Patent Grant
8549727
The invention generally pertains to the field of tools used in assembling data/telephony networks, and more particularly to punch-down tools used to insert or insert and terminate transmission wires into patch panels.
The information superhighway has grown exponentially over the past two decades. The internet has created a multitude of ways in which people across the earth can communicate. Junction boxes, or patch panels are commonly used in data rooms to make the multitude of physical connections between end-user lines with various types of data switches, bridges, and routers, which in turn are connected to local internet service providers, regional access routers to high bandwidth back-haul providers across long distances to distant regional access providers, internet service providers and ultimately distant end users. Punch-down tools are used to connect signal wires into such patch panels. Two common patch panel types are 110 data patch panels and 66 cat3 telephony patch panels, where 110 and 66 pair of twisted wire are connected, respectively. Because the demand for such connections is increasing at such a large rate, patch panels increasingly become utilized to their full capacity; consequently, they become so crowded with wires that it often becomes difficult to insert wires into the terminal clip of a patch panel using a standard punch tool blade. U.S. Pat. No. 4,161,061 shows such a wire insertion/cutoff device having a blade with insertion end, as well as an insertion/cutoff end. The blade extends about one inch past a rather blunt large diameter punch-down tool. The proximity of the blade end being used to the bulky punch-down tool creates difficulties in connecting wires in the tight patch panels. Difficulties include the blunt end of the tool precluding the tip of the device from gaining access to the proper punch-down point on a terminal clip of the patch panel, the blunt end dislodging other terminated wires in the panel when the installer attempts to add new wires to the patch panel, and the bulky tool blocking the tradesman's view of the terminal clips so that connecting wires to patch panels is prone to faulty or incorrect connections. U.S. Pat. No. 7,266,878 shows a device that, while extending the overall length of a punch-down tool, still possess the above-mentioned problems. The diameter of the extension is about twice the diameter of the body of the standard short seating tip or seating and cutting tip that is inserted into the extension, and about four times the tip's width. Consequently, this large diameter still blocks the tradesman's access and view of the terminal clips, and the abrupt edges or ledges of the assembled tool readily snag adjacent wires when the tradesman attempts to use the device, thus providing little benefit in use. Furthermore, the tradesman must carry several tips with him, and piece together the parts which can become easily lost when dropped, creating constant inconveniences to the tradesman. What is needed is a punch-down blade which enables the reliable connection of wires in patch panels which are crowded to capacity, while preventing tool entanglement and the accidental dislodgment of connected wires.
The present disclosure discloses a punch-down tool which solves many of these problems that are associated with existing punch-down tools. It will be appreciated that the disclosure may disclose more than one invention. The invention(s) is (are) pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof.
The invention(s) generally relate to punch-down tool blades that are suited for seating, and/or seating and cutting, wires in terminal clips of crowded patch panels and are configured to provide unimpeded visual and physical access to the terminal clips. In addition, the invention(s) generally relate to punch-down tool blades configured to incorporate mechanisms that allow the punch-down blades to lock into a punch-down tool in either of two orientations without increasing the profile width at the blade's working tip (the end of the blade proximate to the patch panel).
In the first two embodiments, the apparatus comprises a long slender punch-down tool blade where the blade may comprise either a seating tip or a seating and cutting tip where the punch-down blade may be fixed into place in the punch-down tool.
A third embodiment of the tool comprises a punch-down tool blade having a long slender profile and a seating tip at one end and a seating and cutting tip at the other end, where each end is located distally from one another.
A fourth embodiment of the tool comprises a punch-down tool blade assembly having a long slender profile and a seating tip at one end and a seating and cutting tip at the other end, where means are provided to lock the punch-down blade into the punch-down tool without increasing the width or diameter of the blade in the region of the blade which is proximate the working tip.
The fifth and sixth exemplary embodiments show slidable locking collar mechanisms, where the locking collar may be moved to the end of the blade to be inserted into the punch-down tool, thereby retaining the slim non-tangling blade profile at the blade's working end.
The overall length of the several embodiments is from 4 to 10 inches, with an overall length of from 5 to 9 inches being preferred. Most preferably, the overall length is from 7 to 7½ inches.
