JP2567526B2 - Self-locking tool - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a locking tool, and more particularly to a tool for locking an object in a predetermined position by applying pressure.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is known to use various tools that hold a work piece in place and lock it. Other tools utilize connecting components that can rotate on a common axis. Some of these tools are described in US Pat. Nos. 682,701, 644,825, 1,026,270, and 1,4.
01,931, No.1,450,875, No.1,71
7,726, 2,574,909 and 4,63
No. 3,558.

US Pat. No. 682,701 (Howland) discloses a locking plier with a plurality of pieces that can move along multiple pivot points. There is a pivot A with 5 or 6 pieces that can move around it. When Howland's pliers are in the locked position, the objects are jaws B and C.
And jaws B and C are held between D, H, J and r
Will be pivotally connected in turn. Howland's device is relatively complex to use and construct. The two Howland handles must also be held at all times during use to keep the object locked in place. Also, Howland's device requires a high friction surface to function properly.

US Pat. No. 644,825 (Jensen) discloses a wrench having handle means which can be locked in position by spring means n. The spring is located in the lower part of one of the handles. When the Jensen pin g is pushed out of the socket h, the pin g holds it in place. The Jensen holding device is also relatively complex in structure and relatively expensive to manufacture.

US Pat. No. 1,026,270 (Leonard) discloses a pipe wrench having a retaining device which allows the wrench to be applied to a pipe or rod. The Lennard spring 15 engages the handle 13 and its opposite end is secured to the wrench handle. The spring 15 locks the handle in place between the jaws 5 and 6. As with many locking tools, Leonard relies on spring means to provide the device with a locking mechanism.

Welan, US Pat. No. 1,401,93
No. 1 discloses an adjustable pipe wrench that uses a quadrant mounting element with two jaws to hold an object in place. Welan's wrench holds pipes of various diameters or the like with a 3-point grip
Each of the three elements has a gripping surface.

McGill No. 1,717,726 and Barroughs No. 2,574,909 each disclose a wrench having a retaining means for securely holding an object. Each discloses a wrench with several parts and several pivot points for each part. Included in both patents is an adjusting means for tightening and loosening the object held within the jaw assembly of the respective wrenches.

No. 1,450,875 to Tesselsky discloses a plier with a third jaw that cooperates with the other two jaws of the pliers to prevent a grasped object from slipping. There is. The Tesselsky handle means 5 and 6 each terminate in a jaw, which has a handle attached around the outside of one jaw. This handle acts as a third jaw that cooperates during the grasping motion.

Spaulding, US Pat. No. 4,633
No. 3,558 discloses a tool for applying a spring clamp to an object. Spalding utilizes a cam supported by one of the jaws and a pair of side plates pivotally supported by the other of the jaws having a cam control therein to effect radial movement of the cam. It is performed and controlled to complete the closing of the clamp. The jaws have means to control the rotation of the cam, which engages the hooked portion of the spring clamp to provide a shutoff.

[0010]

All of the above-mentioned prior art devices are relatively complex in construction, most require springs for the locking effect, and some are inconvenient. There is a need for a relatively simple tool that locks an object in place without the need for springs or other such means.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a locking tool which does not have the drawbacks mentioned above.

Another object of the invention is that it is relatively easy to use,
Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide a locking tool effective for securely holding an object.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a tool which has the advantages of a cam lever device as a primary pressure application force or as a secondary function of tilting and locking the tool.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a locking means which has two handle means and only needs to hold one after locking the object with pressure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a locking tool that can be used to easily lock and unlock held objects.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a tool having means for locking in four directions: counterclockwise rotation, clockwise rotation, radially inward and radially outward.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a locking tool which can release the handle pressure without affecting the locking once locked.

[0018]

These objects are achieved by the present invention, which provides a novel locking tool consisting of a combination of two handle pieces and one jaw piece. In a first embodiment of the invention, the first handle piece comprises an axial bore through which it is connected to the other two pieces. A pin or other suitable means extends through the three holes and is movably mounted in place with the ends closed. All three pieces rotate about a pin that acts as a pivot point for the locking tool. The shaft hole and the shaft pin can be provided on one plane or above or below an arcuate slot described later. The first handle piece has a chin at its upper end opposite the handle grip. There is an axial hole under the chin of the first handle piece and an arcuate slot under (or above) the axial hole. The second handle piece does not have a jaw at its upper end but has a shaft hole, and an arcuate slot is provided below (or above) the shaft hole. The third piece, or jaw piece, does not include a handle, but does include a jaw that forms a gripping means with the jaw of the first handle piece. The term "chin" is used throughout this disclosure and claims to refer to all gripping surfaces. The arcuate slot can be provided in the handle portion, or in another embodiment, in the third piece. Conversely, a vertical slot can be provided in one of the handle pieces. In the preferred embodiment, there is a shaft hole under the jaw of this third piece and there is a slot disposed vertically (or vertically) below (or above) the shaft hole. “Vertically disposed” throughout this disclosure and claims means an upright slot that varies from exactly vertical to about 25 ° from vertical as measured directly from the center of the axial bore. The locking pin extends through the slots of all three pieces and, when used, is movable across the slots. Multiple slots can be used, which allows the positioning of the respective axes of all slots (top, bottom or side).

