Coaxial cable connector having collar with cable gripping features

1 . A coaxial cable connector comprising:

a collar having a sleeve insertion end and at least one flexible finger for gripping a cable provided on said sleeve insertion end; and

an axially movable locking sleeve coupled to said collar, said locking sleeve including an internal ramped surface for deflecting said flexible finger of said collar radially inward to grip the cable as said locking sleeve is moved axially with respect to said collar.

2 . A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 1 , further comprising:

an annular post disposed within said collar; and

a nut rotatably coupled to said post.

3 . A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 2 , wherein said internal ramped surface of said locking sleeve deflects said flexible finger of said collar radially inward toward said post.

4 . A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 1 , wherein said flexible finger includes a lateral groove formed therein to enhance flexibility of said finger.

5 . A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 1 , wherein said collar includes a plurality of circumferential flexible fingers.

6 . A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 1 , wherein said collar is made from a plastic material.

7 . A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 1 , wherein said collar includes an outer sleeve engagement surface and said locking sleeve includes an inner collar engagement surface cooperating with said outer sleeve engagement surface of said collar to permit axial movement of said sleeve from a first position, wherein a cable is loosely retained in the connector, to a second position, wherein a cable is secured in the connector.

8 . A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 7 , wherein said outer sleeve engagement surface of said collar includes first and second raised protrusions and said inner collar engagement surface includes a groove, wherein said first protrusion of said collar is seated in said groove when said sleeve is in said first position and said second protrusion of said collar is seated in said groove when said sleeve is in said second position.

9 . A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 8 , wherein said first and second protrusions each include a forwardly facing perpendicular wall for preventing forward removal of the collar from the sleeve.

10 . A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 8 , wherein said first and second protrusions each include a rearwardly facing chamfered wall for facilitating rearward insertion of the collar into the sleeve.

11 . A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 8 , wherein said collar further includes a seal disposed between said first and second protrusions.

12 . A method for terminating a coaxial cable in a connector comprising the steps of:

inserting an end of a cable into a rearward cable receiving end of a locking sleeve of the connector, said locking sleeve being movably coupled to an outer surface of a collar of the connector in a first position and having an internal ramped surface; and

axially moving said locking sleeve with respect to said collar from said first position, wherein a cable is loosely retained in the connector, to a second position, wherein a cable is secured in the connector, whereby said internal ramped surface of said sleeve deflects a flexible finger provided on said collar radially inwardly to grip an outer surface of the cable.

13 . A method as defined in claim 12 , wherein said collar includes first and second raised protrusions and said locking sleeve includes an internal groove, wherein said first protrusion of said collar is seated in said groove when said sleeve is in said first position and said second protrusion of said collar is seated in said groove when said sleeve is in said second position.

14 . A method for terminating a coaxial cable in a connector comprising the steps of:

inserting an end of a cable into a rearward cable receiving end of a locking sleeve of the connector, said locking sleeve having an internal ramped surface;

coupling said locking sleeve to an outer surface of a collar of the connector after the cable has been inserted in the locking sleeve, said collar including a rearwardly extending flexible finger; and

axially moving said locking sleeve with respect to said collar from a first position, wherein a cable is loosely retained in the connector, to a second position, wherein a cable is secured in the connector, whereby said internal ramped surface of said sleeve deflects said flexible finger of said collar radially inwardly to grip an outer surface of the cable.

15 . A method as defined in claim 14 , wherein said collar includes first and second raised protrusions and said locking sleeve includes an internal groove, wherein said first protrusion of said collar is seated in said groove when said sleeve is in said first position and said second protrusion of said collar is seated in said groove when said sleeve is in said second position.