US3774284A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tool for securing contacts to flat multi-conductor cable
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1972-08-23
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Granted: 1973-11-27
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Expires: 1992-08-23
Abstract
Abstract A tool for securing contacts to flat multi-conductor tape-like cable features a contact holder having a feeding path for the contact to control the width thereof during attachment to the cable, a ram reciprocably movable in the holder, an anvil disposed adjacent the contact holder at the end of the feeding path therein, and a ram driving mechanism being operable to assure that a given force is applied to the ram for insuring that the contact fully penetrates the cable and is properly bent back on the other side to provide engagement with the conductor strips therein. A cable feeding mechanism insures proper alignment of the cable edge with the contact holder and anvil and has a rack and pawl indexing device for shifting the cable within the tool for applying a contact to the next conductor strip. In a portable version of the tool, the contact holder is normally biased against the anvil, and a lever camming mechanism is provided which permits limited reciprocable movement of the contact holder for inserting a cable into position between the holder and the anvil and for indexing the cable, as desired. The contacts in this version are separately and manually inserted into the contact holder. A machine version of the tool having an electrically controlled fluid-powered cylinder offers greater versatility through the provision of a rotary head carrying the contact holder and a rotary table supporting the anvil. In this version, the contacts are automatically fed from a reel and the contact holder and anvil are normally spaced apart, except during the contactsecuring operation.
Inventors
- 👤 H Cootes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:21
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R43/00; H01R43/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/5313; Y10T29/532; Y10T29/53209; Y10T29/53213; Y10T29/53222; Y10T29/53226; Y10T29/53235; Y10T29/5343
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A tool for securing contacts to flat multi-conductor cable comprising: a housing; a contact holder reciprocably disposed in Said housing; an anvil connected to said housing and disposed in line with said reciprocably movable contact holder; a ram reciprocably disposed in said contact holder for movement toward and away from said anvil; means for urging said ram in a direction away from said anvil and for urging said contact holder toward said anvil; means for overcoming said contact holder urging means for moving said contact holder in said housing away from said anvil, whereby said cable may be inserted between said contact holder and said anvil; and means for overcoming said ram urging means for moving said ram through said contact holder for driving a contact disposed in said contact holder through said cable.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A tool for securing contacts to flat multi-conductor cable comprising: a housing; a contact holder reciprocably disposed in Said housing; an anvil connected to said housing and disposed in line with said reciprocably movable contact holder; a ram reciprocably disposed in said contact holder for movement toward and away from said anvil; means for urging said ram in a direction away from said anvil and for urging said contact holder toward said anvil; means for overcoming said contact holder urging means for moving said contact holder in said housing away from said anvil, whereby said cable may be inserted between said contact holder and said anvil; and means for overcoming said ram urging means for moving said ram through said contact holder for driving a contact disposed in said contact holder through said cable.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
86 words
A tool for securing contacts to flat multi-conductor cable as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: means for holding said flat multi-conductor cable in said tool with conductor strip thereof disposed between said contact holder and said anvil and aligned between said movable ram and said anvil; and indexing means for selectively moving said cable holding means in a direction to position a succeeding conductor strip of said cable between said contact holder and said anvil in alignment between said movable ram and said anvil.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
96 words
A tool for securing contacts to flat multi-conductor cable as set forth in claim 2, wherein said ram driving means conprises: a plunger movably disposed in said housing in a direction in line with said contact holder and said anvil, said ram being secured to said plunger for movement therewith; and a trigger pivotably mounted on said housing and connected at one end to said plunger for causing said plunger to be moved in the direction of said contact holder and said ram to be moved through said contact holder in the direction of said anvil.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
104 words
A tool for securing contacts to flat multi-conductor cable as set forth in claim 3, further comprising: means for limiting the pivotal movement of said trigger in both directions of rotation; and means for preventing movement of said trigger in one direction of rotation after said trigger has been moved in the other direction until said movement in said other direction has been completed to its limit, and for preventing movement of said trigger in said other direction of rotation after said trigger has been moved in the said one direction until said movement in said one direction has been completed to its limit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
122 words
A tool for securing contacts to flat multi-conductor cable as set forth in claim 3, further comprising: an arcuate rack fixedly secured to said housing; a pawl pivotably mounted to said trigger opposite said end thereof being pivotably connected to said housing for engaging said arcuate rack and for locking said trigger against movement in one direction of rotation after said trigger has been moved in the other direction until said movement in said other direction has been completed through a predetermined angle, and for locking said trigger against movement in said other direction of rotation after said trigger has been moved in the said one direction until said movement in said one direction has been completed through the same predetermined angle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
A tool for securing contacts to flat multi-conductor cable as set forth in claim 3, wherein said means for urging said ram in a direction away from said anvil and for urging said contact holder in a direction toward said anvil comprises a spring compressed between said movable plunger and said contact holder in said housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
A tool for securing contacts to flat multi-conductor cable as set forth in claim 6, wherein said means for moving said contact holder away from said anvil comprises: a cam connected through said housing to said contact holder for moving said contact holder away from said anvil against the biasing force of said spring; and a lever connected to said housing and said cam for actuating said cam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