The arcuate slots in the first and second handle pieces are spiral-shaped in opposite directions (as shown in FIG. 3 described below), which is important to the present invention. When the first and second handle pieces are stacked next to each other (or alternatively with a third piece or jaw piece), the spiral shaped slots overlap one another to form a diamond shaped opening. The locking pin passes through this diamond-shaped opening. As the handle pieces rotate relative to each other, the walls of the slot push the pins by contacting the pins on two adjacent sides of one of the four diamond-shaped corners. Applying a squeezing pressure on the two handles along with a resistance force acting on the pins causes the locking pins to move or tilt since they are not supported at the other end of the stacked pieces. When the locking pins are tilted, the locking pins lock the jaws together to hold the object securely between them. At all times, the locking pin movably extends through the first and second handle pieces and the third jaw piece. When releasing an object that is locked between the chins, the user pulls the handle pieces apart to straighten the pin, which releases the object so that the object is free.
In use, when the arcuate slots of the first and second handle pieces intersect one another, they form an X-shaped configuration with one another, thereby forming a rhombic opening at their overlap or intersection. During use, the locking pin moves in a slot of the handle while drawing an arcuate locus, while moving up and down in the slot of the jaw piece. When the handle parts are pushed together, the locking pin advances through the slot in the jaw piece towards the axle pin. The locking pin locks in both radial and rotational directions. The slots in all three pieces should have their width dimension slightly larger than the diameter of the locking pin to allow the locking pin to move freely. Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention provides one slot for each of the three pieces, two or more slots for each will work equally well. But first
It is important to provide the second handle piece with one or several arcuate slots so as to have a spiral shape in the opposite direction to the corresponding slot of the adjacent handle piece. is there. These slots can be
Can be concave or convex (as shown in Figure 6). Each of these corresponding slots must form an X-shaped pattern when intersected to form a rhombic opening common to both slots. The jaw piece slots are provided substantially vertically and are aligned with each of the plurality of slots in the handle piece. The locking pin is substantially horizontal when the locking tool is in the unlocked state, but when the locking tool is in the unlocked state, the locking pin tilts horizontally toward at least one side or rhombic wall of each slot, Will point to one corner of a hole or opening. This produces the locking effect of the present invention.

Each of the three pieces can be provided with a slot or a plurality of slots, but each piece requires at least one slot, at least one axle pin and at least one locking pin. Also, if desired, substantially vertical slots can be provided in the handle piece and arcuate slots can be provided in the other handle piece and the third piece.

Whether the handle piece rotates with respect to the pin or the pin is pushed outward against the piece, the pin tilts when the jam occurs. Nothing holds the locking pin parallel to the axle pin, so whether the force from the rotation of the handle piece is an external force on the pin or an obstruction to the movement of the pin Start to lean.

Tilt occurs when the pin slides down the nearest upper or lower slot wall. The pin tries to descend to this closest slot. The pin continues to descend until the opposite end of the pin hits two opposite sides of the diamond-shaped hole. The opposite end of the pin then attempts to rise into its closest slot (toward the original force in the opposite direction). Once in contact with the edges of these slots, swirling begins. The points that are actually connected along all four rhombic walls are such that they are in exact equilibrium with each other or offset. The force of the pin towards one corner is equal to the opposite reaction acting in the opposite direction from the opposite diamond corner to the other end of the pin.

The locking pin remains parallel to the shaft pin (even)
However, this locking pin is pushed toward one of the four corners that touch two adjacent sides of the diamond-shaped hole when external pressure is applied. This will cause the handle pieces to start rotating in opposite directions as the pin progresses along the wall of the slot. Normally (and especially for pins with diameters much smaller than the slot width) the opposite corner of the diamond hole with its two adjacent sides is not affected at all. These two walls rotate with the two walls that normally do not even contact the pins.

When the pin becomes tilted, it still advances toward the corner relative to its two adjacent walls, but this time the tilt of the pin causes the opposite end of the pin to contact the other adjacent wall. Will be done. When the pin is pushed further from the outside, the handle piece starts to rotate. The opposite corner and its two walls, in turn, have no room or clearance to rotate around the pin and slide. The wall is obstructed by the diameter of the pin, which is in the form of a slant, and contacts the pin before and after its circumference. The pin is held in place by one disturbing force and by opposite walls (in each of the two plates) in the other direction. Another force only tends to tilt the pin, causing the two adjacent walls opposite to each other to further impede open rotation.

In the second embodiment, all three pieces have an axial hole through which they are connected to the other two pieces. A pin or other suitable means extends through the three holes and is closed at both ends to movably secure the pin in place. All three pieces rotate about a pin that acts as a pivot point for the locking tool. The shaft hole and the shaft pin can be provided on one plane above or below the slot as described later. The first and second handle pieces have a jaw portion at their upper ends opposite the handle grips of the individual pieces. There is an axial hole below the jaw portion of the handle piece and an arcuate slot below (or above) the axial hole of the first handle piece. The second handle piece has a chin portion on its upper portion and a shaft hole under the chin portion. A vertically disposed slot is provided under the jaw portion of the second handle piece.
This second handle piece with the slots arranged vertically is sandwiched between the first handle piece and the third or remaining piece when the tool is assembled. The third or remaining piece comprises a short handle and a spiral arcuate slot in the same direction as the arcuate slot of the first handle piece. The term "chin" is intended to include all gripping surfaces throughout this disclosure and claims. The arcuate slots can be of any size as long as they arc spiral in the same direction and are of approximately the same size and configuration, ie arc radius, etc.

In a preferred embodiment, the locking tool comprises at least three movably connected pieces, a first handle piece, a second handle piece and at least one third piece. The first handle piece includes an upper jaw portion having a shaft hole under the jaw portion and at least one arcuate slot provided at a point below the shaft shaft hole. The second handle piece comprises an upper jaw portion, an axle hole below the jaw portion, and at least one vertically disposed slot below the axle hole. The third piece has a shaft hole and at least one arcuate slot below the shaft hole. Piece 4 is typically held in alignment with piece 2 by supporting handles 34 and 12 together as shown later in the drawings. The arcuate slots of the first handle piece and the third piece have substantially the same size, and the first handle piece, the second handle piece and the third piece are locked with each other. When assembled into a tool, it has a spiral shape in the same direction. The jaw portions of the first and second handle pieces are complementary jaw portions that cooperate to form the gripping means. Locking pins are provided through each of the arcuate slots and the vertically arranged slots.

