US3005368A - Adjustable pliers - Google Patents

Adjustable pliers Download PDF

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Publication number
US3005368A
US3005368A US22484A US2248460A US3005368A US 3005368 A US3005368 A US 3005368A US 22484 A US22484 A US 22484A US 2248460 A US2248460 A US 2248460A US 3005368 A US3005368 A US 3005368A
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United States
Prior art keywords
pawl
handle
handle member
members
offset
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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US22484A
Inventor
Walter J Johnson
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United Greenfield Corp
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United Greenfield Corp
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Priority to US22484A priority Critical patent/US3005368A/en
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Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B25HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
    • B25BTOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
    • B25B7/00Pliers; Other hand-held gripping tools with jaws on pivoted limbs; Details applicable generally to pivoted-limb hand tools
    • B25B7/06Joints
    • B25B7/10Joints with adjustable fulcrum

Definitions

  • This invention relates to adjustablepliers and more particularly to ratchet means for variably limiting separation of the jaws of the pliers while allowing free relative pivoting thereof.
  • adjustable pliers have heretofore been proposed but have generally provided an extremely limited range of adjustment or have been difiicult to adjust.
  • a pivoted step cam pivoted on one of the handle members and engageable with the other handle member is employed to adjust the dicetive distance between the jaws.
  • This construction gives a relatively wide range of adjustment and is relatively easy to adjust but is expensive to manufacture and is easily damaged in use since the cam is exposed between the handle members.
  • Another object is to provide adjustable pliers in which one handle member is formed with a series of spaced ratchet steps selectively engageable by a pivoted pawl to limit separation of the jaws on the handle members.
  • the handle members are formed 'with interengaging parts to limit separation thereof to an amount such that the pawl lies at all times substantially within the outline of one of the handle members to be protected thereby against damage.
  • the pawl may be formed of a single piece having a stepped end engageable with the ratchet steps or of a plurality of separate pieces of difierent lengths selectively engageable with the ratchet steps.
  • FIGURE 1 is a partial perspective view of adjustable pliers embodying the invention
  • FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the pliers of FIG- URE 1;
  • FIGURE 3 is a partial section on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;
  • FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing a different position of adjustment
  • FIGURE 5 is a partial section illustrating an alternative construction.
  • the pliers as shown in FIGURES 1 to 4, comprises a first elongated handle member formed at one end with an offset 11 which has integrally formed on the outer end thereof a jaw 12.
  • the handle member 10 and the offset 11 are thinned with respect to the major portion of the handle member and the jaw, as clearly seen in FIG- URE l, and the juncture of the thinned portion with the handle member is formed into a series of ratchet steps 13.
  • the offset 11 is formed for slidable mounting of a second handle member thereon and in the construction shown has an elongated slot 14 formed therein extending substantially at a right angle to the face of the jaw 12.
  • a second elongated handle member 15 having a jaw 16 rigidly formed therewith crosses the offset 11 of the atent O ice first handle member and is pivotally connected thereto. As best seen in FIGURE 1, the crossing portion of the second handle member 15 is thinned so that the combined thickness of the crossing portions of the two handle members is substantially equal to the thickness of the handle members and the jaws.
  • the handle members are pivotally connected together by a pin 17 which is secured to the handle member 15 and which extends slidably and rotatably through the elongated slot 14.
  • the pin 17 may be headed at one end and may carry a nut 18 at its opposite end to prevent it from slipping through the slot 14 or the opening in the handle member through which it extends while at the same time it provides a pivotal connection between the handle members.
  • the pin 17 pivotally carries an elongated pawl 19 which is pivoted at one end on the pin 17 with its opposite end extending toward the ratchet steps 13 selectively to engage the same.
  • the pawl is adapted to be urged into engagement with the ratchet steps when the handle members are moved together toward their gripping posipressure on the pawl when the handle members are moved toward each other.
  • the free end of the pawl is formed with a plurality of steps 22 which are selectively engageable with the same ratchet steps 13 thereby providing greater flexibility of adjustment without adding to the number of parts or increasing the complexity of the pliers.
  • the handle members may be separated, as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 2 and in full lines in FIGURE 4, to move the pawl 19 out of engagement with the ratchet steps 13 so that separation of the jaws can easily be'adjusted.
  • the handle member 15 is formed adjacent to the jaw 16 thereon with a projection 23 which will engage the pawl and swing it away from the ratchet teeth when the handle members are moved apart.
  • the pin 17 can he slid to any desired position in the slot 14 to adjust the separation of the jaws 12 and 16.
  • the pawl will swing back into engagement with one or the other of the ratchet teeth under the influence of the spring 21 to limit further separation of the jaws. This action will occur during the initial part of the swinging move ment of the handle members and during the final movement of the handle members the jaws will be moved pivotally toward each other to grip between them a nut or other object to be gripped.
  • the pawl is so constructed and arranged that it lies at all times substantially within the outline of the handle member 10 and offset 11 to be protected thereby against accidental damage.
  • the maximum outward position of the pawl is illustrated in dot-dash lines in FIGURE 2 and even in this position the major portion of the pawl is protected by the handle member 10 and offset 11.
  • the handle members are formed with interengaging parts to limit separation thereof.
  • the jaw 16 where it joins the handle member 15 provides a shoulder 24 which will engage the outer surface of the ofiset 11 when the handle members are moved apart to limit separation thereof.
  • the outer surface of the offset is so con toured that the handle members can never be separated in any of the relative adjusted positions thereof to an extent such that the pawl will be fully exposed where it would be likely to be damaged.
  • FIGURE 5 In the alternative construction, illustrated in FIGURE 5, only the handle member 10, the ofiset 11 and jaw 12 are illustrated, these parts being identical to corresponding parts shown in FIGURES 1 to 4 with the difference being in the construction of the pawl.
  • the pawl As shownin-EIG; URE 5, the pawl is; formed by a pair-of elongated bars 25 and 26 of different lengths both pivoted; at one end on the pin 17 and selectively engageable at their opposite ends with the ratchet steps13 on the handlermember 10.
  • Each of the pawls, as shown, carries a leaf: spring-21cm gaged by the handle member 15in thevsame manner as the spring 21 of FIGURES 1 to 4; to urge the pawls 25 and 26. toward the ratchet steps.
  • the two ratchet members function in essentially the same manner; as the steps. 22 on. the end of theratchet member 19;. for selec tive engagementwith the ratchet steps 13 to provide greater flexibility of adjustment. with.aminimumofcomplication of the structure.
  • Adjustable pliers comprising a first handle member offset adjacent toone end and a jaw member rigidly carried by the offset, a second handle and jaw member crossing. the offset, means. pivotally andv slidably interconnecting the offset. and the second ,handle and jaw member for. movement of the pivotal. connection. along the offset, a series of spaced ratchet; steps integrally formed on and across'one side of the first; handle member adjacent to the offset, an elongated straight pawl pivotally connected at one end to said means; and extending along said one side of the first. handle member and olfset and selectively engageable at itsother, end with; the ratchet steps variably to limit movement of. the pivotal connection thereby to.

