Patent Publication Number: US-6984154-B1

Title: Crimping mechanism of a telephone connector crimper

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a telephone connector crimping apparatus and more particularly, to a crimping mechanism for telephone connector crimper, which fits telephone connectors of different specifications. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
     FIG. 7  shows a crimping mechanism installed in the jaws of a telephone connector crimper according to the prior art.  FIG. 8  shows another structure of crimping mechanism installed in the jaws of a telephone connector crimper according to the prior art. These two crimping mechanism designs are similar with the exception of the size to fit different sizes of telephone connectors  8 ; 8 ′. According to these two designs, the crimping mechanism comprises a crimping member  6 ; 6 ′ and a holder member  7 ; 7 ′. The holder member  7 ; 7 ′ comprises a holder chamber  71 ; 71 ′ for accommodating a telephone connector  8 ;  8 ′. The crimping member  6 ; 6 ′ comprises a bottom pressure bar  61 ; 61 ′, and a row of crimping tips  62 ; 62 ′ for crimping a holding down block  81 ; 81 ′ and metal conducting strips  82 ; 82 ′ in a telephone connector  8 ; 8 ′ to affix a telephone line to the telephone connector  8 ; 8 ′. These conventional crimping mechanisms are still not satisfactory in function due to the following drawbacks. 
   1. These crimping mechanisms fit only one particular model of telephone connector. For crimping telephone connectors of different specifications, different crimping mechanisms shall be used. 
   2. Because different crimping mechanisms must be prepared for crimping telephone connectors of different specifications, much tool cost is required. Further, it is inconvenient to carry telephone connector crimpers having different crimping mechanisms. It also requires much storage space to keep telephone connector crimpers having different crimping mechanisms. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a crimping mechanism for telephone connector crimper, which fits telephone connectors of different specifications. 
   According to one aspect of the present invention, the crimping mechanism is installed in the two jaws of a telephone connector crimper and moved with the jaws relative to each other for crimping holding down blocks and metal conducting strips on a telephone line in a telephone connector, comprising a holder member, which has a first holder chamber and a second holder chamber for accommodating telephone connectors of two different specifications, and a crimping member, which has pressure bars and crimping tips for crimping holding down blocks and metal conducting strips on a telephone line in a telephone connector set in the first holder chamber or second holder chamber of the holder member. According to another aspect of the present invention, the crimping member has two bottom guide flanges, and the holder member has two top guide holes adapted to receive the bottom guide flanges of the crimping member, ensuring accurate crimping operation. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a crimping mechanism corresponding to a telephone connector of a first specification according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic drawing showing one installation example of the crimping mechanism in the jaws of a telephone connector crimper according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view showing the crimping action of the telephone connector crimper of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the crimping mechanism corresponding to a telephone connector of a second specification according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic drawing showing another installation example of the crimping mechanism in the jaws of a telephone connector crimper according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a sectional view showing the crimping action of the telephone connector crimper of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a crimping mechanism installed in the jaws of a telephone connector crimper according to the prior art. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates another structure of crimping mechanism installed in the jaws of a telephone connector crimper according to the prior art. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1–6 , a crimping mechanism is installed in the jaws of a telephone connector crimper  5 , comprising a holder member  2  and a crimping member  1 . The holder member  2  and the crimping member  1  are movable with the jaws of the telephone connector crimper  5  relative to each other to crimp electric wires in a telephone connector  3  or  4 . The holder member  2  comprises a first holder chamber  21  for accommodating a small telephone connector  3 , a second holder chamber  22  for accommodating a big telephone connector  4 , and a reinforcing bar  23  formed integral with the top side of the peripheral wall of the second holder chamber  22  to reinforce the structural strength of the holder member  2 . The crimping member  1  comprises a set of bottom pressure bars  11  and  13 , and plural rows of crimping tips  12  and  14  corresponding to the first holder chamber  21  and second holder chamber  22  of the holder member  2  for crimping a holding down block  31  or  41  and metal conducting strips  32  or  42  in a small telephone connector  3  or big telephone connector  4  to affix a telephone line  33  or  43  to the small telephone connector  3  or big telephone connector  4  and to keep the wires  331  or  431  of the telephone line  33  or  43  in positive contact with the respective metal conducting strips  32  or  42  of the telephone connector  3  or  4 . 
   The holder member  2  and the crimping member  1  can be selectively fastened to the jaws of the telephone connector crimper  5  between two reversed positions (see  FIGS. 2 and 5 ) subject to the specification of the telephone connector to be crimped. 
   Further, the crimping member  1  comprises two bottom guide flanges  15  symmetrically disposed at two opposite lateral sides, and the holder member  2  comprises two top guide holes  211  adapted to receive the bottom guide flanges  15  to ensure accurate crimping operation of the telephone connector crimper  5 . 
   A prototype of crimping mechanism of a telephone connector crimper has been constructed with the features of the annexed drawings of  FIGS. 1–6 . The crimping mechanism of a telephone connector crimper functions smoothly to provide all of the features discussed earlier. 
   Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.