Abstract:
An extractor rotatably couples to a connector and includes an extractor body, a first member, a second member, a biasing mechanism, and a cam arm. The first member and the second member both extend perpendicularly away from the extractor body to engage the connector. The cam arm attaches to the extractor body and extends perpendicularly away from the extractor body. A biasing mechanism is attached to the extractor which biases the cam arm. As the cam arm is rotated, the first and second members contact the connector and separate the connector assembly from the electrical device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to connector assemblies and, more particularly, to an extractor for separating a connector assembly from an electrical device.  
           [0002]    As technology has advanced in electrical systems, the complexity and amount of electrical connections between electrical connectors and electrical devices has increased. Typically the electrical connectors and the electrical devices are electrically connected with a plurality of electrical pins which are frictionally inserted into electrical contacts located within receiving apertures.  
           [0003]    Usually, electrical connectors include a connector assembly which includes a connector mechanism which receives a cable and also includes a facing surface which includes a plurality of apertures which receive electrical pins, or a plurality of electrical pins which electrically connect within a plurality of apertures. The electrical device typically includes a mating facing surface which includes either a plurality of electrical pins to insert in the apertures of the electrical connector, or a plurality of apertures to receive the electrical pins from an electrical connector. In either electrical connection scheme, a large amount of force is often necessary to separate the electrical device from the electrical connector. Exerting such a large amount of force can cause the connection assembly to inadvertently become twisted or damaged during the separation. Any amount of twisting between the electrical device and the electrical connection may damage the electrical pins, the electrical connector assembly, or the electrical device.  
           [0004]    Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an extractor device which can be integrally constructed with a connector assembly, or can be installed on current connector assemblies, and would permit the connector assembly to be easily separated from the electrical device without requiring the large amount of force that must be exerted with known connector assemblies.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, an extractor installs easily to a connector assembly and provides an easy means of separating the connector assembly from an electrically connected electrical device.  
           [0006]    The extractor, which attaches to a connector, includes an extractor body, a first member, a second member, a biasing mechanism, and a cam arm. The first member and the second member are positioned parallel to each other and both extend substantially perpendicularly away from the extractor body to engage the connector. The first member has a first end attached to the extractor body, a second end which extends angularly away from the first end, and a receptacle positioned between the first and second ends. The second member is constructed similarly. The cam arm attaches to the extractor body and extends perpendicularly away from the extractor body.  
           [0007]    The extractor is rotatably coupled to the connector which includes a pair of hinge pins which insert and extend through the receptacles located on the extractor. The cam arm is movable from a first position to a second position. Any movement of the cam arm causes a simultaneous movement of the extractor. A biasing mechanism is attached which includes a spring disposed between the connector and the cam arm. The spring biases the cam arm such that the cam arm remains in the first position and when the cam arm is rotated to the second position, the spring causes the cam arm to return to the first position when it is physically released.  
           [0008]    To separate a connector from an electrical device, the cam arm is rotated from the first position to the second position. The rotation causes a compression of the spring and a simultaneous rotation of the extractor including the first and second members. As the first and second members are rotated, the second end of each respective member contacts the electrical device and separates the connector assembly from the electrical device.  
           [0009]    The extractor can be integrally constructed with connector assemblies or easily installed on existing connector assemblies. Such an extractor ensures that any amount of force necessary to separate the two components is directed in an appropriate direction and as a result, no twisting occurs between the components. As such, the risk of damage to either the connector assembly or the electrical device is minimized. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an extractor attached to a connector assembly;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the extractor shown in FIG. 1 in a second position;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the extractor and connector assembly shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the extractor and connector assembly shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an extractor attached to a connector assembly; and  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the extractor and connector assembly shown in FIG. 5.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an extractor  10  attached to a connector assembly  12  which includes a connector  14 . Connector  14  is electrically connected to an electrical device  16  and includes a body  18  having a front surface  20  and a back surface  22 . A first side wall  24  and a second side wall (not shown) are attached between front surface  20  and back surface  22 . Additionally, a top surface (not shown in FIG. 1) and a bottom surface (not shown in FIG. 1) are also attached between front surface  20  and back surface  22 . Body  18  also has an axis of symmetry  30  which extends from front surface  20  to back surface  22 . A plurality of apertures (not shown in FIG. 1) extend through body  18  in a direction substantially parallel to axis of symmetry  30 . Within the apertures are a plurality of electrical contacts (not shown in FIG. 1) which extend to a position adjacent back surface  22 . Body  18  receives a cable  31  in back surface  22 . Cable  31  includes a plurality of wires (not shown) to electrically connect to connector assembly  12 .  
