Sealed coaxial cable connector

Claim 2

In a cable connector having plug and receptacle sections, each including an outer shell and a contained insulating sleeve, said sections being adapted to be coupled together to thereby electrically interconnect, by means of engaging contact elements attached to at least one pair of conductors disposed through said insulating sleeves with at least one of said pair of conductors being an insulated conductor having independent surrounding insulation, said insulated conductor being receivable within a bore through its respective insulating sleeve, said bore having a first portion receiving said contact element, and a sEcond portion of increased diameter receiving said surrounding insulation of said insulated conductor, said insulating sleeves having coupling sealing means between opposing faces thereof for sealing said insulating sleeves when said sections are coupled, a seal construction for said insulated conductor comprising: an annular recess around said second portion having a diameter greater than that of said second portion; and at least one insulating O-ring mounted in said recess, said Oring having an inside diameter less than that of said second portion of said bore whereby said O-ring naturally tends to extend into said bore, prior to insertion of said insulated conductor into said bore, said O-ring being resiliently deformed into sealing engagement with said surrounding insulation of said insulated conductor and said annular recess as said conductor and attached contact are inserted into said bore.

Claim 3

A cable connector as defined in claim 1, wherein: said at least one O-ring is made of silicon rubber.

Claim 4

A coaxial cable connector comprising: plug and receptacle sections each having an outer conducting shell and an insulating sleeve therein; an inner conductor terminating in an attached contact element disposed through each of said insulating sleeves, at least one of said inner conductors being an insulated conductor having independent surrounding insulation; a seal between each of said inner conductors and its respective insulating sleeve with the seal between said insulated conductor and its respective insulating sleeve including a bore through said insulating sleeve having a first portion receiving said contact element, a second portion of increased diameter receiving said insulated conductor, an annular recess around said second portion having a diameter greater than that of said second portion, and said seal further including at least one O-ring in said recess having an inside diameter less than that of said second portion of said bore whereby said O-ring naturally tends to extend into said second portion of said bore prior to insertion of said insulated conductor into said bore, said seal being formed as said insulated conductor and attached contact element are inserted into said bore, said O-ring being resiliently deformed into sealing engagement with said surrounding insulation of said insulated conductor and said recess; means for coupling said plug and receptacle sections together so that said insulating sleeves present coaxially opposed faces and said contact elements are engaged; and coupling sealing means between said opposed faces on said insulating sleeves for substantially hermetically sealing air spaces within said connector between said inner conductors and said outer shells against the entrance of outside air.

Claim 5

A coaxial cable connector comprising: plug and receptacle sections each having an outer conducting shell and an insulating sleeve therein; an inner conductor terminating in an attached contact element disposed through each of said insulating sleeves, at least one of said inner conductors being an insulated conductor having independent surrounding insulation; a seal between each of said inner conductors and its respective insulating sleeve with the seal between said insulated conductor and its respective insulating sleeve including a bore through said insulating sleeve having a first portion receiving said contact element, a second portion of increased diameter receiving said insulated conductor, an annular recess around said second portion having a diameter greater than that of said second portion, and said seal further including at least one O-ring in said recess having an inside diameter less than that of said second portion of said bore whereby said O-ring naturally tends to extend into said second portion of said bore prior to insertion of said insulated conductor into said bore, said seal being formed as said insulated conductor and attached contact element are inserted into said bore, said O-ring being resiliently deformed into sealing engagement with said surrounding insulation of said insulated conductor and said recess; means for coupling said plug and receptacle sections together so that said insulating sleeves present coaxially opposed faces and said contact elements are engaged; and coupling sealing means between said opposed faces on said insulating sleeves for substantially hermetically sealing air spaces within said connector between said inner conductors and said outer shells against the entrance of outside air.

Claim 6

A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 3 wherein: said annular recess is formed between an enlargement of said bore at an end of said insulating sleeve, said enlargement having a diameter greater than that of said second portion, and a transition shoulder of said outer shell radially inwardly extending across said end of said insulating sleeve.

Claim 7

A coaxial cable connector as defined in claim 3 wherein said seal is made of silicone rubber.