Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02640862 2008-10-09
INDEXABLE PLIERS-TYPE TOOL
Backaound of the Invention
The present application relates generally to pliers-type tools, and more
particularly to pliers-type tools having an adjustable or indexable tool head
that is
rotatable relative to the tool's handles.
Pliers-type tools typically comprise opposing first and second handles that
are
respectively integral with first and second jaw elements that form a jawed
tool, such
as, for example, pliers, wire cutters, wire strippers, and the like. A pivot
joint is
typically defined adjacent to the first and second jaw elements so the handles
and jaw
eIex-nents are pivotally movable relative to each other. Well known opening
and
closing movement of the handles causes open and closing rnovement of the jawed
tool
formed by the jaw elements.
It is well known to have a combination pliers tool having diametrically
opposing jawed tools that are selectable to either use or non-use positions by
rotating
the handles 180 about a pivot axis relative to the tool head. Such a tool is
sliown in
US patent no. 5,245,721. However, the jawed tools can only be moved to one of
two
positions - a use position, wherein the jawed tool is adaptcd to be usable in
a wel]-
known inanner via the opposing handles, or a non-use position. Such tool,
however,
cannot rotate the tool head to any one of a plurality of angular orientations
relative to
the handles.
It is also well known to liave a tool head that is rotatable to any one of a
plurality of angular positions relative to a single handle with an axially
movable
splined pin, such as is disclosed in US patent no. 5,419,221. However, such
tools do
not facilitate movement of a tool head formed of two opposing jaws relative to
two
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CA 02640862 2008-10-09
handles, wherein the handles are adapted to be respectively fixedly
interconiiected to
the jaws, thus forming a pliers-type tool_
There is therefore a need for a pliers-type tool having a tool head that is
adapted to be rotated to and usable in any one of a plurality of angles
relative to the
tool's handles_
Sumrna.ry of the Invention
The present application discloses a pliers-type tool that includes first and
second handles that are adapted to be fixedly interconnectable with a jaw-type
tool
head that is formed by opposing first and second jaw eleinents_ The tool head
can be
locked in any angular position relative to the handles via an axially
inoveable pin that
is disposed in co-axial apertures disposed in the handles and the jaw
elements.
In an embodimerxt, the pin includes first, second and third externally splined
portions. The second externally splined portion is rotatable relative to the
first and
third externally splined portions and the third externally splined portion is
axially
spaced relative to the second externally splined portion. In an embodimeut,
each of the
apertures in the handles and the jaw elements includes ati inner surface with
circumferentially disposed irrternal splines that are engageable with the
exterually
splined portions. Tlxe pin is axially movable along a pivot axis, defined by
the coaxial
alignment of the apertures, between a locked position, whereira the relative
well-known
pivotal movement of the handles about the axis causes relative movexuent of
the jaw
elements, and an unlocked position, wherein the tool head caia be rotated to
any one of
a plurality of angular positions relative to the handles.
When the pin is in the loclced position, the pliers-type tool is in the "use"
condition and the first externally splined portion fixedly interconnects the
first handle
with the first jaw element, and the second externally splined portion fixedly
CA 02640862 2008-10-09
interconnects the second handle witli the second jaw element. It will tllus be
appreciated that, when the pin is in the locked position, relative pivotal
movcrnent of
the handles in a well-known manner about the axis causes relative pivotal
movement
of the jaw elements of the tool head about the axis, due to the rotatability
of the second
externally splined portion relative to the firt externally splined portion.
When the user desires to modify the tool head's angular position relative to
the
handles, the pin is moved axially along the axis to the unlocked position,
wherein the
first exteinally splined portion is coupled to the first handle, the second
externally
splined portion fixedly interconnects the tirst and second jaw elements, and
the third
externally splined portion is coupled to the second handle. Because the first
and third
externally splined portions are not rotatable relative to each other, the
first and third
exteraally splined portions fixedly interconnect the first and second handles
with each
other. Moreover, because the second externally splined portion is rotatable
relative to
the first and thiz=d externally splined portions, the tool head, formed by the
first and
second jaw elements, is pivotable about the axis relative to the handles to
facilitate
angular modification of the tool head relative to the handles. After rotating
the tool
head to the desired angular position relative to the handles, the user can
axially move
the pin to the locked position, thus returning the pliers-type tool to the
"use" condition,
as described above.
