Tool for installation of connector pin bushings into a computer patch board

A tool for installation of pin connector assemblies into a computer path board, the pin assembly being of a type that permits a locking bushing to be slid over the pin into a recess within the body of the assembly and thereby cause a tight interference fit of the assembly within a receiving orifice in the patch board. The tool includes a retainer to engage a guide groove formed on the upper portion of the pin assembly and a tubular driver that is mechanically coupled to the retainer for driving the locking bushing into position. The retainer and the tubular driver are preferably connected to opposing handles of a biased plier arrangement. The plier arrangement may be hand or machine operated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to an improvement in the field of installation of 
pin connector assemblies into computer patch boards and more particularly, 
but not by way of limitation, to a tool for easily inserting in a 
consistent repeatable manner a locking bushing into a pin connector 
assembly positioned in a computer patch board for locking installation 
therein. 
In the field of data processing it is required to insert pin connector 
assemblies into a computer patch board. The pin connector assembly 
includes a body portion that is manually inserted into a receiving orifice 
in the patch board. The receiving orifice is preferably sized to receive 
the body portion of the pin connector assembly in an interference fit 
commensurate with retention of the assembly within the orifice without 
further assistance and ease of insertion of the pin connector assembly 
into the computer patch board. After such insertion of the pin connector 
assembly into the orifice in the computer patch board the pin connector 
assembly is then locked into such position. 
The preferred method for locking such assembly into position involves 
slipping a locking bushing over the pin extending upwardly from the pin 
connector assembly and then pushing the locking bushing downwardly over 
the pin into an annular relieved portion within the body portion of the 
pin connector assembly to urge the assembly into a more secure 
interference fit within the receiving orifice of the computer patch board. 
The usual method employed within the computer industry to install such pin 
connector assemblies into a computer patch board involves providing an 
annular relieved portion on the upper portion of the pin connector 
assembly for receiving a retainer tool after the bushing has been manually 
inserted into a complementary shaped orifice in a computer patch board. 
The assembler then slips a bushing over the pin extending upwardly from 
the connector assembly and pushes the bushing downwardly to a locking 
position by mean of a hand held tube which he holds in his other hand. 
While this practice of installing pin connector assemblies into a computer 
patch board has been successfully practiced. as with any repetitive hand 
assembly operation that must be practiced quickly over long periods of 
time, is not entirely satisfactory from either the perspective of the 
assembler or as to consistent repetitive minimum time results. The 
industry practice of pin connector assemblies is fatiguing to the 
assembler, causes blisters to the hands of the assembler, gives rise to 
carpal tunnel syndrome, and other medical problems. 
Obviously, such method involves constant attention to its application to 
achieve acceptable results. The assembler must be cautious to carefully 
insert the retainer into the receiving groove provided in the pin 
connector assembly and keep it held in its proper position while the 
bushing is locked into position since failure to do so may result in the 
tool used to drive the bushing into locking position pushing the pin 
connector assembly completely out of the computer patch board. Pin 
assemblies accidentally pushed out of the board are very hard and time 
consuming to replace. The driving or pressing tube must be carefully 
aligned and manipulated by the assembler to assure correct alignment of 
the tube on the pin and to assure correct positioning of the locking 
bushing within the pin connector assembly without over pressing of the 
bushing into the assembly. 
A need has existed, that has not been satisfied until the present 
invention, for an insert tool for installation of connector pin bushings 
into a computer patch board that permits rapid installation of pin 
connector assemblies in a manner that if quick, repeatable, consistent and 
accurate with a minimum of attention and physical strain of the assembler. 
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Briefly stated, the present invention contemplates a tool for inserting a 
locking bushing into a pin connector assembly positioned within a 
complementarily shaped orifice in a computer patch board, the pin 
connector assembly having a pin that extends vertically above the upper 
surface of the computer patch board, an annular relieved portion provided 
in a body portion of the pin assembly extending over the computer patch 
board, and an annular recess formed in the upper body portion of the pin 
assembly surrounding the pin for receiving the locking bushing and adapted 
to be positioned mediate the upper and lower surfaces of the patch board 
when the pin assembly is positioned therein. The tool preferably comprises 
a retainer means adapted to be received within the relieved portion 
provided in the body portion of a pin assembly and a tubular drive means 
adapted to receive therewithin the vertically extending pin of the pin 
assembly after a locking bushing has been placed upon the pin. Means are 
drivingly connected to the drive means for driving the tubular drive means 
a predetermined distance downwardly on the pin and to engage the locking 
bushing to slide it downwardly on the pin into the annular recess to lock 
the pin assembly with the computer patch board in an interference fit. The 
tool may be advantageously accommodated in two journalled biased handles 
for hand or machine actuation. The length of travel of the drive means may 
be predetermined to accurately control the positioning of the locking 
bushing and the drive means is aligned with the retainer by a suitable 
guide means to assure that the bushing is correctly driven into locking 
position without pushing the assembly from the patch board. 
