Abstract:
Disclosed is a punch-down tool blade suited for seating, and seating and cutting data transmission and telephony wires into crowded patch panels. Also disclosed are embodiments of an elongated punch-down tool blade having a slidable locking collar which may be used in reversibly locking a punch-down tool blade with either the seating tip being used as the working tip or the seating and cutting tip used as the working tip without compromising both the ability of the tool tip to gain access to terminating clips or the tradesman&#39;s visibility of terminating clips so that patch panels may be efficiently and accurately wired while providing enhanced safety and decreased worker fatigue.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The invention generally pertains to the field of tools used in assembling data/telephony networks, and more particularly to punch-down tools used to insert or insert and terminate transmission wires into patch panels. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The information superhighway has grown exponentially over the past two decades. The internet has created a multitude of ways in which people across the earth can communicate. Junction boxes, or patch panels are commonly used in data rooms to make the multitude of physical connections between end-user lines with various types of data switches, bridges, and routers, which in turn are connected to local internet service providers, regional access routers to high bandwidth back-haul providers across long distances to distant regional access providers, internet service providers and ultimately distant end users. Punch-down tools are used to connect signal wires into such patch panels. Two common patch panel types are 110 data patch panels and 66 cat3 telephony patch panels, where 110 and 66 pair of twisted wire are connected, respectively. Because the demand for such connections is increasing at such a large rate, patch panels increasingly become utilized to their full capacity; consequently, they become so crowded with wires that it often becomes difficult to insert wires into the terminal clip of a patch panel using a standard punch tool blade. U.S. Pat. No. 4,161,061 shows such a wire insertion/cutoff device having a blade with insertion end, as well as an insertion/cutoff end. The blade extends about one inch past a rather blunt large diameter punch-down tool. The proximity of the blade end being used to the bulky punch-down tool creates difficulties in connecting wires in the tight patch panels. Difficulties include the blunt end of the tool precluding the tip of the device from gaining access to the proper punch-down point on a terminal clip of the patch panel, the blunt end dislodging other terminated wires in the panel when the installer attempts to add new wires to the patch panel, and the bulky tool blocking the tradesman&#39;s view of the terminal clips so that connecting wires to patch panels is prone to faulty or incorrect connections. U.S. Pat. No. 7,266,878 shows a device that, while extending the overall length of a punch-down tool, still possess the above-mentioned problems. The diameter of the extension is about twice the diameter of the body of the standard short seating tip or seating and cutting tip that is inserted into the extension, and about four times the tip&#39;s width. Consequently, this large diameter still blocks the tradesman&#39;s access and view of the terminal clips, and the abrupt edges or ledges of the assembled tool readily snag adjacent wires when the tradesman attempts to use the device, thus providing little benefit in use. Furthermore, the tradesman must carry several tips with him, and piece together the parts which can become easily lost when dropped, creating constant inconveniences to the tradesman. What is needed is a punch-down blade which enables the reliable connection of wires in patch panels which are crowded to capacity, while preventing tool entanglement and the accidental dislodgment of connected wires. 
         [0003]    The present disclosure discloses a punch-down tool which solves many of these problems that are associated with existing punch-down tools. It will be appreciated that the disclosure may disclose more than one invention. The invention(s) is (are) pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The invention(s) generally relate to punch-down tool blades that are suited for seating, and/or seating and cutting, wires in terminal clips of crowded patch panels and are configured to provide unimpeded visual and physical access to the terminal clips. In addition, the invention(s) generally relate to punch-down tool blades configured to incorporate mechanisms that allow the punch-down blades to lock into a punch-down tool in either of two orientations without increasing the profile width at the blade&#39;s working tip (the end of the blade proximate to the patch panel). 
         [0005]    In the first two embodiments, the apparatus comprises a long slender punch-down tool blade where the blade may comprise either a seating tip or a seating and cutting tip where the punch-down blade may be fixed into place in the punch-down tool. 
