GB2201370A - Adjustable locking hand tool - Google Patents

Description

1.

01 5 1 - ADJUSTABLE LOCKING HAND TOOL 2201370 This invention relates genera l l y to togglelocking hand tools. - More- specifically It relates to toggle-locking hand tools of' the pliers type with one adjustable -Jaw and one- movable jaw, the latter being mounted and supported on a f imed extension bar, which is mounted on a, fixed handle and is optionally replaceable. A movable handle, pivotably mounted on the adjustable jaw controls a conventional four-pivot toggle locking mechanism. and optionally includes a r-elease lever for the toggle mechanism.

This novel class of locking hand tools -with a movable jaw and an adjustable Jaw may have jaws with t-ips defining- arcuate pliers, straight pliers, longnosed pliers, C-clamps, hole punches, wire cutter-s or any other type of locking hand tool.

Pliers-type hand tool-s with toggle-locking leverlink mechanisms are generally known as toggle wrenches or locking pli-ers. These conventional tools usually cOmprLse -a fixed handle Integral with a fixed jaw member an d a movable jaw pivotably mounted -on the fixed handle, a movable handle pivotably mounted on the movab. le jaw and a Lever link pivotably mounted on the movable handle and extending to an ajustable point i-nside a channel in the fixed handle. This four-pivot mechan i sm is known as a toggle 11 nk a-e. Conventionally a r-lease lever for the toggle lock is pivotably mounted in the channel of the movable lever.

Certain patents which describe toggle locking hand tools are as follows:Inventor US Patent No. Date of Iss ue W. Pattersen 1,489,458 April 18, 1924 W. Petersen 2,201,918- May 21, 1940 W. Petersen 2,280,005- April 14, 1942 Borchers 2,299,454 Oct. 20, 1942 Toernberg 2,341,489 Feb. 8, 1944 W. Petersen 2,417,013 Mar. 4, 1947 C. Petersen 2,563,267 Aug. 7, 1951 C. Petersen 2,590,031- Mar. 18, 1952 W. Petersen 2,711,663 Jun. 28, 1955 W. Petersen 2,853,910- Sept. 30, 1958 Hostetter Re-26,280 Jan. 7, 1964 Oct. 17, 1967 C. Petersen et al 3,192,804 Jul. 6, 1965 Schroeder 3,585,704 Jun. 222, 1971 Marasco 3,590,669 Jul. 6, 1971 Baldwin 3,600,986 Aug. 24, 1971 C. Petersen 4,541,312 Sept. 17, 1985 C. Petersen 4,546,680 Oct. 15, 1985 1 v 1 1, I 1 - Conventional locking hand tools may have jaws in the form of-C-clamps, as in U.S. Patent 2,641,149; in the form of chain clamps as in U.S. Patent 3,192,804; -in the form of long nose pliers. as in U.S. Patents 4,541,312 and 4,546, 680; in the form of a straight jaw as in U.S. Patents 2,201,918 and 2,280, 005; in the form of curved jaws as in U.S. Patents 2,563,267 and 2,853, 910; in the form of a wire cutter as in U.S. Patent 2,-590,031; and in the form of an involute jaw as in U.S. Patent 2i563,267. Locking hole punches are also known.' The novel mechanism of the present invention may be applied to the types 'of locking hand tools' listed above or any other type of locking hand tool. All these tools have the basic purpose of seizing a workpiece and holding it firmly, when appropriately adjusted, actuated by the locking action of compressing the movable handle and the fixed handle. A release _ lever is -provided to release the togglelocking action in all of these hand tools.

U.S. Patent 4,553,305 discloses a pipefitter's scribing and spacing tool. with a series of complex static adjust.ments.

U.S Patent 4,483,059 shows a clamping and spacing tool- with a pair of clamping Jaws and shims which may be manipulated to provide a gap.

U.S. Patent 4,344,215 discloses a pipefiter's tool with a jaw-controlled by the movable handle and a U-shaped fixed jaw adjustable with,bolts.

- 4 U. S. Patent 4,306,345 discloses a pipefitter's tool with an Internal f Itting adjustable with shims and bolts.

: U.S. Patent 4,083,548 discloses an adjustable clamp in the form of two jaws mounted on a common bar.

U.S. Patent 3,836 shows a racheted frame member bearing a clamp pad and a pivotably mounted clamp arm.

U.S. Patent 3,241,410 discloses an adjustable racheted jaw on a racheted movable extension bar.

U.S. Patent 3,092,378 discloses a C-clamp parallel to a main frame.

All eight of the preceding patents in the prior art have some type of toggle-locking mechanism.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a locking hand tool of the pliers type wherein the gap between two jaws is varied by a novel movable Jaw fixed to an extension bar and by a conventional adjustable Jaw.

It is a further object of the Invention to provide a hand tool of the locking pliers type, wherein the gap between the Jaws may be varied at least partially by gravity so that It may be operated, if desired, by only one hand.

