Patent Publication Number: US-11646530-B2

Title: Coaxial cable connector sleeve with cutout

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. Nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 16/799,824, filed Feb. 24, 2020, pending, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/809,299, filed Feb. 22, 2019, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates generally to coaxial cable connectors and, more specifically, to a sleeve adapted to assist in tightening a threaded nut of a connector to a port or fitting. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In using electronic devices such as cable boxes and cable modems, it is sometimes desired to connect such devices to televisions, digital video disc playback devices, digital video recorders, personal computers, or other sources of electronic signals. Typically, a coaxial cable supplied by a cable service company penetrates a wall in the user&#39;s premises and is distributed to one or more locations within the home through the use of additional coaxial cable segments typically referred to as jumper cables. The jumper cable is terminated near the location of the television, cable box, cable modem or digital phone. Each end of a jumper has a coaxial cable connector installed thereon. A common interface for the coaxial cable connector is an internally threaded rotatable nut. The connector threads onto an externally threaded port on the cable box, cable modem, or other device. Other devices may be connected to the cable box or cable modem using similarly configured coaxial cable jumpers and connectors. 
     Conventional coaxial cable typically contains a centrally located electrical conductor surrounded by and spaced inwardly from an outer cylindrical braided conductor or sheath. The center and braid conductors are separated by a foil and an insulator core, with the braid being encased within a protective outer jacket. 
     A first end of a conventional coaxial cable typically includes an inner cylindrical post adapted to be inserted into a suitably prepared end of the cable between the foil and the outer braid conductor, an end portion of the latter having been exposed and folded back over the protective jacket. The center conductor, the insulator core, and the foil thus form a central core portion of the cable received axially in the inner post, whereas the outer braided conductor and protective jacket comprise an outer portion of the cable surrounding the inner post. The conventional coaxial cable end connector further includes a connector body and/or compression member designed to coact with the inner post to securely and sealingly clamp the outer portion of the cable therebetween. The clamping to the jumper cable may be carried out by crimping, swaging or radial compression of connector body or compression sleeve by use of special tools adapted to mate with these components. 
     The second end of the connector typically includes an internally threaded nut rotatably secured to the connector body. The nut may be secured to a corresponding threaded port on the cable box, television, or other electronic device. The nut may be tightened using an appropriately sized wrench. To establish a reliable connection between the connector and the port, the nut must be threadedly advanced until a flange on the end of the post contacts then end face of the port. 
     One drawback to this tightening approach is that often space is very limited in the back of the electronic device and there is inadequate room for a wrench. For example, the cable box or television may be located within an entertainment console and access to port on the equipment may be limited. Or, access to a television housed in an entertainment console may be limited because the television may be too large or heavy to be moved. 
     Another drawback is that the person making the connection may be unaware of the proper method of establishing a reliable connection. In some instances, particularly when a wrench is unavailable, the user may cease hand-tightening after one or two turns. Although such a loose connection may provide adequate video signal, data transmission may be severely hampered or break down completely. Data transmission problems may affect voice over internet protocol (VOIP), for example. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to various embodiments of the disclosure, a torque sleeve is configured to be coupled to a coaxial cable connector, which is used to terminate a prepared end of a coaxial cable. The torque sleeve comprises a sleeve body configured to extend about a periphery of a coupler and be coupled with the coupler. The sleeve body includes a bore configured to define an interior surface that includes a torque transmission feature, the torque transmission feature defining a hexagonal shape configured to match a hexagonal outer surface of the coupler. The sleeve body includes a pair of opposed cutouts, each of the cutouts extending about a portion of a periphery of the coupler, the cutouts being configured to be aligned with opposed flat surfaces of the hexagonal outer surface of the coupler. Each of the cutouts is sized and arranged to receive one flat surface of the hexagonal outer surface of the coupler and two corner portions of the hexagonal outer surface of the coupler, the corner portions being at each end the flat surface in a direction about a periphery of the coupler. The cutouts are configured to receive jaws of a wrench and permit such jaws to engage the flat surface and/or the two corner portions that are exposed in each of the cutouts such that the wrench can grip the coupler to tighten the coupler to an interface port up to a second desired torque that is greater than a first torque attainable via hand tightening. 
