GB2322325A - Multi-purpose pliers tool - Google Patents

Abstract

A multi-purpose tool for use by horse riders and the like for the treatment of horses shoes comprises a pliers arrangement of two handles 12,14 pivoted together with jaws 16,18 at one end. The jaws are formed with pincers (40,42 Fig 2) at the distal ends. One of the jaws has a hammer head 30 mounted on it. Wire cutting blades 32,34 are mounted on the device. A separate tool 70 is releasably attached to one of the handles by means of a peg 74. This separate tool has a wedging element (80 Fig 7) at one end and is furnished with spanner heads (86,88 Fig 7) at the other end. The jaws may be pivoted to the handle at further pivot points 24,26.

Description

MULTI-PURPOSE TOOL FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a multi-purpose tool and in particular to a multi-purpose tool for use by horse riders and the like.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION The riding of horses is a popular sport and recreational activity in many countries of the World. Typically, a horse which is to be ridden on a roadway or other hard surface will be fitted with metal shoes which are fastened to a respective hoof by way of a number of nails. The nails pass through the sidewall of the hoof and the projecting ends are each bent over to form a clench which acts to retain the nail, and thus the shoe, in place.

When fitted with a shoe, mud or dirt can accumulate within the shoe, and this dirt can trap stones or other hard objects which can inflict pain on the horse and perhaps damage the horse's hoof.

Also, one or more of the nails may become loose so that the shoe itself becomes loose. The fitment of shoes, and in particular the determination of the path of the nails through the horse's hoof, is a skilled operation which should be undertaken only by qualified farriers. Unless a qualified farrier is to hand when the shoe becomes loose, so that the shoe may be immediately refastened, it is known for the horse rider or other person to remove the shoe completely, so that the shoe is not lost before it can be refastened, and also so that the horse's hoof does not become damaged before the shoe can be refastened.

It is also known that a horse, and in particular one or more of its legs, can become tangled or otherwise caught in wire fencing, for example when the rider is causing the horse to jump fences in a location which is not particularly well known to the rider and the horse does not fully clear the fence. Should the horse become caught in wire it is often necessary to cut the wire to release the horse. A conscientious rider will usually seek to repair the fence after the horse has been released.

Furthermore, certain types of horse shoe have tapped apertures for receiving studs which in use project downwardly from the shoe and into the ground. Such studs are used to reduce the likelihood of the horse sliding or slipping in wet conditions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Tools are known to remove the dirt and other objects which are trapped by the shoe; such a tool is referred to as a "hoof pick", and is usually lightweight and readily portable.

Tools to remove horse shoes are also known. If one or more of the clenches is intact it must first be lifted so that the clench does not prevent the particular nail from being withdrawn from the hoof. To lift a clench in this way it is customary to employ a "buffer" which is a plate with a sharpened edge, the edge being placed adjacent the end of the clench and the buffer being struck by a hammer so as to force the edge underneath the clench and lift the clench away from the hoof.

Once all of the clenches have been lifted, a pair of pincers can be used to remove the shoe. The pincers have a pair of elongated handles which are interconnected by a pivot. To the opposite side of the pivot each handle is connected to a respective arcuate pincer jaw so that movement of the handles towards and away from each other causes corresponding movement of the pincer jaws towards and away from each other respectively. To use the pincers, the jaws are located to either side of the joint line between the shoe and the horse's hoof; the handles are then brought together, forcing the jaws together between the shoe and the horse's hoof and so locally forcing the shoe away from the hoof. The handles can thereafter be manipulated to further force the shoe away from the hoof, the process being repeated around the shoe until it has been fully removed.

To remove a horse's shoe with such a method requires three separate tools, the buffer, hammer and pincers, which may not all be readily to hand. In addition, even if the required tools are available on a stable yard, they will not usually be taken away from the yard so that if a horse's shoe becomes loose whilst away from the yard it must usually remain loose until the horse returns to the yard or else until a person has returned to the yard to collect the tools. Furthermore, because a hammer in particular has many other uses, it may not always be easy to locate, for example if it has been used for another purpose and not returned to its place with the other shoe removal tools.

As above indicated, the handles of the known pincers are elongated and in one known design are 14 inches (35.6cm) long. The handles are required to be long to achieve the required degree of force at the pincer jaws, the force required to move the shoe away from the hoof being considerable. The length (and consequently the weight) of the pincers reduces their portability, and in particular reduces the likelihood that they will be carried by the rider when he is away from the stable yard.

