Patent Application
20210394353
The invention relates to a screwdriver and a tool handle incorporating snips, wire-strippers, crimpers and other pliers like tools.
Many tools are stand-alone tools, with relatively simple functions. Such as the traditional screwdriver, which has a primary function of screwing, and the traditional wire stripper which has a primary function of stripping wires, the wire stripper normally further incorporating a wire cutting function as the wires to be stripped invariably require to be cut or trimmed to length. Whilst both tools are used in the connection of electrical wires they are normally independent of one another.
In operation, an electrician during installations and other functions requires to screw screws or connect wires. The tools generally used are a screwdriver, wire stripper, snips and occasionally pliers for the twisting of multiple wires together, whereas the wire stripper and snips can be usefully incorporated into a set of pliers, given the robust requirements of the snips and pliers no commercially available suitable professional tool incorporating all these functions into a screwdriver is in full production at this time. Furthermore given the differing sizes and types of screw heads that can be encountered, either several screwdrivers with differing head types (Flat, Pozidrive, Philips etc.) or a screwdriver with known suitable interchangeable head bits is the preferred option.
When the electrician or competent individual works on domestic, light industrial, automotive or any other “light” electrical jobs it would be far more convenient and time efficient to have one tool capable of many or all of these functions instead of constantly switching between the screwdriver, snips, wire stripper or pliers required to install or connect wires to their terminals. Especially in awkward, confined or high places where the inconvenience, bulk and weight of several tools can be acute, the electrician in most installations having to prepare and connect a lot of wires which can be very time consuming given the constant changing between the differing tools.
A further inconvenient and time consuming problem being the regulation of the length of wire stripped for connection within the chosen terminal. All but the most expensive or single use wire strippers have an adjustable means of determining the given length of insulation to be stripped from the worked wire. The operator usually judging by eye the correct length required, which in itself is time consuming. If the stripped wire is too long the live wire core can be dangerously exposed, if too short the wire core could have a dangerously insufficient electrical connection within its allotted terminal. At best the surplus end of the exposed wire core is snipped off or a further operation of the wire strippers is required in order to remove more insulation if the exposed wire core is too short.
US 2003/0150062 A1 and CN200957531Y disclose a set of pliers or wire strippers having a screwdriver blade within the extremity of one of its jaws, their use as anything but an emergency screwdriver is limited as the operation of the screwdriver function is extremely awkward.
US 2016/0094091 denotes a screwdriver with a wire stripper situated next to the screwdriver shaft, the stripper blade is within the handle and a sprung pressing plate with wire grooves within the pressing plate around the screwdriver shaft. In use the wire to be stripped is inserted into the pressing plate wire groove, the length of wire to be stripped judged by eye only, the pressing plate pressed urging the wire against the U shaped cutter within the adjoining handle, the wire insulation only being cut by approximately ⅔, the wire then being pulled in order to tear the remaining insulation to be stripped from the worked wire, the pressing plate requiring to remain pushed during this operation. This design is suitable for small diameter wires and occasional DIY (do it yourself) use given its limited and dexterous use. U.S. Pat. No. 9,450,388 is similar but the mechanism being situated within the top of the handle away from the shaft.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,138,880 discloses a screwdriver with a pocket with a hinged lid within the handle, the pocket has receiving means for securing a separate wire cutter and stripper within the pocket. During use, the wire stripper contained within the pocket is operated by the pocket hinged cover bearing down on the incumbent wire stripping frame in order to cut the wire insulation so it can be removed from the worked wire, there is no shown means of regulating the length of insulation being removed, the operator merely judging by eye. In use the hinged cover is subject to extreme pressure and wear especially when the device is utilized as wire cutting snips, the device as illustrated would be unfit for the purpose of everyday wire cutting. The device is both complex and expensive to manufacture, especially the means to adequately secure the wire cutting/stripping component within the pocket, the wire stripping component being produced separately. The hinged cover or “moving member” being a separate component from the “first clamp body” with its own separate “second pivot shaft”, this shaft and associated moving member being subject to considerable pressure during any wire snipping action.
The prior art use is that of an emergency or occasional use tool with limited wire cutting or alternately screwdriver use with no measurement or calibration of the required length of insulation to be stripped.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an uncomplicated robust tool that can be usefully used to provide both a screwdriver and wire stripper with wire cutting capabilities equivalent to that of two separate tools in one structure, capable of everyday use, whilst being simple and less expensive to manufacture. It is a further object of the present invention to at least partially alleviate the above mentioned disadvantages, or to provide an alternative to existing products.
