Patent Publication Number: US-5890252-A

Title: Flexible jack cleaning tool with shaft diameter reduction

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/705,140, filed Aug. 29, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,761,758. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This invention relates generally to the removal of corrosion from the contact arms and the barrel interior of electrical jacks of the type typically found in guitar amplifiers, public address systems, communication systems, etc. It specifically relates to such situations in which a contact arm&#39;s structural integrity dictates that the movement of the contact arm be minimized during the cleaning process. 
     In an ordinary electrical jack a metallic plug is inserted into the barrel of the jack until the shoulder of the plug bears upon the exterior face of the jack. The shaft of the plug will then be in electrical contact with the end of one or more of the jack contact arms, while the shaft of the plug is in electrical contact with the interior surface of the jack barrel. The jack contact arms and barrel are metallic and subject to oxidation which results in the accumulation of corrosion on their respective contact surfaces. Other unwanted materials, such as dirt, etc., may also be deposited on such surfaces from the electrical plug, etc. 
     The removal of such corrosion and other materials is difficult because the typical electrical jack installation results in the contact arms being contained in a cabinet enclosure which greatly reduces available access. Although some devices are available for cleaning the contact arm without entering the enclosure, none are available which provide an optimum level of cleaning efficiency. This is due in large part to the rigidity of the cleaning tool and the nature of the cleaning surface. 
     The file like action of a rigid and metallic shaft surface is likely to cause excessive wear on the jack, particularly with respect to the jack contact arms. Furthermore, a rigid tool shaft, even with significant manipulation, is unlikely to effectively bear upon an acceptably large contact patch with the jack barrel interior. 
     Additionally, the rigid and metallic shaft surface is unable to capture any significant amount of the removed corrosion for removal from the enclosure interior, leaving the same to accumulate on or near other electrical components within the enclosure. 
     Furthermore, the contact arm in some electrical jacks are of such structural integrity that it is necessary to minimize the displacement of the contact arm during the cleaning process. 
     What is needed is a jack cleaning tool with a flexible shaft, which has an appropriate exterior surface for cleaning the jack contact arms with minimal contact arm displacement, for cleaning the jack barrel interior, and for removing the corrosion from the enclosure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     My invention is a jack cleaning tool with a flexible shaft made of low density polyethylene, a material which is optimal for the non-abrasive removal of corrosion and other unwanted materials from the metallic surfaces of the contact arm and barrel of typical electrical jacks, and for transporting such materials from within the enclosure containing the jack. The device has a reduction in the shaft diameter which reduces the displacement of the jack contact arm being cleaned. 
     When the shaft is fully inserted into the barrel, the exterior surface of the shaft will bear upon the jack contact apex. With respect to each jack contact arm tip, when the handle is rotated, the exterior surface of the shaft removes corrosion as it moves along the contact arm tip apex. Substantially all of such corrosion attaches to the exterior surface of the shaft and is removed from the enclosure interior when the shaft is pulled from the barrel. 
     The flexibility of the shaft also allows substantial portions of the shaft to bear upon the interior surface of the jack barrel in such a manner that significant pressure can be applied to the resulting contact patch by proper manipulation of the handle. As before, the motion of the exterior surface of the shaft causes corrosion to be removed from the interior surface of the jack barrel, and to become attached to the exterior surface of the shaft. 
     When removed the shaft can itself be cleaned, without loss of shape or integrity, by the use of alcohol or other readily available substances. 
     In the event a particular jack has one or more contact arms which have a weaker structure, a reduced diameter shaft section is positioned such that it bears upon the weaker arm, resulting in less displacement of the contact arm than would have occurred with the full diameter shaft. 
     The shaft also has a tool tip on the end of the shaft which provides a smoother insertion of the shaft, having a diameter smaller than the shaft diameter, by gradually displacing one or more of the jack contact arms as the shaft is inserted. When the length of the tool tip reduction in diameter is extended along the shaft to a point where the tool tip exterior surface bears upon a contact arm tip apex (or a plurality of them), the displacement of the contact arm is reduced accordingly. This may be desirable in situations involving contact arms having a more fragile structure. It can also provide additional cleaning efficiency when the surface of one or more contact arms is positioned at an angle with respect to the path of the shaft as it is inserted. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: 
     FIG. 1 shows an oblique view of the preferred embodiment of the jack cleaning tool, with a reduced diameter shaft. 
     FIG. 2 is a view of the jack cleaning tool inserted completely into a typical electric jack of the type having more than one jack contact arm. The view of the jack is sectional in part. 
     FIGS. 1-2 are not to scale. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     The preferred embodiment of the jack cleaning tool 10 is depicted in FIGS. 1-2, with FIG. 2 illustrating the manner in which the tool 10 is utilized with respect to a typical electrical jack 12. The handle 14 is sized for gripping by hand and can be made of any number of materials, including wood, hard plastics, etc. The flexible shaft 16 has a first portion 17 which is firmly attached to the handle 14, and is made of low density polyethylene (Eastman TENITE Polyethylene 18BOA) in the preferred embodiment, although it is anticipated that some variation in the density will be tolerable. The shaft second portion 18, having a reduced diameter, extends from the shaft first portion 17. 
     It is further anticipated that the shaft 16 could have a core of a different material. The TENITE referenced herein is identified by Eastman Chemical Company as TENITE Polyethylene 18BOA, Product Identification Number: PLS 18BOA, in its Material Safety Data Sheet bearing Approval Date: 1995-12-02. The product information was provided by Eastman Chemical Company by computer printout dated Aug. 16, 1996. Other materials of substantially similar characteristics could be substituted. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the shaft 16 is of sufficient length to cause the shaft second portion 18 to bear upon the jack contact arm 19 when the shaft 16 is fully inserted into the jack barrel interior 20. In particular, the jack contact arm 19 is borne upon at the apex formed by the two sides of the jack contact arm 19 tip. Although not required for the proper operation of the tool 10, the preferred embodiment includes a shoulder 22, which is formed by a reduction in cross-sectional areas of the handle 14 and the shaft 16 at the point at which they are joined. When fully inserted, the shoulder 22, is adjacent the jack exterior face 26. 
     The preferred embodiment also includes a conical tool tip 24 on the shaft 16 which eases the jack contact arm 19 aside as the shaft 16 is inserted. This improves the insertability of the shaft 16 by allowing it to move smoothly beyond the jack contact arm 19. Other tool tip 24 configurations could provide similar improvements in insertability, e.g. a rounded end. The conically shaped tool tip 24 will also enhance the cleaning efficiency of the shaft 16 due to the increased surface area contact between the tool tip 24 and surfaces which are angularly positioned with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 16 as it is being inserted. These surfaces include the jack contact arm in FIG. 2. 
     The circular shape also optimizes the efficiency with which the shaft 16 exterior surface is moved along the contact arm 19 tip apex. 
     The shaft 16 is also circularly shaped, which allows for more efficient contact with the jack barrel interior 20, particularly when the shaft 16 is bent and moved within the jack barrel interior 20. 
     Different electrical jacks, e.g. &#34;bantum&#34; jacks, &#34;quarter-inch&#34; jacks, &#34;T-Plug&#34; jacks, and others, can be cleaned effectively by my device, by mere resizing. 
     Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred and alternate embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. Accordingly, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained herein.