Tools are also known for the cutting and repairing of wire.

Thus, wire cutters are known in which a pair of cutting blades pass in close proximity to each other in a scissor action.

To repair a wire which has been cut, it is usual to wind the free ends of the wire together, and the gripping jaws of a pair of pliers are known to be suitable for such purpose.

It is also known to provide a combination tool incorporating a pair of pliers and a set of scissor action wire cutters, so that the combination tool can be used both to cut and subsequently to repair a wire.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide a multi-purpose tool which can allow the user to perform some of the above tasks which were previously only possible to perform with several different tools. In preferred embodiments all of the above tasks can be carried out with the multi-purpose tool. It is another object of the invention to provide a tool of a length and weight suitable to be readily portable, and in particular to be convenient to carry whilst the rider is away from the stable yard.

Thus, there is provided a multi-purpose tool comprising a pair of handles and a set of pincer jaws connected thereto, the handles being interconnected by a primary pivot means, characterised in that one of the pincer jaws carries a hammer head, and in that one of the handles mounts a buffer.

Accordingly, the multi-purpose tool of the invention can be used both to lift the clenches and subsequently to remove the shoe from the hoof.

Usefully, the pincer jaws have a sharpened part adapted to cut through a horse shoe nail. The sharpened part may for example be used to cut through a deformed clench, which clench might otherwise damage the hoof as the nail is removed. Usefully also at least one of the pincer jaws has a cut out to accommodate the shank of a horse shoe nail.

Preferably, the multi-purpose tool also incorporates wire cutting means. Desirably, the pincer jaws carry separate facing gripping jaws. The provision of these additional features increases the utility of the multi-purpose tool.

Usefully, the wire cutting means comprises a pair of wire cutting blades, one of the blades being mounted on one of the pincer jaws and the other of the blades being movable relative thereto. Usefully also, the said other of the blades is part of a plate which is pivotable about the first pivot means.

Preferably, the buffer is part of a separate tool part, and is usefully adapted to be frictionally gripped by a portion of the handle. Preferably also the tool part includes a hoof pick. Desirably, the tool part further includes a spanner for engaging a horse shoe stud.

The provision of a removable tool part allows the hammer head and buffer to be used to lift the clench of a horse shoe nail; however, when not required the tool part may be mounted in the handle, the friction grip ensuring that it should not become mislaid and is ready for use when required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig.l is a side view of a preferred embodiment of multi purpose tool according to the invention; Fig.2 is an end view of the pincer jaws of the tool of Fig.l; Fig.3 is a view of the second jaw of the tool of Fig.l; Fig.4 is a view of the first jaw of the tool of Fig.l; Fig.5 is a view of the plate and wire cutting blade; Fig.6 is a sectional view along the line VI-VI of Fig.l; Fig.7 is a side view of the removable tool part; and Fig.8 is an end view of the removable tool part.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS As shown in Fig.l, the multi-purpose tool 10 comprises a first handle 12, a second handle 14, a first jaw 16, a second jaw 18 and a plate 20.

The handles each comprise a pair of flat handle parts 12a,12b, 14a,14b (see Fig.6), one part of each respective handle passing to one side of the pincer jaws and the other part of each respective handle passing to the other side of the pincer jaws. Thus, only one part of each handle is visible in Fig.l, the other part being hidden behind the respective one part.

The handles are interconnected by a primary pivot means 22.

The first jaw 16 is connected to the first handle 12 by a first pivot means 24, and the second jaw is connected to the second jaw by a second pivot means 26.

The second jaw 18 carries a hammer head 30. The first jaw 16 carries a wire cutting part 32 which is engageable by the wire cutting blade 34 carried by the plate 20, to provide a blade and anvil wire cutting action.

As shown in Fig.2, the pincer jaws 16,18 each have a cut-out 40, which permits the jaws 16,18 to be closed around a nail without cutting the nail, i.e. the shank of the nail can locate between the cut-outs 40. However, in this embodiment the pincer jaws 16,18 each have a sharpened section 42, and these can be brought together to cut a horse shoe nail if required. The sharpened sections 42 also permit the pincer jaws more readily to enter between the horse shoe and the hoof.

