IL152089A - Hand tool for inserting a variety of connectors into narrow plastic irrigation piping - Google Patents

Description

A HAND TOOL FOR INSERTING A VARIETY OF CONNECTORS INTO NARROW PLASTIC IRRIGATION PIPING ΤΙΙΌΟΊΟ n"pvyn ηιηη'χΊ οηιηη jwyi1? ΊΤ τκοη ABSTRACT A hand tool for inserting a large variety of connector components into narrow plastic irrigation piping is disclosed. This tool is an improved and progressive development of my previous patent no: 1 11737 in that it is designed to accommodate a large variety of connector components, whereas the previous patent only accommodated limited types. The tool as shown in Fig. 1 has a body (1) onto which all the elements are connected and sits comfortably in the palm of the hand. When pressing down on the handle (2), the grips (3, 3A) secure the narrow piping (14) and cause the connector component (22), deployed in the appropriate recess (20) in the drum (4) as seen in Fig.3A of the tool, to be easily inserted into the narrow piping (14). This tool facilitates the handling of these connector components of small dimensions and allows for their insertion into the narrow irrigation piping to be performed in the field. An additional element is provided, which is a small cutting blade (12) for cutting the narrow piping to the required length.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention.

The invention generally relates to the insertion of a large variety of connector components into narrow piping, and more specifically to a hand tool for the facilitation of the insertion of small connector components into pliable (spaghetti) narrow irrigation piping. The invention relates in particular to irrigation pipes generally of a diameter between 12 - 50 mm. or larger, already laid out in the field or garden into which narrow irrigation piping of between 5 - 8 mm diameter is to be connected. These narrow pipings are inserted into the larger main pipeline by means of a tiny connecting component. At the other extremity of the narrow piping usually is an irrigation drip or sprinkler. It should be understood however, that the present invention is not limited to irrigation pipes and can be used for insertion of a variety of connectors into plastic tubes used in other applications as well. In addition, it should be understood that the hand tool, in accordance with the present invention, can be used for inserting other elements into plastic tubes, for example drips, sprinklers or other such components. 2. Description of the Prior Art.

In the irrigation industry there is widespread use of narrow (spaghetti) piping with diameter between 5 - 8 mm, into which is inserted a small connector component to connect the narrow piping with the large main pipeline, and at the opposite extremity thereof a drip or sprinkler. This insertion operation is either executed on automated machinery in the factory or with a hand tool (patent no: 111737). The insertion operation without the use of a tool or machine is extremely difficult, inconvenient and complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Against the described background it is therefore a general object of the invention to provide a hand tool that considerably facilitates the insertion operation of the connector component into the narrow irrigation piping, and likewise allowing this to be performed especially in the field or garden. This tool should be seen as a progressive invention of extreme benefit for agriculturists and gardeners, and an immense versatile improvement on our previous invention, patent no: 111737.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 : Front view of the tool in open position before commencement of tool operation.

FIG. 1 A: Side view of the tool showing the grips in open position. FIG. 1 B: Underneath view of the tool showing the grips in open position and the position of the cutting blade (12).

FIG. 1C: Samples of different sized and shaped connector components and different sized narrow piping.

FIG. 2: Front view of the tool in operation with grips closed and the connector component being inserted into the narrow piping. FIG 2A: Side view of the tool in closed operating position.

FIG 2 B: Underneath view of the tool showing the grips in closed position.

FIG 3 A: Underneath view of the drum showing the range of holes (20) suited to the different connector sizes.

FIG 3B: Top view of the drum.

FIG 4A + B: Two views of the grips in open position and closed position. FIG 5: View of the disassembled grips showing position of spring (21).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The main parts of the tool include: the body (1) of the tool being the base onto which all the elements are connected: the handle (2) is the pressure lever connected to the body (1 ) by a pin (11); causing the grips (3,3A) that hold the piping (14) in place to close, when the grips move up and co-operate with the protruding portion (7) made on the body. By virtue of this movement the connector component (22) is forcibly inserted into the narrow piping (14). There is provided also a drum (4) in which there are made different sized holes (20) suited to accommodate different sized and shaped connector components. On the opposite side of the drum are made identically sized grooves which accommodate the protruding tooth (16) made in the body of the tool. The amount of grooves and their disposition corresponds to the amount and disposition of holes. The drum (4) sits rotatably on an axis (5) and is biased by a steel spring (6). Upwardly the drum can rotate in both directions. There is the possibility of replacing the drum with another with different sized holes thus making the tool suitable to an infinite number of components.

The various parts of the tool are made of strong molded plastic material, apart from the axes (5, 10) and the spring (6), (21), and the cutting blade (12) and the axle pin (10) all made of steel.

