Retention sleeve for coupling nut for coaxial cable connector and method for applying same

An improved coaxial connector of the type having a coupling nut secured about an outer conductive shell and freely rotatable thereabout for threaded coupling to a complementary coaxial connector to secure the connectors together to define an electrical coaxial connection therebetween, appliable to an end of a coaxial cable having a shielding braid to be electrically connected to a rearward end of the outer conductive shell by crimping about a reduced diameter rearward section thereof, the improvement comprising:

• a retention sleeve insertable over said reduced diameter rearward section of said outer conductive shell from a rearward end thereof, to overlie a portion of a central section of said outer conductive shell, said retention sleeve having a forward end defining a rearward stop for said coupling nut for retention of said coupling nut about said outer conductive shell, and further having a rearward end defining a forward stop for a crimping ferrule during placement of said crimping ferrule about an end portion of said shielding braid of said cable overlying said reduced diameter rearward section of said outer conductive shell for crimping said shielding braid thereto,
• said retention sleeve having a forward section having an inner diameter just larger than an outer diameter of said central section of said outer conductive shell, and further having a rearward section having an inner diameter incrementally smaller than an outer diameter of said reduced diameter rearward section of said outer conductive shell,
• whereby when said retention sleeve is moved forwardly over said outer conductive shell from said rearward end thereof, said forward section coextends over said central shell section and said rearward section defines a force fit with said central shell section for self-retention thereon.