The objects of the Invention cited above are realized by a novel togglelocking, pliers-type, hand tool with dual infinitesimally adjustable capability comprising:

a) a movable Jaw and an opposing pivotally adjustable Jaw, F, 1 - f v' c) b) a f Ixed - handle - and a movab.le handle and lever-locking means therebetween for establishing and maintaining a toggle relation between the jaws when In a closed position, the adjustable jaw being pivotably mounted on the f ixed handle and the movable -handle being, pivotably mounted on the adjustable jaw, an extension bar mounted at an angle to the fixed handle,, and d) means for supporting and moving the movable jaw along.' the extension bar, and means for holding it securely at any position along the. extension bar, so that a user can_ clamp on, and hold a workplece securely with the use of only one hand, if-desired.

The preferred hand tool has a channeled support piece ho Iding the movable jaw to one face of the extension bar and holding a spacer member, preferably circular, to the opposite face of the extension bar.

The extension bar may be of any convenient-length and may be mounted in the f ixed handle at any angle between about 45 and 135, most preferably about 90', from the axis of the fixed handle.

Preferably the movable jaw has an end having an arcuate, outer, protuberant corner with a radius of curvature from about 1/16 inch (1.5 mm) to about 7/16 inch (12 mm), whereby the movable jaw can be locked and unlocked at any point along the fixed extension bar, creating a variable angle of between from about 2 degrees to about 8 degrees, preferably about 5 degrees, as It changes from locked to unlocked positions. -The supporting piece holding the movable Jaw may be exogenously moved or it may be endogenously moved by gravity.

Further preferred is an adjustment screw In the channel of the fixed handle cooperating with the end of the toggle lever link to control the position of the adjustable Jaw.

The preferred tips for the adjustable and movable jaws are those in a Cclamp configuration with swivel pads. The Jaws may also be straight, serrated, acuate, involute, hole punch, long nosed, wire cutting, or any combination thereof.

Also preferably contained in this novel class of hand toil are a toggle releasing lever pivotably mounted on. the movable handle, a limit stop at the free end of the extension bar, fastening means for attaching and replacing the extension bar on the fixed handle, preferably In the form of a winged nut and bolt, and indicia means for Indicating the source of the novel locking hand tool of this Invention.

Figure 1 Is a partially sectional side view of one embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of the portion of the fixed e xtension bar where the support piece holds the end of the movable Jaw.

1 z 1 V t m r It is understood that the drawings show only one embodiment of the - Invention. Many other embodiments can be produced which fall within the scope of the Invention.

An embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 1, is designated generally by numeral 10. An adjustable Jaw 12 is pivotably mounted on a fixed handle 11 at pivot point 13, which Is shown as a rivet. It is to be understood, however, that a nut and bolt or any other suitable pivoting means can be used at this and/or the other pivot points. A movable handle.14 is mounted pivotably on the adjustable jaw 12 at pivot point 15, which is also indicated as a rivet.:A locking lever 16 is pivotably mounted on the movable handle. 14 at pivot point 17, which is also a rivet or the like, and extends into a channel in the fixed handle 11 where It is engaged by the end of adjusting means in this case in the fo rm of an adjusting screw 33 controlled by a knurled adjusting knob.32. It is to be understood that other equivalent adjusting means and other adjustment knobs, such as a slotted screwhead, could also be employed. A tension spring 18 extends between and connects a lug or hole 19 near the base of theadjusting jaw 12 to another unseen lug or hole inside the channel of' the fixed handle 11, the- channel being designated by arrow 20. A release lever 21 is mounted dpivotably at a pivot point 22, e.g. a rivet, inside the channel of the 1 movable handle 14, near the free end of said handle 14.

A fixed extension bar 23 of any convenient length, e.g. 10 inches (25 cm) or 18 inches (42 cm), is fastened to the fixed handle 11 by a nut 24, but it is to be understood that any other fastening means either easily replaceable, such as a winged bolt, or not easily replaceable e.g. cyanoacrylate or other adhesive, or a rivet, may be employed. Easily replaceable fastening means are preferable, so that an extension bar of a different length or a new extension bar may be substituted for the original fixed extension bar 23.

A movable jaw 25 is supported upon and movable along the extension bar 23, by a supporting piece 27 to which it is connected by two similar fasteners, such as rivets 29. It is to be understood that other fastening means such as nuts and bolts or adhesives could also be used. The extension bar 23 extends slidingly through a channel within the support piece 27. A spacer member 28, which is shown as circular, but which may be of any other arcuate, flat-sided shape is held to the face of the extension bar 23 opposite to that on which the movable jaw 27 is supported. This spacer 28 has several functions one of which is to maintain the proper alignment of the parallel faces of the channel of the support piece 27.

q, d A further fastener 29 is preferably at or near the geometrical centre of the spacer 28.

