US3114277A - Wire stripping tool - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 17, 1963 B. J.,CLENDEN|N 3,114,277

WIRE STRIPPING TOOL Filed April 5. 1961 [7 44 I 5 i 44 24 I 58 I *1 L I :3 5 1 I 2s Barf J. C/ena'en/n INVENTOR.

BY WM mm United States Patent 3,114,277 wmn STRIPPLNG T001, Ber-t1. Clendenin, 4M N. Washington, Marion, Ill. Filed Apr. 5, 1961, Ser. No. 100,945 7 Claims. (Cl. 31-95) The present invention generally relates to a hand tool and more particularly a device for stripping the insulation cover from an insulated wire such as those normally employed for transmitting electrical energy in a building such as a house or the like.

As is well known, electricians normally require a number of tools for assisting in the various operations normally conducted when practicing their trade. One of the tools normally required by an electrician is a screwdriver. Also, the electrician normally employs some type of tool for aiding in the removal of insulation from an end portion of an insulated wire for enabling the wire to be connected to a terminal post or the like. Heretofore, rather elaborate tools have been provided for stripping the insulation from the wire. However, these tools are relatively expensive and have only the single purpose of removing insulation. Thus, such tools occupy a considerable space area within the tool box or wherever it is carried. Therefore, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a wire stripping assembly incorporated into the handle of a screwdriver whereby the screwdriver will be effective for its normal uses and operations and whereby the wire stripping device adds very little to the weight and bulkiness of the screwdriver.

Another very important object of the present invention is to provide a wire stripping device having a stationary and movable V-shaped blade together with a thumb pressure actuated member connected with the movable blade whereby accurate pressure may be exerted on the movable blade and the thumb is also employed for determining when the movable blade contacts the metallic wire thus assuring that the wire will not be partially cut through by the blade.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a wire stripping device disposed longitudinally within a screwdriver handle and having outwardly flared openings communicated therewith for guiding the wire into the wire stripping device together with an actuator extending longitudinally from the end of the screwdriver handle remote from the screwdriver shank and blade in which the actuator is spring biased longitudinally outwardly of the handle and provided with a rounded dome-shaped thumb receiving member for facilitating operation of the blade without interfering with the normal operation of the screwdriver.

Still another important feature of the present invention is to provide a wire stripping device incorporated into the handle of the screwdriver which is simple in construction, easy to use, effective for its particular purposes and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a path hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a screwdriver with the wire stripping device of the present invention incorporated therein;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the structural details of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 illustrating further structural details of the invention;

FEGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing alongsection line 44 of FIGURE 2 illustrating the relationship of the blades in their overlapped condition; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the blade holder and guide element.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral it? generally designates a screwdriver having anelongated shank 12 with aconventional screwdriver blade 14 on one end thereof. The other end of theshank 12 is rigidly connected to ascrewdriver handle 16 of generally cylindrical cross-sectional area and having longitudinal ribs it; thereon. The particular shape, configuration and size of the screwdriver lo may vary depending upon the par ticular size requirement of the individual using the device. Reference numeral Zll generally designates the wire stripping device which forms the essence of the present invention and it is incorporated into thehandle 16 of thescrewdriver 10. Thehandle 16 may be constructed of any suitable material normally employed for screwdriver handles such as plastic, wood, metal or the like. The handle 1.6 is provided with a longitudinally extend ingbore 22. therein which communicates with :a laterally extendingbore 24. The laterally extendingbore 24 extends diametrically of thescrewdriver handle 16 and has outwardly flaredend portions 26 which form a guide for guiding an insulatedelectric wire 28 into thetransverse bore 24 so that it may be engaged by the wire stripping device.

The wire stripping device includes a generally longitudinally elongated holder andguide 30 which includes anupper side wall 32 and alower side wall 34 in which the lower side wall is offset from the upper side wall by an ofisetinclined portion 36. Both the upper side wall and the lower side wall is provided with a continuous side edge orflange 38 perpendicular to the upper andlower wall 32 and 34. The edges of the side edges orflanges 38 are inturned as indicated bynumeral 40 thus forming a pair of inwardly facing channels 42 for slidably receiving amovable knife 44 and guiding theknife 44 in its vertical reciprocation. Mounted stationarily in the lower portion of the guide and holder 39 is astationary knife 46 having an outward and upturnedlower end portion 48 engaging with the bottom edge of thelower wall 34 for rigidly securing thestationary knife 46 to theholder 30. The holder 3% is provided with an opening Stl therein in alignment with thetransverse opening 24.

The top edge of thebottom knife 46 is V-shaped as indicated byreference numeral 52 and is also beveled as at 54. The bottom apex of the V-shapedtop edge 52 is generally in alignment with the bottom of the opening as illustrated in FIGURE 3 and the bevel extends upwardly from the bot-tom edge of the opening 50 and the top corner portion of the stationarylower knife 46 are engaged with theoffset 36 so that the inner surface of theupper wall 32 generally is in alignment with the surface of thestationary knife 46 remote from thelower wall 34.