The method of operation is as follows: In order to insert the connector component (22), made of hard plastic material, into the narrow piping (14) the suitable hole (20) in the drum (4) must be chosen out of the variety of sizes and shapes, the connector component (22) is placed into the suitable hole (20) following which the narrow piping (14) is placed in position (15) in the open grips (3, 3A), and is pushed close to the connector, at which point pressure is exerted on the handle (2) bringing it close to the body (1) of the tool. This action creates a lever pressure on the axle pin which in turn pulls up the axis (5) raising the grips (3) towards the drum (4). The axis (5) moves through the center opening (17) made in the grips (3, 3A). Simultaneously the back part of the grips approaches the I 0 protruding portion (7) of the body which is cone shaped. The width of the protruding portion (7) is determined by the size of the narrow piping, and can vary. The completed action causes the connector component (22) to be pushed into the narrow piping (14). On completion of the operation the handle (2) is released which in turn brings the grips (3) back down into I ^ their resting place by virtue of the biasing spring (6) and the grips open up by a small spring (21) which sits in between the grips (3, 3A). An additional feature of this tool is a cutting blade (12) that sits at the base of the tool, where there is provided also a recess (9) in the pipe holder (8) to accommodate the narrow piping that requires cutting. Once the pressure action is operated on the handle, the pipe holder (8) is pulled upwards and brings the narrow piping (14) that has been placed in the recess (9) into contact with the cutting blade (12) that passes through the split (8A) in the pipe holder (8), thus cutting the piping at the required length. The upward action of the pipe holder (8) is activated by the fact that it is connected to the axis (5) by a pin (13) and thus raising of the blade occurs simultaneously with every operation of the tool regardless of whether there is a pipe to be cut.

The grips (3, 3A) are provided with protrusions (3B) for reinforcement. In practice the drum (4) has 8 holes (20) of differing sizes matching the different sizes and shapes of a variety of connector components. The drum (4) also has 8 identical grooves (19), each groove parallel to a hole (20), their purpose being to co-operate with the protruding tooth (16) fixed in the body (1) of the tool and thus securing the drum in place. The drum (4) sits on the axis (5) and part of the spring (6) sits in the opening (18) made in the drum. The axle pin (10) is directed perpendicularly and when moves within the window (10A) causes reciprocation movement of the axis (5).

Claims (4)

1) A hand tool for inserting a selected connector into plastic piping, said tool comprising: a body onto which a handle is connected, said handle is capable of pivoting between an upward position and a downward position with respect to the body in response to pressure exerted on the handle, an axle mounted within the body with possibility for reciprocate movement in response to the pivoting of the handle, said reciprocate movement is respectively associated with fixation of the piping vis-a-vis the selected connector, bringing the piping in proximity to the selected connector, inserting the selected connector into the piping and releasing the piping thereafter, grips, capable to be activated when said axle reciprocates to ensure fixation of the piping, bringing it towards the selected connector, inserting the selected connector and releasing the piping after the insertion is commenced, a spring means, co-operating with said handle and with said grips, said spring means is capable to resist the pressure exerted on the handle and to return the handle into its upward position when the pressure is released, a drum, which is rotatably mounted on the axle, the one side of said drum is provided with at least two holes suitable for deployment therein of connectors having different size and shape, the opposite side of the drum is provided with a means for securing the drum in a position, in which the selected connector is vis-a-vis the piping.

2) The hand tool as defined in claim 1 , in which pivoting the handle from the upward position to the downward is associated with bringing the piping towards the drum and with inserting the selected connector, deployed in the vis-a-vis position, into the piping.

3) The hand tool as defined in claim 2, in which said axle is connected to the handle by a pin, said pin is directed perpendicularly with respect to the axle and is movable within a window made in the handle, the arrangement being such, that pivoting of the handle is associated with displacement of the pin and forcible reciprocate movement of the axle.

4) The hand tool as defined in claim 1 , in which the body is provided with a protrusion, adapted to co-operate with the grips so as to close thereof in response to pivoting the handle from its upward position to the downward position, wherein the grips are provided with a biasing means, capable to keep the grips opened or closed depending on the particular location of the grips with respect to the protrusion. The hand tool as defined in claim 1 , in which the drum is provided with a plurality of holes, said holes are dimensioned in accordance with the connectors to be deployed. The hand tool as defined in claim 1 , in which said means for securing the drum comprise plurality of recesses made on one side of the drum and a protrusion made in the body, said spring means biases the drum towards the handle and said protrusion is dimensioned to co-operate with said recesses and to secure the drum after it has been rotated in a position, in which the piping is vis-a-vis the selected connector. The hand tool as defined in claim 1 , in which there is provided a cutting member, said cutting member is capable to cut the piping to required length in response to pivoting the handle from its upward position to the downward position.