Coaxial cable connector

A connector attachable to a coaxial cable having an inner central conductor and an outer concentrically disposed conductor separated by a concentrically disposed insulation layer and enclosed in an outer insulation, said connector comprising:

• a housing having a central, substantially cylindrical opening, a wall separating said opening to define first and second chambers, and a conductive arm extending outwardly from a front end of said housing at said first chamber;
• said conductive arm having an end contact portion extending substantially radially inwardly and including a piercing structure;
• an axially extending pin member and an insulating body secured to said pin member, said insulating body being secured centrally in said housing in abutment with said wall, said pin extending into said first and second chambers;
• said pin member having a pointed end portion for piercing into an end of the electrical conductor and making electrical contact with the inner central conductor;
• and
• a generally cylindrically shaped cover member, surrounding and extending beyond the cylindrical opening of said housing at said first chamber, said cover member having means for abutting said conductive arm and urging said arm radially inwardly to cause said contact portion to pierce the outer insulation of the coaxial cable and establish electrical contact with the outer concentrically disposed conductor when the coaxial cable is positioned in said first chamber.

A method of coupling an electrical connector to a coaxial cable of the type having an inner conductor enclosed with an inner insulation and a conductive sheath around the inner insulation and enclosed in an outer insulation wherein:

• the electrical connector includes:
• a housing having an electrically conductive portion and a bore portion;
• an electrically conductive pin, said electrically conductive pin attached to said housing such as to be electrically isolated from said electrically conductive housing portion and protruding into said housing bore for contacting the inner conductor of the electrical conductor;
• an electrically conductive arm electrically connected to said electrically conductive housing portion and insulated from said electrically conductive pin, said electrically conductive arm extending outwardly from a front end of said housing and having a pointed end adapted for driving into an outer insulation of the electrical conductor and making electrical contact with the conductive sheath of the electrical conductor;
• and
• a generally cylindrically shaped cover member, having an aperture for receiving a coaxial cable and which is attachable to the housing, said cover member having means for engaging the electrical conductive arm and maintaining the arm in contact with the conductive sheath of the cable;
• said method comprising the steps of:
• a. inserting the coaxial cable through the aperture in the cover member;
• b. threading the coaxial cable past the electrically conductive arm and into electrically conductive engagement at the inner conductor with the end of the electrically conductive pin protruding into the housing bore;
• c. driving the pointed end of the electrically conductive arm through the outer insulation and making electrical contact with the conductive sheath of the coaxial cable;
• and
• d. attaching the cover member to the housing and over the conductive arm so as to maintain the electrically conductive arm in electrical contact with the conductive sheath through the outer insulation of the coaxial cable;
• whereby the coaxial cable is secured in place with the connector and electrical contact is made with the cable at the inner conductor and at the conductive sheath.