Patent Publication Number: US-2017373453-A1

Title: Crimping Tool

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a crimping tool, particularly to a crimping tool used for crimping network or telephone terminals. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     With the popularity of the Internet, most homes are connected to the internet. At present, most of these homes are connected to the internet with a wired connection; that is, signals are transmitted through network lines deployed by a telecom company. The network lines need to be electrically connected to electronic devices through network terminals. Accordingly, crimping tools used for crimping network terminals and the network lines have been developed. 
     Since network terminals are equipped with a plurality of elongated pins, a crimping block of a crimping tool is correspondingly provided with a plurality of convex teeth. However, due to the tolerance of a conventional crimping tool generated during the manufacturing process, sometimes the plurality of convex teeth may not be accurately aligned with a plurality of pins. Therefore, during crimping, the crimping block may crush one or more pins. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a major objective of the present invention to provide a crimping tool having a crimping block with adjustable convex teeth that can be aligned with the pins of a terminal. 
     To achieve the above objective, the crimping tool of the present invention is used for crimping a terminal to an end of a wire. Specifically, the terminal includes a plurality of pins. The crimping tool of the present invention includes a driving mechanism, a crimping mechanism and a plurality of adjustable elements. The crimping mechanism includes a compensation element and a crimping block. The compensation element includes two side walls opposite each other and an anterior wall. Both ends of the anterior wall are connected to each of the side walls. An accommodating space and at least one accommodating groove are disposed between the two side walls. The accommodating groove is located between the accommodating space and the anterior wall, and connected with the accommodating space. The accommodating groove is used for accommodating the terminal. A through hole is provided on each of the two side walls respectively. Each of the through holes is connected with the accommodating space. The crimping block is disposed in the accommodating space and connected to the driving mechanism. The driving mechanism is used for moving the crimping block toward the accommodating groove under a user&#39;s operation. Specifically, the crimping block includes at least one clamping tooth which corresponds to the accommodating groove and includes a plurality of convex teeth. Each of the plurality of adjustable elements is movably disposed in each of the through holes such that it can be moved into the accommodating space to be against the crimping block such that the plurality of convex teeth can be aligned with the plurality of pins. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the driving mechanism includes a first clamp handle, a second clamp handle, a first connecting plate, and a second connecting plate. The second clamp handle is pivotally connected to the first clamp handle. The crimping block is connected to the pivot of the first clamp handle and the second clamp handle. The first connecting plate is pivotally connected to the first clamp handle. The second connecting plate is pivotally connected to the second clamp handle and the first connecting plate. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the driving mechanism further includes a pair of springs. An end of one of springs is connected to the first clamp handle, and the opposite end of the spring is connected to the first connecting plate. An end of the other spring is connected to the second clamp handle, and the opposite end of the other spring is connected to the second connecting plate. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the number of the at least one accommodating groove is plural, and the size of each of the accommodating grooves is different; the number of the at least one clamping tooth is plural. The clamping teeth respectively correspond in position to each of the accommodating grooves. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the crimping tool of the present invention further includes a first blade. The first clamp handle includes a groove for the first blade to be disposed therein. The first blade is used for severing the wire. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the crimping tool of the present invention further includes a bracket and a second blade. The bracket is connected to the second clamp handle. The second blade is connected to the first connecting plate and corresponds to the bracket. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the adjustable element is a threaded pin. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the driving mechanism includes the first clamp handle, the second clamp handle, and the first connecting plate. The first clamp handle is connected to the crimping block. The second clamp handle is connected to the compensation element. An end of the first connecting plate is connected to the first clamp handle, and the opposite end of the first connecting plate is connected to the second clamp handle. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the driving mechanism includes the first clamp handle, the second clamp handle, and the first connecting plate. The second clamp handle is pivotally connected to the first clamp handle. An end of the first connecting plate is connected to the first clamp handle, and the opposite end of the first connecting plate is connected to the crimping block. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The exemplary embodiment(s) of the present invention will be understood more fully from the detailed descriptions given below and from the accompanying drawings of various embodiments of the invention, which should not be taken to limit the invention to the specific embodiments but are for explanation and understanding only. 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a crimping tool according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a crimping tool according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic drawing of a crimping tool before crimping; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic drawing of a crimping tool after crimping; 
         FIG. 5  is another side elevational view of the crimping tool according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6A  is a partial cross-sectional view in the direction A-A as shown in  FIG. 5 , illustrating the convex teeth not aligned with the pins; 
         FIG. 6B  is a partial cross-sectional view in the direction A-A as shown in  FIG. 5 , illustrating the convex teeth aligned with the pins; 
         FIG. 7  is a lateral view of a crimping tool according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is a lateral perspective view of a crimping tool according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Hereinafter, the technical content of the present invention will be better understood with reference to the preferred embodiments. 
