US 12,712,319 B2 · Device for providing enhanced coaxial cable connector installation and/or tightening

Abstract

A cable connector includes: a support portion that is structurally configured to move relative to a cable gripping portion when a first connector portion moves relative to a second connector portion; an indicator portion that is structurally configured to indicate an amount of radial compression of a cable gripping portion when the second connector portion moves in an axial direction; and the indicator portion is structurally configured to provide a visual stop indicator reference point when the second connector portion moves in the axial direction and when the first connector portion is coupled with the second connector portion such that the cable gripping portion grips the cable with a predetermined amount of radial force based on an outer diameter portion of the cable so as to allow an installer to use the visual stop indicator reference point to prevent under-tightening and/or over-tightening of the connector on the cable.

A cable connector comprising:

a first connector portion having a cable receiving end and a forward end opposite the cable receiving end;
a second connector portion having a front end, and a back end that is structurally configured to be coupled with the forward end of the first connector portion;
a third connector portion that is structurally configured to be coupled with the front end of the second connector portion;
a support portion that is structurally configured to be positioned in the second connector portion;
a cable gripping portion that is structurally configured to be positioned partially in the support portion;
a plurality of indicator portions;
wherein the cable gripping portion is structurally configured to include an angled portion;
wherein the support portion is structurally configured to include an angled portion that is structurally configured to contact the angled portion of the cable gripping portion;
wherein the angled portion of the support portion is structurally configured to move axially relative to the angled portion of the cable gripping portion when the first connector portion moves relative to the second connector portion;
wherein the first connector portion is structurally configured to include an engaging portion;
wherein the second connector portion is structurally configured to include an engaging portion;
wherein the engaging portion of the first connector portion is structurally configured to engage with the engaging portion of the second connector portion such that rotation of the first connector portion relative to the second connector portion moves the first connector portion axially relative to the second connector portion;
wherein the first connector portion includes a first surface that is structurally configured to contact the support portion;
wherein the first surface of the first connector portion is structurally configured to move the support portion axially into the second connector portion in response to the axial movement of the first connector portion relative to the second connector portion;
wherein the angled portion of the support portion is structurally configured to move relative to the angled portion of the cable gripping portion is response to axial movement of the support portion such that the cable gripping portion is moved radially inward;
wherein each of the plurality of indicator portions is structurally configured to correspond to a predetermined position of the first connector portion relative to the second connector portion;
wherein each of the predetermined positions of the first connector portion relative to the second connector portion corresponds to a preferred assembled position for a particular outer diameter of a cable on which the connector is to be installed;
wherein the indicator portions correspond to different amounts of radial compression of the cable gripping portion in response to axial movement of the support portion;
and
wherein the indicator portions are structurally configured to provide visual stop indicator reference points when the second connector portion moves in an axial direction and when the first connector portion is coupled with the second connector portion such that the cable gripping portion grips the cable with a predetermined amount of radial force based on an outer diameter portion of the cable so as to allow an installer to use the visual stop indicator reference point to prevent under-tightening and/or over-tightening of the connector on the cable.

17 more elements

Device for providing enhanced coaxial cable connector installation and/or tightening

Life of this patent

Device for providing enhanced coaxial cable connector installation and/or tightening

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30