IP Library Granted Patent US 12,341,309
Granted Patent B2
US 12,341,309 · App. 17/678,680 · Granted Jun 24, 2025

Connector demating tool with parallel plates

Inventors: Stephen McGarry Hatch (Blue Springs, MO); James Alexander Zandstra (Long Beach, CA)
Assignee: Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies, LLC
H01R43/26H01R13/6335H01R13/635H01R43/22H01R43/205
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,341,309
App. No.
17/678,680
Granted
Jun 24, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Electrical connector assembly devices, systems, and methods including a demating device configured to separate a first connector and a second connector of an electrical connector assembly. The demating device includes a housing body, a drive assembly including: a drive lever, a trigger configured to push against the drive lever, a drive assembly rod, and a spring mounted around the drive assembly rod; and a demating assembly including: a movable plate having at least two sides, wherein each of the two sides includes at least two prongs; a stationary plate having at least two sides, wherein each of the two sides includes at least two prongs; and a rotary actuator configured to rotate the movable plate.

Claims (32)

1. A demating device configured to separate a first connector and a second connector of an electrical connector assembly, the demating device comprising:

a housing body;

a drive assembly comprising: a drive lever, a trigger configured to push against the drive lever, a drive assembly rod, and a spring mounted around the drive assembly rod; and

a demating assembly comprising:

a longitudinal movable plate having a first side and a second side, wherein each of the first side and the second side includes at least one prong configured to engage the first connector or the second connector; and

a stationary plate having a first side and a second side, wherein each of the first side and the second side includes at least one prong configured to engage the first connector or the second connector; and

a rotary actuator configured to rotate the movable plate and the stationary plate, and

wherein the drive assembly is configured to move the movable plate away from the stationary plate in a first longitudinal direction.

2. The demating device of claim 1 , wherein the first side of the movable plate comprises a first prong configuration, and the second side of the movable plate comprises a second prong configuration, wherein the first prong configuration and the second prong configuration are different.

3. The demating device of claim 2 , wherein the first side of the stationary plate comprises a third prong configuration, and the second side of the stationary plate comprises a fourth prong configuration, wherein the third prong configuration and the fourth prong configuration are different.

4. The demating device of claim 3 , wherein the first prong configuration is compatible with the third prong configuration and the second prong configuration is compatible with the fourth prong configuration.

5. The demating device of claim 3 , wherein the first prong configuration and the second prong configuration are configured to fit different electrical connector assemblies.

6. The demating device of claim 1 , further comprising a coupling pin connecting and aligning the movable plate and the stationary plate together.

7. The demating device of claim 1 , wherein each of the movable plate and the stationary plate are non-uniform in thickness and further include a raised portion.

8. A demating system configured to separate a first connector and a second connector of a first electrical connector assembly, or configured to separate a third connector and a fourth connector of a second electrical connector assembly, the demating system comprising:

a housing body;

a drive assembly comprising: a drive lever, a trigger configured to push against the drive lever, a drive assembly rod, and a spring mounted around the drive assembly rod; and

a demating assembly comprising:

a first set of removably attachable demating plates, comprising:

a first movable plate having at least two prongs configured to engage the first connector or the second connector, and

a first stationary plate having at least two prongs configured to engage the first connector or the second connector; and

a second set of removably attachable demating plates, comprising:

a second movable plate having at least two prongs configured to engage the third connector or the fourth connector, and

a second stationary plate having at least two prongs configured to engage the third connector or the fourth connector,

wherein the demating assembly is configured to accept the first set of removably attachable demating plates or the second set of removably attachable demating plates at one time, and

wherein the drive assembly is configured to move the first movable plate away from the first stationary plate in a first longitudinal direction, and to move the second movable plate away from the second stationary plate in the first longitudinal direction.

9. The demating system of claim 8 , wherein each of the first movable plate and the first stationary plate comprise a generally square perimeter.

10. The demating system of claim 9 , wherein each of the first stationary plate and the first movable plate comprise eight demating prongs.

11. The demating system of claim 8 , wherein each of the second movable plate and the second stationary plate comprise a generally pentagonal perimeter.

12. The demating system of claim 11 , wherein each of the second movable plate and the second stationary plate comprise five demating prongs.

13. The demating system of claim 8 , further comprising a rotary actuator coupled to the first set of removably attachable demating plates and the second set of removably attachable demating plates.

14. The demating system of claim 8 , wherein a first side of the first movable plate comprises a first prong configuration, and a second side of the first movable plate comprises a second prong configuration, wherein the first prong configuration and the second prong configuration are different.

Assignments (2)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Jul 8, 2025
From: HONEYWELL FEDERAL MANUFACTURING & TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
To: NNSA
Reel/Frame 071633/0313 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 23, 2022
From: HATCH, STEPHEN MCGARRY; ZANDSTRA, JAMES ALEXANDER
To: HONEYWELL FEDERAL MANUFACTURING & TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 059080/0212 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230268705A1 · Aug 24, 2023
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Cited By (1)
US 12,489,264