Abstract:
An impact tool for use by telecommunications personnel for the insertion of communications wires in a terminal block. The impact tool includes an impact tool cartridge having a seating blade and a cutting blade. The seating blade is retractable against a compression spring while the cutting blade is fixed so that upon the application of seating pressure to the impact tool, the seating blade retracts and the cutting blade is exposed to cut the wire. In another embodiment of the invention, a spring loaded detent supplements the compression spring in resisting retraction of the seating tool. A noise producing mechanism is located in the impact tool handle for producing an audible sound upon completion of the wire seating and terminating operations. A storage compartment for the seating and cutting blades is formed in the impact tool handle and has a door pivotally mounted for opening and closing movement relative to the handle.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is directed to an impact tool cartridge installable in a hand tool for use by telecommunication personnel for the insertion of communications wires into terminal blocks. In particular, the invention is directed to a self-contained cartridge having seating and cutting blades which can be installed in a conventional or an ergonomic tool handle. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a blade assembly having a retractable seating blade and a fixed cutting blade and to an impact tool cartridge in which the seating blade retracts upon a continuous application of pressure to the impact tool by a user pushing it against a terminal block until the cutting blade extends forwardly of the seating blade to engage and cut the wire. 
     An object of this invention is an impact tool cartridge having a blade assembly which seats and terminates a wire in a single continuous application of force by the user against the wire and the terminal block. 
     Another object of this invention is a wire termination impact tool cartridge having a blade assembly in which the seating blade is restrained against retraction by a compressible spring and the cutting blade is fixed. 
     An additional object of this invention is a wire termination impact tool cartridge having a blade assembly with a seating blade restrained against retraction by a compression spring supplemented by a spring biased detent. 
     Yet another object of this invention is a wire termination impact tool cartridge for insertion in an ergonomic handle in which the seating and cutting blades can be rotatably indexed relative to the ergonomic handle by rotating the cartridge relative to the ergonomic handle. 
     Still another object of this invention is a blade assembly of a seating blade and a cutting blade which are held in closely engaging contact during retraction of the seating blade by a compression collar which engages the bases of the seating and cutting blades and forces the tips of seating and cutting blades against each other. 
     A further object of this invention is an impact tool cartridge adaptable to 66-type or 110-type blades. 
     Yet a further object of this invention is a wire termination impact hand tool which provides an audible sound upon completion of the wire seating and terminating operations. 
     Yet a still further object of this invention is a wire termination impact hand tool which has a storage compartment for additional blades in its handle. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the following drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a longitudinally extending transverse cross sectional view taken through one embodiment of the impact tool cartridge of this invention and showing the tool cartridge in its locked position and mounted in an ergonomic tool handle; 
     FIG. 2 is a view similar to the view of FIG. 1 but showing the tool cartridge cutting blade in its cutting position as would occur when the seating tool has been fully retracted by seating pressure against the tool handle; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial cross sectional veiw showing a detail of the tool cartridge and the ergonomic handle of this invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the tool cartridge; 
     FIG. 5 is a top view of the tool cartridge cap; 
     FIG. 6 is a top view of the tool cartridge with the cap and blades removed; 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the tool cartridge with the cutting blades, cap and other parts removed for clarity of illustration; 
     FIG. 8 is a view of the tool cartridge similar to that of FIG. 7 but showing the tool cartridge rotated 90° from the view of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the tool cartridge cap of FIG. 5 with a portion broken away; 
     FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the tool cartridge with the cap removed to show the seating and cutting tools; 
     FIG. 11 is an orthogonal view of a compression ring; 
     FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of a wire cutting blade; 
     FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of a tool cartridge of this invention mounted on half of an ergonomic handle with parts omitted for clarity of illustration; 
     FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the cartridge cap of FIG. 5 with parts broken away and others shown in dashed lines for clarity of illustration; 
     FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of the tool cartridge of this invention with parts omitted and other parts shown in dashed lines or broken away for clarity of illustration; 
     FIG. 16 is a longitudinally extending transverse cross sectional view of a second embodiment of the impact tool cartridge of this invention positioned in an ergonomic handle and showing the cartridge blades in their locked positions; 
     FIG. 17 is a view similar to that of FIG. 16 but showing the cutting blade of the tool cartridge in its cutting position; 
     FIG. 18 is a top plan view of the tool cartridge of the second embodiment of the invention with the cap removed to show the seating and cutting tools; 
     FIG. 19 is a top plan view of the tool cartridge cutting tool holder; 
     FIG. 20 is a side elevational view of the tool cartridge cutting tool holder; 
     FIG. 21 is a front elevational view of the tool cartridge cutting tool holder; 
     FIG. 22 is a top plan view of the tool cartridge sea ting tool holder; 
     FIG. 23 is a side elevational view of the tool cartridge seating tool holder; 
     FIG. 24 is a front elevational view of the tool cartridge seating tool holder; 
     FIG. 25 is a side elevational view of a wire cutting blade. 
