Coupling mechanism and connector having a coupling mechanism

Abstract

A connector having a conductive shell that supports at least one signal contact therein. The shell includes a front end for mating with a mating connector and a rear end opposite the front end for connection to a power or data transfer cable. A coupling member is configured to engage the conductive shell and engage a corresponding assembly associated with the mating connector to mechanically couple the connector and the mating connector together. A plurality of ground connections are provided at the front end of the conductive shell and a front section of the coupling member for grounding.

Description

[0001] Related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 979,878, filed February 21, 2020, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 979,259, filed February 20, 2020, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Application Serial No. 16 / 871,114, filed May 11, 2020. Each of these applications is entitled "High-Frequency Electrical Connector," and the subject matter of each of these applications is incorporated herein by reference. Background Technology

[0003] CATV networks are used to deliver high-speed data (e.g., internet and entertainment) to homes and businesses. The need for increased data speeds and bandwidth is driving the development and deployment of enhanced or upgraded networks. Current networks are defined by DOCSIS (Wired Data Transmission Service Interface Specification). Many current networks use a version of DOCSIS called DOCSIS 3.1, with a maximum frequency of 1.2 GHz. Next-generation networks will likely use DOCSIS 4.0, which will include "ESD" (Ultra-Broadband DOCSIS) and increase the maximum frequency to 1.8 GHz. These systems are expected to be deployed soon and will require upgrades to the entire "plant" (wired network) to operate at higher frequencies, such as the maximum frequencies of DOCSIS 3.1 and 4.0.

[0004] There is a growing need to prevent RF leakage and RF ingress from all enclosures and transmission lines (including RF connectors and cables) in CATV networks to improve RF performance. This need is increasing as more RF spectrum is licensed for commercial use, increasing the chance of crosstalk between systems operating in the same spectrum. For optimal RF performance, connector interfaces and cable transmission lines need to prevent these wireless signals from entering wired broadband systems.

[0005] Traditional F-type connectors for CATV typically perform poorly at higher frequencies. F-type connectors also suffer from well-known stability and reliability issues. A particularly concerning problem is when installers fail to properly tighten the connector to its mating components, leading to significant RF leakage and consequently degraded RF performance. Inconsistent and unreliable sealing in outdoor applications often causes CATV network failures. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This disclosure provides a connector including a conductive housing supporting at least one signal contact therein. The housing includes a front end for mating with a mating connector and a rear end opposite the front end for connection to a power or data transmission cable. A coupling member is configured to engage the conductive housing and also engage a corresponding component associated with the mating connector to mechanically couple the connector to the mating connector. A plurality of grounding connections are provided at the front end of the conductive housing and the front section of the coupling member, the grounding connections being configured to connect the mating connector to the connector and the cable.

[0007] In some instances, a coupling member is disposed on a conductive housing; the coupling member is rotatably coupled to the conductive housing; the coupling member is a sleeve comprising a front section configured to engage a corresponding component associated with a mating connector; and a rear section configured to engage the rear end of the conductive housing; the connector further comprises a retaining member disposed on the coupling sleeve, the retaining member being slidable relative to the coupling member between an unlocked position and a locked position; the retaining member comprises a ring body disposed on the coupling sleeve; and / or the ring body comprises an end portion extending beyond the rear section of the coupling member.

[0008] In other instances, the front section of the coupling member includes internal threads; multiple grounding connections define multiple grounding paths through the connector to electrically engage the mating connector with the connector and the cable; the coupling member is a spring clip that engages an external annular groove of the conductive shell; the conductive shell includes a dielectric insert that supports at least one signal contact; and / or the connector is an electrical connector.

[0009] This disclosure may also provide a connector including a conductive housing supporting at least one signal contact therein. The housing includes a front end for mating with a mating connector and a rear end opposite the front end for connection to a power or data transmission cable. A coupling sleeve is disposed on the conductive housing. The coupling sleeve includes a front section configured to engage a corresponding component associated with the mating connector and a rear section configured to engage the conductive housing. A retaining member is disposed on at least a portion of the coupling sleeve, the retaining member being slidable relative to the coupling sleeve between an unlocked position and a locked position.

[0010] In some instances, the coupling sleeve includes an elongated body with an external clamping surface, a front portion of the coupling sleeve having internal threads, and a rear section configured to cover the rear end of a conductive shell; the coupling sleeve includes one or more flexible latches for engaging the conductive shell and one or more flexible guard teeth adjacent to the one or more flexible latches; a retaining member includes a ring body disposed above the one or more flexible guard teeth; the ring body is configured to slide axially relative to the rear end of the conductive shell between an unlocked position and a locked position; the ring body includes one or more windows corresponding to one or more flexible guard teeth of the rear section of the coupling sleeve; the ring body includes an end portion extending beyond the rear section of the coupling sleeve, the end portion including an end face in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the coupling sleeve; and / or the ring body includes one or more tabs opposite the end face, the tabs being configured to engage corresponding notches on the outer surface of the coupling sleeve.

[0011] In other embodiments, the connector further includes a plurality of grounding connections defining a plurality of grounding paths; the plurality of grounding paths being electrically coupled to form a combined grounding path within the connector; the plurality of grounding paths being electrically coupled to form a combined grounding path outside the connector; and / or the connector being an electrical connector.

[0012] This disclosure may further provide a connector including a conductive housing supporting at least one signal contact therein. The housing includes a front end for mating with a mating connector and a rear end opposite the front end for electrical connection to a power or data transmission cable. The front end includes a primary ground connection configured to electrically connect the mating connector to the cable. A coupling sleeve is disposed on the conductive housing. The coupling sleeve includes a front section having internal threads configured to engage a corresponding component associated with the mating connector; and a rear section having one or more flexible snap-fit ​​latches configured to engage the rear end of the conductive housing. The front section of the coupling sleeve includes a secondary ground connection configured to electrically connect the mating connector to the cable. A retaining ring is disposed on the rear section of the coupling sleeve, the retaining ring being slidable relative to the coupling sleeve between an unlocked position and a locked position.

[0013] In some instances, the rear section of the coupling sleeve includes one or more flexible protective teeth adjacent to one or more flexible snap-lock latches; each flexible protective tooth includes an inclined surface configured to facilitate sliding a retaining ring into a locked position; the retaining ring includes one or more windows corresponding to the one or more flexible protective teeth; and / or the retaining ring includes an end portion extending through the rear section of the coupling sleeve, and the end portion includes an end face in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the coupling sleeve.

[0014] In other instances, the corresponding component of the mating connector is the engagement feature of the support panel or wall in which the mating connector is mounted; the primary and secondary ground connections are individual contacts, at least one of which is on the outer surface of the front end of the conductive housing and the other of which is on the inner surface of the front section of the coupling member; the primary and secondary ground connections define multiple ground paths; the multiple ground paths are combined to form a combined ground path within the electrical connector; the multiple ground paths are combined to form a combined ground path outside the electrical connector; and / or the connector is an electrical connector.

[0015] This summary is not intended to identify the essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. It should be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and features of this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The accompanying drawings are incorporated in and form part of this specification. It should be understood that the drawings illustrate only some examples of this disclosure, and other examples or combinations of examples not specifically illustrated in the drawings may still fall within the scope of this disclosure. Examples will now be described in additional detail using the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0017] Figure 1 This is an exploded cross-sectional view of an electrical connector and its assembly according to an example of this disclosure;

[0018] Figures 2a to 2c are... Figure 1 Various perspective views of one of the electrical connectors in the assembly described herein, which illustrate exemplary coupling components of this disclosure;

[0019] Figures 3a to 3c are various exploded views of an electrical connector assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0020] Figures 4a to 4d are various cross-sectional and perspective views of an electrical connector and electrical connector assembly according to yet another example of the present disclosure;

[0021] Figures 5a to 5c are perspective views and cross-sectional views of an electrical connector assembly according to another example of the present disclosure;

[0022] Figure 6 and 7 This is a view of alternative joining features according to an example of this disclosure;

[0023] Figure 8a is a front view of the coupling and retaining components according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, showing the retaining component in the unlocked position;

[0024] Figure 8b is a cross-sectional view of the coupling component and the retaining component illustrated in Figure 8a;

[0025] Figure 9a is a front view of the coupling and retaining components illustrated in Figures 8a and 8b, showing the retaining component in the locked position;

[0026] Figure 9b is a cross-sectional view of the coupling component and the retaining component illustrated in Figure 9a;

[0027] Figure 10 This is a partial enlarged view of the front part of the coupling component illustrated in Figures 8a to 9b;

[0028] Figures 11a and 11b are front and cross-sectional views of the electrical connector of this disclosure in the initial mating position with the mating connector and the coupling component of Figure 8a in the disengaged position.