     In some aspects, a connector assembly includes the torque sleeve and a connector including a coupler, a post member coupled with the coupler, a connector body coupled with the post, and a fastener member configured to coupled the connector with the prepared end of the coaxial cable. The coupler is configured to rotate relative to the post member and the connector body. 
     In various aspects, the coupler includes a forward portion having an annular outer surface and a rearward portion having the hexagonal outer surface. 
     According to some aspects, the connector assembly includes a forward grounding member coupled with the forward portion of the coupler. 
     According to various aspects, the forward grounding member includes a rear collar portion and forward grounding fingers, the forward grounding fingers being configured to extend forward from the coupler. In some aspect, the grounding fingers are configured to project radially inward from the rear collar portion such that an inside diameter of the grounding fingers is smaller than an outside diameter of an interface port, the grounding fingers are configured to deflect radially outward to receive the interface port therein when the coupler is coupled with the interface port, and the fingers are configured to remain biased radially inward to maintain constant contact with the threaded exterior surface of the interface port even when the coupler is not fully tightened to the interface port. 
     In some aspects, a connector assembly includes the torque sleeve and a connector including a coupler, a post member coupled with the coupler, a connector body coupled with the post, and a fastener member configured to coupled the connector with the prepared end of the coaxial cable. The coupler is configured to rotate relative to the post member and the connector body. 
     In various aspects, the coupler includes a forward portion having an annular outer surface and a rearward portion having the hexagonal outer surface. 
     According to some aspects, the connector assembly includes a forward grounding member coupled with the forward portion of the coupler. 
     According to some aspects of the disclosure, a torque sleeve is configured to be coupled to a coaxial cable connector. The torque sleeve includes a sleeve body configured to extend about a periphery of a coupler and be coupled with the coupler. The sleeve body includes a pair of opposed cutouts, each of the cutouts extending about a portion of a periphery of the coupler, the cutouts being configured to be aligned with opposed flat surfaces of a hexagonal outer surface of a coupler. Each of the cutouts is sized and arranged to receive one flat surface of the hexagonal outer surface of the coupler and two corner portions of the hexagonal outer surface of the coupler, the corner portions being at each end the flat surface in a direction about a periphery of the coupler. The cutouts are configured to receive jaws of a wrench and permit such jaws to engage the flat surface and/or the two corner portions that are exposed in each of the cutouts such that the wrench can grip the coupler to tighten the coupler to an interface port up to a second desired torque that is greater than a first torque attainable via hand tightening. 
     In some aspects, a connector assembly includes the torque sleeve and a connector including a coupler, a post member coupled with the coupler, a connector body coupled with the post, and a fastener member configured to coupled the connector with the prepared end of the coaxial cable. The coupler is configured to rotate relative to the post member and the connector body. 
     In various aspects, the coupler includes a forward portion having an annular outer surface and a rearward portion having the hexagonal outer surface. 
     According to some aspects, the connector assembly includes a forward grounding member coupled with the forward portion of the coupler. 
     In various embodiments, a torque sleeve includes sleeve body configured to extend along an axis, the sleeve body further configured to at least partially receive a coupling member of a coaxial cable connector. The sleeve body has an outer surface configured to permit a user to tighten the coupling member to an interface port up to a first torque, and the sleeve body includes a pair of opposed cutouts configured to receive a tightening tool so as to permit the tightening tool to grip the coupling member and tighten the coupling member to an interface port up to a second torque, the second torque being greater than the first torque. 
     In some aspects, a connector assembly includes the torque sleeve and a connector including a coupler, a post member coupled with the coupler, a connector body coupled with the post, and a fastener member configured to coupled the connector with the prepared end of the coaxial cable. The coupler is configured to rotate relative to the post member and the connector body. 
     In various aspects, the coupler includes a forward portion having an annular outer surface and a rearward portion having the hexagonal outer surface. 
     According to some aspects, the connector assembly includes a forward grounding member coupled with the forward portion of the coupler. 
     In some aspects, the sleeve body includes a bore configured to define an interior surface that includes a torque transmission feature, the torque transmission feature defining a hexagonal shape configured to match a hexagonal outer surface of the coupler. 
