US2557296A - Pivot for adjustable fulcrum pliers - Google Patents

Description

June 19, 1951 v w. c. KRESS 2,557,296

PIVOT FOR ADJUSTABLE FULCRUM PLIERS Filed Feb. 16, 1948 IN V EN TOR.

BZZ/L'W 6 Jaw @L/ F um Patented June 19, 1951 PIVOT FOR ADJUSTABLE FULCRUM PLIERS Willard C. Kress, Grand Island, N. Y., assignor to J. H. Williams & 00., Buffalo, N. Y.

Application February 16, 1948, Serial No. 8,581

' 4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to adjustable jaw pliers, sometimes also called water pump pliers. In pliers of this type the pivot or fulcrum secured to one of the hinged elements is adjustable at the crossing with, the other element along that element, to give the opposed clamping jaws between the elements a desired spacing when the jaws are parallel and the handle ends are also about parallel. Adjustable fulcrums or pivots for this purpose are known, but in handling them the pivotal point of coupling is likely to shift unintentionally, which requires one to stop and reset them, thus causing annoyance and delay in the use of the pliers.

An object of this invention is to provide improved adjustable jaw pliers, which will yieldingly, resist any change in any spacing or setting of the clamping jaws, in which the fulcrum or pivot between the hinged elements may be easily, conveniently and quickly shifted along one of those elements to vary the initial spacing between their opposed clamping jaws, and held against unintentional or accidental change from any adjusted relation, which will have maximum strength, and which will be relatively simple, compact, practical, durable and inexpensive.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description of one embodiment of the invention and the novel features will be particularly pointed out hereinafter in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a face elevation of a pair of pliers embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is an edge elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of a part of the same, the section being taken approximately along the line 3-3, Fig. 2, the hinged elements being separated on the pivot to open the jaws into the position in which the normal spacing between the jaws may be changed; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation through the pivotal coupling between the hinged elements, and on a larger scale, to illustrate one form of detent that may be employed.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the pliers have a pair of metal crossing elements I, and 2 which are pivotally coupled or hinged together by a metal pivot or fulcrum member 3, which conveniently may be a bolt that passes through the elements at their crossings. The member 3 holds the elements I and 2 together during their hinged movements. One pair of corresponding ends 4 and 5 of the elements have opposed clamping jaws 6 and I, and

2, the opposite or other pair of ends are suitably formed to serve as handles 8 and 9, which are generally parallel to each other but spaced somewhat apart when the jaws are parallel to each other, as shown in Fig. 1.

One-of these elements, such as element l is, provided, at the zone of crossing with the other element, with a plurality of slightly intersecting,

cylindrical apertures H] of equal size and extending from face to face of that element and arranged in a row extending in a, direction le gthwise of that part of the, element in which they are provided. The. openings l l at the intersections between adjacent apertures H1 have diameters considerably less than the, diameters of the apertures [0 so as to provide restricted passages connecting adjacent apertures.

The shank of the bolt or pivot member 3, in the portion thereof which passes through any of the apertures ID was initially cylindrical but has its opposite sides cut 01f to provide flat, parallel faces I2 and [3. which extend between and connect the convex end bearing surfaces.

M, that having a common center of curvature, the resultant shape of this part being an interior segment of a cylinder. The diameter between the convex surfaces I4. is slightly less than the diameter of each of the apertures II], so as to have a rotary bearing in any aperture 10. The. thickness of the segment, which is the distance between faces I2 and [3, is slightly less than the diameter or distance across the intersection openings or passages ll between apertures H1,

The bolt 3 is fixed at its head in element 2 in any suitable manner, so that it will not rotate thereon. It is so fixed that when the handles 8 and 9 are approximately parallel, as shown in Fig. 1, the flat surfaces l2 and [3 will be crosswise of the length of the slot formed by the row of apertures, and convex surfaces IA of bolt or fulcrum 3 will have rotary bearing in the aperture 10 through which it passes. This prevents movement of member 3, out of the aperture along; the slot. When the. handles are swun r apart. as shown in Fig. 3, the flat faces l2 and I3 will be parallel with the length of the slot and can pass from aperture to aperture to adjust the pivot or fulcrum and thus space the clamping jaws 4 and 5.

A spring pressed ball detent unit 15 is recessed into one of the fiat faces, such as face I! (see Fig. 4) with the ball l6 thereof projecting a little outwardly beyond face l2. A flange til at the outer end of the recess restrains ball [6' from ejection from the recess l'8; by a compressed member 3 keep the elements I and 2 coupled together.

