The present invention relates generally to a connector and, more particularly, to a unique tool for removing contacts from a connector body.
While the present invention will be described specifically in connection with a tool for removing contacts from an electrical connector, it will be appreciated that the tool could also be utilized for removing ferrules from fiber optic connectors.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,110,093 to Johnson, there is disclosed an electrical connector of the type wherein one or more contacts, each connected to a wire, are inserted from the rear into a contact receiving bore in a connector body or insulator after the connector has been otherwise completely fabricated or assembled. The insulator includes a retaining clip or other locking means between the individual contacts and their respective bore walls for retaining the contacts in their operative position in the insulator. The Johnson patent also discloses a suitable tool for insertion into clearance space between the contact and the bore wall from the rear of the insulator to disengage the locking device and thereby permit manual withdrawal of the contact from the rear of the insulator by pulling on the wire attached to the contact. While this arrangement works well when a wire is present, the tool is ineffective fr an unwired contact in that the wire receiving portion of the contact normally does not extend beyond the rear of the insulator to permit the contact to be gripped for withdrawal.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,380,141 Rofer discloses a tool for removing an unwired contact which, when inserted into the contact bore from the rear of the insulator, releases the locking means therein and frictionally engages the rear of the contact so that it may be withdrawn from the bore.
French Pat. No. 2,240,600 discloses a front release contact retention assembly, in contrast to the rear release arrangments disclosed in the aforementioned Johnson and Rofer patents, wherein a contact extraction tool is inserted through the contact bore from the front of the insulator to release the contact locking means therein. The tip of the tool is longitudinally slotted and dimensioned so that it will frictionally engage the contact. Thus, as in the Rofer arrangement, the contact locking means is released while the tool frictionally engages the contact, thereby allowing the contact to be removed from the insulator. If manufacturing tolerances are not closely held in the forming of the prior art tools, it will be appreciated that adequate frictional engagement of the tool with the contact may not occur with the result that the tip of the tool may slip off the contact when the tip is withdrawn from the contact bore. Furthermore, even if the tool initially frictionally engages the contact with adequate force to allow the contact to be withdrawn from the insulator, continued use of the tool can result in the tip of the tool wearing so that it no longer firmly engages the contact.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a contact extraction tool which embodies manually operable gripping jaws which will assure that a firm gripping force can be applied to the contact so that the contact will be pulled out of the insulator when the tip of the tool is withdrawn from the contact bore.