[0029] Figures 12a and 12b are front and cross-sectional views of the electrical connector assembly illustrated in Figures 11a and 11b, the electrical connector assembly having a coupling member in an engaged position with a mating connector and a retaining member in an unlocked position;

[0030] Figures 13a and 13b are front and cross-sectional views of Figures 12a and 12b, which are similar to electrical connector assemblies, showing the retaining member in the locked position;

[0031] Figure 13c is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector illustrated in Figure 13b, showing the retaining member in the locked position;

[0032] Figure 13d is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector assembly illustrated in Figure 13b;

[0033] Figure 14a is a front view of another coupling component and another retaining component according to an example of this disclosure;

[0034] Figure 14b is a cross-sectional view of the coupling component and the retaining component illustrated in Figure 14a;

[0035] Figures 15a and 15b are partial end perspective views of the coupling and retaining components illustrated in Figures 14a and 14b, showing the retaining components in the unlocked and locked positions, respectively.

[0036] Figure 16a is a front view of the coupling component and the retaining component according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0037] Figure 16b is a partial cross-sectional end view of the coupling and retaining components illustrated in Figure 16a, showing the retaining component in the locked position;

[0038] Figures 17a and 17b are front and cross-sectional views of the electrical connector of this disclosure in the initial mating position with the mating connector and the coupling component of Figure 16a in the disengaged position.

[0039] Figures 17c and 17d are front and cross-sectional views of the electrical connector assembly illustrated in Figures 17a and 17b, the electrical connector assembly having a coupling member in an engaged position with a mating connector and a retaining member in an unlocked position.

[0040] Figures 17e and 17f are front and cross-sectional views of Figures 17c and 17d, which are similar to electrical connector assemblies, showing the retaining member in the locked position;

[0041] Figures 17g and 17h are cross-sectional views of the electrical connector assembly illustrated in Figures 17a and 17b;

[0042] Figure 18 This is a front view of another coupling component and another retaining component according to yet another embodiment of this disclosure; and

[0043] Figures 19a and 19b are graphs illustrating the improved electrical performance of the electrical connector assembly of this disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0044] This disclosure relates to electrical connectors and assemblies thereof designed to significantly improve RF performance, such as for high-frequency applications. The electrical connectors of this disclosure provide reliable and consistent RF performance even at high frequencies, whether used indoors or outdoors. This disclosure can be, for example, RF connectors and assemblies for CATV broadband applications configured to provide an intuitive user experience suitable for consumer-grade use; support bandwidth expansion for future systems and protocols, including convergence with 5G; and / or achieve high RF entry protection for current and future radio bands. The connector technology of this disclosure is designed to provide consistent performance with a margin of safety for future network enhancements with higher frequency capabilities (e.g., 6 GHz and above) for indoor and outdoor applications using home / enterprise coaxial cables. Furthermore, the connectors of this disclosure are designed to provide stability, sealing, and reliability for outdoor use. Although the connectors in the exemplary embodiments described herein are electrical connectors, in other embodiments, the connectors can be other types of connectors, such as, but not limited to, fiber optic, power, signal, or hybrid connectors.

[0045] The disclosed examples include connectors comprising a conductive housing supporting at least one contact (e.g., a signal contact) therein. The housing includes a front end for mating with a mating connector and a rear end opposite the front end for electrical connection to a power or data transmission cable. A coupling member is configured to engage the conductive housing and a corresponding component associated with the mating connector to mechanically couple the electrical connector and the mating connector together. Multiple grounding connections are provided at the front end of the conductive housing and the front section of the coupling member. The grounding connections are configured to electrically connect the mating connector to the electrical connector and the cable.

[0046] The example also includes a connector comprising a conductive shell supporting at least one signal contact therein, and including a front end for mating with a mating connector and a rear end opposite the front end for electrical connection to a power or data transmission cable. A coupling sleeve is disposed on the conductive shell. The coupling sleeve includes a front section configured to engage a corresponding component associated with the mating connector; and a rear section configured to engage the conductive shell. A retaining member is disposed on the coupling sleeve. The retaining member is configured to slide relative to the coupling sleeve between an unlocked position and a locked position.

[0047] refer to Figure 1 This describes an electrical connector assembly 100 according to an example of this disclosure, the assembly having electrical connectors or components 102 and 104. The electrical connector 100 is designed to improve RF performance at high frequencies by suppressing RF leakage and ingress at the interface of the assembled connectors 102 and 104, whether used in indoor or outdoor applications. The electrical connector assembly 100 may also incorporate a coupling member 200 configured to provide additional mechanical engagement between the electrical connectors of the assembly to increase the mechanical strength of the assembly 100, particularly the mechanical strength of the interface of connectors 102 and 104 relative to cable load. One or more sealing members, such as sealing member 300, may also be provided with the assembly 100. The one or more sealing members are configured to form an environmental seal between the components of the assembly 100, which is useful for outdoor applications.

[0048] Connectors or components 102 and 104 may be, for example, a plug and a socket, respectively, such as Figure 1 As seen in the image, the socket 104 can be mounted to the bracket 10, such as a panel or housing wall. Each of the plug 102 and socket 104 has a respective outer conductive shell 106 and 108 and at least one signal contact, such as a pin and socket 150 and 152, respectively, which mate with each other and are supported therein. Each shell 106 and 108 of the connectors 102 and 104 may include front ends 130 and 132, respectively, which are configured to interface with other mating components.

[0049] In this example, the rear end 133 of the plug housing 106 is configured to terminate and electrically connect to a cable C, such as a coaxial cable, as shown in... Figure 1As seen in 2b, cable C has a dielectric and a center conductor. The center conductor of cable C is fed into the center contact of plug 102. It should be understood that plug 102 can be configured to accommodate any type of cable, including power or data transmission cables required for specific applications, such as indoor or outdoor use of the assembly. And although in the exemplary embodiments described herein the connector is coupled to a coaxial cable, in other embodiments the connector can be coupled to other types of cables, such as, but not limited to, fiber optic cables, power cables, signal cables, differential pair cables, hybrid cables, etc.

[0050] The plug 102 has pin contacts 150 with contact ends 151 for connection to corresponding contact ends 153 for connection with the socket 152. The rear end of the pin 150 opposite its contact end can be electrically connected to the cable C. For example... Figure 1 As seen in the image, the prong contacts 150 of plug 102 can be supported in a retracted position from the front end 130 of housing 106. That is, the front end 130 of plug housing 106 extends past the contact end of prong contacts 150, causing prongs 150 to retract from the front of housing 106, thereby allowing for a misaligned, closed-in engagement with receptacle 104. The rear end 136 of receptacle 104 is configured, in a right-handed, straight, or other configuration, for example, via prongs 137 at the rear end of housing 108, to be electrically connected to a printed circuit board or other components (e.g., a filter module or a direct electrical connection to a cable routed to another location in the device). The rear end or tip of prong contacts 152 opposite their contact ends can also be electrically connected to a printed circuit board or other components, for example, via one or more prongs 139 at the rear end of housing 108. In some instances, the front end 130 of plug housing 106 extends beyond the front section 202 of coupling member 200.

[0051] The socket 104 may include an inner conductive housing 140. The housing 140 is received inside an outer conductive housing 108, wherein a dielectric insert 141 supports the socket contacts 152 therein, as shown below. Figure 1As seen in the image, similar to the positioning of the pin contact 150, the socket contact 152 can be supported in a retracted position relative to the front of the socket housing 108 to provide a closed engagement. That is, the socket housing 108 can extend past the contact end of the socket contact 152 and the end of the dielectric insert 141 supporting the socket contact 152. The front end 142 of the socket inner housing 140 can mate with the front end 130 of the plug housing 106, and the rear end 144 of the inner housing 140 can electrically engage a printed circuit board or other components. The front end of the inner housing 140 may include one or more spring-loaded fingers 143. The fingers 143 generally surround the contact end of the socket contact 152. The rear ends of both the socket housing and the inner housing are configured to engage a printed circuit board or other components, for example, by solder or press-fit pins. The space between the inner surface of the socket housing 108 and the outer surface of the socket inner housing 140 is sized to accommodate a receiving area of ​​the front end 130 of the plug housing 106.