In another embodiment, the tool head may comprise first and second
diametrically opposing jaw sets, each jaw set forming a different jawed tool
stxv.cture.
For exanaple, the first tool structure may define a wire cutting tool and the
second tool
structure may define a wire stripping tool. It will be appreciated that by
pivotally
moving the tool head relative to the handles about the axis, as described
above, the
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CA 02640862 2008-10-09
user can select the angular position of the first and second tool structures
relative to the
handles_
Descn~tion oFthe Drawings
For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought
to
be protected, there are illustrated in the accompanying drawings embodiments
thereof,
from an inspection of whi ch, when considered in connection with the following
description, the subject matter sought to be protected, its construction and
operation,
and many of its advantages, sliould be readily understood and appreciated.
Fig. I is a perspective view of an ernbodiment of the adjustable jaw pliers
type
of the present application, depicted with a tool head having two opposing jaw
sets
defining two jawed tools.
Fig. 2 is a view siznilar to Fig. 1, but depicting the pin in the unlocked
position
and the tool head being rotated relative to the handles.
Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 depicting further rotational movement of
the
tool head relative to the handles_
Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 depicting further rotational movement of
the
tool head relative to the handles and the pin in the locked position.
Fig. 5A is au enlarged cross-sectional view talcen aloTig line 5A-5A in Fig.
4.
Fig. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5B-5B in Fig. 4.
Fig. 5C is a cross-sectionaI view taken along line 5C-5C in Fig. 4.
Fig. 5D is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5D-SD in Fig. 4.
Fig, 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5A, but depicting the pin in the unlocked
position.
Fig. 7 is an enlarged, perspective view of the pin in Fig. 1 depicted in a
disassembled condition_
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Fig. 8 is a rriew sinsilar to Fig. 7, but depicting the pin in an assembled
condition.
Fig. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 in Fig. 4.
Fig. 10 is an enlarged, fraginentary, side perspective view of the adjustable
jaw
pliers type of Fig. 1 depicting the pin in the unlocked position.
Detailed Descrintiou
There is disclosed herein a pliers-type tool having two opposing handles and a
jawed-type tool head that is adapted to be rotated to any one of a plurality
of angular
positions relative to the handles_ Referring to the figures, the pliers-type
tool 20
includes first and second handles 21, 22 and a tool head 23 that is forrned by
first and
second oppos;ug jaw elements 24, 25. First jaw cleinent 24 includes first and
second
jaw portions 24a, 24b, and second jaw element 25 includes first and second jaw
portions 25a, 25b_ The first portions 24a, 25a of jaw elements 24, 25 are
disposed in
juxtaposed relation to each other to cooperatively form a first jaw defining a
first
jawed-tool structure 26. It will be appreciated that while a conventional wire
stripping
jawed-tool structure is shown in the figures, any type ofjawed-tool structure
defined
by two opposing jaw elements may be used with, the pliers-type too120 of the
present
application_ ln an embodiment, the first and second jaw elemeirts 24, 25 can
be
identically constructed in order to minimize manufactnring and assembly costs,
but
disposed in inverse juxtaposed relation to deFine the desi=ced jawed-tool
structure.
