Connecting assembly for a cable and method of connecting a cable

1. A connecting assembly for a cable, the connecting assembly comprising:

a first connector with a first connector part;

a second connector with a second connector part,

the first and second connector parts joinable to place the first and second connectors into a joined operative state wherein at least one conductive path is defined through the joined first and second connectors between either: (a) first and second cable lengths operatively connected one each to the first and second connectors; or (b) a cable length operatively connected to one of the first and second connectors and a port with which the other of the first and second connectors is associated; and

a sealing assembly,

the sealing assembly comprising at least one deformable component that is changeable from an assembly state into a sealed state with the first and second connectors in the operative state,

the at least one deformable component defining a seal to block migration of moisture to between the first and second connector parts with the at least one deformable component in the sealed state,

the at least one deformable component compressed in changing between the assembly and sealed states,

the first and second connector parts cooperating with each other to releasably fixedly maintain the first and second connectors in the joined operative state independently of the sealing assembly.

2. The connecting assembly according to claim 1 wherein the sealing assembly comprises at least one moving element, the at least one moving element guided by at least one of the connector parts between first and second positions, the at least one deformable component changed from the assembly state into the sealed state as an incident of the at least one moving element moving from the first position toward the second position with the first and second connectors in the operative state.

3. The connecting assembly according to claim 2 wherein the joined first and second connector parts have a central axis and the at least one moving element moves axially between the first and second positions.

4. The connecting assembly according to claim 3 wherein the at least one moving element is threadably connected to the at least one of the first and second connector parts and is movable guidingly relative to the at least one of the first and second connector parts between the first and second positions.

5. The connecting assembly according to claim 4 wherein the at least one moving element is graspable by a user's fingers to be turned around the central axis to thereby move the at least one moving element from the first position towards the second position.

6. The connecting assembly according to claim 2 wherein the at least one moving element and at least one deformable component are held together as a pre-assembled unit independently of the first and second connectors.

7. The connecting assembly according to claim 6 wherein the at least one moving element is threadably connected to the first connector part and with the at least one moving element threadably connected to the first connector part, the first and second connectors can be changed from a fully separated state into the operative state.

8. The connecting assembly according to claim 1 in combination with a coaxial cable operatively connected with one of the first and second connector parts.

9. A connecting assembly for a cable, the connecting assembly comprising:

a first connector with a first connector part;

a second connector with a second connector part,

the first and second connector parts joinable to place the first and second connectors into a joined operative state wherein at least one conductive path is defined through the joined first and second connectors between either: (a) first and second cable lengths operatively connected one each to the first and second connectors; or (b) a cable length operatively connected to one of the first and second connectors and a port with which the other of the first and second connectors is associated; and

a sealing assembly,

the sealing assembly comprising at least one deformable component that is changeable from an assembly state into a sealed state with the first and second connectors in the operative state,

the at least one deformable component defining a seal to block migration of moisture to between the first and second connector parts with the at least one deformable component in the sealed state,

the at least one deformable component compressed in changing between the assembly and sealed states,

wherein the sealing assembly comprises at least one moving element,

the at least one moving element guided by at least one of the connector parts between first and second positions,

the at least one deformable component chanced from the assembly state into the sealed state as an incident of the at least one moving element moving from the first position toward the second position with the first and second connectors in the operative state,

wherein the joined first and second connector parts have a central axis and the at least one moving element moves axially between the first and second positions,

wherein the at least one moving element is threadably connected to the at least one of the first and second connector parts,

wherein the first connector part has external threads, the second connector part has internal threads, the first and second connector parts joinable by mating the internal and external threads and relatively moving the first and second connector parts around the central axis.

10. The connecting assembly according to claim 9 wherein the at least one moving element is threadably connected to the first connector part and is movable guidingly relative to the second connector part to move the at least one moving element between the first and second positions.