[0052] The socket 104 can be mounted in a bracket 10, which can form part of a device panel, wall, box, or other component. The bracket 10 may have a body 12 extending therefrom. The bracket 10 has an internal aperture 14, the size of which is designed and configured to receive the socket 104. At least a portion of the outer surface of the body 12 may have engagement features, such as external threads 18, designed to engage corresponding engagement features of the coupling member 200. For assembling the connector, the front end 130 of the plug 102 can be inserted into the front end 132 of the socket 104 and then pushed onto the inner shell 140 of the socket, such that the pins 150 and the socket 152 are connected and the conductive shell 106 of the plug and the outer shell 108 of the socket contact each other, and the conductive shell 106 of the plug and the inner shell 140 of the socket contact each other. When the plug and socket 102 and 104 are initially mated, the space 218 between the conductive shell 106 of the plug and the front section 202 of the coupling member 200 receives the front end of the body 12. Figure 1As illustrated, in some instances, the socket 104 is retracted from the front end 13 of the body 12 of the bracket 10. The advantage of positioning the socket 104 in this retracted position is that it properly positions the center and external contacts of the socket 104 (e.g., socket 152 and contacts 112, 122, respectively) from the front end 13 of the body 12, such that when the plug 102 mates with the socket 104, the plug 102 fully engages in the corrected position with proper contact overlap. Secondly, the retracted position of the socket 104 allows the front portion of the internal bore 14 to align with, integrate with, or align with and integrate with the body 12, such that the internal bore 14 is properly sealed to the sealing member 300 to reduce or prevent additional leakage paths. In some instances, the sealing member 300 seals to the internal bore 14. In other instances, the sealing member 300 seals to the housing 108. In still other instances, the sealing member 300 may seal to both the housing 108 and the internal bore 14.

[0053] In examples of this disclosure, plug 102 and socket 104 may have multiple grounding connections, such as primary grounding connections 110 and 112 and secondary grounding connections 120 and 122, for example, as in Figure 1 As seen in the diagram, primary ground connections 110 and 112 define a primary ground path through assembly 100, and secondary ground connections 120 and 122 define a secondary ground path through assembly 100. The primary and secondary ground paths may be separate or at least partially combined via connectors 102 and 104. That is, multiple ground paths may be electrically coupled to form a combined ground path within or outside the electrical connector.

[0054] Primary ground connections 110 and 112 can be any grounding technique, such as grounding through conductive surfaces or contacts of the connector housings 106, 108, and 140 that are in contact with each other, grounding through additional ground contacts isolated and connected to the device PCB, or grounding through a conventional single ground, etc. In one embodiment, each of primary ground connections 110 and 112 is one or more internal contacts inside the housings 106 and 108. Primary ground connections 110 and 112 according to this disclosure provide a connection to ensure that RF signals pass through the connector assembly, i.e., plug 102 and socket 104, with minimal signal loss.

[0055] The internal contacts of the primary ground connection 110 of the plug may be located, for example, near or at its front end 130 on the inner surface of its housing 106, and positioned to engage the primary ground connection 112 of the receptacle, which may be a contact on the outer surface of the inner conductive housing 140 of the receptacle. The internal ground contact of the receptacle 104 may be located, for example, at the front end of the inner housing 140 on one or more of the spring clip fingers 143. Alternatively, the internal contacts of the primary ground connections 110 and 112 may be located or incorporated into one or more arms, teeth, flaps, beams, etc.

[0056] Secondary ground connections 120 and 122 are configured to provide additional or double grounding at the interface of connector assembly 100. The function of secondary ground connections 120 and 122 according to this disclosure is to provide a secondary barrier to significantly reduce the power level of RF signals leaking from or into the transmission lines between connectors. Secondary ground connections 120 and 122 reduce the leakage or leached power level below the point of sensitivity of the system using it.

[0057] Similar to the primary grounding connection, the secondary grounding connections 120 and 122 of plug 102 and socket 104, respectively, can be any grounding technique, such as grounding through the conductive surface of the connector housing 106 or 108, grounding through an additional grounding contact isolated and connected to the device PCB, or grounding through a conventional single ground, etc. For example, the secondary grounding connection 120 of the plug can be one or more external contacts located on the outer surface of housing 106, said one or more external contacts being connected to one or more internal contacts of the grounding connection 122 of the socket. In one aspect, the external contacts of plug 102 can be located in an annular recess of housing 106. The internal contacts of socket 104 can be located on the inner surface of housing 108. In an embodiment, the internal contacts of socket 104 can be located on a spring tab extending inward from the inner surface of housing. Alternatively, the external contacts of plug 102 and the internal contacts of socket 104 can be positioned or incorporated into one or more arms, teeth, flaps, beams, etc.

[0058] In embodiments of this disclosure, the coupling member 200 may be configured as a sleeve that is rotatably coupled to the plug 102. In some embodiments, the coupling member 200 is rotatably coupled to the plug 102 by snapping the coupling member 200 onto the plug 102, particularly onto the conductive housing 106 of the plug. For example, specifically referring to FIG. 2b, the coupling member 200 may be configured to slide over the plug 102 to convert the plug 102 from an indoor use version to an outdoor use version. In some embodiments, the plug 102 is converted from an indoor use version to an outdoor use version by adding a sealing member 300 to the conductive housing 106 of the plug. In some embodiments, a field technician may install the sealing member 300 onto the conductive housing 106 of the plug at a recess 301 on the conductive housing 106 of the plug. When the plug 102 is coupled to the socket 104, the sealing member 300 provides a seal between the conductive housing 106 of the plug and the internal hole 14 of the body 12 of the bracket 10. Additionally, prior to coupling plug 102 and socket 104, a field technician can install coupling component 200 for additional weather protection and to reinforce the engagement between plug 102 and socket 104. As described in more detail below, the field technician can slide coupling component 200 in the axial direction A to rotatably and, in some cases, detachably attach coupling component 200 to plug 102. Therefore, the same plug 102 can be used for indoor applications as well as outdoor applications with the addition of sealing component 300 and / or coupling component 200. In practice, the field technician can bring these components (e.g., plug 102, sealing component 300, and coupling component 200) to the work site and decide whether to use plug 102 alone (as the indoor version) or whether to use plug 102, sealing component 300, and / or coupling component 200 as needed (as the outdoor version). This eliminates the need for field technicians to carry both indoor-only and outdoor-only versions of the plug, maximizing flexibility and minimizing connector variations in inventory.

[0059] The coupling component 200, sometimes referred to herein as "sleeve 200," may be made of plastic, metal, or both, or a combination of both. In other instances, the coupling component 200 may be made of other materials, depending on the end use of the plug 102.

[0060] The coupling sleeve 200 may have an elongated body having a front section 202, a rear section 204, and an intermediate section 205 therebetween, as shown in... Figure 1See 2a to 2c. The front section 202 has an engagement feature, for example, an internal thread 206, which is configured to engage a corresponding engagement feature of the support 10, such as an external thread 18. The middle section 205 of the sleeve has an external clamping surface 208 to facilitate the application of torque to the sleeve 200. In some instances, the rear section 204 of the sleeve 200 is elongated and designed to receive and cover the termination end of the cable C. In other instances, the rear section 204 does not cover the termination end of the cable C. One or more flexible latches 212 may be provided at or near the rear section 204 of the sleeve 200 for engaging the plug 102. Each latch 212 may have an internal lip 214 extending inside the sleeve 200. The internal lip 214 may be configured to "clamp" over the rear end 133 of the plug housing 106, as shown in Figure 1 Ideally, the inner lip 214 contacts the rearward surface 135 of the rear end 133 of the plug 102 and acts as a stop to secure (or at least detachably secure) the coupling member 200 to the plug 102. Referring specifically to FIG. 2b, a field technician can slide the coupling member 200 in the axial direction A to rotatably and, in some cases, detachably secure the coupling member 200 to the plug 102. More specifically, as the field technician moves the coupling member 200 over the plug, the plug 106 passes through the central opening 207 of the rear section 204 of the sleeve 200. The field technician continues to move the coupling member 200 in the axial direction A, and the flexible latch 212 bends as one or more inner lips 214 pass through the conductive shell 106 of the plug. When the inner lip 214 reaches the rearward surface 135 of the rear end 133 of the plug 102, the flexible latch 212 engages. Figure 1 In the position described herein, the inner lip 214 contacts the rearward surface 135 of the rear end 133 of the plug 102 to secure the coupling member 200 to the plug 102. Therefore, in some instances, no tools are required to secure the coupling member 200 to the plug 102.

