Tool for installing and removing male F-type coaxial cable connector

A tool includes a first and a second socket wrench pivotally turnably connected to two ends of a link. Each of the first and second socket wrenches includes a wrench portion and a circular end portion having an axial slot extended through them. The wrench portion of the first socket wrench is internally formed of a hexagonally shaped portion for fitting around a hexagonally-shaped outer surface of a connecting ring of a male F connector to tighten or loosen the connecting ring to or from a female F connector, and the wrench portion of the second socket wrench is internally formed of a constant-torque shaped portion for fitting around the hexagonally-shaped outer surface of the connecting ring to prevent the tool from applying an excessive torque on the connecting ring when turning the same. The tool can be used without being hindered by bent or closely arranged cables.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a tool for installing or removing a male F connector to or from a female F connector.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Screw-on F-type connectors are used on most RF coaxial cables to interconnect TV's, Cable TV decoders, VCR/DVD's, hard disk digital recorders, satellite receivers, video games, TV signal distribution splitters and switches. Initially, F cables (an RG-6 or RG-59 type coaxial cable with an F-type male connector at each end) were used in simple installations to interconnect a TV to a cable box, VCR or video game, with ample room between the devices to interconnect the cables by hand. The space behind such devices permitted a large bend radius for the cable between or behind the devices. For example, an RG-6 cable requires a minimum bend radius of 3 inches as specified by manufactures.

Due to space limitations imposed by the increased number of TV devices that are now interconnected in one small, high-density space or console, it has become difficult to install and remove the interconnecting F cables without first removing the device from the congested area or console. Many of these devices, such as large screen TV sets, are now positioned as close to a wall as possible forcing the F cables to make sharp bends in order to interconnect the cable to an adjacent device. As artisans skilled in the art of cable installation will appreciate, it is both the sharp bends formed in the semi-rigid coaxial F cables and the high density of these cables in current installations that have made the present means for installing, un-installing, tightening and loosening F-type connectors difficult and time consuming. It is the intention of this invention to provide a novel solution to this new density problem.

F connectors have a standardized design, using a 7/16 inch hex nut as the rotational connecting ring. The nut has a relatively short ⅛ to ¼ inch length available for finger contact. The internal threads on the nut and matching F female are a ⅜-32 thread, requiring the male connector to be positioned exactly in-line with the female connector for successful thread engagement as rotation begins. When the cable extends rearwardly from the connector and is both in-line with the threaded outer surface of the female connector and straight for some distance, aligning the male connector in the proper plane is not difficult. However, when the cable is bent adjacent to the male F-type connector, as is the case where the rear-mounted F connector on the device is adjacent a wall or cabinet surface, the installer must first straighten the cable for some distance so that the F male connector on that cable can easily screw onto the female connector.

The F male connector in accordance with the prior art is designed to be screwed onto and off of the F female connector using the fingers. The hex shaped nut is provided for wrench tightening the connector after the male F connector is fully screwed onto the female F connector by the fingers (usually 4 turns). To maintain a tight electrical connection and to meet the intended electrical performance, manufacturers and industry standards require the F connector to be tightened beyond the torque achievable by using only the fingers. In the case of cable TV products, the standard has been set to tighten the connector and then further turn the connector by another 90-120 degrees from the finger tight position. Consumer products which have weaker female mounting structures (usually plastic) require their F connectors to be wrench-tightened just slightly beyond finger tight. When the cable is bent, the torque required to install or remove a male F connector is increased. There is a need for a tool operable for providing the additional torque required for the installation or removal of the male F connector when the attached cable is in a bent position.

There are currently two tools and methods for using the tools for tightening and loosening F connectors. A first tool is a standard open-end 7/16 inch crescent wrench with a minimum shaft length of 4-6 inches. The use of this tool requires an unobstructed area for radial rotation of the tool around the axis of the F-type connectors once the threads on both male and female have been engaged. Sufficient radial open space is rarely available on TV devices where many other connectors and cables project from a device and occupy a small area.

The second tool, originally designed to install F cables through security devices in a cable system, are currently used to install F cables in dense locations. This tool consists of a 7/16 inch hex nut driver socket with a slot on the side to allow the socket to slide over an installed cable. The disadvantage of this tool is that the cable must be in a straight line with the male and female connectors being mated. This condition is no longer the typical installation situation; making this tool ineffective for its intended use. There is a need for a tool that can be used to connect and disconnect male F connectors in high cable density applications.