11. A connecting assembly for a cable, the connecting assembly comprising:

a first connector with a first connector part;

a second connector with a second connector part,

the first and second connector parts joinable to place the first and second connectors into a joined operative state wherein at least one conductive path is defined through the joined first and second connectors between either: (a) first and second cable lengths operatively connected one each to the first and second connectors; or (b) a cable length operatively connected to one of the first and second connectors and a port with which the other of the first and second connectors is associated; and

a sealing assembly,

the sealing assembly comprising at least one deformable component that is changeable from an assembly state into a sealed state with the first and second connectors in the operative state,

the at least one deformable component defining a seal to block migration of moisture to between the first and second connector parts with the at least one deformable component in the sealed state,

the at least one deformable component compressed in changing between the assembly and sealed states,

wherein the sealing assembly comprises at least one moving element,

the at least one moving element guided by at least one of the connector parts between first and second positions,

the at least one deformable component changed from the assembly state into the sealed state as an incident of the at least one moving element moving from the first position toward the second position with the first and second connectors in the operative state,

wherein the joined first and second connector parts have a central axis and the at least one moving element moves axially between the first and second positions,

wherein the at least one moving element is threadably connected to the at least one of the first and second connector parts,

wherein the first connector part has external threads, the second connector part has internal threads, the first and second connector parts joinable by mating the internal and external threads and relatively moving the first and second connector parts around the central axis,

wherein the at least one moving element has a first shoulder facing axially in a first direction, the second connector part has a second shoulder facing axially oppositely to the first direction, and the at least one deformable component resides between the first and second shoulders and is axially compressed as an incident of the least one moving element moving from the first position towards the second position.

12. The connecting assembly according to claim 11 wherein the first connector part has an annular outside surface from which the external threads project, the external threads having an effective diameter, and the at least one deformable component has an annular inside surface, the annular inside surface slidable axially over the external threads with the at least one deformable component in the assembly state, the annular inside surface having an effective diameter that is less than the effective diameter of the external threads with the at least one deformable component in the sealed state so that the annular inside surface is compressibly urged against a part of the annular outside surface that is spaced axially from the external threads to thereby effect sealing between the at least one deformable component and the part of the annular outside surface with the at least one deformable component in the sealed state.

13. The connecting assembly according to claim 12 wherein the part of the annular outside surface has contours and the at least one deformable component is conformed to the contours with the at least one deformable component in the sealed state.

14. The connecting assembly according to claim 12 wherein the at least one deformable component comprises an annular member comprising at least one of rubber and plastic.

15. The connecting assembly according to claim 14 wherein the at least one moving element is ring-shaped.

16. The connecting assembly according to claim 15 wherein the at least one moving element has a knurled surface that can be grasped by a user's fingers to facilitate turning of the at least one moving element around the central axis.

17. A connecting assembly for a cable, the connecting assembly comprising:

a first connector with a first connector part;

a second connector with a second connector part;

a sealing assembly comprising at least one deformable component having an assembly state and a sealed state;

means cooperating between the first and second connector parts independently of the sealing assembly for joining and maintaining the first and second connectors in a joined operative state wherein at least one conductive path is defined through the joined first and second connectors between either: (a) first and second cable lengths operatively connected one each to the first and second connectors; or (b) a cable length operatively connected to one of the first and second connectors and a port with which the other of the first and second connectors is associated; and

means cooperating between the at least one deformable component and first and second connectors to cause the at least one deformable component to be changed from the assembly state into the sealed state with the first and second connectors in the operative state to thereby define a seal to block migration of moisture to between the first and second connector parts.

18. The connecting assembly according to claim 17 wherein there are means cooperating between at least one of the connectors and the at least one deformable component to maintain the at least one of the connectors and at least one deformable component together as a unit with the first and second connectors fully separated from each other.

19. A sealing assembly for a cable connecting assembly, the sealing assembly comprising:

a ring-shaped moving element having a central axis and a shoulder facing in a first axial direction; and

a deformable component having an annular shape,

the deformable component residing in a receptacle bounded by a radially inwardly facing surface on the ring-shaped moving element and the shoulder so that the deformable component and ring-shaped moving element are maintained together as a unit,

the ring-shaped moving element guidingly movable axially relative to one connector to which the ring-shaped moving element is connected and having a configuration to be joined into an operative relationship with another connector,

the ring-shaped moving element causing the deformable component to be axially compressed between the shoulder and a part of one connector to which the ring-shaped element is connected so as to thereby deform radially to sealingly engage another connector to which one connector to which the ring-shaped element is connected can be joined.

