# US 8,146,241 B1 · Tool for reconfiguring the pins of a tractor trailer electrical connector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,146,241 B1 - Document ID: US8146241B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 13/211,302 - Filed: 2011-08-16 - Granted: 2012-04-03 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-16 - Assignees: Zinstar Innovations, Inc. - Inventors: Barry Thompson, Sr.; Richard Thompson; Carolyn Thompson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8146241B1 ## CPC - H01R 43/22: Hand tools - H01R 43/002: {Maintenance of line connectors, e.g. cleaning} - Y10T 29/53174: Means to fasten electrical component to wiring board, base, or substrate - Y10T 29/53257: Means comprising hand-manipulatable implement - Y10T 29/53274: Means to disassemble electrical device - Y10T 29/53943: Hand gripper for direct push or pull - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A tool for reconfiguring the pins of an SAE J560 electrical connector includes a handle and head. A plurality of openings provided in the free end of the head lead to a plurality of parallel equal diameter channels within the head. An elongate separator pin with a conical nose and a cylindrical body is concentrically fixed within each channel. The separator pins are configured to properly separate split electrode pins of an SAE J560 electrical connector, which inevitable deform through repeated coupling and decoupling. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tool for reconfiguring the pins of an electrical connector used to electrically couple a tractor to a trailer, said tool comprising: a handle having a proximal end and distal end; a head attached to the distal end of the handle, said head having a free end and an attached end, the attached end being opposite the free end and attached to the distal end of the handle; a plurality of openings in the free end of the head, the plurality of openings leading to a plurality of parallel channels within the head, each opening leading to one channel, each channel, except one channel, being equal in diameter and length to each other channel; and an elongate separator pin fixed within each channel, the separator pin being concentric with the channel and having a conical nose attached to a cylindrical body, said cylindrical body having a diameter equal to a determined electrode section separation; and each elongate separator pin including collar at a distal end of the body and a tail at a distal end of the collar, said collar being fastened to the head. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tool for reconfiguring the pins of an electrical connector used to electrically couple a tractor to a trailer according to claim 1, wherein said handle and head are comprised of plastic and said elongate separator pins are comprised of metal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The tool for reconfiguring the pins of an electrical connector used to electrically couple a tractor to a trailer according to claim 1, said head further having an outer periphery between the free end and the attached end, and a key tab on said outer periphery, said key tab being sized and positioned to mate with a key slot in a receptacle of the electrical connector. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The tool for reconfiguring the pins of an electrical connector used to electrically couple a tractor to a trailer according to claim 1, said plurality of openings comprising seven openings in the free end of the head. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The tool for reconfiguring the pins of an electrical connector used to electrically couple a tractor to a trailer according to claim 1, each opening in the free end of the head having a larger diameter than a diameter of the channel to which the opening leads. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The tool for reconfiguring the pins of an electrical connector used to electrically couple a tractor to a trailer according to claim 1, each opening in the free end of the head having a beveled edge. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The tool for reconfiguring the pins of an electrical connector used to electrically couple a tractor to a trailer according to claim 1, each opening in the free end of the head having a filleted edge. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The tool for reconfiguring the pins of an electrical connector used to electrically couple a tractor to a trailer according to claim 1, each opening in the free end of the head having a chamfered edge. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The tool for reconfiguring the pins of an electrical connector used to electrically couple a tractor to a trailer according to claim 1, further comprising a thumb guard attached to the handle, said thumb guard defining a curved cove against which a thumb may rest, the thumb guard having a height greater than the width of a thumb, the thumb guard protecting the thumb from a cover for a receptacle of the electrical connector. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The tool for reconfiguring the pins of an electrical connector used to electrically couple a tractor to a trailer according to claim 1, said head further having an outer periphery between the free end and the attached end, and a key tab on said outer periphery, said key tab being sized and positioned to mate with a key slot in a receptacle of the electrical connector, and said tool further comprising a thumb guard attached to the handle, said thumb guard defining a curved cove against which a thumb may rest, the thumb guard having a height greater than the width of a thumb, the thumb guard protecting the thumb from a cover for a receptacle of the electrical connector, said thumb guard being aligned with the key tab. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The tool for reconfiguring the pins of an electrical connector used to electrically couple a tractor to a trailer according to claim 1, said handle further comprising a hand grip. ### Claim 12 A tool for reconfiguring the pins of an electrical connector used to electrically couple a tractor to a trailer, said tool comprising: a handle having a proximal end and distal end; a head attached to the distal end of the handle, said head having a free end and an attached end, the attached end being opposite the free end and attached to the distal end of the handle; a plurality of openings in the free end of the head, the plurality of openings leading to a plurality of parallel channels within the head, each opening leading to one channel, each channel, except one channel, being equal in diameter and length to each other channel; and an elongate separator pin fixed within each channel, the separator pin being concentric with the channel and having a conical nose attached to a cylindrical body, said cylindrical body having a diameter equal to a determined electrode section separation, said electrical connector being an SAE J560 electrical connector; and said head further having an outer periphery between the free end and the attached end, and a key tab on said outer periphery, said key tab being sized and positioned to mate with a key slot in a receptacle of the electrical connector; and said plurality of openings comprising seven openings in the free end of the head, and each opening in the free end of the head having a larger diameter than a diameter of the channel to which the opening leads. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The tool for reconfiguring the pins of an electrical connector used to electrically couple a tractor to a trailer according to claim 12, further comprising a thumb guard attached to the handle, said thumb guard defining a curved cove against which a thumb may rest, the thumb guard having a height greater than the width of a thumb, the thumb guard protecting the thumb from a cover for a receptacle of the electrical connector. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The tool for reconfiguring the pins of an electrical connector used to electrically couple a tractor to a trailer according to claim 12, said head further having an outer periphery between the free end and the attached end, and a key tab on said outer periphery, said key tab being sized and positioned to mate with a key slot in a receptacle of the electrical connector, and said tool further comprising a thumb guard attached to the handle, said thumb guard defining a curved cove against which a thumb may rest, the thumb guard having a height greater than the width of a thumb, the thumb guard protecting the thumb from a cover for a receptacle of the electrical connector, said thumb guard being aligned with the key tab. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The tool for reconfiguring the pins of an electrical connector used to electrically couple a tractor to a trailer according to claim 12, each elongate separator pin including collar at a distal end of the body and a tail at a distal end of the collar, said collar being fastened to the head. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The tool for reconfiguring the pins of an electrical connector used to electrically couple a tractor to a trailer according to claim 12, each elongate separator pin being about 20 to 40 mm in length and having a maximum diameter of about 1.5 to 3 mm, and each channel having a depth of about 15 to 30 mm and a diameter of approximately 6 to 10 mm. ### Claim 17 A tool for reconfiguring the pins of an electrical connector used to electrically couple a tractor to a trailer, said tool comprising: a handle having a proximal end and distal end; a head attached to the distal end of the handle, said head having a free end and an attached end, the attached end being opposite the free end and attached to the distal end of the handle; a plurality of openings in the free end of the head, the plurality of openings leading to a plurality of parallel channels within the head, each opening leading to one channel, each channel, except one channel, being equal in diameter and length to each other channel; and an elongate separator pin fixed within each channel, the separator pin being concentric with the channel and having a conical nose attached to a cylindrical body, said cylindrical body having a diameter equal to a determined electrode section separation, each elongate separator pin being about 20 to 40 mm in length and having a maximum diameter of about 1.5 to 3 mm. ### Claim 18 A tool for reconfiguring the pins of an electrical connector used to electrically couple a tractor to a trailer, said tool comprising: a handle having a proximal end and distal end; a head attached to the distal end of the handle, said head having a free end and an attached end, the attached end being opposite the free end and attached to the distal end of the handle; a plurality of openings in the free end of the head, the plurality of openings leading to a plurality of parallel channels within the head, each opening leading to one channel, each channel, except one channel, being equal in diameter and length to each other channel; and an elongate separator pin fixed within each channel, the separator pin being concentric with the channel and having a conical nose attached to a cylindrical body, said cylindrical body having a diameter equal to a determined electrode section separation, each channel having a depth of about 15 to 30 mm and a diameter of approximately 6 to 10 mm.