         [0006]    A third embodiment of the tool comprises a punch-down tool blade having a long slender profile and a seating tip at one end and a seating and cutting tip at the other end, where each end is located distally from one another. 
         [0007]    A fourth embodiment of the tool comprises a punch-down tool blade assembly having a long slender profile and a seating tip at one end and a seating and cutting tip at the other end, where means are provided to lock the punch-down blade into the punch-down tool without increasing the width or diameter of the blade in the region of the blade which is proximate the working tip. 
         [0008]    The fifth and sixth exemplary embodiments show slidable locking collar mechanisms, where the locking collar may be moved to the end of the blade to be inserted into the punch-down tool, thereby retaining the slim non-tangling blade profile at the blade&#39;s working end. 
         [0009]    The overall length of the several embodiments is from 4 to 10 inches, with an overall length of from 5 to 9 inches being preferred. Most preferably, the overall length is from 7 to 7½ inches. 
         [0010]    One advantage of the present apparatus is to save the tradesman valuable time in installing networking services, thus allowing him or her to better compete in the workplace. In addition, time is saved by making the connection of physical networks of wires more efficient and reliable by allowing the blade tip to reach destination terminals without getting entangled, and dislodging other connected wires in the patch panel. The tradesman is saved not only the inconvenience of having to troubleshoot non-working data circuits caused by faulty patch panel connections, but also the stress, financial loss, and inconvenience of being called back to job sites to fix the problems and salvage relationships with dissatisfied customers. 
         [0011]    Another advantage of one embodiment is that the punch-down blade allows the tradesman to keep the punch-down tool itself, as well as his or her hands away from all of the wires, thus providing the tradesman a greater view of the terminal clips for more accurate and successful placement of the device to make the proper connections, as well as enhanced safety. Consequently, the punch-down tool blade saves the tradesman the inconvenience of suffering strained arm, hand, and finger muscles and ligaments which readily occurs with standard punch-down tool blades while inefficiently seating and cutting wires in patch panels. 
         [0012]    The invention(s) is (are) pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a first embodiment of a punch-down tool blade well suited for seating wires to terminal clips in patch panels. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a second embodiment of a punch-down tool blade well suited for the seating and cutting wires in patch panels. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a third embodiment of a punch-down tool blade having one end well suited for the seating wires to terminal clips in patch panels, and another end well suited for the seating and cutting of wires in patch panels. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a fourth embodiment of a punch-down tool blade assembly having one end well suited for seating wires to terminal clips in patch panels, and another end well suited for the seating and cutting of wires in patch panels. This embodiment provides means to fix the punch-down blade into the punch-down tool without increasing the width or diameter of the blade in the region of the blade which is proximate the working tip (the tip which engages the wire to be connected) and incorporates sliding collar mechanisms for locking the punch-down blade into the punch-down tool. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a fifth embodiment of a punch-down tool blade assembly having one end well suited for seating wires to terminal clips in patch panels, and another end well suited for the seating and cutting of wires in patch panels. This embodiment has a slidable locking collar mechanism which may be moved to the end which is inserted into the punch-down tool, therefore retaining the slim nontangling blade profile at its working end. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the fifth embodiment of a punch-down blade assembly showing an embodiment of a slidable locking collar mechanism. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a sixth embodiment of a punch-down tool blade assembly having one end well suited for seating wires to terminal clips in patch panels, and another end well suited for the seating and cutting of wires in patch panels. This embodiment shows another slidable locking collar mechanism which may be moved to the end which is inserted into the punch-down tool, therefore retaining the slim nontangling blade profile at its working end. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a side view with partial longitudinal section of the slidable threaded collar of the sixth embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    Referring to the drawings, where like reference numerals generally designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a first embodiment of a punch-down tool, more particularly, a punch-down tool blade well suited for seating wires into terminal clips in patch panels, designated generally by the numeral  20 . 
