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`(12) United States Patent
`Chen
`
`(lo) Patent No.: (cid:9)
`(45) Date of Patent: (cid:9)
`
`US 7,892,024 B1
`Feb. 22, 2011
`
`(54) COAXIAL CABLE CONNECTOR
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`7,824,216 B2* 11/2010 Purdy ......................... 439/578
`2008/0102696 At * (cid:9)
`5/2008 Montena ..................... 439/578
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`(75) Inventor: Han-Jung Chen, Taipei (TW)
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`* cited by examiner
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`(73) Assignee: Ezconn Corporation, Taipei (TW)
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`(*) Notice: (cid:9)
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 12/761,669
`
`(22)
`
`Filed: (cid:9)
`
`Apr. 16, 2010
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`H01R 9/05 (cid:9)
`(2006.01)
`....................................... 439/578; 439/583
`(52) U.S. (cid:9) Cl . (cid:9)
`(58) Field of Classification Search ................. 439/578,
`439/581-585
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`............... (cid:9) 439/321
`7/2009 (cid:9) Malloy et al .
`7,566,236 B2 * (cid:9)
`3/2010 (cid:9) Chen (cid:9) .......................... 439/578
`7,674,132 (cid:9) B1 * (cid:9)
`7,806,725 (cid:9) B1 * (cid:9) 10/2010 (cid:9) Chen (cid:9) .......................... 439/578
`
`Primary Examiner Thanh-Tam T Le
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm Rosenberg, Klein & Lee
`
`(57) (cid:9)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A coaxial cable connector includes: coaxial and radially
`spaced inner sleeve and outer sleeve, a front end of the inner
`sleeve having an outer flange and a first and a second interface
`sections, a rear end of the inner sleeve having a rearward
`extending section; a nut having an inner flange at rear end; and
`a conductive grounding spring mounted between the first
`interface section of the inner sleeve and the inner flange of the
`nut. The conductive grounding spring has an inner annular
`section fitted around the first interface section of the inner
`sleeve in secure contact therewith, and multiple plate-like
`resilient tongue sections extending from an end of the inner
`annular section and outward bent for mechanically and elec-
`trically connecting with the inner flange of the nut. The
`coaxial cable connector can be reliably electrically connected
`with a threaded interface connector of an electronic device via
`the nut.
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`2 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
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`29
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`20
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`30
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`34 (cid:9)
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`33
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`33 (cid:9)
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`32
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`34 (cid:9)
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`34 (cid:9)
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`31
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`33
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`33 (cid:9)
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`34
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`CORNING EXHIBIT 1009
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`

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`U.S. Patent (cid:9)
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`Feb. 22, 2011 (cid:9)
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`Sheet 1 of 4 (cid:9)
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`US 7,892,024 B1
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`10
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`FIG.I
`PRIOR ART
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`

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`U.S. Patent (cid:9)
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`Feb. 22, 2011 (cid:9)
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`Sheet 2 of 4 (cid:9)
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`US 7,892,024 B1
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`20
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`22
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`FIG.2
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`20
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`29 (cid:9)
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`30
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`292
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`FIG.3
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`

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`U.S. Patent (cid:9)
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`Feb. 22, 2011 (cid:9)
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`Sheet 3 of 4 (cid:9)
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`US 7,892,024 B1
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`30
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`34 (cid:9)
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`1111
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`32
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`31
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`33
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`FIG.4
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`30
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`3
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`33
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`J 1 (cid:9)
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`33
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`FIG.5
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`

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`U.S. Patent (cid:9)
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`Feb. 22, 2011 (cid:9)
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`Sheet 4 of 4 (cid:9)
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`US 7,892,024 B1
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`20
`J
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`IC'
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`29 (cid:9)
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`FIG.6A
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`LL
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`L91
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`FIG.6B
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`

