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US 6,199,458 B1Granted
Locking pliers
AssigneeEmerson Electric Co.
InventorsHarold K. Wrigley, Mark P. Noah, Adam R. Young
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pair of locking pliers includes a first assembly defining a first handle and a first jaw, a second handle, and a second jaw rotatably coupled to the first assembly and the second handle. The second handle is movable relative to the first handle to move the second jaw relative to the first jaw. An improved lock and release mechanism has a first setting wherein the second jaw is freely movable relative to the first jaw, a second setting wherein the second jaw locks at a preset distance from the first jaw when the second handle is moved toward the first handle, and a third setting wherein the second jaw unlocks when the second handle is moved toward the first handle.
Claims26
A pair of locking pliers comprising:
- a first assembly defining a first handle and a first jaw, the first handle defining a cavity therein;
- a second handle;
- a second jaw pivotably coupled to the first assembly and the second handle, such that the second handle is movable relative to the first handle to move the second jaw relative to the first jaw;
- a locking mechanism interconnecting the first assembly and the second handle, the locking mechanism including a locking arm defining a locking extension, the locking arm and locking extension being situated within the cavity of the first handle;
- and
- a release mechanism pivotably coupled to the second handle, the release member defining a locking ledge formed for selective engagement with the locking extension of the locking arm for locking the second jaw at a predetermined distance from the first jaw.
3 more elements
A pair of locking pliers comprising:
- a first assembly defining a first handle and a first jaw;
- a second handle;
- a second jaw pivotably coupled to the first assembly and the second handle, such that the second handle is movable relative to the first handle to move the second jaw relative to the first jaw;
- a release mechanism having a first setting wherein the second jaw is freely movable relative to the first jaw, a second setting wherein the second jaw locks at a preset distance from the first jaw when the second handle is moved toward the first handle, and a third setting wherein the second jaw unlocks when the second handle is moved toward the first handle;
- and
- a biasing member adapted to normally bias the release mechanism to the first setting.
3 more elements
A pair of locking pliers comprising:
- an upper handle assembly, the upper handle assembly defining an upper handle and an upper handle cavity;
- a release lever pivotably mounted in the upper handle cavity, the release lever defining a locking ledge;
- a lower handle assembly, the lower handle assembly defining a lower handle, a lower handle assembly cavity, and an upper head portion;
- an upper jaw element positioned within the upper head portion;
- a lower jaw assembly including a lower jaw element, the lower jaw assembly being pivotably coupled to the upper handle assembly;
- and
- an adjustment mechanism positioned within the lower handle assembly cavity, the adjustment mechanism being coupled to the upper handle assembly and including a connection arm defining a locking end that is formed for selective engagement with the locking ledge of the release lever, wherein adjustment of the adjustment assembly adjusts the distance between the upper jaw element and the lower jaw element when the locking end of the connection arm is engaged with the locking ledge of the release lever.
4 more elements
A pair of locking pliers comprising:
- a first handle defining a handle portion and a jaw portion;
- a second handle;
- a second jaw pivotably coupled to the second handle such that the second handle is movable relative to the first handle portion
- first means for pivotably coupling the second jaw to the first handle;
- and
- second means for locking and releasing the first and second jaws relative to each other, including means for selectively setting the second means at a first setting wherein the second jaw is freely movable relative to the first jaw, a second setting wherein the second jaw locks at a preset distance from the first jaw when the second handle is moved toward the first handle, and a third setting wherein the second jaw unlocks when the second handle is moved toward the first handle.
3 more elements
A pair of locking pliers comprising:
- a first assembly defining a first handle and a first jaw;
- a second handle;
- a second jaw pivotably coupled to the first assembly and the second handle, such that the second handle is movable relative to the first handle to move the second jaw relative to the first jaw;
- a locking arm defining a locking extension;
- and
- a release mechanism including:
- a pivot member pivotably coupled to the second handle, the pivot member having first and second ends, the first end defining a locking ledge adapted to engage the locking extension to lock the second jaw relative to the first jaw;
- and
- a release slide movably mounted to the first assembly, the release slide situated to interact with the second end of the pivot member to selectively engage and disengage the locking ledge and locking extension;
- wherein the release mechanism has a first setting wherein the second jaw is freely movable relative to the first jaw, a second setting wherein the second jaw locks at a preset distance from the first jaw when the second handle is moved toward the first handle, and a third setting wherein the second jaw unlocks when the second handle is moved toward the first handle.
7 more elements
A pair of locking pliers comprising:
- a first handle defining a handle portion and a jaw portion;
- a second handle;
- a second jaw pivotably coupled to the second handle such that the second handle is movable relative to the first handle portion
- first means for pivotably coupling the second jaw to the first handle;
- second means for locking and releasing the first and second jaws relative to each other;
- and
- third means for biasing the first and second handles normally apart.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.