Patent Application
20190255682
The present invention relates generally to tools, such as pliers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a tool with teeth on a side of a handle portion.
Hand tools have been around for years in many forms. To increase the usefulness of some hand tools, features were developed to allow the tools to adjust to varying workpiece sizes. That is, instead of changing to a bigger or smaller tool, a single tool could be adjusted to accommodate a larger or smaller sized workpiece, saving on time and the number of tools required for any given job.
One example of such a tool is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2010/0018364 to Chervenak et al. This application discloses pliers that include first and second adjustment members, each with a handle portion and a jaw portion. The first member defines an aperture for receiving the second member, and the second member includes an elongated slot and a row of teeth that allows adjustment of the pliers.
However, current tools are limited in their capability to adjust and hold varying types of workpieces.
The present invention broadly comprises a tool, such as pliers, having a reduced spacing between adjustment teeth, and an elongated slot; thereby providing an improved adjustability and larger capacity to hold workpieces. In particular, the spacing of the adjustment teeth and length of the slot provide more adjustment positions and allow more teeth to be engaged at all positions. For example, the teeth may be spaced at 0.098 inches and the tool may provide a maximum jaw opening of 2.24 inches.
In an embodiment, the present invention includes a tool including a first portion having a first jaw portion and a first handle portion, and a second portion having a second jaw portion and a second handle portion. A first slot is disposed in the first portion between the first jaw portion and the first handle portion, and the second portion is disposed in the first slot with the second jaw portion proximal to the first jaw portion. An elongated slot is disposed in the second portion between the second jaw portion and the second handle portion, and teeth are disposed on the second portion proximal to the elongated slot. The teeth are spaced with respect to one another at about 0.098 inches. This allows an opening between the first and second jaw portions to be adjusted in 0.098 inch increments.
For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected, there are illustrated in the accompanying drawings embodiments thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the subject matter sought to be protected, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.
While the present invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, embodiments of the invention, including a preferred embodiment, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the present invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to any one or more embodiments illustrated herein. As used herein, the term “present invention” is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but is instead used to discuss exemplary embodiments of the invention for explanatory purposes only.
The present invention broadly comprises a tool, such as pliers, having a reduced spacing between adjustment teeth, and an elongated slot; thereby providing an improved adjustability and larger capacity to hold workpieces. In particular, the spacing of the adjustment teeth and length of the slot provide more adjustment positions and allow more teeth to be engaged at all positions. For example, the teeth may be spaced at 0.098 inches and the tool may provide a maximum jaw opening of 2.24 inches.
Referring to
The second portion 104 includes a second jaw portion 118 at a first end of the second portion 104, a second handle portion 120 at a second end of the second portion 104 opposite the second jaw portion 118, and a second adjustment portion 122 between the second jaw portion 118 and second handle portion 120. The second adjustment portion 122 includes first and second side portions 124, 126 that form an elongated slot 128 there between. As illustrated in
Referring to
In operation, a user may adjust the size of the opening between the first and second jaw portions 108, 118 by moving or sliding the first portion 102 with respect to the second portion 104 along elongated slot 128, or vice versa. This moves a pivot point between the first and second portions 102, 104 and defined by the adjustment member 134. For example, to make a size of the opening smaller, the first portion 102 may be moved or slid to an end of the slot 128 proximal to the second jaw portion 118. When the size of the opening is made smaller, the teeth 144 of pawl 136 may ratchet with respect to the teeth 130, thereby allowing the size of the opening to be made smaller without having to depress the button. To make a size of the opening larger, the button may be depressed, thereby disengaging teeth 144 of pawl 136 from teeth 130. While the button is depressed, the first portion 102 may be moved or slid towards an end of the slot 128 distal to the second jaw portion 118.
The spacing of the teeth 144 may be about 0.098 inches or smaller, and the tool may provide a maximum jaw opening of about 2.24 inches. This provides more adjustment positions and allows more teeth 144 to be engaged with teeth 130 at all positions. For example, the size of the opening between the first and second jaw portions 108, 118 may be adjusted in 0.098 inch increments by moving or sliding the first portion 102 with respect to the second portion 104 along elongated slot 128.
As used herein, the term “coupled” and its functional equivalents are not intended to necessarily be limited to direct, mechanical coupling of two or more components. Instead, the term “coupled” and its functional equivalents are intended to mean any direct or indirect mechanical, electrical, or chemical connection between two or more objects, features, work pieces, and/or environmental matter. “Coupled” is also intended to mean, in some examples, one object being integral with another object.
The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. While particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects of the inventors' contribution. The actual scope of the protection sought is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.
