Abstract:
A tooling device configured to manipulate an electrical connector is disclosed. The tooling device has a body and a first pair of prongs pivotally mounted to the body. Each of the prongs of the first pair of prongs is spaced apart. The prongs pivot independent of each other and have an identical configuration.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to the field of mechanical tooling implements, and more in particular to a tooling device for manipulating wiring connectors and wiring harnesses. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Electrical devices and electrical systems utilize wiring harnesses, also known as connectors, to couple wires to the device or system. Wiring harnesses typically include a rigid body, internal wirings, and conductive retainers for coupling external wires to the wiring harness. These conductive retainers are typically made of metal strips that hold conductive portions of external wirings in compression against another surface. 
   To connect these external wirings to a wiring harness, the insulating sleeve covering the external wire is removed from an end of the external wire. This end of the wire is then inserted into the wiring harness where it engages the conductive retainer. The conductive retainer holds the external wire in compression against another surface of the wiring harness. The conductive retainer is coupled to internal wirings in the wiring harness, which are in turn connected to the electrical device or electrical system. In this manner, the wiring harness connects external wirings to the device or system. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In a first embodiment, a tooling device configured to manipulate an electrical connector is disclosed. The tooling device has a body and a first pair of prongs pivotally mounted to the body. Each of the prongs of the first pair of prongs is spaced apart. The prongs pivot independent of each other and have an identical configuration. 
   In a second embodiment, a tooling device for manipulating a wiring harness is disclosed. The tooling device has a pair of identically shaped tools pivotally attached to each other. The tooling device also includes a spacer separating the pair of identically shaped tools. The spacer is connected to a housing. 
   In a third embodiment, a tooling device for a wiring harness is disclosed having a housing. A first tool is pivotally mounted on a first axis to the housing. The first tool has an end for engaging the wiring harness. A second tool is pivotally mounted on the first axis to the housing. The second tool has an end for engaging the wiring harness. The first and second tools having an identical length. The ends of the first and second tools have an identical shape. A spacer is positioned between the first and second tools. The first and second tools pivot independently of each other. The first and second tools can be pivoted into a operative position independently of each other. The first and second tools can be pivoted into the operative position together. 
   The tooling device may include a third tool pivotally mounted on the first axis to the housing. The third tool has an end for engaging the wiring harness. The tooling device may also include a fourth tool pivotally mounted on the first axis to the housing. The fourth tool has an end for engaging the wiring harness. The third and fourth tools have an identical length. The ends of the third and fourth tools have an identical shape. The tooling device may also include a second spacer positioned between the third and fourth tools. The third and fourth tools pivot independently of each other and can be pivoted into an operative position independently of each other. The third and fourth tools can also be pivoted into the operative position together. 
   The tooling device may also include a flat tool having a flat body and a pair of planar prongs. The planar prongs extend from an end of the flat tool and are positioned parallel to each other. The ends of the first and second tools may be beveled. In addition, the ends of the first and second tools may be angled. The tooling device may also include a fifth tool pivotally mounted to the housing having a circular rod extending parallel to the first axis. 
   Other objects, features and aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The novel features that are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself; however, both as to its structure and operation together with the additional objects and advantages thereof are best understood through the following description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a tooling device having a plurality of tools pivoted at various angles for illustration; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of the tooling device; 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of the tooling device; 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate end views of the tooling device; 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a top view of the tooling device having the plurality of tools pivoted into a stored configuration; 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of the tooling device having the plurality of tools pivoted into the stored configuration; 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of the tooling device having a tool extended into an operative position; 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective view of the tooling device having a pair of tools extended into an operative position where the pair of tools are separated by a spacer; 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a perspective view of a tool manipulating a wiring harness; 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a perspective view of a pair of tools separated by a spacer manipulating a wiring harness; 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a tool having prong ends positioned next to a wiring harness; 
       FIG. 13  illustrates the tool having prong ends inserted into the wiring harness; and 
       FIG. 14  illustrates a tool having a beveled end engaging a wiring harness. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   While the invention has been shown and described with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, it will be understood to those skilled in the art, that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.  FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a tooling device  10  having a plurality of tools  12  pivoted at various angles for illustration. Tooling device  10  includes a housing  14 . Housing  14  includes rods  16  and  18 . Rods  16  and  18  are mounted to each end of housing  14 . Rods  16  and  18  are positioned parallel to each other. Tools  12  are pivotally mounted to rods  16  and  18 . Tools  12  may be pivoted from a stored position shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  to an operative position shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
   Tooling device  10  includes a tool  20 , a spacer  22 , and a tool  24 . Tools  20  and  24  have identical shapes. Tools  20  and  24  may pivot separately from the stored position to the operative position. Tools  20  and  24  may also be pivoted from the stored position to the operative position together. Tools  20  and  24  are separated by spacer  22 . Tools  20  and  24  are pivotally mounted to rod  18 . Spacer  22  is pivotally mounted to housing  14 . 
