End connector and guide tube for a coaxial cable

A guide tube utilized as an assisting component when coupling an end connector to a coaxial cable. Having a passage formed through its body, the guide tube is inserted into the tubular body of the connector. As such, when installation personnel insert coaxial cable into the connector, the center conductor of the coaxial cable contacts a conical-shaped section inside the guide tube and, at the same time, the guide tube is moved forward. Due to the design of the conical-shaped section of the guide tube, the center conductor of the coaxial cable is guided into the connector in a perfectly straight state.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
(1) Field of the Invention 
The invention herein relates to a guide tube that is utilized as an 
assisting component when coupling an end connector to a coaxial cable in 
that the guide tube is capable of guiding the slanted center conductor of 
a coaxial cable into a perfectly straight state as the coaxial cable is 
inserted into the end connector. 
(2) Description of the Prior Art 
In cable television systems (CATV), subscription television systems (STV), 
and master antenna television systems, terminal, and other systems, the 
signals are transmitted by means of coaxial cable. Referring to FIG. 9, 
the conventional coaxial cable connector of such systems is comprised of 
the coaxial cable 10 itself and an end connector 11 (for example, an 
F-type, BNC, or RCA connectors); the installation personnel must 
effectively insert the cable 10 into the end connector 11 such that the 
center conductor 12 and the dielectric 13 are inserted through the inside 
of the tubular body 14 of the end connector 11, while the braided 
conductor 15 and the outer jacket 16 are sleeved around the extended rear 
section 17 of the tubular body 14 and, finally, a ring 18 is crimped over 
the coaxial cable 10 to bind it firmly to the extended rear section 17; 
however, since the inner diameter of the said tubular body 14 is slightly 
larger than the outer diameter of the dielectric 13, the installation 
personnel have an extremely difficult time inserting the dielectric 13 
into the hollow body 14; furthermore, if the coaxial cable 10 is in a 
slanted state, the installation personnel experience further difficulty 
while inserting the dielectric 13 through the tubular body 14, which poses 
tremendous installation problems; as such, the industry is currently 
awaiting a solution to the said shortcomings to increase competitiveness. 
In view of the said situation, the inventor of the inventor herein 
conducted intensive research based on many years of experience accumulated 
while engaged in the production and marketing of related products which, 
following continuous testing and refinements, finally culminated in the 
development the guide tube of invention herein. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The primary objective of the invention herein is to provide a guide tube, 
wherein the center conductor of coaxial cable is inserted into the guide 
tube and, at the same time, the guide tube is moved into position, thereby 
enabling the easy insertion of the center conductor and the dielectric 
into an end connector. 
Another objective of the invention herein is to provide a guide tube, 
wherein if the coaxial cable is inserted into the guide tube in a slanted 
state, the said center conductor is corrected by a conical-shaped section, 
thereby guiding the coaxial cable into a perfectly straight line. 
To enable a further understanding of the said objectives, innovations, 
technological means involved, and other functions of the invention herein, 
the brief description of the views below is followed by the detailed 
description of the preferred embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 1A, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3, the guide tube 30 of the 
first Embodiment is comprised of a hollow body 31 constructed of a plastic 
material, and formed throlgh the said body 31 is a passage 32 consisting 
of conical-shaped section 321, an insert section 322, and a guide section 
323; the said conical-shaped section 321 is profiled such there is a 
gradually reduction in its diameter from the outside to the inside, the 
innermost edge then merging with a larger diameter insert section 322 and 
the rear edge of the insert section 322 finally merges with the guide 
section 323 which gradually increases in diameter from the inside to the 
outside; furthermore, there are one or more nibs 33 formed on the outer 
extent of the end section of the body 31, with an angled surface contact 
area formed at the intersection of the said nibs 33 and body 31. 
Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, as the guide tube 30 of the first 
Embodiment is installed to the tubular body 14 of a BNC connector 2, the 
nibs 33 are positioned in the tubular body 14 and when the center 
conductor 12 and the dielectric 13 of the coaxial cable 10 are inserted 
into the BNC connector 2, the dielectric 13 is squeezed forward by the 
guide tube 30 of the first Embodiment, causing the nibs 33 to become cut 
off by the metal tubular body 14 or directly inserted into the tubular 
body 14, the insertion of the center conductor 12 into the insert section 
322, and the dielectric 13 to be squeezed forward in the guide tube 30 of 
the first Embodiment , and the contact sleeve 211 to enter into the insert 
section 322, thereby enabling the center conductor 12 to become inserted 
easily into the contact sleeve 211. 
When the coaxial cable 10 is inserted into the BNC connector 2 at an angle, 
the center conductor 12 of the said coaxial cable 10 contacts the 
conical-shaped section 321 inside the guide tube 30, causing the center 
conductor 12 of the coaxial cable 10 to push the guide tube 30 forward 
and, since the conical-shaped section 321 of the guide tube 30 is profiled 
such there is a gradual reduction in diameter from the outside to the 
inside, the center conductor 12 of the coaxial cable 10 is gradually 
guided towards the center of the tubular body 14 and, since the insert 
section 322 of the guide tube 30 is ensleeved around the outer diameter of 
the contact sleeve 211, the center conductor 12 is accurately inserted 
into the contact sleeve 211. 
Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the guide tube 40 of the second Embodiment 
of the present invention is generally similar to the guide tube 30 (the 
first Embodiment), with the difference in the design being the position of 
the nibs 42; the said nibs 42 are positioned at an appropriate area on the 
outer extent of the body 41, enabling the contact friction so produced 
between it and the tubular body 14 to prevent dislodgment. 
Referring to FIG. 6, FIG. 6A, FIG. 7, and FIG. 8, the guide tube 50 of the 
third Embodiment of the Present invention as installed on the tubular body 
14 of an F-type connector 11, the said guide tube 50 is comprised of a 
body 51 having a beveled surface 52 formed at one end that enables easy 
insertion into tubular body 14 and a passage 53 recessed at the other end, 
with the said passage 53 composed of an insert section 54 and a 
conical-shaped section 55; furthermore, one or more nibs 56 are formed at 
an appropriate area on the outer extent of the body 51, enabling the 
contact friction so produced between it and the tubular body 14 to prevent 
dislodgment; in addition, the angled surface contact area formed by the 
intersection of the said nibs 56 and body 51 enable the smooth insertion 
of the guide tube 50 into the tubular body 14 along the said angled 
surface. 
When the coaxial cable 10 is inserted into the F-type connector 11 in a 
perfectly straight state, the said center conductor 12 is directly 
inserted into the insert section 54, while guide tube 50 of the third 
Embodiment is pushed forward and, furthermore, pushed through the F-type 
connector 11 to thereby permit the easy completion of the assembly task. 
When the coaxial cable 10 is inserted into the F-type connector 11 at an 
angle or in an uncentered state, the said center conductor 12 contacts the 
conical-shaped section 55, which corrects the angle of and guides the 
center conductor 12 into the insert section 54 and pushes it through the 
F-type connector 11, thereby permitting the easy completion of the 
assembly task. 
However, the views and description disclosed in the foregoing section only 
relate to the preferred embodiments of the invention herein and shall not 
be construed as a limitation upon other embodiments of the present 
invention. Furthermore, all modifications and embellishments whatsoever 
based on the said disclosure and attempted by persons skilled in the 
technology shall remain within the scope and claims of the invention 
herein.