AU2003205042B2 - Hand tool - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT (Original) APPLICATION NO:

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RELATED ART: NAME OF APPLICANT: ACTUAL INVENTOR: ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: INVENTION TITLE: HALCO PTY LTD BRIAN HEATH PAGE LORD COMPANY, Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, of 4 Douro Place, West Perth, Western Australia, 6005, AUSTRALIA.

HAND TOOL DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NO'S: AUSTRALIAN PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NUMBER PS3321 FILED JULY 3, 2002 The following Statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me/us:

TITLE

"A HAND TOOL" FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a hand tool, particularly to a type of tool known as split ring pliers.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Known split ring pliers comprises to relatively pivotable arms, with one arm being bent at an outer end thereof, and the other being flat. The bent end is narrowed for insertion between rings of a coil, the coil being held in position against the flat arm.

Split rings pliers have a disadvantage in that they can not be used to perform the functions of normal pliers. This is because the two arms of split ring pliers meet only along the narrowed end of the bent arm, and not along a significant portion of the arms of the pliers.

A further disadvantage of known split ring pliers is that they are limited in the size of coil they can usefully be used with.

The present invention seeks to overcome, at least in part, some of the above mentioned disadvantages of known split ring pliers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a hand tool comprising two arms arranged to pivot about a connection, each arm comprising a working portion and a handle portion, each working portion having a substantially flat clamping surface arranged such that when the hand tool is in a closed configuration the clamping surfaces are substantially contiguous, wherein at least one working portion includes an engaging portion for use with a coil having at least two turns, the arrangement being such that when a coil is held between the two working portions the engaging portion passes between adjoining turns of the coil so as to force them apart.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a hand tool in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is the hand tool of Figure 1, shown in use with a relatively small coil; and Figure 3 is the hand tool of Figure 1, shown in use with a relatively large coil.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the Figures, there is shown a hand tool 10 comprising a first arm 12 and a second arm 14. The first and second arms 12, 14 are arranged to rotate relative to each other about a pivot 16. The pivot 16 divides each arm 12, 14 into a working portion 18 and a handle portion 20. The hand tool 10 can thus move between an open position wherein the working portions 18 are separated from each other and a closed position wherein the working portions 18 are adjacent each other.

Each working portion 18 comprises an inner surface 22, an outer surface 24 and two side surfaces 26. The inner surface and the outer surface 24 are disposed relative to each other in a V shaped configuration, with an apex at an outer end 38 of the working portion 18. The side surfaces 26 are parallel to each other and substantially triangular in shape.

Each inner surface 22 is divided into two portions, a substantially flat clamping portion 52 extending from the outer end 38 towards the pivot 16, and a supporting portion 54 extending between the clamping portion 52 and the pivot 16.

The two clamping portions 52 of the inner surfaces 22 are arranged to be substantially parallel and thus at least partially contiguous when the hand tool 10 is in the closed position.

The working portion 18 of the first arm 12 includes a first engaging portion 30. The i0 first engaging portion 30 comprises two substantially triangular, parallel, engaging members 32.

Each engaging member 32 extends partially along a respective side surface 26 from a base adjacent the outer surface 24 to an apex 34 within the inner surface 22.

The working portions 18 of the first arm 12 and the second arm 14 each include a second engaging portion The second engaging portion 40 is adjacent the outer end 38 of the working portion 18, and is defined between the outer end 38 and a V-shaped notch 42 which extends inwardly of the inner surface 22 adjacent the outer end 38.

The outer end 38 of the working portion slopes inwardly from the outer surface 24 to the inner surface 22. The degree of slope is approximately equal to the degree of slope of the V-shaped notch 42.

The outer end 38 of the working portion and an outer edge of the V-shaped notch 42 meet at an apex 44. The second engaging portion 40 is defined about the apex 44.

In use, the hand tool 10 can be used as a set of pliers, with the two clamping surfaces 22 meeting along a common plane.

The hand tool 10 can also be used to force apart turns of a coil having at least two turns, for instance a split ring. The hand tool 10 can be used for coils of different diameter.

A relatively small coil 60 is shown in Figure 2, having an outer turn 62 and a subsequent turn 64. In use, the coil 60 is placed between the working portions 18 of hand tool 10, such that the second arm 14 is within the coil 60. The coil 60 is arranged such that the second engaging portions 40 are positioned between the outer turn 62 and the subsequent turn 64.

When a compressive force is applied between the handle portions 20 of the hand tool the apexes 44 of the working portions 18 are urged towards each other. This has a wedging effect between the outer turn 62 and subsequent turn 64 of the coil 60 at diametrically opposed sides of the coil 60, forcing the turns apart.

A relatively large coil 70 is shown in Figure 3, having an outer turn 72 and a subsequent turn 74. In use, the coil 70 is placed between the working portions 18 of hand tool 10, such that the second arm 14 is within the coil 70. The coil 70 is arranged such that the first engaging portion 30 is positioned between the outer turn 72 and the subsequent turn 74.

When a compressive force is applied between the handle portions 20 of the hand tool the first engaging portion 30 is urged towards the working portion 18 of the second arm 14. This has a wedging effect between the outer turn 72 and subsequent turn 74 of the coil 70, forcing the turns apart.

Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention. For instance, it will be appreciated that only one of the first engaging portion 30 and the second engaging portions 40 may be employed.

Claims (2)

1. A hand tool comprising two arms arranged to pivot about a connection, each arm comprising a working portion and a handle portion, each working portion having an outer end, each working portion having a substantially flat clamping surface arranged such that when the hand tool is in a closed configuration the clamping surfaces are at least partially contiguous, wherein there is provided a respective engaging portion on each working portion, each engaging portion being defined between the outer end of the respective working portion and a notch within the clamping surface, the notches in the clamping surfaces being opposed to one another, the arrangement being such that when a coil having at least two turns is held between the two working portions the engaging portions pass between adjoining turns of the coil so as to force them apart.

2. A hand tool as hereinabove described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.