Connector removal tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10230207-B2
Application number	US-201715826517-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 29, 2017
Priority date	Dec 6, 2016
Publication date	Mar 12, 2019
Grant date	Mar 12, 2019

Abstract

A connector removal tool comprising a rigid press and release device for removing a connector from an electronics assembly. Upon engagement of the rigid press and the release device, first and second press members of the rigid press engage and move about a pair of deflecting engagement members of the release device to cause the pair of deflecting engagement members to deflect to compress and unlock interlocking tabs of the connector to facilitate removal from the electronics assembly. A single motion of the rigid press can cause unlocking of the connector. Alternatively, a connector removal tool comprises biased deflecting rigid press members that engage directly with a connector to unlock the interlocking tabs of the connector to facilitate removal of the connector from an electronics assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connector removal tool for removing a connector from an
electronics assembly, comprising:
a rigid press comprising a handle portion, and first and second press members supported about the handle portion; and
a release device engageable with the rigid press, and comprising a pair of deflecting engagement members opposing each other,
wherein the rigid press is operable to engage the release device and to cause the first and second press members to interface with and slide about the pair of deflecting engagement members in response to the rigid press being moved along a linear path toward the connector and onto the pair of deflecting engagement members, such that the rigid press applies a press force to the release device sufficient to cause the pair of deflecting engagement members to deflect inwardly towards one another, the release device being operable to inwardly compress a pair of interlocking tabs of the connector to facilitate release of the connector from an electronics assembly.

2. The connector removal tool of claim 1 , wherein the pair of deflecting engagement members are each bendable along an axis and sufficiently compliant to maintain a linear, axial deflection displacement upon movable engagement of the release device with the rigid press.

3. The connector removal tool of claim 2 , wherein each of the pair of deflecting engagement members comprise a cross-sectional area of variable thickness that facilitates the axial deflection displacement.

4. The connector removal tool of claim 3 , wherein the cross-sectional area of variable thickness is defined by a plurality of ribs formed into the deflecting engagement members.

5. The connector removal tool of claim 1 , wherein the release device comprises a wedge-shaped body having a support bridge extending between the pair of deflecting engagement members, and wherein the deflecting engagement members extend from the support bridge along diverging axes.

6. The connector removal tool of claim 5 , wherein the support bridge of the release device comprises an off-center configuration or position to facilitate clearance for a wiring harness extending from the connector.

7. The connector removal tool of claim 6 , wherein the rigid press comprises a support bridge extending between the pair of press members, the support bridge of the rigid press comprising an off-center configuration corresponding to the off-center configuration of the support bridge of the release device, to further facilitate clearance for the wiring harness about the connector remover tool.

8. The connector removal tool of claim 1 , further comprising an alignment interface system between the rigid press and the release device to facilitate alignment of the rigid press relative to the release device.

9. The connector removal tool of claim 8 , wherein the alignment interface system comprises a tongue-and-groove interface configuration.

10. The connector removal tool of claim 8 , wherein the alignment interface system comprises a guide rod extending from the release device into an opening of the rigid press, wherein the guide rod is translatable through the opening.

11. The connector removal tool of claim 1 , wherein the connector remover tool is configured to be movable between an engaged position and a compressed position, wherein the press members are movable along the pair of deflecting engagement members as the rigid press is pressed onto the release device.

12. The connector removal tool of claim 1 , wherein the release device further comprises a pair of coupling pivot devices pivotally coupling the pair of deflecting engagement members to the support bridge, respectively.

13. The connector removal tool of claim 12 , wherein the pair of coupling pivot devices each comprise an elastic component operable to apply a biasing force to urge the respective deflecting engagement members away from one another.

14. A system for removing a connector from an electronics assembly with a connector removal tool, the system comprising:
an electronics assembly;
a connector having a pair of interlocking tabs opposing each other and removably interlocked to a portion of the electronics assembly; and
a connector removal tool comprising:
a rigid press having a handle portion, and first and second press members supported about the handle portion; and
a release device positioned about the connector, and having a pair of deflecting engagement members each positioned against one of the interlocking tabs of the connector;
an engaged position, wherein the rigid press engages the release device to cause the first and second press members to interface with and slide about the pair of deflecting engagement members; and
a compressed position, wherein the rigid press is pressed onto the release device along a linear path towards the connector and onto the pair of deflecting engagement members to cause the pair of deflecting engagement members to deflect inwardly and compress the pair of interlocking tabs of the connector with sufficient force to unlock the interlocking tabs, thereby facilitating removal of the connector from the electronics assembly.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the connector comprises a connector body and a wiring harness extending from the connector body, wherein the rigid press and the release device each comprise an off-center support bridge configured to collectively facilitate clearance of the wiring harness about the connector removal tool.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the deflecting engagement members deflect in proportion to a displacement distance of the rigid press.

17. A connector removal tool for removing a connector from an electronics assembly, comprising:
a rigid press comprising a handle portion and a support bridge;
a first deflecting press member and a second deflecting press member pivotally supported about the support bridge in an opposing position relative to one another;
a first coupling pivot device operable with the first deflecting press member;
a second coupling pivot device operable with the second deflecting press member, wherein the first and second coupling pivot devices bias the first and second deflecting press members toward one another, respectively,
wherein the rigid press is operable to engage directly with a connector coupled to an electronics assembly, such that the first and second deflecting press members interface with and compress respective interlocking tabs of the connector with sufficient force to remove the connector from an electronics assembly in response to moving the rigid press along a linear path and sliding the first and second deflecting press members along the interlocking tabs.

18. The connector removal tool of claim 17 , further comprising a pair of roller devices coupled to the first and second deflecting press members, respectively, the roller devices being operable to facilitate rotatable interfacing of the first and second deflecting press members with the connector.

19. A method for removing a press-fit connector from an electronics assembly using a connector remover tool, the method comprising:
positioning a release device of the connector removal tool about a connector removably coupled to an electronics assembly, the release device having pair of deflecting engagement members interfaced with a pair of interlocking tabs of the connector;
engaging a rigid press of the connector removal tool with the release device, the rigid press having first and second press members slidably engaged with the pair of deflecting enga

Assignees

• Raytheon Co

Inventors

• Krupp William
• Davidson Kyle
• Mcgowan Daniel C

Classifications

• H01R43/26 Primary

  for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device (structural association with two-part coupling device H01R13/629) · CPC title

• H05K13/0491

  Hand tools therefor · CPC title

• H01R13/635

  by mechanical pressure, e.g. spring force · CPC title

• H01R13/6335 Primary

  comprising a handle · CPC title

• H01R13/6273

  comprising two latching arms · CPC title