The present invention relates to pliers.
A pliers often includes two members that are pivotally connected at a pivot point. A rear end portion of the pliers typically forms a handle of the pliers and a front end portion forms a head of the pliers. The handle is used to open or close jaws formed at the head that pivot about the pivot point, and the handles can be rotated to rotate the head. Therefore, the jaws can be used to grip a fastener, wire, or any suitable material, and the pliers is rotated via the handle to rotate the fastener, wire, or material.
Traditionally, pliers have had their handles dipped in a bath of rubber. With this traditional process, the rubber can easily rip, tear, crack or slide off of the frame. In other traditional processes, the grips are premolded separate from the tool and then glued and pressed onto the frame. With this traditional process, the glue can breakdown, especially if the tool becomes hot, and the grips pull off of the tool.
In one embodiment, the invention provides a pliers including a first member having a head portion and a handle portion and a second member pivotally coupled to the first member. The second member includes a head portion and a handle portion, and the head portions of the first and the second members define a head of the pliers and the handle portions of the first and the second members define a handle of the pliers. The pliers further includes a first end that defines a nose of the head portion, a second end, opposite the first end, defined by the handle of the pliers, and a first plurality of ridges disposed on the first member adjacent the nose. A second plurality of ridges is disposed on the second member adjacent the nose, and the first and the second plurality of ridges together define a grip of the pliers. A first sharp edge is disposed on the first member adjacent the first plurality of ridges and between the first plurality of ridges and the second end of the pliers. A second sharp edge is disposed on the second member adjacent the second plurality of ridges and between the second plurality of ridges and the second end of the pliers. Together the first and second sharp edges define a cutter of the pliers. A pivot pivotally couples the first member and the second member adjacent the cutter and between the cutter and the second end of the pliers, and an aperture extends through the first member adjacent the pivot and between the pivot and the second end of the pliers. The aperture and the second member define a fastener cutter of the pliers.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a pliers including a first member having a head portion and a handle portion and a second member pivotally coupled to the first member. The second member includes a head portion and a handle portion, and the head portions of the first and the second members define a head of the pliers and the handle portions of the first and the second members define a handle of the pliers. A first resilient grip member is located on the handle portion of the first member, and the first resilient grip member abuts the head portion of the first member such that an outer surface of the first resilient grip member is flush with the head portion of the first member to define a smooth transition between the first resilient grip member and the head portion of the first member. A second resilient grip member is located on the handle portion of the second member, the second resilient grip member abuts the head portion of the second member such that an outer surface of the second resilient grip member is flush with the head portion of the second member to define a smooth transition between the first resilient grip member and the head portion of the second member.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a method of manufacturing a pliers including providing a frame that defines a head and a handle of the pliers, molding a resilient grip member directly onto the handle of the pliers, and where molding the resilient grip member onto the handle includes extending a portion of the resilient grip member into a recess of the handle to fixably couple the resilient grip member to the handle.
Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.
The handle portions 30 are both covered with a rubber (or other suitable grip material) over mold 34 to form a resilient grip member of the handle portions 30 while the metal of the head portions 26 remains exposed. The rubber over molds 34 provide extra durability, increase user comfort, and reduce slippage of the user's hand on the pliers 10. The over molds 34 both abut the adjacent head portion 26 at a transition area 38. The rubber over molds 34, head portions 26, and handle portions 30 are formed such that there is a smooth transition between the over mold 34 and the adjacent head portion 26 at the transition area 38. Alternatively stated, an outer surface 40 of the over mold 34 is flush with the adjacent head portion 26. This smooth transition between the exposed metal of the head portion 26 and the rubber over mold 34 helps to reduce the likelihood of the over molds 34 getting caught on a tool pouch, tool bucket, etc. and ripping the over molds 34 or grip of the pliers 10. The method of over molding the pliers 10 will be discussed in more detail below with respect to
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Accordingly, the pliers 10 includes several accessory features, such as a wire strippers, a wire cutter, a pipe reamer, a threaded fastener cutter, and a first grip and a second grip. This particular arrangement of accessory features on the pliers 10 has been found particularly convenient and advantageous for use as a lineman's pliers.
Referring to
The over molds 34 include a first over mold 80 and a second over mold 82 (
As discussed above, traditionally, pliers have had their handles dipped in a bath of rubber and not directly molded to the frame as previously discussed. With this traditional dipping process, the rubber can easily rip, tear, crack or slide off of the frame. In other traditional processes, the grips are premolded separate from the tool and then glued and pressed onto the frame using an adhesive. With this traditional process, the glue can breakdown, especially if the tool becomes hot, and the grips pull off of the tool.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a pliers that includes an improved handle structure that is especially resistant to damage and an arrangement of features that has been found to be particularly useful in a lineman's pliers. Various features are set forth in the following claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/330,784, filed May 3, 2010, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61330784 | May 2010 | US |