In a first aspect, the present invention provides a screwdriver, comprising a handle having an integral robust wire snipping and stripping mechanism within the handle parts, said handle having an integral, robust, generally planar main frame with the screwdriver shaft preferably securely attached or securely slotted into the main frame. The screwdriver shaft and the main frame being further plastic over moulded, glued or generally securely affixed within the main handle outer body. A further moving handle with an internal robust planar moving frame is robustly pivotally connected to the main frame through corresponding pivot holes by a suitable pivot pin. The moving frame being further, plastic over moulded, glued or generally securely affixed within the moving handle body. When the moving handle is pivotally closed, its outer profile forms with the main handle outer profile the suitably ergonomic profile of a screwdriver handle. When the moving handle is opened it exposes the wire stripping and cutting profiles formed within the corresponding leading edges of the opposing main frame and moving frame, these cutting and stripping faces are correctly positioned such that as to take the form of known profiles of cutters or wire strippers similar to those within known pliers and such. The closure of the moving handle when a suitable wire size is placed at right angles to the chosen cutting or wire stripping blades at the chosen length of insulation to be removed performs the required function similar to that of known wire cutting and stripping pliers incorporating this function. The resulting cutting or stripping mechanism having a similar useable cutting leverage and robustness, to that of a normal pair of electrical cutting, stripping or crimping pliers. The rigidity of the main and moving frames are usefully enhanced by their robust attachment within their corresponding plastic mouldings constituting the corresponding main and moving handle bodies, the frames in best practice having further strategically placed through holes, through which the injection over moulded handle plastics can form robust locators.
In a preferred embodiment the integral rigid metal main frame is securely plastic over moulded within the main handle, the main frame in best practise having a suitable profile and through-hole locators in order to enhance the securing of the plastic handle moulding to its corresponding metal main frame.
In a further preferred embodiment the moving handle further has a storage chamber formed within its inner underside profile. A further useable recess or storage chamber is formed within the main handle interior.
In a further preferred embodiment a spare screwdriver bit holder or alternately a spare setting wheel holder is suitably attached to the moving handle frame in order to conveniently provide a method of storing further screwdriver blade types, setting wheels or other required spares or tools that the operator might require.
In an even further preferred embodiment the chosen screwdriver shaft type is securely attached to the main frame either by welding or such or by a known slot type engagement.
In an even further preferred embodiment the secondary moving frame is pivotally attached to the main frame by a suitable pivot pin through corresponding pivot holes. In manufacture it is advantageous to assemble the main and moving handles separately and install a screw type pivot pin through the corresponding pivot pin holes to these built portions as part of the final assembly.
In an even further preferred embodiment the main and secondary moving frame cutting or stripping profile leading edges move against each other in a manner similar to that of conventional scissors.
In an even further preferred embodiment the cutting or stripping profiles are designed to abut instead of shear.
In an even further preferred embodiment the plastic moulded main handle incorporating the main frame is preferably configured such that a useable recess or storage chamber is formed within the handle interior without impairing the handle construction integrity.
In a further preferred embodiment there are gripping profiles, similar to pliers gripping profiles, incorporated adjacent or instead off the cutting or stripping profiles within the main and moving frame leading edges which can be for example be utilized to grip and twist together a plurality of wire cores prior to connection within their allotted terminal. As the gripping profiles in best practice should close generally parallel to one another during operational use, a further stratum or suitably placed extra laminate is required attached to either the main frame or moving frame. In a further preferred embodiment there are known crimping profiles suitably incorporated into the working faces of the main and moving frames for the useful crimping of known electrical crimps or installation of known connectors. As the crimping faces in best practice should close generally parallel to one another during operational use, in order to perform their operation in the optimum manner, a further stratum or suitably placed extra laminate is required attached to either the main frame or moving frame.
In an even further preferred embodiment the wire stripping apparatus incorporates a method of setting the required length of insulation to be removed from the worked wire core.
In the preferred embodiment the adjustment is attained by a setting wheel capable of rotational movement around a generally central axis, retained within the main body handle generally parallel to the wire stripping profiles incorporated within the main frame. The setting wheel face opposite the wire stripping profiles is usefully sectioned into various portions having differing depths from the wire stripping profiles. The particular depths of the wheel surface from the wire stripping blades corresponding to the particular length of stripped insulation from the wire core required. The operator merely projects the wire to be stripped into the corresponding groove of the wire size to be stripped, until the wire end abuts the wheel face portion set to the prearranged depth setting, the operator therefore has an efficient, repeatable method of determining the length of insulation being stripped.
