Abstract:
A separation device for electrical connectors comprises a first tool having an aperture defined by interior walls which are matched in size and shape to the exterior walls of a first component of an electrical connector. The thickness of the tool is matched to the distance between protrusions of the first component. Thus, by engaging the tool with the first component, disengagement between the component parts of the electrical connector is achieved. The separation device further comprises a second tool having an aperture defined by side walls which are matched to the configuration of the exterior walls of the second component of the electrical connector. The first and second tools may be used in combination, or may be combined.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY  
       [0001]     This application claims priority of provisional Application Ser. No. 60/552,358 filed Mar. 11, 2004, currently pending. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to the separation of previously engaged electrical connectors, and more particularly to tools which facilitate the separation of electrical connectors.  
       BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Electrical connectors are widely used in the fabrication of computers and other electronic devices. In order to prevent separation resulting from vibration and similar effects, the component parts of electrical connectors are intentionally designed to be very snug-fitting. Unfortunately, over time the snug-fitting design of electrical connectors renders them almost impossible to separate by the most obvious method of simply grasping the component parts of a connector and applying oppositely directed forces thereto.  
         [0004]     The present invention relates to devices for separating electrical connectors which overcome the foregoing and other difficulties which have long since characterized the prior art. In accordance with the broader aspects of the invention, a separation device for electrical connectors comprises at least one tool having at least one aperture comprising interior walls which are closely matched in size and shape to the exterior walls of one component of an electrical connector. The thickness of the tool is matched to the distance between protruding components of the component of the electrical component. Thus, by engaging the tool with the component of the electrical connector and thereafter utilizing the tool to manipulate the component, disengagement between the component parts of the electrical connector can be achieved. The present invention further comprises a second tool having an aperture defined by side walls which are closely matched to the configuration of the exterior walls of the opposite component of the electrical connector. Like the first component, the function of the second tool is to engage its corresponding component of the electrical connector to facilitate manipulation thereof thereby affecting disengagement of component parts of the electrical connector.  
         [0005]     The first and second tools of the electrical connector separation device of the present invention may be utilized in combination. In such instances, the first component of the tools of the present invention is engaged with the first component of the electrical connector while the second component of the tool of the present invention is simultaneously engaged with the second component of the electrical connector. The first and second components of the tools of the present invention are then utilized to pry the component parts of the electrical connection apart.  
         [0006]     The first and second tools of the electrical connector separation device of the present invention may be combined into a single tool. In such instances the tool is provided with at least one aperture having interior surfaces which match the exterior configuration of both components of an electrical connector. In this manner, manipulation of the component parts of the electrical connector to affect disengagement thereof is facilitated. In those instances in which the two tools of the present invention are combined into a single tool mirror image configurations of the electrical component receiving aperture are preferably provided at opposite ends of the tool.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description when taken in connection with the accompanying Drawings, wherein:  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a prior art electrical connector;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating first and second electrical connector separation tools incorporating the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3A  is a side view illustrating the use of the tools of  FIG. 2  in the separation of the component parts of an electrical connector;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3B  is an illustration similar to  FIG. 3A  further illustrating the utilization of the tools of  FIG. 2  in the separation of the component parts of an electrical connector;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3C  is an end view in which certain component parts have been broken away further illustrating the use of the tools of  FIG. 2  in the separation of an electrical connector;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating an electrical connector separation device comprising a combination of the tools of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a side view illustrating the use of the device of  FIG. 4  to effect separation of the component parts of an electrical connector;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 5  further illustrating the use of the tool of  FIG. 4  to effect separation of the component parts of an electrical connector; and  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating a variation of one of the tools of  FIG. 2 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]     Referring now to the Drawings, and particularly to  FIG. 1  thereof, there is shown an electrical connector  10  of the type commonly utilized in the fabrication of computers and other electronic devices. The connector  10  includes a female component  12  having ribs  13  formed thereon. The female component  12  receives a plurality of electrical leads or wires  14 . The ends of the leads or wires  14  are electrically and mechanically connected to a plurality of electrical contacts. The female component  12  of the electrical connector  10  is characterized by a rim  16  and a lower edge  18  having a predetermined distance therebetween. The female component  12  of the electrical connector  10  is further characterized by opposed side walls  20  and opposed end walls  22 .  