         [0017]    First side wall  24  has a first hinge pin  32  and the second side wall has a second hinge pin (not shown). Extractor  10  is movably coupled to body  18  at first hinge pin  32  and the second hinge pin. Extractor  10  includes a body (not shown in FIG. 1), a first member  36 , a second member (not shown in FIG. 1), a cam arm  38 , and a cam stop  40 . The extractor body extends between first member  36  and the second member. First member  36  extends substantially perpendicularly from the extractor body and includes a first end  42  attached to the extractor body and an offset second end  44  which extends from first end  42  in an acute angular direction. A first receptacle  46  is positioned between first end  42  and second end  44 . First hinge pin  32  extends through receptacle  46  to rotatably couple extractor  10  to connector body  18 . The second member extends substantially perpendicularly from the extractor body and includes a second end (not shown in FIG. 1) which is rotatably coupled to connector body  18 . The second member is positioned substantially opposite first member  36 .  
         [0018]    Cam arm  38  is attached to the extractor body and extends substantially perpendicularly away from the extractor body. Cam stop  40  is attached to the extractor body and extends substantially co-planarly outward from the extractor body in a direction extending away from front surface  20 . Cam stop  40  is described in more detail below.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of extractor  10  including connector assembly  12 . Extractor  10  is rotatably coupled to connector body  18  and is movable through an angle  50  with respect to connector body  18  such that attached cam arm  38  rotates from a first position  52  to a second position  54 . Cam stop  40  contacts electrical device  16  and prevents extractor  10  from over-rotating when cam arm  38  is returned to first position  52 .  
         [0020]    Connector  14  is capable of being electrically connected to electrical device  14  when cam arm  38  is in first position  52 . When cam arm  38  is rotated through angle  50  around hinge pin  32  from position  52  towards position  54 , first member  36  and the second member are rotated simultaneously with cam arm  38 . When cam arm  38  is positioned at second position  54 , second end  44  of first member  36  is rotated and contacts electrical device  16  forcing connector  14  apart from electrical device  16  a distance  56 . The second end of the second member operates simultaneously in a similar manner with first member  36  when cam arm  38  is rotated. When cam arm  38  is released after separating connector  14  and electrical device  16 , cam arm  38  is biased by a biasing mechanism (not shown) and returns to first position  52 .  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of extractor  10  including connector assembly  12 . Connector  14  includes body  18  which has a front surface  20 , a back surface (not shown in FIG. 3), a bottom surface  60 , a top surface (not shown in FIG. 3), first side wall  24 , and a second side wall (not shown). A plurality of apertures  62  extend rearwardly into front surface  20  of connector body  18 . Apertures  62  permit the entry of electrical pins (not shown) from an electrical device, similar to electrical device  16  shown in FIG. 1, into connector body  18  to electrically connect to electrical contacts (not shown) within connector body  18 .  
         [0022]    Extractor  10  is rotatably coupled to connector  14  and includes an extractor body  66 , first member  36 , a second member  68 , cam arm  38 , and cam stop  40 . Extractor body  66  extends between first member  36  and second member  68 . First member  36  extends substantially perpendicularly from extractor body  66  and includes first end  42  and second end  44  which extends co-planarly outwardly away from first end  42  in an acute angular direction. Second member  68  extends substantially perpendicularly away from extractor body  18  and includes a first end  72  attached to extractor body  66  and a second end  74  which extends co-planarly outwardly away from first end  72  in an acute angular direction.  
         [0023]    Cam stop  40  is attached to extractor body  66  and extends perpendicularly away from extractor body  66 . Cam stop  40  is positioned substantially parallel to extractor body  66  and contacts the electrical device (not shown in FIG. 3) to prevent extractor  10  from over-rotating when cam arm  38  is released after being rotated to a second position (not shown in FIG. 3) and is returning to first position  52 .  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of connector assembly  12  and extractor  10 . Connector  14  includes body  18  which includes back surface  22 , first side wall  24 , and a top surface  80 . Additionally, connector  14  includes a second side wall (not shown), a bottom surface (not shown in FIG. 4), and a front surface (not shown in FIG. 4). Back surface  22  includes a cable connector assembly  82  which includes a removable cover  84 . Cover  84  provides access to the apertures and electrical contacts, a pair of attachment points  86  and  88  which anchor cover  84  to connector body  18 , and a notch  90  through which a cable (not shown in FIG. 4) is fed to electrically connect with connector assembly  12 . Side wall  24  includes first hinge pin  32  which is inserted in first receptacle  46  to rotatably couple connector  14  to extractor  10 . The second side wall has a similar hinge pin which is received in a second receptacle  92  located within second member  68  on extractor  10 .  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an extractor  210  attached to a connector assembly  212  which includes a connector  214 . Connector  214  is electrically connected to an electrical device (not shown) and includes a body  218  having a front surface  220  and a back surface (not shown in FIG. 5). A first side wall  224  and a second side wall (not shown) are attached between front surface  220  and the back surface. Additionally, a top surface (not shown in FIG. 5) and a bottom surface  226  are also attached between front surface  220  and the back surface. A plurality of apertures  228  extend through body  218 . Within the apertures are a plurality of electrical contacts (not shown in FIG. 5) which extend to a position adjacent the back surface. Body  218  receives a cable (not shown) in the back surface. The cable includes a plurality of wires (not shown) which electrically connect to connector assembly  212 .  
