Connector installation tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9806483-B2
Application number	US-201615065450-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 9, 2016
Priority date	Jul 25, 2013
Publication date	Oct 31, 2017
Grant date	Oct 31, 2017

Abstract

A connector installation tool can include an inner surface having a first portion having a first perimeter, where the inner surface forms a cavity that traverses a first length of the inner surface. The connector installation tool can also include an opening having a width and traversing a second length of the outer surface and the first length of the inner surface. The connector installation tool can further include a front face located adjacent to and substantially perpendicular to the first portion of the inner surface. The connector installation tool can also include a rear face located adjacent to a distal end of the inner surface, where the rear face is substantially parallel to the front face.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for assembling an electrical connector, comprising:
a connector installation tool comprising:
an inner surface that forms a cavity that traverses a length of the connector installation tool, wherein the inner surface comprises a first portion that receives a first proximal end of a first connector end;
a front face located adjacent to and substantially perpendicular to the first portion of the inner surface, wherein the front face abuts against a protrusion of the first connector end; and
a rear face located adjacent to a distal end of the inner surface, wherein the rear face is substantially parallel to the front face; and

a compression device comprising a first wall and a second wall, wherein the rear face of the connector installation tool abuts against the first wall of the compression device, and wherein the second wall of the compression device abuts against a second proximal end of a second connector end of the electrical connector,
wherein the first connector end and the second connector end are decoupled from each other when the compression device is in a first position prior to moving to a second position, and
wherein a first distal end of the first connector end and a second distal end of the second connector end are coupled to each other when the compression device is in the second position.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one wire that mechanically couples to at least one wire receiver of the first connector end, wherein the at least one wire traverses an opening of the connector installation tool, wherein the opening traverses the length of the connector installation tool.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the inner surface has a first perimeter, wherein the inner surface further comprises a second portion having a second perimeter, wherein the rear face is adjacent to the second portion of the inner surface, wherein the second portion of the inner surface is configured to receive a third proximal end of a third connector end of a second electrical connector as an alternative to the first electrical connector, wherein the rear face is configured to abut against a protrusion of the third connector end instead of the first wall of the compression device when the third proximal end is disposed in the cavity, wherein the front face is configured to abut against the second wall of the compression device when the first connector end is disengaged from the first portion of the inner surface, wherein the third connector end comprises a third coupling feature located opposite the third proximal end, wherein the third coupling feature of the third connector end is configured to couple to a fourth coupling feature of a fourth connector end of the second electrical connector, wherein the fourth coupling feature is coupled to the third coupling feature when the first wall of the compression device applies the compressive force against a fourth proximal end the fourth connector end as the second wall moves toward the second position relative to the first wall of the compression device.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the second perimeter of the second portion of the inner surface has a second size and a second shape that is substantially the same as those of the third connector end of the second electrical connector, wherein the third proximal end of the third connector end comprises at least one wire receiver.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the inner surface further comprises a third portion having a third perimeter that is greater than the first perimeter and less than the second perimeter, wherein the third portion is positioned between the first portion and the second portion of the inner surface.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the second perimeter and the third perimeter of the second portion of the inner surface has a third size and a third shape that is substantially the same as those of the second connector end of the electrical connector.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a removal tool that removably couples to the second connector end of the electrical connector.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the removal tool comprises a recessed feature into which at least one wire receiver of the second connector end is disposed when the removal tool is coupled to the second connector end.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first connector end of the electrical connector comprises a first coupling feature, a protrusion on its outer surface, and a first proximal end comprising at least one first wire receiver, wherein the protrusion is disposed between the first coupling feature and the first proximal end, wherein the second connector end of the electrical connector comprises a second coupling feature and a second proximal end comprising at least one second wire receiver, wherein the second coupling feature mechanically couples to the first coupling feature.

Assignees

• Ledgerwood Adam D
• Daly Timothy
• Cooper Technologies Co

Inventors

• Ledgerwood Adam D
• Daly Timothy

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

• Y10T29/53222

  Means comprising hand-manipulatable implement · CPC title

• Y10T29/49195

  with end-to-end orienting · CPC title

• Y10T29/53209

  Terminal or connector · CPC title