One advantage of the present apparatus is to save the tradesman valuable time in installing networking services, thus allowing him or her to better compete in the workplace. In addition, time is saved by making the connection of physical networks of wires more efficient and reliable by allowing the blade tip to reach destination terminals without getting entangled, and dislodging other connected wires in the patch panel. The tradesman is saved not only the inconvenience of having to troubleshoot non-working data circuits caused by faulty patch panel connections, but also the stress, financial loss, and inconvenience of being called back to job sites to fix the problems and salvage relationships with dissatisfied customers.
Another advantage of one embodiment is that the punch-down blade allows the tradesman to keep the punch-down tool itself, as well as his or her hands away from all of the wires, thus providing the tradesman a greater view of the terminal clips for more accurate and successful placement of the device to make the proper connections, as well as enhanced safety. Consequently, the punch-down tool blade saves the tradesman the inconvenience of suffering strained arm, hand, and finger muscles and ligaments which readily occurs with standard punch-down tool blades while inefficiently seating and cutting wires in patch panels.
The invention(s) is (are) pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof.
Referring to the drawings, where like reference numerals generally designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and more particularly to
The punch-down tool blade 20 includes a working tip section 30, a long slender section 40, and a locking collar section 50. The working tip section 30 includes a seating edge 32, an elongated slot 34, and a groove 36 formed therein, which conforms to the shape of a terminal located on a terminal block (not shown) used in terminating telephone and data conducting wires. The long slender section 40 comprises a length of material having the structural rigidity to transfer forces down its axis without buckling. The locking collar section 50 comprises an L-shaped groove 52 having a lead-in detent 54 and a locking detent 56 on either side of cam surface 58 as shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,161,061, incorporated herein by reference.
The overall length of the first embodiment is from 4 to 10 inches, with an overall length of from 5 to 9 inches being preferred. Most preferably, the overall length is from 7 to 7½ inches.
Referring now to
In use, the tradesman inserts the locking collar section 50 of the punch-down blade 20 into a punch-down tool (not shown) so that a cam follower spring (not shown) enters the L-shaped groove 52 at the lead-in detent 54, then rotates the punch-down blade 20 clockwise relative to the punch-down tool until the cam follower spring rides up and over a cam surface 58, finally coming to rest in the locking detent 56. With the punch-down blade in place, the tradesman then may seat wires (
Referring now to
The overall length of the third embodiments is from 4 to 10 inches, with an overall length of from 5 to 9 inches being preferred. Most preferably, the overall length is from 7 to 7½ inches.
In use, the tradesman chooses which tip (seating or seating and cutting) he or she would like to presently use (i.e. the working tip), and inserts the non-working tip end of the punch-down blade 20 into the punch-down tool (not shown). If the non-working tip section is the end with the fixed locking collar section 50 on it, the locking collar section 50 of the punch-down blade 20 is also inserted into a punch-down tool (not shown) so that a cam follower spring of the punch-down tool enters the L-shaped groove 52 at the lead-in detent 54, then rotates the punch-down blade 20 clockwise relative to the punch-down tool until the cam follower spring rides up and over a cam surface 58, finally coming to rest in the locking detent 56. If the non-working tip section is not the end with the fixed locking collar section 50 on it, the non-working tip section is simply inserted into the punch-down tool. Please note that a small shoulder section may be present in these embodiments to help transfer the impulse load transfer from the punch-down tool to the punch-down tool blade when the infrequently used tip needs to be used.
With the punch-down blade in place, the tradesman then may seat wires, or seat and cut wires, in a patch panel by locating the wire within the elongated slot of the working tip and pushing the wire into the terminal of the patch panel with the punch-down tool.