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`US 7,892,024 B1
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`1
`COAXIAL CABLE CONNECTOR
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates generally to a connector, and
`more particularly to a coaxial cable connector with a good
`grounding effect.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`It is well known that a coaxial cable connector is connect-
`able with a threaded interface connector of an electronic
`device to electrically connect a coaxial cable with the elec-
`tronic device.
`The conventional coaxial cable connector has some
`defects. For example, the main body of the coaxial cable
`connector must be connected with the interface connector
`with a good grounding connection. This is involved in
`whether the coaxial cable connector is well grounded. FIG. 1
`shows an F-type connector as a typical example of the con-
`ventional connector. The F-type connector includes a connec-
`tor main body 10. The connector main body 10 includes an
`outer sleeve 11, an inner sleeve 12 coaxially positioned in the
`outer sleeve 11 and a nut 13 rotatably fitted around the inner
`sleeve 12. The connector main body 10 serves to mechani-
`cally and electrically connect a coaxial cable with a threaded
`interface connector 15 of an electronic device 14.
`There is an inherent problem existing in the connection
`between the F-type connector main body 10 and the threaded
`interface connector 15. That is, the nut 13 cannot be fully
`connected with the threaded interface connector 15 and a gap
`S is left between the inner sleeve 12 and the threaded interface
`connector 15. The gap S leads to poor contact between the
`connector main body 10 and the threaded interface connector
`15 and poor grounding thereof. As a result, the electrical
`signal transmission performance is deteriorated.
`It is therefore tried by the applicant to provide a grounding
`electrical connector, which can be effectively and lastingly
`connected with the threaded interface connector with a good
`grounding connection so as to achieve a good electrical per-
`formance.
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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`A primary object of the present invention is to provide a
`coaxial cable connector, which includes a conductive ground-
`ing spring mounted between a nut and an inner sleeve. The
`conductive grounding spring has resilient tongue sections for
`securely mechanically and electrically connecting with an
`inner flange of the nut.
`To achieve the above and other objects, the coaxial cable
`connector of the present invention includes: coaxial and radi-
`ally spaced inner sleeve and outer sleeve, a front end of the
`inner sleeve having an outer flange and a first and a second
`interface sections, a rear end of the inner sleeve having a
`rearward extending section; a nut, a rear end of the nut having
`an inner flange; and a conductive grounding spring mounted
`between the first interface section of the inner sleeve and the
`inner flange of the nut. The conductive grounding spring has
`an inner annular section fitted around the first interface sec-
`tion of the inner sleeve in secure contact therewith, and mul-
`tiple plate-like resilient tongue sections extending from an
`end of the inner annular section and outward bent and
`expanded for mechanically and electrically connecting with
`the inner flange of the nut. Accordingly, the coaxial cable
`connector can be reliably electrically connected with a
`threaded interface connector of an electronic device via the
`nut.
`
`When the nut of the coaxial cable connector is fully locked
`to the threaded interface connector of the electronic device,
`the resilient tongue sections are compressed from an outward
`expanded position to a contracted position where the resilient
`tongue sections are positioned between the inner flange of the
`nut and the first interface section of the inner sleeve. Accord-
`ingly, the nut is securely electrically connected with the inner
`sleeve.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`5
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`10 (cid:9)
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`20 (cid:9)
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`The structure and the technical means adopted by the
`present invention to achieve the above and other objects can
`be best understood by referring to the following detailed
`15 description of the preferred embodiment and the accompany-
`ing drawings, wherein:
`FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing that a conventional
`coaxial cable connector is not fully connected with a threaded
`interface connector of an electronic device;
`FIG. 2 is a perspective sectional view of the coaxial cable
`connector of the present invention;
`FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the coaxial cable connector of
`the present invention;
`FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the conductive grounding
`25 spring of the coaxial cable connector of the present invention;
`FIG. 5 is a left view of the conductive grounding spring of
`the coaxial cable connector of the present invention; and
`FIGS. 6A and 6B show the connection process of the
`coaxial cable connector of the present invention with a
`30 threaded interface connector of an electronic device.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
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`s5 (cid:9)
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`Please refer to FIGS. 2 and 3, in which FIG. 2 is a perspec-
`tive sectional view of the coaxial cable connector of the
`present invention and FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the coaxial
`cable connector of the present invention. The coaxial cable
`connector 20 includes an inner sleeve 21, an outer sleeve 26
`40 coaxially positioned around the inner sleeve 21 and radially
`spaced therefrom, and a conductive grounding spring 30. The
`inner and outer sleeve 21, 26 serve to coaxially receive a
`coaxial cable. A front end of the inner sleeve 21 has an outer
`flange 22, a first interface section 23, and a second interface
`45 section 24. A rear end of the inner sleeve 21 has a rearward
`extending section 25. The rearward extending section 25 has
`an outer diameter and a wall thickness smaller than those of
`the second interface section 24. A front end of the outer sleeve
`26 has an outer sleeve main body 27 embracing the second
`5o interface section 24 of the inner sleeve 21. A rear end of the
`outer sleeve 26 has a rearward extending section 28. The
`rearward extending section 28 has an outer diameter and a
`wall thickness smaller than those of the outer sleeve main
`body 27. The rearward extending section 28 of the outer
`55 sleeve 26 coaxially surrounds the rearward extending section
`25 of the inner sleeve 21 to define an annular space between
`the rearward extending section 28 of the outer sleeve 26 and
`the rearward extending section 25 of the inner sleeve 21. A nut
`29 is disposed at a front end of the coaxial cable connector20.
`6o A rear end of the nut 29 has an inner flange 291 freely
`rotatably sandwiched between the outer flange 22 and the
`outer sleeve main body 27. The nut 29 is formed with an inner
`thread 292 and an outer hexagonal section, whereby the
`coaxial cable connector 20 can be locked to an electronic
`65 device via the nut 29 by means of a wrench or the like tool.
`Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the conductive grounding
`spring 30 includes an inner annular section 31 defining a hole
`
`

