Gripping hand tools
AssigneeMilwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
InventorsAaron S. Blumenthal, Aaron M. Williams, Michael Stearns, Christopher S. Hoppe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various embodiments of pliers and pipe wrenches are provided. Wire cutters enable a finger pivot hole to enhance the grasp of the wire cutters while rotating the tool and/or stripping wire. Pipe wrenches include different configurations of teeth to improve durability and grip on a workpiece. Pliers are provided with axial teeth to enhance gripping a workpiece in different directions. Pliers are provided with selectable mechanical advantages so that a user may select the mechanical advantage desirable for a particular application.
Claims14
Pliers, comprising:
- an upper jaw;
- a lower jaw;
- an upper handle coupled to the lower jaw;
- a lower handle coupled to the upper jaw;
- a first pivot axis;
- a second pivot axis parallel to the first pivot axis;
- and
- a selector that allows a user to select between a low leverage pivot or a high leverage pivot;
- wherein, when the user selects the low leverage pivot, a low pivot pin is depressed and the lower jaw and the upper handle both pivot about the first pivot axis;
- wherein, when the user selects the high leverage pivot, a high pivot pin is depressed and the lower jaw pivots about the first pivot axis and the upper handle pivots about the second pivot axis such that rotational movement of the upper handle relative to the lower handle through a first angle corresponds to rotational movement of the lower jaw relative to the upper jaw through a second angle;
- and
- wherein the first angle is greater than the second angle.
Pliers, comprising:
- an upper jaw;
- a lower jaw;
- an upper handle;
- a lower handle coupled to the upper jaw;
- a jaw pivot;
- a low leverage pivot comprising a low leverage pin and a low leverage pivot opening;
- a high leverage pivot comprising:
- a high leverage pin;
- a high leverage pivot opening defined by the upper jaw;
- and
- a high leverage slot defined by the lower jaw;
- and
- a selector switch that allows a user to select between the low leverage pivot and the high leverage pivot;
- wherein, when the user selects the low leverage pivot, the low leverage pin passes through the low leverage pivot opening and couples the upper handle to the lower jaw to pivot about the jaw pivot;
- and
- wherein, when the user selects the high leverage pivot, the high leverage pin passes through the high leverage slot to form the high leverage pivot, the high leverage pivot being configured to allow the high leverage pin to translate relative to the jaw pivot within the high leverage slot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.