     In various aspects, each of the cutouts is sized and arranged to receive one flat surface of the hexagonal outer surface of the coupler and two corner portions of the hexagonal outer surface of the coupler, the corner portions being at each end the flat surface in a direction about a periphery of the coupler. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       For a further understanding of the invention, reference will be made to the following detailed description of the invention which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawing and in which like numbers refer to like parts, wherein: 
         FIG.  1    is an exploded perspective view of a conventional coaxial cable connector; 
         FIG.  2    is an exploded perspective view of a coaxial cable connector including an exemplary sleeve in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure; 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view of the connector and sleeve of  FIG.  2    attached to a coaxial cable; 
         FIG.  4    is a side view of the connector and sleeve of  FIG.  3   ; 
         FIG.  5    is a top view of the connector and sleeve of  FIG.  3   ; 
         FIG.  6    is a rear end view of the connector and sleeve of  FIG.  3   ; 
         FIG.  7    is a top view of the connector and sleeve of  FIG.  3    assembled on a coaxial cable; and 
         FIG.  8    is a side view of the connector and sleeve of  FIG.  3    assembled on a coaxial cable. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As a preface to the detailed description, it should be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
     Referring to the drawings,  FIG.  1    depicts a conventional coaxial cable connector  1 . The coaxial cable connector  1  may be operably affixed, or otherwise functionally attached, to a coaxial cable  10  having a protective outer jacket  12 , a conductive grounding shield  14 , an interior dielectric  16  and a center conductor  18 . The coaxial cable  10  may be prepared as embodied in  FIG.  1    by removing the protective outer jacket  12  and drawing back the conductive grounding shield  14  to expose a portion of the interior dielectric  16 . Further preparation of the embodied coaxial cable  10  may include stripping the dielectric  16  to expose a portion of the center conductor  18 . The protective outer jacket  12  is intended to protect the various components of the coaxial cable  10  from damage which may result from exposure to dirt or moisture and from corrosion. Moreover, the protective outer jacket  12  may serve in some measure to secure the various components of the coaxial cable  10  in a contained cable design that protects the cable  10  from damage related to movement during cable installation. The conductive grounding shield  14  may be comprised of conductive materials suitable for providing an electrical ground connection, such as cuprous braided material, aluminum foils, thin metallic elements, or other like structures. Various embodiments of the shield  14  may be employed to screen unwanted noise. For instance, the shield  14  may comprise a metal foil wrapped around the dielectric  16 , or several conductive strands formed in a continuous braid around the dielectric  16 . Combinations of foil and/or braided strands may be utilized wherein the conductive shield  14  may comprise a foil layer, then a braided layer, and then a foil layer. Those in the art will appreciate that various layer combinations may be implemented in order for the conductive grounding shield  14  to effectuate an electromagnetic buffer helping to prevent ingress of environmental noise that may disrupt broadband communications. The dielectric  16  may be comprised of materials suitable for electrical insulation, such as plastic foam material, paper materials, rubber-like polymers, or other functional insulating materials. It should be noted that the various materials of which all the various components of the coaxial cable  10  are comprised should have some degree of elasticity allowing the cable  10  to flex or bend in accordance with traditional broadband communication standards, installation methods and/or equipment. It should further be recognized that the radial thickness of the coaxial cable  10 , protective outer jacket  12 , conductive grounding shield  14 , interior dielectric  16  and/or center conductor  18  may vary based upon generally recognized parameters corresponding to broadband communication standards and/or equipment. 
     Referring further to  FIG.  1   , the connector  1  may be configured to be coupled with a coaxial cable interface port  20 . The coaxial cable interface port  20  includes a conductive receptacle for receiving a portion of a coaxial cable center conductor  18  sufficient to make adequate electrical contact. The coaxial cable interface port  20  may further comprise a threaded exterior surface  23 . It should be recognized that the radial thickness and/or the length of the coaxial cable interface port  20  and/or the conductive receptacle of the port  20  may vary based upon generally recognized parameters corresponding to broadband communication standards and/or equipment. Moreover, the pitch and height of threads which may be formed upon the threaded exterior surface  23  of the coaxial cable interface port  20  may also vary based upon generally recognized parameters corresponding to broadband communication standards and/or equipment. Furthermore, it should be noted that the interface port  20  may be formed of a single conductive material, multiple conductive materials, or may be configured with both conductive and non-conductive materials corresponding to the port&#39;s operable electrical interface with the connector  1 . However, the receptacle of the port  20  should be formed of a conductive material, such as a metal, like brass, copper, or aluminum. Further still, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill that the interface port  20  may be embodied by a connective interface component of a coaxial cable communications device, a television, a modem, a computer port, a network receiver, or other communications modifying devices such as a signal splitter, a cable line extender, a cable network module and/or the like. 
