US 8,074,536 B1Granted

Angled wire strippers

OwnerLarry Alleninventor

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Abstract

A pair of wire strippers with a specially designed tip to allow stripping of type NM or NMC cable inside of electrical boxes is herein disclosed. The upper portion of the tip, is bent at a ninety degree (90°) angle to the main body of the stripper. This angled tip contains cutting blades designed to conform to the profile of type NM or NMC cable, commonly known as “Romex.” Due to this angled configuration, the wire stripper blades can easily fit into small electrical boxes and strip cable near the back of the box, as opposed to conventional wire strippers which cannot be used in such close quarters. To aid in proper positioning of the tip of the wire stripper, a “Z”-shaped parallel offset is provided. The wire strippers can also be used outside of boxes in an equally effective manner, thus an electrician is not required to carry two (2) pairs of wire strippers.

Claims13

Dependent claims

An angled wire stripper apparatus, comprising:

a first body half comprising a first lower end and a first “Z”-shaped offset section terminating in a first upper functioning end;
a second body half pivotally connected thereto said first body half, said second body half comprising a second lower end and a second “Z”-shaped offset section terminating in a second upper functioning end;
a plurality of pairs of wire stripping recess halves located along both said first body half and said second body half at said first lower end and said second lower end, respectively, and oriented perpendicular to a longitudinal axis along said apparatus;
a pair of first cable sheath stripper recess halves located on said first body half and said second body half, positioned adjacent to said plurality of pairs of wire stripping recesses, and oriented perpendicular to said longitudinal axis along said apparatus;
a pair of second cable sheath stripper recess halves located on said first upper functioning end and said second upper functioning end and oriented parallel to said longitudinal axis along said apparatus;
a first handle connected thereto a distal end of said first body half;
and,
a second handle connected thereto a distal end of said second body half;
wherein said plurality of pairs of wire stripping recess halves each form a plurality of wire stripping recesses when said first body half and said second body half are biased toward each other;
wherein said pair of first cable sheath stripper recess halves form a first cable sheath stripper recess when said first body half and said second body half are biased toward each other;
wherein said pair of second cable sheath stripper recess halves form a second cable sheath stripper recess when said first body half and said second body half are biased toward each other;
wherein said first upper functioning end and said second upper functioning end allows a user a means to cut or strip a plurality of wire cables in a confined space;
and,
wherein a distal-most end of said first upper functioning end overlaps a distal-most end of said second upper functioning end when said first and second handles are squeezed together.

11 more elements

A method for using an angled wire stripper apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:

providing said apparatus, comprising:
a first body half comprising a first lower end and a first “Z”-shaped offset section terminating in a first upper functioning end;
a second body half pivotally connected thereto said first body half, said second body half comprising a second lower end and a second “Z”-shaped offset section terminating in a second upper functioning end;
a plurality of pairs of wire stripping recess halves located along both said first body half and said second body half at said first lower end and said second lower end, respectively, and oriented perpendicular to a longitudinal axis along said apparatus;
a pair of first cable sheath stripper recess halves located on said first body half and said second body half, positioned adjacent to said plurality of pairs of wire stripping recesses, and oriented perpendicular to said longitudinal axis along said apparatus;
a pair of second cable sheath stripper recess halves located on said first upper functioning end and said second upper functioning end and oriented parallel to said longitudinal axis along said apparatus;
a first handle connected thereto a distal end of said first body half;
and,
a second handle connected thereto a distal end of said second body half;
wherein said plurality of pairs of wire stripping recess halves each form a plurality of wire stripping recesses when said first body half and said second body half are biased toward each other;
wherein said pair of first cable sheath stripper recess halves form a first cable sheath stripper recess when said first body half and said second body half are biased toward each other;
wherein said pair of second cable sheath stripper recess halves form a second cable sheath stripper recess when said first body half and said second body half are biased toward each other;
wherein said first upper functioning end and said second upper functioning end allows a user a means to cut or strip a plurality of wire cables in a confined space more easily;
releasing a clasp, thereby expanding said first handle and said second handle apart from each other;
developing an opening defined between engagement surfaces of said first upper functioning end and said second upper functioning end;
utilizing said first cable sheath stripping recess in an unconfined area, if available, by squeezing said first handle together therewith said second handle, thereby closing said opening around said wire cable;
utilizing said first cable sheath stripping recess to cut through an outer insulation of said wire cable;
pulling said apparatus in a perpendicular arrangement therewith said longitudinal axis of said first body half and said second body half, thereby stripping said outer insulation thereby exposing individual wires residing therein;
expanding said first handle and said second handle, thereby developing an opening defined between said engagement surfaces of said first upper functioning end and said second upper functioning end;
utilizing said second cable stripping recess by inserting said first upper functioning end and said second upper functioning end therewithin said confined space;
surrounding said wire cable with said second cable stripping recess to remove said cable insulating sheath;
pulling said apparatus in a parallel arrangement therewith said longitudinal axis of said first body half and said second body half, thereby stripping said outer insulation;
utilizing said first cable stripping recess and said second cable stripping recess to surround an individual wire;
squeezing said first handle and said second handle together, thereby closing said opening around said individual wire;
utilizing said first cable stripping recess and said second cable stripping recess to cut through said outer insulation of said individual wire;
pulling said apparatus in a perpendicular arrangement therewith said longitudinal axis of said first body half and said second body half, thereby stripping said wire insulation;
and,
removing said wire insulation.

25 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.