US3142212A - Pliers - Google Patents

Description

July 28, 1964 'L.'E. GRAPE 3,142,212

Filed Ma I 'ch 12, 1963 .INVENTOR.

L EONARD E. GRAPE United States Patent 3,142,212 PILIERS Leonard E. Grape, 11754 Moreno Ave, Lakeside, Calif. Fiied Mar. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 264,616 2 Ciaims. (Cl. 81-3835) This invention relates generally to pliers and particularly to pliers that are adjustable for gripping articles of various sizes and shapes.

Background Pliers of various types are well known in the art. Pliers in general are used for cutting or gripping. In some pliers, the relationship of the jaws is fixed; in others, the gap between the jaws is adjustable. In the adjustable type, the gap usually is adjusted in steps and the adjustment mechanism is relatively complicated and expensive.

The instant invention is a continuously adjustable pair of pliers, the adjustment mechanism consisting simply of slidable cam and tapered surfaces that may be adjusted with one hand.

Objects It is a principal object of this invention to provide a pair of adjustable pliers having one jaw adjustably slidable along a shank tapered to inhibit inadvertent sliding thereon when the pliers are manually clasped upon a work piece such as a nut.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide a pair of slidably adjustable pliers that may be adjusted with one hand.

It is another object of this invention to provide a pair of pliers that may be cheaply and rapidly assembled by slidably engaging the two plier elements.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a pair of adjustable pliers in which the jaws remain parallel for all adjustments by means of unique cam action.

With these and other objects definitely in view, this invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of elements as will be hereinafter fully described in the specification, particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the drawings that form a material part of this disclosure, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation View of the pliers;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2, showing the pliers unlocked; and

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 3, showing the locking action.

Similar characters of reference indicate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the views of the drawing.

Detailed Description In the drawing, the instant invention comprises first and second plier elements and 12.Element 10 includescurved handle portion 14 at one end, laterally extending, fixedjaw 16 at the other end, andtapered shank 18 betweenhandle portion 14 andjaw 16. Taperedshank 18 is smaller at the jaw end and larger at the handle end to prevent inadvertent sliding of said second plier element in a direction away from saidjaw 16 when the pliers are manually clasped upon a workpiece. Element 12 includescurved handle portion 20 at one end, laterally extending, pivotedjaw 22 at the other end, and slottedportion 24 betweenhandle portion 20 andjaw 22. Jaw

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22 has aconvex cam surface 26opposite side 28 oftapered shank 18, while slottedportion 24 has aconvex cam surface 30opposite side 32 oftapered shank 18.

Flier elements 10 and 12 are assembled by insertingjaw 16 andshank 18 into slotted portion 24-. When handleportions 14 and 20 are separated as shown in FIGURE 3,cam surfaces 26 and 3d are disengaged fromshank 18 and element 12 may he slid along element It) to adjust the gap betweenjaws 16 and 22. When the desired adjustment is accomplished, handleportions 14 and 20 are gripped together and pivotedjaw 22 is locked in place as shown in FIGURE 4. Here pivotedjaw 22 is held rigidly in place by the pressure ofcam surfaces 26 and 3% onshank 18 atlocking points 34 and 36.

The relative shape ofshank 18 andcam surfaces 26 and 3d are such that lookingpoints 34 and 36 shift for each edjustment, andjaws 16 and 22 are locked in parallel relationship for all adjustments. At the handle endtapered shank 18 is larger than slottedportion 24, preventing element 12 from engaging the handle portion ofelement 10.

From the foregoing description, it is readily apparent that, by a unique combination of tapered and earn surfaces, the instant invention is a continuously adjustable pair of pliers that may be easily manipulated with one hand.

It is understood that minor variation from the form of the invention disclosed herein may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the specification and drawing are to be considered illustrative rather than limiting.

I claim:

1. In a pair of pliers, the combination comprising:

a first element having a fixed jaw and a tapered shank with side walls diverging from said jaw; and

a second element having a pivoted jaw and a slotted portion, said jaw and slotted portion having opposing convex cam surfaces, said tapered shank being slidably received between said cam surfaces for adjusting the gap between said fixed and pivoted jaws and keeping said jaws parallel, said taper inhibiting inadvertent sliding of said second element along said shank in a direction away from said fixed jaw when said jaws are clamped upon a workpiece.

2. In a pair of pliers, the combination comprising:

a first element having a handle portion at one end, a laterally extending, fixed jaw at the other end, and a tapered shank intermediate said handle portion and jaw, said shank being larger at the handle end and smaller at the jaw end; and

a second element having a handle portion at one end, a laterally extending pivoted jaw at the other end, and a slot extending from said pivoted jaw toward the second mentioned handle, said tapered shank extending through said slot, said pivoted jaw having a convex cam surface engaging one side of said shank, and said slot having a convex cam surface engaging the opposite side of said shank, said taper inhibiting inadvertent sliding of said second element along said shank in a direction away from said fixed jaw when said jaws are clamped upon a workpiece.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

Claims (1)

1. IN A PAIR OF PLIERS, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: A FIRST ELEMENT HAVING A FIXED JAW AND A TAPERED SHANK WITH SIDE WALLS DIVERGING FROM SAID JAW; AND A SECOND ELEMENT HAVING A PIVOTED JAW AND A SLOTTED PORTION, SAID JAW AND SLOTTED PORTION HAVING OPPOSING CONVEX CAM SURFACES, SAID TAPERED SHANK BEING SLIDABLY RECEIVED BETWEEN SAID CAM SURFACES FOR ADJUSTING THE GAP BETWEEN SAID FIXED AND PIVOTED JAWS AND KEEPING SAID JAWS PARALLEL, SAID TAPER INHIBITING SAID SHANK IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID FIXED JAW WHEN SAID JAWS ARE CLAMPED UPON A WORKPIECE.

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