Contact removal tool for electrical connector contacts

Claim 2

A tool for removing an electrical contact mounted within a bore of an electrical connector insert by one or more radially deflectable retaining members that extend inwardly with respect to the axis of said bore to engage an oppositely facing annular shoulder on said contact and prevent movement of said contact in the direction said contact shoulder faces, said contact having an end portion and an enlarged portion forming said contact shoulder, said tool comprising: a tubular member made of rigid material and having a forward contact receiving portion and a rear portion, said forward contact receiving portion having a plurality of axial slots in the wall thereof to make a portion of said forward contact receiving portion radially flexible, said forward contact receiving portion further including a first entrance passage portion to receive said end portion of said contact and a second diverging and then converging passage portion that includes said slots which provides a narrowing passage in the forward contact receiving portion so that when said tool is aligned with said contact and an axial force is applied to said tool in the direction of said contact, said tool moves axially until the end of said forward portion engages said contact shoulder while disengaging said radially deflectable retaining members and forcing said contact end portion into pressure contact with the inner wall of said diverging portion of said tool, whereby when said tool is moved in the opposite direction, said contact, held by said tool, is removed from said connector insert.

Claim 3

The tool as recited in claim 1 wherein said diverging passage portion of said tubular member includes at least one annular ridge.

Claim 4

The combination recited in claim 2 wherein said contact end portion includes means for receiving at least one of said ridges in said tool whEreby the axial force to separate said tool from said contact is increased over that provided by a tool without said ridge and a contact without said ridge receiving means.

Claim 5

The tool as recited in claim 1 including a contact release assembly comprising: a shaft coaxially and slidably mounted within said tubular member, said shaft having a plunger end extending from said rear end of said tubular member and a forward contact ejection end which is movable to eject a contact held within said tubular member when said plunger end is depressed.

Claim 6

The tool as recited in claim 4 including means for biasing said plunger in the direction of said rear end of said tubular member.

Claim 7

The tool as recited in claim 5 wherein said biasing means includes a spring captivated within said tool.

Claim 8

The tool as recited in claim 2 including a contact release assembly comprising: a shaft coaxially and slidably mounted within said tubular tool, said shaft having a plunger end extending from said rear end of said tool and a forward contact ejection end which is movable to eject a contact held within said tubular member when said plunger end is depressed.

Claim 9

The tool as recited in claim 7 including means for biasing said plunger into an extended position that allows a contact to be inserted into said forward end of said tool.

Claim 10

The tool as recited in claim 8 wherein said biasing means includes a spring captivated within said tool.

Claim 11

A tool for removing an electrical contact mounted within a bore of an electrical connector insert by one or more radially deflectable retaining members that extend inwardly with respect to the axis of said bore to engage an oppositely facing annular shoulder on said contact and prevent movement of said contact in the direction said contact shoulder faces, said contact having an end portion and an enlarged portion forming said contact shoulder, said tool comprising: a tubular member having a forward contact receiving portion and a rear portion, said forward contact receiving portion having a plurality of axial slots in the wall thereof to make said forward contact receiving portion radially flexible, said forward contact receiving portion further including a first entrance passage portion to receive said end portion of said contact and a second diverging passage portion from said end portion that includes said slots and which provides a narrowing passage in the forward contact receiving portion that is radially expandable so that when said tool is aligned with said contact and an axial force is applied to said tool in the direction of said contact, said tool moves axially until the end of said forward portion engages said contact shoulder while disengaging said radially deflectable retaining members and forcing said contact end portion into pressure contact with the inner wall of said diverging portion of said tool, whereby when said tool is moved in the opposite direction, said contact, held by said tool, is removed from said connector insert; and a shaft coaxially and slidably mounted within said tubular tool, said shaft having a plunger end extending from said rear end of said tool and a forward contact ejection end which ejects a contact held within said tool when said plunger end is depressed.