[0061] Although Figure 1In the example described herein, the inner lip 214 is secured to the rearward surface 135 of the rear end 133 of the plug 102. However, in other examples, the coupling member 200 may be secured to the plug 102 in other ways. For example, the plug 102 may include an outer lip (not shown) on the outer surface of the plug housing 106, and the inner lip 214 of the coupling member 200 may abut the outer lip of the plug housing 106 to secure the coupling member 200 to the plug 102. In yet another example, the plug housing 106 may include a recess (not shown), and the inner lip 214 of the coupling member 200 may fit within the recess to secure the coupling member 200 to the plug 102. For clarity, in any of the examples described herein, the coupling member 200 may be detachably or non-detachably secured to the plug 102. Moreover, the coupling member 200 may be rotatably or non-rotatably secured to the plug 102. The engagement between the inner lip 214 of the coupling component 200 and the rearward surface 135 of the rear end 133 of the plug 102 can provide some environmental sealing, such as dust and particulate sealing, and also forms a dangerous path for any water jets under high pressure, such that high-pressure water is blocked from the actual sealing area by the O-ring.

[0062] Refer again Figure 1 The rear section 204 of the sleeve may have a collision protection end portion 220 at its distal end 221 adjacent to or near the latch 212. The collision protection end portion 220 may be, for example, an annular shoulder end portion, such as... Figure 1 As can be seen, the annular shoulder end portion is configured to protect the flexible end of the latch 212 from damage that may occur during the transport and handling of the connector.

[0063] A sealing member 300 may be disposed around the plug housing 106 in the general area of ​​the space 218 between the outer surface of the housing 106 and the inner surface of the sleeve 200. The sealing member 300 may be a piston or cylindrical seal, such as an O-ring or gasket made of a sealing material such as rubber. An annular channel or groove 301 may be provided in the outer surface of the housing 106 to hold the sealing member 300. The sealing member 300 may be located between the inner and outer diameters of the assembly 100, thereby creating compression to produce an environmental seal sufficient for use of the assembly 100 in an outdoor environment. For example, the outer diameter may be the outer diameter of the front end 130 of the plug housing 106, and the inner diameter may be the inner diameter of the body 12 of the support 10. Thus, the sealing member 300 may be disposed between the plug housing 106 and the body 12 of the support socket 104. This positioning of the sealing member 300 separates the tightness of the fit of the assembly 100 from its sealing performance. In other words, the sealing performance of the assembly 100 does not necessarily depend on the tightness of the fit of the assembly 100. The sealing element 300 provides a piston-type seal between the overlapping mating diameters of the bore (socket socket 104) and the shaft (plug 102). Therefore, the seal remains independent of mating conditions over a relatively large range of positions defined by the overlapping length of the bore (socket socket 104) and shaft (plug 102). In contrast, typical O-ring seals (such as those commonly found in Type F connectors) require the mating interface to be clamped together with the coupling mechanism to achieve gasket compression and thus seal integrity. The sealing element 300 increases stability and reliability to reduce connector field failures and associated maintenance costs, downtime, and customer dissatisfaction. In some instances, the housing 106 of the plug 102 may include one or more additional sealing elements, for example, located on the outer surface of the housing 106, for sealing the inner surface of the coupling element 200.

[0064] When the plug 102 and socket 104 are initially engaged as described above, the sleeve 200 can be pushed forward and rotated from its disengaged position to its engaged position, wherein the internal thread 206 of the sleeve engages with the external thread 18 of the body 12 supporting the socket 104. This threaded engagement provides additional mechanical connection for the engagement of the plug and sockets 102 and 104, thereby increasing the mechanical strength of the assembly 100. For example, the threaded engagement between the internal thread 206 of the sleeve and the external thread 18 of the body 12 reduces the likelihood of the plug 102 unintentionally disengaging from the socket 104. For example, when the internal thread 206 of the sleeve is coupled to the external thread 18 of the body, the tension on the cable C is transmitted primarily through the sleeve 200 and the body 12, rather than the plug 102 and socket 104 themselves. Although the threaded engagement between the coupling member 200 and the body 12 of the support is shown, any known mechanical engagement, such as a snap-fit, bayonet, or interference fit, can be used.

[0065] Figures 3a to 3c illustrate another embodiment of this disclosure, wherein a bayonet engagement is provided between the coupling member 200' and the body 12 of the bracket 10. In this embodiment, the coupling member 200' is a sleeve. The sleeve 200' may have a shorter body length than the sleeve 200 of the above embodiments. Thus, for example, the coupling member 200' may not completely cover the rear end 133' of the plug 102. The front portion 202' of the coupling member 200' includes a bayonet engagement feature 206' that mates with a corresponding bayonet engagement feature 18' of the body 12 of the bracket 10. The bayonet engagement feature 206' may be a curved ramp, for example, designed to receive the bayonet engagement feature 18', such as one or more spaced protrusions, or vice versa. The body of the coupling member 200' may include a slotted outer surface 205' to facilitate clamping of the coupling member 200'. For example, an internal secondary sealing component 302 (FIG. 3a) of the O-ring rubber gasket can be provided at the back 204' of the coupling component 200' to provide an additional seal between the housing 106 of the plug and the interior of the body of the coupling component 200'.

[0066] Figures 4a to 4d illustrate yet another embodiment of this disclosure, wherein a coupling member 400 is provided, configured to slide on and over the body 12 of the support 10 (retaining socket 104) for engagement therewith. The coupling member 400 may be rotatably coupled to the housing 106 of the plug. The coupling member 400 may include an inner sleeve 402. The coupling sleeve 402 is designed to cooperate with an outer retaining member 404, which may be an outer sleeve. The outer retaining sleeve 404 is configured to slide axially over the inner coupling sleeve 402 between an unlocked position (Figures 4a and 4b) and a locked position (Figures 4c and 4d). A portion 405 of the outer surface of the outer retaining sleeve 404 may be knurled or slotted to facilitate clamping. The inner coupling sleeve 402 may include an engagement feature at its front end, such as a flexible spring arm 406. The arm 406 engages a corresponding engagement feature, such as an annular groove 18'', on the outer surface of the body 12 of the support. The distal end of each arm 406 may include an inner lip 408, which may be fitted or snapped into a groove 18''.

[0067] As seen in Figures 4a to 4d, the coupling sleeve 402 can be configured to slide over the plug 102 to convert the plug 102 from an indoor version to an outdoor version. In some instances, the conversion is achieved by adding a sealing element 300 to the conductive housing 106 of the plug. In some instances, a field technician can install the sealing element 300 onto the conductive housing 106 of the plug at a groove 301. When the plug 102 is coupled to the socket 104, the sealing element 300 provides a seal between the conductive housing 106 of the plug and the internal bore 14 of the body 12 of the bracket 10. Additionally, before coupling the plug 102 and the socket 104, a field technician can also install the coupling sleeve 402 for additional weather protection and to reinforce the engagement between the plug 102 and the socket 104. The field technician can slide the coupling sleeve 402 in the axial direction A to rotatably and, in some cases, detachably attach the coupling sleeve 402 to the plug 102. Therefore, the same plug 102 can be used for indoor applications as well as outdoor applications with the addition of the sealing component 300 and / or the coupling sleeve 402. In practice, field technicians can bring these components (e.g., plug 102, sealing component 300, and coupling sleeve 402) to the work site and decide whether to use plug 102 alone (as the indoor version) or whether to use plug 102, sealing component 300, and / or coupling component 400 as needed (as the outdoor version). This eliminates the need for field technicians to carry both indoor-only and outdoor-only plugs, maximizing flexibility and minimizing connector variations in inventory.