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`3
`32. The hole 32 has such a diameter that the spring 30 can be
`fitted around the first interface section 23 of the inner sleeve
`21 in secure contact with a circumference of the first interface
`section 23. The conductive grounding spring 30 further
`includes multiple plate-like resilient tongue sections 33
`formed at an end of the inner annular section 31 at equal
`intervals. The resilient tongue sections 33 extend from the end
`of the inner annular section 31 and are outward bent and
`expanded by a predetermined angle for mechanically and
`electrically connecting with the inner flange 291 of the nut 29
`(as shown in FIG. 3). Accordingly, the coaxial cable connec-
`tor 20 can be reliably electrically connected with an elec-
`tronic device 40 via the nut 29 so as to ensure good signal
`transmission quality and good electrical performance.
`The conductive grounding spring 30 further includes mul-
`tiple plate-like outer arcuate sections 34 integrally connected
`with the inner annular section 31 and positioned between the
`resilient tongue sections 33. The outer arcuate sections 34
`tightly contact with the circumference of the first interface
`section 23, whereby the conductive grounding spring 30 is
`more securely connected with the inner sleeve 21.
`FIGS. 6A and 6B show the installation process of the
`coaxial cable connector 20 to the electronic device 40. First,
`the coaxial cable connector 20 is locked to the electronic
`device 40. At this time, the nut 29 has not yet fully connected
`with a threaded interface connector 41 of the electronic
`device 40. In the coaxial cable connector 20, the nut 29 is in
`good metal-to-metal contact with the inner sleeve 21 via the
`resilient tongue sections 33 of the conductive grounding
`spring 30. Substantially, the resilient tongue sections 33 are
`outward expanded by a predetermined angle in contact with
`the inner flange 291 of the nut 29. Accordingly, the coaxial
`cable connector 20 can be reliably electrically connected with
`the electronic device 40 via the nut 29 as shown in FIG. 6A.
`Afterwards, the nut 29 is fully locked onto the threaded
`interface connector 41 of the electronic device 40 to make the
`outer flange 22 of the inner sleeve 21 into contact with the
`inner flange 291 of the nut 29. When locked, the resilient
`tongue sections 33 of the conductive grounding spring 30 are
`compressed from an outward expanded position (as shown in
`FIG. 6A) to a contracted position (as shown in FIG. 6B).
`Eventually, the resilient tongue sections 33 are positioned
`between the inner flange 291 of the nut 29 and the first
`interface section 23 of the inner sleeve 21. In this case, the nut
`29 is securely electrically connected with the inner sleeve 21.
`The above embodiment is only used to illustrate the present
`invention, not intended to limit the scope thereof. It is under-
`stood that many changes or modifications of the above
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`US 7,892,024 B1
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`5 (cid:9)
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`10 (cid:9)
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`15
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`embodiment can be made by those who are skilled in this field
`without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The
`scope of the present invention is limited only by the appended
`claims.
`The invention claimed is:
`1. A coaxial cable connector for mechanically and electri-
`cally connecting a coaxial cable with a threaded interface
`connector of an electronic device, the coaxial cable connector
`comprising:
`an inner sleeve, a front end of the inner sleeve having an
`outer flange, a first interface section, and a second inter-
`face section, a rear end of the inner sleeve having a
`rearward extending section;
`an outer sleeve coaxially positioned around the inner
`sleeve;
`a nut rotatably connected with the threaded interface con-
`nector of the electronic device, a rear end of the nut
`having an inner flange; and
`a conductive grounding spring mounted between the first
`interface section of the inner sleeve and the inner flange
`of the nut, the conductive grounding spring having an
`inner annular section fitted around the first interface
`section of the inner sleeve in secure contact with a cir-
`cumference of the first interface section, the conductive
`grounding spring further having multiple plate-like
`resilient tongue sections formed at an end of the inner
`annular section at intervals, the resilient tongue sections
`extending from the end of the inner annular section and
`being outward bent and expanded for mechanically and
`electrically connecting with the inner flange of the nut,
`whereby the coaxial cable connector can be reliably
`electrically connected with the electronic device via the
`nut, when the nut of the coaxial cable connector is fully
`locked to the threaded interface connector of the elec-
`tronic device, the resilient tongue sections being com-
`pressed from an outward expanded position to a con-
`tracted position where the resilient tongue sections are
`positioned between the inner flange of the nut and the
`first interface section of the inner sleeve, whereby the nut
`is securely electrically connected with the inner sleeve.
`2. The coaxial cable connector as claimed in claim 1,
`wherein the conductive grounding spring further includes
`multiple plate-like outer arcuate sections integrally con-
`nected with the inner annular section and positioned between
`45 the resilient tongue sections, the outer arcuate sections being
`securely connected with the circumference of the first inter-
`face section of the inner sleeve.
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`40 (cid:9)