US2325035A - Adjustable jaw pliers - Google Patents

Description

July 27 *1943 P, J. CARGILE ADJUSTABLE JAW PLIERS Filed March 19. 1942 INVENTOR Ea-ml Lar ile ATTORNEY Patented July 27, 1943 D'JUSTABLEVJAW PL-iERs v y Paul I. Cargle, United rStatesNarvy 1V gApplication March 19, 1942, Serial No. 435,2655

't claims.x (c1. sir-51.4)

lGranted underthe act of March 3,1883, as' l A amended. April 30, 1928; 3'10A O. 757) v This invention relates Yto pliers orv vWrenches andhas for an object to providel a/pair of pliers wherein the jaws are adjustablejnot only to each other, but also with relationfto the angle to their operating handles. l" V` 'l f Pliers, as conventionally made, usually have the jaws at a xed angle tothe handles, although in ksome cases, suchv as in U. S. Patent No. 1,670; 188, means are provided' for adjusting one jaw relative to the other so as to take vcarevof objects of varying Width.v With 'the present invention vthis same function is provided, but in addition it becomes possible to change; the'angle between'rthe pair of jaws andthe pair of'op'era-ting handles.

It thus becomes possible withithis' invention to manipulate an object around a1 corner so that the Ahandle may extend in one direction and the jaws will extend at a desired adjusted anglel in adifferent direction. f v 'A With the foregoing and other objects in View, v'the invention consists inthe constructionjcombination and arrangement Hof lparts hereir'iafte'r 'described and illustratedv Yin the drawing,` in which:

invention. Fig. 2 is an edge view Vof the bottom of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views ofthe jaws per se;an'd` '1' i There is shown at Ill'and I I the individual and complementary jaws of the pliers of this invention. Each of the jaws Il) and I I is provided with a circular hub I2, the hubs I2 being complementary to each other and therefore of approximately one-half the thickness of the jaws. Each hub I2 is provided with a ratchet consisting of a plurality of projecting teeth I3 extending from the periphery thereof, the teeth on the hub I 2 of jaw I I commencing at the gripping face of the jaw II and extending around approximately onehalf of the periphery thereof, While on the hub of the jaw I the teeth I3 commence adjacent the back of the jaw and extend about approximately three-fourths of the periphery of the hub. It will also be observed that these teeth extend at an angle to the radius of the hub, the teeth on one jaw sloping vin a reverse direction to the teeth on the other jaw.

The jaws I0 and I I are mounted on a common pivot I4 which also extends through ears II of shank handles I5 and I6. The essence of this invention is in the fact that each of the jaws is angularly adjustable relative to its shank handle;

Fig. 1 is an elevational View ofthe pliers of 'any desired length, it may be found more conthat is, 'shankhandle ISYmaj-be adjusted'relatve to its'jaw I0 and the. shank'handle. I6 may be advjustedrela-tive toritsjaw II.` The'means foradjusting each jaw' relative to its shank handlers substantially identical and includes a plunger I8 extending through itsshank handle. p' Thes'hank handle is provided with a `pairfof spaced apart ears 20 having alignedv apertures 2I through which the plunger I8 extends, plunger I8 being provided at oneV end with'. a pawl or tooth 22 'shapedtot between the'ratvchet 'teeth I`3a r1d at its other endwith a knurled Yenlarged handlev 23 for retracting the plunger againstlthe force of a spring 24 about the plunger I8 between the ears 20. An anchor pin 25 and washer 26 serve to "provide a base for the spring 24 to exertits thejaw, 'permittingthe jaw'to be rotated relative to the shank handle;` Thej'aw may'the'n b e lheld in a dierent 'angular adjustment relative to the shank handle by permitting the' plunger tooth 22` tor project' between a diierent pair ojf ratchet teeth I3. l

One of the'y jaws, as I I, mayalso be provided with a cotter pin extractor 21 pivoted on a'pinZ Athrough th'ejaw lI I and provided at its other end with a -Cotter pin hook 33." When not in use, the

:extractor 2-'I and Vits hook 3'may befrotated'and countersunk into a suitably shaped recess 3Iprovided inthe back of the .iaw Hf, Y. f, f

While the shank handles I5 and I6 may be of venient to make these shank handles I5 and I5 fairly short, permitting the pliers to be used in close quarters when necessary. It may also,

however, be desirable that the shank handles be of substantial length, and to provide for this contingency each of the shank handles I5 and I6 is provided With extension handles 32 and 33. In order to quickly attach the extension handles to the shank handles, each shank handle is provided with a socket 34 having an internal bayonet joint slot 35 formed therewithin. The ends of the extension handles 32 and 33 are each pro vided with complementary shaped extensie-ns 36 .through which extend suitably located bayonet pins 31 to cooperate with the bayonet slots 35, thereby permitting the extension handles to be quickly and easily attached or detached, as desired.