[0068] When connectors 102 and 104 mate, coupling sleeve 402 engages the front end of the body 12 of the bracket, causing the latch 406 of sleeve 402 to expand outward, with the inner lip 408 of the latch located on the annular groove 18'' of the bracket, as seen in FIG. 4a, while the outer retaining sleeve 404 remains in its unlocked position. Once connectors 102 and 104 mate, coupling sleeve 402 can be configured to push over the front end of the body 12 of the bracket to engage with the body of the bracket. The outer retaining sleeve 404 can then slide axially relative to the inner coupling sleeve 402 to its locked position, where the outer retaining sleeve covers the arm 406 of the inner coupling sleeve 402, thereby maintaining engagement of the coupling sleeve 402 with the body 12 of the bracket. That is, once the inner coupling sleeve 402 is properly positioned over the body 12 of the bracket 10, the outer retaining sleeve 404 can then move axially to slide relative to the coupling sleeve 402 toward the bracket 10. When the outer retaining sleeve 404 reaches the front end of the coupling sleeve 402, the inner surface of the outer retaining sleeve 404 covers and contacts the latches 406 of the coupling sleeve to force the latches 406 inward, so that their inner lips 408 engage with the annular groove 18'' of the body 12 of the bracket 10, as seen in FIG4c, thereby retaining the lips 408 in the groove 18'' to securely engage the components 102 and 104.

[0069] Figures 5a to 5c illustrate yet another embodiment of this disclosure, wherein the plug 102 is fixedly engaged with the socket 104 and the body 12 of the bracket via a coupling member 500. The coupling member 500 may be separate from the plug 102 and the socket 104. In this embodiment, the coupling member 500 may be a spring clip configured to engage the front end 130 of the plug housing 106 and the body 12 of the bracket 10. The retaining clip 500 may have a generally E-shaped or C-shaped body 502. The body 502 is generally flat to fit within a corresponding external annular groove 510 of the plug 102 and a corresponding annular slot 512 of the bracket 10. The body 502 of the retaining clip has an open end defining two legs 504. The distal end 506 of each leg 504 of the retaining clip 500 may have a generally hook shape, as best seen in Figure 5a, to facilitate engagement with the body 12 of the bracket. The recess 510 of the plug 102 may be located near the front end 130 of the plug housing 106, for example, in front of the sealing member 300, as seen in FIG. 5b. Similarly, the slot 512 of the body 12 of the bracket 10 may be located near the front of the body 12, as seen in FIG. 5a.

[0070] Once the plug 102 and socket 104 are initially engaged, such that the prongs 150 are received in the socket 152, as described above, the retaining clip 500 can be assembled onto the mating assembly to secure the engagement therebetween. When the plug 102 and socket 104 are initially engaged, the recess 510 of the plug 102 and the slot 512 of the body 12 of the bracket 10 are substantially aligned. When the retaining clip 500 is assembled onto the mating assembly, the legs 504 of the retaining clip 500 can be inserted above and into the slot 512 of the body 12 of the bracket until the distal end 506 of the legs 504 hooks under the body 12 of the bracket 10, as seen in Figure 5c. When the retaining clip 500 is inserted into the slot 512 of the body 12 of the bracket, the legs 504 of the retaining clip 500 also engage the external recess 510 of the plug housing 106.

[0071] Other engagement features may be provided on the body 12 of the bracket 10 to engage the coupling components disclosed herein. For example, the outer surface of the bracket body may include a combination of external threads 18 and annular grooves 18'', as in... Figure 6 As seen in [the image]. Alternatively, the engagement mechanism can be made into a separate insert 18''' that screws into the bracket 10, as [example shown]. Figure 7 I saw it in the middle.

[0072] Figures 8a to 13b illustrate yet another example of the coupling member 600 of this disclosure. The coupling member 600 may include a coupling sleeve 602. The sleeve 602 is disposed on the plug 102 and is slidable forward relative to it from a disengaged position (Figures 11a and 11b) to an engaged position (Figures 12a and 12b), wherein the front section 603 of the sleeve 602 engages with the body 12 of the bracket 10 in which the socket 104 is mounted.

[0073] When in use (Figures 12a to 13b), the coupling sleeve 602 is disposed around at least a portion of the conductive housing 106 of the plug. The coupling sleeve 602 may have an elongated body 601 having a front section 603 and a rear section 604. The front section 603 is configured to reinforce the mechanical coupling of the plug 102 and the socket 104 together, with the socket 104 mounted in the bracket 10, by engaging a corresponding component associated with the mating connector or socket 104. The front section 603 has an engagement feature, such as a flexible snap-fit ​​arm 606. The arm 606 is configured to engage a corresponding component or engagement feature of the body 12 of the bracket 10, such as an annular groove 18''. Figure 6 Arm 606 engages with a corresponding annular groove 18" on the outer surface of the body 12 of the support. The distal end of each arm 606 may include an inner lip that can be fitted or snapped into the groove 18''. The front section 603 may have a protective ring 605 at its distal front end. Figure 10This is to protect the flexible arm 606 from damage.

[0074] Referring to Figures 8a and 8b, the rear section 604 of the sleeve 602 has an external clamping surface 608 to facilitate movement of the sleeve 602 relative to the plug 102. The rear section 604 of the sleeve 602 is designed to receive and cover the termination end of the cable C (see, for example, Figure 12b). One or more flexible snap-fit ​​latches 612 may be disposed in the coupling sleeve 602. The flexible snap-fit ​​latches 612 extend inward to engage the rear end of the plug 102. In the position shown in 12b, the rear section 604 of the sleeve 602 is pushed over the plug 102, thereby opening the arm 612 until the spring arm 612 engages behind the plug 102. Each latch 612 may have an internal lip 614 extending inside the sleeve 602. The inner lip 614 can be configured to snap onto the rear end 133 of the plug housing 106, such that the inner lip 614 contacts the rearward surface 135 of the rear end 133 of the plug 102 and acts as a stop to secure (or at least detachably secure) the coupling member 602 to the plug 102. A collision protection end portion 620 can be located adjacent to or near the distal rear end of the rear section 604 of the sleeve of the flexible latch 612, as best seen in FIG. 9b, to protect the end of the latch 612 from damage, such as potential damage due to the transport and handling of the connector.

[0075] As seen in Figures 12a to 13c, the coupling sleeve 602 can be configured to slide over the plug 102 to convert the plug 102 from an indoor version to an outdoor version. In some instances, the conversion is achieved by adding a sealing element 300 to the conductive shell 106 of the plug. In some instances, a field technician can install the sealing element 300 onto the conductive shell 106 of the plug at a groove 301. When the plug 102 is coupled to the socket 104, the sealing element 300 provides a seal between the conductive shell 106 of the plug and the internal hole 14 of the body 12 of the bracket 10. Additionally, before coupling the plug 102 and the socket 104, a field technician can also install the coupling sleeve 602 for additional weather protection and to reinforce the engagement between the plug 102 and the socket 104. The field technician can slide the coupling sleeve 602 axially over the plug 104 from the front of the plug to the back of the plug and can rest it on the cable C until it is ready for use. To use the coupling sleeve 602, the coupling sleeve 602 slides axially relative to the plug 102 in direction A to initially rotatably and in some cases detachably secure the coupling sleeve 602 to the plug 102. Once the coupling sleeve 602 is on the cable C (see, for example, Figure 11a), the plug 102 can be secured to the socket 104 (see, for example, Figure 11a) and the coupling sleeve 602 can be secured to the body 12 of the bracket 10. Thus, the same plug 102 can be used for indoor applications as well as outdoor applications with the addition of the sealing element 300 and / or the coupling sleeve 602. In practice, field technicians can bring these components (e.g., plug 102, sealing element 300, and coupling sleeve 602) to the work site and decide whether to use the plug 102 alone (as the indoor version) or whether to use the plug 102, sealing element 300, and / or coupling element 600 as needed (as the outdoor version). This eliminates the need for field technicians to carry both indoor-only and outdoor-only versions of the plug, thereby maximizing flexibility and minimizing connector variations in stock.

[0076] Referring to Figures 8a to 9b, in one example, the coupling sleeve 602 is designed to cooperate with the retaining member 630. The retaining member 630 may be disposed on at least a portion of the coupling sleeve 602 and configured to slide relative to the coupling sleeve 602 between an unlocked position (Figures 8a and 8b) and a locked position (Figures 9a and 9b). In one aspect, the retaining member 630 includes an outer retaining sleeve disposed around an outer surface of the coupling sleeve 602. The outer retaining sleeve 630 may be assembled onto the coupling sleeve 602 from a front section 603. The outer retaining sleeve 630 may have a front portion 632 generally corresponding to the front section 603 of the coupling sleeve 602 and a rear portion 634 generally corresponding to the rear section 604 of the coupling sleeve. A portion 633 (FIG. 8b) of the outer surface of the outer retaining sleeve 630 may be knurled or slotted to facilitate clamping and sliding of the outer retaining sleeve 630 relative to the coupling sleeve 602.