The arcuate slots of the first handle piece and the third piece are spiral-shaped in the same direction, which is important for the second embodiment of the invention. First and second
When the handle pieces are stacked and assembled with the remaining third piece, the spiral shapes are of approximately the same size, the spirals in the same direction have substantially the same arc radius, and their configurations are substantially the same. is there. These slots must be aligned so that at least the opening of the vertically disposed slot of the second handle piece allows the locking pin to fit therethrough. The locking pin extends through the slots in the three pieces and through this opening. As the handle pieces rotate around each other, the walls of the slots push the pins by connecting the pins with the two adjacent sides of each arcuate slot. When the third piece rotates in a direction opposite to the direction in which the second piece is pressed against the first piece, the arcuate slots become misaligned. Due to this misalignment, the locking pin moves and tilts because it is not supported at the other end of the stacked pieces. When the locking pin tilts, it locks the chin to hold the object securely between the chin. The locking pin always passes through the three slots of the first, second handle piece and third piece.
To release the object that is locked between the jaws, the user rotates the third piece relative to the first piece, back until the arcuate slots are aligned with each other, and the pin The object is free when straightened and thus unlocked.
During use, the locking pin moves in an arcuate movement in an arcuate slot, but moves up and down in a vertically arranged slot. When the handle parts are pushed together, the locking pin advances up through the vertically arranged slot towards the axle pin. Locking pins lock both radially and rotationally. The slots of all three pieces should have a width dimension slightly larger than the diameter of the locking pin, so that the locking pin is free to move therein. Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention provides one slot for each of the three pieces, two or more slots for each will work equally well. However, whether the first handle piece and the third piece have one or several arcuate slots, it is important to install them so as to form a spiral shape in the same direction. These arcuate slots can be concave or convex if desired. One or more slots in the second handle piece are arranged substantially vertically and are aligned with each of the plurality of slots in the other two pieces. The locking pin is substantially horizontal when the locking tool is in the unlocking mode, but tilts from horizontal with respect to at least one side of each arcuate slot when in the locking mode. This produces the locking effect of the present invention.

Each of the three pieces can be provided with a slot or a plurality of slots, but each piece requires at least one slot, at least one axle pin and at least one locking pin.

Whether the handle piece rotates relative to the pin or the pin is pushed outward against the piece, the interference causes the pin to tip. Nothing holds the locking pin parallel to the shaft pin, so the locking pin begins to tilt in the direction of the force applied to the pin from the rotation of the handle piece, whether it is an external force applied to this or an obstacle to its movement. . As the pin slides down the nearest upper or lower slot wall, a tilt occurs and the pin tries to fall into this nearest slot. The pin continues to fall until the opposite end of the pin hits two adjacent flanks on opposite sides of the diamond hole. The opposite end of the pin will then try to rise (toward the original force in the opposite direction) in its closest slot. Pivoting begins when the pins contact the edges of these slots. The points of actual contact along the slot walls are such that they either exactly balance or cancel each other out. The force of the pin towards one wall is equal to the opposite acting force acting in the opposite direction at the opposite end of the pin on the opposite wall.

The locking pin remains (even) parallel to the axis, but the pin is pushed against one of the walls by at least two adjacent sides of the slot when an external force is applied. This causes the handle pieces to begin rotating in opposite directions as the pin progresses along the wall of the slot. These two walls usually rotate with the two walls that do not even contact the pins.

When the pin tilts out, it can still advance toward the corner with respect to its two adjacent walls, but this time the tilting of the pin causes the opposite end of the pin to contact the opposite adjacent wall. . When the pin is pushed further from the outside, the handle piece starts to rotate. The opposite corner and its two walls, in turn, have no room or clearance to rotate around the pin and slide. The wall is inclined and is hindered by the diameter of the pin connecting to it around and behind the pin.
The pins are held in place by disturbing forces in one direction and by opposing walls (on each of the two plates) in the other direction. Another force only tilts the pin and tends to cause two adjacent walls to further impede release rotation.

Rather than using one slot for each handle piece, the tool of the present invention (as shown) provides a plurality of arcuate slots, as shown in FIGS. 5-6 of this application. Slots can be used. These arcuate slots are arranged around the shaft hole and several locking pins run in these arcuate slots. This or other suitable configuration can be utilized using the rotational and radial bi-directional strengthening concept of the present invention.

The tool of the present invention can be used in hand-held tools such as pliers or wrenches, or in vices, other gripping devices, hinged devices with fixed positions, and actuating clutches or locking devices depending on the relative rotational speed of the plates. Can be used as

The presented disclosure describes that locking occurs when the pin leans towards one of the four corners that occur when the first and second plates having curved slots overlap. FIGS. 4A and 4B show only these two plates and pins that are moving in a locking operation. When describing the socket and its operation, it appears that the third plate is working in a rotating pliers motion. The rotational and radial situations are independent of each other (the jaw is unnecessary). In radial motion,
The slots in the plate 3 are merely guides, but the pins as wedges create and maintain the locking action. This locking action is described as an outward / inward ride up inside the radial slot of the plate 3. Two features (wedge and slot)
Since both are primarily radial, the slots can only serve to possibly maintain the radial stability of the pin. The size of the pin and the thickness of the bent slot and the stability of the inserted object or force can maintain this radial stability itself making the actual slot of the plate unnecessary in socket locking. it can. The wedge acts in a radial locking action, as the third plate does in a rotational motion, and can be used in place of the third plate in the device of the invention.