     Referring still further to  FIG.  1   , the conventional coaxial cable connector  1  may include a coupler, for example, a coupler  30  (e.g. a threaded nut), a post member  40 , a connector body  50 , a fastener member  60 , a grounding member  70  formed of conductive material, and a connector body sealing member  72 , such as, for example, a body O-ring configured to fit around a portion of the connector body  50 . The nut  30  at the front end of the post  40  serves to attach the connector  1  to an interface port. 
     The threaded nut  30  of the coaxial cable connector  1  has a first forward end  31  and opposing second rearward end  32 . The threaded nut  30  may comprise internal threading  33  extending axially from the edge of first forward end  31  a distance sufficient to provide operably effective threadable contact with the external threads  23  of the standard coaxial cable interface port  20 . The threaded nut  30  includes an internal lip  34 , such as an annular protrusion, located proximate the second rearward end  32  of the nut. The internal lip  34  includes a surface  35  facing the first forward end  31  of the nut  30 . The forward facing surface  35  of the lip  34  may be a tapered surface or side facing the first forward end  31  of the nut  30 . The structural configuration of the nut  30  may vary according to differing connector design parameters to accommodate different functionality of a coaxial cable connector  1 . For instance, the first forward end  31  of the nut  30  may include internal and/or external structures such as ridges, grooves, curves, detents, slots, openings, chamfers, or other structural features, etc., which may facilitate the operable joining of an environmental sealing member, such a water-tight seal or other attachable component element, that may help prevent ingress of environmental contaminants, such as moisture, oils, and dirt, at the first forward end  31  of a nut  30 , when mated with the interface port  20 . Moreover, the second rearward end  32  of the nut  30  may extend a significant axial distance to reside radially extent, or otherwise partially surround, a portion of the connector body  50 , although the extended portion of the nut  30  need not contact the connector body  50 . The threaded nut  30  may be formed of conductive materials, such as copper, brass, aluminum, or other metals or metal alloys, facilitating grounding through the nut  30 . Accordingly, the nut  30  may be configured to extend an electromagnetic buffer by electrically contacting conductive surfaces of an interface port  20  when a connector  1  is advanced onto the port  20 . In addition, the threaded nut  30  may be formed of both conductive and non-conductive materials. For example, the external surface of the nut  30  may be formed of a polymer, while the remainder of the nut  30  may be comprised of a metal or other conductive material. The threaded nut  30  may be formed of metals or polymers or other materials that would facilitate a rigidly formed nut body. Manufacture of the threaded nut  30  may include casting, extruding, cutting, knurling, turning, tapping, drilling, injection molding, blow molding, combinations thereof, or other fabrication methods that may provide efficient production of the component. The forward facing surface  35  of the nut  30  faces a flange  44  of the post  40  when operably assembled in a connector  1 , so as to allow the nut to rotate with respect to the other component elements, such as the post  40  and the connector body  50 , of the connector  1 . 