Description

Oct. 24, 1961 w. J. JOHNSON 3,005,368
ADJUSTABLE PLIERS Filed April 15, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /N VE N TOR.
ATTORNEYS. V
Oct. 24, 1961 w. J. JOHNSON 3,005,368
ADJUSTABLE PLIERS Filed April 15, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l/ INVENTOR- ATTORNEYS.
nited States This invention relates to adjustablepliers and more particularly to ratchet means for variably limiting separation of the jaws of the pliers while allowing free relative pivoting thereof.
Various different types of adjustable pliers have heretofore been proposed but have generally provided an extremely limited range of adjustment or have been difiicult to adjust. In one such pliers, a pivoted step cam pivoted on one of the handle members and engageable with the other handle member is employed to adjust the dicetive distance between the jaws. This construction gives a relatively wide range of adjustment and is relatively easy to adjust but is expensive to manufacture and is easily damaged in use since the cam is exposed between the handle members.
It is accordingly one object of the present invention to provide adjustable pliers which provide a wide range of adjustment and are easy to adjust and which are relatively inexpensive to manufacture and extremely rugged and reliable in use.
Another object is to provide adjustable pliers in which one handle member is formed with a series of spaced ratchet steps selectively engageable by a pivoted pawl to limit separation of the jaws on the handle members.
According to a feature of the invention, the handle members are formed 'with interengaging parts to limit separation thereof to an amount such that the pawl lies at all times substantially within the outline of one of the handle members to be protected thereby against damage.
According to another feature of the invention, the pawl may be formed of a single piece having a stepped end engageable with the ratchet steps or of a plurality of separate pieces of difierent lengths selectively engageable with the ratchet steps. These constructions provide a greater flexibility of adjustment without increasing the number of ratchet steps or complicating the structure.
The above and other objects and features of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIGURE 1 is a partial perspective view of adjustable pliers embodying the invention;
FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the pliers of FIG- URE 1;
FIGURE 3 is a partial section on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;
FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing a different position of adjustment; and
FIGURE 5 is a partial section illustrating an alternative construction.
The pliers, as shown in FIGURES 1 to 4, comprises a first elongated handle member formed at one end with an offset 11 which has integrally formed on the outer end thereof a jaw 12. The handle member 10 and the offset 11 are thinned with respect to the major portion of the handle member and the jaw, as clearly seen in FIG- URE l, and the juncture of the thinned portion with the handle member is formed into a series of ratchet steps 13. The offset 11 is formed for slidable mounting of a second handle member thereon and in the construction shown has an elongated slot 14 formed therein extending substantially at a right angle to the face of the jaw 12.
A second elongated handle member 15 having a jaw 16 rigidly formed therewith crosses the offset 11 of the atent O ice first handle member and is pivotally connected thereto. As best seen in FIGURE 1, the crossing portion of the second handle member 15 is thinned so that the combined thickness of the crossing portions of the two handle members is substantially equal to the thickness of the handle members and the jaws.
The handle members are pivotally connected together by a pin 17 which is secured to the handle member 15 and which extends slidably and rotatably through the elongated slot 14. The pin 17 may be headed at one end and may carry a nut 18 at its opposite end to prevent it from slipping through the slot 14 or the opening in the handle member through which it extends while at the same time it provides a pivotal connection between the handle members.
The pin 17 pivotally carries an elongated pawl 19 which is pivoted at one end on the pin 17 with its opposite end extending toward the ratchet steps 13 selectively to engage the same. The pawl is adapted to be urged into engagement with the ratchet steps when the handle members are moved together toward their gripping posipressure on the pawl when the handle members are moved toward each other.
According to a feature of the invention, the free end of the pawl is formed with a plurality of steps 22 which are selectively engageable with the same ratchet steps 13 thereby providing greater flexibility of adjustment without adding to the number of parts or increasing the complexity of the pliers.
