Tool for inserting dual in-line packaged circuits into printed circuit board sockets

Claim 1

A tool to facilitate the placement of dual in-line packaged (DIP) circuits into printed circuit board sockets, said tool comprising: a channel shaped body including a rectangular top, a pair of parallel rectangular sides, a pair of open ends and an open bottom; a pair of inward facing gripper jaws of rigid construction, each attached to one of said sides, projecting into said open bottom, each jaw including a plurality of L-shaped circuit lead receiving and retention openings, said jaws for supporting a DIP circuit within said body; a pair of inward facing lobes, each centrally located on a different one of said sides; a plunger assembly including an external portion positioned on the outside of said top, said plunger assembly external portion including a manually operable piston extending through said top; said plunger assembly further including an internal portion located within said housing including a first rectangular section retained within said housing by a plurality of cam actuators extending from said first section to slots in each of said sides, a second rectangular section secured to the bottom of said first section movable into contact with a DIP circuit supported within said body; said slots each comprising first and second vertical sections and an angularly oriented section between said first and second sections, said second section laterally displaced from said first section in a first lateral direction; said plunger assembly piston connected to said plunger assembly internal first section; and in response to the manual operation of said piston in a downward direction said body initially moving in a second lateral direction and subsequently thereto said sides moving in an outward direction and said plunger second section moving downward to contact a DIP circuit, whereby a plurality of leads extending from a DIP circuit and retained within said L-shaped circuit lead receiving and retention openings are positioned and placed into contact with said printed circuit board socket and in response to said second section lateral movement, said DIP circuit is released from said tool.