The jaws 16,18 each carry a gripping jaw 44. The jaws 44 can be brought into close proximity to grip the free end of each of two pieces of wire, the tool thereafter being rotated to twist the ends of the wire together to effect a connection between the two pieces of wire.

As better seen with reference to Fig.3, the second pincer jaw 18 has an aperture 46 through which the second pivot means 26 can pass so as to pivotably connect the second pincer jaw to the second handle 14. The second pincer jaw 18 also has an angled elongated slot 50 which receives a peg 52 carried between the respective parts 12a,b of the first handle 12.

As better seen with reference to Fig.4, the first pincer jaw 16 has an aperture 54 through which the first pivot means 24 can pass so as to pivotably connect the first pincer jaw to the first handle 12. The first pincer jaw 16 also has an elongated slot 58 which receives a peg 60 carried between the respective parts 14a,b of the second handle 14.

It will be understood that as the handles 12,14 are brought together, pivotting about the primary pivot means 22, the first pivot means 24 and the second pivot means 26 are also brought together. However, the action of the peg 52 in slot 50 causes the second pincer jaw 18 also to pivot about the second pivot means 26, reducing the relative movement of the second jaw 18. Also, the action of the peg 60 in slot 58 causes the first pincer jaw 16 also to pivot about the first pivot means 24, reducing the relative movement of the first jaw 16. Because the pincer jaws 16,18 move less than the corresponding handles 12,14, there is effectively a "gearing" between the handles and pincer jaws, which increases the force with which the jaws can be brought together for a given length of handle.

Accordingly, the provision of the pincer jaws 16,18 being connected to the handle(s) by first and second pivot means 24,26 respectively permits the relative angular movement of the jaws 16,18 to be less than the relative angular movement of the handles 12,14, with a consequent increase in the force which can be applied between the pincer jaws.

Accordingly, the handles 12,14 can be of a reduced length to achieve the same force at the pincer jaws. In particular, we have found that our tool can have an overall length L of less than 27cm, so making it relatively easy to accommodate in a pocket or small bag, and so be readily portable.

The plate 20 is mounted to pivot on both the primary pivot means 22 and also the first pivot means 24, having respective apertures 62,64. The spacing between the primary pivot means 22 and the first pivot means 24, and the dimensions of the plate 20, permit the wire cutting blade 34 and anvil 32 to engage when the sharpened sections 42 of the pincer jaws 16,18 also engage. It will be understood that the wire cutting blade 34 and anvil 32 do not operate on a scissor action, but rather are sharpened and abut closely together with sufficient force to cut wire up to a thickness of several millimeters. As shown in Fig.l, the plate 20 lies above the first jaw 16, so that the blade 34 and anvil 32 are offset from their respective carrying parts by a sufficient amount to abut against one another.

As shown in Fig.6, because the handles 12,14 each comprise a pair of handle parts 12a,12b, 14a,14b respectively, it is possible that the primary pivot means 22 is also two part, comprising a first pivot part 22a which interconnects the handle part 12a and the handle part 14a, and a second pivot part 22b which interconnects the handle part 12b and the handle part 14b. The primary pivot parts 22a and 22b are coaxial.

The provision of the separate primary pivot parts 22a,b allows a gap 66 to be provided through the centre of the tool 10, so that the free ends of the pieces of wire which may be passed between gripping jaws 44 do not foul a part of the tool. Accordingly, the length of the pieces of wire which can be gripped is not limited, so that a considerable length of each of the pieces of wire can be twisted together to ensure a secure connection therebetween. The cut-outs 40 in the pincer jaws 16,18 also permit the relatively unencumbered passage of pieces of wire between the gripping jaws 44.

As also shown in Fig.l, the first handle 12 mounts a removable tool part 70. When not in use the tool part 70 lies substantially between the handle parts 12a and 12b and is frictionally gripped by a grip portion 72 of the handle, which is suitably of plastic and has a recess to accommodate the tool part 70. The tool part 70 is additionally located by peg 74, which connects the first and second handle parts 12a,b together, the peg engaging the tool part at its location 76 or thereabouts.

The tool part 70 includes a buffer 80, which has a sharpened edge 82 and a flat 84. When the tool part 70 has been removed from the handle 12, the sharpened edge 82 may be placed adjacent the end of a clench and the flat may be struck by the hammer head 30 so as to force the edge underneath the clench and lift the clench away from the hoof.

