Electrical device gripping tool

An electrical device gripping tool for grasping electrical devices during removal or installation thereof, the tool comprising:

• a handle assembly having a proximate end, positioned proximate to a user during use and a distal end disposed distally from the user during use, the handle assembly comprising a handle member configured to be graspable by the user and rotatable about an actuation axis;
• a cam member attached to the distal end of the handle assembly and comprising first and second variable radius cam grooves, the first and second variable radius cam grooves each comprising a first end and a second end, a first radius of the first end extending from the actuation axis to the first end being larger than a second radius of the second end extending from the actuation axis to the second end;
• a rotary axis guide wall connected to the handle assembly, the rotary axis guide wall comprising a first rotary axis radius of curvature;
• a first grasping body member comprising a first base portion, a first linear guide slot formed in the first base portion, a first linear guide post extending from the first base portion along a first direction parallel to the first linear guide slot, a first cam follower post extending from the first base portion generally perpendicular to the first linear guide post and toward the handle assembly, the first cam follower post extending though the first variable radius cam groove, the first grasping body member also comprising a first radial guide wall having a first radial guide wall radius of curvature corresponding to the first rotary axis radius of curvature, the first grasping body member also comprising first and second legs extending from the first base portion away from the handle assembly, each of the first and second legs comprising a first electronic device grasping portion comprising a first ramped face and a first grasping tooth adjacent to the first ramped face and comprising a first grasping surface extending generally parallel to the first direction and facing toward the handle assembly;
• and
• a second grasping body member comprising a second base portion, a second linear guide slot formed in the second base portion, a second linear guide post extending from the second base portion along a second direction parallel to the second linear guide slot, a second cam follower post extending from the second base portion generally perpendicular to the second linear guide post and toward the handle assembly, the second cam follower post extending though the second variable radius cam groove, the second grasping body member also comprising a second radial guide wall having a second radial guide wall radius of curvature corresponding to the first rotary axis radius of curvature, the second grasping body member also comprising third and fourth legs extending from the second base portion away from the handle assembly, each of the third and fourth legs comprising a second electronic device grasping portion comprising a second ramped face and a second grasping tooth adjacent to the second ramped face and comprising a second grasping surface extending generally parallel to the second direction and facing toward the handle assembly, wherein all of the first and second grasping surfaces lie in a single plane;
• wherein the first linear guide post is disposed slidably within the second linear guide slot and the second linear guide post is disposed slidably within the first linear guide slot and wherein the first linear guide post, first linear guide slot, second linear guide post, second linear guide slot, first variable radius cam groove, second variable radius cam groove, first cam follower post and the second cam follower post cooperate to guide the first and second grasping body portions toward each other, along the first and second directions, respectively, in response to a rotational movement of the handle member about the actuation axis in which the first and second cam follower posts move from the first ends to the second ends of the first and second variable radius cam grooves, respectively;
• wherein the first and second electronic device grasping portions are positioned in a retracted position in which the first and second electronic device grasping portions are spaced from each other sufficiently such that a first electronic device can be moved into a position between the first and second ramped faces and grasping surfaces and wherein the first and second electronic device grasping portions are moved to a grasping position when the handle member is rotated so as to move the first and second electronic device grasping body portions toward each other such that the first and second radial guide walls are moved into contact with the rotary axis guide wall and the first and second ramped faces slide along portions of the first electronic device until the first and second grasping surfaces capture portions of the first electronic device such that the electronic device gripping tool positively grasps the first electronic device.