BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[001] One or more embodiments of the invention are related to the field of cable connectors. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, one or more embodiments of the invention enable a torque adapter that fits around a cable connector to aid in connecting or disconnecting the cable, and that expands to fit cable connector nuts of various sizes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

[002] Coaxial cables are usually terminated with Radio Frequency (RF) type connectors for attaching the cable to a device. Some RF connectors are gold or rhodium plated, while others use silver, or nickel or tin plating. Mechanically, RF connectors provide a fastening mechanism (thread, bayonet, braces, or push pull are common) and springs to ensure a low resistance electric contact between the cable and the connection port on the target device. Threaded connectors, such as Type- F connectors, typically comprise a nut used to draw the connector into a secure attachment to the connection port of the device. Typically, the cable is inserted into the connector, then the nut is rotated until the connector is well seated in the device port, and the nut holds the cable firmly attached even if the device is moved. A firm seating of the connector to the port is required to prevent signal loss, decrease noise and in the case of outdoor applications to prevent water and other corrosives from invading the cable.

[003] While coaxial cable connector nuts may be rotated by hand, using a tightening tool, such as a wrench or pliers, to tighten the nut is preferred to obtain the desired tight seal. Standard coaxial cables require a wrench to be utilized to rotate the threaded end extent, or nut, of the coaxial cable to securely attach the coaxial connector on, or detach off of, a coaxial cable port, for example on a cable set top box or DVD player. Hand tightening is generally not sufficient to insure that a secure, tight connection is achieved between the coaxial connector and the coaxial cable port. The result of an insecure connection is generally increased noise and/or signal loss. It is difficult and potentially dangerous to use a wrench tightening tool in hard to reach areas and or on components very close to near electric sources such as outlets.

[004] Various tools exist to facilitate proper tightening of coaxial cable connector nuts. For example, a tight plastic tube fitting that extends over the nut of the coaxial connector to facilitate hand tightening is known. Known solutions generally provide a torque aid that fixedly engages the nut and requires one torque aid for each coaxial connector. [005] Other apparatus, such as torque wrenches, are known that overlay the coaxial connector nut, either from the conductor side or port side, thereby trapping a torque wrench, or fixedly attached between the nut and the collar of the coaxial connector, again fixedly attaching the torque wrench to the coaxial connector. Some known solutions require a torque wrench to be removed from the coaxial connector by breaking fins off the outside of the torque wrench. These types of connectors may be dangerous if the small circular wrench itself or fins detached from the wrench are later swallowed by a child or pet, for example.

[006] Yet another apparatus, called a wrench sleeve, is known. Often made of soft rubber or plastic, a wrench sleeve is used on threaded plumbing connectors such as those found on a garden hose. The wrench sleeve slides up to cover the nut of the threaded connector, providing a large surface area to allow a more comfortable and secure grip of nut of when unscrewing the connector. An illustrative wrench sleeve for cable connectors is described in United States Utility Patent 9,124,046, "Coaxial cable connector sleeve."

[007] A limitation of existing tools and aids for attaching connectors is that they are designed to fit connectors with nuts of a single specific size. Cable connectors have nuts of various sizes. There are no known torque adapters that fit a range of connectors with different nut sizes.

[008] For at least the limitations described above there is a need for an expandable cable connector torque adapter.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[009] One or more embodiments described in the specification are related to an expandable cable connector torque adapter. Embodiments of the system fit around a cable connector nut and facilitate rotation of the nut to connect or disconnect the cable. Embodiments of the system provide an expandable inner surface that engages the connector nut, so that a single torque adapter may be used with connectors having nuts of different sizes.

[0010] One or more embodiments of the adapter may have a tubular form with an open center bore into which a cable connector is inserted. The adapter may have a front end that engages with a hex nut (or nut of any shape) of the connector, and a back end opposite the front end that may surround the cable jacket, for example. The longitudinal axis of the adapter runs along the center of the bore. The inner surface of the adapter may have three recessed regions to receive and engage with three corresponding corners of a hex nut. The adapter may also have three slots starting at the front end, and parallel to the longitudinal axis, to receive the other three corners of a hex nut. Each slot may be opposite one of the three recessed regions. The portions of the adapter between the slots may be configured to bend radially away from the longitudinal axis when a force is applied to the inner surface. This bending may widen the slots, thereby allowing the adapter to accommodate a larger hex nut. In one or more embodiments the bending may be achieved by using a flexible material for all or part of the torque adapter. For example, the adapter may be made of a plastic such as ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene).

[0011] In one or more embodiments the outer surface of the adapter may have a hexagonal shape, for example to accommodate a wrench or another tool. In one or more embodiments the outer surface may have a knurling, for example to facilitate gripping and hand tightening.

[0012] One or more embodiments may be configured to fit any type of cable connector, including for example, without limitation an F-type coaxial cable connector. One or more embodiments may accommodate connectors with nuts of any desired size, including for example, without limitation, nuts with diameters in the range of 7/16 inches to 5/8 inches.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein:

[0014] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the torque adapter, and shows an illustrative cable connector that fits into the interior of the adapter.

[0015] Figure 2A shows a front view of the embodiment of Figure 1.

[0016] Figure 2B shows a side view of the embodiment of Figure 1.

[0017] Figure 2C shows a view from the front of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the torque adapter tilted down to show the lower inner surfaces.

[0018] Figure 2D shows a view from the front of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the torque adapter tilted up to show the upper inner surfaces.

[0019] Figure 3A shows a side view of the embodiment of Figure 1, indicating a cutting plane for the cross sectional views of Figures 3B and 3C.

[0020] Figure 3B shows a cross sectional view of the embodiment of Figure 1, which illustrates the slots and the recessed regions in the inner surface that receive the corners of a connector's hex nut.