In use the handle members may be separated, as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 2 and in full lines in FIGURE 4, to move the pawl 19 out of engagement with the ratchet steps 13 so that separation of the jaws can easily be'adjusted. For this purpose, the handle member 15 is formed adjacent to the jaw 16 thereon with a projection 23 which will engage the pawl and swing it away from the ratchet teeth when the handle members are moved apart. With the handle members in this position, the pin 17 can he slid to any desired position in the slot 14 to adjust the separation of the jaws 12 and 16. When the handle members are moved toward each other the pawl will swing back into engagement with one or the other of the ratchet teeth under the influence of the spring 21 to limit further separation of the jaws. This action will occur during the initial part of the swinging move ment of the handle members and during the final movement of the handle members the jaws will be moved pivotally toward each other to grip between them a nut or other object to be gripped.
According to another feature of the invention, the pawl is so constructed and arranged that it lies at all times substantially within the outline of the handle member 10 and offset 11 to be protected thereby against accidental damage. The maximum outward position of the pawl is illustrated in dot-dash lines in FIGURE 2 and even in this position the major portion of the pawl is protected by the handle member 10 and offset 11.
In order to limit outward movement of the pawl the handle members are formed with interengaging parts to limit separation thereof. As shown, the jaw 16 where it joins the handle member 15 provides a shoulder 24 which will engage the outer surface of the ofiset 11 when the handle members are moved apart to limit separation thereof. The outer surface of the offset is so con toured that the handle members can never be separated in any of the relative adjusted positions thereof to an extent such that the pawl will be fully exposed where it would be likely to be damaged.
In the alternative construction, illustrated in FIGURE 5, only the handle member 10, the ofiset 11 and jaw 12 are illustrated, these parts being identical to corresponding parts shown in FIGURES 1 to 4 with the difference being in the construction of the pawl. As shownin-EIG; URE 5, the pawl is; formed by a pair-of elongated bars 25 and 26 of different lengths both pivoted; at one end on the pin 17 and selectively engageable at their opposite ends with the ratchet steps13 on the handlermember 10. Each of the pawls, as shown, carries a leaf: spring-21cm gaged by the handle member 15in thevsame manner as the spring 21 of FIGURES 1 to 4; to urge the pawls 25 and 26. toward the ratchet steps. The two ratchet members function in essentially the same manner; as the steps. 22 on. the end of theratchet member 19;. for selec tive engagementwith the ratchet steps 13 to provide greater flexibility of adjustment. with.aminimumofcomplication of the structure.
While two embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein, it, will be understood; that they are illustrative only and nottobe taken as a definition of the scope of the invention, referencebeing had for this purpose tothe appended. claims.
What is claimed is:
1. Adjustable pliers comprising a first handle member offset adjacent toone end and a jaw member rigidly carried by the offset, a second handle and jaw member crossing. the offset, means. pivotally andv slidably interconnecting the offset. and the second ,handle and jaw member for. movement of the pivotal. connection. along the offset, a series of spaced ratchet; steps integrally formed on and across'one side of the first; handle member adjacent to the offset, an elongated straight pawl pivotally connected at one end to said means; and extending along said one side of the first. handle member and olfset and selectively engageable at itsother, end with; the ratchet steps variably to limit movement of. the pivotal connection thereby to. limit separation of the jaw members, spring means acting between. the second handle member and the pawliurging the pawl towardengageme t with one of the ratchet steps when the handle: members are moved relatively together, and. apart. on the; second 7 handle member engageable with the pawl when the handle members are moved part o. mq e henawlaway f om the ratchet steps, the handle members including interengaging parts to limit separation therof such that the pawl will remain at all times substantially within the outline of the first handle member and offset to be protected thereby.
2. The pliers ofclaim 1 in which the pawl provides set, and elongated-pawlpivotedat one end on the pivot pin.
n xt nd n along. s one, s de q g he fi s handle member and-offset and selectively engageable at its other end with the ratchet steps a spring actingv between the secondhandle member, and. the pawl urgingvthe pawl toward the ratchet steps when thehandle members are moved: together, and;v a part, on the second handle member engageable with the pawl when the handle members are moved. apart to move the pawl away from the. ratchet steps, the second; handle including a part engageable with the offset to. limit separation. of the handle members.
whereby the pawl will remain at all, times. substantially within the outline of the first handle member. and oifset to be protected thereby.
References Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,001,178 Stone r.., r Aug 22 1 911 1,249,587 Auburg ,v Dec. 11, 1917 FOREIGN; PATENTS 1,022.9,307 Germany Apr. 30, 1958 7 844,128 Germany July 17, 1952
US22484A 1960-04-15 1960-04-15 Adjustable pliers Expired - Lifetime US3005368A (en)

