1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a hand tool that can perform multiple functions. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to a hand tool that is both a diagonal cutter and a wire stripper.
2. Description of the Related Art
A pair of diagonal cutters is a common tool that is used to cut wire. Diagonal cutters have a plier-like appearance, but are typically not used to hold anything in place. Instead, diagonal cutters include jaws that come together at an angle, and cut wire by indenting a wire until it snaps.
A pair of wire strippers is a common tool that is used to remove insulation from a wire. Wire strippers also have a plier-like appearance, and have one or more notches cut out in the jaws with one or more blades around each notch. In use, a wire is placed within a notch of the wire strippers, the blades pierce the insulation without piercing the wire, and when the wire stripper is moved along a length of wire, the wire insulation is removed.
Often, both diagonal cutters and wire strippers are used in the same project. However, a person using both tools usually fumbles around locating one or both tools while working with wires, which may be inconvenient. Therefore, there is a need for a tool that can act as both a wire cutter and diagonal cutter.
The present invention generally relates to a hand tool that includes two levers pivotably coupled at a fulcrom, each lever reciprocal to one another, and each lever including a handle at a lower end and a jaw at an upper end. The jaw includes an edge, and the edge includes a straight angled portion and a notch. The notch includes at least one blade along a perimeter.
So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
The present invention relates to a hand tool that may both strip insulation from a wire and cut the wire. The function of the tool is dependent on the placement of the wire within jaws of the tool. Along an inner portion of each jaw, an edge is formed that includes both a straight angled portion and a notch that includes at least one blade along a perimeter, the jaws being reciprocal to one another. Thus, if a wire is placed where two straight angled edges of the tool meet, a wire may be cut on a diagonal by squeezing the jaws together. If a wire is placed within a notch, the blade may pierce the insulation while the wire remains unharmed. Further movement of the wire through the notch of the tool allows the insulation of the wire to be stripped.
Each jaw 55A, B comprises an edge 60A, B at an inner portion of the tool 10. Edge 60A is reciprocal to edge 60B. The edge 60A, B includes at least one straight portion 65A, B that is angled. When the two straight portions 65A, B are joined, a cutting surface is formed by the angled portions, which may allow a wire to be cut on a diagonal. As shown in
The edges 60A, B also comprise at least one notch 70. In the embodiment shown, the edges 60A, B include three notches 70A, B, C. (See
To strip insulation from the wire, the wire is placed within a notch 70 of the tool 10 at a certain distance away from the end of the wire while the tool is open. The handles 50A, B are squeezed together, thus closing the jaws 55A, B. When the jaws 55A, B are closed, the one or more blades pierce the insulation. As the tool 10 is moved toward the end of the wire in the closed position, the insulation is removed from the wire, and the wire is unharmed. Thus, the tool 10 provides a wire stripper function.
Both functions of the tool 10—wire stripping and wire cutting—may be used with ease and without any modification to the tool. A user need only adjust the position of the wire within the jaws 55A, B of the tool 10 in order to switch between functions of the tool 10. Therefore, a user no longer needs to fumble to find multiple tools for stripping wires and cutting wires.
While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.
This application claims benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/651,031, filed May 30, 2012, which is herein incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61653031 | May 2012 | US |