     FIG. 26 is a top plan view of a third embodiment of an impact hand tool of this invention; 
     FIG. 27 is a longitudinally extending transverse cross section view taken along line  27 — 27  of FIG. 26; and 
     FIG. 28 is an elevational view of the impact hand tool of this embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1-15 show a first embodiment of the invention which utilizes “66-type” and “110-type” blades for seating and connecting communications wire to a terminal block. This embodiment includes a tool cartridge  11  which can be installed in an impact hand tool  13  having an ergonomic handle which consists of body sections  15  joined along a longitudinal plane. The body sections can be joined in any suitable manner to contain the tool cartridge which includes a cylindrical cartridge body  17  having a tool end wall  19  and an enlarged base end  21 . A neck  23  extends longitudinally outwardly from the tool end wall and a diametrically extending slot  25  is cut or formed in the neck to divide the neck into segments  27  as shown most clearly in FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings. As can be best seen in FIG. 8 of the drawings, the slot  25  is open at diametrical ends  29 . An outwardly facing annular groove  31  is formed in the cartridge longitudinally inwardly of the tool end wall  19  as is most clearly shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings. As is best shown in FIGS. 7 and 15 of the drawings, a ball detent  33  is formed in the cartridge body  17  longitudinally inwardly of the slot  31 . A collar  35  is attached to the body and is located longitudinally inwardly of the ball detent as can be best seen in FIG.  15 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a metal cap  41  is rotatably mounted on the cylindrical cartridge body  17 . The cap includes a skirt  43  having an inwardly facing annular groove  45  formed therein as shown in FIG. 14 of the drawings. A front wall  47  is formed on the cap and a protrusion  49  extends outwardly of the front wall  47  as also shown in FIGS. 5 and 14. An oval opening or passage  51  as shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings extends through the front wall  47  of the cap. Inwardly facing longitudinally extending notches  53  are formed on the inside of the skirt  43  and are located around the interior periphery thereof as shown in FIG. 9 of the drawings. A locking filament  55  fits into the groove  31  on the cartridge body and the inwardly facing groove  45  in the skirt as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to fasten the cap. 
     A seating blade member  61  is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. It includes a seating blade portion  63  having a wire contacting surface  65  at its outer end. A seating notch  67  is provided at the tip of the seating blade. A flat wall  69  radially inwardly facing is formed on the seating blade and an outwardly facing arcuate wall  71  is formed on the. opposite longitudinal side of the seating tool. A notch  73  is formed in the arcuate wall  71 . An enlarged base  75  is formed beneath the notch  73  and a bottom wall  77  is formed on the under side of the base. The base has an arcuate radially outwardly facing wall  79  shown in FIGS. 1,  2  and  10 . A guide pin  81 , which is of circular cross section, extends from the base  75 . A longitudinally extending passage  83  is formed through the cartridge and includes a smaller diameter portion  85  which receives the guide pin  81  of the cutting blade. This smaller diameter passage for the guide pin opens into a larger diameter passage  87  farther inward of the tool cartridge. 