Zamanzadeh, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,010, discloses a coaxial cable connector tool that includes a hollow elongated housing comprised of two halves hinged together. The halves are closed around a female coaxial cable connector. When the halves are closed, a hexagonal hole is formed at one end, and another hole is formed at the opposite end. The hexagonal sleeve on the connector is snugly positioned in the hexagonal hole, and the cable is positioned through the opposite hole. The sleeve is then rotated by turning the housing by hand. The housing is substantially wider than the sleeve on the connector, and includes a hexagonal outer surface, so that it may be easily gripped and turned by hand. In a second embodiment, the housing is provided as a built-in component on new connectors.

As mentioned earlier, when an F cable is bent, the torque required to loosen the connector nut increases five fold, making it almost impossible to unscrew with the fingers without the benefit of a mechanical advantage. Notwithstanding the recognition of the problem in the prior art and the tools devised to solve the problem, a commonly practiced method for cable installation is to remove the TV or similar device from the console cabinet or move it away from a wall, thereby allowing the cable to straighten; making the connection with the fingers, with or without a tool, and then returning the device into the confined space.

Modern TV-related product interconnections are now made in tight spaces such as home master distribution boxes, inside home entertainment consoles, behind TV/VCR stands, etc. where most, if not all, of the coaxial cables are bent immediately from the plane of attachment to the device in order to most efficiently reach the device connected thereto. Accordingly, there is a current need for a tool for connecting and disconnecting male F-type connectors that is operable in confined spaces and provides the desired torque under conditions wherein the cable is bent adjacent to the connector.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a tool for installing or removing a male F connector on a coaxial cable to or from a female F connector on an electronic device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tool for conveniently and exactly connecting a male F connector to a female F connector to achieve an effect much better than tightening the male F connector using fingers.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a tool for installing or removing a male F connector, with which a user can select to use a socket wrench simply for tightening and loosening or a socket wrench for providing a constant torque. With the socket wrench providing a constant torque, it is able to avoid the problem of applying an excessive torsion on the male F connector.

The male F connector generally includes a connecting ring and a sleeve assembly, and is connected at a tail end to an end of a coaxial cable to provide an F-type coaxial cable structure. The connecting ring is rotatably located at a leading end of the male F connector and has a threaded inner surface and a hexagonally-shaped outer surface, and the coaxial cable is extended outward from the tail end of the male F connector.

To achieve the above and other objects, the tool for installing or removing a male F connector according to the present invention includes a first and a second socket wrench pivotally turnably connected to two ends of a link. Each of the first and second socket wrenches includes a wrench portion and a circular end portion. The wrench portions each are a tubular element having a leading end, a tail end, and a hollow wrench body located between the leading and the tail end. The wrench body of the first socket wrench is internally formed of a hexagonally shaped portion for fitting around the hexagonally-shaped outer surface of the connecting ring of the male F connector to tighten or loosen the connecting ring to or from a female F connector. The wrench portion of the second socket wrench is internally formed of a constant-torque shaped portion for fitting around the hexagonally-shaped outer surface of the connecting ring to tighten or loosen the connecting ring to or from a female F connector. Once the torque for tightening the male F connector exceeds a preset tightening torque value, the constant-torque shaped portion will separate from the hexagonally-shaped outer surface of the connecting ring and no longer tightly fit therearound. In this situation, the tool can no longer be used to continuously turn the connecting ring. The first and second socket wrenches each have a slot extending a full length thereof. The circular end portions each are a hollow element having a leading end and a tail end. The leading ends of the circular end portions are connected to the tail ends of the wrench portions.

The tool according to the present invention can be conveniently used with bent coaxial cables or in an environment with densely arranged coaxial cables to install or remove one male F connector on a coaxial cable to or from a female F connector on an electronic device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer toFIG. 1, which is a perspective view of an F-type coaxial cable structure10having a male F-type coaxial cable connector11, which will also be briefly referred to as a male F connector11throughout this document, and a coaxial cable16. The male F connector11has a rotatable connecting ring12located at a leading end thereof and a sleeve assembly15located behind the connecting ring12. The connecting ring12has a threaded inner surface13and a hexagonally-shaped outer surface14, so that the connecting ring12can be turned at the hexagonally-shaped outer surface14by a tool, such as a wrench (not shown), to tighten to or loosen from a female F connector. The coaxial cable16shown inFIG. 1is in a straight state and extended from a tail end of the male F connector11. Generally, in the process of installing the male F connector11, the coaxial cable16will become bent in the proximity of the male F connector11to cause considerable inconvenience in manipulating the conventional crescent-shaped wrench for tightening or loosening the connecting ring12.