     Referring still to  FIG.  1   , the connector  1  may include a post  40 . The post  40  may include a first forward end  41  and an opposing second rearward end  42 . Furthermore, the post  40  may include a flange  44 , such as an externally extending annular protrusion, located at the first end  41  of the post  40 . The flange  44  includes a rearward facing surface  45  that faces the forward facing surface  35  of the nut  30 , when operably assembled in a coaxial cable connector  1 , so as to allow the nut to rotate with respect to the other component elements, such as the post  40  and the connector body  50 , of the connector  1 . The rearward facing surface  45  of flange  44  may be a tapered surface facing the second rearward end  42  of the post  40 . Further still, an embodiment of the post  40  may include a surface feature  47  such as a lip or protrusion that may engage a portion of a connector body  50  to secure axial movement of the post  40  relative to the connector body  50 . However, the post need not include such a surface feature  47 , and the coaxial cable connector  1  may rely on press-fitting and friction-fitting forces and/or other component structures having features and geometries to help retain the post  40  in secure location both axially and rotationally relative to the connector body  50 . The location proximate or near where the connector body is secured relative to the post  40  may include surface features  43 , such as ridges, grooves, protrusions, or knurling, which may enhance the secure attachment and locating of the post  40  with respect to the connector body  50 . Moreover, the portion of the post  40  that contacts embodiments of the grounding member  70  may be of a different diameter than a portion of the nut  30  that contacts the connector body  50 . Such diameter variance may facilitate assembly processes. For instance, various components having larger or smaller diameters can be readily press-fit or otherwise secured into connection with each other. Additionally, the post  40  may include a mating edge  46 , which may be configured to make physical and electrical contact with a corresponding mating edge  26  of the interface port  20 . The post  40  should be formed such that portions of a prepared coaxial cable  10  including the dielectric  16  and center conductor  18  may pass axially into the second end  42  and/or through a portion of the tube-like body of the post  40 . Moreover, the post  40  should be dimensioned, or otherwise sized, such that the post  40  may be inserted into an end of the prepared coaxial cable  10 , around the dielectric  16  and under the protective outer jacket  12  and conductive grounding shield  14 . Accordingly, where an embodiment of the post  40  may be inserted into an end of the prepared coaxial cable  10  under the drawn back conductive grounding shield  14 , substantial physical and/or electrical contact with the shield  14  may be accomplished thereby facilitating grounding through the post  40 . The post  40  should be conductive and may be formed of metals or may be formed of other conductive materials that would facilitate a rigidly formed post body. In addition, the post may be formed of a combination of both conductive and non-conductive materials. For example, a metal coating or layer may be applied to a polymer of other non-conductive material. Manufacture of the post  40  may include casting, extruding, cutting, turning, drilling, knurling, injection molding, spraying, blow molding, component overmolding, combinations thereof, or other fabrication methods that may provide efficient production of the component. 
     The coaxial cable connector  1  may include a connector body  50 . The connector body  50  may comprise a first end  51  and opposing second end  52 . Moreover, the connector body may include a post mounting portion  57  proximate or otherwise near the first end  51  of the body  50 , the post mounting portion  57  configured to securely locate the body  50  relative to a portion of the outer surface of post  40 , so that the connector body  50  is axially secured with respect to the post  40 , in a manner that prevents the two components from moving with respect to each other in a direction parallel to the axis of the connector  1 . The internal surface of the post mounting portion  57  may include an engagement feature  54  that facilitates the secure location of the grounding member  70  with respect to the connector body  50  and/or the post  40 , by physically engaging the grounding member  70  when assembled within the connector  1 . The engagement feature  54  may simply be an annular detent or ridge having a different diameter than the rest of the post mounting portion  57 . However other features such as grooves, ridges, protrusions, slots, holes, keyways, bumps, nubs, dimples, crests, rims, or other like structural features may be included to facilitate or possibly assist the positional retention of embodiments of the electrical grounding member  70  with respect to the connector body  50 . Nevertheless, embodiments of the grounding member  70  may also reside in a secure position with respect to the connector body  50  simply through press-fitting and friction-fitting forces engendered by corresponding tolerances, when the various coaxial cable connector  1  components are operably assembled, or otherwise physically aligned and attached together. Various exemplary grounding members  70  are illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,287,320, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. In addition, the connector body  50  may include an outer annular recess  58  located proximate or near the first end  51  of the connector body  50 . Furthermore, the connector body  50  may include a semi-rigid, yet compliant outer surface  55 , wherein an inner surface opposing the outer surface  55  may be configured to form an annular seal when the second end  52  is deformably compressed against a received coaxial cable  10  by operation of a fastener member  60 . The connector body  50  may include an external annular detent  53  located proximate or close to the second end  52  of the connector body  50 . Further still, the connector body  50  may include internal surface features  59 , such as annular serrations formed near or proximate the internal surface of the second end  52  of the connector body  50  and configured to enhance frictional restraint and gripping of an inserted and received coaxial cable  10 , through tooth-like interaction with the cable. The connector body  50  may be formed of materials such as plastics, polymers, bendable metals or composite materials that facilitate a semi-rigid, yet compliant outer surface  55 . Further, the connector body  50  may be formed of conductive or non-conductive materials or a combination thereof. Manufacture of the connector body  50  may include casting, extruding, cutting, turning, drilling, knurling, injection molding, spraying, blow molding, component overmolding, combinations thereof, or other fabrication methods that may provide efficient production of the component. 
