Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CLAMPING TOOL
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention is directed to a clamping tool, e.g. a tool
having moveable
jaws for crimping PEX tubing and, in particular, to a crimping tool having
three handles
selectively engaged to move the jaws to crimp the PEX tubing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Description of the Presently Available technology
[0002] Crimping tools such as pliers and tools used with PEX tubing have been
in existence
for a long period of time. One type of crimping tool is shown in United States
Patent No.
5,267,464. Essentially, these tools have jaws that are brought together by
squeezing handles
that co-act with the jaws. Typically, the handles are squeezed by one hand of
the user, with
the user's thumb on one handle and the user's fingers on the other handle
[0003] Sometimes, the jaws must be opened to a wide distance that makes it
very difficult to
squeeze the handle with one hand. As is appreciated by those skilled in the
art, when the user
of the tool is unable to position his/her thumb and fingers around the handles
of the tool, the
tool is not locked in the user's hand. The result is often uneven crimping of
the PEX tubing
and un-useable crimped PEX tubing.
[0004] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
crimping tool that is
easy to operate with one hand when the handles are spaced a distance apart
that makes it
difficult to grasp with one hand, thereby eliminating the drawbacks of the
presently available
crimping tools.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention is a crimping tool having a crimping head with
jaws coupled
to a handle arrangement that includes two primary handles linked together and
a secondary
handle linked to one of the primary handles and positioned between the two
primary handles.
[0006] Further, the present invention further relates to a clamping or
crimping tool having a
first jaw operatively connected to a first handle; a second jaw operatively
connected to a
second handle, wherein moving the first and second handles relative to one
another moves the
first and second jaws relative to one another, and a third handle between the
first and second
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handles and connected to the first handle, wherein moving the second and third
handles
relative to one another moves the first handle and the second handle relative
to one another to
move the first jaw and the second jaw relative to one another. In one non-
limiting
embodiment of the invention, one of the jaws and its associated handle, e.g.
the second jaw
and the second handle are stationary, and the first handle and the third
handle are moveable
toward the second handle.
[0007] Still further, the present invention relates to closing jaws of a
clamping tool, by,
among other things, applying a force to maintain the first and second jaws
spaced from one
another in a non-engaging position, and to maintain the first and second
handles operatively
connected to the first and second jaws, respectively, in a first position;
moving the second
handle and a third handle connected to the first handle toward one another
against the applied
force to move the first and second jaws from the non-engaging position toward
an engaging
position and to move the first and second handles from the first position
toward a second
position; releasing the third handle, and engaging the first and second
handles to move the first
and second handles into the second position, and the first and second jaws
into the engaging
position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a crimping tool made in accordance with
the present
invention;
100091 Fig. 2 is a plan view of the side of the crimping tool shown in Fig. 1
having the
cover plate removed, the crimping tool shown in Fig. 2 is in the open position
or non-engaging
position;
[0010] Fig. 3 is a view similar to the view of Fig. 2 showing the crimping
tool of Fig. 1 in a
position between the non-engaging position and the closed or engaging
position;
[0011] Fig. 4 is a plan view of a non-limiting embodiment of a handle
subassembly of the
crimping tool of the present invention;
[0012] Fig. 5 is a view taken along lines 5-5 of Fig. 4;
[0013] Fig. 6 is a front view of the middle link of the handle subassembly
shown in Fig. 4;
[0014] Fig. 7 is a side view of the middle link having portions removed for
purposes of
clarity, and
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[0015] Fig. 8 is a view similar to the views of Figs. 2 and 3 showing the
crimping tool of
Fig. 1 in the engaging position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] As used herein, spatial or directional terms, such as "inner", "outer",
"left", "right",
"up", "down", "horizontal", "vertical", and the like, relate to the invention
as it is shown in the
drawing figures. However, it is to be understood that the invention can assume
various
alternative orientations and, accordingly, such terms are not to be considered
as limiting.
[0017] Before discussing several non-limiting embodiments of the invention, it
is
understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details
of the particular
non-limiting embodiments shown and discussed herein, since the invention is
capable of other
embodiments. Further the terminology used herein to discuss the invention is
for the purpose
of description and is not of limitation. Still further, in the following
discussion, unless
indicated otherwise, like numbers refer to like elements.