         [0026]    First side wall  224  has a first hinge pin  230  and the second side wall has a second hinge pin (not shown). Extractor  210  is movably coupled to body  218  at first hinge pin  230  and the second hinge pin. Extractor  210  includes a body  232 , a first member  234 , a second member  236 , a cam arm  240 , and a cam stop  242 . Extractor body  232  extends between first member  234  and second member  236 . First member  234  extends substantially perpendicularly from extractor body  232  and includes a first end  244  attached to extractor body  234  and an offset second end  246  which extends from first end  244  in an acute angular direction. A first receptacle  248  is positioned between first end  244  and second end  246 . First hinge pin  230  extends through receptacle  248  to rotatably couple extractor  210  to connector body  218 . Second member  236  extends substantially perpendicularly from extractor body  232  and includes a second end  250  which is rotatably coupled to connector body  218 . Second member  236  is positioned substantially opposite first member  234 .  
         [0027]    Extractor  210  is rotatable between a first position  252  and a second position (not shown). Extractor  210  includes a biasing mechanism (not shown in FIG. 5) which biases cam arm  240  to remain in first position  252  and to return to first position  252  after being rotated to the second position. When cam arm  240  is rotated from first position  252  to the second position, first member  234  and second member  236  are rotate simultaneously with cam arm  240 . As cam arm  240  is rotated to the second position, second end  246  of first member  234  is rotated and contacts the electrical device which forces connector  214  apart from the electrical device. Second end  250  of second member  236  operates simultaneously in a similar manner with first member  234  when cam arm  240  is rotated. When cam arm  240  is released after forcing connector  214  and the electrical device apart, the biasing mechanism returns cam arm  240  to first position  252 .  
         [0028]    Cam stop  242  is attached to extractor body  232  and extends perpendicularly away from extractor body  232 . Cam stop  242  is positioned substantially parallel to extractor body  232  and contacts the electrical device which prevents extractor  210  from over-rotating when cam arm  240  is returned to first position  252 .  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of connector assembly  212  and extractor  210 . Connector  214  includes body  218  which is composed of back surface  258 , first side wall  224 , and a top surface  260 . Additionally, connector  214  is composed of a second side wall (not shown), a bottom surface (not shown in FIG. 6), and a front surface (not shown in FIG. 6). Back surface  258  includes a cable connector assembly  262  which includes a removable cover  264  which provides access to the apertures and electrical contacts, a pair of attachment points  266  and  268  which anchor cover  264  to connector body  218 , and a notch  270  through which a cable (not shown) is fed to electrically connect with connector assembly  212 . Side wall  224  includes hinge pin  230  which is inserted in receptacle  248  to rotatably couple connector  214  to extractor  210 . The second side wall has a similar hinge pin which is received in a second receptacle  272  located within second member  236  on extractor  210 .  
         [0030]    Extractor  210  also includes a biasing mechanism  280  which includes a spring  282  and a retaining pin  284  which anchors spring  282  to connector  214 . Spring  282  is positioned between cam arm  240  and connector body  218  and includes a first arm  290  and a second arm  292 . First arm  290  extends from spring  282  and contacts connector body  218  and second arm  292  extends from spring  282  and contacts cam arm  240 . Spring  282  is positioned such that second arm  292  biases cam arm  240  to remain in first position  252  and further positioned, such that, when cam arm  240  is rotated upwardly clockwise, spring  282  will compress and will return cam arm  240  to position  252  when cam arm  240  is physically released.  
         [0031]    The above described extractor for separating a connector assembly from an electrical device is reliable, easily installed, and easily operated. The extractor can be integrally constructed with a connector assembly or can be easily installed on a current connector assembly, and permits the connector assembly to be easily separated from such an electrical device without requiring the great amount of force that must be exerted with known connector assemblies.  
         [0032]    While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.