Claim 12

A tool for removing an electrical contact mounted within a bore of an electrical connector insert by one or more radially deflectable retaining members that extend inwardly with respect to the axis of said bore to engage an oppositely facing annular shoulder on said contact and prevent movement of said contact in the direction said contact shoulder faces, said contact having an end portion and an enlarged portion forming said contact shoulder, said tool comprising: a tubular member having a forward contact receiving portion and a rear portion, said forward contact receiving portion having a plurality of axial slots in the wall thereof to make said forward contact receiving portion radially flexible, said forward contact receiving portion further including a first entrance passage portion to receive said end portion of said contact and a second diverging passage portion from said end portion that includes said slots and which provides a narrowing passage in the forward contact receiving portion that is radially expandable so that when said tool is aligned with said contact and an axial force is applied to said tool in the direction of said contact, said tool moves axially until the end of said forward portion engages said contact shoulder while disengaging said radially deflectable retaining members and forcing said contact end portion into pressure contact with the inner wall of said diverging portion of said tool, whereby when said tool is moved in the opposite direction, said contact, held by said tool, is removed from said connector insert; and a shaft coaxially and slidably mounted within said tubular tool, said shaft having a plunger end extending from said rear end of said tool and a forward contact ejection end which ejects a contact held within said tool when said plunger end is depressed.

Claim 13

The tool as recited in claim 10 including means for biasing said plunger end into an extended position that allows a contact to be inserted into said forward end of said tool.

Claim 14

A tool for removing an electrical contact mounted within a bore of an electrical connector insert by one or more radially deflectable retaining shoulders that extend inwardly with respect to the axis of said bore to engage an oppositely facing annular shoulder on said contact and prevent movement of said contact in the direction said contact shoulder faces, said contact having an end portion, an enlarged portion forming said contact shoulder, and at least one groove in the end portion of said contact, said tool comprising: a tubular member having a foRward contact receiving portion and a rear portion, said forward contact receiving portion including a first entrance passage portion to receive said end portion of said contact and a second passage portion diverging from said end portion which provides a narrowing passage in the forward contact receiving portion that further includes at least one annular shoulder thereon adapted to mate with the groove in said contact when said contact end portion is inserted into said tool, whereby the axial force to separate said tool from said contact is increased over that provided by a tool without said shoulder and a contact without said groove so that when said tool is aligned with said contact and an axial force is applied to said tool in the direction of said contact, said tool moves axially until the end of the tool engages said contact shoulder while disengaging said radially deflectable retaining shoulders and engaging said annular shoulder on said tool with said groove in said contact, whereby when said tool is moved in the opposite direction, said contact, held by said tool, is removed from said connector insert.

Claim 15

A tool for removing an electrical contact mounted within a bore of an electrical connector insert by one or more radially deflectable retaining shoulders that extend inwardly with respect to the axis of said bore to engage an oppositely facing annular shoulder on said contact and prevent movement of said contact in the direction said contact shoulder faces, said contact having an end portion, an enlarged portion forming said contact shoulder, and at least one groove in the end portion of said contact, said tool comprising: a tubular member having a foRward contact receiving portion and a rear portion, said forward contact receiving portion including a first entrance passage portion to receive said end portion of said contact and a second passage portion diverging from said end portion which provides a narrowing passage in the forward contact receiving portion that further includes at least one annular shoulder thereon adapted to mate with the groove in said contact when said contact end portion is inserted into said tool, whereby the axial force to separate said tool from said contact is increased over that provided by a tool without said shoulder and a contact without said groove so that when said tool is aligned with said contact and an axial force is applied to said tool in the direction of said contact, said tool moves axially until the end of the tool engages said contact shoulder while disengaging said radially deflectable retaining shoulders and engaging said annular shoulder on said tool with said groove in said contact, whereby when said tool is moved in the opposite direction, said contact, held by said tool, is removed from said connector insert.

Claim 16

The tool as recited in claim 12 wherein said second diverging passage portion is radially expandable.

Claim 17

The tool as recited in claim 13 wherein said second passage portion includes a plurality of axial slots in the wall thereof.