Microcable stripping tool

Abstract

A tool for stripping a microcoaxial cable having an outside diameter of four millimeters or less. The tool is operable for precisely stripping the jacket, shield and dielectric layers of the microcoaxial cable under field conditions. The tool comprises a fixed gripping portion that holds and supports the cable both proximal and distal to the portion to be stripped. A blade portion rotatably mounted to the fixed gripping portion has a double action. When the blade portion is depressed, a plurality of blades mounted thereon cuts into the microcoaxial cable to precise and adjustable depths. A 360° rotation of the blade portion relative to the fixed gripping portion cleanly severs the respective layers of the cable. The respective severed layers of the cable are removed by hand to expose the underlying layer and the central conductor thereby providing a stripped portion of microcoaxial cable to which a microcoaxial cable connector can be attached. The tool includes a retractable cable guide on the distal side of the blades which supports an unstripped portion of the length of the microcoaxial cable adjacent the stripped portion during stripping. This further prevents the cable, or the layers comprising the cable, from rotating or flexing during the cutting process and provides a clean, perpendicular cut.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.