20. The sealing assembly according to claim 19 wherein the ring-shaped moving element has threads to engage threads on one connector to which the ring-shaped moving element is connected.

21. The sealing assembly according to claim 20 further in combination with the one connector to which the ring-shaped moving element is connected.

22. The sealing assembly according to claim 21 wherein the one connector has a part with internal threads to engage another connector and external threads to engage the threads on the ring-shaped moving element.

23. The sealing assembly according to claim 19 wherein the deformable component comprises at least one of rubber and plastic.

24. The sealing assembly according to claim 22 further in combination with the another connector.

25. The sealing assembly according to claim 24 wherein the deformable component, ring-shaped moving element, and one connector are maintained together as a unit with the one connector fully separated from the another connector.

26. The sealing assembly according to claim 25 wherein the ring-shaped moving element is movable around the central axis relative to the one connector to thereby axially compress the deformable component.

27. The sealing assembly according to claim 26 wherein the deformable component has an annular inside surface with an effective diameter that is variable as an incident of the ring-shaped moving element being moved around the central axis relative to the one connector.

28. The sealing assembly according to claim 24 in combination with a coaxial cable operatively connected to one of the one and the another of the connectors.

29. A method of connecting a cable, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a first connector with a first connector part;

providing a sealing assembly on the first connector comprising a moving member and a deformable component;

operatively connecting a cable to the first connector so that a conductive path is defined through the cable and to the first connector;

providing a second connector with a second connector part;

joining the first and second connector parts to thereby place the first and second connectors into and maintain the first and second connectors in a joined operative state independently of the sealing assembly and thereby extend the conductive path to the second connector; and

with the first and second connectors in the operative state moving the moving member to cause the deformable component to seal between the first and second connector parts.

30. The method of connecting a cable according to claim 29 wherein the step of providing a sealing assembly comprises providing a sealing assembly with a moving member that is threadably connected to the first connector part and the step of moving the moving member comprise turning the moving member around an axis relative to the first connector part.

31. The method of connecting a cable according to claim 29 wherein the step of moving the moving member to cause the deformable component to seal comprises moving the moving member to compress the deformable component between the moving member and the first connector part.

32. The method of connecting a cable according to claim 29 wherein the step of joining the first and second connector parts comprises joining the first and second connector parts with the first and second connector parts initially fully separated from each other and the sealing assembly maintained on the first connector.

33. The method of connecting a cable according to claim 29 wherein the step of providing a sealing assembly comprises providing a sealing assembly with a deformable component comprising at least one of plastic and rubber.

34. The method of connecting a cable according to claim 29 wherein the step of providing a sealing assembly comprises providing a sealing assembly with a ring-shaped moving member.

35. The method of connecting a cable according to claim 29 wherein the step of providing a sealing assembly comprises providing a sealing assembly with a ring-shaped moving member having a knurled surface and the step of moving the moving member comprises grasping the moving member at the knurled surface between a plurality of fingers of a user and turning the moving member around an axis.

36. The method of connecting a cable according to claim 29 wherein with the first and second connectors releasably fixedly maintained in the joined operative state through the cooperation of the first and second connector parts, the first and second connectors are prevented from being separated by the application of forces on the first and second connectors in axial opposite directions.

37. A method of connecting a cable, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a first connector with a first connector part;

providing a sealing assembly on the first connector comprising a moving member and a deformable component;

operatively connecting a cable to the first connector so that a conductive path is defined through the cable and to the first connector;

providing a second connector with a second connector part;

joining the first and second connector parts to thereby place the first and second connectors into a joined operative state and thereby extend the conductive path to the second connector; and

with the first and second connectors in the operative state moving the moving member to cause the deformable component to seal between the first and second connector parts,

wherein the second connector has an annular outside surface from which threads project and a part with contours spaced from the threads, the first connector has threads to engage the threads on the second connector to maintain the first and second connectors in a joined operative state and the step of moving the moving member comprises moving the moving member to cause the deformable component to conform to the contours on the part of the annular outside surface.