   Tooling device  10  also includes tools  26 ,  28 ,  30 , and  32 . Tooling device  10  further includes spacer  34  and tools  36  and  38 . Tools  32  and  36  have identical shapes. Tools  32  and  36  are separated by spacer  34 . Tools  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  36  and  38  are pivotally mounted to rod  18 . Tools  20 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  36  and  38  and spacers  22  and  34  may each be pivoted separately from the stored position to the operative position. Tools  32  and  36  may be pivoted from the stored position to the operative position together so that they may be used together. Spacers  22  and  34  may also be pivoted about rod  18 . Tools  20 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  36  and  38  may be formed from a durable material such as steel. 
   Rod  16  pivotally supports tools  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54 , and  56 . Tools  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54 , and  56  may be pivoted from the stored position to the operative position independently of each other. 
   Tool  20  has a beveled end  58 . Tool  24  has a beveled end  60  that is identical to beveled end  58 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , in one embodiment, tool  20  and tool  24  may be positioned relative to each other such that the beveled ends  58  and  60  of tools  20  and  24 , respectively, are facing in opposing directions. As such, tool  20  and tool  24  may be considered “mirror images” of each other, or in an inverted position relative to each other. Tool  26  has an angled end  62 . Tool  28  has a pair of protrusions  64  extending there from. Tool  30  has an angled end  66 . Tools  26  and  30  have identical shapes. Tools  26  and  30  may be pivoted separately or together from the stored position to the operative position. Tool  32  has a beveled end  68 . Tool  36  has a beveled end  70 . Tool  38  has a pointed end  72 . 
   Tool  40  has a rod  74  mounted at the end. Rod  74  has a protrusion  75  extending there from in an axial direction. Rod  74  and protrusion  75  form a hook. Tool  42  has a beveled end  76 . Tool  44  has an angled end  78 . Tool  46  has an angled end  80 . Tool  48  has a pair of thin prongs  82  extending there from. Tool  50  has an angled end  84 . Tool  52  has a pair of thin prongs  86  extending there from. Tool  54  has a beveled end  88 . Tool  56  has a long beveled end  90 . Tool  56  has a threaded base that is mounted to pivot base  94 . Housing  14  is provided with curved ends  96  and  98  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). 
     FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of the tooling device  10 . The plurality of tools  12  are arranged at various angles for illustration. Rods  16  and  18  have hexagonal recesses  100  and  102 . In one exemplary embodiment, rods  16  and  18  are hexagonal bolts that can be attached or removed from housing  10  through the use of an allen wrench. The use of hexagonal bolts allows for the removal of tools  12  for repair or replacement. 
   Tools  12  are configured to manipulate a wiring harness  104  or  108  (shown in  FIGS. 10-14 ), also known as a wiring connector. Wiring harnesses  104  and  108  are configured to connect an external wire  110  to an electrical device (not shown). Wiring harnesses, such as  104  and  108 , exist in many different varieties and configurations for various applications. Wiring harnesses  104  and  108  are configured to hold different numbers of wires  110  and wires  110  of various gauges. Wiring harnesses  104  and  108  are configured to connect in various manners to external housings (not shown) and wires  110 . 
   Tools  12  are configured to manipulate various wiring harnesses  104  and  108 . Tools  12  may manipulate harnesses  104  and  108  individually. Tools  20  and  24  are configured to operate individually or in combination. Tools  26  and  30  are configured to operate individually or in combination. Tools  32  and  36  are configured to operate individually or in combination. 
   Tools  12  are configured to manipulate various features on wiring harnesses  104  and  108 . For example, one of tools  12  is configured to depress a conductive connector to facilitate the connection of wire  110  to wiring harness  104 . Alternatively other tools  12  are configured to manipulate the body  112  of wiring harness  112 . Other tools  12  may be configured to puncture through portions of wiring harnesses  104  or  108  to facilitate the function of wiring harnesses  104  or  108 . 
     FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of the tooling device  10 . Housing  14  includes side walls  114  and  116 . Tools  12  are pivotally mounted on rods  16  and  18  between side walls  114  and  116 . As with  FIGS. 1 and 2 , tools  12  are pivoted at various angles for purposes of illustration. Tool  56 , in this exemplary embodiment, is screwed into pivot base  94  with threaded end  92 . Tool  56  can be unscrewed from pivot base  94  for replacement or purposes of storage. 
   Spacers  22  and  34  function to separate tools  20  and  24 , and  32  and  36  respectively. Spacers  22  and  34  provide the amount of space needed so that tools  20  and  24 , and  32  and  36  can manipulate aspects of wiring harness  104  together in combination. Spacers  22  and  24  may also be pivoted from a stored position to an operative position when either tool pairs  20  and  24 , or  32  and  36  are pivoted into the operative position. Tool pairs  20  and  24 , and  32  and  36  each form a pair of prongs when both tools in each pair are pivoted into the operative position. 
     FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate end views of the tooling device  10 . Tools  12  are pivotally mounted to housing  14 . Curved portions  96  and  98  provide an ergonomic surface along with housing  14  for facilitating the gripping of tooling device  10  when using it to manipulate wiring harnesses  104  or  108 . As with  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 ,  FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate tools  12  pivoted at various angles for purposes of illustration. Note in  FIGS. 4 and 5  how rod  74  is protruding from tool  40 . 
     FIG. 6  illustrates a top view of the tooling device  10  having the plurality of tools  12  pivoted into a stored configuration. Tools  12  are pivotally mounted on rods  16  and  18  so that they may be pivoted into a stored position. Tooling device  10  is configured to pivot tools  12  into a stored position to protect tools  12  for storage, to reduce the space of tool device  10 , and enhance its overall utility. Side walls  114  and  116  generally extend above tools  12  when tools  12  are in a stored configuration. Side walls  114  and  116  are lower in the center portion of tooling device  10  to provide a user with easy access to tools  12 , enabling the user to select a tool  12  and pivot it into an operative position. 
     FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of the tooling device  10  having the plurality of tools  12  pivoted into the stored configuration. Side walls  114  and  116  are provided with an opening  118  allowing a user to reach in and grip an individual tool  12  and pivot it from the stored position to the operative position. Note that except for tool  56 , all other tools pivot to a stored position where the entire tool  12  lies below the height of side walls  114  and  116 . 
     FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of the tooling device  12  having tool  40  extended into an operative position. Tool  40  is provided with rod  74 . Rod  74  extends from the end of tool  40 . Rod  74  extends parallel to the axis of rod  16 . Rod  74  includes a raised protrusion  75 . For use in manipulating a wiring harness  104  or  108 , tool  40  is pivoted into the operative position while the remaining tools  12  remain in the stored position. Curved surfaces  96  and  98  function to provide a stop for the pivotal motion of tools  12 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , a user can apply a downward force on housing  14  and tool  40  will remain in operative position resting against curved portion  98 . Curved portion  98  stops and further upward pivotal movement of tool  40  when tool  40  is pressed downward against one of wiring harnesses  104  or  108 . 
     FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective view of the tooling device  10  having a pair of tools  20  and  24  extended into an operative position where the pair of tools  20  and  24  are separated by spacer  22 . Tools  20  and  24  are pivoted together into the operative position while the remaining tools  12  are in the stored position. Spacer  22  is also shown pivoted into the operative position to support the function of tools  20  and  24 . The pivotal movement of tools  20  and  24  and spacer  22  is stopped by curved surface  96 . Tools  20  and  24  can be pivoted separately from the stored position to the operative position and used individually to manipulate a wiring harness  104  or  108 . Alternatively, tools  20  and  24  can be pivoted together as shown in the operative position along with spacer  22  in order to function together as a single tool to manipulate a wiring harness  104  or  108 . 
     FIG. 10  illustrates a perspective view of a tool  20  manipulating a wiring harness  104 . Wiring harness  104  includes a body  112 . Wiring harness  104  connects to an external wire  110 . Wiring harness includes a strain relief  120  for relieving stress on wire  110  to facilitate a more reliable connection between wire  110  and wiring harness  104 . Tool  20  is shown extended into the operative position. The beveled end  58  of tool  20  is shown inserted between strain relief  120  and body  112 . In this manner, tool  20  is used to separate strain relief  120  from body  112  to facilitate the connection or removal of strain relief  120  from body  112 . 
     FIG. 11  illustrates a perspective view of a pair of tools  20  and  24  separated by a spacer  22  manipulating a wiring harness  104 . A rear portion  122  or wiring harness  104  includes openings  124 . Openings  124  are used for the connection of wirings extending from wire  110 . Tools  20  and  24  are shown both pivoted into the operative position where they are used in combination as a single tool to manipulate wirings harness  104  in openings  124 . Spacer  22  functions to provide mechanical stability and support to tools  20  and  24  as they manipulate wiring harness  104 . 
     FIG. 12  illustrates tool  52  having prong ends  86  positioned next to a wiring harness  108 . Prong ends  86  are used to manipulate wiring harness  108 . In one embodiment, prong ends  86  are used to puncture holes into wiring harness  108  to facilitate the coupling of wirings to wiring harness  108 . 
     FIG. 13  illustrates tool  52  having prong ends  86  inserted into the wiring harness  108 . In this illustration, tool  52  is inserted such that prong ends  86  extend into the wiring harness  108  having punctured holes into wiring harness  108  for the insertion of wirings to couple to wiring harness  108 . Note that curved end  98  prevents further pivotal rotation of tool  52  while it is manipulating wiring harness  108 . 
     FIG. 14  illustrates tool  56  having a beveled end  90  engaging a wiring harness  108 . Tool  56  is shown extended into the operative position. Tool  56  is shown using its beveled end to manipulate a cap  126  attached to wiring harness  108 . 
   While the invention has been shown and described with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, it will be understood to those skilled in the art, that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.