[0035]

1 shows a locking tool 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention in its assembled state. The tool 1 in this embodiment comprises three main component pieces, namely a first handle piece 2, a second handle piece 3, and a jaw piece (third piece) 4.
It consists of The first handle piece 2 is provided with a jaw 5 on its upper part and a shaft hole 6 (see FIG. 2) below the jaw part 5. There is a first slot 7 under the shaft hole 6 of the first handle piece 2 in which the locking pin 8 moves. The locking pin 8 or the slot 9 of the second handle piece 3 and the slot 10 arranged perpendicularly to the jaw piece 4 are provided through and move therein. The locking pin 8 moves as the handles of the handle pieces 2, 3 move together or as they are pushed away. Object 5 and 11
When the handles 12 and 13 are squeezed together, the locking pin 8 moves in the slots 7 and 9 in an arcuate path and moves up and down in the vertical slot 10. Chin 5,1
1 closes and grabs the object, closing pressure causes the handles 12, 1
As it is added to 3, the locking pin 8 tilts from its original horizontal position, pushing the wedge up against the walls of the slots 7, 9 thereby locking the jaws 5, 11 in place. When the slots 7, 9 intersect or overlap each other in the X-shape (see FIG. 3), a diamond-shaped opening 14 (of FIG. 3) is formed. Locking pin 8 pushes a point along its length into the wall of this diamond-shaped opening 14, at which time pin 8 locks in place. The shaft pin 15 serves as a pivot point around which the individual pieces 2, 3 and 4 rotate when they are used. The shaft pin 15 is installed substantially horizontally through all three pieces 2, 3, 4 and through the respective holes 7, 9, 10. When the locking pin 8 is in its normal state (unlocked), the pin 8 is substantially parallel to the horizontally arranged axial pin 15. When the lock pin 8 is at the lock pin position, the slots 7, 9
When it is pressed against the wall of, it tilts away from its parallel position with the axle pin 15. Regardless of whether the pieces 2 and 3 rotate with respect to the lock pin 8 via the shaft pin 15 or the lock pin 8 is pushed by the pieces 2 and 3 from the outside, the lock pin 8 is locked. Lean. Nothing holds the pin 8 parallel to the locking pin 15, so whether it is an external force on the pin 8 from the rotation of the pieces 2, 3 or an obstruction to the movement of the pin 8, the pin 8 itself. Begins to tilt in the direction of the force applied to. When the pin 8 tilts, it slides down the wall of the nearest upper or lower slot 7,9. The pin 8 continues to fall until the opposite end of the pin 8 strikes two opposite adjacent sides of the diamond opening 14 (see FIG. 3). The opposite end of the pin 8 then rises (in the opposite direction to the original force) into its closest slot. When the pin 8 touches the edges of these slots 7,8, the pivoting or tilting of the pin 8 begins. The force of the pin 8 towards one corner of the diamond opening 14 is
Equal to the opposite reaction force acting in the opposite direction on the opposite end of the pin at the opposite corner of.

FIG. 2 shows three component pieces 2 of the lock tool 1.
3 and 4 are shown. The first handle piece 2 has a jaw portion 5 at its upper end and a handle portion 12 at its opposite end. There is a shaft hole 6 under the jaw 5, and the shaft pin 15 penetrates the shaft hole 6 when the tool 1 is assembled. An arcuate slot 7 is provided below the shaft hole 6, and the lock pin 8 penetrates the slot 7 when the tool 1 is assembled. The width of the slot 7 is slightly larger than the diameter of the locking pin 8 (enough to allow the locking pin 8 to move freely therein).

For the present invention, it is important that the first handle piece 2 be provided such that when the slot 7 is assembled with the other pieces 3, 4 it forms an X-shaped configuration and a rhombic opening 14 with the slot 9. is there. Chin 5 is opponent's chin 11
Moves towards and forms a grip. The second handle piece 3 has a shaft hole 16 in the upper part thereof, and the pin 15 has the individual piece 2,
The shaft pin 15 is received when passing through the shaft holes 6, 16 and 17 of 3 and 4, respectively. Below the hole 16 in the piece 3 is an arcuate slot 9 which intersects the slot 7 in a cross when assembled in a stack. The parts 2, 3, 4 can be stacked in any order as long as the desired locking effect is achieved. The third piece, or jaw piece 4, is provided with a jaw portion 11 and together with the jaw portion 5 of the first handle piece 2 forms a bite or grip. A shaft hole 17 is provided below the chin portion 11 to form concentric holes 6, 1
Accept pin 15 with 6. Below the axial bore 17 there is a slot 10 which, together with the slots 7, 9 receives the locking pin 8 (when assembled as in FIG. 1) arranged substantially vertically. When using the terms "substantially vertically disposed" or "vertically disposed" throughout this relationship, this is 0 from the vertical drop line where the axis of the slot 10 is drawn vertically from the center of the hole 17. By -25 ° C is meant. Figure 2
Slot 10 is drawn at an angle of about 14 ° from a true vertical line from the center of hole 17. Pins 8 and 15 are shown as having umbrella ends at their ends, but as long as the pins are free to move (when locked) in slots 7, 9 and 10, they also work properly as axial pins 8. Any type of bolt, machine screw, rod, or the like can be used as long as it can.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded plan view of the individual pieces 2, 3 and 4. 3 shows a rhombus-shaped opening 14 that intersects the cross shape.
It is an X-shaped pattern formed by the slots 7 and 9 forming the. It is through this diamond-shaped opening 14 that the locking pin 8 pushes when the jaws 5, 11 are tightened against the object to be held. When the handle parts 12 and 13 are pressed together,
The jaws 5 and 11 are pressed against the object to be held,
The force applied thereto causes the pin 8 to tilt with respect to the wall 14 and lock the jaws 5, 11 in place. To release the locking effect, the handles 12 and 13 are spread apart from each other to straighten the pin and the locking pin 8 is released from its locked state against the wall of the diamond opening 14.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing that the lock pin 8 is in the unlocked position parallel to the shaft pin 15 in FIG. Initially, the handle piece 2 is shown stacked with respect to the handle piece 3, with the slots 7, 9 being substantially perfectly aligned. The locking pin 8 can move freely in the slots 7, 9 until the locking pressure is applied to the handle parts 12, 13, and when the locking pressure is applied to the handle parts 12, 13, the locking pin 8 will be released. Out of parallel slot 7,
9 (or diamond-shaped opening 14) is inclined with respect to the wall,
Both handle pieces 2 and 3 are held in the locked position as shown in FIG. The axle pin 15 remains substantially in place throughout the locking and unlocking process, but the locking pin 8 disengages from the parallel when locked.

