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US4068374A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Tool for removing and installing connector

Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
•
Filing: 1976-12-27
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Granted: 1978-01-17
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Expires: 1996-12-27
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Abstract

Abstract The disclosure relates to a tool for installing and removing a housing which is positioned over a row of connector pairs and frictionally engaged with the rows of connector pairs, there being no integral connection between the housing and the contacts. The tool is designed to remove the housing when positioned over the contact members by utilizing a wedge on the tool which separates the contact members so that the housing can be pulled up over the contact members without rubbing thereagainst to remove any plating layers thereon. The housing is installed by the same tool wherein the housing is gripped and, upon insertion of the housing over the contact members, the wedge first spreads the contact members apart and the housing is disposed thereover without rubbing against the contact members. In the case of installation and removal of the housing member, the wedge is designed to push the contacts sufficiently far back so that they do not rest upon a preloading bar disposed within the housing. In this way, the housing can be removed by merely gripping the housing with the tool while the contacts are spread apart and then rocking the housing back and forth so that it can be removed upwardly over the contact members without sliding over the edges of the contact members. The installation would also require a gripping of the housing member but would not require the rocking motion, the housing being installed by a direct downward force thereon.

Inventors

  • 👤 James Ray Coller

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 17:07
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R43/00; H01R43/20; H01R43/205; H05; H05K; H05K13/00; H05K13/04; H05K13/0486; H05K13/0491; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/712; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/5313; Y10T29/532; Y10T29/53209; Y10T29/53257; Y10T29/53274; Y10T29/53283

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 165 words
A tool for removing and installing a connector housing within which is disposed a row of elongated resilient connector pairs, wherein each of the connectors of a pair is anchored at one end in a circuit board and is provided with closely spaced confronting contact portions distal from the board, said connectors abutting an adjacent wall of the housing at a location spaced from the contact portions, said tool comprising wedge means including a wall member terminating at one end in a wedge tip for insertion between the contact portions of the connectors and a handle member at the opposite end, a pair of gripping elements mounted on one of said members for movement to engage the opposite walls of the housing between them while the wedge tip extends between the contact portions to remove said housing from the connectors while rocking it relative thereto, and camming means movably mounted on said tool for moving said gripping elements to engage said walls of the housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 165 words
A tool for removing and installing a connector housing within which is disposed a row of elongated resilient connector pairs, wherein each of the connectors of a pair is anchored at one end in a circuit board and is provided with closely spaced confronting contact portions distal from the board, said connectors abutting an adjacent wall of the housing at a location spaced from the contact portions, said tool comprising wedge means including a wall member terminating at one end in a wedge tip for insertion between the contact portions of the connectors and a handle member at the opposite end, a pair of gripping elements mounted on one of said members for movement to engage the opposite walls of the housing between them while the wedge tip extends between the contact portions to remove said housing from the connectors while rocking it relative thereto, and camming means movably mounted on said tool for moving said gripping elements to engage said walls of the housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 18 words
A tool according to claim 1 wherein the pair of gripping elements is mounted on said wall member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 21 words
A tool according to claim 2 wherein one of said gripping elements is mounted on each side of said wall member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 15 words
A tool according to claim 3 including means to normally bias said gripping elements apart.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 15 words
A tool according to claim 1 including means to normally bias said gripping elements apart.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 15 words
A tool according to claim 2 including means to normally bias said gripping elements apart.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 15 words
A tool according to claim 3 including means to normally bias said gripping elements apart.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 31 words
A tool according to claim 1 wherein said camming means includes a cam member pivotally secured to one of said gripping elements and engageable with the other of said gripping elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 31 words
A tool according to claim 2 wherein said camming means includes a cam member pivotally secured to one of said gripping elements and engageable with the other of said gripping elements.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 31 words
A tool according to claim 3 wherein said camming means includes a cam member pivotally secured to one of said gripping elements and engageable with the other of said gripping elements.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 31 words
A tool according to claim 4 wherein said camming means includes a cam member pivotally secured to one of said gripping elements and engageable with the other of said gripping elements.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1297539A Cited
US3546765A Cited
US3769680A Cited
US3896533A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1981-01-16 1981-07-18 1982-01-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1985-01-16 1985-07-18 1986-01-17 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1989-01-16 1989-07-18 1990-01-17 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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