Patent Application
20090000038
This invention relates to a plier tool. In one aspect, the invention is for a plier, foldable or otherwise, which may be permanently or detachably connected to a main body such as that of a tool or knife body.
A plier tool in accordance with the invention may have a number of benefits and advantages. Folding pliers are prized for their compact construction and versatility. Typically, folding pliers may be built to accommodate a variety of tools. They can also hold a wide variety of jaws to grip, crimp or cut. However, their folding construction limits the size and shape of the type of tools or other accessories which can be constructed as a part thereof. It is often desirable to have a full size knife or other tool, yet the small tools and plier functions are also prized. While it is possible to carry the two items separately so each can be used in a particular application, it is not always convenient or practical to do so.
It is also possible to make a cavity inside a tool handle that will hold a miniature plier. However, this often results in a cumbersome tool not particularly easy to use, and can also result in the plier tool being lost.
The present invention, in one aspect, facilitates the inclusion of a folding plier into a main tool case without adding any additional or any significant bulk to the original tool. In fact, the plier in accordance with one aspect of the invention may actually complete the body of the main tool case. The user has immediate, convenient access to the plier portion of the tool composite as well as the tool(s) which may be provided in the main body.
The plier of the invention may be connected permanently or detachably. If detachably connected, the plier tool of the invention offers the added advantage of allowing use of the plier and the main tool(s) in the body simultaneously and separately from each other.
By securely incorporating the plier into the main tool/knife body, the user may well have a better grip on the plier and it can consequently be more effectively maneuvered and operated. The main case also offers better leverage than can be achieved with the traditional short arms of a compact plier.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the plier tool may have a main tool body with two or more folding plier components permanently or detachably connected thereto. Typically, folding pliers are built to accommodate a variety of tools. They can also hold a wide variety of jaws to grip, crimp or cut.
It is often desirable to have two different sets of jaws, for instance a plier type tool and a scissor or a plier and a wire stripper. While it is possible to carry two folding plier units separately each having the different and desired feature, it is not always convenient or practical to do so.
As such, the present invention in one aspect thereof allows the user immediate and convenient access to the plier jaws on either end of the tool. Furthermore, access is preferably also provided at the same time to all of the additional small tools which may be present in the plier arms.
The plier tool of the invention, preferably of a compact nature, can be connected either permanently or detachably in a manner which allows it to be easily released and separated from the body and conveniently re-assembled. If detachably removable, the plier tool of the invention preferably offers the added advantage of allowing use of both sets of plier jaws (tools) simultaneously.
The plier tool of the invention may have a double ended construction which preferably creates a single main body. This offers the user a better grip on the two fold out tool components (for example, the plier head and wire cutter, etc.) and also better leverage than can be achieved with the traditional short arms of a compact plier.
The plier tool of the invention is not intended to be limited to miniature “keyring” or pocket tool size type pliers. It also allows the inclusion of a full size pliers in a tool composite. This provides for many combinations of tools useful and capable of heavy duty applications. When connected the two or more sets of folding pliers offer a single secure grip that is excellent for heavy jobs.
The plier tool of the invention may comprise articulated arms such as those found in a traditional folding plier used as functional elements of main tool bodies. This aspect has several benefits. Many tools require articulated parts to secure or act as guards or covers for internal parts. These articulated parts are typically of one piece construction with no additional use than their primary function. The current invention may incorporate arms such as those that are found in traditional folding pliers. These arms offer very strong construction for a variety of tools including a corkscrew and a seat-belt cutter forming a rescue tool or part of a rescue tool. These specialized tools need to withstand considerable leverage when in use and the construction of the plier in the present invention may be configured to provide that strength. Further, the arms may provide the added benefit of many small tools that can enclosed or contained, wholly or partially, within them, with no additional bulk.
Products(s) incorporating this aspect of the invention can be designed have many different appearances and configurations. For example, the handle(s) can be ergonomically constructed, with many complex curves and surface textures made from molded or formed metal, and composites or plastics (including transparent materials). They can also be made using simpler construction of folded and formed sheet metal (or metal, composite or plastic slabs) or a combination of all the above methods and constructions.
