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US 4,651,598 AGranted
Self-adjusting utility plier
OwnerWilliam A. Warheitinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Utility pliers for single-handed manual manipulation which will automatically adjust to positions of positive gripping and holding of any size workpiece within the size range defined by the maximum opening between the jaws of the pliers.
Claims14
Self-adjusting utility pliers for automatically gripping workpieces of different sizes, comprising:
- first and second rigid elongated members each having a jaw end, a handle end, and an intermediate neck portion;
- slideable and pivotable fastening means connecting the members between their neck portions and permitting the jaw ends to move toward each other in a sliding action in response to an initial manual force being applied to close the handle ends toward each other to grasp a workpiece between the jaw ends;
- biasing means coacting between the members and normally urging the jaw ends to slide away from each other to a fully opened disposition;
- and
- the fastening means adapted to halt further sliding action of the members in response to the jaw ends contacting the workpiece and to then translate the manual force on the handle members into a pivoting gripping action of the jaw ends against the workpiece.
2 more elements
Utility pliers for gripping workpieces of different sizes, comprising:
- first and second rigid, elongated members each having a jaw end, a handle end, and an intermediate neck portion;
- slideable and pivotable fastening means connecting the members between their neck portions and permitting the jaw ends to move toward each other in a sliding action in response to an initial manual force being applied to close the handle ends toward each other to grasp a workpiece between the jaw ends;
- means providing a self-adjusting action to the pliers and normally urging the jaw ends toward their fully open position, including a control arm extending between the members and having a first fixed pivot point on one of the handle members and a second shiftable pivot point on the second handle member, and the second pivot point being mounted to slideably shift away from its normal position when force is applied to the members and a workpiece is grasped between their jaw ends.
Utility pliers capable of self-adjustment for gripping different size workpieces, comprising:
- a pair of rigid, elongated handle members having opposed respective jaw ends and handle ends;
- the handle members having intermediate means slidably and pivotally interconnecting them whereby a manual closing action of the handle members causes the jaw ends to move toward each other in a sliding action to grip a workpiece;
- the intermediate means including releasable engagement means for engaging the members to each other and halting the sliding action while permitting the members to pivot relative to each other;
- and
- means normally urging the releasable engagement means to release.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.