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Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3913615A1 (en) * 1989-03-21 1990-10-31 Chung Hsing Chang ADJUSTABLE WRENCH
US5060543A (en) * 1990-01-30 1991-10-29 Warheit William A Self-adjusting tool
US6161455A (en) * 1997-08-12 2000-12-19 Great Neck Saw Manufacturers, Inc. Adjustable plier
US6497165B1 (en) * 1999-05-03 2002-12-24 Serenco Nederland Bv Water pump pliers with single-hand control
US20040217547A1 (en) * 2000-07-17 2004-11-04 Lau Edward E. Method of playing a new wagering card game
US7299724B1 (en) 2007-01-24 2007-11-27 Warheit Matthew W Self-adjusting gripping tool

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1001178A (en) * 1910-09-12 1911-08-22 E H Corson Wrench.
US1249587A (en) * 1916-04-03 1917-12-11 Jesse T Auburg Adjustable wrench.
DE844128C (en) * 1949-03-05 1952-07-17 Georg Brass Jun Water pump pliers with adjustable jaw width

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1001178A (en) * 1910-09-12 1911-08-22 E H Corson Wrench.
US1249587A (en) * 1916-04-03 1917-12-11 Jesse T Auburg Adjustable wrench.
DE844128C (en) * 1949-03-05 1952-07-17 Georg Brass Jun Water pump pliers with adjustable jaw width

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3913615A1 (en) * 1989-03-21 1990-10-31 Chung Hsing Chang ADJUSTABLE WRENCH
US5060543A (en) * 1990-01-30 1991-10-29 Warheit William A Self-adjusting tool
US6161455A (en) * 1997-08-12 2000-12-19 Great Neck Saw Manufacturers, Inc. Adjustable plier
US6497165B1 (en) * 1999-05-03 2002-12-24 Serenco Nederland Bv Water pump pliers with single-hand control
US6895840B2 (en) 1999-05-03 2005-05-24 Gunther Schulz Water pump pliers with single-hand control
US20040217547A1 (en) * 2000-07-17 2004-11-04 Lau Edward E. Method of playing a new wagering card game
US7299724B1 (en) 2007-01-24 2007-11-27 Warheit Matthew W Self-adjusting gripping tool

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