[0077] One or more windows 636 may be provided in the outer retaining sleeve 630. Each window 636 corresponds to one of the inwardly extending flexible latches 612 of the coupling sleeve 602, thereby allowing the latches 612 to expand when the coupling sleeve 602 is assembled to the plug 102. Indicator markings 640, such as text, graphics, icons, etc., may be provided on the outer surface of the coupling sleeve 602, as seen in FIG8a. Markings 640 may indicate whether the outer retaining sleeve 630 is locked or unlocked. For example, when the outer retaining sleeve 630 is in its unlocked position relative to the coupling sleeve 602, the indicator markings 640, such as graphics depicted as an unlocked lock, are visible through one of the windows 636 of the retaining sleeve 630, as seen in FIG8a.

[0078] The outer retaining sleeve 630 may have one or more flexible clips 638 extending inwardly from the rear portion 634 of the retaining sleeve (FIG. 8b). The flexible clips 638 are designed to engage the coupling sleeve 602 when the outer retaining sleeve 630 slides to the locked position. In an example, each clip 638 may descend or snap into a corresponding notch 616 on the outer surface of the coupling sleeve 602, as best seen in FIG. 9a and 9b. The clips 638 may be positioned between windows 636 such that one clip 638 is between two windows 636.

[0079] The coupling sleeve 602, which has an external retaining sleeve 630, can be assembled onto the plug 102. The coupling sleeve 602 can be configured to house the socket 104 therein. Figure 6The coupling sleeve 602 is pushed over the front end of the body 12 of the connector 102 to engage the body when the connectors 102 and 104 are initially mated, as seen in Figures 11a and 11b. The coupling sleeve 602 can then slide relative to the housing 106 of the plug in the axial direction A and move forward toward the front end 130 of the plug 102. This moves the coupling sleeve 602 from its disengaged position, i.e., from the bracket 10 for mating the connector or socket, toward its engaged position, in which the front section 603 of the coupling sleeve engages the body 12 of the bracket in which the socket is mounted, as seen in Figures 12a and 12b. In its engaged position, a flexible snap-fit ​​arm 606 at the front end of the coupling sleeve 602 engages a corresponding component associated with the socket, such as the annular groove 18'' of the body 12 of the bracket 10. The flexible snap-fit ​​arm 606 is designed to bend outward and open to engage the body 12 of the bracket, and can provide audible and tactile feedback on the engagement position of the sleeve when it snaps into the appropriate position in the annular groove 18''.

[0080] Once the coupling sleeve 602 engages the body 12 of the bracket 10, the outer retaining sleeve 630 is configured to slide axially relative to the coupling sleeve 602 in direction A between an unlocked position (Figures 12a and 12b) and a locked position (Figures 13a and 13b). When the coupling sleeve 602 is slid to its engaged position with the body 12 of the bracket, the outer retaining sleeve 630 remains in its unlocked position relative to the coupling sleeve 602, as seen in Figures 12a and 12b. The outer retaining sleeve 630 can then be moved forward relative to the coupling sleeve 602 to its locked position, wherein the retaining sleeve 630 covers both the inwardly extending latch 612 and the snap-fit ​​arm 606 of the coupling sleeve 602 to secure the latch 612 and arm 606 in place, as seen in Figures 13a and 13b. This maintains or retains the engagement of the coupling sleeve 602 with the body 12 of the bracket to secure the mechanical coupling of the plug and socket. That is, once the front section 603 of the coupling sleeve 602 is properly positioned above and engaged with the body 12 of the support 10, the outer retaining sleeve 630 can then be moved axially to slide relative to the coupling sleeve 602 toward the support 10. When the outer retaining sleeve 630 reaches the front end of the coupling sleeve 602, the inner surface of the outer retaining sleeve 630 covers and contacts the arm 606 of the coupling sleeve to prevent the arm 606 from opening, thereby retaining the arm 606 to engage with the annular groove 18'' of the body 12 of the support 10 to securely engage components 102 and 104.

[0081] Figures 14a to 15b illustrate another coupling member 700 and another retaining member 730 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Similar to the coupling member 600 in the above embodiment, the coupling member 700 may include a sleeve 702 configured to engage both the 102 and the body 12 of the support 10 (its retaining socket 104). And similar to the retaining member 630 in the above embodiment, the retaining member 730 is designed to slide relative to the coupling sleeve 702 between an unlocked position (Figure 15a) and a locked position (Figure 15b).

[0082] A coupling sleeve 702 may be disposed around at least a portion of the conductive housing 106 of the plug. The coupling sleeve 702 may have an elongated body having a front section 702 and a rear section 704. Similar to the coupling sleeve described above, the coupling sleeve 702 is configured to slide and move relative to the plug 102 between a disengaged position and an engaged position. The front section 703 of the sleeve 702 is configured to engage a corresponding component associated with the mating connector or socket 104, such as the body 12 of the bracket 10. The front section 703 has an engagement feature, such as an internal thread 706, configured to engage a corresponding component or engagement feature of the body 12 of the bracket 10, such as an external thread 18. Figure 1 This allows the coupling sleeve 702 to be mechanically coupled to the body 12 of the support 10.

[0083] The coupling sleeve 702 may have an external clamping surface 708 adjacent to its front section 703 to facilitate the application of torque and rotation of the sleeve 702 when engaging the front section 702 with the external thread 18 of the support body 12. The rear section 704 of the sleeve 702 is designed to receive and cover the termination end of the cable C. Figure 1One or more inwardly extending flexible snap-fit ​​latches 712 may be provided in the coupling sleeve 702 near its rear section 704. The latches 712 engage the rear end of the plug 102. Each latch 712 may have an inner lip 714 extending inside the sleeve 702. Each inner lip 714 may be configured to snap over the rear end 133 of the plug housing 106 such that each inner lip 714 contacts the rearward surface 135 of the rear end 133 of the plug 102 and acts as a stop to secure (or at least detachably secure) the coupling member 700 to the plug 102. A collision protection end portion 720 may be provided at the rear section 704 of the sleeve 702. The protection end portion 720 is adjacent to or near the flexible latches 712, as best seen in Figures 14a and 14b, to protect the ends 714 of the latches 712 from damage, such as potential damage due to the transport and handling of the connector. The impact protection end portion 720 may include, for example, one or more flexible fangs 722. Each flexible fang 722 may have a bevel 724 adjacent to the end portion 714 of the latch 712.

[0084] The coupling sleeve 702 can be configured to slide over the plug 102 to convert the plug 102 from an indoor use version to an outdoor use version. In some instances, the conversion of the plug 102 from an indoor use version to an outdoor use version is achieved by adding a sealing member 300 to the conductive shell 106 of the plug (see, for example, Figure 13d). In some instances, a field technician can install the sealing member 300 onto the conductive shell 106 of the plug at a recess 301. When the plug 102 is coupled to the socket 104, the sealing member 300 provides a seal between the conductive shell 106 of the plug and the internal hole 14 of the body 12 of the bracket 10. Additionally, the field technician can also install the coupling sleeve 702 before coupling the plug 102 and the socket 104 for additional weather protection and to strengthen the engagement between the plug 102 and the socket 104. The field technician initially slides the coupling sleeve 702 over the plug 102 onto the cable C until it is ready for use. To use the coupling sleeve 702, the coupling sleeve 702 slides axially relative to the plug 102 in direction A to rotatably and, in some cases, detachably attach the coupling sleeve 702 to the plug 102. Therefore, the same plug 102 can be used for indoor applications as well as outdoor applications with the addition of the sealing element 300 and / or the coupling sleeve 702. In practice, field technicians can bring these components (e.g., plug 102, sealing element 300, and coupling sleeve 702) to the work site and decide whether to use plug 102 alone (as the indoor version) or whether to use plug 102, sealing element 300, and / or coupling element 700 as needed (as the outdoor version). This eliminates the need for field technicians to carry both indoor-only and outdoor-only versions of the plug, thus maximizing flexibility and minimizing connector variations in stock.

[0085] In this aspect of the present disclosure, the retaining member 730 includes an outer ring body 732 disposed around the outer surface of the coupling sleeve 702 at the rear section 704 of the coupling sleeve 702. The outer ring body 732 can be assembled to the back of the coupling sleeve 702 around the protective teeth 722 in its unlocked position, as seen in FIG15a. The outer surface of the outer ring body 732 may be knurled or grooved to facilitate clamping and sliding of the outer ring body 732 relative to the coupling sleeve 702.