[0018] Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a crimping tool 20 made in
accordance with the
present invention. The crimping tool 20 includes a crimping head subassembly
22 and a
handle subassembly 23 (also see Fig. 4). The crimping subassembly 22 includes
a stationary
first jaw 24 and a moveable second jaw 26 coupled to an action shaft or
moveable primary
handle 28, and a fixed shaft or fixed secondary handle 30, of the handle
subassembly 23. Each
of the jaws 24, 26 have a half-hole 32 of a diameter selected to insure
adequate compression of
a desired size of the crimp. Such general arrangements are well known in the
art, e.g.
disclosed in United States Patent No. 5,267,464 and used in the CTS Medium
Crimping Tool,
QCRT2CM, QCRT3CM and QCRT4CM sold by ZurnPex, Inc. As is appreciated by those
skilled in the art, the crimping tool 20 of the invention can be used to crimp
a buckle or pinch
ear 33 of the ring 34 fitted over a pipe 36 and a fitting 37. In one non-
limiting embodiment,
the pipe 36 and the crimp ring 34 are slid over the fitting 37, and the jaws
24, 26 of the
crimping tool 20 brought together in a manner according to the invention, and
discussed
below, to move the buckle 33 in the half-holes 32 of the jaws 24, 26 to
compress the buckle 33
and the ring 34 to form a fluid tight seal between the pipe and the fitting.
The crimp ring 34
having the buckle 33 is not limiting to the invention and any of the types of
clamping rings
known in the art can be used in the practice of the invention, e.g. but not
limited to QuikClamp
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crimping rings of the type sold by ZurnPex, Inc. and clamping rings disclosed
in United States
Patent No. 5,267,464.
[0019] The discussion is now directed to a non-limiting embodiment of the
crimping head
subassembly 22 that can be used in the practice of the invention. With
reference to Figs. 1-3
as needed, the crimping head subassembly 22 includes a first plate or cover
plate 40 (shown
only in Fig. 1) secured to second plate or back plate 42. The back plate 42 in
this non-limiting
embodiment of the invention has the first or fixed jaw 24 formed integrally
therewith. The
cover plates 40, 42 are secured together by screws 44, 45 passing through the
cover plate 40
(see Fig. 1). The end of the screw 44 is threaded into post 48 (see Figs. 2
and 3) secured to
inner surface 50 of the back plate 42 in any convenient manner, e.g. by
providing the post 48
with threaded holes at each end to receive the screw 44 passing through the
first plate 40 and a
screw (not shown) passing through the back plate 42. The screw 45 passes
through the first
plate 40 into a threaded hole 52 (see Figs. 2 and 3) in the first jaw 24.
Optionally alignment
pins 54 are provided about the threaded hole 52 (see Fig. 2 and 3) and
received in holes 56
(see Fig. 1) to align the first and second plates 40, 42, respectively.
[0020] With particular reference to Figs. 2-4, the discussion is directed to
the handle
subassembly 23. End 60 of the fixed handle 30 is secured to the inner surface
50 of the second
plate 42 of the crimping head subassembly 22 by a pair of swaged studs 62 (see
Figs. 2, 3 and
8) captured in holes 63 (see Fig. 4). The moveable second jaw 26 is pivotally
mounted at 64
to the inner surface 50 of the back plate 42 to pivot the half hole 32 of the
moveable jaw 26
toward and away from the half hole 32 of the fixed jaw 24 as the handle 28
moves toward and
away from the handle 30 in a manner discussed below. End 66 of the moveable
handle 28 is
pivotally mounted to the moveable jaw at 68 at a position opposite to the half
hole 32 of the
moveable jaw 26. In one non-limiting embodiment of the invention, a jaw
adjustment screw
(also designated by the number 68) pivotally connects the end 66 of the handle
28 to the
moveable jaw 26. As is appreciated by those skilled in the art, the jaw
adjustment screw 68
sets or resets the distance between the half-holes 32 of the jaws 24, 26 when
the handles 28, 30
are together. With reference to Fig. 1, the adjustment screw 68 extends
through slot 70 in the
cover plate 40 and moves in the slot as the handle 28 moves toward the handle
30. Jaw
adjustment screws are well known in the art and no further discussion is
deemed necessary.