     A piston  91  is positioned in the larger diameter passage  87  with one end of the piston engaging the guide pin  81  of the seating blade and the other end of the piston being engaged by a compression spring  93 . The compression spring  93  is held in position in the passage  87  by a threaded plug  95  which threads into a threaded socket at the end of the passage  87 . 
     A cutting blade member  101  is shown in FIGS. 1,  2  and  12  of the drawings. The cutting blade member has a sloped surface ending in a cutting tip  103  at its wire engaging end. An enlarged base  105  is formed at the opposite end of the cutting blade member. The cutting blade includes a flat inside facing wall  107  which extends a substantial length of the cutting blade. Its opposite ends are defined by an offset flat wall  109  at the blade tip and an offset flat wall  111  at the base both offset laterally outwardly of the wall  107 . The base has an arcuate shaped outside wall  113  and a guide pin  115  extending therefrom which guide pin fits into a socket  117  in the cylinder body. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1,  2 ,  10  and  11  of the drawings, a compression ring  121  fits over the neck segments  27  of the neck  23  of the tool cartridge body  17  as shown specifically in FIGS. 1,  2  and  10  to engage also the arcuate outside wall  79  of the base  75  of the seating blade  61  and the arcuate outside wall  113  of the base  105  of the cutting blade member  101 . The arcuate outside wall  79  of the base of the seating tool and the arcuate outside wall  113  of the base of the cutting blade extend through the openings  29  at the diametrical ends of the slot  25  in the neck  23  to engage the compression ring. The inwardly acting force of the compression ring pushes the offset flat wall  109  at the tip of the blade  101  and the offset flat wall  111  at the base of the blade  101  in contact with the flat wall  69  of the seating tool  61  without the need to form all facing surfaces of the seating and cutting blades to close tolerances. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, partially in enlarged detail in FIG.  3  and in FIG. 13 of the drawings, an indexing spring  131  operates in conjunction with indexing notches  133  in the enlarged base  21  of the cylindrical tool cartridge body  17  to enable the entire cartridge to be rotated to positions 90° apart relative to the body sections  15  of the ergonomic handle of the impact tool  13 . Indexing ribs  135  are formed on the insides of the body sections  15  for engagement with the indexing notches  133 . These indexing ribs are located between support ribs  136  also formed on the insides of the body sections  15  so that the enlarged base  21  of the cartridge can be supported on the ribs  136  with indexing ribs  135  extending into notches  133  of opposite handle sections  15 . Thus, the cartridge body is supported and held in a fixed position relative to the body sections  15  after rotatable adjustment relative to the body sections. The ends  137  of the body sections  15  are trapped between the spring  131  and the under surface  139  of collar  34  and the support ribs  136  of the body sections  15  support the enlarged base end  21  to support the tool cartridge body in the body sections. An annular rib  138  is formed on the inside of the body section  15  to engage the enlarged base end  21  of the cartridge body  17  to maintain the cartridge body in alignment as it is moved longitudinally relative to the body sections during indexing. 
     FIGS. 16-25 of the drawings show a second embodiment of the invention which also utilizes “66-type” and “110-type” blades for seating and connecting a communication wire to a terminal block. This second embodiment includes a tool cartridge  197  which can be installed in an impact hand tool  199  of the type having an ergonomic handle which consists of body sections  201  joined along a longitudinal axis. The body sections  201  can be joined in any suitable manner to contain the tool cartridge which includes a cylindrical cartridge body  203  having a cylindrical tubular portion  205 . A base portion  207  of the cartridge body having an enlarged end  208  is attached to the tubular portion  205 . An open tool receiving end  209  of the tubular portion  205  is located at the opposite end of the tubular portion from the enlarged end  208 . The base portion is telescoped into a receiving end  211  of the tubular portion  205  as shown most clearly in FIGS. 16 and 17 of the drawings. 
