Connector assembly with gripping sleeve

#This application may relate to commonly assigned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/003,108, entitled “Connector Assembly with Gripping Sleeve”, filed concurrently herewith, the subject matter of which is herein incorporated by reference.

#The present invention relates to connector assemblies with a sleeve. In particular, the present invention relates to electrical connector assemblies with a sleeve to facilitate gripping and mating of a connector to its counterpart connector.

#Connector assemblies are often used to terminate a cable and adapt the cable for attachment to a device, another connector, or another cable. The connector assembly often includes a body with a rotating nut portion with internal threads. The nut portion rotates with respect to the body so that the internal threads of the nut can engage corresponding threads of the device, the other connector, or the other cable. For proper functioning of the connector assembly, the nut portion must be fully twisted onto the corresponding threads. A loose connection can fail to provide the positive contact needed for continuity between the cable and the device, the other connector, or the other cable. Also, a loose connection can come apart accidentally disrupting the connection to the device, the other connector, or the other cable. A loose connection can also cause signal leakage and degraded performance.

#A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a connector assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the connector assembly illustrated in FIG. 1;

#Referring to FIGS. 1-13, the present invention relates to a connector assembly 100 and a method of manufacturing a connector assembly 100 with a sleeve 120 that ensnares a portion of a connector 110 and provides improved gripping. The sleeve 120 is not easily removed from the connector 110 for safety reasons.

#Referring to FIG. 1, the connector assembly 100 includes, at least, the connector 110 and the sleeve 120. The connector 110 terminates a cable 140 and connects to a mating connector, device, or cable. The connector 110 can be an electrical connector, an optical connector, a fluid connector, a pneumatic connector, a hydraulic connector, or some other type of connector. To simplify and facilitate the description of the invention, the connector 110 will be described as an electrical connector, and in particular, an F connector used with coaxial cables. However, the invention is not limited to only embodiments with an electrical connector.

#The sleeve 120 facilitates the mating of the connector 110 to its mating connector, device, or cable. The sleeve 120 ensnares a portion of the connector 110. The sleeve 120 is placed on the connector 110 to ensure that the sleeve 120 is not lost or separated from the connector 110. The sleeve 120 can be made of any rubber, synthetic rubber, neoprene, thermoplastic, thermosetting plastic, plastic (such as, but not limited to, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyester, polyamides, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethanes, or polycarbonate), combinations of the above, and other similar materials.