Connector with responsive inner diameter
A coaxial cable connector includes an outer barrel having a front end and a rear end. The connector includes an inner sleeve within the outer barrel defining a bore, the inner sleeve moving between uncompressed and compressed conditions and including a finger which is formed in the inner sleeve for resilient movement between a neutral position in which the finger is out of the bore, and a deformed position in which the finger is deformed into the bore. The finger includes a base formed to the inner sleeve and a free end. Axial movement of the inner sleeve with respect to the outer barrel from a compressed condition to an uncompressed condition imparts movement to the finger from the neutral position to the deformed position.
1. A coaxial cable connector for engagement with a coaxial cable, the coaxial cable connector comprising:
an outer barrel having a front end, a rear end, and a rigid lip at the rear end;
an inner sleeve within the outer barrel defining a bore for receiving the coaxial cable, the inner sleeve moving between uncompressed and compressed conditions and including an engagement assembly having a finger which is formed in the inner sleeve for resilient movement between a neutral position in which the finger is out of the bore, and a deformed position in which the finger is deformed into the bore, wherein the inner sleeve further is formed with a compression assembly allowing the inner sleeve to axially compress and expand between the compressed and uncompressed conditions;
the finger includes a base formed to the inner sleeve and a free end extending axially away from the base in a first direction; and
axial movement of the inner sleeve with respect to the outer barrel from the compressed condition to the uncompressed condition along the first direction imparts movement to the finger from the neutral position to the deformed position.
2. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1 , wherein the inner sleeve is formed with a stop ring which limits axial movement of the inner sleeve into the outer barrel.
3. The coaxial cable connector of claim 2 , wherein:
the stop ring has a forward ring with a first diameter which is less than an inner diameter of the rigid lip; and
the stop ring has a rear ring with a second diameter which is greater than the inner diameter of the rigid lip.
4. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1 , wherein the compression assembly includes slots formed in the inner sleeve allowing the inner sleeve to compress and expand.
5. The coaxial cable connector of claim 4 , wherein the slots in the compression assembly are spaced apart circumferentially and radially.
6. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1 , wherein:
the finger is formed with an outwardly-extending protrusion; and
during movement of the inner sleeve from the compressed condition to the uncompressed condition thereof, the protrusion abuts the rigid lip of the outer barrel, and the rigid lip imparts movement of the finger from the neutral position to the deformed position thereof.
7. The coaxial cable connector of claim 6 , wherein:
the protrusion has a front face and an opposed rear face;
the front face is directed radially outward and axially forward; and
the rear face is directed radially outward and axially backward.
8. The coaxial cable connector of claim 1 , further comprising a spar circumferentially offset from the finger, wherein the spar is rigid and includes a projection which abuts the rigid lip to prevent retraction of the inner sleeve out of the outer barrel.
9. The coaxial cable connector of claim 8 , wherein the spar has an outer diameter which is greater than the inner diameter of the rigid lip.
10. A coaxial cable connector for engagement with a coaxial cable, the coaxial cable connector comprising:
an outer barrel having a front end, a rear end, and a rigid lip at the rear end;
an inner sleeve within the outer barrel, the inner sleeve including an engagement assembly which is arrangeable between a neutral condition and a deformed condition, wherein the neutral condition allows axial movement of the coaxial cable within the inner sleeve and the deformed condition impedes axial movement of the coaxial cable within the inner sleeve;
the engagement assembly includes a finger, with an outwardly-extending protrusion, which finger is formed in the inner sleeve for resilient movement between a neutral position in which the finger allows axial movement of the coaxial cable within the inner sleeve, and a deformed position in which the finger impedes axial movement of the coaxial cable within the inner sleeve;
the engagement assembly further includes a spar circumferentially offset from the finger, and the spar is rigid and includes a projection which abuts the rigid lip to prevent retraction of the inner sleeve out of the outer barrel; and
axial movement of the inner sleeve imparts arrangement of the engagement assembly of the inner sleeve between the neutral and deformed conditions, and when the inner sleeve is moved axially rearward, the finger moves from the neutral position to the deformed position, thereby imparting movement of the coaxial cable within the inner sleeve.
11. A coaxial cable connector for engagement with a coaxial cable, the coaxial cable connector comprising:
an outer barrel having a front end, a rear end, and a rigid lip at the rear end;
an inner sleeve within the outer barrel defining a bore for receiving the coaxial cable, the inner sleeve including a finger formed therein for resilient movement between a neutral position in which the finger is out of the bore and allows axial movement of the coaxial cable through the bore, and a deformed position in which the finger is deformed into the bore and impedes axial movement of the coaxial cable through the bore, wherein the inner sleeve further is formed with a compression assembly allowing the inner sleeve to axially compress and expand between compressed and uncompressed conditions; and
axial movement of the inner sleeve between the compressed condition and the uncompressed condition imparts radial movement of the finger between the neutral positon and the deformed position.
12. The coaxial cable connector of claim 11 , wherein the inner sleeve is formed with a stop ring which limits axial movement of the inner sleeve into the outer barrel.
13. The coaxial cable connector of claim 12 , wherein:
the stop ring has a forward ring with a first diameter which is less than an inner diameter of the rigid lip; and
the stop ring has a rear ring with a second diameter which is greater than the inner diameter of the rigid lip.
14. The coaxial cable connector of claim 11 , wherein the compression assembly includes slots formed in the inner sleeve allowing the inner sleeve to compress and expand.
15. The coaxial cable connector of claim 14 , wherein the slots in the compression assembly are spaced apart circumferentially and radially.
16. The coaxial cable connector of claim 11 , wherein:
the finger is formed with an outwardly-extending protrusion; and
during axial movement of the inner sleeve from the compressed condition to the uncompressed condition, the protrusion abuts the rigid lip of the outer barrel, and the rigid lip imparts movement of the finger from the neutral position to the deformed position thereof.
17. The coaxial cable connector of claim 16 , wherein:
the protrusion has a front face and an opposed rear face;
the front face is directed radially outward and axially forward; and
the rear face is directed radially outward and axially backward.
18. The coaxial cable connector of claim 11 , further comprising a spar circumferentially offset from the finger, wherein the spar is rigid and includes a projection which abuts the rigid lip to prevent retraction of the inner sleeve out of the outer barrel.
19. The coaxial cable connector of claim 18 , wherein the spar has an outer diameter which is greater than the inner diameter of the rigid lip.