115 words
A tool for securing contacts to flat multi-condUctor cable as set forth in claim 2, wherein said indexing means and said holding means comprise: an index supporting mechanism secured to said housing; an index plate slidably disposed in said index supporting mechanism; a clamp plate; means for fixing said clamp plate to said index plate for securing said flat cable therebetween in a plane wherein said cable is disposed between said contact holder and said anvil; rack means formed on one surface of said index plate; and means for selectively engaging said rack of said index plate for moving said index plate through a distance equal to the spacing between conductor strips in said cable.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
A tool for securing contacts to flat multi-conductor cable as set forth in claim 8, further comprising: a drag plate secured to said index supporting mechanism and having one surface thereof in relative sliding engagement with said index plate; and means for adjustably controlling the force between said drag plate and said index plate for controlling the ease of sliding of said index plate in said index supporting mechanism.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
82 words
A tool for securing contacts to flat multi-conductor cable as set forth in claim 9, wherein said selective means for indexing said index plate comprises: a plunger movably disposed in said index supporting mechanism for movement in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of said index plate; a pawl carried by said plunger and engageable with said rack; and means normally biasing said plunger in a direction away from said index plate whereby said pawl is disengaged from said rack.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
A tool for securing contacts to flat multi-conductor cable as set forth in claim 10, further comprising: adjustable stop means for establishing one end position of the movement of said index plate, whereby the engagement of said plunger-operated pawl with said rack may be accurately set.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
106 words
A tool for securing contacts to a flat multi-conductor cable comprising: a housing; an anvil connected to said housing; a contact holding means having a ram movable therein being disposed in line with said anvil for holding a contact to be secured to a conductor strip of said cable and for maintaining said contact at a predetermined width while said ram drives said contact through said cable; and means for operating said ram for driving said contact in said contact holder through said cable to said anvil and bending the portion of said contact passing through said cable back into said conductor strip of said cable.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
106 words
A tool for securing contacts to a flat multi-conductor cable comprising: a housing; an anvil connected to said housing; a contact holding means having a ram movable therein being disposed in line with said anvil for holding a contact to be secured to a conductor strip of said cable and for maintaining said contact at a predetermined width while said ram drives said contact through said cable; and means for operating said ram for driving said contact in said contact holder through said cable to said anvil and bending the portion of said contact passing through said cable back into said conductor strip of said cable.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
89 words
A tool for securing contacts to a flat multi-conductor cable as set forth in claim 12, further comprising: means for holding said flat multi-conductor cable in said tool with a conductor strip thereof disposed between said contact holder and said anvil and aligned between said movable ram and said anvil; and indexing means for selectively moving said cable holding means in a direction to position a succeeding conductor strip of said cable between said contact holder and said anvil and in alignment between said movable ram and said anvil.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
125 words
A tool for securing contacts to a flat multi-conductor cable as set forth in claim 13, wherein said means for operating said ram comprises: a hand manipulatable trigger pivotally secured at one end to said housing; means normally urging said trigger toward an inoperative position wherein said ram is disposed in said contact holding means spaced a predetermined distance from said anvil; and means for precluding said trigger urging means from moving said trigger to its inoperative position once said trigger has been moved in a ram-driving direction until said trigger has moved through a predetermined arc for operating said ram for completely driving said contact through said cable and bending said portion of said contact back through said cable into said conductor strip thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
A tool for securing contacts to flat multi-conductor cable as set forth in claim 14, further comprising: an arcuate cable-receiving wall formed in said housing adjacent said contact holding means and said anvil for receiving a rolled-up width of said cable.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
56 words
A tool for securing contacts to a flat multi-conductor cable as set forth in claim 14, wherein said cable holding means further comprises: at least one rear guide means for positioning one edge of said cable in said tool; and clamp means for clamping at least one other edge of said cable to said indexing means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
99 words
In a tool having a base, a reciprocating ram cooperating with the base to compressibly form a workpiece therebetween, and trigger means to operate the ram reciprocably, the improvement comprising: a first frame structure member fixedly secured between said base and a housing containing said ram, and a second frame member spaced from said first frame member and connecting said base and said housing; said first frame being in tension upon cooperation of said ram and said base to compressibly form a workpiece, and said second frame member being in compression upon cooperation of said ram and said base.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
99 words
In a tool having a base, a reciprocating ram cooperating with the base to compressibly form a workpiece therebetween, and trigger means to operate the ram reciprocably, the improvement comprising: a first frame structure member fixedly secured between said base and a housing containing said ram, and a second frame member spaced from said first frame member and connecting said base and said housing; said first frame being in tension upon cooperation of said ram and said base to compressibly form a workpiece, and said second frame member being in compression upon cooperation of said ram and said base.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
The structure of claim 18, wherein said trigger means is contained for manual actuation between said housing and said second frame member, said second frame member providing a manual grip for an operation adjacent to said trigger means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
152 words
