(12) United States Patent
`Montena
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,323,053 B2
`Dec. 4, 2012
`
`US008323053B2
`
`(54) CONNECTOR HAVINGA CONSTANT
`CONTACT NUT
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: Noah Montena, Syracuse, NY (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates, Inc., E.
`Syracuse, NY (US)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 144 days.
`
`CA
`
`2,755,331 A
`2,757,351 A
`2,762,025 A
`2,805,399 A
`2,870,420 A
`3,001,169 A
`3,015,794 A
`
`7/1956 Melcher
`7/1956 Klostermarm
`9/1956 Melcher
`9/1957 Leeper
`1/1959 Malek
`9/1961 Blonder
`1/1962 Kishbaugh
`
`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`2096710 A1
`11/1994
`
`(Continued)
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`(21) Appl.No.: 12/906,559
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Oct. 18, 2010
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2012/0094532 A1
`
`Apr. 19, 2012
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`H01R 9/05
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`...................................... .. 439/578; 439/584
`(58) Field of Classification Search ................ .. 439/578,
`439/584; D13/154
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`331,169 A
`1,371,742 A
`1,667,485 A
`1,766,869 A
`1,801,999 A
`1,885,761 A
`2,102,495 A
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`
`Notice of Allowance (Mail Date: Oct. 18, 2011) for U.S. Appl. No.
`12/906,503, filed Oct. 18,2010.
`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner — Hae Moon Hyeon
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Schmeiser, Olsen & Watts,
`LLP
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A connector comprising a connector body attached to a post,
`the post including a first end portion and an opposing second
`end portion, and a flange proximate the second end portion, a
`port coupling element rotatably attached to the post, wherein
`the port coupling element has a first end and a second end, and
`a plurality of openings on the port coupling element, the
`plurality of openings extending a distance toward the first end
`from the second end of the port coupling element. Further-
`more, a method of maintaining ground continuity in a con-
`nector comprising the steps providing a connector body
`attached to a post, the post having a first end, an opposing
`second end, and port coupling element having a plurality of
`openings positioned thereon, and biasing the port coupling
`element in a position of interference with the post is also
`provided.
`
`21 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`CORNING EXHIBIT 1034
`
`CORNING EXHIBIT 1034
`
`

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`
`D>>D>>>>>>>>>>>>>D>>>>>D>D>>>>>>>>>>>>D>D>>>>>D>>>D>D>D>D>>D>D>D>D>D>D>>>D>D>D>D>>D>D>D>D>>>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>>
`
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`3,835,443
`3,836,700
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`
`US 8,323,053 B2
`Page 2
`
`3,970,355
`3,972,013
`3,976,352
`3,980,805
`3,985,418
`4,017,139
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`4,583,811
`4,585,289
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`4,593,964
`4,596,434
`
`>>>D>>>>>D>F11>>>D>>>>>D>D>>>>>>D>>>>>>D>>>>>>D>>>D>D>D>D>>>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>>D>>D>D>D>>D>D>D>D>D>>D>D>D>D>D>D>>D>D>
`
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`
`>>>D>>>>>D>>>>>D>>>>>D>D>>>>>>D>>>>>>D>>>>>>D>>>D>D>D>D>>>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>>D>>D>D>D>>D>D>D>D>D>>D>D>D>D>D>D>>D>D>
`
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`US 8,323,053 B2
`Page 3
`
`5,011,422
`5,011,432
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`5,024,606
`5,030,126
`5,037,328
`5,046,964
`5,052,947
`5,055,060
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`5,062,804
`5,066,248
`5,073,129
`5,080,600
`5,083,943
`5,120,260
`5,127,853
`5,131,862
`5,137,470
`5,137,471
`5,141,448
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`5,149,274
`5,154,636
`5,161,993
`5,166,477
`5,169,323
`5,181,161
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`5,186,501
`5,186,655
`5,195,905
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`5,205,547
`5,205,761
`5,207,602
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`5,227,587
`5,247,424
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`5,294,864
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`5,316,494
`5,318,459
`5,334,032
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`5,362,250
`5,371,819