-,I 0 In Figure 1 the shape of the adjustable jaw 12 and the movable jaw 25 def ine a C-clamp, but it is to be understood that other shapes and functions of jaws may- be employed such as straight, arcuate, curved, hole punch,. wire cutter, long nose, and the like. Both the- movable jaw 25 and the adjustable jaw 12 end in cooperating tips functioning as swivel pads 26a and 26b, but it is to be understood that grooved tips, serrated tips, arcuate tips, textured milled tips, plain ti - ps, or any other type of tips or combination thereof helpful in seizing a workplece may alternati vel-y be provided. - A pair of bosses 30a and 3 Ob constitute stop means at the free end of the fixed extension bar -23, but it Is to be understood that cuts, flanges, soldered joints. or any other sfmilar type of protrusions may alternatively serve as limiting stop means.

Smooth surfaces- and bolt heads or rivet heads, indicated by five places numbered 31 serve as preferred points to Imprint specific mark i ngs, letters, numbers, _and/or words to Indicate the source of manufac ture of the hand tools of the present invention _and - to inhibit either domestic or foreign counterfeiting.

Figure 2 shows diagrammatically, and as indicated generally by 40, a section of the extension bar 23, the entire spacer 28, and the end of the movable jaw 25 remote from the swivel pad 26b. The outer corner of the sliding end of the movable Jaw 25 has an arcuate protuberance 42, which has a radius of curvature from about 1/16 inch (1.5 mm) to about 7/16 inch (12 mm), preferably about 3/16 Inch (5 mm). This protuberance 42 enables the sliding end to alternate, either endogenously by gravity or exogenously by action of a user, from a locked position 25a (shown in solid lines) to an unlocked position 25b (shown In broken lines) as the movable jaw 25 slides or Is slid to any point along the extension bar 23. The clearance angle 41 created by the alternation between the lock:--d position 25a and the unlocked. position. 25b may range f rom about 2 degrees to about 8 degrees and Is preferably about 5 degrees.

Although the present Invention has been particularly described by reference to Figures 1 and 2, it will be understood, of course, that various modifications and alternatives may be chosen In the form, sizes, details, and arrangement of the parts of the present invention and still remain within the scope of the Invention.

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Claims (1)

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   A locking hand tool havil)g a pivotably adjustable jaw -and an opposing movable, i.nfinitesimally adjustable jaw, a fixed handle and a movable handle and lever-locking means ther6between for establishing and maintaining a toggle relation between the jaws when in a closed position, an extension bar extending at an angle to the fixed handle, means for supporting and moving the movable J'aw along the extension bar, and means for holding it securely at any position therealong, whereby a user can clamp on and hold a workpiece securely with the use of only one hand.

   A locking hand tool as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the supporting and moving means comprise a channeled supporting means holding the movable jaw t o one face of- the extension bar and holding a spacer member to the opposite face of the -extension bar.

   A locking hand tool as claimed in Claim 2, wh_ere,in the e nd of the movable jaw held against the extension bar has an arcuate corner protuberance with a radius of curvature from about 1/16 inch (1.5 mm.) to about 7/16 inch (12 mm), whereby the movable jaw can be held at any point along the extension bar.

   A locking hand tool as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, wherein the spacer member is circular.

   A locking hand tool as claimed In any preceding claim, wherein the angle between the extension bar and the fixed handle Is about 90 degrees. A locking hand claim,- wherein Inches (25 cm) 7. A locking hand to 5, wherein Inches (42 cm) A locking hand claim, wherein the adlustable 8.

   tool as claimed in any preceding the extension bar is about 10 long. tool as claimed in any of claims 1 the extension bar Is about 18 long. tool as claimed in any preceding the tips of the extenable jaw and jaw are arcuate.

   9.. A locking hand tool as claimed In any preceding claim, wherein the tips of the extendable jaw and the opposing adjustable jaw are provided with swivel pads.

   10. A locking hand tool as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising releasing means for the lever locking means.

   11. A locking hand tool as claimed In Claim 10, wherein the releasing means I.s a release lever located In an inner channel of the movable handle.

   12. A locking hand tool as claimed in any claim, wherein the extension bar Is fixed angle to the fixed handle by fastening means, whereby one extension substituted for another extension bar.

   C preceding held at a releasable bar may be 1 z .f t; 13. A locking hand tool as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the fastening means Is a bolt and wing nut.

   14. A locking hand tool as -claimed In any preceding claim, further comprising indicia means Indicating the slource of the hand tool.

   15. A locking hand tool as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising stop means at the free end of. the extension bar for'limiting the outward movement of the supporting means.

   16. A locking hand tool as claimed In any preceding claim, wherein the movable jaw and the adjustable jaw define a G-clamp.

   17. -A locking hand tool -as claimed In any preceding claim, wherein the fixed handle includes means for adjusting t,he adjustable jaw.

   18. A _locking hand tool as claimed in any preceding cla im, wherein the toggle relation Is defined by toggle locking means Including a toggle locking lever, and wherein the adjusting means on the fixed handle cooperates with the toggle locking lever to-adjust the adjustable jaw.

   19. A locking hand tool substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated In -the accompanying drawing.

   Published 1988 at The Patent Office, State House, 66/71 High Holborn, London WCIR 4TP. Further copies may be obtained from The Patent Offloe Sales:Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd, St Mary Cray, Kent. Con. 1/87.