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US 5,052,252 AGranted
Self-locking and releasing gripping tool
AssigneePatcore, Incorporated
InventorsOleg Szymber, Eustathios Vassiliou
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gripping tool, acting as both a pair of pliers and a wrench, self locks and self releases upon application or removal of clamping torque on the handles of the tool, respectively. The locking and releasing mechanism is based on reversible wedging action.
Claims18
A self-locking gripping tool comprising in combination an assembly of:
- (a) a first member having a first hub, a first jaw rigidly connected to the first hub, and a first handle extending from the first hub in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of the first jaw;
- (b) a second member having a second hub, a second jaw rigidly connected to the second hub, and a second handle extending from the second hub in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of the second jaw,
- the second member being pivotally connected to the first member through a first pivot hole on the second hub,
- the first handle and the second handle constituting a handle set, and the first jaw and the second jaw constituting a jaw set, and
- the second hub having an outer clutching surface;
- and
- (c) wedging means for reversibly locking the tool, comprising
- a clutch section having an inner clutching surface commensurate to the outer clutching surface, and
- a first wedge directionally coupled with the first hub, and being adaptable to create adequate pressure between the inner clutching surface and the outer clutching surface, so as to reversibly lock the second member with respect to the first member when a clamping torque exceeding a predetermined value is applied on the handle set, the clamping torque corresponding to a simultaneous resistive torque created on the jaws by an object gripped in the jaw set.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.