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`5,380,211
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`5,435,745
`5,439,386
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`5,456,611
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`5,466,173
`5,470,257
`5,474,478
`5,490,033
`5,490,801
`5,494,454
`5,499,934
`5,501,616
`5,516,303
`
`>>>D>>>>>D>>>>>D>>>>>D>D>>>>>>D>>>>>>D>>>>>>D>>>D>D>D>D>>>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>D>>D>>D>D>D>>D>D>D>D>D>>D>D>D>D>D>D>>D>D>
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`
`SSB
`
`SB
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`1
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`1
`B1
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`SB
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`1
`B2
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`US 8,323,053 B2
`Page 4
`
`D462,058
`D462,060
`6,439,899
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`6,468,100
`6,491,546
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`7,125,283
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`7,144,271
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`7,156,696
`7,161,785
`7,229,303
`7,252,546
`7,255,598
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`7,393,245
`7,404,737
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`7,455,550
`7,462,068
`7,476,127
`7,479,035
`7,488,210
`7,494,355
`7,497,729
`7,507,117
`7,544,094
`7,566,236
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`7,674,132
`7,682,177
`7,727,011
`7,753,705
`7,753,727
`7,794,275
`7,806,714
`7,806,725
`
`5,525,076
`5,542,861
`5,548,088
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`5,564,938
`5,571,028
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`5,598,132
`5,607,325
`5,620,339
`5,632,637
`5,632,651
`5,644,104
`5,651,698
`5,651,699
`5,653,605
`5,667,405
`5,681,172
`5,683,263
`5,702,263
`5,722,856
`5,735,704
`5,746,617
`5,746,619
`5,769,652
`5,775,927
`5,863,220
`5,877,452
`5,879,191
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`5,921,793
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`6,010,349
`6,019,635
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`6,032,358
`6,042,422
`6,048,229
`6,053,769
`6,053,777
`6,083,053
`6,089,903
`6,089,912
`6,089,913
`6,123,567
`6,146,197
`6,152,753
`6,153,830
`6,210,216 B1
`6,210,222 B1
`6,217,383 B1
`6,239,359 B1
`6,241,553 B1
`6,261,126 B1
`6,267,612 B1
`6,271,464 B1
`6,331,123 B1
`6,332,815 B1
`6,358,077 B1
`D458,904 S
`6,406,330 B2
`D460,739 S
`D460,740 S
`D460,946 S
`D460,947 S
`D460,948
`6,422,900
`6,425,782
`D461,166 S
`D461,167 S
`D461,778 S
`
`SBB>
`
`>>>>>>>D>D>>>>>D>>>>>>>D>>>>>>D>>>>D>D>D>>D>D>D>D>D>>D>D>D>D>D>D>>D>D>D>D>D>>D>D>
`
`11
`
`

`
`7,811,133
`7,824,216
`7,828,595
`7,830,154
`7,833,053
`7,845,976
`7,845,978
`7,850,487
`7,857,661
`7,887,354
`7,892,004
`7,892,005
`7,892,024
`7,927,135
`7,950,958
`7,955,126
`7,972,158
`8,029,315
`8,062,044
`8,075,338
`8,079,860
`8,152,551
`8,167,635
`8,167,636
`8,167,646
`8,172,612
`8,192,237
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`B2
`B2 *
`B2
`B2
`B2
`B2
`B1
`B1
`B1
`B2
`B2
`B2
`B1
`B1
`B2
`B2
`B2
`B2
`B2
`B1 *
`B1 *
`B2
`B1
`B1
`B1
`B2
`B2
`A1
`A1
`A1
`A1
`A1
`A1
`A1
`A1
`A1
`A1
`A1
`A1
`A1
`
`A1
`A1
`A1
`A1
`A1
`A1
`A1
`A1
`A1
`A1
`A1
`A1
`A1
`A1*
`A1
`A1
`A1
`A1
`A1*
`A1
`A1
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`A1
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`Gray
`Purdy ................... . .
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`EP
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`FR
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`GB
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`JP
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`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`U.S. Appl. No. 12/906,503, filed Oct. 18, 2010.
`[online]. 3 pages.
`Digicon AVL Connector. ARRIS Group Inc.
`[retrieved on Apr. 22, 2010]. Retrieved from the Internet:<URL:
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`Oflice Action (Mail Date: May 31, 2011) for U.S. Appl. No.
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`
`* cited by examiner
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 4, 2012
`
`Sheet 1 of4
`
`US 8,323,053 B2
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 4, 2012
`
`Sheet 2 of4
`
`US 8,323,053 B2
`
`NOE
`
`mm.
`
`2:
`
`

`
`F|G.3
`
`

`
`

`
`US 8,323,053 B2
`
`1
`CONNECTOR HAVINGA CONSTANT
`CONTACT NUT
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser.
`No. 12/906,503, filed on Oct. 18, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No.
