US2208714A - Gripping tool - Google Patents

Description

July 23, 1940. M, WQLF I 2,208,714

GRIPPING TOOL Filed Aug. 4, `1957 Patented July 23, 1940 UNITED STATES.

RATENT; oFFlCE 2,208,714 y GRIPPINefzroon.r f

Myer Woll', Brownstown, Pa.

Application August 4, 1937, Serial No. 157,411

1 Claim. (Cl. 81-3.1)

The invention relates to tools, particularly of the wrench type, adapted to engage a work element with a clamping pressure which is proportional to the applied pressure necessary to oper- 5 ate the tool.

An object of the invention is to provide a gripping tool capable of self-clamping operative engagement with a substantially circular work element.

Another object is to provide a self-clamping gripping tool provided with a handle serving as a force applying lever to increase the clamping action as the tool is manipulated. f

A further object is to provide a gripping tool having an operating handle pivoted to be moved in opposite directions to engage or disengage the tool from a work element.

The present disclosure constitutes a practical embodiment of structure by which the invention is reduced to practice, and it is to be understood that the details as shown and described shall not constitute limitations inconsistent with the scope of the invention as claimed.

At the present time the tool nds perhaps its greatest utility in applying and removing, particularly removing, rotatable closure caps for fruit jars and the like. Accordingly, the invention is illustrated specifically as a jar cap removing tool.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a top plan View of a container having a cap to which the tool is applied, and illustrating the initial engagement of the tool.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof, partly in section.

Figure 3 is a plan view similar to Figure 1, and

illustrating the tool in clamped position.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view ofV the tool.

In detail, the tool comprises a pair of substantially arcuate jaws 5 and 6 having each a serrated work gripping inner face curved through an arc of more than ninety degrees. The jaws are pivotally connected by suitable means 1, here shown as a pintle rivet permanently connecting an ofiset end 8 of the jaw 6 to the adjacent end portion of the jaw 5 at a point somewhat inwardly of its extremity. The adjacent end portion of the jaw 5 between the pintle 'I and its terminus is reversely curved with respect to the remainder of the jaw, providing a lateral terminal portion 9.

'I'he jaw 6 is also provided with an integral lateral extension comprising an arm I0 forked from the body of the jaw and diverging laterally 55 outward therefrom; the length of the arm I0 being substantially one half the distance between the point at which the arm diverges from the body of the jaw and its odset end 8.

The outer end of the arm IIJ provides a fulcrum point for a lever II having a pivotal connection 5 l2 tothe end of the arm. This lever II provides the operating handle for the tool and is shaped accordingly. Beyond its pivot fulcrum I2 the inner end of the handle lever is curved laterally inwardly of the tool and is connected to the end 10 portion 9 of the jaw 5 by means of an offset link I3 pivoted at one end, as at I4, to the jaw end 9 and at its other end, as at I5, to the inner end of the handle lever.

In service when the tool is applied to work elel5 ment, here shown as theconventional screw cap I6 of a fruit jar Il, the movable jaws 5 and 6 are distended to lie loosely around aperipheral portion of the cap as shown in Figure l, and as the total extent of the curved gripping faces of the 20 two jaws is more than 180 the jaws will extend more than half way around the periphery of the cap.

In the position shown in Figure 1 the tool is to be used for unscrewing the cap. When the 25 handle lever II is moved in the direction ofthe arrow it pivots on its fulcrum I2 and exerts on the end portion 9 of the jaw 5- a leverage, compounded through the link I3, which rocks the jaw 5 as a lever pivoting on the fulcrum l. Thus,l 30 the two jaws will be moved toward each other contracting into a firm clamping engagement with the cap, the clamping pressure increasing with increased application of force in moving the handle to unscrew the cap, the engaged position 35 of the parts being as shown in Figure 3.

'A reverse movement of the handleimmediately disengages the jaws, the leverage acting to separate them. In the releasing operation the pintle 1 is restrained by the cap body against movement radially inward of the cap, so that the fulcrum point of the jaw is fixed.

An important feature of the invention resides in the fact that the two jaws `extend more than 45 half way around the periphery of the jar cap. y Thus, as the jaws engage, any movement of the pintle 1 radially outward of the cap is prevented and the fulcrum point remains xed. The action of the handle lever through the link I3 tends to draw the pintle 'I radially outwardly of the cap and if it were no-t for the fact that the jaws extend more than half way around. the cap there might occur a slippage which would prevent effective manipulation of the tool.

outer face of said rst jaw in the direction of the4 other and tern-{iinating short of that end of said first jaw to vLhich said second jaw is fulcrumed,

the adjacent end portion of said second jaw being reversely curved laterally outwardly towards said arm but terminating short thereof, a handle lever fulcrumed on the outer end of said arm, the fulcrum point of said lever being adjacent but not at its inner end and that end being reversely curved inwardly and back with respect to said arm to overlie a portion of said first jaw when the jaws are work-engaged, and a link connecting the inner end of said lever and the end portion of said second jaw, the ends of said link being disposed at opposite sides of a straight line passed 'through the fulcrum points of said lever and

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