CONNECTOR REMOVAL TOOL

• US 20110131801A1
• Filed: 02/15/2011
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Nhep, Ponharith, Nelson, Keith
• Granted Patent: US 8,434,218 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/825
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/26 for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device structural association with two-part coupling device H01R13/629
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49128 Assembling formed circuit to base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49204 Contact or terminal manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49208 by assembling plural parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49824 to elastically deform work part or connector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53174 Means to fasten electrical component to wiring board, base, or substrate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53213 Assembled to wire-type conductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53222 Means comprising hand-manipulatable implement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53257 Means comprising hand-manipulatable implement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53283 Means comprising hand-manipulatable implement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53943 Hand gripper for direct push or pull

Abstract

A tool for engaging a telecommunications connector within a slot so that a releasable latch of the connector is released by the tool. The tool may be used to remove a telecommunications connector from a mating opening of a receptacle or may be used to insert a connector within a receptacle.

Claims

1. A telecommunications connector tool comprising:

a tool body including a distal end for engaging a telecommunications connector and a proximal end defining a handle portion;

the tool body including an axial slot extending from the distal end partially toward the proximal end, the slot extending across a width of the distal end;

a first portion of the slot adjacent the distal end including an enlarged opening for receiving the telecommunications connector, an upper portion of the tool body defining the slot above the enlarged opening including an extension configured to engage a releasable lock of the telecommunication connector; and

a lower portion of the tool body opposing the upper portion and defining the slot below the enlarged opening configured to engage the telecommunication connector opposite the releasable lock when the upper portion engages the releasable lock.

2. The telecommunications connector tool of claim 1, wherein a portion of the axial slot positioned opposite the distal end of the tool body includes opposing upper and lower curved surfaces.

3. The telecommunications connector tool of claim 2, wherein the opposing upper and lower curved surfaces define parts of a circle.

4. The telecommunications connector tool of claim 1, wherein the lower portion of the tool body opposing the upper portion includes a tapered distal end.

5. The telecommunications connector tool of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the tool includes side recesses that decrease the width dimension of the tool at its distal end as compared to the width dimension of the tool at the handle portion.

6. The telecommunications connector tool of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the tool includes lower recesses that decrease the height dimension of the tool at its distal end as compared to the height dimension of the tool at its proximal end.

7. The telecommunications connector tool of claim 1, wherein the upper portion of the tool body defining the slot above the enlarged opening including a recess adjacent to the extension configured to receive a portion of the releasable lock.

8. The telecommunications connector tool of claim 1, wherein the upper portion of the tool body extend further in the distal direction than the lower portion of the tool body.

9. A telecommunications connector tool comprising:

a tool body with a distal end and a proximal end;

the proximal end including a handle;

the distal end including a transverse slot extending through the tool and toward the proximal end;

the slot including a connector receiving portion adjacent the distal end;

the connector receiving portion including an upper connector release end with an upper connector receiving space defined by a distal end extension, an upper wall and a rear wall, and a lower connector engaging end opposing the upper connector release end with a rear wall, the rear walls of the upper connector release end and the lower connector engaging end aligned with each other to define the limit of the connector receiving portion;

the slot extending from the distal end toward the proximal end beyond the aligned rear walls of the connector receiving portion into a second portion of the slot; and

the connector receiving portion sized to receive a telecommunications connector with a releasable latch so that the latch of the connector is engaged by the upper connector release end, and the second portion of the slot sized to receive a telecommunications cable to which the connector may be mounted.

10. The telecommunications connector tool of claim 9, wherein the slot includes a third portion positioned adjacent the second portion and toward the proximal end, the second portion is sized to receive a strain relief boot mounted about the telecommunications cable adjacent the connector and the third portion is sized to receive the telecommunications cable extending through the boot from the connector.

11. A method of inserting a telecommunications connector into a mating receptacle, the method comprising:

providing a connector tool with a connector body having a distal end with a transverse slot formed through the tool body adjacent the distal end and extending toward a proximal end, the slot including an enlarged opening adjacent the distal end, the enlarged portion including an upper extension and a lower extension defining the top and bottom, respectively, of the slot within the enlarged portion;

providing the mating receptacle for receiving the telecommunications connector;

providing the telecommunications connector including an end wall positioned opposite a connection end, a latch for releasably holding the connector within the receptacle and a surface opposite the latch;

engaging the connector with the distal end of the connector tool;

extending the connector tool so that the connector is received within the enlarged portion of the slot with the end wall positioned adjacent a rear wall of the enlarged portion, the lower portion of the tool adjacent the surface opposite the latch, and the upper portion of the tool depressing the latch;

positioning the tool and connector engaged by the tool adjacent the mating receptacle;

inserting the connection end of the connector within the mating receptacle;

disengaging the tool from the releasable latch of the connector so that the latch engages the receptacle; and

removing the tool from about the connector.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the tool is disengaged from the connector by rotating the tool about the cable.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the mating receptacle is a fiber optic adapter.