The movable blade orknife 44 is also provided with a V-shapedlower end 56 which is inverted in relation to theVshaped edge 52 of the lower blade orknife 46 and is also beveled or inclined as indicated bynumeral 58. The bevel of the knife orblade 44 is such that it is generally parallel with the bevel on the knife orblade 46 for providing cooperating sharpened edges slidably disposed immediately adjacent each other. As illustrated in FIGURE 2, theblades 44 and 46 are always slightly overlapped and the bottom end of theblade 44 will serve to retain theblade 46 in the offset portion of the holder inasmuch as theblade 44 is accurately guided in its vertical movement by the inwardly facing channels 42.

The upper end of theholder 30 is engaged by atransverse washer member 60 for anchoring the holder in place and thewasher 60 is provided with a central opening 62 receiving anoperating plunger 64 that is attached to the upper end of the knife orblade 44 by virtue of arivet 66 or other suitable fastening means. For purposes of alignment, the lower end of theplunger 64 is recessed in order to receive the blade 44- so that the longitudinal axis of theplunger 64 is generally in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the blade orknife 44.

Forming a closure for the upper end of thebore 22 is ascrewthreaded plug 68 having a peripheral flange 7G engaging the outer end of thescrewdriver handle 16. Theplug 68 is provided with a longitudinal bore '72 slidably receiving theplunger 64. Theplunger 64 is provided with a transverse and laterally extendingpin 74 which forms a limit for outward movement of theplunger 64 inasmuch as it will engage with theplug 68 and also the pins '74 forms a seat for the upper end of acoil compression spring 76 which has the lower end thereof engaging thewasher 60 thereby resiliently urging theplunger 64 outwardly and resiliently urging theknife blade 44 upwardly or away from the stationary blade orknife 46. For depressing theplunger 64, there is provided a generally dome-shaped thumb engaging actuator orpressure receiving member 78 that is attached to the upper end of theplunger 64 by any suitable means such as a screwthreaded connection 8%. The upper surface of thepressure receiving member 78 is convexly curved as at 82 and has a diameter generally equivalent to the diameter of the screwdriver handle 16 so that if it is required to exert longitudinal pressure on the screwdriver during normal operation thereof, thepressure member 78 may be forced inwardly against theplug 68 whereupon pressure may then be exerted on the end of the screwdriver handle in the usual manner.

The size of thetransverse bore 24 will generally preclude any possible danger of insertion of fingers or the like into the area between the knife blade. However, theoutward taper 26 will guide the insulatedwire 28 into the diamond-shaped area formed by the partially overlapped blades as illustrated inFlGURE 2. Then upon depression of theplunger 64 by exerting some pressure thereon, the insulation will be cut through to the wire at four spaced points and the remainder of the insulation will be substantially severed thereby enabling the insulation to be stripped from the wire by exerting longitudinal force on the insulation which is very easy to accomplish since it is only necessary to move the screwdriver handle longitudinally of the insulated wire after the insulation has been partially severed or substantially completely severed. This eliminates the necessity for rotation of the wire stripping device about the longitudinal axis of the insulated wire although this could be done if required in certain instances.

Inasmuch as thebore 22 need not be the same size throughout its length, the lower portion thereof is only of sufficient size to receive the holder andguide 30 and it also is within the purview of the present invention to have the holder molded into the handle if made of plastic although the device is also adaptable for use with various types of screwdriver handles. The holder 3% also is provided with anotch 84 extending downwardly in theupper wall 32 from the upper edge thereof. This notch serves to enable movement of the lower recessed end of theplunger 64 during normal operation thereof thus further enabling the longitudinal axis of the plunger to be aligned with the longitudinal axis of themovable blade 44 thereby eifectively transmitting longitudinal force to theblade 44.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A wire stripping tool comprising an elongated body member having a longitudinal bore and a transverse bore therein, said transverse bore communicating with the longitudinal bore adjacent the inner end thereof, said longitudinal bore communicating with one end of said body member, a stationary blade disposed in the inner end of said longitudinal bore, a movable blade longitudinally movably mounted within said longitudinal bore, said movable blade being continuously in overlapping relation to the stationary blade, actuating means connected to said movable blade and extending axially from the longitudinal bore, spring means engaged with said actuating means for urging the movable blade to a retracted position, said blades each having V-shaped sharpened edges defining an opening therebetween in alignment with the transverse bore when the movable blade is in retracted position, and a holder and guide means for said blades, said holder and guide means including a lower side wall, an upper side wall offset from the lower side wall by the width of the stationary blade, longitudinally inwardly facing edge channels, and a transverse opening therethrough, said opening being in alignment with the transverse bore in the elongated body and the sharpened edges of the two blades, means rigidly securing the stationary blade to the lower side wall with the outer surface of the stationary blade in alignment with the offset upper wall, and the movable blade being positioned within and between the inwardly facing edge channels and against the upper side wall.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the means securing the stationary blade comprise an upturned lower end portion on the stationary blade engaged over the lower end of the holder and guide means.