[0086] The outer ring body 732 can move forward relative to the coupling sleeve 702 from its unlocked position to a locked position, as seen in Figures 14b and 15b. In the unlocked position, the outer ring body 732 rests on the protective teeth 722 of the sleeve 702, adjacent to the bevel 724 of the teeth 722. In the locked position, the outer ring body 732 covers the inwardly extending latch 712 of the coupling sleeve 702 to prevent the latch from opening and disengaging from the back of the plug 102. When locked, the outer ring body 732 can slide forward over the inclined surface 726 of the bevel 724 of the teeth 722 and descend behind the bevel 724, as seen in Figure 14b. One or more external ribs 728 may be provided on the outer surface of the coupling sleeve 702, which prevents the outer ring body 732 from moving forward. This maintains or retains the coupling sleeve 702 engaged with the plug 102. That is, when the outer ring body 732 slides forward axially in the axial direction A, the outer ring body 732 covers the end 714 of the latch 712 of the sleeve, as seen in FIG14b, thereby keeping the latch 712 engaged with the housing 106 of the plug (FIG. 11b). Furthermore, the ramp 724 prevents the outer ring 732 from moving or sliding in the opposite direction and exposing the latch 712. Only under a sufficiently large force can the outer ring body 732 move backward on the ramp 724 after being locked. The outer ring body 732 of the retaining member 730 may optionally include one or more internal buttons 729. For alignment purposes, the buttons 729 cooperate with the slot 723 between the teeth 722.

[0087] Figures 16a and 16b illustrate a modified coupling member 700' and retaining member 730' as described above. The coupling member 700' may include a sleeve 702'. The sleeve 702' has a front section 703' and a rear section 704'. The front section 703' is configured to engage a corresponding component associated with a mating connector or socket 104, such as the body 12 of the bracket 10. The front section 702' has an engagement feature, such as an internal thread 706', configured to engage a corresponding component of the body 12 of the bracket 10, or an engagement feature, such as an external thread 18, to mechanically couple the coupling member 702' to the body 12 of the bracket 10. The coupling sleeve 702' also includes an inwardly extending flexible latch 712' that engages with the back of the plug 102. Each latch 712' may have an internal lip 714' extending inside the sleeve 702'. Each inner lip 714' can be configured to snap onto the rear end 133 of the plug housing 106 such that each inner lip 714' contacts the rearward surface 135 of the rear end 133 of the plug 102 and such that the inner lip 714' acts as a stop to secure (or at least detachably secure) the coupling member 700' to the plug 102.

[0088] Figures 17a and 17b illustrate the plug 102 in its initial mating position with the socket 104 and the coupling member 700' of Figure 16a in its disengaged position. Figures 17c and 17d illustrate the electrical connector assembly of Figures 17a and 17b, which has the coupling member 700' in its engaged position with the socket 104 and a retaining member 730' in its unlocked position. Figures 17e and 17f illustrate the electrical connector assembly of Figures 17c and 17d, showing the retaining member 730' in its locked position.

[0089] Referring to Figures 17a to 17f, the coupling sleeve 702' can be configured to slide over the plug 102 to convert the plug 102 from an indoor use version to an outdoor use version. In some instances, the conversion of the plug 102 from an indoor use version to an outdoor use version is achieved by adding a sealing member 300 to the conductive shell 106 of the plug. In some instances, a field technician can install the sealing member 300 onto the conductive shell 106 of the plug at a recess 301. When the plug 102 is coupled to the socket 104, the sealing member 300 provides a seal between the conductive shell 106 of the plug and the internal hole 14 of the body 12 of the bracket 10. Additionally, a field technician can also install the coupling sleeve 702' before coupling the plug 102 and the socket 104 for additional weather protection and to strengthen the engagement between the plug 102 and the socket 104. A field technician can slide the coupling sleeve 702' over the plug 102 onto the cable C, as shown in Figure 17d. The coupling sleeve 702' can then slide in the axial direction A to rotatably and, in some cases, detachably attach the coupling sleeve 702' to the plug 102. For example, the coupling sleeve 702' can then be attached to the annular groove 18, as shown in Figure 17f. Therefore, the same plug 102 can be used for indoor applications as well as outdoor applications with the addition of the sealing element 300 and / or the coupling sleeve 702'. In practice, field technicians can bring these components (e.g., plug 102, sealing element 300, and coupling sleeve 702') to the work site and decide whether to use plug 102 alone (as the indoor version) or whether to use plug 102, sealing element 300, and / or coupling element 700' as needed (as the outdoor version). This eliminates the need for field technicians to carry both indoor-only and outdoor-only versions of the plug, maximizing flexibility and minimizing connector variations in stock.

[0090] The retaining member 730' includes a ring body 732', wherein the ring body 732' has an extension 734', as seen in Figures 16a and 16b. The end portion 738' of the ring body 732' may include a protective shoulder extending beyond the back of the coupling sleeve 702', as seen in Figure 16b, and has an outward-facing end face 739' in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the coupling sleeve 702'. The extension 734' of the ring body 732' may include one or more windows 736', the size of which is configured to receive and display flexible serrations 722' at the back of the coupling sleeve 702' when the retaining member 730 is in the locked position relative to the coupling sleeve 702', as seen in Figures 17c and 17e. The end portion 738' abuts or nearly abuts the end of the serrations 722'. Similar to the tines 722 in the example above, each tine 722' in this example includes a ramp 724', which allows the ring body 732 to slide forward and descend in the direction behind the ramp 724' as described above, such that the retaining member 730' is in a locked position, as seen in Figures 16a and 16b. A "locked" notification may be placed on one or more of the tines 722'.

[0091] In an example, the ring body 732' of the retaining component 730' may include one or more tabs 740' that project toward the front section of the coupling sleeve 702', such as... Figure 18 As seen in the image, each tab 740' is designed to cooperate with a corresponding notch 742' on the outer surface of the coupling sleeve 702'. With the tab 740' engaged in its corresponding notch 742', the user or installer can rotate the entire assembly using the retaining member 730'. Alternatively, without the tabs 740', the retaining member 730' can rotate freely on the coupling sleeve 702'. The outer clamping surface 708' may include longitudinal grooves or ridges to facilitate clamping of the sleeve 702'.

[0092] Figures 19a and 19b illustrate graphs of the electrical performance of assembly 100 according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The data described in conjunction with Figures 19a and 19b can be applied to indoor or outdoor connector assemblies of the present disclosure, with or without components such as coupling elements.

[0093] Figure 19a illustrates return loss, which is the reflected RF loss through the connector interface of assembly 100 of this disclosure. Return loss is the most effective parameter when evaluating losses in an RF connector. The goal of any RF interconnect is to introduce minimal loss into the system. The total loss of a transmission line in a system is insertion loss, which consists of a number of loss parameters added together over the length of the line. Return loss is a component and is combined with conductivity loss, dielectric loss, and leakage loss. For relatively short lengths of signal transmission, such as connector interfaces similar to those of this disclosure, the most controllable parameter to minimize is return loss. Figure 19a illustrates return loss performance against industry specifications (which is a table provided immediately adjacent to Figure 19a, defining minimum performance within a specific frequency range) to meet current and future system requirements. Figure 19a shows the return loss performance of the connector relative to example specifications, illustrating the level that the telecommunications industry may require for high data rates of at least 12 Gbps. The specification is a stepped-range specification (i.e., the specification differs for each frequency and increases in steps, rather than a constant fixed specification or linear specification across the entire range, but increases with a given slope), which is common due to the inherently higher return loss at higher frequencies. The 18 GHz frequency limit disclosed herein enables high data rates currently used in relevant markets, such as broadcasting. For example, this market requires the transmission of 4K uncompressed video feeds demanding 12 Gbps data rates, which is achieved by 18 GHz.

[0094] Figure 19b illustrates RF leakage, the amount of RF that leaks from the mating interface of assembly 100 during signal transmission. As seen in the figure in Figure 19b, the configuration of assembly 100 minimizes any RF leakage to prevent RF noise from interfering with other systems (e.g., other shared commercial frequency bands, such as mobile wireless networks, WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS). In contrast to RF leakage is RF ingress. For the CATV market, RF ingress is more critical than leakage because operators need to prevent RF noise from radio waves from interfering with their systems. RF leakage is easier to measure than RF ingress, and test results are equivalent when considering the ultimate goal of ingress protection. Similarly, the specifications, namely the table provided immediately adjacent to the figure in Figure 19b, are set to meet current and future system requirements, defining minimum performance within a specific frequency range. Because RF leakage is inherently higher at higher frequencies, the specifications are tiered. The product is specified at 6 GHz to cover most potentially conflicting RF radio frequency bands from 3G, 4G, and 5G mobile wireless networks, as well as other common commercial technologies such as WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS.