         [0022]    The punch-down tool blade  20  includes a working tip section  30 , a long slender section  40 , and a locking collar section  50 . The working tip section  30  includes a seating edge  32 , an elongated slot  34 , and a groove  36  formed therein, which conforms to the shape of a terminal located on a terminal block (not shown) used in terminating telephone and data conducting wires. The long slender section  40  comprises a length of material having the structural rigidity to transfer forces down its axis without buckling. The locking collar section  50  comprises an L-shaped groove  52  having a lead-in detent  54  and a locking detent  56  on either side of cam surface  58  as shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,161,061, incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0023]    The overall length of the first embodiment is from 4 to 10 inches, with an overall length of from 5 to 9 inches being preferred. Most preferably, the overall length is from 7 to 7½ inches. 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 2  there is shown a second embodiment, similar to that of first except that the working tip section includes a seating and cutting edge  38 . The overall length of the second embodiment is from 4 to 10 inches, with an overall length of from 5 to 9 inches being preferred. Most preferably, the overall length is from 7 to 7½ inches. 
         [0025]    In use, the tradesman inserts the locking collar section  50  of the punch-down blade  20  into a punch-down tool (not shown) so that a cam follower spring (not shown) enters the L-shaped groove  52  at the lead-in detent  54 , then rotates the punch-down blade  20  clockwise relative to the punch-down tool until the cam follower spring rides up and over a cam surface  58 , finally coming to rest in the locking detent  56 . With the punch-down blade in place, the tradesman then may seat wires ( FIG. 1 ), or seat and cut wires ( FIG. 2 ) in a patch panel by locating the wire within the elongated slot and pushing the wire into the terminal of the patch panel. 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a third embodiment of a punch-down tool blade having one end, which includes seating edge  32 , well suited for the seating wires to terminal clips in patch panels, and another end, which includes seating and cutting edge  38 , well suited for the seating and cutting of wires in patch panels. This embodiment incorporates a fixed locking collar section  50  located near the blade tip used less frequently, which is usually the seating tip (most connections are typically of the seating and terminating type). Please note that in  FIG. 3  the fixed locking collar section  50  is shown adjacent the blade edge with the seating tip; however, in a related embodiment the fixed locking collar section  50  may be located adjacent the blade edge with the seating and cutting tip. In this related embodiment the L-shaped groove would be oriented such that the “L” in the figure would be pointing up towards the top of the figure to show that fixing the punch-down tool blade to the punch-down tool would still be accomplished by insertion, as described above, with the same clockwise twist of the blade relative to the punch-down tool to locate the biased ball bearing within locking detent  56 . Typical punch-down tools made by such manufacturers as Paladin and Harris have a recessed portion which accommodates the portion of the punch-down blade directly adjacent the locking collar section, that is, the tip section not being presently used. 
         [0027]    The overall length of the third embodiments is from 4 to 10 inches, with an overall length of from 5 to 9 inches being preferred. Most preferably, the overall length is from 7 to 7½ inches. 
         [0028]    In use, the tradesman chooses which tip (seating or seating and cutting) he or she would like to presently use (i.e. the working tip), and inserts the non-working tip end of the punch-down blade  20  into the punch-down tool (not shown). If the non-working tip section is the end with the fixed locking collar section  50  on it, the locking collar section  50  of the punch-down blade  20  is also inserted into a punch-down tool (not shown) so that a cam follower spring of the punch-down tool enters the L-shaped groove  52  at the lead-in detent  54 , then rotates the punch-down blade  20  clockwise relative to the punch-down tool until the cam follower spring rides up and over a cam surface  58 , finally coming to rest in the locking detent  56 . If the non-working tip section is not the end with the fixed locking collar section  50  on it, the non-working tip section is simply inserted into the punch-down tool. Please note that a small shoulder section may be present in these embodiments to help transfer the impulse load transfer from the punch-down tool to the punch-down tool blade when the infrequently used tip needs to be used. 