[0021] Figure 3C shows the cross sectional view of Figure 3B with a hex nut inserted into the torque adapter.

[0022] Figure 4 shows how an embodiment of the system expands when a cable connector nut exerts a radial force against the inner surface of the torque adapter. [0023] Figure 5A shows a cross sectional view of the torque adapter with a smaller nut, and Figure 5B shows a cross sectional view of the torque adapter with a larger nut, showing how the torque adapter expands to accommodate the larger nut.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] An expandable cable connector torque adapter will now be described. In the following exemplary description numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to an artisan of ordinary skill that the present invention may be practiced without incorporating all aspects of the specific details described herein. In other instances, specific features, quantities, or measurements well known to those of ordinary skill in the art have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the invention. Readers should note that although examples of the invention are set forth herein, the claims, and the full scope of any equivalents, are what define the metes and bounds of the invention.

[0025] Figure 1 shows an illustrative embodiment of an expandable cable connector torque adapter. Torque adapter 100 fits around cable connector 150 that terminates cable 152. One or more embodiments may be configured to fit around any type of cable connector for any type of cable, including but not limited to coaxial cable. Cable connector 150 has a nut 151 that is rotated to attach the connector to a mating connection. The illustrative nut 151 is hexagonal. The embodiments described below are configured for hexagonal nuts; however, one or more embodiments may be configured to adapt to nuts of any shape.

[0026] Torque adapter 100 is substantially tubular in shape, with a center bore into which connector 150 fits. The adapter has a front end 132 that engages the nut 151 of the connector, and a back end 133 that surrounds but does not grip the cable 152. For reference, longitudinal axis 131 lies along the center of the bore running between the back end 133 and the front end 132. The inner surface of the adapter is configured to engage the hexagonal nut 151. This inner surface has three recessed regions that match three non-adjacent corners of hexagonal nut 151. In Figure 1 only one of these three regions, 121, is visible; the others are shown in Figures 2A, 2C, and 2D. Recessed region 121 shown has two planar surfaces that meet at an angle of approximately 120 degrees, so that it mates with a corner of hexagonal nut 151. Adapter 100 also has three slots 111, 112, and 113 starting at front end 132 and parallel to the longitudinal axis 131. Each slot is radially opposite one of the recessed regions; for example, slot 111 is opposite recessed region 121. When connector 150 is inserted into the adapter 100, three of the corners of the hex nut 151 fit into the slots 111, 112, and 113, and the other three corners fit into the recessed regions such as 121. [0027] The torque adapter embodiment 100 illustrated in Figure 1 has a hexagonal outer surface. This hexagonal shape may for example facilitate turning of the torque adapter using a wrench or other tool. This shape is illustrative; one or more embodiments may have any desired shape for the outer surface of the torque adapter. The embodiment of Figure 1 also has a knurled outer surface to facilitate gripping and hand tightening. This knurling is illustrative; one or more embodiments may have any finish or pattern on the outer surface. One or more embodiments may use a compliant material on the outer surface or for the entire torque adapter to facilitate gripping and turning.

[0028] Figures 2A-2D show several views of the torque adapter of Figure 1 from various angles. Figure 2A shows the adapter from the front end 132, looking along the longitudinal axis. The three recessed regions 121, 122 and 123 are visible; these recessed regions are opposite slots 1 11, 112, and 113, respectively. Figure 2B shows a side view of the adapter. Figure 2C shows the adapter from the front tilted down slightly to show details of recessed regions 121 and 123; Figure 2D shows the adapter from the front tilted up slightly to show details of recessed region 122.

[0029] Figures 3B-3C show a cross sectional view of the adapter along a cutting plane A- A near the front end of Figure 3 A that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. In Figure 3B the gaps for slots 111, 112, and 113 are shown, as are the recessed areas 121, 122 and 123. Figure 3C shows an illustrative hex nut 151 installed into the adapter. Corners 311, 312, and 313 of the hex nut lie within the gaps of slots 111, 112, and 113, respectively. The other three corners 321, 322, and 323 of the hex nut engage with the recessed regions 121, 122, and 123, respectively.

[0030] In one or more embodiments the front portion of the adapter is flexible so that the portions of the adapter between the slots can bend away from the longitudinal axis. This bending may allow the adapter to accommodate hex nuts of different sizes. Figure 4 illustrates the bending that widens the slots. A force 402 is applied to the inner surface of the adapter in a region between slots 111 and 113. This force causes the portion 401 of the adapter between these slots to bend radially away from longitudinal axis 131. As a result, the width of slot 111 increases to 403, and the width of slot 113 increases to 404. Similar bending may occur with the other two portions of the adapter between the other pairs of slots. In one or more embodiments the bending of the adapter may be a function of the material used to construct the adapter. For example, one or more embodiments may be constructed all or in part from plastic or rubber or another flexible material. One or more embodiments may be made entirely or in part of ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), for example.

[0031] Figures 5A-5B illustrate the expansion of one or more embodiments of the adapter due to the bending and widening of the slots, using a cross sectional view. In Figure 5A, the adapter accommodates a hex nut 151a that has a width 501a. The adapter may for example be in an equilibrium (unbent) configuration, with slot widths 502a. In Figure 5B, a larger hex nut 151b with width 501b is inserted into the adapter. The hex nut applies force to the inner surface of the adapter, resulting in outward bending as illustrated in Figure 4. The slot widths expand from baseline width 502a to expanded width 502b to accommodate the larger hex nut. For example, without limitation, the smaller hex nut 151a may have a width 501a of 7/16 inches, and the larger hex nut 151b may have a width 501b of 5/8 inches. These widths are illustrative; one or more embodiments may accommodate any desired range of nut sizes.

[0032] While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.