The tool part 70 also includes a hoof pick 84, and spanners 86 and 88, which are respectively sized to engage the two common sizes of horse shoe stud.

In the preferred embodiment shown, the pincer jaws 16,18 have a width W of approximately 2.5cm, which width has been determined to permit sufficient leverage to remove a horse shoe. Also, the width w of the hammer head 30 is approximately 1.3cm.

Thus, in the preferred embodiment of the invention as shown we have provided a multi-purpose self-contained tool with which a user can accomplish the functions of:1. lifting of horse shoe clenches 2. horse shoe removal; 3. wire cutting 4. wire joining 5. removal of dirt and debris from a horse's hoof 6. tightening and untightening of horse shoe studs.

In addition, our multi-purpose tool is readily portable, and so we believe may be carried by a horse rider when he or she is away from the stable yard in the event that one or other of the above functions is required to be performed. As described, the above functions were previously only possible with a number of different and separate tools, which together were not often (if at all) carried by the horse rider each time he or she was away from the stable yard.

In an alternative embodiment, the handles are resiliently biassed apart, to facilitate one handed use of the pincers, wire cutters, and gripping jaws. In such an embodiment, means to secure the handles together (against the force of the resilient biassing means) could also be provided for when the tool is not in use.

In another alternative embodiment, the removable tool part could have an aperture sized and shaped to receive the stem of a tap, which would be used to clear the threads of the stud-receiving holes in the horse shoe. Accordingly, the removable tool part would provide the handle for the tap.

Claims (19)

1. A multi-purpose tool comprising a pair of handles and a set of pincer jaws connected thereto, the handles being interconnected by a primary pivot, in which one of the pincer jaws carries a hammer head and one of the handles mounts a buffer.

2. A multi-purpose tool according to claim 1 in which both pincer jaws have a sharpened edge.

3. A multi-purpose tool according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which at least one of the pincer jaws has a cut-out.

4. A multi-purpose tool according to any of claims 1-3 which also incorporates wire cutting means.

5. A multi-purpose tool according to claim 4 in which the wire cutting means comprises a pair of wire cutting blades, one of the blades being mounted on one of the pincer jaws and the other of the blades being movable relative thereto.

6. A multi-purpose tool according to claim 5 in which the said other of the blades is part of a plate which is pivotable about the first pivot means.

7. A multi-purpose tool according to any of claims 1-6 in which the handles comprise a first handle and a second handle, in which the jaws comprise a first jaw and a second jaw, and in which at least one of the first and second jaws is pivotably connected to the respective first and second handle.

8. A multi-purpose tool according to claim 7 in which both of the first and second jaws are each pivotably connected to the respective first and second handle.

9. A multi-purpose tool according to claim 8 in which the first jaw has an aperture and an elongated slot, the aperture and slot receiving respective pegs carried by the first handle, and in which the second jaw has an aperture and an elongated slot, the aperture and slot receiving respective pegs carried by the second handle.

10. A multi-purpose tool according to any of claims 1-9 in which the pincer jaws carry separate facing gripping jaws.

11. A multi-purpose tool according to any of claims 1-10 in which the buffer is part of a separate tool part.

12. A multi-purpose tool according to claim 11 in which the buffer is adapted to be frictionally gripped by a portion of the handle when not in use.

13. A multi-purpose tool according to claim 12 in which at least one of the handles comprises a pair of substantially planar handle parts, part or all of the buffer being locatable between the handle parts when not in use.

14. A multi-purpose tool according to any of claims 11-13 in which the tool part includes a hoof pick.

15. A multi-purpose tool according to any of claims 11-14 in which the tool part includes a spanner.

16. A multi-purpose tool according to any of claims 1-15 in which both of the handles comprise a respective pair of substantially planar handle parts, one part of each respective handle passing to one side of the pincer jaws and the other part of each respective handle passing to the other side of the pincer jaws.

17. A multi-purpose tool according to claim 16 in which the primary pivot means comprises a pair of spaced coaxial pivot parts.

18. A multi-purpose tool according to any of claims 1-17 having an overall length less than approximately 27 cm.

19. A multi-purpose tool constructed and arranged substantially as described in relation to Fig.l of the accompanying drawings.