         [0029]    With the punch-down blade in place, the tradesman then may seat wires, or seat and cut wires, in a patch panel by locating the wire within the elongated slot of the working tip and pushing the wire into the terminal of the patch panel with the punch-down tool. 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a fourth embodiment of a punch-down tool blade where means are provided to lock the punch-down blade into the punch-down tool, using either tip as the working tip, without increasing the width or diameter of the blade in the region of the blade which is proximate the working tip. This embodiment comprises a punch-down tool blade assembly designated generally by the numeral  120 . The punch-down tool blade  120  includes a seating tip section  130 , a long slender section  140 , a seating and cutting tip section  150 , and a slidable locking collar mechanism  170 . The seating tip section  130  includes a seating edge  132 , an elongated slot  134 , and a groove  136  formed therein, which conforms to the shape of a terminal located on a terminal block (not shown) used in terminating telephone or data conducting wires. The long slender section  140  comprises a length of material having the structural rigidity to transfer forces down its axis without buckling. The overall length of the fourth embodiments is from 4 to 10 inches, with an overall length of from 5 to 9 inches being preferred. Most preferably, the overall length is from 7 to 7½ inches. The seating and cutting tip section  150  includes a seating and cutting edge  152 , an elongated slot  154 , and a groove  156  formed therein, which conforms to the shape of a terminal located on a terminal block (not shown) used in terminating telephone and data conducting wires. 
         [0031]    The punch-down tool blade assembly  120  also includes a slidable locking collar mechanism designated generally by the numeral  170 . Collar body  172  may have an outer surface configured in any number of ways to enhance the application of torque to it, for example it may be roughened or made angular for ease of tightening either manually or with the use of a tool, such as a wrench or pliers. In addition, the outer surface of the collar body  172  contains two L-shaped grooves  176 , each having a lead-in detent  178  and a locking detent  180  on either side of a cam surface  182 . The downward pointing “L” shaped groove depicted in  FIG. 4  is for use in the configuration where the seating and cutting edge of the punch-down tool blade is being used. The second L-shaped groove, shown in phantom in  FIG. 4  as an upward pointing “L” and is for use in the configuration where the seating edge of the punch-down tool blade is being used. In each case the L-shaped groove is configured to be inserted into the punch-down tool and twisted clockwise relative to the punch-down tool so that the cam follower spring of the punch-down tool (not shown) slides up the lead-in detent  178 , rides up and over the cam surface  182  and into the locking detent  180 . 
         [0032]    In use, the tradesman chooses which tip  130  or  150  of the punch-down blade  120  he or she would like to presently use. The collar body  172  is located toward the non-working tip end and locked into place on the long slender section  140  through various means including, but not limited to, a set screw (not shown) threaded through the collar body  172  and impinging upon the long slender section  140 . Other means for locking the collar body  172  with respect to the long slender section  140  include, for example, various bayonet-type mechanisms, threads bottoming to a shoulder, the use of lock washers of various types, or threading arrangements where there is a slight amount of interference between female threads on an inside bore of the collar body  172  and male threads on the long slender section  140  such as, for example, lobed thread arrangements, or nylon threaded inserts. After the collar body  172  has been fixed relative to the long slender section  140 , the non-working tip end of the punch-down blade  120 , with the fixed locking collar section  170  on it, is inserted into the punch-down tool (not shown) so that a cam follower spring of the punch-down tool enters the L-shaped groove  178  at the lead-in detent  176 . The tradesman then rotates the punch-down blade  120  clockwise relative to the punch-down tool until the cam follower spring rides up and over a cam surface  182 , finally coming to rest in the locking detent  180 . With the punch-down blade in place, the tradesman then may seat wires, or seat and cut wires, in a patch panel by locating the wire within the elongated slot of the working tip and pushing the wire into the terminal of the patch panel with the punch-down tool. 