Metal working – Means to assemble or disassemble – Means to assemble electrical device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-31
2001-05-15
Arbes, Carl J. (Department: 3729)
Metal working
Means to assemble or disassemble
Means to assemble electrical device
C029S764000, C029S739000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230396
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an assembly tool, and more particularly to an assembly tool for facilitating assembly and disassembly of a retainer to and from an electrical connector.
2. Description of Prior Art
A card edge connector is commonly used to interconnect an inserted circuit board to a mother board. To retain the inserted circuit board in position, a retainer is introduced which encloses the connector due to the resiliency thereof. Since manual assembly and disassembly are difficult due to the significant resilient force exerted by the retainer during assembly and disassembly, an auxiliary tool must be used.
A conventional assembly tool
1
′ for use with a retainer
2
′ assembled to a card edge connector
3
′ is shown in
FIGS. 1A and 1B
. The assembly tool
1
′ having an inverse V-shape is integrally stamped and formed from sheet metal. The assembly tool
1
′ comprises a pair of symmetrical guiding sides
11
′ with two pairs of L-shaped abutting tabs
12
′ extending downward from opposite edges thereof. A pair of guiding pieces
13
′ is formed proximate each pair of abutting tabs
12
′ corresponding to a pair of latching legs
21
′ extending downward from the retainer
2
′.
In assembly, the assembly tool
1
′ is first mounted to the connector
3
′ from a top surface thereof with the abutting tabs
12
′ abutting against a bottom surface
31
′. The retainer
2
′ is then guided along the guiding sides
11
′ and guiding pieces
13
′ of the assembly tool
1
′ to the connector
3
′. The retainer
2
′ expands due to the V-shaped guiding sides
11
′ thereby facilitating assembly. After the retainer
2
′ is assembled to the connector
3
′, the assembly tool
1
′ is removed.
One problem with such a design is that although assembly of the retainer
2
′ to the connector
3
′ is facilitated, disassembly thereof can not be achieved. In addition, a significant external force is required during assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide an assembly tool for facilitating both assembly and disassembly of a retainer to and from an electrical connector.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an assembly tool for a retainer which requires a small external force during assembly and disassembly.
In order to achieve the objects set forth, an assembly tool for use with a retainer comprises a handle section having a curved surface for facilitating handling thereof, a cam-shaped operation section having a pair of opposite planes and a pair of opposite convex surfaces, and an intermediate joint section perpendicular to the operation section.
When assembling the retainer to an electrical connector, one end of the retainer is first mounted to the connector. The operation section of the tool is inserted between a pair of clamping walls formed on the other end of the retainer. The handle section of the tool is then rotated to urge the operation section to simultaneously rotate thereby expanding the clamping walls of the connector. Thus, the retainer can be easily and quickly assembled to the connector from a top surface thereof and retentively enclose the connector after the tool is extracted therefrom.
In disassembly, the operation section is first inserted between the pair of clamping walls of the connector. The handle section of the tool is then rotated to urge the operation section to simultaneously rotate whereby the clamping walls of the connector expand. Thus, the retainer can also be easily and quickly removed from the connector from a bottom surface thereof and the tool is finally extracted therefrom.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3896535 (1975-07-01), Tucci
patent: 4141138 (1979-02-01), Quick
patent: 4604796 (1986-08-01), Tsipenyuk et al.
patent: 5075960 (1991-12-01), Smith
patent: 5230143 (1993-07-01), Kartlovich
patent: 5265328 (1993-11-01), Gorman
patent: 5440803 (1995-08-01), Selgas, Jr. et al.
patent: 5479669 (1996-01-01), Cheen
patent: 5926948 (1999-07-01), Pong
patent: 6098814 (2000-08-01), Ma
Arbes Carl J.
Chung Wei Te
Hon Hai - Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
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