Each of the jaw elements 24, 25 includes ajaw aperture 27 disposed therein. In
an errAbodiment, the jaw apertures 27 are disposed in the respective second
portions
24b, 25b. The respective jaw apertures 27 of the jaw elem,ents 24, 25 are
disposed in
substantial coaxial aligvment relative to each other havxng a commen pivot
axis A,
wherein the second portions 24b, 25b are disposed in substantially superposed
relation_
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The jaw elements 24, 25 are adapted to be pivotally moveable relative to each
other
about the pivot axis A when the pliers-type too120 is in a use condition, as
described
in furtlier detail below. In an embodiment, each of the jaw apertures 27
includes a
plurality of jaw elemeiit internal splines 28 circumfere-otially disposed on
inner
surfaces thereof that protrude radially inwardly toward the pivot axis A_
The first and second handles 21, 22 are adapted to be respectively fixedly
interconnected with the frst and second jaw elements 24, 25. In an embodiment,
each
of the first and second handles 21, 22 includes a handle aperture 30 disposed
in
respective first ends 21a, 22a tlaereof. The handle apertures 30 are
substantially
coaxially aligned with the jaw element apertures 27. in an embodiment, each of
the
handle apeitures 30 includes a plurality of handle internal splines 31
disposed on an
inner surface thereof that protrude radially inwardly toward the pivot axis A.
The first
and second handles 21, 22 are adapted to be pivotally moveable relative to
each other
about the pivot axis A when the pliers-type too120 is in a use condition, as
described
in further detail below.
The pliers-type tool 20 includes a pivot pin 40 disposed axially through the
jaw
element apertures 27 and the handle apertures 30 along the pivot axis A and is
axially
movable along the pivot axis A relative tliereto betweeii a locked position
(as seen in
Figs_ 1, 4, 5A and 9) and an unlocked position (as seen in Figs. 2, 3, 6, and
10)_ When
the pivot pin 40 is disposed in the locked position, the pliers-type too120 is
in the
"use" coudition, wherein the first handle 21 is fixedly interconnected with
the first jaw
element 24 and the second handle 22 is fixedly interconnected with the second
jaw
element 25, so that the second handle 22 and the second jaw element 25 are
pivotally
movable together relative to the first handle 21 and the first jaw element 24
about the
pivot axis, wherein relative pivotal movement of the handles 21, 22 about the
pivot
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CA 02640862 2008-10-09
axis A in a well-known manner causes relative movement of the jaw elements
24,25
in a we11-kn.own openiug and closing manner. When the pivot pin 40 is disposed
in the
unlocked position, the first and second handles 21, 22 are fixedly
interconnected with
each other and the jaw elements 24, 25 are fixedly interconnected with each
other, so
that the jaw elemea-its 24, 25 are pivotally movable together about the pivot
axis A
relative to the handles 21, 22. It will thus be appreciated that by disposing
the pivot
pin 40 in the uWocked position, the user can rotate the first jawed too]
structure 26,
defined by the first portions 24a, 25a of jaw elements 24, 25, relative to the
handles 21,
22. it will further be appreciated that when the first jawed tool structure 26
is disposed
in a desired angular position relative to the handles 21, 22, the user can
axially move
the pivot pin 40 to the locked position, so that the pliers-type too120 is in
a"tase"
condition, as described herein_
:R.eferring to Figs. 6-9, in an embodiment, the pivot pin 40 includes a first
externally splined portion 41 having a plurality of radially outwardly
extending first
external splines 42 defining a trst splined portion outer diaineter, and a
second
externally splined portion 43 adjacent to the first externally splined portion
41 having a
plurality of radially outwardly extending second external splines 44 defining
a second
splined portion outer diameter that is substantially the same as the first
splined portion
outer diameter. In an embodiment, the second externally splined portion 43 is
rotatable relative to the first externally sp]ined portion 41. The pivot pin
40 may also
include a third externally splined portion 45 having a plurality of radially
outwardly
extending tlaird external splines 47 that define a third portion outer
diameter that is
substantially the same as the first portion outer diameter. The third
externaily splined
portion 45 is axially spaced relative to the second externalIy splined portion
42 and is
nonrotatable relative to the first portion 41. In an embodixnent, the second
externally
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splincd portion 43 is axially spaced from the third externally splined portion
45 by a
substantially smooth portion 48 having an outer diameter that is less than the
first
splined portion outer diameter.