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 and 6 , there is shown a fifth embodiment of a punch-down tool blade. This embodiment comprises a punch-down tool blade assembly designated generally by the numeral  120 . The punch-down tool blade  120  includes a seating tip section  130 , a long slender section  140 , a seating and cutting tip section  150 , and a slidable locking collar mechanism  170 . The seating tip section  130  includes a seating edge  132 , an elongated slot  134 , and a groove  136  formed therein, which conforms to the shape of a terminal located on a terminal block (not shown) used in terminating telephone and data conducting wires. The long slender section  140  comprises a length of material having the structural rigidity to transfer forces down its axis without buckling. The overall length of the fifth embodiments is from 4 to 10 inches, with an overall length of from 5 to 9 inches being preferred. Most preferably, the overall length is from 7 to 7½ inches. In the present embodiment, the long slender section  140  comprises a rod of material having a circular cross section as shown in  FIG. 6 , although other cross sections, such as that of a hollow tube are envisioned as well. The long slender section  140  also includes a longitudinal detent groove  142  which runs from a location proximate the seating tip section  130  axially along the long slender section  140  to a location proximate the seating and cutting tip section  150 . At each end of the longitudinal detent groove  142  there is located a collar locking cam  144  and a collar locking detent  146 . The seating and cutting tip section  150  includes a seating and cutting edge  152 , an elongated slot  154 , and a groove  156  formed therein, which conforms to the shape of a terminal located on a terminal block (not shown) used in terminating telephone conducting wires. 
         [0034]    The punch-down tool blade assembly  120  also includes a slidable locking collar mechanism designated generally by the numeral  170 . The slidable locking collar mechanism  170  comprises a collar body  172  which has an inner diameter  174  which mates up against the outer diameter of the long slender section  140 , forming a bearing surface there between. Collar body  172  may have an outer surface configured in any number of ways to enhance the application of torque to it, for example it may be roughened or made angular for ease of tightening either manually or with the use of a tool, such as a wrench or pliers. In addition, collar body  172  contains two L-shaped grooves  176 , each having a lead-in detent  178  and a locking detent  180  on either side of a cam surface  182 . The downward pointing “L” shaped groove depicted in  FIG. 5  is for use in the configuration where the seating and cutting edge of the punch-down tool blade is being used. The second L-shaped groove, if shown in phantom in  FIG. 5  would be an upward pointing “L” and is for use in the configuration where the seating edge of the punch-down tool blade is being used. (In each case the L-shaped groove is configured to be inserted into the punch-down tool and twisted clockwise relative to the punch-down tool so that the cam follower spring of the punch-down tool (not shown) slides up the lead-in detent  178 , rides up and over the cam surface  182  and into the locking detent  180 .) The collar body  172  also contains a through bore  190  (see  FIG. 6 ) which houses a biased ball  192 , or other elastically biased member, which rides in the longitudinal detent groove  142  of the long slender section  140  of the punch-down tool blade assembly  120 . The ball  192  is biased by a spring  194 , or other bias providing means, and is free to glide along the detent groove  142  and with a bit of applied torque, up and over the cam surface  182  and into the locking detent  180  so that the slidable locking collar mechanism  170  may be locked in place relative to the long slender section  140 . Biasing spring  194  is held in place by a screw  196  which is threaded into the outer portion of the through bore  190 . 