     A seating tool holder  213  is shown assembled in the impact tool in FIGS. 16,  17  and  18  of the drawings and in detail in FIGS. 22,  23  and  24 . This seating tool holder is elongated with a semi-circular transverse cross section as can be seen most clearly in FIG. 22 of the drawings. A cutting tool holder  215  is shown assembled in the impact tool in FIGS. 16,  17  and  18  and is shown in disassembled detail in FIGS. 19,  20  and  21  of the drawings. This cutting tool holder is also semi-circular in transverse cross section as shown most clearly in FIG. 19 of the drawings. A notch  217  is formed in the top of the seating tool holder  213  and a similar notch  219  is formed in the top of the cutting tool holder  215 . These notches also provide corner posts  221  in the seating tool holder  213  and corner posts  223  in the cutting tool holder  215  as shown most clearly in FIGS. 18-24 of the drawings. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 16 and 17 of the drawings, a collar  229  is attached to the tubular portion  205  of the cartridge body  203  inwardly from the open end  209  of the tubular portion. A metal cap  241  is rotatably mounted on the cylindrical cartridge body  203 . The cap includes a skirt  243  having an inwardly facing annular groove  245  formed therein. A front wall  247  is formed on the cap and a protrusion  249  extends outwardly of the front wall  247 . An oval opening or passage  251  extends through the front wall  247  of the cap. A locking filament  255  fits into the outwardly opening annular groove  225  of the cartridge body  203  and the inwardly facing annular groove  245  in the skirt  243  to fasten the cap to the cartridge body. 
     A seating blade member  261  is shown in FIGS. 16,  17  and  18  of the drawings. It includes a seating blade portion  263  having a wire contacting surface  265  at its outer end. A seating notch  267  is provided at the tip of the seating blade. A radially inwardly facing flat wall  269  is formed on the seating blade and an outwardly facing arcuate wall  271  is formed on the opposite longitudinally extending side of the seating tool. A notch  273  is formed in the arcuate wall  271 . An enlarged base  275  is formed beneath the notch  273  and a bottom wall  277  is formed on the underside of the base. The base has an arcuate radially outwardly facing wall  279  shown in FIG. 18. A guide pin  281 , of circular cross section, extends from the bottom wall  277  of the base and seats in a socket  283  formed in the seating tool holder  213 . A longitudinally extending passage  285  is formed in the base portion  207  of the cartridge body  203 . This passage is reduced in diameter at portion  287  adjacent the receiving end  211  of the tubular portion  205  of the cartridge body. 
     A piston  291  is positioned in the passage  285  in the base portion  207  of the cartridge body  203 . One end of the piston engages the cartridge body  203  and the opposite end is engaged by a compression spring  293  held in the passage  285  by a threaded plug  295  which is seated in a threaded socket  297  in the base portion  207  of the cartridge body. The piston  291  has an enlarged portion  299  with a shoulder  301  which limits movement of the piston in the enlarged passage  285 . A circumferential extending groove  303  formed in the piston aligns with a transverse blind passage  305  formed in the base portion  207  of the cartridge body. A ball detent  307  with a spring is located in the transverse blind passage and engages the circumferential notch  303  on the piston to restrain the piston against movement. A threaded plug  309  closes the blind passage  305 . 
     A cutting blade member  321  is shown in FIGS. 16,  17 ,  18  and  25  of the drawings. The cutting blade member has a sloped surface ending in a cutting tip  323  at its wire engaging end. An enlarged base  325  is formed at the opposite end of the cutting blade member. The cutting blade includes a flat inside facing wall  327  which extends a substantial length of the cutting blade. Its opposite ends are defined by an offset wall  329  at the blade tip and an offset flat wall  331  at the base both offset laterally outwardly of the wall  327 . The base has an arcuate shaped outside wall  333  and a guide pin  335  extending therefrom which guide pin fits into a socket  337  in the cutting tool holder. 
