# US 8,782,869 B2 · Unlocking tool for male connector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,782,869 B2 - Document ID: US8782869B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/109,944 - Filed: 2011-05-17 - Published: 2012-11-22 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2011-05-17 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Dominic E. Dolci; Alexander M. Kwan; Cesar Lozano Villarreal; Daniele G. De Iuliis; James G. Smeenge; Ricardo A. Mariano; Victoria A. Spielmann - Inventors: Dominic E. Dolci; Alexander M. Kwan; Cesar Lozano Villarreal; Daniele G. De Iuliis; James G. Smeenge; Ricardo A. Mariano; Victoria A. Spielmann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8782869B2 ## CPC - H01R 13/633: for disengagement only {(in combination with safety switch H01R13/7132)} - H01R 13/6275: {Latching arms not integral with the housing (H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence)} - Y10T 29/49824: to elastically deform work part or connector - Y10T 29/49986: Subsequent to metal working - Y10T 29/53283: Means comprising hand-manipulatable implement - 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 connector of a cable (e.g., a 30-pin connector) can be used to facilitate various security-related and other functionalities. For example, a connector can include security locking mechanisms for engaging or locking the connector to a portable electronic device. A connector can additionally support the transmission of security signals, data signals, power, and/or the like. An unlocking tool can be used to disengage a connector locked to the portable electronic device. More specifically, the unlocking tool can be applied to a connector and cause the locking mechanisms of the connector to release such that the connector can be freely disconnected from a connected portable electronic device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tool for disengaging a plug connector mated with a corresponding receptacle connector, the tool comprising: a housing having a front, a back and first and second side surfaces formed there between that combine to form a longitudinally extending cavity, the cavity having an opening at a first end of the housing; a first pair of openings that extend through the first side surface and a second pair of openings that extend through the second side surface, wherein the first and second pairs of openings mirror each other and each include a first opening near the first end and a second opening spaced apart from the first opening towards a second end of the housing, opposite the first end; a first wire form module having a first end positioned within the cavity, a u-shaped portion that extends out of the cavity between the first and second openings on the first side surface, and a second end that extends into the first opening on the first side surface; and a second wire form module having a first end positioned within the cavity, a u-shaped portion that extends out of the cavity between the first and second openings on the second side surface, and a second end that extends into the first opening on the second side surface; wherein a force can be asserted on the u-shaped portion of each of the first and second wire form modules to press the second end of each wire module into the cavity. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tool set forth in claim 1 wherein each wire form module includes an s-shaped portion with one curve of the portion forming the u-shaped portion that extends between the first and second openings and a second curve of the s-shaped portion positioned within the cavity between the u-shaped portion and the first end of the wire module. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The tool set forth in claim 1 wherein the front of the housing includes an opening centrally located between the first and second sides that extends longitudinally from the opening at the first end of the housing towards the second end of the housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The tool set forth in claim 1 wherein the housing includes a generally rectangular cross section with rounded corners at both its outer and interior surfaces. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The tool set forth in claim 1 wherein the second opening in each of the first and second pairs of openings is a slot having a length at least several times its width. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The tool set forth in claim 1 wherein the housing further includes an end surface at the second end of the housing, wherein the end surface includes third and fourth openings extending into the cavity. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The tool set forth in claim 6 further comprising a lanyard looped through the cavity between the third and fourth openings of the end surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The tool set forth in claim 1 wherein the cavity includes first and second channels formed on opposing interior surfaces of the first and second side surfaces, respectively, each of the first and second channels being positioned between the second opening formed on its respective side surface and the second end of the housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The tool set forth in claim 8 wherein the first openings of the first and second pairs each has a larger diameter opening at an outer surface of the first or second side surfaces, and a smaller diameter opening at an interior surface of the first or second side surfaces. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The tool set forth in claim 9 wherein the second end of each of the first and second wire form modules includes a pin that extends into the smaller diameter opening at the interior surface of the first or second side surfaces. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The tool set forth in claim 10 wherein the pin in each of the first and second wire form modules includes a diameter that is smaller than other portions of the wire form module.