In the even further preferred embodiment the setting wheel is replaceable if required with other wheels with differing depths according to the requirements of the particular wire insulation stripping length needed.
In the even further preferred embodiment the setting wheel usefully incorporates a cut out section which usefully allows the stripped wire to project to any length through the cut out section thereby allowing unrestricted wire stripping lengths if required.
In the further preferred embodiment the interchangeable setting wheel or wheels can be conveniently stored within the handle cavity.
In the even further preferred embodiment the setting wheel usefully has a gripping circumferential profile as an aid to the operator adjustments.
In the even further preferred embodiment the setting wheel has a means of impairing its rotational movement once set by the operator. In one example this could consist of a rubber O-ring suitably compressed between the setting wheel axis or axle and its adjacent housing.
In the even further preferred embodiment the setting wheel preferably has an appropriate legend or markers detailing the size or otherwise of the corresponding wire insulation length setting used. The calibration can also correspond to an appropriate marker within the screwdriver periphery.
In a further preferred embodiment the setting wheel can be incorporated into further wire stripping tools which do not also include a screwdriver function.
In a further preferred embodiment a resilient member or members are incorporated between the fixed handle and the moving handle such as to provide a resilient opening means whereas when the moving handle is unlocked and de-operated the moving handle will automatically attain the open position ready for use.
In the further preferred embodiment the moving handle and fixed handle incorporate corresponding stops in order to provide a means of providing both the optimum and maximum safe opening position of the moving handle relative to the fixed handle.
In a further preferred embodiment a further handle top portion furthest from the screwdriver shank is capable of restrained longitudinal movement preferably against a resilient member, in order that when the handle top portion is pulled outwards from the main handle, against its incumbent spring, it is capable of being rotated from one locked rotational position to another. The said handle top further incorporates at least one notch which in the first said top portion rotational position corresponds with the position of a catch within the distil end of the moving handle, which usefully allows the moving handle to be removed or operated back into the fixed handle portion as required when the catch and notch are aligned and the catch is free to traverse within the notch profile. When the moving handle portion requires to be locked in its closed position relative to the fixed handle, the moving handle is first closed against the fixed handle portion, the handle top portion is then pulled from the main handle portion against its closure spring enough to allow access to a further guide face between the open and closed locking positions and rotated as required into the second locked position, the said catch on the outer end of the moving handle now corresponding to a further locking face within the handle top portion thereby retaining the moving handle locked against the fixed handle portion. In best practice the rotational movement once the top portion is pulled against its closure spring is restricted to that of any of the open or closed locking positions and the guide face between them.
In a further preferred embodiment or as an alternative to fixed screwdriver bit blades the screwdriver moving handle, opposite the screwdriver shank has a bit holder incorporated into the underside of the moving handle grip face, preferably the bit holder is attached by known means to the moving handle frame. The moving handle when open allows access to the stored bits mounted upon the said bit holder. Ready access to differing screwdriver blade types is an advantage when working remotely from a stocked toolbox. The chosen stored known screwdriver bits being interchangeable as required into the known bit drive incorporated within the distil end of the screwdriver shank.
In a further preferred embodiment the present invention does not incorporate a screwdriver function. Only the wire stripping, cutting, crimping, outer insulation sleeve removal, wire installation, crimping, pliers or gripping functions are utilized or any desired combination of the functions required.
Following is a listing of the components used in the best mode preferred embodiment and alternative embodiments. For the ready reference of the reader the reference numerals have been arranged in ascending numerical order.
A full and enabling disclosure of the invention including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended drawings, in which:
As required, detailed embodiments of the invention are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the invention that may be embodied in various forms. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, as some of the features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as one skilled in the art to variously employ the invention.
The embodiments described herewith will be described with reference to
The setting wheel preferably has an appropriate legend or markers 605 detailing the size or otherwise of the corresponding wire insulation 902 length setting used. The calibration can also correspond to an appropriate marker 207 within the screwdriver periphery 202.
The setting wheel 600 is replaceable if required with other wheels 600 with differing depths 602 according to the requirements of the particular wire insulation 902 stripping length required. Further interchangeable setting wheel or wheels could be stored in the storage chamber 205, 223 if so configured.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1811909.9 | Jul 2018 | GB | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/GB2019/000104 | 7/22/2019 | WO | 00 |
