Center conductor engagement mechanism
AssigneeJohn Mezzalingua Associates, Inc.
InventorsWerner K. Wild, Noah Montena, Christopher P. Natoli, Adam T. Nugent
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A center conductor engagement member comprising a resilient contact region having a first end and a second end, the resilient contact region being substantially curvilinear from the first end to the second end, wherein the second end of the resilient contact region is secured by a body portion, and an insert engageable with the second end of the resilient contact region to retain the second end of the resilient contact region is provided. Furthermore, an associated method is also provided.
Claims19
A center conductor engagement member comprising:
- a body;
- a resilient contact region having a first end and a second end integral with the body, the resilient contact region being substantially curvilinear from the first end to the second end;
- and
- a non-conductive insert configured to engage the first end of the resilient region and resist radial inward displacement thereof;
- wherein the contact region arcs from the insert to the body and defines a curved external surface configured to engage an internal surface of a coaxial cable conductor.
A center conductor engagement member comprising:
- a resilient contact region having a substantially curvilinear contour from a first end to a second end, the second end of the resilient contact region being integral with a body portion, the resilient contact region having one or more axial through-slots defining a plurality of resilient contact fingers,
- each of the plurality of resilient contact fingers being radially biased inwardly and defining an outwardly-curved external surface configured to engage an internal surface of a cable conductor the outwardly-curved external surface defining an outer diameter which is a maximum at a vertex of the outwardly-curved external surface;
- and
- a non-conductive annular insert having an internal groove cooperating with a protrusion on an end of each resilient contact finger, the annular insert resisting movement of the plurality of resilient contact fingers in a radial inward direction, the insert resisting radial inward displacement of the contact region to maintain contact of the external surface with the cable conductor.
A method of engaging a center conductor of a coaxial cable comprising:
- disposing a center conductor engagement member within a coaxial cable connector, wherein the center conductor engagement member includes a resilient contact region having a first end and a second end, the resilient contact region configured to produce a substantially curvilinear external surface which arcs from the first end to the second end, wherein the second end of the resilient contact region is integral with a body portion, and a non-conductive insert engageable with the first end of the resilient contact region to retain the second end of the resilient contact region;
- and mating a center conductor of a coaxial cable with the center conductor engagement member, wherein the contact region is biased inwardly against the insert and wherein the substantially curvilinear external surface of the center conductor engagement member is configured to be inserted within, and engage an inner surface of, the center conductor, the insert resisting radial inward displacement of the contact region to maintain contact of the external surface with the cable conductor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.