5 and 6 show another structure of the locking tool. Rather than using one slot for each handle piece as shown in the previous figures, multiple slots, such as slot 18, may be used for the first handle piece 19 of FIG. 5A. it can. These slots 18 are arranged around a shaft hole 20 and four separate locking pins can be moved in the slots 18.

As shown in FIG. 5B, since the mating slot 21 is installed in the second handle piece 22, each slot 21 intersects with its corresponding adjacent slot 18 in a cross shape (see FIG. 3). Forming a plurality of diamond-shaped openings 14 (as shown in FIG. These slots 21 are also arranged around the shaft hole 23. The third piece 24 (as shown in FIG. 5C)
It has a vertical slot 25 that operates similarly to the vertical slot 10 shown in the previous figures. Similarly, the individual piece 24 is also provided with a shaft hole 26 at the center, which aligns with the holes 20 and 23 when the tool is assembled. The shaft pin penetrates each hole 20, 23, 26.

In this embodiment, the jaws 27, 28 can be used with the center grips 29, or the center grips 29 can be used without the jaws 27, 28.
In the embodiment using the center grip portion 29, FIG.
The movable wedge 30 of the shaft pin 3 as shown in FIG.
Move towards or away from 1. These wedges 30
Is connected to the locking pin 32 and moves inward (towards the axle pin 31) during the locking movement and outwards (away from the axle pin 31) during the releasing or unlocking movement. The wedge 30 moves through the gap formed by the wedge block or guide 33. The item or object to be locked is thus held in the central grip 29 by the wedge 30 which is locked in place. In FIG. 6B, the components 19, 2 of FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C are shown.
2, 24 are connected by a shaft pin 31 to four separate locking pins 32 which are also arranged in the slots 18, 21, 25 also shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C. . The object to be locked in place can be placed between the jaws 2728 or on the central grip 29. When placed on the central grip 29, the tool acts like a socket. The wedges 30 use the radial features of the locking tilt (discussed above in connection with FIG. 4) to form a socket-like feature that allows the four wedges 30 to engage the grip 2.
It is pushed into the object placed at 9. In this mode, the lock pins 32 all work primarily outward. Although FIGS. 5A and 5B show four respective slots 18, 21, 25 and four wedges 30, any number of slots or wedges may be used as desired. As used throughout the claims and disclosure, the term "wedge" includes structures in which the pin acts as a wedge.

In FIG. 6A, the jaw or the gripping means 2
The side view of the tool showing 7, 28 is the wedge block guide 3
3 and wedge 30 are shown. The first handle piece 19 and the second handle piece 22 are shown extending outwardly from the grip and wedge 30.

As noted above, although the figures show locking tools having one or four slots, any suitable number of slots, locking pins, or wedges can be used if desired.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the invention in which one handle piece 35 has a vertically arranged slot 36 and a third piece 37 has an arcuate slot 38. The two handle pieces 35, 34 also have jaws 39, 40 for holding and locking articles in place. The presence of at least three pieces movably connected by means of axle pins, the presence of at least two arcuate slots, such as slots 38, 41, which slots 38, 41 (shown at 14 in FIG. 3). Spirally in different directions so as to form an X-shaped pattern, at least one piece (which in this case is the handle 35) is provided with vertically arranged slots, and all It is important to the invention that the slots must be aligned so that the locking pin and the axle pin can movably hold all the pieces together. The locking pin must be capable of flexing or deforming to produce a locking action on the face of the rhomboid opening, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4A and 4B. .
The embodiment of FIG. 7 replaces the first preferred embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 8 shows a locking tool 4 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
2 is shown in its assembled state. The tool 42 in this embodiment has three major component parts: a first handle piece 43, a second handle piece 44, and a third piece 4.
5 is provided. As mentioned above, one or more wedges can be used in place of the third piece. The first handle piece 43 is provided with a jaw portion 46 on the upper portion thereof and a shaft hole 47 under the jaw portion 46 (see FIG. 9A). “Bottom” means that when the piece 43 is held vertically, there is a chin 46 at the top and a hole 47 at “bottom”. Below the shaft hole 47 of the first handle 43 is a first arcuate slot 48 into which a locking pin 49 extends and moves. The locking pin 49 is also the second handle piece 44.
(It penetrates through the vertically arranged slot 50 of FIG. 9B and the arcuate slot 51 of the third piece 45 (FIG. 9C) and moves therein. Locking pin 49 (FIG. 9D) moves as a handle when the handle pieces 43, 44 move together or are pushed away from each other. An object is placed between the jaw portions 46, 52, and the handles 53, 54 are squeezed together. And the locking pin 49 travels or moves in an arc through the slots 48, 51 and moves up or down in the vertical slot 50. The jaws 46, 52 close to grab the object and the closing pressure causes the handles 53, 54. Plate 45 rotates about handle 43 in the direction of handle 54. This causes locking pin 49 to tilt from its original horizontal position and overlap slots 50 and / or slots 48 and / or 51. Against the wall of Press up or pushed,
This locks the jaws 46, 52 in place. Slots 48 and 51 of similar spiral shape overlap and move relative to each other (see FIG. 10) to form an opening. The locking pin 49 is pushed against the wall of this opening 55 at some point along its length when locking it in place. The axle pin 56 provides a pivot point about which all of the pieces 43, 44, 45 rotate when in use. The shaft pin 56 penetrates through all the three pieces 43, 44, 45 and is arranged substantially horizontally through the holes 47, 57, 58, respectively. Lock pin 49 is in its normal state (unlocked)
, The locking pin 49 is substantially parallel to the horizontally disposed shaft pin 56. When the locking pin 49 is pressed against the walls of the slots 48, 51 in the locking position, the pin 49 tilts out of its parallel position with the axle pin 56. Regardless of whether the individual pieces 43 and 44 rotate with respect to the locking pin 49 via the shaft pin 56 or the pin 49 is pushed against the individual pieces 43 and 44 from the outside, the locking pin is generated when the locking occurs. Four
9 leans. Since there is nothing that holds the pin 49 parallel to the shaft pin 56, whether the pin 49 is an external force applied to itself or an obstacle to the movement of the pin 49, the pin 49 is rotated by the rotation of the individual pieces 43 and 44 to the pin 49. It begins to tilt in the direction of this force. When the pin 49 tilts, it slides down the wall of the nearest upper or lower slot 48,51. Pin 49
Has two opposite ends opposite opening 55 (see FIG. 10).
Keep falling until you hit two adjacent sides. The opposite end of pin 49 tends to rise into its closest slot (toward the original force in the opposite direction). When the pin 49 contacts the edges of these slots 48, 51, the pivoting or tilting of the pin 49 begins. The force towards one corner of the opening 55 is equal to the opposite reaction force acting in the opposite direction at the opposite end of the pin at the opposite portion of the opening 55.