     As shown in FIGS. 16,  17  and  18  of the drawings, a compression ring  341  fits over the corner posts  221  and  223  of the seating tool holder  213  and cutting tool holder  215 . The compression ring engages the arcuate outside wall  279  on the enlarged base  275  of the seating blade member  261  and the arcuate outside wall  333  of the enlarged base  325  of the cutting blade member  321 . The arcuate outside wall  279  of the base  275  of the seating tool and the arcuate outside wall  333  of the base  325  of the cutting blade member  321  extend outwardly of the slots  217  and  219  of the seating tool holder and cutting tool holder to engage the compression ring. The radially inwardly acting force of the compression ring pushes the offset flat wall  329  at the tip of the cutting blade  321  and the offset flat wall  331  at the base of the blade  321  into contact with the flat wall  269  of the seating blade member  261  without the need to form all facing surface of the seating and cutting blade members to close tolerances. 
     As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 of the drawings, an indexing spring  351  operates in conjunction with indexing notches  353  in the enlarged end  208  of the cartridge body  203  to enable the entire cartridge to be rotated to positions 90° apart relative to the body shells  201  of the ergonomic handle of the impact tool  199 . Indexing ribs  357  are formed on the insides of the body sections  201  for engagement with the indexing notches  353 . These indexing ribs are located between support ribs (not shown but similar to ribs  136  of FIG. 13) also formed on the inside of the body sections  201  so that the enlarged base  208  of the cartridge body is supported on the support ribs with an indexing rib  357  extending into an indexing notch  353  of opposite handle sections. Thus, the cartridge body is supported and held in a fixed position relative to the body sections  201  after rotatable adjustment relative to the body sections. The ends  359  of the body sections  201  are trapped between the indexing spring  351  and the under surface  361  of the collar  229 . Annular rib  362  is formed on the insides of the body sections  201  to engage the enlarged base end  208  of the cartridge body  203  to maintain the cartridge body in alignment as it is moved longitudinally relative to the body sections during indexing. 
     FIGS. 26-28 of the drawings show a third embodiment of the invention which also utilizes “66-type” and “110-type” blades for seating and connecting a communication wire to a terminal block. The third embodiment of the invention is incorporated in an impact hand tool  401  which includes a tool cartridge  403  installed in an ergonomically shaped handle body  405  which consists of body sections  407  and  409  joined along a transverse longitudinal axis. The body sections  407  and  409  can be joined in any suitable manner to contain the tool cartridge which includes a cylindrical tool cartridge body  411 . The tool cartridge body  411  includes a tool end wall  413  and an enlarged end portion  415 . A neck extends longitudinally outward from the tool end wall  413  and a diametrically extending slot is cut or formed in the neck to divide the neck into segments. The slot is opened at its diametric ends. These features are not shown for this embodiment of the invention but they are similar in construction to the neck  23  of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-15 of this application. 
     An outwardly facing annular groove  431  is formed in the tool cartridge  403  and located slightly longitudinally inwardly of the tool end wall  413 . A ball detent may be formed in the tool cartridge body  411  and located longitudinally inwardly of the annular groove  431  but this is not shown in the drawings. A collar  433  is attached to the cylindrical tool cartridge body  411  at allocation longitudinally inwardly of the annular groove  431 . 
     A metal cap  435  is rotatably mounted on the cylindrical tool cartridge body  411 . The cap includes a skirt  437  having an inwardly opening annular groove  439  which aligns with the outwardly facing annular groove  431  of the tool cartridge  403  when the metal cap is positioned on the tool end wall  413  of the cylindrical tool cartridge body  411 . A front wall  441  is formed on the cap and a protrusion  443  extends outwardly of the front wall  441 . An oval opening or passage  445  extends through the front wall  441  of the cap. The cap is rotatably mounted on the tool end wall  413  to indexable positions determined by inwardly facing longitudinally extending notches formed on the inside of the skirt  437  around the interior periphery thereof in the same manner as described in the first embodiment of this invention. A locking filament  447  fits into the grooves  431  and  439  to secure the cap to the cylindrical tool cartridge  411 . 