         [0018]     The connector  10  further comprises a male component  24  which is received within and matingly engaged with the female component  12 . The male component  24  receives a plurality of electrical leads or wires  26  the ends of which are mechanically and electrically connected to a plurality of contacts. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the contacts of the female component  12  are positioned for engagement with the contacts of the male component  24  so as to form electrical connections therebetween. The male component  24  of the connector  10  is provided with a longitudinally extending semicylindrical rib  28  and a pair of laterally extending projections  30 . The male component  24  as further characterized by opposed side walls  32 , one extending to an edge  33 , and opposed end walls  34 . When the components  12  and  24  are assembled as shown in  FIG. 1 , edges  18  and  33  form a gap  35 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  illustrates a first electrical connector separation tool  40  and a second electrical connection separator tool  60  each comprising the present invention. The electrical connector separation tools  40  and  60  may be used either separately or in combination to affect separation of the component parts of an electrical connector of the type illustrated in  FIG. 1  and described hereinabove in connection therewith. Each of the tools  40  and  60  comprises an elongate bar or rod which affords leverage useful in separating the component parts of an electrical connector. The elongate bars or rods comprising the tools  40  and  60  are illustrated in  FIG. 2  as being rectangular in cross section, however, the cross-sectional configurations of the tools  40  and  60  is not critical to the practice of the invention and may be varied in accordance with the requirements of particular applications thereof.  
         [0020]     The tool  40  comprises apertures located at each end thereof. Each aperture  42  is defined by side walls  44 ,  46 , and  48 . The interior surfaces comprising the side walls  44 ,  46 , and  48  are shaped and oriented to matingly engage with one of the side walls  20  and the end walls  22  of the female component  12  of the electrical connector  10 . The tool  40  further includes lips or edges  50  positioned to engage the gap  35  extending between the edge  18  of the female component  12  of the electrical connector  10  and the edge  33  of the male component  24 . The tool  40  further comprises upper surfaces  52  which surround the apertures  42  and which are positioned to engage the under surface of the rim  16  of the female component  12  of the electrical connector  10  when the lip or edge  50  is engage with the edge  18  thereof.  
         [0021]      FIG. 3A  illustrates the tool  40  engaged with the female component  20  of the electrical connector  10 . As is clearly shown in  FIG. 3A , an upper surface  52  of the tool  40  is positioned in engagement with the underside of the rim  16  of the female component  12  of the electrical connector  10 . Surfaces  44  and  48  of the tool  40  grippingly engage the end walls  22  of the component  12 . Although not shown in  FIG. 3A , the surface  46  of one of the apertures  42  of the tool  40  engages one of the side walls  20  of the female component  12  of the electrical connector  10  and the corresponding lip or edge  50  engages the gap  35  defined by the edges  18  and  33 .  
         [0022]     It will therefore be understood that the tool  40  provides a secure connection to the female component  12  of the electrical connector  10 . Assuming that the tool  60  is not used, the male component  24  of the electrical connector  10  can be engaged by the fingers of a hand of the operator of the tool  40  or by means of a conventional hand tool such as a pair of pliers. With the female component  12  of the electrical connector  10  securely held in place by the tool  40 , the male component  24  of the electrical connector  10  can then be pulled free from the female component  12  thereof.  
         [0023]     Referring again to  FIG. 2 , the tool  60  comprises an aperture  62  defined by side walls  64 ,  66 , and  68 . The interior surfaces comprising the side walls  64 ,  66 , and  68  are shaped and oriented to matingly engage one of the side walls  32  and the end walls  34  of the male component of the electrical connector  10 . The tool  60  further includes a semicylindrical slot  70  which receives the semicylindrical rib  28  of the male component  24  of the electrical connector  10 . The tool  60  further comprises a lower surface  72  which engages the projections  30  of the component  24  of the electrical connector  10 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 3A  also illustrates the tool  60  engaged with the male component  24  of the electrical connector  10 . As is clearly shown in  FIG. 3A , the lower surface  72  of the tool  60  engages the laterally extending projections  30  of the male component  24  of the electrical connector  10 . The surfaces  64  and  68  of the tool  60  grippingly engage the end walls  34  of the component  24 . Although not shown in  FIG. 3A , the surface  66  of the aperture  62  of the tool  60  engages one of the side walls  32  of the male component  24  of the electrical connector  10 .  
