Abstract:
A tool for disengaging electrical connectors includes a central body section with disconnecting prongs projecting from the opposite ends thereof. The prongs are offset relative to the plane of the body section but extend in the same direction so that one set of the prongs forms an arcuate surface which facilitates the use of the prongs to disengage connector sections.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    In a principal aspect, the present invention relates to a tool which is useful for effecting disconnection of male and female connectors associated with automotive wiring systems.  
           [0002]    Vehicles typically include various connectors for the wires of the electrical wiring system incorporated in the vehicle. Male and female connectors are generally utilized to facilitate manufacture, repair and replacement of parts of the wiring system of a vehicle. The connectors are generally comprised of a male connector and a female connector and typically incorporate a means to insure that the male and female connectors remain engaged or connected to one another under various environmental conditions to insure electrical continuity as well as to avoid contamination, disconnection or short circuiting. Such connection retention is often effected by means of a plate, flange or loop member that extends from one of the connectors for engagement with a stud or pin associated with the compatible connector. The loop member is generally elastomeric so that it may be engaged with the stud member and remain engaged unless flexed to disconnect the loop from the stud. Such loop and retention means for connectors are quite common in most vehicles.  
           [0003]    When repairing a vehicle, it is often necessary to effect disconnection of the male connector and female connector of a wiring system. Disconnection requires flexing of the elastomeric loop member so that it may be disengaged from the stud. To effect such flexing, various types of tools have been used for this task, including screwdrivers, as well as special tools which are designed to engage the elastomeric loop, bend the loop and release it from the stud. While such tools and mechanisms have proven to be effective, there has remained the need for an improved tool which is useful, particularly in situations where the connector is located in an inaccessible location making engagement with a tool very difficult. For example, access under the dashboard, in an engine compartment, or a trunk compartment of a vehicle is often restricted. Additionally, such a tool should be universal and useful with respect to multiple types of joined connectors positioned in multiple environments and conditions.  
         BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    Briefly, the invention comprises a tool for disengaging electrical connectors of the type that include a male connector member and a compatible female connector member which together form a connector assembly. Such connector members include a loop or elastomeric flange on one connector which engages with a pin or stud on the other connector so that when the flange or loop is placed over the stud it will remain engaged with the stud unless elastically deformed thereby retaining the connectors joined together as a connector assembly. The tool comprises an elongate, flat plate member having a first end with bifurcated prongs projecting therefrom for engagement under the elastomeric loop or flange member. The tool further includes a second arcuate or curved end with a set of prongs projecting and extending in the same direction as the prongs of the first end. The pair of prongs at each end of the tool are offset in opposite directions on opposite sides of the flat plate member. Cutout sections along the lateral sides of the plate member facilitate manual gripping for movement of the prongs into engagement with an elastomeric loop or flange of a connector. The curved end of the tool defines a surface which may be engaged by a user of the tool to facilitate positioning of the associated set of the prongs into engagement with the connecting elastomeric loop or flange.  
           [0005]    Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved tool for engaging and disconnecting male and female connectors of the type typically used in automotive vehicles.  
           [0006]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a disconnector tool which is easily gripped and which includes a design feature that enables and facilitates manual movement of the tool to effect disconnection of a male and female automotive connector assembly.  
           [0007]    Yet another object of the invention is to provide an automotive disconnect tool which is lightweight, easy to use, economical and useful in restricted access conditions.  
           [0008]    These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0009]    In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures:  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the blank form for the tool of the invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the tool of FIG. 1;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the tool of FIG. 2 wherein the plate member forming the tool has been formed into its final configuration or shape;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the tool of FIG. 3 wherein the main body portion of the tool has been encapsulated in a polyvinyl chloride plastic coating material to facilitate ease of use of the tool;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the tool of FIG. 4;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is an isometric view illustrating the manner of use of the tool, and more particularly, the use of the prongs associated with the curved end of the tool;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the method of use of the tool depicted in FIG. 6 wherein male and female connectors of a vehicle connection assembly have been disconnected by the tool; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the manner of use of the tool depicting the use of the prongs associated with and extending axially from the tool opposite the end of the tool depicted in FIG. 6.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0018]    Referring to the figures, the tool is comprised of a flat, metal plate which is formed in the manner depicted to provide first and second or opposite working ends  14 ,  16  of the tool. Specifically, a flat plate member  10  includes an intermediate body section  12  having a first working end  14  on opposite or second working end  16 . The body section  12  has a longitudinal axis  18  extending between the ends  14  and  16 . The plate member  10  is made from flat steel stock, for example, ⅛-inch thick steel. The body section  12  includes first and second generally parallel spaced sides  22  and  24  having arcuate sections  26 ,  28 ,  30  and  32  defined or cut therein. The sections  26  and  28  are opposite each other on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis  18 . Similarly, cutout sections  30  and  32  are on opposite sides of the axis  18  and are spaced longitudinally from the cutout sections  26  and  28 . The tool is approximately eight inches long in its final formed condition. The tool is preferably made from flat steel stock.  