     Hereinafter, please also refer to  FIGS. 1 to 4 . Specifically,  FIG. 1  is a lateral plan view of a crimping tool according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a crimping tool according to the first embodiment of the present invention;  FIG. 3  is a schematic drawing of a crimping tool before crimping; and  FIG. 4  is a schematic drawing of a crimping tool after crimping. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the crimping tool  1  of the present invention is used to crimp a terminal T to an end of a wire W, wherein the terminal T includes a plurality of pins (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the terminal T is a network terminal, and the wire W is a network transmission line, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the terminal T may be a telephone terminal, and the wire W may be a telephone wire. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , in a first embodiment of the present invention, the crimping tool  1  includes a driving mechanism D, a crimping mechanism  50 , a pair of adjustable elements  70 , a first blade  80 , a bracket  90  and a second blade  100 . 
     In the first embodiment of the present invention, the driving mechanism D includes a first clamp handle  10 , a second clamp handle  20 , a first connecting plate  30 , a second connecting plate  40  and a pair of springs  60 . 
     The first clamp handle  10  includes a pivot hole  11 , a connection hole  12  and a groove  13 . The second clamp handle  20  includes a pivot hole  21  and a connection hole  22 . The second clamp handle  20  is pivotally connected to the first clamp handle  10  by a rivet R 1  passing through the pivot holes  11  and  21 . The first connecting plate  30  includes a front hole  31  and a rear hole  32 . The first connecting plate  30  is pivotally connected to the first clamp handle  10  by a rivet R 2  passing through the front hole  31  and the connection hole  12  of the first clamp handle  10 . The second connecting plate  40  includes a front hole  41  and a rear hole  42 . The second connecting plate  40  is pivotally connected to the second clamp handle  20  by a rivet R 3  passing through the front hole  41  and the connection hole  22  of the second clamp handle  20 . The second connecting plate  40  is pivotally connected to the first connecting plate  30  by a rivet R 4  passing through the rear holes  42  and  32 . The first clamp handle  10 , the second clamp handle  20 , the first connecting plate  30  and the second connecting plate  40  form a four-bar linkage mechanism (as shown in  FIG. 3 ). An end of one of the pair of springs  60  is connected to the first clamp handle  10 , and the opposite end of the spring  60  is connected to the first connecting plate  30 . An end of the other spring  60  is connected to the second clamp handle  20 , and the opposite end of the other spring is connected to the second connecting plate  40 . The pair of springs  60  provide a spring force to the first connecting plate  30  and the second connecting plate  40 , such that the first clamp handle  10  and the second clamp handle  20  are kept in a state of not clamping (the state shown in  FIG. 3 ). 
     In the first embodiment of the present invention, the crimping mechanism  50  includes a compensation element  51 , a crimping block  52  and a bracket block  53 . The compensation element  51  includes a seat body  51   a  and a cover plate  51   b . The seat body  51   a  includes two side walls  511  opposite each other, an anterior wall  513  and an axle hole  515 . Two ends of the anterior wall  513  are connected to each of the side walls  511  respectively. An accommodating space C and three accommodating grooves S of different sizes are provided between the two side walls  511 . Each of the side walls  511  includes a through hole H and a pair of lock holes L 1 . The three accommodating grooves S are located between the accommodating space C and the anterior wall  513 , and communicate with the accommodating space C. Each of the through holes H communicates with the accommodating space C. The cover plate  51   b  includes three openings  517 , an axle hole  519  and a plurality of lock holes L 2 . The cover plate  51   b  is assembled with the seat body  51   a  by a plurality of rivets R 5  passing through the lock holes L 1  and L 2 . The first connecting plate  30  and the second connecting plate  40  are pivotally connected to the compensation element  51  by a rivet R 4  passing through the rear holes  32  and  42  and the axle holes  515  and  519 . After the cover plate  51   b  is assembled with the seat body  51   a , each of the three openings  517  corresponds to and communicates with each of the accommodating grooves S. 
     The crimping block  52  includes a connection hole  521  and three clamping teeth  523  of different widths. The crimping block  52 , which is disposed in the accommodating space C, is connected to a pivot of the first clamp handle  10  and the second clamp handle  20  by the rivet R 1  passing through the connection hole  521  and the pivot holes  11  and  21 . Each of the clamping teeth  523  corresponds to each of the accommodating grooves S and includes a plurality of convex teeth  5231 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , when the first clamp handle  10  and the second clamp handle  20  are not moved toward each other by a clamping force, the clamping teeth  523  do not enter the corresponding accommodating grooves S. At this time, the terminal T having the corresponding size (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) can be accommodated in each of the accommodating grooves S. After a terminal T installed at an end of a wire W is placed into the accommodating groove S, the first clamp handle  10  and the second clamp handle  20  are moved toward each other by a user applying a clamping force, whereupon the first connecting plate  30  and the second connecting plate  40  are driven to rotate such that the first connecting plate  30  and the second connecting plate  40  push the crimping block  52  to move toward the accommodating groove S (as shown in  FIG. 4 ), such that the terminal T in the accommodating groove S and the wire W are connected to each other by a crimping connection. In other words, under a user&#39;s operation, the driving mechanism D can drive the crimping block  52  to move toward the accommodating groove S. 
