Tools – Wrench – screwdriver – or driver therefor – Machine
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-07
2001-08-21
Morgan, Eileen P. (Department: 3723)
Tools
Wrench, screwdriver, or driver therefor
Machine
C081S013000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276237
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(a) Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a tool for tightening a pair of in-line nuts or fasteners against one another. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a socket for tightening a pair of socket connectors on a coaxial cable.
(b) Discussion of Known Art
It has been discovered that many radio frequency signals can be effectively carried through coaxial cable. The connection of one section of coaxial cable to another section or to a device that uses the signal carried by the coaxial cable is frequently carried out with the use of a connector, such as the connector illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,412, issued to William Morris on May 8, 1990, incorporated here, in its entirety, by reference. A serious problem encountered in the field while installing these connectors is that the connectors use two nuts of the same size that must be turned against one another. This problem of having to turn two nuts against one another along a single rigid bolt or fastener is often encountered on applications where two nuts are used to lock one another along the bolt. However, in applications where the bolt is rigid, and not mounted on somewhat delicate components, such as the insulating components of coaxial cable, the counter-torquing of the nuts presents few problems. A good mechanic simply uses two wrenches: placing one wrench on each nut, and then turning the wrenches towards one another. This method of tightening the nuts relative to one another can lead to damage to a coaxial cable. Therefore there remains a need for a tool that can be used to tighten two nuts on a coaxial cable, without imposing, or while minimizing the amount of bending imposed on the cable.
A review of known devices will disclose devices such as the invention taught in U.S. Pat. No. 2,752,809 to Lehmann which reveals that there are sockets which can be used to torque down a pair of nuts against each other, but these tools are solutions for applications where a nut of a diameter is being tightened over a nut of a larger diameter. This type of problem is relatively easily solved with a dual socket wrench such as the Lehmann wrench. Unfortunately, however, these known devices do little for the problem associated with tightening two nuts of the same size against one another while using a single socket.
Thus, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,909,089 to Thompson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,784,627 to Mueller et al, U.S. Pat. No. 2,752,809 to Lehmann, U.S. Pat. No. 2,014,718 to Carrington, and U.S. Pat. No. 1,507,362 to Bartosik do little to suggest a solution of the problems associated with connectors for cables because they solve problems dealing with fasteners on relatively rigid supports, such as pipes, rigid bolts and so on.
Therefore, a review of known devices reveals that there remains a need for a simple device that can be used with a wrench, preferably a box, socket or similar type wrench handle to tighten couplings on the cable.
Still further, there remains a need for a simple, reliable socket type tool that can be used to safely tighten or loosen coaxial cable connectors or similar connectors.
SUMMARY
It has been discovered that the problems left unanswered by known art can be solved by providing a coaxial socket tool that includes:
a hollow outer socket with a first end that has been adapted for receiving and engaging a nut or other rotatable fastening coupling and a second end that includes a coupler for engaging a handle or other torquing mechanism;
a hollow inner socket that fits within the outer socket, the inner socket also includes a first end which has been adapted for receiving a nut or other rotatable fastening coupling, and a second end, which extends through the second end of the first socket and also includes a coupler for engaging a handle or other torquing mechanism.
The first end of the hollow inner socket as well as the first end of the outer socket will have a nut engagement mechanisms, in other words will have been adapted for receiving a nut or other rotatable fastening coupling, of the same size. This is because the coaxial cable connectors will typically include a male tip or connector and a female tip or connector which have similar, or functionally identical, external hexagonal nut profiles or other profiles found in other rotatable fastening mechanisms. Thus, it is important to note that as used herein, the word nut is intended to refer to a fastener having a threaded type engagement mechanism. Thus when referring to nut engagement, it is contemplated that a hexagonal, sharp pointed or multi protrusion or recess type fastener is also encompassed within the description.
It should also be understood that while the above and other advantages and results of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, showing the contemplated novel construction, combinations and elements as herein described, and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it should be clearly understood that changes in the precise embodiments of the herein disclosed invention are meant to be included within the scope of the claims, except insofar as they may be precluded by the prior art.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1507362 (1924-09-01), Bartosik
patent: 1509258 (1924-09-01), Reiser
patent: 1734270 (1929-11-01), Olson
patent: 1980073 (1934-11-01), Melvin
patent: 2014718 (1935-09-01), Carington
patent: 2181678 (1939-11-01), Wright
patent: 2267012 (1941-12-01), Bowne
patent: 2752809 (1956-07-01), Lehmann
patent: 2772590 (1956-12-01), Werries
patent: 2784627 (1957-03-01), Mueller et al.
patent: 2909089 (1959-10-01), Thompson et al.
patent: 3485118 (1969-12-01), Maughan, Jr.
patent: 3889558 (1975-06-01), Duncan
patent: 4923412 (1990-05-01), Morris
Crabtree Edwin H.
Danganan Joni B.
Morgan Eileen P.
Pizarro Ramon L.
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