Other advantages and features of the present invention will become clear 
from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the 
invention when read in conjunction with the drawings and appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
Referring to the drawing in general and to FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular, the 
reference character 10 generally designates an insert tool constructed in 
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. The tool 10 
includes a retainer means 12 adapted to be received with a relieved 
portion 14 provided in the body portion 16 of a pin connector assembly 18 
that has been pushed into a complementarily shaped orifice 20 provided in 
a computer patch board 22, as seen in FIG. 3. The retainer means 12 in the 
present invention takes the form of an angle shaped member 24 which is 
provided at its lower portion with a generally shaped "V" shaped opening 
26 into which is positioned a relieved or grooved portion 14 in the pin 
connector assembly. 
A tubular drive means 28 is adapted to receive therewithin the vertically 
extending pin 30 of the pin connector assembly 18 after a locking bushing 
32 has been slipped over the pin 30 as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. The tubular 
drive means 28 takes the form of a bushing pusher tube 34 that is 
positioned normal to the retainer plate portion 36 of the retainer member 
24. The bushing pusher tube 34 is slidingly constrained within a guide 
tube 38 which is preferably of lesser diameter at its lower end to better 
receive the tube 34 and accurately align the tube 34 with the pin 
connector assembly 18 when the bushing is to locked into position. 
Means are drivingly connected to the drive means 28 for driving the tubular 
drive means 28 a predetermined distance downwardly on the pin 30 and to 
engage the locking bushing 32 to slide it downwardly on the pin 30 into 
the annular recess 40 formed with the pin connector assembly 18 to lock 
the assembly within the computer patch board 22. This means takes the form 
of a member 42 that is secured to the drive tube 28 in any suitable 
manner. Preferably, the member 42 is a first handle member that is 
suitably journalled to a second handle member 44 that is connected to the 
guide tubular member 38 in any suitable manner. The handle members 42 and 
44 are preferably biased to an open position by a suitable spring 46 that 
may be positioned within the handles 42 and 44 in the usual manner. 
The travel of the pusher tube 34 within the retainer tube 38 is 
predetermined by a suitable limit screw 48 that is threadedly positioned 
in one of the handles to control the travel of one handle toward another. 
While the tool 10 is advantageously used by an assembler to insert pin 
connector assemblies in a computer patch board, it is apparent that the 
tool 10 is susceptible to incorporation in a further assembly arrangement 
that would permit machine operation of the tool 10. 
In operation, a pin connector assembly 18 is positioned in an orifice 20 in 
the computer patch board 22 so that the grooved portion 14 of the assembly 
18 extends above the patch board 22. The bushing 32 as seen in FIG. 3 is 
slipped over the pin 30 to the position shown in FIG. 4. The retainer 24 
of the tool 10 is then positioned so that the groove 14 is received within 
the open portion 26 of the retainer 24. Actuation of the tool 10 then 
causes handle 42 to move toward handle 44 to cause the connected bushing 
pusher tube 34 which has been positioned over the pin 30 to cause the 
bushing 32 to be driven downwardly on the pin 30 to recess 40 and thereby 
cause the assembly to be locked within the computer patch board 22 in a 
tight interference fit as more clearly shown in FIG. 5. 
It will be appreciated that the present invention provides an insert tool 
which permits the insertion of assemblies into a computer patch board at a 
greatly accelerated rate. The mechanical advantage built into the tool 
reduces the force required to install such assemblies. The retainer is 
incorporated into the tool and provides for automatic alignment of the 
bushing pushing portion of the tool that also provides automatic axial 
loading of the bushing during insertion. The adjustable stroke limit screw 
controls the depth of the insertion of the bushing into the assembly and 
thereby provides repeatable consistent insertions even though there may be 
variations in the technique of an assembler utilizing the tool. 
While a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention has been 
described for purposes of this particular disclosure, numerous changes may 
be made which will rapidly suggest themselves to those skilled in the art 
and which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention disclosed and 
defined in the appended claims.