Indexable pliers-type tool

A pliers-type tool having a tool head defining a first tool structure capable of being selectively disposed in any one of a plurality of angular positions relative to first and second handles of the pliers-type tool, comprising:

• first and second jaws elements having first and second portions, the first portions being juxtaposed relative to each other and forming first jaws cooperating to define the first tool structure, each of the jaw elements having a jaw aperture disposed therein with the jaw apertures having a common pivot axis, each of the jaw apertures includes internal splines circumferentially disposed on an inner surface thereof, wherein the jaw elements are adapted to be pivotally moveable relative to each other about the axis,
• the first and second handles adapted to be respectively fixedly interconnected with the first and second jaw elements, each handle having a handle aperture disposed therein coaxial with the jaw apertures, each handle aperture includes internal splines circumferentially disposed on an inner surface thereof;
• and
• a pivot pin disposed axially through the jaw apertures and the handle apertures and being axially movable relative thereto between a locked position, wherein the first handle is fixedly interconnected with the first jaw element and the second handle is fixedly interconnected with the second jaw element and the handles are pivotally movable relative to each other about the axis, and an unlocked position, wherein the handles are fixedly interconnected with each other and the jaw elements are fixedly interconnected with each other and are pivotally movable about the axis relative to the handles, the pin includes a first externally splined portion, a second externally splined portion that is rotatable relative to the first externally splined portion, and a third externally splined portion that is nonrotatable relative to the first externally splined portion and axially spaced from the second externally splined portion,
• wherein when the pin is in the locked position, the first externally splined portion engages the internal splines of the first handle and the first jaw element, and the second externally splined portion engages the internal splines of the second handle and the second jaw element so that the second handle and second jaw element can pivot together about the axis relative to the first handle and the first jaw element, and when the pin is in the unlocked position, the first externally splined portion engages the internal splines of the first handle, the second externally splined portion engages the internal splines of the first and second jaw elements, and the third externally splined portion engages the internal splines of the second handle so that the first and second jaw elements can pivot together about the axis relative to the first and second handles.

A pliers-type tool having first and second handles and first and second opposing jaw sets respectively defining first and second tool structures, each tool structure adapted to be selectively disposed in any one of a plurality of angular positions relative to the handles, the pliers-type tool comprising:

• first and second opposing jaw elements having first and second portions and being juxtaposed relative to each other such that the first tool structure is formed by the first portions of the jaw elements and the second tool structure is formed by the second portions of the jaw elements, each jaw element includes a jaw aperture disposed therein with the jaw apertures having a common pivot axis, wherein the first portions are adapted to be pivotally moveable relative to each other about the axis and the second portions are adapted to be pivotally moveable relative to each other about the axis;
• the first and second handles are adapted to be respectively fixedly interconnected with the first and second jaw elements, each handle having a handle aperture that is coaxial with the jaw apertures;
• and
• a pivot pin disposed axially through the jaw apertures and the handle apertures and being axially movable relative thereto between locked and unlocked positions, wherein when the pin is disposed in the locked position, the first handle is fixedly interconnected with the first jaw element and the second handle is fixedly interconnected with the second jaw element and the handles are pivotally movable relative to each other about the axis, and when the pin is disposed in the unlocked position, the handles are fixedly interconnected with each other and the jaw elements are fixedly interconnected with each other and are pivotally movable about the axis relative to the handles.

A method of selectively disposing a tool head of a pliers-type tool in any one of a plurality of angular positions relative to first and second handles of the pliers-type tool, the tool head being formed by opposing first and second jaw elements, each jaw element having a jaw aperture disposed therein with the jaw apertures having a common pivot axis, each of the first and second handles includes a handle aperture therein that is coaxial with the jaw apertures, the pliers-type tool includes a pivot pin disposed axially through the jaw apertures and the handle apertures and is axially movable relative thereto between locked and unlocked positions, the method comprising:

• fixedly interconnecting the handles with each other and freeing the jaw elements for pivotal movement relative to the handles by moving the pivot pin to the unlocked position;
• rotating the jaw elements about the axis relative to the handles to a desired angular position;
• and
• freeing the handles for pivotal movement relative to each other and fixedly interconnecting the first and second handles respectively with the first and second jaw elements by moving the pivot pin to the locked position.