Rotational cable connector and disconnector tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12489264-B2
Application number	US-202318340914-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 26, 2023
Priority date	Jun 26, 2023
Publication date	Dec 2, 2025
Grant date	Dec 2, 2025

Abstract

A tool to facilitate attachment and detachment of cable connectors. The tool includes a backstop plate for engaging a cable connector receptacle housing, an overmold plate for engaging a cable connector being insertibly connected into a cable connector receptacle, and a rotational means passing through a rotational acceptor formed as part of the overmold plate and rotatably attached to the backstop plate. The rotational means causes the overmold plate to approach the backstop plate upon application of a first spin direction of the rotational means and causing the overmold plate to recede from the backstop plate upon application of a second spin direction of the rotational means. The overmold plate approaching the backstop plate causes the engaged cable connector to be insertibly connected into the cable connector receptacle housing and the overmold plate receding from the backstop plate causes the engaged cable connector to be removed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A tool to facilitate attachment and detachment of cable connectors, the tool comprising:
a backstop plate for engaging a cable connector receptacle housing; an overmold plate for engaging a cable connector and attached cable being insertibly connected into a cable connector receptacle formed as part of the cable connector receptacle housing; and a rotational means passing through a rotational acceptor formed as part of the overmold plate and rotatably attached to the backstop plate, the rotational means causing the overmold plate to approach the backstop plate upon application of a first spin direction of the rotational means and causing the overmold plate to recede from the backstop plate upon application of a second spin direction of the rotational means, the second spin direction opposite of the first spin direction; wherein the overmold plate approaching the backstop plate causes the engaged cable connector to be insertibly connected into the cable connector receptacle and wherein the overmold plate receding from the backstop plate causes the engaged cable connector to be removed from the cable connector receptacle.

2 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the rotational means is associated with a torque limiter, the torque limiter limiting a rotation of the rotational means beyond a rotational limit and thereby preventing the overmold plate from approaching the backstop plate beyond a safety limit to prevent an excessive force from being applied by the overmold plate to the cable connector being insertibly connected into the cable connector receptable, while allowing a positive engagement between the cable connector and the cable connector receptacle.

3 . The tool of claim 2 , wherein the rotational means is associated with a torque limiter limiting torque via selectively one or more of a rotational resistance of the rotational means, a series of spring disks, and two or more friction sleeves.

4 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the rotational means is a leadscrew or a threaded rod.

5 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the rotational means is attached to a flexible snake bit.

6 . The tool of claim 5 , wherein the rotational means is rotated by a rotational power tool in connection with a first end of the flexible snake bit and a second end of the flexible snake bit is attached to the rotational means.

7 . The tool of claim 6 , wherein the rotational power tool is an electric drill or an electric screwdriver.

8 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the rotational means is rotated by a hand tool in connection with a first end of the rotational means.

9 . The tool of claim 8 , wherein the hand tool is a screwdriver or socket driver.

10 . The tool of claim 1 , further comprising a light for lighting the cable connector and the cable connector receptacle housing.

11 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the overmold plate comprises two or more forks for engaging the cable connector and attached cable.

12 . The tool of claim 11 , wherein the two or more forks are attached to the overmold plate via a pivoting hinge.

13 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the backstop plate comprises two or more forks for engaging the cable connector receptacle housing.

14 . The tool of claim 13 , wherein the two or more forks are attached to the backstop plate via a pivoting hinge.

15 . The tool of claim 1 , further comprising a handle for a user to guide the tool.

16 . The tool of claim 15 , wherein the handle is attached via an extension to the overmold plate, the extension preventing a counter-rotation of the overmold plate when the rotational means rotates in the first spin direction and rotates in the second spin direction.

17 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the overmold plate engages the cable connector via an aperture formed as part of overmold plate, the attached cable passing through the aperature.

18 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the cable connector is selected from a group comprising a C13 PDU connector, a C10 PDU connector, an RJ45 connector, a straight tip connector, and a subscriber connector.

19 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the cable connector is a high voltage connector.

20 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the rotational acceptor formed as part of the overmold plate is a lead screw nut, the lead screw nut attached to the overmold plate.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Scaglione Joseph
• Samaniego Paul
• Mantilla Oswald J
• Ruiz Daniel
• Koziol Mateusz
• Peets Michael T
• Olson Kyle
• Gordon Timothy
• Malcolm Brianna

Classifications

• H01R13/6215

  using one or more bolts · CPC title

• H01R13/639

  Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, {e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap} · CPC title

• H01R13/631

  for engagement only · CPC title

• 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