3. A wire stripping tool comprising an elongated body member having a longitudinal bore and a transverse bore therein, said transverse bore communicating with the longitudinal bore adjacent the inner end thereof, said longitudinal bore communicating with one end of said body member, a stationary blade disposed in the inner end of said longitudinal bore, a movable blade longitudinally movably mounted within said longitudinal bore, said movable blade being continuously in overlapping relation to the stationary blade, actuating means connected to said movable blade and extending axially from the longitudinal bore, spring means engaged with said actuating means for urging the movable blade to a retracted position, said blades each having V-shaped sharpened edges defining an opening therebetween in alignment with the transverse bore when the movable blade is in retracted position, closure means removably sealing the longitudinal bore at said one end, said closure means provided with an opening therethrough so as to accommodate the actuating means, said actuating means comprises a plunger secured to the movable blade, said plunger extending through the opening in the closure means, a domeshaped engaging member attached to the upper end of the plunger, said engaging member having a diameter approximately equivalent to the diameter of the elongated body, and a laterally extending pin through the plunger adjacent the inner side of the closure means so as to limit the outward movement of the plunger.

4. The structure as defined in claim 3 together with a holder and guide means positioning the stationary blade in the bottom of the longitudinal bore and slidably securing the movable blade thereto.

5. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein the spring means is engaged between the laterally extending pin and the top of the holder and guide means.

6. A wire stripping tool comprising an elongated body member having a longitudinal bore and a transverse bore therein, said transverse bore communicating with the longitudinal bore, a stationary blade disposed in said longitudinal bore, a movable blade longitudinally movably mounted within said longitudinal bore, said movable blade being in continuously overlapping relation to the stationary blade, actuating means connected to said movable blade and extending from the longitudinal bore, spring means engaged with said actuating means for urging the movable blade to a retracted position, said blades each having sharpened edges defining an opening therebetween in alignment with the transverse bore when the movable blade is in retracted position, and a holder and guide means for said blade, said holder and guide means including a lower side wall, an upper side wall offset from the lower side wall by the width of the stationary blade, longitudinally inwardly facing edge channels, and a transverse opening therethrough, said opening being in alignment with the transverse bore in the elongated body and the sharpened edges of the two blades, means rigidly securing the stationary blade to the lower side wall with the outer surface of the stationary blade in alignment with the offset upper wall, and the movable blade being positioned within and between the inwardly facing edge channels and against the upper side wall.

7. A wire stripping tool comprising an elongated body member having a longitudinal bore and a transverse bore therein, said transverse bore communicating with the longitudinal bore, said longitudinal bore communicating with one end of said body member, a stationary blade disposed in said longitudinal bore, a movable blade longitudinally movably mounted within said longitudinal bore, said movable blade being continuously in overlapping relation to the stationary blade, actuating means connected to said movable blade and extending axially from the longitudinal bore spring means engaged with said actuating means for urging the movable blade to a retracted position, said blades each having sharpened edges defining an opening therebetween in alignment with the transverse bore when the movable blade is in retracted position, closure means removably sealing the longitudinal bore at said one end, said closure means provided with an opening therethrough so as to accommodate the actuating means, said actuating means com prising a plunger secured to the movable blade, said plunger extending through the opening in the closure means, and a laterally extending pin through the plunger adjacent the inner side of the closure means so as to limit the outward movement of the plunger.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,819,520 Eyles Jan. 14, 1958 2,834,241 Chowning May 13, 1958 2,848,914 Gottfried Aug. 26, 1958 2,989,881 Lavietes June 27, 1961 2,995,052 Funcik Aug. 8, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 119,711 Austria Nov. 10, 1930 611,822 Great Britain Nov. 14, 1948 780 Great Britain Oct. 22, 1914

Claims (1)

1. A WIRE STRIPPING TOOL COMPRISING AN ELONGATED BODY MEMBER HAVING A LONGITUDINAL BORE AND A TRANSVERSE BORE THEREIN, SAID TRANSVERSE BORE COMMUNICATING WITH THE LONGITUDINAL BORE ADJACENT THE INNER END THEREOF, SAID LONGITUDINAL BORE COMMUNICATING WITH ONE END OF SAID BODY MEMBER, A STATIONARY BLADE DISPOSED IN THE INNER END OF SAID LONGITUDINAL BORE, A MOVABLE BLADE LONGITUDINALLY MOVABLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID LONGITUDINAL BORE, SAID MOVABLE BLADE BEING CONTINUOUSLY IN OVERLAPPING RELATION TO THE STATIONARY BLADE, ACTUATING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID MOVABLE BLADE AND EXTENDING AXIALLY FROM THE LONGITUDINAL BORE, SPRING MEANS ENGAGED WITH SAID ACTUATING MEANS FOR URGING THE MOVABLE BLADE TO A RETRACTED POSITION, SAID BLADES EACH HAVING V-SHAPED SHARPENED EDGES DEFINING AN OPENING THEREBETWEEN IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE

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