     A seating blade member  451  is provided with a seating blade portion and a wire contacting surface. A seating notch  453  is provided at the tip of the seating blade. A locking notch  454  is formed in the side of the seating blade member. An enlarged base  455  is formed on the seating blade longitudinally below the locking notch  454 . A guide pin  457 , which is smaller width than the base, extends longitudinally from the base of the seating blade and into a passage  459  which passage extends inwardly in a direction away from the tool end wall  413  of the cartridge. The passage  459  connects with a larger diameter passage  461  which extends through the remainder of the cylindrical tool cartridge body  411 . 
     A piston  471  is installed in passage  461  for reciprocal movement and is biased into contact with the end of the guide pin  457 . A compression spring  473  also positioned in the passage  461  engages the piston  471  and a threaded plug  475  in a threaded socket at the end of the passage  461 . 
     A cutting blade member  481  has a sloped surface ending in a cutting tip  483  at its wire engaging end. An enlarged base  485  is formed at the opposite end of the cutting blade member. An undercut flat inside facing wall  486  which extends a substantial length of the cutting blade is formed between offset walls at the blade tip and enlarged base in the same manner as described for cutting blade member  321 . A guide pin  487  of smaller size than the enlarged base extends therefrom into a passage  489  formed in the tool cartridge body  411  and extending parallel to passage  459 . The enlarged base  485  of the cutting blade engages the tool end wall  413  of the tool cartridge body  411  to prevent longitudinal movement of the cutting blade member relative to the tool cartridge body. A compression ring  495  fits over the neck segments of the neck of the tool cartridge body and the enlarged bases  455  and  485  of the seating and cutting blades to secure them to the tool cartridge in the same manner as described for the compression ring  121  of the first embodiment of this invention. 
     An indexing spring  501  operates in conjunction with indexing notches  503  in the enlarged base  415  of the cylindrical tool cartridge body  411  to enable the entire tool cartridge body to be rotated to and secured in positions 90° apart relative to the body sections  407  and  409  of the ergonomic handle of the impact hand tool  401 . Indexing ribs  505  are formed on the inside walls of the body sections  407  and  409  for engagement with the indexing notches  503 . Support ribs (not shown) are also provided on the inside walls of the body sections so that the enlarged base  415  of the tool cartridge body can be supported on the ribs with the indexing ribs  505  extending into the indexing notches  503  of the opposite body sections  407  and  409 . Thus, the tool cartridge body can be supported and secured in a fixed position of rotation relative to the body sections  407  and  409  after indexing. Annular rib  509  is formed on the insides of the body sections  407 ,  409  to engage the enlarged base end  415  of the cartridge body  411  to maintain the cartridge body in alignment as it is moved longitudinally relative to the body sections during indexing. 
     The ends  511  of the body sections engage the under surface of collar  433  and are biased thereagainst by an indexing spring  501  which engages body section partitions  513  spaced from the ends  511  of the body sections. 
     A plunger  521  formed of a tightly coiled wire partially telescopes over a projection  523  formed integrally with the piston  471 . The plunger extends outwardly of the tool cartridge body terminating in an open end. A plug  525  is inserted in the open end of the plunger  521 , the plug engages a hammer  527  which is pivotally mounted on a shaft  529  located inside the handle body  405  for movement towards and away from the interior of the wall of the body section  409 . The hammer includes a head  531  which is normally biased into contact with the wall of the body section  409 . The plug  525  of the plunger  521  engages a shoulder  533  of the hammer in a location off center relative to the pivotal shaft  529  of the hammer. An end of a flexible spring tail  535  engages the interior wall of the body section  409 . 
     A tool holding compartment  541  is formed in the handle body section  407  to store both “66-type” and “110-type” blades when they are not in use. The compartment includes an interior wall  543  and an exterior door  545 . The door is attached to an arm  547  mounted on a pivot  549  for opening and closing of the tool holding compartment door. 