The folding plier may be built into a variety of different types and purpose tool cases. Thus, the plier can be compact or full size or anything in between. As examples only, and without limiting the scope of the invention, the jaws of the folding plier can comprise (among others): plier; crimper; wire cutter; wire stripper; line cutter; shear; metal shear; scissor; pruner; pet nail clipper; and cigar cutter. The blade shapes can be (among others): serrated or plain; tactical; hunting; utility; sheeps foot; emergency (rounded end); gut hook; pruning; diving; and filet.
As further examples only, the small tools in the folding plier can include (among others): blades (various); saws (various); files (various); screwdrivers; can/bottle opener; disgorging tool (fishing); scraper-divot tool; cigar cutter-piercer; handcuff key; and pen and/or pencil.
Also as examples only, the main body can be (amongst others things): knife-large scissor/cutter/plier; magnesium alloy fire starter and striker; screwdrivers/socket/extension; wrench(es)-saw(s)-file(s); hammer/nail puller/“catspaw”/awl; stapler—(regular or hammer type); tape measure-flashlight-lighter; compass-lens-thermometer-GPS; timepiece (analog or digital); divot tool-golf tools; corkscrew-ice pick-wine tools; cigar cutter/cigar tools; carpenter tools-level-chisels; wire stripper/electrician tools; rescue tool/ems tool (inc. seat belt cutter widow breaker); weed fork-dive knife.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the folding plier may be built into a variety of tool cases. The back of tool can have a lanyard attachment or a pocket/belt clip, which may be made of molded plastic or metal, or it may be stamped or formed of sheet metal. It may comprise a folding knife, which may have more than one blade, or saw etc. It may also combine with a flashlight function. It may be locking style or not, and if lockable, lock possibilities may include a spring lock, liner lock and/or frame lock.
The tool case may be a utility knife, which may use standard size blades or custom made parts constructed and designed for specific purposes. There can be more than one blade, and the blade include one that either slides out or folds out. The blade shapes and types can be selected from: serrated or plain; carpet cutter; curved; wood carving blade; paper cutting blade; a pruning blade or any combination of blades.
The folding plier can built into a further variety of tool cases. These include the use of a folding knife. If made with a shorter overall handle length, the folding knife may accommodate a longer folding plier with longer plier or shear jaws. A wine tool may also be provided.
A pet tool may have plier jaws that comprise a pet nail/claw trimmer. This can have a depth safety gauge to avoid pet injury. The main body can hold (among other things:) brushes and combs; container(s) for liquids and powders; a photo holder; files; and dog waste bags.
A fishing tool may include a weigh scale in the handle body. It could have a snap hook hook, loop or carabineer type attachment. It could also include (among others:) ruler or tape measure; stringer holder; fish scaler; fillet blade; and disgorger.
Two folding plier heads may be built into one tool case. One aspect of the invention allows two different plier and/or shear tools in one main body. This area and a similar area on other side of the tool can hold (among other things) all the tools mentioned above plus: level; flashlight; weeding tools; seat belt cutter; line cutter; fold out lens; fold out compass; fire starter; and a watch.
These embodiments allow two different plier or shear tools in one main body. Preferably, this section (on both ends thereof) is just long enough to hold the plier or shear heads. Such a body (and possibly others described and illustrated above)) may require some reinforcement to stiffen and support the main body. For example, an extension can be added to the fold out plier arms to allow for better leverage. This can be done on one side or on both sides and would preferably be designed to be comfortable to use.
A folding plier in a screwdriver or socket tool case may be provided. Sections on each side of the case may open to reveal bits including a screwdriver with operational heads that are flat, Phillips, Torx, Allen etc., awl, nail set etc. Punches for paper, leather and the like may also be provided.
The top section of case may, in one embodiment, open to reveal bits stacked vertically. These include screwdrivers (flat, Phillips, Torx, Allen etc.), awl, nail set etc., and punches for paper, leather and the like. The socket in the main body can also have a ratchet mechanism to allow easier use. An extension socket can be added to either design to offer more reach. The extension socket may be stored in case.
A detachable folding plier may incorporate one or more or a combination of: a magnet to magnet (or magnet to steel plate) attachment; and a single locking post in the center, which may allow the pliers to be attached or detached without opening the arms. Edges would preferably not have sharp points. The devices above can be used to attach plier to plier or plier to any other main tool or knife body.
One method is to insert a plier arm locking stud (A) into back of tool or into matching plier arm. The plier arms are opened, and the plier rotated until it locks. The plier is then closed.