         [0025]     It will therefore be understood that the tool  60  provides a secure connection to the male component  24  of the electrical connector  10 . Assuming that the tool  40  is not used, the female component  12  can be engaged by the fingers of a hand of the operator of the tool  60  or the means of a conventional hand tool such as a pair of pliers. With the male component  24  of the electrical connector  10  securely held in place by the tool  60 , the female component  12  of the electrical connector  10  can then be pulled free from the male component  24  thereof.  
         [0026]      FIGS. 3A, 3B , and  3 C illustrate the use of the tools  40  and  60  in combination to separate the components  12  and  24  comprising the electrical connector  10 . The tool  40  grippingly engages the female component  12  in the manner described hereinabove. The tool  60  grippingly engages the male component  24  in the manner described hereinabove. When the components  12  and  24  of the electrical connector  10  are grippingly engaged by the tools  40  and  60 , the tools are separated as indicated by the arrows  78  in  FIG. 3B  thereby disengaging the components  12  and  24  of the electrical connector  10  one from another.  
         [0027]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate the tools  40  and  60  extending in the same direction relative to the electrical connector  10 . However, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, because the tool  40  has apertures  42  located at both ends thereof, the tools  40  and  60  can also extend in opposite directions relative to the electrical connector  10  to effect separation between the component parts thereof.  
         [0028]     Referring to  FIGS. 4, 5 , and  6  there is shown an electrical connector separation device  80  comprising a combination of the electrical connector separation tools  40  and  60  illustrated in  FIG. 2  and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith. Many of the component parts of the electrical connector separation device  80  are substantially identical to component parts of the tools  40  and  60 . Such identical component parts are designated in  FIGS. 4, 5 , and  6  with the same reference numerals utilized in the foregoing description of the tools  40  and  60 , but are differentiated therefrom by means of a prime (′) designation.  
         [0029]     Referring particularly to  FIG. 4 , the tool  80  comprises the tools  40  and  60  of  FIG. 2  laid one on top of another and joined into a unitary construction. The tool  80  differs from the tools  40  and  60  in that the tool  80  is provided with mirror images of the apertures  42  and  62  of the tools  40  and  60 , respectively, located at opposite ends of the tool  80 . In this manner, separation of the components  12  and  24  comprising the electrical connector  10  is facilitated regardless of the orientation of the electrical connector  10 .  
         [0030]     Utilization of the electrical connector separation device  80  to affect separation of the components  12  and  24  of the electrical connector  10  is illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . The various surfaces, etc. comprising the apertures  42 ′ and  62 ′ situated at a selected end of the device  80  are grippingly engaged with the corresponding surfaces, etc. comprising the components  12  and  24  of the electrical connector  10 . The tool  80  is then moved relative to the electrical connector  10  as indicated by the arrows  78 ′ in  FIG. 6  thereby separating the component parts  12  and  24  of the electrical connector  10  one from another.  
         [0031]     Referring to  FIG. 7 , there is shown an electrical connector separation device  82  which is similar to the electrical connector separation device  40  shown in  FIG. 2  and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith. The electrical connection device  82  differs from the electrical connector separation device  40  in that, as opposed to the electrical connector separation device  40  wherein the two apertures  42  are located at the opposite ends thereof, the apertures  42  are located on opposite sides of the electrical connectors separation device  82 . Utilization of the electrical connector separation device  82  to separate the component parts of an electrical connector is substantially identical to the utilization of the electrical connector separation device  40  for the same purpose as illustrated in  FIGS. 3A, 3B , and  3 C.  
         [0032]     Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit of the invention.