`8,075,338 entitled “Connector Having a Constant Contact
`Post,” the contents of which are incorporated in its entirety.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to connectors used in coaxial
`cable communication applications, and more specifically to
`embodiments of a coaxial cable connector having a constant
`contact nut that extends electrical continuity through the con-
`nector.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Broadband communications have become an increasingly
`prevalent form of electromagnetic information exchange and
`coaxial cables are common conduits for transmission of
`
`broadband communications. Coaxial cables are typically
`designed so that an electromagnetic field carrying communi-
`cations signals exists only in the space between inner and
`outer coaxial conductors of the cables. This allows coaxial
`
`cable runs to be installed next to metal objects without the
`power losses that occur in other transmission lines, and pro-
`vides protection ofthe communications signals from external
`electromagnetic interference. Connectors for coaxial cables
`are typically connected onto complementary interface ports
`to electrically integrate coaxial cables to various electronic
`devices and cable communication equipment. Connection is
`often made through rotating an internally threaded nut of the
`connector about a corresponding externally threaded inter-
`face port. Fully tightening the threaded connection of the
`coaxial cable connector to the interface port helps to ensure a
`ground connection between the connector and the corre-
`sponding interface port. However, connectors are often times
`not properly tightened or otherwise installed. Moreover, the
`structure of common connectors may permit loss of ground
`and discontinuity of the electromagnetic shielding that is
`intended to be extended from the cable, through the connec-
`tor, and to the corresponding coaxial cable interface port.
`Hence, a need exists for an improved connector having a
`constant contact nut for ensuring ground continuity through
`the connector, and establishing and maintaining electrical and
`physical communicationbetween the post and a port coupling
`element, such as a nut.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`A first general aspect of the invention provides a connector
`comprising a connector body attached to a post, the post
`including a first end portion and an opposing second end
`portion, and a flange proximate the second end portion, a port
`coupling element attached to the post, the port coupling ele-
`ment being rotatable about the post, wherein the port coupling
`element has a first end and a second end, and a plurality of
`openings on the port coupling element, the plurality of open-
`ings extending a distance toward the first end from the second
`end of the port coupling element.
`A second general aspect ofthe invention provides a coaxial
`cable connector comprising a connector body attached to a
`post, the post having a first end portion, an opposing second
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
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`30
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`end portion, and a flange proximate the second end portion,
`the flange having an outer edge, a port coupling element
`rotatable about the post, wherein the port coupling element
`includes a first end and a second end, and a plurality of
`engagement fingers proximate the second end, wherein the
`plurality of engagement fingers are biased into a position of
`interference with the post.
`A third general aspect ofthe invention provides a connector
`comprising a slotted port coupling element attached to a post,
`the slotted port coupling element having a first end, an oppos-
`ing second end, wherein the slotted port coupling element is
`resilient in the radial direction, and a connector body attached
`to the post, the post having a first end portion, an opposing
`second end portion, wherein a positioning of the post radially
`expands the slotted port coupling element, further wherein
`the slotted port coupling element exerts an opposing radial
`contact force against an outer surface of the post, wherein the
`opposing radial contact force establishes and maintains
`physical and electrical contact between the slotted port cou-
`pling element and the post regardless of the axial position of
`the post and the slotted port coupling element.
`A fourth general aspect of the invention provides a method
`of maintaining ground continuity in a connector providing a
`connector body attached to a post, the post having a first end,
`an opposing second end, and port coupling element having a
`plurality of openings positioned thereon, and biasing the port
`coupling element in a position of interference with the post.
`A fifth general aspect ofthe invention provides a method of
`maintaining electrical continuity with a port comprising pro-
`viding a connector body attached to a post, the post having a
`first end portion and an opposing second end portion, a port
`coupling element rotatable about the post, wherein the port
`coupling element has a first end and a second end, and a
`plurality of engagement fingers proximate the second end, the
`plurality of engagement fingers being resilient in a radial
`direction, and expanding the plurality of engagement fingers
`in a radially outward direction, wherein the expansion of the
`plurality of engagement fingers by a positioning of the post
`results in the plurality of engagement fingers exerting a radi-
`ally inward force against the port coupling element, wherein
`the radially inward force against the port coupling element
`establishes and maintains physical and electrical continuity
`between the post and the port coupling element regardless of
`the relative axial position between the post and the port cou-
`pling element.