Referring now to
The punch-down tool blade assembly 120 also includes a slidable locking collar mechanism designated generally by the numeral 170. Collar body 172 may have an outer surface configured in any number of ways to enhance the application of torque to it, for example it may be roughened or made angular for ease of tightening either manually or with the use of a tool, such as a wrench or pliers. In addition, the outer surface of the collar body 172 contains two L-shaped grooves 176, each having a lead-in detent 178 and a locking detent 180 on either side of a cam surface 182. The downward pointing “L” shaped groove depicted in
In use, the tradesman chooses which tip 130 or 150 of the punch-down blade 120 he or she would like to presently use. The collar body 172 is located toward the non-working tip end and locked into place on the long slender section 140 through various means including, but not limited to, a set screw (not shown) threaded through the collar body 172 and impinging upon the long slender section 140. Other means for locking the collar body 172 with respect to the long slender section 140 include, for example, various bayonet-type mechanisms, threads bottoming to a shoulder, the use of lock washers of various types, or threading arrangements where there is a slight amount of interference between female threads on an inside bore of the collar body 172 and male threads on the long slender section 140 such as, for example, lobed thread arrangements, or nylon threaded inserts. After the collar body 172 has been fixed relative to the long slender section 140, the non-working tip end of the punch-down blade 120, with the fixed locking collar section 170 on it, is inserted into the punch-down tool (not shown) so that a cam follower spring of the punch-down tool enters the L-shaped groove 178 at the lead-in detent 176. The tradesman then rotates the punch-down blade 120 clockwise relative to the punch-down tool until the cam follower spring rides up and over a cam surface 182, finally coming to rest in the locking detent 180. With the punch-down blade in place, the tradesman then may seat wires, or seat and cut wires, in a patch panel by locating the wire within the elongated slot of the working tip and pushing the wire into the terminal of the patch panel with the punch-down tool.
Referring now to
The punch-down tool blade assembly 120 also includes a slidable locking collar mechanism designated generally by the numeral 170. The slidable locking collar mechanism 170 comprises a collar body 172 which has an inner diameter 174 which mates up against the outer diameter of the long slender section 140, forming a bearing surface there between. Collar body 172 may have an outer surface configured in any number of ways to enhance the application of torque to it, for example it may be roughened or made angular for ease of tightening either manually or with the use of a tool, such as a wrench or pliers. In addition, collar body 172 contains two L-shaped grooves 176, each having a lead-in detent 178 and a locking detent 180 on either side of a cam surface 182. The downward pointing “L” shaped groove depicted in
In use, the tradesman chooses which end of the punch-down blade he or she would like to use, the working tip, and locks the slidable collar body 172 in place at the end of the long slender section 140 opposite the working tip end by sliding the slidable collar body 172 longitudinally along the long slender section 140 until the ball 192 reaches the end of the detent groove 142. The ball 192 is biased into detent groove 142 by spring 194 butted against screw 196 in the side of the slidable collar body 172. Then torque sufficient to removably lock the slidable collar 172 into place on the body of the punch-down blade 120 is applied through the use of finger pressure, or through the use of a tool such as a wrench or pliers. This applied torque, in effect, provides the energy to allow the biased ball 192 to transverse circumferentially from the longitudinal detent groove 142 up and over the collar locking cam 144, thereby further compressing the spring 194, and into the collar locking detent 146. Then the non-working tip is inserted into the punch-down tool so that the biased cam follower member of the punch-down tool (not shown) is aligned with the lead-in detent 178 of the collar body L-shaped groove 176, moving the punch-down tool blade 120 further inside the receptacle of the punch-down tool, with clockwise torque applied to the punch-down blade 120 with respect to the punch-down tool, so that the biased cam follower (not shown) rides up and over the cam surface 182 and into the locking detent 180 of the collar body L-shaped groove 176, thus reversibly locking the punch-down blade 120 into place with respect to the punch-down tool. The tool is now ready for use and can efficiently seat or seat and cut wires into terminal clips of crowded patch panels efficiently without either tangling the device in the wires, or inadvertently seating to the incorrect terminal clip because the punch-down tool has obstructed the tradesman's vision of terminal clips.
When the tradesman wishes to use the other tip (e.g. the other tip will become the working tip), he or she simply reverses the assembly steps above, e.g. applies counterclockwise torque to the punch-down blade 120 relative to the punch-down tool (not shown), removes the punch-down blade 120 from the punch-down tool, and releases the biased ball 192 of the slidable collar body 172 from the locking detent 180 of the long slender section 140 by applying torque using finger pressure or a torque-applying tool such as a pliers or wrench. This applied torque, in effect, provides the energy to allow the biased ball 192 to transverse circumferentially from the collar locking detent 146 up and over the collar locking cam 144 and into the longitudinal detent groove 142. Then the tradesman slides the slidable collar body 172 longitudinally to the other end of the punch-down blade 120, and tightens the slidable collar body 172 by applying enough torque to allow the biased ball 192 to transverse circumferentially from the longitudinal detent groove 142 up and over the second collar locking cam 144 and into the second collar locking detent 146. Then the non-working blade end is inserted into the punch-down tool so that the biased cam follower member of the tool (not shown) is aligned with the lead-in detent 178 of the second, opposite facing, collar body L-shaped groove 176 of the slidable collar body 172, moving the punch-down tool blade 120 further inside the receptacle of the punch-down tool, with clockwise torque applied to the punch-down blade 120 with respect to the punch-down tool, so that the biased cam follower (not shown) rides up and over the cam surface 182 and into the locking detent 180 of the collar body L-shaped groove 176, thus reversibly locking the punch-down blade 120 into place with respect to the punch-down tool. Now the tool is ready for use in its alternate configuration.