In an embodiment, the smooth portion 48 and the third externally splined
portion 45 h,ave respective axial stzxooth portion ler-gth B a-Ld third
portion length C,
the lengths B, C being substantially the same. The fmt externally splined
portion 41,
the second externally splined portion 45 and the third externally splined
portion 47 are
eacb adapted to nieshingly engage the jaw element intexnal splines 28 and the
handle
interrmal splines 31, as disctissed below_ Referring particularly to Fig. 8,
the first
extemally splined portion 41, the second externally portion 43 and the third
externally
splined pordon 45 have respective first axial length D, second axial length E,
and third
axial length F. ln an embodiment, the third axial length F is shorter than the
second
axial length E, and the second axial length E is shorter than first axial
length D.
As shown in Figs. 5A and 9, when the pivot pin 40 is disposed in the locked
position, the first externally splined portion 41 engages the handle internal
splines 31
of the handle aperture 30 of the t7rst handle 21 and the jaw element iztteznal
splines 28
of the jaw element aperture 27 oft,he first jaw element 24, thus $xedly
interconnecting
the first handle 21 with the first jaw element 24, and the second externally
splined
portion 45 engages the handle internal splines 31 of the handle aperture 30 of
the
$eu-ond hartdle 22 and the jaw element internal splines 28 of the jaw element
aperture
27 of the second jaw element 25, thus fixedly intereonnectiug the second
handle 22
with the second jaw element 25, so that the second handle 22 and the second
jaw
element 25 are pivotally movable together about the pivot axis A relative to
the first
handle 21 and the first jaw elezxtez-it 24, because the second externally
splined portion
43 is rotatable relative to the first cxtemally splined portion 41. In the
locked position,
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the [hird externally splined portion 45 is disposed outside of the handle
aperture 30 of
the second handle 22, and the smooth portion 48 is disposed adjacent to the
handle
internal sp)in.es 31 of the handle aperture 30 of the second handle 22, as
shown in Fig.
9, but because the outer diameter of the smooth portion 48 is less than the
first splined
portion outer diameter defined by the fu' st externally splined portion 42,
the smooth
portion 48 does not iaterfere with or engage the handle internal splines 31 of
the
second handle 22_
As showr, in Figs. 6 and 10, when the pivot pin 40 is disposed in the unlocked
positioxl, the first extemally splined portion 41 engages only the handle
internal splines
31 of the handle aperture 30 of the fYrst handle 21, the second externally
splined
portion 43 engages the jaw element internal splines 28 of the jaw apertures 27
of the
first and second jaw elements 24, 25, and the third externally splined portion
45
engages the handle internal splines 31 of the handle aperture 30 of the second
handle
22, so that the first and second jaw elei-nents 24, 25 are fixedly
interconnected with
each other and are pivotally movable together about the pivot axis A relative
to first
and second handles 21, 22, which are fixedly interconnected with eaeh other
because
the third externally splined portion 47 is nonrotatable relative to the first
externally
splined portion 41 and the second externally splined portion 43 is zotatable
relative to
the first and third externally splined portions 41, 45.
Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, in an embodiment, the first a.nd second externally
splined portions 41, 43 are separated from each other by a first annulus
member 49
disposed therebetween. In an embodiment, the second and third extenially
splined
poztions 43, 45 are separated from each other by a second annulus member 50
disposed
therebetween_
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CA 02640862 2008-10-09
Referring still to Fig. 7, in an embodiment, the pivot pin 40 includes a
substa,itially cylindrical shaft 51. In an embodiment, the first and third
externally
splined portions 41, 45 are formed by aiululi that are integral with or
fixedly coupled to
the shaft 51 in a well-known manner, such as, for example, weldment, adhesion,
or
press-fit, and the second exterually portion 43 is forxned by an annulus that
is rotatable
relative to the shaf151. In an embodiment, the shaft 51 includes an outer
surface 51 a
liaving a sha~ft flattened portiion 52 adjacent to the first portion 41, and
the first
exte,nnally splined portion 41 includes an inner surface 41a having a
flatte=ued portion
41b that is adapted to abuttingly engage the shaft flattened portion 52 to
prevent
rotation of the first externally splined portion 41 relative to the shaft 51.