FIGS. 2 and 3are assembled and exploded perspective views, respectively, of a tool for installing and removing male F-type coaxial cable connector according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is generally denoted by reference numeral20. As shown, the tool20includes an elongated plate-like link21, a first socket wrench30, and a second socket wrench40. The link21includes a link body22having a first end23and a second end24. The first and the second socket wrench30,40are respectively a tubular member consisting of a wrench portion31,41and a circular end portion32,42. Two slots33,43are formed on the first and the second socket wrench30,40, respectively, to axially extend a full length of the wrench portions31,41and the circular end portions32,42. That is, the slots33,43respectively have a geometrical direction consistent with the axis direction of the wrench portions31,41and the end portions32,42. The wrench portions31,41each have a leading end34,44, a tail end35,45, and a hollow wrench body36,46located between the leading end34,44and the tail end35,45.

As can be seen fromFIG. 4, the hollow wrench body36of the first socket wrench30is provided on an inner wall surface adjacent to the leading end34with a hexagonally shaped portion37for fitting around the hexagonally-shaped outer surface14of the connecting ring12on the male F connector11, and a receiving portion38behind the hexagonally shaped portion37for receiving the sleeve assembly15of the male F connector11therein. The first socket wrench30can be used to tighten or loosen the male F connector11to or from a female F connector.

As can be seen fromFIG. 5, the hollow wrench body46of the second socket wrench40includes a constant-torque shaped portion47adjacent to the leading end44for fitting around the hexagonally-shaped outer surface14of the connecting ring12on the male F connector11, and a receiving portion48behind the constant-torque shaped portion47for receiving the sleeve assembly15of the male F connector11therein. The constant-torque shaped portion47is an elastic structure having one axial slit472and two radial slits473to thereby produce two elastic plates471. Each of the elastic plates471is formed on an inner wall surface with at least one axially extended and radially raised rib or protrusion474for tightly contacting with the hexagonally-shaped outer surface14of the connecting ring12fitted in the constant-torque shaped portion47. In the illustratedFIG. 6, one rib474is internally formed on each of the two elastic plates471. When using the constant-torque shaped portion47of the tool20to install the male F connector11, it is able to avoid wearing of the hexagonally-shaped outer surface14of the connecting ring12caused by excessively applied torsion force. Once the torque for tightening the male F connector11exceeds a preset torque value, the two elastic plates471are forced outward to flare, bringing the constant-torque shaped portion47to separate from the hexagonally-shaped outer surface14of the connecting ring12and no longer tightly fit around the outer surface14. In this situation, the tool20can no longer be used to turn the connecting ring12. In brief, the second socket wrench40provides a limit value to the tightening torque.

Further, the wrench bodies36,46are respectively provided on an inner wall surface with a first stepped stop39,49and a second stepped stop311,411. When the tool20is moved forward along the male F connector11, the first stepped stop39,49will press against a rear end of the connecting ring12, preventing the hexagonally shaped portion37or the constant-torque shaped portion47of the wrench portion31or41from moving beyond the connecting ring12; and the second stepped stop311,411will press against a rear end of the sleeve assembly15, so that the sleeve assembly15is located in the receiving portion38,48.

The circular end portions32,42each are a hollow element having a leading end321,421and a tail end322,422. The leading ends321,421are adjoining the tail ends35,45of the wrench portions31,41, respectively, so that the slots33,43are extended from the wrench portions31,41to the circular end portions32,42. As can be most clearly seen fromFIGS. 7 and 8, the circular end portions32,42each are provided with a connecting slot323,423axially extending from the leading end321,421to the tail end322,422. The link body22is connected at the first end23and the second end24to the connecting slots323and423, respectively, by separately extending two pivot shafts50through the circular end portion32and the first end23as well as the circular end portion42and the second end24, so that the first and the second socket wrench30,40can be pivotally turned about the pivot shaft50from an extended position as shown inFIG. 7to a folded position as shown inFIG. 8.

