Gentle disconnect connector for printed circuit boards and tool therefor
View Patent ↗An electrical connector has a first and second connector body. A tool fits over the first connector body to assist in demating the two connector bodies from one another. Compressing the tool compresses spring fingers in one of the connector bodies, allowing the connector bodies to be easily demated from one another without excessive force and damaging printed circuit boards to which the connector may be connected.
1. An electrical connector for connecting a printed circuit board and a coaxial cable comprising:
a first connector body having a front end, a back end, and a middle portion, and having at least two spring fingers between the front end and the middle portion;
a tool to release the first connector body having a generally circular first portion to engage the at least two spring fingers, said generally circular first portion having a front end and rear end and an opening therebetween for receiving a portion of the first connector body, the front end having a first diameter and the rear end having a second diameter, the first diameter being smaller than the second diameter, and at least two extensions connected to the first portion and extending beyond the first connector body, wherein pressing on the at least two extensions toward each other compresses the at least two spring fingers; and
a second connector body having an opening therein to receive at least a portion of the tool and at least a portion of the first connector body.
2. The electrical connector according to claim 1 , wherein the tool includes an opening extending along a side of the first portion between a front end and a rear end thereof.
3. The electrical connector according to claim 1 , wherein pressing on the at least two extensions toward each other causes the first diameter to become smaller.
4. The electrical connector according to claim 1 , wherein pressing on the at least two extensions toward each other causes the second diameter to become smaller.
5. The electrical connector according to claim 1 , further comprising a projection radially extending from the rear end of the first portion to connect each of the at least two extensions to the first portion, the projections being sized to extend beyond the first connector body.
6. The electrical connector according to claim 1 , wherein the at least two projections are on opposite sides of the first portion.
7. The electrical connector according to claim 1 , wherein pressing on the at least two extensions toward each other on the tool compresses the at least two spring fingers on the first connector body to allow it to be removed from the second connector body.