[0095] In embodiments of this disclosure, the connector may be a circular / tubular connector, and the grounding feature may be non-circular in shape, such as square, while still utilizing the benefits of double grounding shielding. The secondary grounding connection may be a directly integrated metallic conductive element or positioned as a separate shielding element isolated from the primary ground by a dielectric material such as air or plastic.

[0096] The electrical connectors and assemblies thereof disclosed herein can (1) incorporate a push-in interface that simplifies mating to eliminate or reduce connection problems during self-installation applications; (2) provide higher density packaging possibilities by eliminating the need for wrench clearance between connectors; (3) incorporate a pin-type interface, i.e., an interface with a dedicated center contact or signal pin in the connector plug side, eliminating the need to feed the cable center conductor into the interface to become the plug's center contact, thereby achieving consistent RF impedance and thus higher frequency (up to 18 GHz) performance margins, and achieving highly reliable contact integrity and reliable extended field life; and / or (4) provide a robust anti-misalignment interface configured such that when the mating connector is partially mated and then tilted in any non-coaxial position, it is impossible to "misalign" the mating interface and contact or damage any of its internal components, such as external contacts, insulators, or center contacts. For example, the anti-misalignment configuration can be achieved by recessing the contact parts into the external ground / shroud.

[0097] The electrical connectors and assemblies disclosed herein may also have configurations that allow for all-metal sheet construction for long-term cost-effectiveness, for example, by eliminating the need to manufacture threads; provide standard compression crimp terminations and existing tooling; and / or utilize field-proven interface technologies from the latest generation of CMTS routers, such as blind mating connections between printed circuit boards, to achieve robust mechanical and electrical performance of the connector system.

[0098] Those skilled in the art, benefiting from the teachings presented in the foregoing description and related figures, will appreciate that modifications, combinations, sub-combinations, and variations can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this disclosure. Similarly, the various examples described can be used alone or in combination with other examples. Those skilled in the art will understand various combinations of examples that are not specifically described or illustrated herein but remain within the scope of this disclosure. In this regard, it should be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the specific examples set forth, and that the examples of this disclosure are intended to be illustrative rather than restrictive.

[0099] As used in the specification and appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural indicators unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Similarly, the adjective “another” when used to describe an element means one or more elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and similar terms are intended to be inclusive, allowing for the possibility of additional elements besides those listed.

[0100] Furthermore, no particular order is intended to be inferred where the steps of the methods described above or in the following method claims are not expressly required to be followed, or where the order is not required based on the language of the description or claims. Similarly, if the steps mentioned in the above description are not expressly listed in the following method claims, it should not be assumed that the steps are required by the claims.

[0101] It should be noted that geometric or relational terms, such as front and back, elongated, etc., may be used in the specification and claims. These terms are not intended to limit this disclosure and are generally used for convenience to aid in the description of the examples shown in the figures. Additionally, geometric or relational terms may not be accurate. For example, walls may not be perfectly perpendicular or parallel to each other due to, for example, surface roughness, tolerances allowed in manufacturing, etc., but may still be considered perpendicular or parallel.

Claims

1. A connector, comprising: A conductive housing that supports at least one signal contact therein, and includes a front end for mating with a mating connector and a rear end opposite the front end for connection to a power or data transmission cable; A coupling member configured to engage the conductive housing and a corresponding component associated with the mating connector to mechanically couple the connector to the mating connector, the rear section of the coupling member including one or more flexible snap-lock latches for engaging the conductive housing, and one or more flexible protective teeth adjacent to the one or more flexible snap-lock latches; A retaining ring is disposed on the rear section of the coupling member, the retaining ring being slidable relative to the coupling member between an unlocked position and a locked position, and the retaining ring includes one or more windows corresponding to the one or more flexible protective teeth of the coupling member; as well as Multiple grounding connections are provided at the front end of the conductive housing and the front section of the coupling member, and the grounding connections are configured to connect the mating connector to the connector and the cable.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the coupling component is disposed on the conductive shell.

3. The connector of claim 2, wherein the coupling member is rotatably coupled to the conductive shell.

4. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the coupling component is a sleeve.

5. The connector of claim 4, wherein the retaining ring comprises a ring body disposed on the sleeve of the coupling member.

6. The connector of claim 5, wherein the ring body includes an end portion extending beyond the rear section of the coupling member.

7. The connector of claim 1, wherein the front section of the coupling member includes an internal thread.

8. The connector of claim 1, wherein the plurality of grounding connections define a plurality of grounding paths through the connector to electrically engage the mating connector with the connector and the cable.

9. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the coupling member is a spring clip that engages the outer annular groove of the conductive shell.

10. The connector of claim 1, wherein the conductive shell comprises a dielectric insert supporting the at least one signal contact.

11. The connector of claim 1, wherein the connector is an electrical connector.

12. A connector, comprising: A conductive housing that supports at least one signal contact therein, and includes a front end for mating with a mating connector and a rear end opposite the front end for connection to a power or data transmission cable; A coupling sleeve, disposed on the conductive housing, the coupling sleeve comprising a front section configured to engage a corresponding component associated with the mating connector; and a rear section configured to engage the conductive housing, the coupling sleeve including an elongated body having an external clamping surface, the front section of the coupling sleeve including internal threads, and the rear section configured to cover the rear end of the conductive housing, wherein the coupling sleeve includes one or more flexible latches for engaging the conductive housing, and one or more flexible protective teeth adjacent to the one or more flexible latches; and A retaining member disposed on at least a portion of the coupling sleeve, the retaining member being slidable relative to the coupling sleeve between an unlocked position and a locked position, the retaining member including a ring body disposed above the one or more flexible protective teeth, wherein the ring body includes one or more windows corresponding to the one or more flexible protective teeth of the rear section of the coupling sleeve.

13. The connector of claim 12, wherein the ring body is configured to slide axially relative to the rear end of the conductive shell between the unlocked position and the locked position.

14. The connector of claim 12, wherein the ring body includes an end portion extending beyond the rear section of the coupling sleeve, the end portion comprising an end face in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the coupling sleeve.

15. The connector of claim 14, wherein the ring body includes one or more tabs opposite the end face, the tabs being configured to engage corresponding notches on the outer surface of the coupling sleeve.

16. The connector of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of grounding connections defining a plurality of grounding paths.

17. A connector comprising: A conductive housing that supports at least one signal contact therein, and includes a front end for mating with a mating connector, a rear end opposite the front end for electrical connection to a power or data transmission cable, and the front end including a primary ground connection configured to electrically connect the mating connector to the cable; A coupling sleeve, disposed on the conductive housing, the coupling sleeve comprising a front section having internal threads configured to engage a corresponding component associated with the mating connector; and a rear section having one or more flexible snap-lock latches configured to engage the rear end of the conductive housing, wherein the rear section includes one or more flexible protective teeth adjacent to the one or more flexible snap-lock latches, and the front section of the coupling sleeve includes a secondary ground connection configured to electrically connect the mating connector to the cable; as well as A retaining ring is disposed on the rear section of the coupling sleeve, the retaining ring being slidable relative to the coupling sleeve between an unlocked position and a locked position, and the retaining ring including one or more windows corresponding to the one or more flexible protective teeth of the coupling sleeve.

18. The connector of claim 17, wherein each flexible protective tooth includes a tilted surface configured to facilitate sliding the retaining ring to the locked position.

19. The connector of claim 17, wherein the corresponding component of the mating connector is an engagement feature of a support panel or wall in which the mating connector is mounted.

20. The connector of claim 17, wherein the primary and secondary ground connections are separate contacts, at least one of which is on the outer surface of the front end of the conductive housing and the other of which is on the inner surface of the front section of the coupling sleeve.

21. The connector of claim 17, wherein the primary and secondary ground connections define a plurality of ground paths, and the plurality of ground paths are combined to form a combined ground path within the connector.

22. The connector of claim 17, wherein the primary and secondary ground connections define a plurality of ground paths, and the plurality of ground paths are combined to form a combined ground path outside the connector.

23. The connector of claim 17, wherein the connector is an electrical connector.

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