In an embodiment, the pivot pin 40 includes first and second cnds 40a, 40b
having respective first and second stops 53, 54 with an outer diameter that is
greater
than the iruler diameter of the handle apertures 30 o#'the first and second
handles 21,
22, and which are adapted to abut the surfaces of the handles 21, 22 adjacent
to the
handle aperhires 30 to prevent the pivot pin 40 from being inadvertently
rernoved from
the pliers-type tool 20 when the pin 40 is axially moved to and from the
locked and
tullocked positions along the pivot axis A. In an eznbodixnent, the first stop
53
comprises a screw member 55 having a screw shank 56 and head 57, wherein the
shanlc 56 is adapted to threadingly engage inner threads disposed in an axial
bore 59
disposed in the shaft 51. In an embodiment, the screw member 55 secures the
first
externally splined portion 41 to the shaft 51 to prevent inadvertent removal
of the first
externally splined portion 41 from the shaft 51.
In an embodiment, the first portions 24a, 25a of the jaw elements 24, 25 are
xespectively disposed in a stepped, nonplanar relation relative to the second
portions
24b, 25b_ In an embodiment, second poTtions 24b, 25b of the tool head 23 may
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CA 02640862 2008-10-09
respectively include secoiid jaw surfaces 24c, 25c to form second javvs that
cooperatively define a second jawed tool structure 26a that is diametrically
opposed to
the first jawed too] structure 26, the first portions 24a, 25a and second
portions 24b,
25b adapted to be respectively pivotally moveable relative to each other about
the axis
A. In an embodiment, the first portions 24a, 25a are respectively unitary with
the
second portions 24b, 25b.
It will be appreciated that, with the pliers-type tool 20 disclosed herein, a
user
can axially move the pivot pin 40 along the pivot axis A from the locked
position to
the Lmlocked position, then rotate the tool head 23 relative to the handles
21, 22 until
the desired angular position of either the first or second jawed tool
structure 26, 26a is
achieved, and then dispose the pivot pin 40 in the locked position. It will
further be
appreciated that while the first and second jawed tools structures 26, 26a are
depicted
in the drawings as a wire stripping tool and wire crirzzping tool,
respectively, first and
second jawed tools structures 26, 26a can be aizy type of jawed tool
structures, while
not departing from the true scope and spirit of the present application.
Also disclosed herein is a method of selectively disposing a tool head of a
pliers-type tool in any one of a plurality of angular positions relative to
first and second
handles of the pliers-type tool, the tool head being fornrned by opposing
first and second
jaw elements, each jaw element having a jaw apeiture disposed therein vvith
the jaw
apertures having a common pivot axis, each of the first and second handles
includes a
handle apertcne therein that is coaxial with the jaw apertures, the pliers-
type tool
includes a pivot pin disposed axially through the jaw apeTtures and the handle
apkatures and is axially movable relative thereto between locked and unlocked
positions. The method compiises fixedly interconnecting the handles with each
other
and freeing the jaw elements for pivotal movement relative to the handles by
moving
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CA 02640862 2008-10-09
the pivot pin to the unlocked position, rotating the jaw elemerkts about the
axis relative
to the handles to a desired angular position, aild freeing the handles for
pivotal
movement relative to each other and fixedly interconnecting the first and
second
handles respectively with the first and second jaw elements by moving the
pivot pin to
the locked position_ The method i-nay further comprise pivotally moving the
handles
relativc to each other about the axis to cause relative movement of the jaw
elernents
while the pin is in the locked position.
The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is
offered by way of illustration only and not as a lirnitation. While particular
embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those
skilled in the
art that uhanges and modifications inay be made without departing from the
broader
aspects of applicants' contribution. The actual scope of the protection sought
is
intended to be defined iza the following claims when viewed in their proper
perspective
based on the prior art.
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