Electrical connector application tool

Claim 1

An electrical connector application tool for applying an electrical connector assembly to an electrical cable, the connector assembly including having a cavity therein opening through its rear wall, insert means adapted to be received within the cavity for securing the connector assembly in connected relation to the cable, the insert means in partial assembly within the housing projecting rearwardly from the cavity and beyond the rear wall of the housing, and means for securing the insert means in the housing in response to movement of the insert means for its partially assembled forwardly into the cavity and to its fully assembled position, said tool comprising a tool body formed from a single piece of material and having first recess therein opening outwardly through its outer surface and at least partially defined by fixed spaced apart side and end walls, restraining means defined by side walls of said first recess for receiving a partially assembled connector assembly therebetween and restraining it to move in at least a rearward direction relative to the tool body, a first abutment defined by a forwardly facing wall of said first recess in the path of rearward movement of the partially assembled connector assembly relative to the tool body for engaging a rear wall of said insert means, first fulcrum means defined by a rearwardly facing wall of said first recess spaced forwardly of said first abutment a distance greater than the length of said partially assembled connector assembly as measured from the front wall of the housing to the rear wall of the insert means for supporting a prying element in a first position wherein an end portion of the prying element is inserted between said first fulcrum means and the forward end of the housing to move the housing rearwardly relative to the tool body in response to prying movement of the prying element whereby to force said insert means toward its position of assembly within said cavity, and second fulcrum means on said tool body spaced rearwardly of said first fulcrum means and located closer to said first fulcrum than to said first abutment means for supporting the prying element in a second position to move the housing rearwardly relative to the tool body in response to prying movement of the prying element.