Patent ID: 7797979

Claim:
A crimping apparatus comprising: a support structure including an alignment element; a plurality of retainers movably attached to the support structure and radially arranged about an axis of the crimping apparatus, each retainer including an engagement structure; a plurality of crimping members including an engagement element, wherein each engagement element is configured to interact with the engagement structure of a respective one of the plurality of retainers to removably connect each of the crimping members to a respective one of the plurality of retainers; and a tool configured to simultaneously support the plurality of crimping members, the tool including a one-piece alignment member, wherein the one-piece alignment member includes an alignment structure configured to interact with the alignment element of the support structure to provide substantial radial alignment between the engagement element of each of the crimping members and the corresponding engagement structure of the respective retainers, wherein the one-piece alignment member further includes a plurality of carrying pins directly connected to the one-piece alignment member, wherein each of the carrying pins extend from the one-piece alignment member to support a corresponding one of the plurality of crimping members.