A mechanism for linearly indexing a workpiece through a tool member for equidistantly positioning a series of working points successively in alignment with said tool member comprising: means for holding said workpiece in alignment with said tool member, a rack having a plurality of equally spaced teeth thereon affixed to said workpiece holding means, means for guiding said workpiece holding means in a linear path adjacent to said tool member, a plunger reciprocally mounted within said guiding means and movable in a path toward and away from said rack and engageable with said rack when in the extreme position, and a pawl pivotally mounted on said plunger for engaging said rack and advancing said workpiece holding means, whereby the extent of linear movement is defined by the pivotal movement of said pawl from the point of engagement with said rack to the full pivotal extent defined by said plunger engaging said rack.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
152 words
A mechanism for linearly indexing a workpiece through a tool member for equidistantly positioning a series of working points successively in alignment with said tool member comprising: means for holding said workpiece in alignment with said tool member, a rack having a plurality of equally spaced teeth thereon affixed to said workpiece holding means, means for guiding said workpiece holding means in a linear path adjacent to said tool member, a plunger reciprocally mounted within said guiding means and movable in a path toward and away from said rack and engageable with said rack when in the extreme position, and a pawl pivotally mounted on said plunger for engaging said rack and advancing said workpiece holding means, whereby the extent of linear movement is defined by the pivotal movement of said pawl from the point of engagement with said rack to the full pivotal extent defined by said plunger engaging said rack.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
125 words
A machine for securing contacts to flat multi-conductor cable comprising: a base; a housing secured to said base; a tool head reciprocably disposed in said housing; a table for supporting said cable in a preselected orientation below said tool head; an anvil mounted in said table; means in said tool head for receiving a carrier strip of said contacts in predetermined orientation; a ram reciprocably disposed in said tool head for movement toward and away from said anvil; means for moving said tool head toward said table; means for retracting said tool head away from said table; means for feeding said carrier strip of contacts to said receiving means in said tool head; and means for indexing said cable upon retraction of said tool head.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
125 words
A machine for securing contacts to flat multi-conductor cable comprising: a base; a housing secured to said base; a tool head reciprocably disposed in said housing; a table for supporting said cable in a preselected orientation below said tool head; an anvil mounted in said table; means in said tool head for receiving a carrier strip of said contacts in predetermined orientation; a ram reciprocably disposed in said tool head for movement toward and away from said anvil; means for moving said tool head toward said table; means for retracting said tool head away from said table; means for feeding said carrier strip of contacts to said receiving means in said tool head; and means for indexing said cable upon retraction of said tool head.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
39 words
A machine according to claim 20, further comprising: means for rotating said tool head to any selected one of a plurality of angular positions; and means for rotating said table to any one of a plurality of angular positions.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
55 words
A machine according to claim 20, wherein said tool head comprises: a tubular member rotatably disposed in said housing; a sleeve member axially movable in said tubular member; a plunger secured to said sleeve member for movement therewith; means for preventing rotational movement of said sleeve member and said plunger relative to said tubular member.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
71 words
A machine according to claim 22, wherein said means for receiving a carrier strip is a contact holder member slidable within said sleeve member and said ram is slidable within said contact holder member, and further comprising: means for permitting selectiVe rotation of said tool head to any one of a plurality of angular positions; and means for selectively rotating said table to any one of a plurality of angular positions.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
107 words
A machine according to claim 20, wherein said means for feeding said carrier strip of contacts to said receiving means comprises: a first guide block secured to said housing; a second guide block secured to said tool head and movable therewith toward and away from said first guide block; means on said first guide block for engaging said carrier strip and for indexing said carrier strip toward said carrier strip receiving means upon movement of said ram away from said anvil; and means for preventing reverse movement of said carrier strip while said means for indexing said carrier strip is not operating to index said carrier strip.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
A machine according to claim 24, wherein said means for indexing said carrier strip is a pawl pivotally secured to said first block member and normally biased in a given direction.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
131 words
A machine for securing contacts to flat multi-conductor cable comprising: a base; a housing secured to said base; a tool head reciprocably disposed in said housing; means for selectively rotating said tool head in said housing to any one of a plurality of angular positions; a table for supporting said cable in a preselected orientation diaposed below said tool head; an anvil mounted in said table; means connected with said table for indexing said cable in a direction to position a succeeding conductor strip of said cable between said tool head and said anvil; means for selectively rotating said table to any one of a plurality of angular positions corresponding to said angular positions of said tool head; and means for moving said tool head in the direction of said anvil.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
131 words
A machine for securing contacts to flat multi-conductor cable comprising: a base; a housing secured to said base; a tool head reciprocably disposed in said housing; means for selectively rotating said tool head in said housing to any one of a plurality of angular positions; a table for supporting said cable in a preselected orientation diaposed below said tool head; an anvil mounted in said table; means connected with said table for indexing said cable in a direction to position a succeeding conductor strip of said cable between said tool head and said anvil; means for selectively rotating said table to any one of a plurality of angular positions corresponding to said angular positions of said tool head; and means for moving said tool head in the direction of said anvil.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3436820A
Cited
US3376627A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-26 | 1977-05-28 | 1977-11-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-26 | 1981-05-28 | 1981-11-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-26 | 1985-05-28 | 1985-11-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |