Connector locating device for crimping tools

Claim 1

A connector retaining device for use in crimping connectors having a forwardly projecting slotted mating end with the slot open at the front end, said device being crimped in a crimping tool having movable crimping dies within both sides of a frame, said device comprising a plate mounted on a first side of the frame and a blade having a predetermined thickness attached to said plate and extending away from a surface of said plate to be positioned in front of and outside a first opening in the frame with the width of said blade being perpendicular to a plane of a surface of said first side of the frame and with the thickness of said blade being parallel to the plane of said first surface of the frame so that upon inserting the connector into the tool through a second opening, the forwardly projecting, slotted mating end of the connector extends through said first opening and said slotted mating end frictionally engages the blade so that the connector is steadily retained in the tool for crimping thereof, and further including a wire guide comprising a plate mounted on a second side of the frame having therethrough said second opening, and an L-shaped member attached to said plate and positioned to extend along two adjacent sides of said second opening to receive, support and guide a wire into said second opening for insertion into a wire receiving ferrule on the connector.