Slide-on rf connector

Claim 1

A connector for electrically coupling the ends of two RF coaxial cables, comprising: a tubular conductive jack having one end for connection to the outer conductor of the first coaxial cable, a slightly diverging free end opposite the connecting end, the free end including a plurality of axially extending slots forming a plurality of resilient tines, and a tubular intermediate section; a tubular conductive plug for receiving said jack and having one end for connection to the outer conductor of the second coaxial cable, a free end opposite the connecting end, the free end including a plurality of axially extending slots forming a plurality of resilient tines, and a tubular intermediate section; the external diameter of the tubular intermediate section of the jack being substantially equal to the internal diameter of the tubular intermediate section of the plug; the divergence of the free end of the jack being such that the circle described by the outermost ends of the resilient jack tines before the jack is received into the plug has a diameter larger than the internal diAmeter of the tubular intermediate section of the plug; a section of the plug tines spaced from the unattached ends of said tines having an internal diameter before receipt of the jack smaller than the external diameter of the tubular intermediate section of the jack; the length of the axially extending slots in the plug and the jack being such that the jack tines extend into the plug beyond the beginning of the plug tines and the plug tines extend along the outside of the jack beyond the beginning of the jack tines when the jack is fully received by the plug; and means within the plug and the jack for electrically connecting the inner conductors of the two coaxial cables when the jack is received by the plug.