`The foregoing and other features of construction and
`operation of the invention will be more readily understood
`and fully appreciated from the following detailed disclosure,
`taken in conjunction with accompanying drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`Some of the embodiments of this invention will be
`
`described in detail, with reference to the following figures,
`wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:
`FIG. 1 depicts an explodedperspective cut-away view ofan
`embodiment of the elements of an embodiment of a coaxial
`
`cable connector, in accordance with the present invention;
`FIG. 2 depicts a perspective cut-away view of an embodi-
`ment of a connector, in accordance with the present invention;
`FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a
`port coupling element, in accordance with the present inven-
`tion; and
`FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of a connector having a
`constant contact nut, in accordance with the present inven-
`tion.
`
`

`
`US 8,323,053 B2
`
`3
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`Although certain embodiments ofthe present invention are
`shown and described in detail, it should be understood that
`various changes and modifications may be made without
`departing from the scope of the appended claims. The scope
`of the present invention will in no way be limited to the
`number of constituting components, the materials thereof, the
`shapes thereof, the relative arrangement thereof, etc., and are
`disclosed simply as an example of embodiments of the
`present invention.
`As a preface to the detailed description, it should be noted
`that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the
`singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents,
`unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
`Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment
`of a coaxial cable connector. The coaxial cable connector 100
`
`may accept a prepared coaxial cable 10, and may be operably
`aflixed to a coaxial cable 10 so that the cable 10 is securely
`attached to the connector 100. The coaxial cable 10 may
`include a protective outer jacket 12, a conductive grounding
`shield 14, a dielectric foil layer 15, an interior dielectric 16
`and a center conductor 18. The coaxial cable 10 may be
`prepared as embodied in FIG. 1 by removing the protective
`outer jacket 12 and drawing back the conductive grounding
`shield 14 to expose a portion of the dielectric foil layer 15
`surrounding the interior dielectric 16. Further preparation of
`the embodied coaxial cable 10 may include stripping the
`dielectric foil layer 15 and the dielectric 16 to expose a por-
`tion ofthe center conductor 18. The protective outerjacket 12
`is intended to protect the various components of the coaxial
`cable 10 from damage which may result from exposure to dirt
`or moisture and from corrosion. Moreover, the protective
`outer jacket 12 may serve in some measure to secure the
`various components of the coaxial cable 10 in a contained
`cable design that protects the cable 10 from damage related to
`movement during cable installation. The conductive ground-
`ing shield 14 can be comprised of conductive materials suit-
`able for providing an electrical ground connection.
`Various embodiments ofthe shield 14 may be employed to
`screen unwanted noise. For instance, the shield 14 may com-
`prise a metal foil wrapped around the dielectric 16, or several
`conductive strands formed in a continuous braid around the
`dielectric 16. Combinations of foil and/or braided strands
`
`may be utilized wherein the conductive shield 14 may com-
`prise a foil layer, then a braided layer, and then a foil layer.
`Those in the art will appreciate that various layer combina-
`tions may be implemented in order for the conductive ground-
`ing shield 14 to effectuate an electromagnetic buffer helping
`to prevent ingress of environmental noise that may disrupt
`broadband communications. The dielectric 16 can be com-
`
`prised of materials suitable for electrical insulation. It should
`be noted that the various materials of which all the various
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`components of the coaxial cable 10 are comprised should
`have some degree of elasticity allowing the cable 10 to flex or
`bend in accordance with traditional broadband communica-
`
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`tions standards, installation methods and/or equipment. It
`should further be recognized that the radial thickness of the
`coaxial cable 10, protective outer jacket 12, conductive
`grounding shield 14, dielectric foil layer 15, interior dielectric
`16 and/or center conductor 18 may vary based upon generally
`recognized parameters corresponding to broadband commu-
`nication standards and/or equipment.
`Referring further to FIG. 1, the connector 100 is configured
`to attach to a coaxial cable interface port, such as, for
`example, interface port 20. The coaxial cable interface port 20
`includes a conductive receptacle for receiving a portion of a
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`coaxial cable center conductor 18 suflicient to make adequate
`electrical contact. The coaxial cable interface port 20 may
`further comprise a threaded exterior surface 23. It should be
`recognized that the radial thickness and/or the length of the
`coaxial cable interface port 20 and/or the conductive recep-
`tacle ofthe port 20 may vary based upon generally recognized
`parameters corresponding to broadband communication
`standards and/or equipment. Moreover, the pitch and height
`of threads which may be formed upon the threaded exterior
`surface 23 ofthe coaxial cable interface port 20 may also vary
`based upon generally recognized parameters corresponding
`to broadband communication standards and/or equipment.
`Furthermore, it should be noted that the interface port 20 may
`be formed of a single conductive material, multiple conduc-
`tive materials, or