     The bracket block  53  is assembled with the compensation element  51  and corresponds to one of the accommodating grooves S. The bracket block  53  is used to immobilize the terminal T when the wire W is placed into the accommodating groove S. 
     In the first embodiment of the present invention, each of the adjustable elements  70  is movably disposed in each of the through holes H such that it can be moved into the accommodating space C to be against the crimping block  52 . In an embodiment of the present invention, each adjustable element  70  is a threaded pin, but the present invention is not limited thereto. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, the first blade  80  is assembled and disposed in the groove  13  of the first clamp handle  10 . The first blade  80  is used to sever the wire W. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, the bracket  90  is connected to the second clamp handle  20  and is used for accommodating a tubular wire (not shown). The second blade  100  is connected to the first clamp handle  10  and disposed corresponding to the bracket  90 . The second blade  100  is used for cutting off an outer layer of the tubular wire located on the bracket  90 . 
     Please also refer to  FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 6 . Specifically,  FIG. 5  is another side elevational view of the crimping tool according to the first embodiment of the present invention;  FIG. 6A  is a partial cross-sectional view in the direction A-A as shown in  FIG. 5 , illustrating the convex teeth not aligned with the pins; and  FIG. 6B  is a partial cross-sectional view in the direction A-A as shown in  FIG. 5 , illustrating the convex teeth aligned with the pins. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , since the manufacturing process of the compensation element  51  may produce tolerance, the plurality of pins P on the terminal T may not be accurately aligned with the plurality of convex teeth  5231  of the crimping block  52  when a user places the terminal T into the accommodating groove S (as shown in  FIG. 6A ). In such a case, the user who is using the crimping tool  1  of the present invention can use a screwdriver LS or another tool to move the adjustable element  70  into the accommodating space C to be against the crimping block  52  such that the plurality of convex teeth  5213  can be aligned with the plurality of pins P by the movement of the adjustable element  70  (as shown in  FIG. 6B ). 
     Please refer to  FIG. 7  for a schematic drawing of a crimping tool according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the second embodiment of the present invention differs from the first embodiment of the present invention in that the driving mechanism D includes the first clamp handle  10 , the second clamp handle  20  and a first connecting plate  30 . The first clamp handle  10  is connected to the crimping block  52 , and the second clamp handle  20  is connected to the compensation element  51 . An end of the first connecting plate  30  is connected to the first clamp handle  10 , and the opposite end of the first connecting plate  30  is connected to the second clamp handle  20 . When the first clamp handle  10  rotates toward the second clamp handle  20  such that the two clamp handles are moved toward each other, the crimping block  52  is driven by the first connecting plate  30  to move toward the accommodating groove S. Since the assembly relationships of the components of the crimping mechanism  50  of the crimping tool  1 , the arrangement of the adjustable element  70 , and the adjustment of the crimping block  52  in the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, they will not be repeated hereinafter. 
     Finally, please also refer to  FIG. 8  for a schematic drawing of a crimping tool according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the third embodiment differs from the embodiments disclosed above in the design of the driving mechanism D, which also includes a first clamp handle  10 , a second clamp handle  20  and a first connecting plate  30 . The second clamp handle  20  is pivotally connected to the first clamp handle  10 , and the second clamp handle  20  includes a chute  23 . An end of the first connecting plate  30  is connected to the first clamp handle  10 , and the opposite end of the first connecting plate  30  is connected to the crimping block  52 . The compensation element  51  is assembled and disposed at one end of the second clamp handle  20 . The crimping block  52  is movably disposed in the chute  23  of the second clamp handle  20 . When the first clamp handle  10  is rotated toward the second clamp handle  20  and the two clamp handles are moved toward each other, the crimping block  52  is driven by the first connecting plate  30  to move toward the accommodating groove S. Since the assembly relationships of the components of the crimping mechanism C of the crimping tool  1 , the arrangement of the adjustable elements  70  and the adjustment of the crimping block  52  in the third embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, they will not be repeated hereinafter. 
     It should be noted that the described embodiments are for illustrative and exemplary purposes only. To avoid redundancy, not all of the possible combinations of changes are described in detail herein. However, those skilled in the art will understand that not all the components are necessary. For implementation, the present invention may also contain other detailed conventional components. Each component can be omitted or modified depending on demands. Also, other elements may not necessarily exist between any two components. For example, the aforementioned through hole H which allows the adjustable element  70  to be disposed therein may not be located on the seat body  51   a , for it may also be disposed on the cover plate  51   b . In addition, the driving mechanism D of the crimping tool  1  is a conventional technique which could be employed in a variety of embodiments and aspects and anticipated by those skilled in the art with ordinary knowledge. Any driving mechanism capable of realizing the crimping function should be applicable to the present invention. In the claims of the present invention, the driving mechanism D should not be limited to the described embodiments. 
     As described above, the objective, means, and effects of the present invention are all different from those of the prior art. It should be noted that the described embodiments are for illustrative and exemplary purposes only, and that various changes and modifications may be made to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as stated in the appended claims.