US 4,563,921 A · Compact pliers with large, adjustable jaw span

Abstract

The pliers include a frame having a hand grip portion and two, spaced, laterally projecting leg sections. At least one of the leg sections is fixed to the hand grip portion of the frame and has formed thereon a stationary jaw, which confronts a movable jaw that is carried by a support member that is mounted on the frame to extend transversely between its leg sections, and for reciprocation generally parallel to its hand grip portion. The support member is connected to a handle, which is pivotally mounted on the frame to reciprocate the movable member and its jaw in opposite directions, thereby to shift the movable jaw toward and away from the stationary jaw. The movable jaw is mounted on its support member for adjustment thereon into any one of a number of different positions, thereby to adjust the span between the jaws. In one embodiment both leg sections are fixed relative to the hand grip portion, and in another embodiment one of the leg sections comprises a link which pivotally connects one end of the hand grip portion to the adjacent end of the movable jaw supporting member. In still another embodiment an over-center clamping means is interposed between the frame and the handle in order to releasably to secure the movable jaw in an operative, clamping position.

Claims16

Dependent claims

Adjustable pliers, comprising

a first member having thereon an elongate hand-grip portion,
an elongate second member,
means supporting said second member adjacent opposite ends thereof on said first member for reciprocation generally parallel to the hand-grip portion of said first member,
a first jaw secured to and projecting transversely from said first member adjacent one end thereof,
a second jaw projecting from said second member and having on one end thereof a plane operating surface disposed in spaced, confronting relation to a corresponding operation surface on said first jaw,
said supporting means comprising a handle connected at one end to said second member,
means pivotally connecting said handle intermediate its ends to said first member for swinging movement relative thereto in opposite directions, thereby to reciprocate said second member and to shift said second jaw toward and away from said first jaw, and
means mounting said second jaw on said second member for longitudinal adjustment thereon into any one of a plurality of different operating positions.

5 more elements

A clamping device having an adjustable jaw span, comprising

a generally C-shaped frame having an elongate hand grip portion and a pair of spaced, generally parallel leg sections projecting laterally from opposite ends, respectively, of said hand grip portion,
a movable jaw supporting member mounted on said frame for reciprocation generally parallel to the hand grip portion of said frame,
at least one of said leg sections being fixed relative to said hand grip portion of said frame, and having formed thereon a first, stationary jaw,
a second movable jaw mounted on said supporting member to confront said first jaw, and movable by said member toward and away from said first jaw, and between clamping and released positions, respectively, relative to a workpiece positioned between said jaws,
operating means interposed between said frame and said member for reciprocating the latter between a first position in which said movable jaw is shifted to its clamping position and a second position in which said movble jaw is shifted to its released position, and
means adjustably mounting said second jaw on said movable member for adjustment thereon into any one of a number of different positions intermediate the ends of said member, thereby to adjust the distance that separates said jaws when the movable jaw is in its released position.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Compact pliers with large, adjustable jaw span

Life of this patent

Compact pliers with large, adjustable jaw span

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16