FIG. 9 shows three component parts 43, 44, 45 of the locking tool 42, in which the individual piece 43 is shown in FIG.
(A) of FIG. 9, the individual piece 44 to the (B) of FIG.
Is shown in FIG. The first handle piece 43 has a chin portion 46 at its upper end and a handle portion 53 at its opposite end. Below the jaw 46 is a shaft hole 47 through which the shaft pin 56 penetrates when the tool 42 is assembled. An arcuate slot 48 is provided under the shaft hole 47, and when the tool 42 is assembled, the locking pin 4 is provided.
9 penetrates. The width of slot 48 is slightly larger than the diameter of pin 49 (enough to allow pin 49 to move freely therein). For the second embodiment of the present invention, when the arcuate slot 48 is assembled and stacked on the first handle piece 43 with the other two pieces 44, 45, the slot 48 is the slot 51 of the third piece 45. It is important to arrange them in the same direction and in the same spiral shape or arc shape. When moved relative to or in connection with the slots 48 and / or 51, the slot 50 forms an opening 55 as shown in FIG. The jaw 46 forms a grip when moving toward the mating jaw 52 of the second handle piece 44. On the upper portion of the second handle piece 44, there is a shaft hole 57 in which the pin 56 penetrates the shaft holes 47, 57, 58 of the individual pieces 43, 44, respectively, and receives the shaft pin 56. Piece 44
Locking pin 49 with slots 48, 51 under hole 57 of
For receiving (when assembled as in FIG. 8) there are slots 50 arranged substantially vertically. When the terms "substantially vertically arranged" or "vertically arranged" are used throughout this disclosure, this means that the axis of the slot 50 is the hole 5
It means 0 to 25 ° apart from the vertical descending line drawn vertically from the center of 7. The slot 50 in FIG. 8 has a hole 58.
It is drawn at an angle of about 14 ° from a pure vertical line from the center of. The pins 49, 56 are shown as umbrella-shaped at their ends, but as long as they can move freely in the slots 48, 50 and 51 (locking pins) or they can operate stably as the axial pin 49. , What type of bolt,
Machine screws, rods or the like can be used. As long as the desired locking effect is achieved, the parts 43, 44,
It can be in any stacking order of 45. Third
The arc-shaped slot 51 that forms an opening 55 when the individual piece 45 moves relative to the slot 48 of the first handle piece 43.
Is provided. A shaft hole 58 for receiving and accommodating the pin 56 together with holes 47 and 57 which are concentric with each other above the slot 51.
Is provided. The individual piece 45 handles itself 60, 5
Holding with 3 provides a small handle portion 60 that is used to hold in alignment with piece 43, although external or another switch could be used.

FIG. 10 shows an exploded plan view of the individual pieces 43, 44, 45. Shown in FIG. 10 is an opening or pattern 55 formed by arcuate slots 48 and slots 50. When the locking pin 49 tightens the jaws 46 to 52 against the object to be held and the piece 45 is slightly rotated,
It is through this opening 55 that it is pushed. To release the locking effect, rotate the individual piece 45 back to the position where the slots 48, 51 are aligned and the locking pin 49 will open 59.
Is released from its locked mode against the wall of the. FIG. 11 shows a schematic side view showing that the lock pin 49 is in the unlocked position parallel to the shaft pin 56 ((A) of FIG. 11). The first handle piece 43 is stacked against the third piece 45 and the slots 48, 51 are shown to be substantially perfectly aligned. The locking pin 49 receives the locking pressure due to the rotation of the individual piece 45 around the individual piece 43 and the handle portion 5.
Slots 48, 51, 50 until added to 3, 54
When the pressure is applied, the locking pin 49 is deviated from parallel to the walls of the slots 48, 51 (opening 55), and the first and second handle pieces 4 are moved.
3 and 44 are held in the locked position shown in FIG.
The axle pin 56 remains substantially in place throughout the locking and unlocking process, but the locking pin 49 disengages from the parallel when locked.

