrower than an inner diameter of said jacket so that said jacket slides over said extension.

6. The connector of claim 4, further comprising a retaining ring for rotatably retaining said outer contact member around said bottom contact member.

7. The connector of claim 6, wherein said retaining ring is a “C” type retaining ring.

8. The connector of claim 1, wherein said top contact member has a transversal opening, said clamping member comprises a set screw threadably engaging the transversal opening.

9. The connector of claim 1, wherein said insulating member has a third passageway capable of accepting said wire and said insulator.

10. The connector of claim 2, wherein said bottom cover member has a fourth passageway capable of accepting said coaxial cable.

11. The connector of claim 10, wherein said fourth passageway is tapered so as to provide a gripping force on said jacket that increases as said bottom cover member is secured to the bottom contact member.

12. The connector of claim 1, wherein the connector physically connects an electrical fixture via the coaxial cable to a mating connector affixed to a supportive structure.

13. A connector for electrically connecting a coaxial cable having a conductive inner wire surrounded by a conductive outer jacket with an insulator therebetween to a two-wire circuit, the connector comprising: a conductive bottom contact member having a tubular extension disposed toward said bottom member, said tubular extension having a first passageway for accepting said wire and said insulator and blocking said jacket from entry into said first passageway,a conductive outer member surrounding and removably and rotationally secured to said bottom contact member;a conductive top contact member having a second passageway capable of accepting said inner wire and said insulator, said second passageway located downstream of said first passageway in a feeding direction of said coaxial cable into said connector;an insulating member affixed to said conductive top contact member and secured to said bottom contact member, electrically separating said bottom contact member from said top contact member and having a third passageway capable of accepting said wire and said insulator;a clamping member for electrically contacting and securing said inner wire to said conductive top member; anda bottom cover member adapted to be removably secured to said conductive bottom contact member, and having a fourth passageway for said coaxial cable,whereinsaid bottom contact member, said outer member electrically connect the conductive jacket to one wire of the circuit, and said top contact member electrically connect the inner wire to another wire of the circuit.

14. The connector of claim 13, wherein said jacket is secured between said bottom contact member and said bottom cover member when said bottom contact member is secured to said bottom cover member.

15. The connector of claim 14, wherein said fourth passageway is tapered so as to provide a gripping force on said jacket that increases as said bottom cover member is secured to the bottom contact member.

16. The connector of claim 13, wherein said bottom cover member is made of a conductive material.

17. The connector of claim 13, wherein said tubular extension has an outer diameter narrower than an inner diameter of said jacket so that said jacket slides over said extension.

18. The connector of claim 13, further comprising a retaining ring for retaining said outer member around said bottom contact member.

19. The connector of claim 18, wherein the retaining ring is a “C” type retaining ring.

20. The connector of claim 13, wherein said bottom contact member is removably threaded to said bottom cover member.

21. The connector of claim 13, wherein said top contact member has a transversal opening, said clamping member comprises a set screw threadably engaging the transversal opening.

22. The connector of claim 13, wherein said second passageway providing a visual opening at a top end of said top contact member.

23. A pendant-style fixture, comprising: an electrical light fixture having two electrical contacts;a coaxial cable having a conductive inner wire surrounded by a conductive outer jacket with an insulator therebetween, said coaxial cable being electrically connected to said two contacts via said wire and said jacket, respectively; anda connector for connecting said electrical fixture to a two-wire circuit via the coaxial cable, the connector comprising: a conductive bottom contact member having a tubular extension disposed toward said bottom member, said tubular extension having with a first passageway for accepting said wire and said insulator and blocking said jacket from entry into said first passageway,a conductive outer member surrounding and removably and rotationally secured to said bottom contact member;a conductive top contact member having a second passageway capable of accepting said inner wire and said insulator, said second passageway located downstream of said first passageway in a feeding direction of said coaxial cable into said connector;an insulating member affixed to said conductive top contact member and secured to said bottom contact member, electrically separating said bottom contact member from said top contact member and having a third passageway capable of accepting said wire and said insulator;a clamping member for electrically contacting and securing said inner wire to said conductive top member; anda bottom cover member adapted to be removably secured to said conductive bottom contact member, and having a fourth passageway for said coaxial cable,whereinsaid bottom contact member, said outer member electrically connect the conductive jacket to one wire of the circuit, and said top contact member electrically connect the inner wire to another wire of the circuit.

24. The connector of claim 23, wherein said bottom cover member is made of a conductive material.

25. The connector of claim 23, wherein said fourth passageway is tapered so as to provide a gripping force on said jacket that increases as said bottom cover member is secured to the bottom contact member.