     USE, OPERATION AND FUNCTION OF THIS INVENTION 
     The operation of the tool cartridges  11  and  197  are essentially the same and will be described simultaneously. Any differences in operation due to their slightly different constructions will be noted. FIGS. 1 and 16 of the drawings show the cartridge  11 ,  197  in a position in which its seating blade member  61 ,  261  is in a locked position in which the seating blade cannot be moved longitudinally relative to the cutting blade. This locked position is appropriate when the cartridge is carried by a worker or when the impact tool is intended to be used to only seat and not cut a wire in a terminal block. As can best be seen in FIGS. 1 and 16, the seating blade member  61 ,  261  is locked against longitudinal movement relative to the cartridge  11 ,  197 , by a protrusion  49 ,  249  on the rotatably mounted cap  41 ,  241  which protrusion seats in a notch  73 ,  273  in the seating member blade  61 ,  261 . 
     To change the cartridge  11 ,  197  to a cutting mode, the rotatably mounted cap  41 ,  241  is rotated from its position shown in FIGS. 1 and 16 to the position shown in FIGS. 2 and  17 . In this latter position of rotation of the cap, the thinner annular wall  47 ,  247  of the cap is now positioned in the notch  73 ,  273  in the side of the seating blade portion  63 ,  263  thus allowing longitudinal movement of the seating blade relative to the cartridge. With the seating blade member  61 ,  261  in a position in which it can move longitudinally relative to the cartridge  11 ,  197 , the seating blade member  61 ,  261  is placed against a terminal board and wire and a seating force is applied against the base end  21 ,  207  of the cartridge  11 ,  197  through the impact tool handle. The seating blade member  61 ,  261  moves longitudinally towards the base end  21 ,  207  of the cartridge  11 ,  197  engaging the piston  91 ,  291  and compressing the spring  93 ,  293 . As the wire contacting surface  65 ,  265  of the seating blade member  61 ,  261  moves longitudinally inwardly of the cutting edge  103 ,  323  of the cutting blade member  101 ,  321 , the cutting edge  103 ,  323  engages and cuts the communications wire. This movement of the seating blade member relative to the cutting edge of the cutting blade member is quite rapid as the compression force of the spring is overcome by seating pressure applied to the impact tool handle. 
     The cartridge  11  of the first embodiment of the invention, FIGS. 1-15, utilizes only a compression spring  93  to resist rearwardly longitudinal movement of the seating blade member  61  relative to cutting edge  103  of the cutting blade member  101 . In the embodiment of FIGS. 16-25 of the drawings, a spring biased detent  307  assists the compression spring  293  in resisting rearwardly longitudinal movement of the seating blade member  261  relative to the cutting edge  323  of the cutting blade member  321 . In both embodiments of the invention, the cutting edge  103 ,  323  of the cutting blade member  61 ,  321  is forced against the communication wire to cut it as seating pressure is applied to the seating blade member  61 ,  261  since this pressure rapidly compresses the spring  93 ,  293  and moves the seating tool wire contact surface  65 ,  265  longitudinally rearwardly of the cutting edges  103 ,  323 . The spring bias detent  307  causes a buildup of pressure in the compression spring  293  until the holding effect of the detent is overcome. Then, the seating blade member snaps rearwardly. 
     The tool cartridge  11 ,  197  can be rotated relative to the ergonomic tool handle without removing the tool cartridge from its installed position between the handle body sections  15 ,  201 . The ability to rotate the tool cartridge relative to the handle, particularly, an ergonomic handle, permits the user to access terminal blocks in hard to reach locations while enabling the user to maintain a proper grip on the handle. This is accomplished by lifting the tool cartridge  11 ,  197  by its collar  35 ,  229  against the force of the compression spring  131 ,  351  to disengage the index notch engaging ribs  135 ,  357  of the handle body sections  15 ,  201 . The tool cartridge can then be rotated in 90° increments to reposition the tool cartridge  11 ,  197  and its blades relative to the tool handle. Releasing the tool cartridge allows the compression spring to return the base of the tool cartridge into engagement with the base support ribs  136 ,  357  and the indexing notch engaging ribs  135 ,  357  of the tool handle body sections to secure the tool cartridge in its new position of rotation. The annular ribs  138 ,  362  formed on the inside of the body sections  15 ,  201  remain in engagement with the enlarged base end  21 ,  208  of the tool cartridge  11 ,  197  during longitudinal movement of the tool cartridge  11 ,  197  to prevent it from skewing during indexing. 