In operation, by holding plunger 23 in retracted position, the jaws I0 and Il may be angularly adjusted relative to the handle shanks, either for the purpose of gripping a larger object or for the purpose of gripping an object located around a corner from the direction that the handle shanks can be extended. Thus, the jaws set to grip an object. around a corner are shown in dash outline l0' and Il. In this case, the jaws in adjusted position are close to each other but at an angle to the handle Shanks. If desired to grip a wide object, the jaws I0 and Il would-be placed at a desired angle to each other. Obviously, instead of straight jaws, as shown, rthe gripping faces may be made arcuate or serrated, or both, as conventional.

Other modifications and changes in the number and arrangement of the parts may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from 1. An instrument or tool comprising a pair .olfy

jaws mounted .for operation on a common pivot, a pair of handles forsaid jaws mounted on kthe Vsame rpivot and positive locking means fornuickly .iixing each handle to its respective jaw in selectively adjusted angular relations so vthateaoh 4,jaw will be positively .locked from turning in eitherdirection relative to its handle.

2, An instrument or tool comprising a pair ,of jaws mounted for operation on .a common piyot, a paix-oi handles for said jaws mounted on `the ,samepivot and positive locking means for quickly fixing-each handle to its respective -jaw in selectively adjusted angular relations so that each jaw will be positively locked from turning in .either relative to its handle, said locking means including a ratchet on each jaw having substantially rectangular teeth and a spring-pressed complementary lug mounted on each handle adapted to slide into a selected space between the ratchetl teeth on lthe respective jaw portion.

3. An .instrument or tool ycomprising a pair .of

`jaws mounted for operationen Aa common pivot,

a pair of handles for said jaws mounted Von `the same pivot and positive locking means lfox-.quickly xing each handle to its respective Jaw Ain selectively adjusted angular relationsso thateach l jaw will be positively locked from turning in either direction relative to its handle, said locking means including a ratchet portion on each jaw having substantially rectangular teeth and a spring-pressed complementary lug mounted on each handle adapted to slide into a selected space between the ratchet teeth on the respective jaw portion, said lugs being provided with means whereby to manually retract them against the spring pressure.

4. An instrument or tool comprising a pair of y `jaws mounted for operationY on a common pivot,

a pair of handles for said jaws mounted on the same pivot, positive locking means for quickly fixing each handle to its respective jaw in selectively adjusted angular relations so that each jaw will be positively locked from turning in either direction relative to its handle, and extensions for said handles joined thereto by bayonet connections for quick attachment or removal.

5. An instrument or .tool comprising-a `pair of jaws mounted for `operation on a common ,-pivot, a Ypair of. handlesV forsaid jaws mountedon `rthe same pivot, positive locking-means for quickly fixing each handle to its respective -jaw .in selec- -tively adiusted angular relations so that each jaw will vbe positively .locked from turning. in either direction relative to its handle', said -locking means including a ratchet portion von each jaw having substantially rectangular teeth and a vspring-pressed complementary llug mounted -.on each handle adapted to slide into'a-selected space between the ratchet teeth` on the respective Ajaw portion, `and extensions Vforsaid handles joined thereto by bayonet connections for quick attachment or removal.

6. An instrumentar tool comprising a -pair of .jaws mounted for operation on a common pivot, a pair of handles for said jaws mounted on the same pivot, positive locking means for quickly ixingeach handle to its respective jaw 'in selectively adjusted angular relations so that each jaw will be .positively locked `vfrom` turning in either direction relative to its handle, said -lock- 4ing Ymeans including a ratchet Yportion on each each handle adapted -to slide into Aa 'selected space between the ratchet teeth on the respective jaw portion, said lugs being provided withfmeans whereby to manually retract .them against the spring pressure, Aand extensions Yfor Ysaid -handles joined thereto -by bayonet connections for rquick attachment-or removal.

.. PAUL J. CARGILE.

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