Braid flare tool

{
  "publication_number": "US12322940B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Braid flare tool",
  "abstract": "A tool has a first gripping portion or arm and a second gripping portion or arm hingedly connected to the first gripping portion. The first and second gripping portions define a cable space therebetween sized to receive a cable. A first lever arm and a second lever arm extend from the first gripping portion and the second gripping portion, respectively. A flexure is arranged between the first lever arm and the second lever arm and biases the first and second lever arms into a predetermined position.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A flaring tool, comprising: a first gripping arm and a second gripping arm hingedly connected to the first gripping arm, the first and second gripping arms each defining a flaring edge; a cable space defined between the flaring edges and sized to receive a cable to be flared; a first lever arm and a second lever arm extending from the first gripping arm and the second gripping arm, respectively; and a connecting element arranged between the first lever arm and the second lever arm, the connecting element biasing the first and second lever arms away from one another, wherein the first and second gripping arms, the first and second lever arms and the connecting element are formed integrally with one another.",
    "2. The flaring tool according to claim 1, wherein the flaring edges include a first protruding edge extending from the interior of the first gripping arm in a direction of the second gripping arm, and a second protruding edge extending from the interior of the second gripping arm in a direction of the first gripping arm.",
    "3. The flaring tool according to claim 2, wherein the first protruding edge comprises a tapered protrusion.",
    "4. The flaring tool according to claim 3, wherein the first protruding edge is formed by first and second adjacent and continuous linear sections, the second linear section oriented obliquely relative to the first linear section.",
    "5. The flaring tool according to claim 4, wherein the second protruding edge is formed by third and fourth adjacent and continuous linear sections, the fourth linear section oriented obliquely relative to the third linear section.",
    "6. The flaring tool according to claim 5, wherein the first and second protruding edges define a cable space having a diamond shaped cross-section.",
    "7. The flaring tool according to claim 1, wherein the first and second gripping arms are connected by a living hinge.",
    "8. The flaring tool according to claim 7, wherein the first and second lever arms are arranged on opposite sides of the living hinge from the first and second gripping portions, respectively.",
    "9. The flaring tool according to claim 1, wherein in an undeformed state of the tool, the first and second lever arms are oriented obliquely relative to one another.",
    "10. The flaring tool according to claim 1, wherein in an undeformed state of the tool, the connecting element extends non-linearly between the first lever arm and the second lever arm.",
    "11. The flaring tool according to claim 1, wherein the tool is formed from a molded polymer material.",
    "12. A flaring tool for a braided cable, comprising: a monolithic body including: a pair of opposing clamping jaws, each jaw defining a flaring edge on an interior surface thereof; a cable space defined between the flaring edges of the clamping jaws; a living hinge defined between the clamping jaws and enabling relative motion of the clamping jaws; and a pair of lever arms, each lever arm fixedly connected to one of the clamping jaws on a side opposite the hinge.",
    "13. The flaring tool according to claim 12, further comprising an elastic element arranged between the pair of lever arms.",
    "14. The flaring tool according to claim 12, wherein each flaring edge defines a concave flaring surface.",
    "15. The flaring tool according to claim 14, wherein the flaring edges oppose one another.",
    "16. The flaring tool according to claim 14, wherein each flaring edge comprises at least two adjacent linear edge segments, the adjacent linear edge segments extending obliquely relative to one another.",
    "17. The flaring tool according to claim 12, wherein in an undeformed state of the tool, the lever arms are oriented obliquely relative to one another and the elastic element extends non-linearly therebetween.",
    "18. A flaring tool, comprising: a first gripping arm and a second gripping arm hingedly connected to the first gripping arm, the first and second gripping arms each defining a flaring edge, the flaring edges include a first protruding edge extending from an interior side of the first gripping arm in a direction of the second gripping arm, and a second protruding edge extending from an interior side of the second gripping arm in a direction of the first gripping arm; a cable space defined between the flaring edges and sized to receive a cable to be flared; a first lever arm and a second lever arm extending from the first gripping arm and the second gripping arm, respectively; and a connecting element arranged between the first lever arm and the second lever arm, the connecting element biasing the first and second lever arms away from one another.",
    "19. A flaring tool, comprising: a first gripping arm and a second gripping arm hingedly connected to the first gripping arm, the first and second gripping arms each defining a flaring edge; a cable space defined between the flaring edges and sized to receive a cable to be flared; a first lever arm and a second lever arm extending from the first gripping arm and the second gripping arm, respectively; and a connecting element arranged between the first lever arm and the second lever arm, the connecting element formed between respective free ends of the first and second lever arms and biasing the first and second lever arms away from one another.",
    "20. The flaring tool according to claim 19, wherein at least one of the connecting element and the first and second lever arms define opposing recesses in an interior surface of the tool."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure relates to the field of cable preparation, and more specifically, to a tool for flaring or opening an end of a braided shielding layer of an electrical cable.\n\nWhen preparing a shielded cable for connectorization, it is often necessary to flare or open the end of one or more layers of the cable, such as a braided shielding layer, in order to accommodate a connector. Prior art solutions for performing these flaring operations include manual tools. According to one embodiment, a prior art tool comprises a multi-component assembly including two housing portions rotatably connected together and biased into the closed position by a torsion spring. Rotating wheels attached to the housing portions operate to flare the shield under compressive force applied by the spring. While effective, these tools are overly complex, and therefore expensive to manufacture.\n\nImproved solutions for manually flaring or opening one or more layers of a cable are desired.\n\nAccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a cable braid flare tool has a first gripping portion or arm and a second gripping portion or arm hingedly connected to the first gripping portion. The first and second gripping portions define a cable space therebetween sized to receive a cable. A first lever arm and a second lever arm extend from the first gripping portion and the second gripping portion, respectively. A flexure is arranged between the first lever arm and the second lever arm and biases the first and second lever arms into a predetermined position.",
  "cpc": [
    "H02G 1/12",
    "B25B 9/02",
    "H01B 13/00",
    "H01B 13/06",
    "H01B 13/2606",
    "H01R 43/28",
    "H01R 9/05",
    "H02G 1/1204",
    "H02G 1/1297"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "H02G 1/12"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Kristin Billstrand",
    "Marissa Jayne Feinman",
    "Thomas Emery Backenstoes",
    "Christopher John Gavlak",
    "Matthew Steven Houser"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2022-09-13",
  "publication_date": "2025-06-03",
  "grant_date": "2025-06-03",
  "priority_date": "2022-09-13",
  "application_number": "US-202217943441-A",
  "family_id": "88020793",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
  "citations": [
    "GB119313A",
    "US1594792A",
    "US3906957A",
    "US5044058A",
    "US5192106A",
    "US6536103B1",
    "US20040031144A1",
    "US20070130775A1",
    "EP1972394B1",
    "US8262144B2",
    "US10840680B2"
  ]
}