# US 2013/0157487 A1 · Connect/disconnect connector for coaxial cable > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0157487 A1 - Document ID: US20130157487A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/374,154 - Filed: 2011-12-14 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-14 - Inventors: Clarke Heebe; Melvin L. Arroyo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130157487A1 ## CPC - H01R 13/635: by mechanical pressure, e.g. spring force - H01R 31/06: Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter (with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94) - H01R 9/05: for coaxial cables - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract A connector for quick connect/disconnect engagement between two or more segments of coaxial cable has a hollow housing for attaching to a first electrical conductor and a coupler for attaching to a second electrical conductor. The housing and the coupler move to a limited distance in a sliding relation to each other. A locking member is fitted between the housing and the coupler to lock position of the housing in relation to the coupler and disengage the housing from the coupler when needed. The locking member has a compression spring that normally urges the housing away from the coupler and locking balls fitted in cutouts made in the locking member. When the spring is compressed, the locking balls move from the cutouts into an annular groove formed in the inner wall of the housing, thus allowing a limited sliding movement of the housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A locking connector for electrically connecting segments of electrical conductors, comprising: a housing for receiving a core of a first electrical conductor, said housing having a central opening and an enlarged diameter cutout formed in an inner wall of the housing, at least a portion of the cutout having an inclined aspect of between 50-60 degrees in relation to a central longitudinal axis of the housing; a coupler for connecting to a second electrical conductor mounted in a substantially coaxial engagement with the housing; a means mounted in the housing and in the coupler for establishing an electrical connection between the first and the second electrical conductors, to which said housing and said coupler are connected; and a locking means mounted between the housing and the coupler for locking the housing to the coupler and disengaging the housing from a locked engagement with the coupler by axially moving the housing toward the coupler. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, said locking means comprising a retainer means for retaining locking members mounted between the housing and the coupler, a compression spring mounted between the retainer means and the housing, and a plurality of locking members configured to engage the housing, the coupler and the retainer means. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, said retainer means comprising a retainer member having a cylindrical portion formed with a plurality of equidistantly spaced openings, each opening being configured to receive at least a portion of a locking member therein. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, said locking members being configured to move between a resting position away from the openings formed in the retainer member and into the enlarged diameter cutout formed in the housing when the compression spring is compressed to thereby allow the housing to slide into engagement with an inner wall of the retainer member and a locked position in the openings of the retainer member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, said coupler being provided with an annular groove on exterior surface thereof, said groove being configured to align with the openings formed in the retainer means and receive at least a portion of the locking members therein. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein said annular groove has a sufficient depth to accommodate at least one-fifth of diameter of each of the locking members. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, said housing being provided with an aperture formed in a wall thereof, said aperture being configured to allow the locking members to pass therethrough. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, further comprising a plug configured to tightly fit into the aperture after the locking members have been positioned in retainer means and prevent the locking members from disengaging from the housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein another portion of the cutout has a generally cylindrical configuration, and wherein the locking members are configured to move into said another portion while moving the locking members along the portion of the cutout having an inclined aspect when the locking members are in a released position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, said locking members comprising a plurality of locking balls. ### Claim 11 A locking connector for electrically connecting segments of electrical conductors, comprising: a housing for receiving a core of a first electrical conductor, said housing having a central opening and an enlarged diameter cutout formed in an inner wall of the housing, at least a portion of the cutout having an inclined aspect of between 50-60 degrees in relation to a central longitudinal axis of the housing; a coupler for connecting to a second electrical conductor mounted in a substantially coaxial engagement with the housing; a means mounted in the housing and in the coupler for establishing an electrical connection between the first and the second electrical conductors, to which said housing and said coupler are connected; and a locking means mounted between the housing and the coupler for locking the housing to the coupler and disengaging the housing from a locked engagement with the coupler by axially moving the housing toward the coupler, said locking means comprising a retainer member for retaining locking members mounted between the housing and the coupler, a compression spring mounted between the retainer member and the housing, a plurality of locking balls movable between a resting position away from the retainer member and into the enlarged diameter cutout formed in the housing when the compression spring is compressed to thereby allow the housing to slide into engagement with an inner wall of the retainer member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, said retainer member having a cylindrical portion formed with a plurality of equidistantly spaced openings, each opening being configured to receive at least a portion of a locking member therein. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, said coupler being provided with an annular groove on exterior surface thereof, said groove being configured to align with the openings formed in the retainer member and receive at least a portion of the locking members therein. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The device of claim 13, wherein said annular groove has a sufficient depth to accommodate at least one-fifth of diameter of each of the locking members. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, said housing being provided with an aperture formed in a wall thereof, said aperture being configured to allow the locking members to pass therethrough. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The device of claim 15, further comprising a plug configured to tightly fit into the aperture after the locking members have been positioned in retainer member and prevent the locking members from disengaging from the housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein another portion of the cutout has a generally cylindrical configuration, and wherein the locking members are configured to move into said another portion while moving the locking members along the portion of the cutout having an inclined aspect when the locking members are in a released position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, said locking members comprising a plurality of locking balls.