     A third embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 26-28 of the drawings. This embodiment is in the form of an impact ergonomic hand tool  401  in which is installed a tool cartridge  403 . The ergonomic shaped handle body  405  is formed of longitudinally split body sections  407  and  409  which are joined together along a longitudinal plane. The body sections can be joined in any suitable manner to contain the tool cartridge  403  which includes a cylindrical tool cartridge body  411  having a tool end wall  413  and an enlarged base end  415 . In the same manner as described and shown in connection with the first embodiment of this invention, a neck extends longitudinally outward from the tool end wall  413  and a diametrically extending slot is cut or formed in the neck to divide the neck into segments. This slot is open at diametrical ends  29  of the neck. The bases  455  and  485  of the seating blade member  451  and cutting blade member  481 , respectively, are located in and extend diametrically outwardly of the slot to be engaged by the compression ring  495 . An outwardly facing annular groove  431  is formed in the cartridge longitudinally inward of the tool end wall  413  as can best be seen in FIG. 27 of the drawings. A ball detent, which is not shown, is formed on the cartridge body longitudinally inwardly of the slot  431 . A collar  433  is attached to the body and is located longitudinally inwardly of the ball detent in the same manner as shown in the impact tool of the first embodiment of this invention. 
     A metal cap  435  is rotatably mounted on the cylindrical tool cartridge body  411 . The cap includes a skirt  437  having an inwardly facing annular groove  439  formed therein. A front wall  441  is formed on the cap and a protrusion  443  extends outwardly of the front wall  441  as shown in FIG. 27 of the drawings. An oval opening or passage  445  extends through the front wall  441  of the cap. The cap is rotatable to various indexable positions through the use of longitudinally extending notches which are formed inside of the skirt  437  and located around the interior periphery thereof and which engage a ball detent formed in the cartridge body longitudinally inwardly of the outwardly facing annular groove  431  but not shown in the drawings of this embodiment of the invention. A locking filament  447  fits into the groove  431  on the cartridge body and the inwardly opening annular groove  439  formed in the skirt to fasten the cap to the cartridge body in a manner which permits rotation of the cap relative to the cylindrical tool body  411 . 
     The impact hand tool  401  is shown in its unlocked and ready to use condition in FIGS. 26 to  28  of the drawing. To lock the tool in a position in which the seating blade member  451  is prevented from rearward movement, the metal cap  435  is rotated 180° to position the protrusion  443  of the cap in the locking notch  454 . 
     The wire seating and cutting functions of the seating blade member  451  and the cutting blade member  481  are performed in the same manner as previously described for the similar members of the first embodiment of this invention. In this embodiment of the invention, rearwardly movement of the seating blade member guide pin  457  forces the piston  471  and its attached plunger  521  into the handle body  405 . Rearwardly movement of the plunger forces the plug  525 , which is carried by the plunger, to engage the shoulder  533  of the hammer  527  to rotate the hammer head  531  in a counterclockwise direction as shown in FIG. 27 of the drawings away from the wall of handle body section  409 . Continued rearwardly movement of the plug  525  will cause it to slide off the shoulder  533  of the hammer because of the flexible, coiled spring construction of the plunger  521 . Upon disengagement of the plug from the hammer shoulder, the flexible spring tail  535 , which has been bowed because of the rotation of the hammer, will snap back to its original straight configuration causing the hammer head  531  to sharply strike the wall of handle body section  409 . The impact of the hammer head  531  with the body section wall will indicate to the tool user that the wire has been seated and cut and the seating blade member  451  has been returned to its original position by the compression spring  473 .