As mentioned above, although the figures show locking tools having one or four slots, any suitable number of slots, locking pins or wedges can be used if desired.

Locking tools having a plurality of arcuate slots and vertically arranged slots can be used in the present invention. This embodiment is the same as the tool shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 in the first embodiment of the present invention described above. While the arcuate slots of the first embodiment are spiral in opposite directions, the arcuate slots of the second embodiment of the present invention are spiral in the same direction. Therefore, the same tool as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 using arcuate slots that are spiral shaped in the same direction is incorporated by reference into this disclosure, and in a second embodiment of the present invention. include.

While the preferred and optimal embodiments of this invention have been described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which illustrate the principles underlying the invention, various modifications and variations are departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It should be understood that it can be done without doing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an assembled lock tool of the present invention.

2A and 2B are views showing main components disassembled of the locking tool of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 2A is a plan view of a first handle piece, and FIG. A plan view of the jaw piece, (C) is a plan view of the second handle piece, (D) is a front view of the locking pin, and (e) is a front view of the shaft pin. is there.

3 is an exploded plan view showing the interaction of the slots of the handle piece in the locking tool shown in FIG. 1, showing the configuration of X and the rhombic opening.

4A and 4B are diagrams showing the postures of a lock pin and a shaft pin, wherein FIG. 4A shows the posture of the lock pin in a normal state, and FIG. 4B shows the lock in a locked state. It is a schematic side view which shows the attitude | position of a stop pin.

5A and 5B are views showing an embodiment of the present invention having a plurality of slots and locking pins, in which FIG. 5A is a plan view of a first handle piece, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of the handle piece of FIG. 2, (C) of the same figure is a plan view of the third piece, and (D) of the same figure is a plan view of the wedge.

6A and 6B are views showing the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, in which FIG. 6A is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part, and FIG. 6B is a plan view when components are assembled. .

FIG. 7 is a view showing disassembled components of another embodiment of the locking tool of the present invention, (A) of which is a plan view of the first handle piece and (B) of which is The top view of a 3rd piece, (C) of the figure is a top view of a 2nd handle piece.

8 is a plan view of a locking tool in which the components of FIG. 7 are assembled.

FIG. 9 is a view showing main components of a locking tool according to still another preferred embodiment of the present invention, (A) of which is a plan view of a first handle piece and (B) of which is shown. A plan view of the second handle piece, (C) of the figure is a plan view of the third piece, (D) of the figure is a front view of the locking pin, and (E) of the figure is a shaft pin. It is a front view.

FIG. 10 is an exploded plan view showing the interaction of the slots of the handle piece of the present invention shown in FIG. 9, showing a similar spiral shape of arcuate slots.

FIG. 11 is a view showing the posture of the locking pin of the locking tool in FIGS. 9 and 10, wherein (A) of the figure shows the posture of the locking pin in a normal state, and (B) of the same figure. 8] is a schematic side view showing the posture of the lock pin in a locked state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Locking tool 2,3 Handle piece 4 Chin piece 5,11 Chin part 6,16,17 Shaft hole 7,9,10 Slot 8 Locking pin 12,13 Handle 14 Rhombic opening 15 Shaft pin 16 Shaft hole 17 Shaft Hole 18 Slot 19 Handle piece 20 Shaft hole 21 Slot 22 Handle piece 23 Shaft hole 24 Piece 25 Slot 26 Shaft hole 27, 28 Chin 29 Center grip 30 Wedge 31 Shaft pin 32 Locking pin 33 Block guide 34, 35 Handle piece 36 slots 37 pieces 38 slots 39, 40 jaws 41 slots 42 locking tools 43, 44 handle pieces 45 pieces 46 jaws 47 shaft holes 48 slots 49 locking pins 50, 51 slots 52 jaws 53, 54 handles 55 openings 56 Shaft Pin 57, 58 Shaft Hole

Continued Front Page (56) References U.S. Patent No. 50-68999 (JP, U) US Patent 682701 (US, A) US Patent 644825 (US, A) US Patent 1026270 (US, A) US Patent 1401931 (US, A) US Patent 1450875 (US, A) US Patent 1717726 (US, A) US Patent 2574909 (US, A) US Patent 4633558 (US, A)

Claims (31)

