Expandable cable connector torque adapter

Abstract

Torque adapter for a cable connector that expands to fit connector nuts of different sizes. The adapter fits around the cable connector and engages three of the corners of a hex nut with matching recessed regions in its inner surface. It has three slots that receive the other three corners of the connector nut. The adapter is flexible so that the slots may widen to accommodate connector nuts of larger widths. The outer surface may be hexagonal so that a wrench or similar tool may be used to turn the torque adapter.

Claims

1. An expandable cable connector torque adapter comprising: a tubular element configured to fit detachably around a cable connector comprising a hexagonal nut, said tubular element comprising a front end that engages said hexagonal nut and that is flexible; a back end opposite to said front end; a longitudinal axis along a center of said tubular element, said longitudinal axis extending between said back end and said front end; three portions, wherein each portion of said three portions comprises an inner surface, and wherein each portion of said three portions comprises two planar outer surfaces that meet at an angle comprising a first corner at said front end and a second corner at said back end; three recessed regions, wherein each recessed region is in a corresponding inner surface of each of said three portions; is proximal to said front end; comprises two planar inner surfaces that meet at an angle in said corresponding inner surface, wherein a vertex of said angle in said corresponding inner surface of each recessed region forms part of said corresponding inner surface of each of said three portions; and is located and shaped to engage and mate with a corresponding corner of three non-adjacent corners of said hexagonal nut, such that each corresponding inner surface engages said hexagonal nut, and each angle of said two planar inner surfaces of each recessed region mates with a vertex of said corresponding corner of said three non-adjacent corners of said hexagonal nut, such that said vertex of said corresponding corner of said three non-adjacent corners lies within each angle of said two planar inner surfaces of each recessed region in said corresponding inner surface; and, three slots, wherein each slot of said three slots begins at said front end; is parallel to the longitudinal axis; is radially opposite to one of said three recessed regions, such that each recessed region of said three recessed regions is located diagonal to a corresponding slot of said three slots; is located between each pair of said three portions; is located and shaped to engage a corresponding corner of three remaining corners of said hexagonal nut, wherein a vertex of said corresponding corner of said three remaining corners of said hexagonal nut lies within said slot, and such that each side of said hexagonal nut is configured to lie between a corresponding recessed region of said three recessed regions and a corresponding slot of said three slots; wherein said three portions are continuously radially connected at said back end; and wherein each portion of said three portions is configured to bend to accommodate hexagonal nuts of different sizes.

2. The expandable cable connector torque adapter of claim 1, wherein an outer surface of said tubular element comprises a hexagonal cross section with a cutting plane perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

3. The expandable cable connector torque adapter of claim 1, wherein said tubular element further comprises a knurling on its outer surface.

4. The expandable cable connector torque adapter of claim 1, wherein said tubular element further comprises ABS plastic.

5. The expandable cable connector torque adapter of claim 1, wherein said cable connector comprises an F-type coaxial cable connector.

6. The expandable cable connector torque adapter of claim 1, wherein said hexagonal nut comprises a diameter between 7/16 inches and inches.

7. The expandable cable connector torque adapter of claim 1, wherein said angle in said corresponding inner surface of each recessed region of said three recessed regions is approximately 120 degrees.

8. An expandable cable connector torque adapter comprising: a tubular element configured to fit detachably around a cable connector comprising a hexagonal nut, said tubular element comprising a front end that engages said hexagonal nut and that is flexible; a back end opposite to said front end; a longitudinal axis along a center of said tubular element, said longitudinal axis extending between said back end and said front end; three portions, wherein each portion of said three portions comprises an inner surface, and wherein each portion of said three portions comprises two planar outer surfaces that meet at an angle comprising a first corner at said front end and a second corner at said back end; three recessed regions, wherein each recessed region is in a corresponding inner surface of said three portions; is proximal to said front end; comprises two planar inner surfaces that meet at an angle in said corresponding inner surface, wherein a vertex of said angle in said corresponding inner surface of each recessed region forms part of said corresponding inner surface of each of said three portions; and, is located and shaped to engage and mate with a corresponding corner of three non-adjacent corners of said hexagonal nut, such that each corresponding inner surface engages said hexagonal nut, and each angle of said two planar inner surfaces of each recessed region mates with a vertex of said corresponding corner of said three non-adjacent corners of said hexagonal nut, such that said vertex of said corresponding corner of said three non-adjacent corners lies within each angle of said two planar inner surfaces of each recessed region in said corresponding inner surface; and, three slots, wherein each slot of said three slots begins at said front end; is parallel to the longitudinal axis; is radially opposite to one of said three recessed regions, such that each recessed region of said three recessed regions is located diagonal to a corresponding slot of said three slots; and, is located and shaped to engage a corresponding corner of three remaining corners of said hexagonal nut, wherein a vertex of said corner of said three remaining corners of said hexagonal nut lies within said slot, and such that each side of said hexagonal nut is configured to lie between a corresponding recessed region of said three recessed regions and a corresponding slot of said three slots; wherein said three portions are continuously radially connected at said back end; wherein each portion of said three portions is configured to bend, to accommodate hexagonal nuts of different sizes; wherein said tubular element further comprises plastic; and, wherein said hexagonal nut comprises a diameter between 7/16 inches and inches.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) 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:

(2) FIG. 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.

(3) FIG. 2A shows a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 2B shows a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

(5) FIG. 2C shows a view from the front of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the torque adapter tilted down to show the lower inner surfaces.

(6) FIG. 2D shows a view from the front of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the torque adapter tilted up to show the upper inner surfaces.

(7) FIG. 3A shows a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, indicating a cutting plane for the cross sectional views of FIGS. 3B and 3C.

(8) FIG. 3B shows a cross sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, which illustrates the slots and the recessed regions in the inner surface that receive the corners of a connector's hex nut.

(9) FIG. 3C shows the cross sectional view of FIG. 3B with a hex nut inserted into the torque adapter.

(10) FIG. 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.

(11) FIG. 5A shows a cross sectional view of the torque adapter with a smaller nut, and FIG. 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

(12) 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.

(13) FIG. 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.

(14) 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 FIG. 1 only one of these three regions, 121, is visible; the others are shown in FIGS. 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.

(15) The torque adapter embodiment 100 illustrated in FIG. 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 FIG. 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.

(16) FIGS. 2A-2D show several views of the torque adapter of FIG. 1 from various angles. FIG. 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 111, 112, and 113, respectively. FIG. 2B shows a side view of the adapter. FIG. 2C shows the adapter from the front tilted down slightly to show details of recessed regions 121 and 123; FIG. 2D shows the adapter from the front tilted up slightly to show details of recessed region 122.

(17) FIGS. 3B-3C show a cross sectional view of the adapter along a cutting plane A-A near the front end of FIG. 3A that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. In FIG. 3B the gaps for slots 111, 112, and 113 are shown, as are the recessed areas 121, 122 and 123. FIG. 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.

(18) 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. FIG. 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.

(19) FIGS. 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 FIG. 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 FIG. 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 FIG. 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 inches. These widths are illustrative; one or more embodiments may accommodate any desired range of nut sizes.

(20) 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.