         [0019]    The first end  14 , however, is offset from the plane of the body section  12  as depicted in FIG. 2. The amount of offset of first end  14  is on the order of  3 / 8  inch and is accomplished by an angled run or section  31  connected from body section  12  to first and second prongs  33  and  34  at the distal, first end  14  of the tool.  
         [0020]    The prongs  33  and  34  are spaced in order to fit around a stud or pin and each include leading edges  36  and  38  which define an incline surface or face  40 . The incline face  40  forms an angle of about 20° with the plane of the body section  12 . The prongs  33  and  34  extend axially in the direction of the axis  18  away from the body section  12 .  
         [0021]    Second end  16  of the tool is defined by an arcuate or curved section  42  and third and fourth spaced prongs  44  and  46 , respectively. The arcuate section  42  has an inside radius on the order of 0.2 inches which results in spacing the prongs of  44  and  46  from the body section  12 , approximately the same distance as the first and second prongs  32  and  34  are spaced from the plane of the body section  12 , but offset in the opposite direction. Importantly, the arcuate section  42  is a smoothly curved surface which facilitates utilization of the tool.  
         [0022]    It is to be noted that the prongs  44  and  46  extend in the same direction as the prongs  33  and  34 . The prongs  44  and  46  include a leading edge  50  and an incline surface  52  on the inside of the arcuate shape which, as discussed hereinafter, facilitates utilization of the tool.  
         [0023]    As depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5, the body member or section  12 , is preferably coated in an elastic or plastic material; namely, a polyvinyl chloride coating  60 . The body section  12  includes openings  62  and  64  which facilitate positioning and maintenance of the coating  60  on the body section  12  inasmuch as the coating material  60  passes through and connects through the openings  62  and  64  in the body section  12 .  
         [0024]    [0024]FIGS. 6, 7 and  8  illustrate the manner of utilization of the tool. A connector  70  includes a female element or connector section  72  and a male connector or section  74 . A prong  76 , or stud  76 , is positioned on the side surface of a connector  72 . An elastomeric flap, flange or loop  78  is incorporated integrally and molded into the side surface of the other male connector  74 . When the flange or loop  78  fits over the stud  76 , the connectors  72  and  74  are joined or locked together to define a connector assembly. Disengagement of these sections  72  and  74  may be effected by utilization of the tool as depicted in the Figures.  
         [0025]    For example, using the second end  16 , a tradesman, as shown in FIG. 6, may position his thumb or other digits against the curved surface  42  thereby forcing the prongs  44 ,  46  of the second end  16  under the flap, flange or loop  78  and around a pin or stud  76 . This elastomerically distorts the loop  78  causing it to rise from the stud or pin  76  thereby enabling the connectors  72  and  74  to be separated. Additionally, by pulling on the tool, the tradesman may use the tool to augment the separation of the connector sections  72  and  74 . Also, by lifting or pivoting of the tool, deformation of the flange or loop  78  is effected.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 6 illustrates the use of the second end  16  of the tool with the prongs  44 ,  46  associated therewith. FIG. 8 illustrates the utilization of the first end  14  of the tool to effect separation of the connector sections  72  and  74 . Note that importantly the prongs  33 ,  34 ,  44 ,  46  extend in the same direction, but are offset from the body section  12 . Note also that the curved arcuate section  40  of the second set of prongs  44 ,  46  may be engaged and pushed to facilitate bending of flange  78  and disconnection of the connector members  72  and  74  regardless of which end of the tool which is used to effect a disconnection operation. Additionally, because the prongs  33 ,  34 ,  44 ,  46  at each end of the tool may be utilized, it is not necessary to use separate tools to effect disconnection. A single tool may be manipulated to effect the desired disconnection. The indentations or sections  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32  in the body member  12  help maintain a good grip upon the tool when it is being utilized.  
         [0027]    There are various alternative constructions which may be adopted and incorporated in the tool. For example, the amount of offset of the prongs in each direction from the body section  12  may be varied. The size of the arcuate section in the side of the body member  12  may be varied. The number of prongs and inclination of the prongs may be varied. Note that in the preferred embodiment, the prongs include a surface inclined in a manner which facilitates placement of the flat surface of the tool against the side surface of the connector and the inclined surface of the prongs against the underside of the flange, loop or plate  78 . Thus, it is to be understood that the invention is to be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.