The tool20further includes a hanger51connected to the first socket wrench30or the second socket wrench40. In the illustrated embodiment as shown inFIG. 2, the hanger51is connected to the circular end portion32of the first socket wrench30, so that the tool20can be conveniently hung to a desired position.

FIG. 9is a perspective view showing an F-type coaxial cable structure10is associated with the first socket wrench30on the tool20. As shown, the male F connector11is received in the slot33on the tubular wrench portion31with the connecting ring12located in the hexagonally shaped portion37and the sleeve assembly15located in the receiving portion38, and the coaxial cable16is extended outward from the wrench portion31and can be connected to a desired electronic device (not shown).

FIG. 10is a perspective view showing an F-type coaxial cable structure10is associated with the second socket wrench40on the tool20. As shown, the male F connector11is received in the slot43on the tubular wrench portion41with the connecting ring12located in the constant-torque shaped portion47and the sleeve assembly15located in the receiving portion48, and the coaxial cable16is extended outward from the wrench portion41and can be connected to a desired electronic device (not shown).

The position of the hexagonally shaped portion37of the wrench portion31and the circular end portion32as well as the position of the constant-torque shaped portion47of the wrench portion41and the circular end portion42relative to the F-type coaxial cable structure10are clearly shown inFIGS. 9 and 10, respectively. FromFIGS. 9 and 10, it can be seen that the coaxial cable16would not interfere with or hinder the tool20when the tool20is turned to tighten or loosen the male F connector11to or from a female F connector. In the case of using a conventional crescent-shaped wrench to start loosening or to do final tightening of the connecting ring12, the conventional crescent-shaped wrench will inevitably be interfered or hindered by neighboring cables and can not be continuously turned as necessary. However, with the tool20of the present invention, an operator can easily manipulate the first wrench30or the second wrench40to continuously turn the connecting ring12to install or remove the male F connector11to or from a female F connector. Even if there is a plurality of bent or densely arranged cables located near the male F connector11being handled, the tool20, due to the high mechanical advantage thereof, can still produce appropriate torque to loosen or tighten the connecting ring12.

FIGS. 11 and 12clearly show the manner of manipulating the tool20of the present invention. As shown inFIGS. 11 and 12, there is an electronic device60having a plurality of densely arranged female F connectors provided thereon, and a plurality of male F connectors11a,11b,11cand11dbeing separately connected to the female F connectors. An operator can select to use the first socket wrench30or the second socket wrench40on the tool20, and bear the selected socket wrench30or40on the electronic device60having the female F connectors provided thereon. InFIG. 11, the first socket wrench30is selected for use, and inFIG. 12, the second socket wrench40is selected for use. The selected first or second socket wrench30or40can be used to connect a male F connector to one of the female F connectors on the electronic device60, or to remove a male F connector from one of the female F connectors on the electronic device60. In the illustrated embodiment, the coaxial cables16connected to the male F connectors11ato11dare bent and highly close to one another. A bent coaxial cable16not only has influence on a lateral force applied to the male F connector thereof, but also increases the torque needed to turn the connecting ring12. To use the tool20, first dispose the coaxial cable16in the selected first or second socket wrench30or40via the slot33or43. Then, move the socket wrench30or40forward along the length direction of the cable16until the first stepped stop39or49of the wrench portion31or41is fully pressed against the rear end of the connecting ring12. When the first or the second socket wrench30or40on the tool20has been located around the male F connector to be handled, the hexagonally shaped portion37or the constant-torque shaped portion47of the tool20will snugly fit around the hexagonally-shaped outer surface14of the connecting ring12. Then, grip at the first or the second socket wrench30or40with fingers, and turn the tool20clockwise to install the male F connector11a-11don the female F connector on the electronic device60, or turn the tool20counterclockwise to remove the male F connector from the female F connector on the electronic device60. When operating the tool20, the first or the second socket wrench30or40that is not in use, as shown inFIG. 12andFIG. 11, respectively, can be pivotally turned about the pivot shaft50thereof by 90 degrees to thereby serve as a force applying end. The torque produced via this mechanical advantage enables the operator to efficiently tighten or loosen the connecting ring12on the male F connector to or from the corresponding female F connector on the electronic device60.