Referring now to
In this embodiment, the slidable locking collar mechanism 170 comprises external threads 190 disposed at either end of the punch-down tool blade which engage with collar body internal threads 200, thus allowing the collar body 172 to be locked into position at either end of the punch-down blade. A clearance is provided between the outer surface of the long slender section 140 and the inside diameter of the internal threads 200 which allows the slidable collar body 172 to freely slide along the long slender section 140 of the tool. Although the external threads 190 are generally shown as encircling a circular cross section of a long slender section 140, a long slender section 140 of non-circular cross section may be used equally effectively whereby the external threads encompass only a portion of the outer surface of the cross section. In other words, the cross section of the long slender section 140 could be generally rectangular with threads formed only on the two outer surfaces most distant from the central axis of the long slender section 140. Locking the collar body 172 into place may be achieved when the end of either the external threads 190 or internal threads 200 is reached when screwing the two components together and an external or internal shoulder is reached, respectively. The use of thread sets having a slight amount of interference between them, such as those provided by threaded nylon inserts for the internal threads 200 (commonly used, for example, in locknuts available at hardware stores), or by the use of lobed or slightly tapered external threads 190 and/or internal threads 200. The use of various types of lock washers, or lock washer features incorporated into the collar body 172, is also contemplated in helping fix the collar body 172 in place on the long slender section 140 of the punch-down tool blade assembly 120.
In use, the tradesman chooses which end of the punch-down blade he or she would like to use, the working tip, and locks the slidable collar body 172 in place at the end of the long slender section 140 opposite the working tip end by screwing the internal threads 200 of the slidable collar body 172 onto external threads 190 at that end of the punch-down blade 120. Torque sufficient to removably lock the slidable collar 172 into place on the body of the punch-down blade 120 is applied through the use of finger pressure, or through the use of a tool such as a wrench or pliers. Then the non-working tip is inserted into the punch-down tool so that the biased cam follower member of the tool is aligned with the lead-in detent 178 of the collar body L-shaped groove 176, moving the punch-down tool blade 120 further inside the receptacle of the punch-down tool (not shown), with clockwise torque applied to the punch-down blade 120 with respect to the punch-down tool, so that the cam follower rides up and over the cam surface 182 and into the locking detent 180 of the collar body L-shaped groove 176, thus reversibly locking the punch-down blade 120 into place with respect to the punch-down tool. The tool is now ready for use and can efficiently seat or seat and cut wires into terminal clips of crowded patch panels efficiently without tangling the device in the wires, or inadvertently seating to the incorrect terminal clip because the punch-down tool obstructs the tradesman's vision of terminal clips.
When the tradesman wishes to use the other tip (e.g. the other tip will become the working tip), he or she simply reverses the assembly steps above, e.g. applies counterclockwise torque to the punch-down blade 120 relative to the punch-down tool, removes the punch-down blade 120 from the punch-down tool, and loosens the slidable collar body 172 with respect to the external threads 190 using finger pressure or a torque-applying tool such as a pliers or wrench. Then the tradesman slides the slidable collar body 172 to the other end of the punch-down blade 120, tightens the slidable collar body 172 on the second set of external threads 190. Then the non-working blade end is inserted into the punch-down tool so that the cam follower member of the tool is aligned with the lead-in detent 178 of the second, opposite facing, collar body L-shaped groove 176 of the slidable collar body 172, moving the punch-down tool blade 120 further inside the receptacle of the punch-down tool, with clockwise torque applied to the punch-down blade 120 with respect to the punch-down tool, so that the cam follower rides up and over the cam surface 182 and into the locking detent 180 of the collar body L-shaped groove 176, thus reversibly locking the punch-down blade 120 into place with respect to the punch-down tool. Now the tool is ready for use in its alternate configuration.
It should be understood that even though these numerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principals of the invention(s) claimed in the appended claims to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20100031492 A1 | Feb 2010 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61086219 | Aug 2008 | US |
