Coaxial connector with dual-grip nut

1. A connector for coupling the end of a coaxial cable to a port, the coaxial cable having a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric, the dielectric surrounded by an outer conductor, and the outer conductor surrounded by a jacket, said connector comprising:

a generally cylindrical body member having a first end, a second end, a rearward facing annular shoulder, a groove, and a tapered portion positioned axially between the rearward facing annular shoulder and the groove, wherein the first end of said cylindrical body member comprises a central bore for accepting the end of the coaxial cable;

a coupling nut comprising a first end for rotatably engaging the second end of the cylindrical body member, an opposing second end with an internally threaded bore for engaging the port, and an annular shoulder in the form of an inward lip; and

an electrically conductive retaining ring having a front end, a back end, and an internal diameter, wherein said conductive retaining ring is disposed about said generally cylindrical body member proximate to the second end thereof such that the internal diameter of the electrically conductive retaining ring contacts the tapered portion of the generally cylindrical body member, and the electrically conductive retaining ring is disposed within an inner surface of the coupling nut bounded in part by said annular shoulder for free spinning engagement of the coupling nut and the cylindrical body member.

2. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive retaining ring further comprises an external taper extending from the front end to the back end.

3. The connector of claim 2 , wherein when the coupling nut is assembled onto the generally cylindrical body member, a through bore of the coupling nut contacts the external taper of the electrically conductive retaining ring to compress the electrically conductive retaining ring radially inward.

4. The connector of claim 1 , wherein said conductive retaining ring is installed rearward of the inward lip formed by the annular shoulder.

5. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the tapered portion of the generally cylindrical body member increases in diameter in a forward direction from the groove to the rearward facing annular shoulder.

6. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the rearward facing annular shoulder limits forward translation of the electrically conductive retaining ring.

7. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the generally cylindrical body member contacts the electrically conductive retaining ring on an internal diameter of the electrically conductive retaining ring and the coupling nut contacts the electrically conductive retaining ring on the outside diameter of the electrically conductive retaining ring.

8. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive retaining ring contacts the coupling nut at a portion that is other than by an entire circumference of the electrically conductive retaining ring to maintain electrical continuity between the electrically conductive retaining ring and the coupling nut.

9. The connector of claim 1 , wherein contact between the electrically conductive retaining ring and the tapered portion of the generally cylindrical body member maintain electrical continuity between the electrically conductive retaining ring and the generally cylindrical body.

10. A connector for coupling the end of a coaxial cable to a port, the coaxial cable having a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric, the dielectric surrounded by an outer conductor, and the outer conductor surrounded by a jacket, said connector comprising:

a generally cylindrical body member having a first end and a second end, the first end of said cylindrical body member comprising a central bore for accepting the end of the coaxial cable;

a coupling nut comprising a first end for rotatably engaging the second end of the cylindrical body member, an opposing second end with an internally threaded bore for engaging the port, and an annular shoulder in the form of an inward lip; and

an electrically conductive retaining ring disposed proximate to the second end of said generally cylindrical body member, wherein the electrically conductive retaining ring contacts the coupling nut at a portion that is other than an entire circumference of the electrically conductive retaining ring to maintain electrical continuity between the electrically conductive retaining ring and the coupling nut.

11. The connector of claim 10 , wherein the coupling nut is bounded in part by said annular shoulder for engagement of an inner surface of the coupling nut.

12. The connector of claim 10 , wherein the coupling nut is in a spinning engagement with the generally cylindrical body.

13. The connector of claim 10 , wherein the electrically conductive retaining ring is in axial contact with the coupling nut.

14. The connector of claim 10 , wherein said conductive retaining ring is installed rearward of the inward lip formed by the annular shoulder.

15. The connector of claim 10 further comprising an o-ring that forms a seal between the generally cylindrical body member and coupling nut at a position proximate to the first end of the coupling nut.

16. The connector of claim 10 , wherein contact between the electrically conductive retaining ring and the generally cylindrical body member maintains co-cylindrical alignment between the electrically conductive retaining ring and the generally cylindrical body member.

17. A connector for coupling the end of a coaxial cable to a port, the coaxial cable having a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric, the dielectric surrounded by an outer conductor, and the outer conductor surrounded by a jacket, said connector comprising:

a generally cylindrical body member having a first end and a second end, the first end of said cylindrical body member comprising a central bore for accepting the end of the coaxial cable;

a coupling nut comprising a first end for rotatably engaging the second end of the cylindrical body member, an opposing second end with an internally threaded bore for engaging the port, and an annular shoulder in the form of an inward lip; and

an electrically conductive retaining ring disposed within an inner surface of the coupling nut for engagement of the coupling nut, wherein the electrically conductive retaining ring comprises an engagement gap at which the conductive retaining ring does not engage a portion of the inner surface of the coupling nut, the engagement gap being defined between portions of the electrically conductive retaining ring that are in electrically conductive engagement with the coupling nut.

18. The connector of claim 17 , wherein the engagement gap is spring-loaded.

19. The connector of claim 17 , wherein the coupling nut is in a spinning engagement with the generally cylindrical body.

20. The connector of claim 17 , wherein the electrically conductive retaining ring is in axial contact with the coupling nut.

21. The connector of claim 17 , wherein the coupling nut is bounded in part by said annular shoulder for engagement of said inner surface of the coupling nut.