CIRCULAR CONNECTOR ALIGNMENT TOOL

Provided is a tool for aligning a circular connector. Also provided is a method of aligning a circular connector.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The present application generally relates to electrical connections. More specifically, this application provides a tool that assists in the alignment of pins in a male electrical connector with sockets in a female electrical connector when an alignment indicator in one of the connectors fail.

(2) Description of the Related Art

In certain electrical connectors, for example round connectors used in stage lighting, the connectors are normally aligned by a notch in the ring around the sockets of the female connector and a matching protrusion in the ring around the pins of the male connector. An insert in the connector often has a second protrusion that matches a notch on the inside shell of the connector or is glued into place during manufacturing. These keying methods sometimes fail, making alignment of the male and female connectors difficult. The tool of the present invention is designed to align the pins or sockets of the failed connector in the proper position long enough to either re-glue the connector or to allow the user to add an extension with an undamaged connector.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a tool for aligning a circular connector when the connector fails such that indicator notches or protrusions in an outer ring of the connector is no longer immobilized relative to the connector protrusions.

Thus, in some embodiments, a tool for aligning a circular connector is provided. In these embodiments, the circular connector comprises multiple pins (male connector) or sockets (female connector) in a configuration, where the pins or sockets have a set length. The tool comprises a component comprising cavities arranged in the configuration, where the component can fit into the circular connector.

Also provided is a method of aligning a circular connector, where the connector has failed as described above. The method comprises inserting the above tool into the connector and rotating the connector into alignment with the tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In some embodiments, a tool for aligning a circular connector is provided. In these embodiments, the circular connector comprises multiple pins (male connector) or sockets (female connector) in a configuration, where the pins or sockets having a set length. The tool comprises a component comprising cavities arranged in the configuration, where the component can fit into the circular connector.

An example of a connector for which the invention tool is useful is the 19-pin connector shown inFIG. 1, showing pins10, a protrusion12on an inner ring16and a notch14on an outer ring18. The protrusion and notch are used to guide the user as to the orientation of the pins. In some connectors, the notch on the outer ring is replaced with a protrusion. Similarly,FIG. 2shows a 19-pin female connector compatible with the male connector ofFIG. 1. Sockets20and a notch22on a ring26are shown.

The component can have any shape and can have any number of cavities in the configuration of the circular connector. For example, the tool can have only one cavity, provided the component can fit into the connector such that the cavity aligns with a pin or socket of the connector. In some embodiments, the tool has more than one cavity, e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or more cavities in the configuration of some or all of the pins or sockets of the connector. In some of these embodiments, the component has the same number of cavities as the connector has pins or sockets. The configuration of the cavities in the tool can take the configuration of any circular connector, e.g., a standard connector with 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 16 or 19 pins or sockets. In some embodiments, the connector has 19 pins or sockets.

The component can have any shape that will fit into the connector, provided that (a) the component has at least one cavity that, when the component is inserted into a male connector, a connector pin enters into the cavity; and (b) when inserted into the connector, the component can be rotated to rotate the connector pins relative to the outer ring(s) of the connector. In some embodiments, the component is round, with a diameter smaller than a circular insert portion of the connector encompassing the pins or sockets. In some of those embodiments, the round component fits just inside the connector and has a cavity that corresponds, and fits over, each pin of the connector.

The component can be of any thickness that allows it to be inserted into the connector and turned to align the pins or sockets. In some embodiments, the component thickness is nearly the length of the pins, the length of the pins, or greater than the length of the pins.

To use the component on a female connector, the tool can further comprise at least one insert that fits into the cavities in the component such that, when the inserts are in the cavities of the component, the component fits into a female connector such that the inserts are inside the sockets of the connector.

The inserts can be of any configuration that would serve that purpose. In some embodiments, the inserts are shafts with a diameter equal to or less than the male pins and long enough to protrude from a cavity when inserted therein. In some embodiments, for example where the cavities pass completely through the component (i.e., are as long as the thickness of the component), the inserts have a shoulder preventing them from passing through the component. In other embodiments, the inserts are joined together to form at least a portion of the configuration.

In some embodiments, the tool further comprises a handle joined to the component. The handle can be of any size or shape that allows it to be held to insert the component into the connector. In some embodiments, the handle is thinner than the component.

In various embodiments, the tool further comprises at least one external notch or protrusion in the component that, when the tool is inserted into the connector, aligns with a protrusion or notch in an outer shell of the connector. In some of these embodiments, the tool comprises a set of more than one external notches in the component that, when the tool is inserted into the connector, aligns visually with a protrusion or notch in an outer shell of the connector. As is known, the protrusion or notch in the outer shell of many connectors is in a fixed relationship to at least one key pin or socket of the connector. For example, many 19 pin connectors comprise at least two key pins or sockets at pins designated one and twelve.

The present invention is also directed to a method of aligning a circular connector, where the connector has failed as described above. The method comprises inserting the above tool into the connector and rotating the connector into alignment with the tool.

In some of these embodiments, the connector is a male connector. In other embodiments, the connector is a female connector, and the tool has inserts in cavities of the connector as described above.

A non-limiting example of a tool of the present invention is provided inFIGS. 3 and 4.FIG. 3is a front view andFIG. 4is a transparent view of the exemplary tool, showing the handle30, the component32with cavities34and notches indicating pins1and12, and the shell key, which aligns with a notch in the outer ring of the connector. In this example, the cavities pass completely through the component.

In view of the above, it will be seen that several objectives of the invention are achieved and other advantages attained.

As various changes could be made in the above methods and compositions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

All references cited in this specification, including but not limited to patent publications and non-patent literature, are hereby incorporated by reference. The discussion of the references herein is intended merely to summarize the assertions made by the authors and no admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. Applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinence of the cited references.

The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the embodiments, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.”