The methods above can be used to attach the plier to the plier or the plier to any other main tool or knife body. There may be several ways to accomplish the same docking result. All should preferably be secure so that there is a secure junction and the final combined tools feel like one piece.
The invention allows a folding plier to be carried as part of a thin card like case. This can be an amorphous shape, a variant on a circle or rectangle or a credit card size.
One aspect of the invention is to create a thin substrate that contains a working plier. The arms of the plier will likely be without additional tools but do not have to be. They may slot into an area of the case that can be close to the thickness of the plier head and jaws. When fully inserted into the main body of the card the finished result can be a largely flat substrate. The pliers do not add significantly to the overall card thickness and they allow inclusion of many separate tools that can be used independent of the plier head.
The arms of the plier can be a variety of shapes. The thin substrate holding the plier can be formed into a tool belt, backpack or other bag, belt or container. Even a molded plastic bucket or a pad for kneeling while gardening. It can be stiff or flexible.
One aspect of invention is a compact, multifunction tool in a generally thin and flat shape. One objective is to create items that are typically as thin as practical for the tools they carry, and are convenient and functional. The tools and concepts described here can be used in the removable plier main body and vice versa. Some examples are set forth below:
(1) The main body holds all the necessities for basic survival: fire, signal whistle, knife, light (or compass and lens). It can also hold other items if space allows.
(2) The fire starter may be a magnesium alloy bar which can be used to create sparks. This can be attached by adhesive, frictional, magnetic, or mechanical means or a combination of them. Some examples:
Other cards may have an area such as an oval hole. This may be used to hold various components. Some examples include lens/compass insert and light/switch insert. However, once these components are built into the tool card, the card may have to be destroyed to remove them. It would be very beneficial if they were interchangeable. However, in such a thin substrate this may be difficult. A removable component may be a micro flashlight, a compass/lens component, a watch, a smart card element, a computer memory element or other tools that can fit. The current space may preferably be about 1.25″ by ¾″. This space can be larger or smaller depending on the main case dimensions.
(3) The removable element may be held in place by two screws that attach the component surface layer to the main case body. The positions of the screws and the exact shape of the components can vary within the spirit of the invention.
(4) The parts of the removable elements need not be connected to each other when they are removed from the main case. It is therefore desirable to have a separate case to hold only these elements. With this case the additional component(s) can be carried independently of the main case. Yet they are still interchangeable with the component that is in the main case. The case can be of varied shape and size. The case that may be small enough to act as a zipper pull or keyring accessory.
(5) A signal whistle may be built into the main case. This is a very thin but loud signal whistle. The case can be designed to accept other items in this area in later iterations.
(6) The knife can be several different shapes and they may be made of one piece metal construction.
There are several ways to attach the pliers to the folding tool, as described below:
(A) The arms of the folding tool are empty. This leaves space so that the pliers can slide into a recess created in the main body. There may be a releasable means to secure the pliers once it is attached to the case. This may be frictional, magnetic, mechanical or combination of these means.
(B) The arms of the folding tool are empty and they are narrow along the outer edges (when closed). They can slide into recessed channels in the main body.
(C) A combination of both the above insertion methods could be applied to achieve the same result.
(D) The folding tool arms can have a complete shape on one side and an abbreviated shape on the other (enough to add sufficient strength and resistance to torque). This could be true of one or both arms of the tool. This allows the pliers to slot into the card and attach by frictional, magnetic and/or mechanical means.
(E) The folding tool can have in one or both of the arms, additional tools such as knives, saws, files, screwdrivers, pens etc. If the folding tool has a size that is similar in length to the overall main body, this will limit the structural integrity of the main body. However this could be remedied with very strong material construction or a longer main body.
A component is described that holds a wide variety of tools and tool combinations. This component can have a cross section that is cylindrical, hexagonal or any other shape that is practical for the purpose. This could be attached in many different ways: Such as having flanges or projections that allow it to be screwed into the case. It could also be permanently molded or secured in the case. However the most versatile use is as an interchangeable component that attaches and detaches from the case when needed.
It should be understood that the tools or features can be mixed with each other to create new combinations for various specific uses.
