Electrical connector with grounding member
View Patent ↗A coaxial cable connector includes tubular post, a coupler secured over an end of the tubular post for securing the connector to an appliance, and an outer body secured to the tubular post. An electrical grounding path is maintained between the coupler and the tubular post whether or not the coupler is tightly fastened to the appliance. The electrical grounding path is provided by a resilient, electrically-conductive grounding member disposed between the tubular post and the coupler. Alternatively, the connector includes conductive grease at a point where mating portions of the tubular post and coupler have closely matching dimensions.
1. A coaxial cable connector comprising a grounding member, a post and a nut, wherein:
the grounding member comprises a ring portion and a plurality of fingers extending radially from the ring portion in a radially outward direction;
the fingers extend to a radially outer position towards the coupling nut and serve to connect a ground path from the coupling nut to the tubular post while allowing the coupling nut to rotate,
wherein the post includes a head at a front end of the post, the head of the post includes an outwardly-directed enlarged shoulder, and the nut includes an inwardly-directed flange that extends over and around the shoulder of the tubular post.
2. A coaxial cable connector as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the nut is free to rotate relative to the post and the grounding member, and the nut includes an internally-threaded region.
3. A coaxial cable connector as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the post includes a first end adapted to be inserted into a prepared end of a coaxial cable between a dielectric material and an outer conductor of the coaxial cable.
4. A coaxial cable connector as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a body secured to and in direct contact with the post.
5. A coaxial cable connector comprising a grounding member, a post and a nut, wherein:
the grounding member comprises a ring portion and a plurality of fingers extending radially from the ring portion in a radially outward direction;
the grounding member includes contact portions contacting the post and the nut to provide for an electrically-conductive path through the post and the nut; and
the electrically-conductive path includes the plurality of fingers,
wherein the post includes a head at a front end of the post, the head of the post includes an outwardly-directed enlarged shoulder, and the nut includes an inwardly-directed flange that extends over and around the shoulder of the tubular post.
6. A coaxial cable connector as claimed in claim 5 wherein the ring portion of the grounding member is substantially flat.
7. A coaxial cable connector as claimed in claim 5 wherein the ring portion of the grounding member lies in a plane extending from an inner diameter of the ring portion to an outer diameter of the grounding member.
8. A coaxial cable connector as claimed in claim 7 wherein the plurality of fingers extend radially from the outer diameter of the ring portion.
9. A coaxial cable connector as claimed in claim 7 wherein the outer diameter of the ring portion is interrupted by the plurality of fingers.
10. A coaxial cable connector as claimed in claim 5 wherein the fingers are arranged symmetrically about the ring portion of the grounding member.
11. A coaxial cable connector as claimed in claim 5 wherein the grounding member comprises at least two fingers arranged in diametric opposition across the ring portion of the grounding member.
12. A coaxial cable connector as claimed in claim 5 wherein the fingers extend radially from the ring portion at an angle from the plane of the ring portion.
13. A coaxial cable connector as claimed in claim 5 wherein the fingers extend radially from the ring portion at about a 45° angle from the plane of the ring portion.
14. A coaxial cable connector as claimed in claim 5 wherein the grounding member is constructed of a metallic material.
15. A coaxial cable connector as claimed in claim 5 wherein:
the grounding member comprises a radial grounding member;
the post comprises a tubular post;
the nut comprises a coupling nut.
16. A coaxial cable connector as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the nut is free to rotate relative to the post and the grounding member, and the nut includes an internally-threaded region.
17. A coaxial cable connector as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the post includes a first end adapted to be inserted into a prepared end of a coaxial cable between a dielectric material and an outer conductor of the coaxial cable.
18. A coaxial cable connector as claimed in claim 5 , further comprising a body secured to and in direct contact with the post.
19. A coaxial cable connector comprising a grounding member, a post and a nut, wherein:
the grounding member comprises a ring portion and a plurality of fingers, wherein at least a portion of each finger is located in a radially outward position with respect to the ring portion;
the grounding member includes contact portions contacting the post and the nut to provide for an electrically-conductive path through the post and the nut;
the electrically-conductive path includes at least one spring finger; and
the post includes a head at a front end of the post, the head of the post includes an outwardly-directed enlarged shoulder, and the nut includes an inwardly-directed flange that extends over and around the shoulder of the tubular post.
20. A coaxial cable connector as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the ring portion of the grounding member is substantially flat.
21. A coaxial cable connector as claimed in claim 19 , wherein each finger of the plurality of fingers is a spring finger.
22. A coaxial cable connector as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the grounding member contacts a portion of the nut and a portion of the post.
23. A coaxial cable connector as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the nut is free to rotate relative to the post and the grounding member, and the nut includes an internally-threaded region, and wherein the post includes a first end adapted to be inserted into a prepared end of a coaxial cable between a dielectric material and an outer conductor of the coaxial cable.
24. A coaxial cable connector as claimed in claim 19 , further comprising a body secured to and in direct contact with the post.
25. A coaxial cable connector as claimed in claim 24 , further comprising a sealing ring for forming a moisture seal between the nut and the body.
26. A coaxial cable connector as claimed in claim 25 , wherein the inwardly-directed flange of the nut is axially positioned between the sealing ring and the outwardly-directed enlarged shoulder of the post.
27. A coaxial cable connector as claimed in claim 19 , wherein a portion of the grounding member extends in an axially forward direction with respect to an axial dimension of the ring portion, and a portion of the grounding member extends in an axially rearward direction with respect to the axial dimension of the ring portion.