[0021] For ease of discussion and a full appreciation of the invention, when
the handles 28,
30 are at their maximum spaced distance (see Fig. 2), the jaws 22, 24 are at
their maximum
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spaced distance, and the handles and jaws are in the open or non-engaging
position. When the
handles 28, 30 are at their minimum distance to one another, the jaws 22, 24
are at their
minimum distance to one another, and the handles and the jaws are in the
closed or engaging
position (see Fig. 8). The handles and jaws at positions between the engaging
and non-
engaging positions are shown in Figs. 1 and 3.
[0022] With continued reference to Figs. 2-4, although not limiting to the
invention, a
spring 72 has one end connected at 74 to the fixed end 60 of the handle 30,
and the other end
of the spring 72 connected at 76 to the end of the moveable jaw 26 near the
end 66 of the
handle 28. The spring 72 is expanded (in the biased position) when the handles
28 and 30 are
in the engaging position (see Fig. 8) and is compressed (in the unbiased
position) when the
handles are in the non-engaging position (see Fig. 2).
[0023] Shown in Fig. 4 is one non-limiting embodiment of the handle
subassembly 23 of
the invention for interconnecting the handles 28, 30, such that moving the
handle 28 toward
and away from the handle 30, moves the jaw 26 toward and away from the jaw 24,
respectively. Specifically, the handles 28, 30 are interconnected by a middle
link 80 having
end 82 pivotally secured to the handle 28, and having end 84 pivotally secured
to the handle
30 by pins 86, 88, respectively, passing through respective holes defined in
the handles 28, 30
and the middle link 80. Preferably the handles 28, 30 have a U-shaped cross
section as shown
in Fig. 5 for the handle 28 to receive the ends 82, 84, respectively, of the
middle link 80. As
the handle 28 moves toward the handle 30, the handle 28 pivots about the pin
86
interconnecting the middle link 80 and the handle 28 (see Figs. 2 and 3)
moving the
adjustment screw 68 upward in the slot 70 (see Fig. 1) to pivot the jaw about
the pivot pin 64
to move the half hole 32 of the jaw 26 toward the half hole 32 of the jaw 24.
The handle 28 is
moved toward the handle 30 against the biasing force of the spring 72. As the
handle 28
moves toward the handle 30 the middle link pivots about the pins 86, 88.
[0024] In one non-limiting embodiment of the invention, a ratchet and pawl
arrangement is
used to prevent the handle 28 from moving away from the handle 30 by the
biasing force of
the spring 72 when the force moving the handle 28 toward the handle 30 is
released. With
continued reference to Fig. 4, the ratchet and pawl arrangement includes a
ratchet 90 secured
at 92 and 86 to the handle 28 adjacent the pin 86 with the teeth 94 of the
ratchet 90 moving
through opening 96 (see also Figs. 6 and 7) contacting end or tooth 98 of pawl
100 pivotally
mounted at 102 to the middle link 80. As the handle 28 moves toward the handle
30, the teeth
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94 of the ratchet 90 engage the end 98 of the ratchet 100 moving the ratchet
100 in a counter
clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 7 against the biasing action of spring
104. The spring
104 has one end 106 connected to the pawl 100 and other end 108 connected to
pin 110 in the
middle link 80. With the end 98 of the pawl 100 in contact with one of the
teeth 94 of the
ratchet 90, the handle 28 is prevented from moving away from the handle 30
under the biasing
action of the spring 72 (see Figs. 2-4). With the handles 28, 30, and the jaws
24, 26 moving
toward the engaging position (see Fig. 8), the pawl 100 moves under the
biasing action of the
spring in a clockwise direction past the ratchet 90. The handles 28, 30 are
now free to move
away from one another under the biasing action of the spring 72 (see Figs. 2-
4). The pawl 100
has an arm 112 (see Figs. 2, 4, 7 and 8) having a length to prevent the arm
112 from moving
through the opening 96 in the middle link 80. Pawl and ratchet arrangements
are well known
in the art and no further discussion is deemed necessary.
[0025] With reference to Fig. 8, in one non-limiting embodiment of the
invention, the center
of the adjustment screw 68, the center of the pivot point 86 and the end 76 of
the spring 72
contacting the jaw 26 are off set from one another when the jaws 24, 26 and
the handles 28, 30
are in the engaging position as shown in Fig. 8 such that the biasing action
of the spring 72 is
neutralized. With the biasing action of the spring neutralized, the jaws 24,
26, and the handles
28, 30 remain in the engaging position until the handles are slightly moved
apart to activate
the biasing force or action of the spring 72. With the biasing action of the
spring activated,
and the pawl 100 and ratchet 94 disengaged, the jaws 24, 26, and the handles
28, 30 move to
the non-engaging position as shown in Fig. 1 under the biasing force of the
spring 72.