In one embodiment, the plier card is likely to be thicker than typical tool cards. Also it may hold at least some tools in a back-to-back relationship. This may necessitate some structure for separating the layers to keep these tools apart. Since there may be a large cavity or cutout in the main body, it is important that strength is maintained. Therefore, the case may be made of three layers (although this is not mandatory). All three layers can be the same material, in solid or translucent. They can be different materials such as metal, plastic, ceramics or composites, or a combination such as a metal central plate and a plastic molded covers, or vice versa etc. The edges of the case can be flat, angled or curved.
The folding tool may be a wine bottle opener. This can be simply a corkscrew with two arms that fold open to form a “T”, or it can have a corkscrew and a secondary arm that is a lever to assist with removal of a cork. The complete assembly inserts into the main body in a similar fashion to the folding pliers. Overall the corkscrew component when folded can be flat or it can bulge along the area where the corkscrew is located. This will allow a thinner substrate for the main body. The arm(s) of the corkscrew can be shorter than the length of the corkscrew.
Survival card fire starter: To create sparks a metal surface must be scraped along the fire starter. If this is done when the fire starter is inserted or attached to the edge of the card, the metal striker may make contact with the card at the end of the striking stroke. This contact can possibly damage the surface of the card. A mechanism can be added to protect the card surface from damage when this happens. This could be a steel or ceramic guard or a modified profile of the card. There are several different ways to construct such a guard.
Plier Card or Plier/knife and detachable plier: The detachable pliers and/or the main body can be of plastic or rubber or some sort of composite. In this way they could be toy tools for children or dad and son's tools.
A detachable mini plier that is attached to a main body that is a folding plier: The main body can be long to allow inclusion of many different tools in the arms or shortened as shown to make the overall combination as compact as possible. The arms can include individual tools such as a knife, can opener, screwdrivers, saws, files etc. They can include the cylindrical component shown as a card accessory, or a fire starter among other things.
Many different tools can be enclosed in the arms of the main plier body. It is also possible with some of the attachment methods that small tools could be in the arms of the mini plier.
Alternate shapes for arms of mini plier: The arms can be very narrow towards the ends. The mini plier and the main plier can have similar jaws or completely different jaws. The jaws can be of any style such as shear, scissor, needle nose, crimper, etc. The mini plier can be attached using all the various methods that have been outlined with the plier card drawings.
Shortened overall size with detachable plier arms overlaying the main plier head: Mini plier arms can lay over the main body plier head. There may need to be open areas in the arms to allow this.
In
In
With reference to
Folding pliers that contain tools within their arms typically have arms of equal length. The current invention allows a pair of folding pliers to be incorporated into the handle or main body of a larger tool case. This is done by creating one arm of a folding plier by adding a narrow projection at the end of a larger tool body. The projection holds only a plier head via a pivot point at the end. A shorter, narrow arm anchors the opposite side of the plier head with a corresponding pivot point. This shorter articulated arm of the plier can contain additional tools since it can have a second pivot point at the end opposite the plier head. When this arm is closed it actually completes the overall handle/tool case shape, to provide a safe and comfortable grip for the entire tool assembly.
Unlike typical folding pliers, there is no second pivot point here to connect the two sides of the plier arm and allow for other tools. If the plier head is narrow and the arms are fairly short, only one or two tools may be incorporated in the articulated arm. If the plier head is wider and the arms are longer, three or more tools may be incorporated in the articulated plier arm.
Folding pliers are typically designed to hold a multitude of tools. The pliers in the plier card are unique in that they do not have pivot pins in the end of one or both of the arms opposite the plier head. This means that the arms will usually contain within them only a plier or shear or scissor or other articulated head or a combination.
This construction allows the sides of the plier arms to slide onto a card like substrate with the plier head resting in a cavity within the card, in the following illustrative manners:
(a) The sides of the plier arms lay on the surface of the card.
(b) The sides of the plier arms can be recessed into the surface of the card.
(c) The card cross section can be any shape.
(d) The plier can be located at any position or orientation in the card.
The sides of the card can be folded over to provide a more comfortable grip when the plier is used. Further, the sides of card may be connected by this member. It could be structured in various different ways and positions.
With respect to
The invention is not limited to the precise details hereinbefore described or illustrated. Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/932,500 filed May 31, 2007 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/964,616 filed Aug. 14, 2007, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60932500 | May 2007 | US | |
| 60964616 | Aug 2007 | US |
