Wire release tool

Claim 1

A wire release tool for releasing stripped conductors from sockets within electrical devices of the type utilizing spring-biased detent tongues to engage stripped conductors inserted within the sockets thereof, the spring-biased detent tongues normally preventing withdrawal of the stripped conductors from the sockets, the electrical devices being of the type which include access openings of either circular or rectangular shape adjacent the sockets thereof to afford access to said detent tongues, the circular access openings having a predetermined diameter and a first predetermined depth, the rectangular access openings having a predetermined length and width and a second predetermined depth, said wire release tool comprising in combination: a. a central core of metal having first and second ends; b. a metal pin for traversing one of said circular access openings and contacting one of said spring-biased detent tongues in engagement with a stripped conductor and biasing said tongue away fron said conductor, said metal pin extending longitudinally from the first end of said central core, said metal pin having a working end opposite the first end of said central core, the working end having a uniformly circular cross-section along its length having a diameter substantially equal to said predetermined diameter and said working end having a length in excess of said first predetermined depth for allowing said working end of said metal pin to be inserted into a circular access opening of an electrical device of the type which includes circular access openings to a sufficient depth to bias the detent tongue away from the stripped conductor inserted within the socket adjacent the circular access opening; c. a metal blade for traversing one of said rectangular access openings and contacting one of said spring-biased detent tongues in engagement with a stripped conductor and biasing said tongue away from said conductor, said metal blade extending longitudinally from the second end of said central core, said metal blade having a working end opposite the second end of said central core, said working end having a uniformly rectangular cross-section along its length, the rectangular cross-section having a length and width substantially equal to said predetermined length and width, respectively, and said working end having a length in excess of said second predetermined depth for allowing said working end of said metal blade to be inserted into a rectangular access opening of an electrical device of the type which includes rectangular access openings to a sufficient depth to bias the detent tongue away from the stripped conductor inserted within the socket adjacent the rectangular access opening; and d. a body of electrically insulating material formed about and secured to said central core of metal.