         [0035]    In use, the tradesman chooses which end of the punch-down blade he or she would like to use, the working tip, and locks the slidable collar body  172  in place at the end of the long slender section  140  opposite the working tip end by sliding the slidable collar body  172  longitudinally along the long slender section  140  until the ball  192  reaches the end of the detent groove  142 . The ball  192  is biased into detent groove  142  by spring  194  butted against screw  196  in the side of the slidable collar body  172 . Then torque sufficient to removably lock the slidable collar  172  into place on the body of the punch-down blade  120  is applied through the use of finger pressure, or through the use of a tool such as a wrench or pliers. This applied torque, in effect, provides the energy to allow the biased ball  192  to transverse circumferentially from the longitudinal detent groove  142  up and over the collar locking cam  144 , thereby further compressing the spring  194 , and into the collar locking detent  146 . Then the non-working tip is inserted into the punch-down tool so that the biased cam follower member of the punch-down tool (not shown) is aligned with the lead-in detent  178  of the collar body L-shaped groove  176 , moving the punch-down tool blade  120  further inside the receptacle of the punch-down tool, with clockwise torque applied to the punch-down blade  120  with respect to the punch-down tool, so that the biased cam follower (not shown) rides up and over the cam surface  182  and into the locking detent  180  of the collar body L-shaped groove  176 , thus reversibly locking the punch-down blade  120  into place with respect to the punch-down tool. The tool is now ready for use and can efficiently seat or seat and cut wires into terminal clips of crowded patch panels efficiently without either tangling the device in the wires, or inadvertently seating to the incorrect terminal clip because the punch-down tool has obstructed the tradesman&#39;s vision of terminal clips. 
         [0036]    When the tradesman wishes to use the other tip (e.g. the other tip will become the working tip), he or she simply reverses the assembly steps above, e.g. applies counterclockwise torque to the punch-down blade  120  relative to the punch-down tool (not shown), removes the punch-down blade  120  from the punch-down tool, and releases the biased ball  192  of the slidable collar body  172  from the locking detent  180  of the long slender section  140  by applying torque using finger pressure or a torque-applying tool such as a pliers or wrench. This applied torque, in effect, provides the energy to allow the biased ball  192  to transverse circumferentially from the collar locking detent  146  up and over the collar locking cam  144  and into the longitudinal detent groove  142 . Then the tradesman slides the slidable collar body  172  longitudinally to the other end of the punch-down blade  120 , and tightens the slidable collar body  172  by applying enough torque to allow the biased ball  192  to transverse circumferentially from the longitudinal detent groove  142  up and over the second collar locking cam  144  and into the second collar locking detent  146 . Then the non-working blade end is inserted into the punch-down tool so that the biased cam follower member of the tool (not shown) is aligned with the lead-in detent  178  of the second, opposite facing, collar body L-shaped groove  176  of the slidable collar body  172 , moving the punch-down tool blade  120  further inside the receptacle of the punch-down tool, with clockwise torque applied to the punch-down blade  120  with respect to the punch-down tool, so that the biased cam follower (not shown) rides up and over the cam surface  182  and into the locking detent  180  of the collar body L-shaped groove  176 , thus reversibly locking the punch-down blade  120  into place with respect to the punch-down tool. Now the tool is ready for use in its alternate configuration. 