     With further reference to  FIG.  1   , the coaxial cable connector  1  may include a fastener member  60 . The fastener member  60  may have a first end  61  and opposing second end  62 . In addition, the fastener member  60  may include an internal annular protrusion  63  located proximate the first end  61  of the fastener member  60  and configured to mate and achieve purchase with the annular detent  53  on the outer surface  55  of connector body  50 . Moreover, the fastener member  60  may comprise a central passageway  65  defined between the first end  61  and second end  62  and extending axially through the fastener member  60 . The central passageway  65  may comprise a ramped surface  66  which may be positioned between a first opening or inner bore  67  having a first diameter positioned proximate with the first end  61  of the fastener member  60  and a second opening or inner bore  68  having a second diameter positioned proximate with the second end  62  of the fastener member  60 . The ramped surface  66  may act to deformably compress the outer surface  55  of a connector body  50  when the fastener member  60  is operated to secure a coaxial cable  10 . For example, the narrowing geometry will compress squeeze against the cable, when the fastener member is compressed into a tight and secured position on the connector body. Additionally, the fastener member  60  may comprise an exterior surface feature  69  positioned proximate with or close to the second end  62  of the fastener member  60 . The surface feature  69  may facilitate gripping of the fastener member  60  during operation of the connector  1 . Although the surface feature  69  is shown as an annular detent, it may have various shapes and sizes such as a ridge, notch, protrusion, knurling, or other friction or gripping type arrangements. The first end  61  of the fastener member  60  may extend an axial distance so that, when the fastener member  60  is compressed into sealing position on the coaxial cable  10 , the fastener member  60  touches or resides substantially proximate significantly close to the nut  30 . It should be recognized, by those skilled in the requisite art, that the fastener member  60  may be formed of rigid materials such as metals, hard plastics, polymers, composites and the like, and/or combinations thereof. Furthermore, the fastener member  60  may be manufactured via casting, extruding, cutting, turning, drilling, knurling, injection molding, spraying, blow molding, component overmolding, combinations thereof, or other fabrication methods that may provide efficient production of the component. 
     The manner in which the coaxial cable connector  1  may be fastened to a received coaxial cable  10  may also be similar to the way a cable is fastened to a common CMP-type connector having an insertable compression sleeve that is pushed into the connector body  50  to squeeze against and secure the cable  10 . The coaxial cable connector  1  includes an outer connector body  50  having a first end  51  and a second end  52 . The body  50  at least partially surrounds a tubular inner post  40 . The tubular inner post  40  has a first end  41  including a flange  44  and a second end  42  configured to mate with a coaxial cable  10  and contact a portion of the outer conductive grounding shield or sheath  14  of the cable  10 . The connector body  50  is secured relative to a portion of the tubular post  40  proximate or close to the first end  41  of the tubular post  40  and cooperates, or otherwise is functionally located in a radially spaced relationship with the inner post  40  to define an annular chamber with a rear opening. A tubular locking compression member may protrude axially into the annular chamber through its rear opening. The tubular locking compression member may be slidably coupled or otherwise movably affixed to the connector body  50  to compress into the connector body and retain the cable  10  and may be displaceable or movable axially or in the general direction of the axis of the connector  1  between a first open position (accommodating insertion of the tubular inner post  40  into a prepared cable  10  end to contact the grounding shield  14 ), and a second clamped position compressibly fixing the cable  10  within the chamber of the connector  1 , because the compression sleeve is squeezed into restraining contact with the cable  10  within the connector body  50 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  2 - 8   , an exemplary embodiment of a sleeve  180 , for example, a torque sleeve, may be coupled to a coaxial cable connector  100 , which includes many of the features described above relative to the conventional coaxial connector  1  and is used to terminate a prepared end of the coaxial cable  10 . A variety of other coaxial cable connectors may be adapted for use with the sleeve  180  of the present invention, such as the connectors described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,470,257 to Szegda or U.S. Pat. No. 6,153,830 to Montena, which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
     The connector  100  is configured and dimensioned to accommodate receiving the prepared end of a coaxial cable  10 . The connector  100  includes a coupler  130  (e.g. a threaded nut), a forward grounding member  136 , a post member  140 , a connector body  150 , a fastener member  160 , a grounding member  170  formed of conductive material, and a connector body sealing member  172 , such as, for example, a body O-ring configured to fit around a portion of the connector body  150 . The coupler  130 , the post member  140 , the connector body  150 , the fastener member  160 , the grounding member  170  formed of conductive material, and the connector body sealing member  172  are similar to the like parts described above in connection with the conventional connector  1 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  2   , the coupler  130  may include a forward portion  131  having an annular outer surface and a rearward portion  133  having a hexagonal outer surface or contour  193 . For example, the hexagonal outer surface  193  may include six hexagonal flats  195  arranged successively about the periphery of the coupler  130  and separated from one another by six corner portions  196 . 
