Patent Application
20230405769
This application claims priority to EP Patent Application No. 22179149.4, filed on Jun. 15, 2022, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present invention relates to a multigrip tool. More specifically, a rapid adjustable multigrip tool.
The general concept of a multigrip hand tool is well known. These tools allow users to manipulate objects, such as nuts. In operation, a user will open the jaws of the hand tool by separating the handles from one another. The operator can grasp the nut between the jaws and apply torque thereto. The space between the jaws of a multigrip tool can be adjusted thereby allowing the operator to grasp and apply torque to nuts of various sizes. It is not uncommon for such multigrip tools to have spring biased linking mechanisms. Said linking mechanisms assist the operator to grasp larger nuts by biasing the handles away from one other thereby increasing the space between the jaws.
While it is advantageous to have the jaws biased towards their open position during operation, said bias can be seen to be a drawback when said hand tool is not in use and needs to be stored. During storage, said tools are often placed within a confined container. In said container, it is preferable for the hand tool to take up as little space as possible. This permits other tools to be neatly and safely stored in the container along with the hand tool. It would be advantageous to have a multigrip hand tool that includes both a spring biased linking mechanism and a selective lock that permits safe and compact storage.
According to an aspect of the invention, a hand tool having a first arm with a first handle portion and a first jaw portion. The hand tool also includes a second arm with a second handle portion and a second jaw portion. The first and second arms are connected to one another about a primary pivot and movable between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the first and second handle portions are in proximity to one another, and the first and second jaw portions are in proximity to one another. In the open position, the first and second handle portions are distal from one another, and the first and second jaw portions are also distal from one another. The hand tool further includes a linking mechanism that includes a lock protrusion. The linking mechanism is positioned between the first and second arms. The hand tool is characterized in that it further includes a locking mechanism that is configured to secure the first and second arms in their closed position. The locking mechanism includes a lip positioned on one of the first or second handle portions and is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. In the locked position, the lip engages the lock protrusion and secures the first and second arms in their closed position. In the unlocked position, the lip is disengaged from the lock protrusion and the first and second arms are free to move from their closed position to their open position.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms, “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the root terms “include” and/or “have”, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of at least one other feature, step, operation, element, component, and/or groups thereof.
As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of features is not necessarily limited only to those features but may include other features not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.
For definitional purposes and as used herein, “connected” or “attached” includes physical or electrical, whether direct or indirect, affixed or adjustably mounted. Thus, unless specified, “connected” or “attached” is intended to embrace any operationally functional connection. When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
As used herein, “substantially,” “generally,” “slightly” and other words of degree are relative modifiers intended to indicate permissible variation from the characteristic so modified. It is not intended to be limited to the absolute value or characteristic which it modifies but rather possessing more of the physical or functional characteristic than its opposite, and approaching or approximating such a physical or functional characteristic.
In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying attachments and drawings which are provided for descriptive and illustration purposes as representative of specific exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. Given the following description of the specification and drawings, the apparatus, methods, and systems should become evident to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Further areas of applicability of the present teachings will become apparent from the description and illustrations provided herein. It is to be understood that other embodiments can be utilized and that structural changes based on presently known structural and/or functional equivalents can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
The above-mentioned and other features, embodiments, and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following descriptions of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Corresponding illustrated images and attachments indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the present invention. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the present invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention in any manner.
These and other features of the invention will become apparent upon review of the following description of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, taken into conjunction with the figures.
A detailed description of apparatuses, methods, and systems, consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure is provided below. While several embodiments are described, it should be understood that the disclosure is not limited to any one embodiment, but instead encompasses numerous alternatives, modifications, and equivalents. In addition, while numerous specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments disclosed herein, some embodiments can be practiced without some or all of these details. Moreover, for the purpose of clarity, certain technical material that is known in the related art has not been described in detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the disclosure.
The hand tool 10 also includes a linking mechanism 26 that includes a lock protrusion 28. The linking mechanism 26 is positioned between the first and second arms 12, 18.
The hand tool 10 also includes a locking mechanism 30 that is configured to secure the first and second arms 12, 18 in their closed position. The locking mechanism includes a lip 32 positioned on one or the other of the first and second handle portions 14, 20. The lip 32 is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. In the locked position, the lip 32 engaged the lock protrusion 28 and secures the first and second arms 12, 18 in their closed position. In the unlocked position, the lip 32 is disengaged from the lock protrusion 28, and the first and second arms 12, 18 are free to move from their closed position to their open position.
In a preferred embodiment, the lip 32 of the locking mechanism is integrated into a sliding cover 34. The sliding cover 34 is configured to slide between a first position, wherein the lip 32 is in its locked position, and a second position, wherein the lip 32 is in its unlocked position. In yet another preferred embodiment, the locking mechanism 30 further includes at least one rail 36 that is positioned between the sliding cover 34 and one of the first or second handle portions 14, 20. The at least one rail 36 is configured to facilitate the sliding movement of the sliding cover 34. In still a further preferred embodiment, as best seen in
In an alternate embodiment as shown in
Those skilled in the art will recognize that although the locking mechanism 30 depicted in the figures herein show the lip 32, sliding cover 34, rail(s) 36 and swivel 42 as being attached to the first handle portion 14, they could just also be attached to the second handle portion 20 without departing from the scope of. the invention.
In yet another preferred embodiment, the linking mechanism 26 of the hand tool 10 is configured to bias the first and second arms 12, 18 toward their open position. As best seen in
In yet another preferred embodiment, the primary pivot 24 of the hand tool 10 may be an adjustable pawl 58. The adjustable pawl 58 may have a plurality of serrated teeth 60 that are configured to engage mating serrated teeth 62 that are disposed in an opening 64 defined in the second arm 18.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that the hand tool 10 may also include standard hand tool features such as grips 66 which work to prevent the tool from slipping in the operator's hand during use.
The example and alternative embodiments described above may be combined in a variety of ways with each other. It should be noted that the present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, the embodiments set forth herein are provided so that the disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Furthermore, the steps and number of the various steps illustrated in the figures may be adjusted from that shown. The accompanying figures and attachments illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention.
Although the present invention has been described in terms of particular example and alternative embodiments, it is not limited to those embodiments. Alternative embodiments, examples, and modifications which would still be encompassed by the invention may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the example and alternative embodiments described above can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22179149.4 | Jun 2022 | EP | regional |