(57) [Claims] 1. A locking tool comprising a combination of at least three pieces, which are a first handle piece, a second handle piece and a third piece, each of these three pieces. At least two of said three pieces each having at least one arcuate slot (first slot) movably connected to each other and substantially aligned with each other, said at least one arcuate slot (first slot) being provided adjacent said axial bore. And a second slot) and at least one remaining piece comprises at least one vertically arranged slot (third slot) provided adjacent to its axial hole, said arcuate slot Has a spiral shape in the opposite direction from at least one other arcuate slot in a different adjacent piece, and is movably mounted in each arcuate slot and the vertically arranged slot and Note: A locking tool comprising locking means for movably connecting at least three pieces and means for locking the first handle piece and the second handle piece in predetermined positions. . 2. The locking tool according to claim 1, wherein the third piece and at least one handle piece comprise a jaw piece forming a gripping means. 3. The locking tool according to claim 1, wherein the first and second slots are arranged in a relationship to form an X-shaped pattern with each other when superposed. 4. One slot for the first handle piece, one slot for the second handle piece, and 1.
The locking tool according to claim 1, wherein one slot is provided in the third piece. 5. At least two slots are provided in the first handle piece, at least two slots in the second handle piece, and at least two slots in the third piece. The locking tool described in. 6. The locking tool according to claim 1, wherein the third slot is arranged to be substantially perpendicular to the first and second slots when the locking tool is assembled. . 7. The locking tool according to claim 1, wherein the first and second handle pieces include a jaw portion forming a gripping surface. 8. The first, second and third slots are
The locking tool according to claim 1, wherein the locking tool is provided below the shaft holes of each of the first handle piece, the second handle piece, and the jaw piece. 9. The locking tool according to claim 1, wherein the widths of the first, second and third slots are slightly larger than the diameter of the locking means. 10. The tool comprises a plurality of first, second and third slots, a plurality of locking means in the slots,
The locking tool according to claim 1, comprising a movable wedge attached to the locking means, and a grip portion between the movable wedges. 11. A locking tool comprising at least three movably connected pieces, a first handle piece, a second handle piece, and at least one jaw piece, the second handle. The piece includes a shaft hole and at least one arcuate slot (first slot) provided at a point below the shaft hole, the first handle piece being located below the upper jaw portion and the jaw portion. A shaft hole and at least one arc-shaped slot (second slot) are provided under the shaft hole, and the first slot and the second slot are the first handle piece and the second slot. When the handle piece is assembled as the locking tool, it has a spiral shape in the reflection direction, and the jaw part is the second handle piece of the first handle piece.
A complementary jaw portion that cooperates with a jaw portion of the jaw portion to form a gripping means, the jaw portion including an axial bore and at least one vertically provided slot (third slot) below the axial bore. Further comprising a shaft pin connecting the first handle piece, the second handle piece, and the jaw piece through the shaft hole, and a lock installed through each of the first, second and third slots. Locking tool characterized by having a pin. 12. The locking tool of claim 11, wherein the first and second slots are arranged in a relationship to form an X-shaped pattern with each other when superposed. 13. A slot for the first handle piece, a slot for the second handle piece, and a slot for the jaw piece.
The locking tool described in. 14. At least two slots for said first
At least two slots in the handle piece of the second
Locking tool according to claim 11, wherein said handle piece and at least two slots are provided in said jaw piece. 15. The locking tool of claim 11, wherein the third slot is arranged to be substantially perpendicular to the first and second slots when the locking tool is assembled. 16. The width of the first, second and third slots is slightly larger than the diameter of the locking means.
The locking tool described in. 17. A locking tool comprising a combination of at least three pieces consisting of a first handle piece, a second handle piece and a third piece, each of these three pieces. At least two of said three pieces each having at least one arcuate slot provided adjacent said axial hole, movably connected to each other and substantially aligned with each other; At least one remaining piece comprises at least one vertically arranged slot provided adjacent to its axial bore, said arcuate slot from at least one other arcuate slot in a different piece. Locking means forming a spiral shape in the same direction, movably provided in each of the arcuate slots and the vertically arranged slots, and movably connecting the at least three pieces. And a means for locking the first handle piece and the second handle piece in predetermined positions. 18. The locking tool according to claim 17, wherein at least two of the at least three pieces comprise a jaw portion forming a gripping means. 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the remaining pieces with at least one vertically arranged slot are sandwiched between the pieces with the arcuate slots. The described locking tool. 20. At least one arcuate slot in the first handle piece, at least one vertically disposed slot in the second handle piece, and at least one arcuate slot in the third. The locking tool according to claim 17, which is provided for each individual piece. 21. At least two slots are provided for said first
At least two slots in the handle piece of the second
18. The locking tool according to claim 17, wherein said locking piece is provided in said handle piece and at least two slots are provided in said third piece. 22. The locking tool of claim 17, wherein the vertically disposed slot is positioned to be substantially perpendicular to the arcuate slot when the locking tool is assembled. 23. A locking tool comprising at least three movably connected pieces, a first handle piece, a second handle piece, and at least one third piece.
The first handle piece includes an upper jaw portion, a shaft hole under the jaw portion, and at least one arc-shaped slot provided at a point below the shaft hole, and the second handle piece includes an upper jaw. A portion, a shaft hole below the jaw part and at least one vertically arranged slot below the shaft hole, the third piece being the shaft hole and at least one circle below the shaft hole. An arcuate slot is provided, and the slots of the second handle piece and the third piece are assembled with the first handle piece, the second handle piece and the third piece into the locking tool. And having a spiral shape in the same direction, said jaw portions of said first and second handle pieces comprising complementary jaw portions which cooperate to form a gripping means, further comprising: Locking pin installed through the slot provided Locking tool, characterized in that it comprises. 24. The second handle piece having at least one vertically arranged slot is provided with the first handle piece sandwiched between the third piece. The locking tool according to claim 23. 25. The locking tool of claim 23, wherein the vertically arranged slots are arranged to be substantially perpendicular to the arcuate slot when the locking tool is assembled. 26. At least one arcuate slot in the first handle piece, at least one arcuate slot in the third piece, and at least one vertically arranged slot in the second. 24. The locking tool according to claim 23, which is provided on the handle piece. 27. At least two vertically disposed slots in the second handle piece, at least two arcuate slots in the first handle piece, and at least two arcuate slots in the third. The locking tool according to claim 23, which is provided for each individual piece. 28. The locking tool according to claim 23, wherein the first and second handle pieces include an upper jaw portion forming a gripping surface. 29. The arcuate slot and the vertically arranged slot are provided under the shaft holes of each of the first handle piece, the second handle piece, and the third piece. The locking tool according to claim 23 which is provided. 30. The locking tool according to claim 23, wherein the width of the arcuate slots and the vertically arranged slots is slightly larger than the diameter of the locking means. 31. The tool comprises a plurality of arcuate slots and vertically arranged slots, a plurality of locking means in the slots, a movable wedge attached to the locking means, and the movable lock. 24. The locking tool according to claim 23, comprising a grip portion between the rust.