Sealed coaxial cable connector and related method

A connector for coupling an end of a coaxial cable to a terminal, the coaxial cable comprising an inner conductor, a dielectric surrounding the inner conductor, an outer conductor surrounding the dielectric, and a jacket surrounding the outer conductor, the connector comprising:

• (a) a coupler comprising
• (i) a substantially cylindrical portion having a receiving port for engaging the terminal, and
• (ii) an annular collar extending radially inward from the substantially cylindrical portion to provide a collar opening having an opening diameter;
• (b) a body member comprising
• (i) a distal body end and a proximal body end,
• (ii) a proximal body section receivable in the collar opening and comprising a lip at the proximal body end, the lip having an outer lip diameter greater than the opening diameter, the body member being sufficiently resilient for flexible insertion of the lip through the collar opening, and
• (iii) a distal body section extending away from the proximal body section;
• and
• (c) a post comprising
• (i) a distal post end and a proximal post end, the distal post end sized for insertion between the dielectric and the outer conductor,
• (ii) a radially extending post flange movable within the receiving port, and
• (iii) a post shank extending from the post flange, the post shank forming a post channel sufficient in diameter to receive the inner conductor and the dielectric,
• wherein the post is movable between a cable-insertion position, in which the post flange is spaced apart from the lip and the coaxial cable is insertable into the body member, and a cable-installed position, in which a post flange abuts the lip, and
• wherein tightening the coupler to the terminal compresses the lip between the post flange and the annular collar for establishing a proximal seal.

A method for coupling an end of a coaxial cable to a terminal using a connector, the coaxial cable comprising an inner conductor, a dielectric surrounding the inner conductor, an outer conductor surrounding the dielectric, and a jacket surrounding the outer conductor, the method comprising:

• (a) providing a coupler comprising a substantially cylindrical portion having a receiving port for engaging the terminal, and an annular collar extending radially inward from the substantially cylindrical portion to provide a collar opening having an opening diameter;
• (b) providing a body member comprising a distal body end and a proximal body end, a proximal body section, and a distal body section, the proximal body section being receivable in the collar opening and comprising a lip at the proximal body end, the lip having an outer lip diameter greater than the opening diameter, the body member being sufficiently resilient for flexible insertion of the lip through the collar opening, the distal body section extending away from the proximal body section and comprising an inner surface portion;
• (c) inserting the lip through the collar opening while flexing the lip inward to situate the proximal body section in the collar opening;
• (d) providing a post comprising a distal post end, a proximal post end, a radially extending post flange movable within the receiving port, and a post shank having a post channel;
• (e) passing the coaxial cable into the body member;
• (f) moving the post shank through the coupler and into the body member and inserting the post shank between the dielectric and the outer conductor of the coaxial cable to receive the dielectric and the inner conductor in the post channel and to compress the outer conductor and the jacket in an annular chamber between the post shank and the inner surface portion for establishing a distal seal;
• and
• (g) engaging the coupler with the terminal and compressing the lip between the post flange and the annular collar for establishing a proximal seal.

A method for coupling an end of a coaxial cable to a terminal using a connector, the coaxial cable comprising an inner conductor, a dielectric surrounding the inner conductor, an outer conductor surrounding the dielectric, and a jacket surrounding the outer conductor, the method comprising:

• (a) providing a coupler comprising a substantially cylindrical portion having a receiving port for engaging the terminal, and an annular collar extending radially inward from the substantially cylindrical portion to provide a collar opening having an opening diameter;
• (b) providing a body member comprising a proximal body end, a distal body end, a proximal body section comprising a lip having an outer lip diameter greater than the opening diameter, and a distal body section extending axially away from the proximal body section;
• (c) inserting the lip through the collar opening while flexing the lip inward to situate the proximal body section in the collar opening;
• (d) providing a post comprising a distal post end, a proximal post end, a radially extending post flange movable within the receiving port, and a post shank having a post channel;
• (e) passing the coaxial cable into the body member;
• (f) moving the post shank through the coupler and into the body member and inserting the post shank between the dielectric and the outer conductor of the coaxial cable to receive the dielectric and the inner conductor in the post channel and to receive the outer conductor and the jacket in an annular chamber between the post shank and the inner surface portion;
• (g) engaging the coupler with the terminal and compressing the lip between the post flange and the annular collar for establishing a proximal seal.