It will be observed that one may, by using some force, shift the fulcrum member 3 from aperture to aperture to space the clamping jaws when the jaws are fully opened, yet when the jaws are in normal, working positions, the shifting of the fulcrum member 3 is impossible. The spring detent prevents accidental or unintentional shifting of the member 3. The pivotal coupling between the elements is very simple, compact, strong, and easily manipulated.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, shapes, materials and arrangements of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as explained in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A pair of adjustable jaw pliers comprising a pair of elements crossing each other intermediate of their ends, one pair of corresponding ends being formed with cooperating, opposed clamping jaws and the other pair of ends being formed as handles, one of said elements having, intermediate of its ends and at the crossing by the other element, a plurality of spaced apart, equal size apertures from face to face, connected by passages of considerably lesser width than the aperture diameters, and arranged in a row extending in a direction lengthwise of that portion of that element in which they are located, the other of said elements having an aperture in the portion that crosses said one element, and a pivot member passing through said last named aperture and one of the apertures in said row and pivotally connecting said elements and holding them against separation, the periphery of that portion of said member which passes through said one element having diametrically opposite convex bearing surfaces with a common center of curvature and separated by diametrically opposite fiat surfaces, the distance between said flat surfaces being slightly less than the width of each of said passages, and said convex surfaces having rotary bearing in any aperture of the row through which it passes, and a springpressed, ball detent recessed into one of said flat surfaces with its ball projecting from that fiat surface a distance from the opposite flat surface greater than the width of each of said passages to normally resist movement of said pivot member through the adjacent passages from aperture to aperture in said row when said flat surfaces are parallel to the length of said row, but yielding under pressure that depresses said ball until the member passes from one aperture to another in said row.

2. A pair of adjustable jaw pliers comprising a pair of elements crossing each other intermediate of their ends, one pair of corresponding ends being formed with cooperating, opposed clamping jaws and the other pair of ends being formed as handles, one of said elements having, intermediate of its ends and at the crossing by 4 the other element, a plurality of slightly intersecting, equal size, cylindrical apertures arranged in a row extending in a direction lengthwise of that portion of that element in which they are provided, the other of said elements having an aperture in the portion that crosses said one element, a pivot member passing through alined apertures in said elements at their crossing, pivotally connecting them and confining them from separation, the portion of said member which passes through said one element having the shape of a cylinder segment with diametrically opposite fiat faces separated a distance slightly less than the openings at the intersections between adjacent apertures in said row, the opposite cylindrical surfaces of the segment having a 1'0- tary bearing in any apertures of the row through which it passes, and a spring-pressed ball detent recessed in one of said fiat faces with the ball projecting from that fiat face until it yieldingly resists movement of the member through any opening between intersecting apertures when the flat faces are approximately parallel to the length of the row, but yielding under pressure to permit movement of said member from aperture to aperture in the row.

3. A pair of adjustable jaw pliers comprising a pair or elements crossing each other intermediate of their ends, one pair of corresponding ends being formed with cooperating, opposing clamping jaws and the other pair of ends being formed as handles, one of said elements having, intermediate of its ends and at the crossing by the other element, a plurality of slightly intersecting, equal size, cylindrical apertures arranged in a row extending in a direction lengthwise of that portion of that element in which they are provided, the other of said elements having an aperture in the portion that crosses said one element, a pivot member passing through alined apertures in said elements at their crossing, pivotally connecting them and confining them from separation, the portion of said member which passes through said one element having the shape of a cylinder segment with diametrically opposite flat faces separated a distance slightly less than the openings at the intersections between adjacent apertures in said row, the opposite cylindrical surfaces of the segment having a rotary bearing in any aperture of the row through which it passes, a detent movable into and partially out of said member through one of said flat faces and when partially out increasing the effective thickness from face to face until it is greater than the opening of the intersection between adjacent apertures in the row, and a spring part urging said detent in an outward direction.

4. A pair of adjustable jaw pliers comprising a pair of elements crossing each other intermediate of their ends, one pair of corresponding ends bein formed with cooperating, opposed clamping jaws and the other pair of ends being formed as handles, one of said elements having,

intermediate of its ends and at the crossing bythe other element, a plurality of slightly intersecting, equal size, cylindrical apertures arranged in a row extending in a direction lengthwise of that portion of that element in which they are provided, the other of said elements having an aperture in the portion that crosses said one element, a pivot member passing through alined apertures in said elements at their crossing, pivotally connecting them and. confining them from separation, the portion of of said row.

WILLARD C. KRESS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 548,006 McCauley et al. Oct. 15, 1895 1,763,527 Jones June 10, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 10,112 Great Britain Apr. 29, 1912 362,166 Great Britain Dec. 3, 1931 839,175 France Dec. 26, 1938

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