     The forward grounding member  136  is connected with the coupler  130  such that the forward grounding member  136  extends about a periphery of the forward portion  131  of the coupler  130 . The forward grounding member  136  includes a rear collar portion  137  and forward grounding fingers  138 . The forward grounding member  136  may be connected with the coupler  130  in any manner that ensures a ground path between the coupler  130  and the forward grounding member  136 , such as, for example, a snap fit, interference fit, press fit, or the like. For example, as shown in  FIG.  2   , the forward grounding member  136  may include protrusions  139  extending radially inward from an inner surface  136 ′ of the forward grounding member  136 . The protrusions  139  result in an inside diameter of the rear collar portion  137  of the forward grounding member  136  being slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the coupler  130  so that the forward grounding member  136  can be securely connected with the coupler  130  by an interference fit. It should be appreciated that, in some embodiments, the coupler  130  and the forward grounding member  136  may be configured as a single monolithic piece of unitary construction. 
     The grounding fingers  138  may be formed by cuts in the forward grounding member  136 . The grounding fingers  138  are configured to project radially inward such that the resulting inside diameter of the grounding fingers  138  is smaller than the outside diameter of the interface port  20 . The grounding fingers  138  are constructed of a material having sufficient resiliency such that the fingers  138  are configured to deflect radially outward to receive the interface port  20  therein when the coupler  130  is coupled with the interface port  20 , while remaining biased radially inward. The fingers  138  remain biased radially inward to maintain constant contact with the threaded exterior surface  23  of the interface port  20  at all times, for example, even when the coupler  130  is not fully tightened to the interface port  20 . Thus, even when the coupler  130  is loosely coupled (i.e., partially or loosely tightened) with the interface port  20 , electrical ground between the coupler  130  and the interface port  20  is maintained. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  3 - 8   , the sleeve  180 , such as, for example, a torque sleeve or a gripping sleeve, extends about a periphery of the coupler  130  and the forward grounding member  136 . In some embodiments, the sleeve  180  may be constructed of rubber, plastic, an elastomer, or the like. The sleeve  180  may be coupled with the coupler  130  and the forward grounding member  136  through a press-fit, snap-fit, interference-fit, or any other coupling relationship. As shown in  FIG.  2   , the forward grounding member  136  may include protrusions  139 ′ extending radially outward from an outer surface  136 ″ of the forward grounding member  136 . The protrusions  139 ′ result in an outside diameter of the rear collar portion  137  of the forward grounding member  136  being slightly larger than the inside diameter of the sleeve  180  so that the forward grounding member  136  can be securely connected with the sleeve  180  by an interference fit. Thus, rotation of the sleeve  180  rotates the forward grounding member  136  to attach the connector  100  to a system component, for example, the threaded port  20  or the like. 
     The sleeve  180  includes a generally cylindrical body  182  having a first end  184  and a second end  186  defining a bore  188  along a longitudinal axis  190 . As would be understood by persons skilled in the art, the external surface of the body  182  of the sleeve  180  may be textured to assist a user in turning the sleeve  180  by hand. The texture may be grooved, splined, or knurled for example. Alternatively, the external shape of the sleeve body  182  may be a prism, elliptical, cylindrical, or have flats or concavities to assist the user in grasping and manipulating the sleeve  180 . 
