Connector with a locking mechanism

A coaxial cable termination device comprising:

• a barrel including opposed front and rear ends and a circumferential channel therebetween;
• a collet at the front end of the barrel;
• a sleeve mounted over the barrel for reciprocal movement between a retracted position, in which the sleeve allows expansion and compression of the collet, and an advanced position, in which the sleeve prevents expansion and urges compression of the collet;
• and
• a locking mechanism formed integrally in the sleeve, the locking mechanism including an arm mounted in the sleeve at a living hinge for movement between an unlocked position of the arm and a locked position of the arm in which a tooth on the arm is disposed within the circumferential channel, and a lever opposite the tooth from the living hinge to release the arm from the locked position thereof;
• wherein movement of the sleeve over the barrel from the retracted position to the advanced position causes the locking mechanism to lock the sleeve in the advanced position.

A coaxial cable termination device comprising:

• a barrel including opposed front and rear ends and a circumferential channel therebetween;
• a collet at the front end of the barrel;
• a bell at the rear end of the barrel;
• a sleeve mounted over the barrel for reciprocal movement between a retracted position, in which the sleeve allows expansion and compression of the collet, and an advanced position, in which the sleeve prevents expansion and urges compression of the collet;
• and
• a locking mechanism formed integrally to the sleeve at a living hinge and including an arm, a tooth, and a lever opposite the tooth from the living hinge, wherein the locking mechanism moves between unlocked condition in which the sleeve is allowed to reciprocate between the advanced and retracted positions and a locked condition in which the sleeve is prevented from moving out of the advanced position.