         [0037]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , there is shown a sixth embodiment of a punch-down tool blade. This embodiment comprises a punch-down tool blade assembly designated generally by the numeral  120 . The punch-down tool blade  120  includes a seating tip section  130  and a seating and cutting tip section  150 , similar to those in the fifth embodiment, a long slender section  140 , and a slidable locking collar mechanism  170 . Collar body  172  may have an outer surface configured in any number of ways to enhance finger grip or to allow tools, such as a wrench or pliers to be used to apply torque to it. In addition, the outer surface of the collar body  172  contains two L-shaped grooves  176 , each having a lead-in detent  178  and a locking detent  180  on either side of a cam surface  182 . The downward pointing “L” shaped groove depicted in  FIG. 4  is for use in the configuration where the seating and cutting edge of the punch-down tool blade is being used. The second L-shaped groove, shown in phantom in  FIG. 4  as an upward pointing “L” and is for use in the configuration where the seating edge of the punch-down tool blade is being used. (In each case the L-shaped groove is configured to be inserted into the punch-down tool and twisted clockwise relative to the punch-down tool so that the cam follower spring, or other biasing member, of the punch-down tool (not shown) slides up the lead-in detent  178 , rides up and over the cam surface  182  and into the locking detent  180 .) In this embodiment, the slidable locking collar mechanism  170  comprises external threads  190  disposed at either end of the punch-down tool blade which engage with collar body internal threads  200 , thus allowing the collar body  172  to be locked into position at either end of the punch-down blade. Although the external threads  190  are generally shown as encircling a circular cross section of a long slender section  140 , a long slender section  140  of non-circular cross section may be used equally effectively whereby the external threads encompass only a portion of the outer surface of the cross section. In other words, the cross section of the long slender section  140  could be generally rectangular with threads formed only on the two outer surfaces most distant from the central axis of the long slender section  140 . Locking the collar body  172  into place may be achieved when the end of either the external threads  190  or internal threads  200  is reached when screwing the two components together and an external or internal shoulder is reached, respectively. The use of thread sets having a slight amount of interference between them, such as those provided by threaded nylon inserts for the internal threads  200  (commonly used, for example, in locknuts available at hardware stores), or by the use of lobed or slightly tapered external threads  190  and/or internal threads  200 . The use of various types of lock washers, or lock washer features incorporated into the collar body  172 , is also contemplated in helping fix the collar body  172  in place on the long slender section  140  of the punch-down tool blade assembly  120 . 
         [0038]    In use, the tradesman chooses which end of the punch-down blade he or she would like to use, the working tip, and locks the slidable collar body  172  in place at the end of the long slender section  140  opposite the working tip end by screwing the internal threads  200  of the slidable collar body  172  onto external threads  190  at that end of the punch-down blade  120 . Torque sufficient to removably lock the slidable collar  172  into place on the body of the punch-down blade  120  is applied through the use of finger pressure, or through the use of a tool such as a wrench or pliers. Then the non-working tip is inserted into the punch-down tool so that the biased cam follower member of the tool is aligned with the lead-in detent  178  of the collar body L-shaped groove  176 , moving the punch-down tool blade  120  further inside the receptacle of the punch-down tool (not shown), with clockwise torque applied to the punch-down blade  120  with respect to the punch-down tool, so that the cam follower rides up and over the cam surface  182  and into the locking detent  180  of the collar body L-shaped groove  176 , thus reversibly locking the punch-down blade  120  into place with respect to the punch-down tool. The tool is now ready for use and can efficiently seat or seat and cut wires into terminal clips of crowded patch panels efficiently without tangling the device in the wires, or inadvertently seating to the incorrect terminal clip because the punch-down tool obstructs the tradesman&#39;s vision of terminal clips. 
         [0039]    When the tradesman wishes to use the other tip (e.g. the other tip will become the working tip), he or she simply reverses the assembly steps above, e.g. applies counterclockwise torque to the punch-down blade  120  relative to the punch-down tool, removes the punch-down blade  120  from the punch-down tool, and loosens the slidable collar body  172  with respect to the external threads  190  using finger pressure or a torque-applying tool such as a pliers or wrench. Then the tradesman slides the slidable collar body  172  to the other end of the punch-down blade  120 , tightens the slidable collar body  172  on the second set of external threads  190 . Then the non-working blade end is inserted into the punch-down tool so that the cam follower member of the tool is aligned with the lead-in detent  178  of the second, opposite facing, collar body L-shaped groove  176  of the slidable collar body  172 , moving the punch-down tool blade  120  further inside the receptacle of the punch-down tool, with clockwise torque applied to the punch-down blade  120  with respect to the punch-down tool, so that the cam follower rides up and over the cam surface  182  and into the locking detent  180  of the collar body L-shaped groove  176 , thus reversibly locking the punch-down blade  120  into place with respect to the punch-down tool. Now the tool is ready for use in its alternate configuration. 
         [0040]    It should be understood that even though these numerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principals of the invention(s) claimed in the appended claims to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.