     As best illustrated in  FIG.  2   , the bore  188  of the cylindrical body  182  defines an interior surface  192  that includes a torque transmission feature in the first end  184  of the body  182 . The torque transmission feature defines a geometric shape to match the contour of the rearward portion  133  of the coupler  130 . The contour may be sized for a line-on-line fit with an outer contour  193  of the rearward portion  133  of the coupler  130 . As shown in  FIG.  6   , the torque transmission feature of the interior surface  192  forms a hexagonal shape to match the hexagonal outer surface of the rearward portion  133  of the coupler  130 . 
     Because the interior surface  192  in the first end  184  of the cylindrical body  182  defines a geometric shape matching the contour of the rearward portion  133  of the coupler  130 , the sleeve  180  effects torque transmission to the coupler  130 . Thus, the coupler  130  may be hand-tightened to a first torque without the use of a wrench (e.g., up to about 10 in.lb. of torque). The outer contour of the cylindrical body  182  may include grooves, knurls, ribs, or other features to prevent slippage during the tightening or loosening operations. In one embodiment, the only radial contact surface between the sleeve  180  and the coaxial cable connector  100  is at the coupler  130  interface, for example, at the rearward portion  133  of the coupler  130 . For example, in the disclosed embodiment, the radial contact is limited to the hexagonal flats. As can be appreciated with reference to  FIG.  2   , adequate clearance may be designed between the sleeve  180  and the connector body  150 , and between the sleeve  180  and the fastener member  160 , so as to allow the coupler  130  to rotate freely without creating drag on other components of the connector  100 . 
     The cylindrical body  182  of the sleeve  180  includes a pair of diametrically opposed cutouts  194 . Each of the cutouts  194  extends about only a portion of the periphery of the rearward portion  133  of the coupler  130  in a direction transverse, for example, perpendicular, to the axis  190 . The cutouts  194  are arranged relative to the shape of the interior surface  192  of the cylindrical body  182  such that the cutouts  184  are aligned with diametrically opposed flat surfaces  195  of the hex-shaped coupler  130  surrounded by the cylindrical body  182 . As best shown in  FIGS.  3  and  5   , each of the cutouts  184  is sized and arranged to receive one hexagonal flat  195  and two corner portions  195 , one at each end the hexagonal flat  195  in a direction transverse, for example, perpendicular, to the axis  190 . Thus, the cutouts  194  are configured to receive jaws of a wrench and permit such jaws to engage two diametrically opposed hexagonal flats  195  and/or the two corner portions  195  that are exposed in each of the cutouts  184  such that the wrench can grip the rearward portion  133  of the coupler  130  so as to be used to tighten the coupler  130  to the interface port  20  up to a second desired torque that is greater than the first torque attainable via hand tightening. 
     One advantage of the present invention is that a coaxial cable connector and jumper cable may be installed onto a corresponding electronic device up to a first torque (e.g., 10 in.lb.) without having to resort to the use of a wrench, while facilitating use of a wrench to install the connector onto a device up to a second desired torque (e.g., 30 in.lb.) that is greater than the first torque. This is particularly desirable when access to the electronic device is limited, or the device is housed in an enclosed space that is restricted. In such situations, a secure and reliable connection may be established by use of hand-tightening. Meanwhile, when access to the electronic device is not limited or when a torque greater than the first torque is desirable (e.g., when connecting the connector  100  to wall plates and splitters), the cutouts  194  facilitate the use of a wrench, which can achieve an even tighter and more secure connection between the coupler  130  and the port  20  than hand-tightening. Without the sleeve  180  of the present invention, tightening the coupler  130  on the port  20  may be difficult, resulting in only a few threads being engaged. In contrast, using the sleeve  180 , greater torque transmission may be realized in all situations, resulting in a tighter, more secure connection between the coupler  130  and the port  20  in all situations. 
     It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims. 
     Although several embodiments of the disclosure have been disclosed in the foregoing specification, it is understood by those skilled in the art that many modifications and other embodiments of the disclosure will come to mind to which the disclosure pertains, having the benefit of the teaching presented in the foregoing description and associated drawings. It is thus understood that the disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein above, and that many modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although specific terms are employed herein, as well as in the claims which follow, they are used only in a generic and descriptive sense, and not for the purposes of limiting the present disclosure, nor the claims which follow.