[0026] As is appreciated by those skilled in the art, sometimes, the jaws 24,
26 of the
crimping tool in the non-engaging position must be opened to a wide distance
that makes it
very difficult to squeeze the handles 28, 30 into the engaging position with
one hand. More
particularly, when the user of the crimping tool is unable to position his/her
thumb and fingers
around the handles 28, 30 of the crimping tool, the tool is not locked in the
user's hand. The
result is often uneven crimping of the PEX tubing and un-useable PEX tubing.
To eliminate
this drawback of the presently available crimping tools, in one non-limiting
embodiment of the
invention a third handle or secondary handle 120 is pivotally attached to
handle 28 via pins
122, 123. In one non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the handle 120 has
a U-shaped
cross section (see Fig. 5). The pin 122 passes through slots 124 (only one
slot 124 shown in
the Figs.) defined in the handle 28 and holes (not shown) defined in the third
handle 120 and
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the pin 123 passing through the holes in the handle 28 to position the third
handle 120 between
the handles 28, 30
[0027] As is now appreciated, the connection of the components of the crimping
tool of the
invention with pins, e.g. but not limited to the handles 28, 30 and 120; the
middle link 80; the
jaws 24, 26, and the springs 72, 104 is not limiting to the invention and any
technique for
pivotally connecting components known in the art can be used in the practice
of the invention.
Further, in the discussion of the invention, the jaw 24 was fixed. The
invention, however,
contemplates having the jaw 24 moveable, and the handles 28, 30 moveable
toward and away
from one another, to move the jaws toward and away from one another, e.g. from
the non-
engaging position to the engaging position, and from the engaging position to
the non-
engaging position.
[0028] Referring to Figs. 1-8 as needed, the operation of the crimping tool 20
of the
invention will now be disclosed. First, the handles 28, 30, and the jaws 24,
26 are in the non-
engaging position. The pawl 100 is in the initial position with the arm 112
extending out of
the middle link 80 and the spring 104 in the unbiased position. The ring 34
joining the pipe 36
and the fitting 37 is placed in the half-hole 32 of the fixed jaw 24. The
handle 120, which may
be retracted in handle 28, and the handle 30 are engaged, and the handles 120,
30 are squeezed
toward each other to move the handle 29 toward the handle 30, and the jaw 24
toward the jaw
24 to move the half-hole 32 of the jaw 26 over the ring 34. As the handle 28
moves toward
the handle 30, the teeth 94 of the ratchet 90 individually move past the arm
98 of the pawl 100
(see Fig. 7) to prevent the handle 28 from moving away from the handle 30
under the biasing
force of the spring 72 (see Figs. 2-4) as discussed above. When the handles
28, 30 are close
enough for the user to grasp the handles 28, 30, the third handle 120 is
released and the
handles 28, 30 gripped by the user. When the handles 30, 120 are released, the
spaced
position of the handles 28, 30 is maintained by the ratchet 90 engaging the
end 78 of the pawl
100.
[0029] The handles 28, 30 are grasped and moved toward one another to crimp
the buckle
33 and the ring 34 to provide a fluid seal between the pipe 36 and fitting 37.
With the handles
28, 30 in the engaging position, the ratchet 90 is moved past the pawl 100
allowing the pawl
100 to move out of engagement with the ratchet to its initial position, and
the biasing force of
the spring 72 is neutralized, as discussed above. The handles 28, 30 are
slightly moved apart
to activate the biasing force of the spring 72 to move the handles 28, 30, and
the jaws 24, 26,
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away from one another into the non-engaging position to release the buckle
from between the
jaws 24, 26.
[0030] As can be appreciated, the handle subassembly 23 can be used with other
head
arrangements such as pliers, for example. Further, because many varying and
different
embodiments of the invention can be made within the scope of the non-limiting
embodiments
discussed herein, it is understood that the details herein are illustrative of
the invention, and
the scope of the invention is not limited thereto. More particularly, the
scope of the invention
is to be given the full breath of the following claims, and any and all
equivalents thereto.
