US2682794A

US2682794A - Prong bending tool

Info

Publication number: US2682794A
Application number: US190982A
Authority: US
Inventors: Theodore S O'konski
Original assignee: Wheeling Steel Corp
Current assignee: Wheeling Steel Corp
Priority date: 1950-10-19
Filing date: 1950-10-19
Publication date: 1954-07-06
Anticipated expiration: 1971-07-06

Description

July 6, 1954 I T, s. OKONSKI 2,682,794

PRONG BENDING TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 19, 1950 \NVENTOR mew ore 5. 0%0/25/0' July 6, 1954 s O'KONSK] Q 2,682,794

PRONG BENDING TOOL Filed Oct. 19, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Tfieadore S. OXcwsk/ Patented July 6, 1954 PRONG BENDING TOOL Theodore S. OKonski, Beech Bottom, W. Va., asv signor to Wheeling Steel Corporation, Wheeling, W. Va., a corporation of Delaware Application October 19, 1950, Serial No. 190,982

Claims.

1 This invention relates to a prong bending tool. It has to do primarily with a tool for bending prongs of pronged members to engage other members in composite constructions.

' One use to which my prong bending tool may be put is the bending of prongs of pronged baseboard clips into holding engagement with flanged,

.my prong bending tool may without departing from the invention be adapted for other prong bending uses.v

My prong bending tool is primarily intended and adapted for bending a prong of a pronged member of bendable sheet material, such, for example, as sheet metal or sheet plastic. The tool preferably comprises a head having a slot for receiving a portion of the pronged member and a prong bender connected with thehead and movable relatively to the head in a direction transversely of the plane of the slot to engage and bend the prong. The prong bender is preferably connected with the head adjacent the slot. The means for moving the prong bender are preferably connected therewith and with the head.

The head preferably has a backing up portion at the opposite side of the plane of the slot from the prong bender backing up and bracing the pronged member during bending of the prong.

- The backing up portion is preferably at least partly in the plane of movement of the prong bender. Desirably there is a stop portion at the opposite side of the plane of the slot from the prong bender engaging the prong to limit the extent of bending thereof. The backing up portion and the stop portion may be integral with each other. I

The slot in the bead of the prong bending tool may receive a portion of the pronged member disposed generally between two prongs thereof and the tool may have two prong benders connected with the head and disposed on opposite sides thereof and each movable relatively to the head in a direction transversely of the plane of the slot to engage and bend one of the prongs. Such prong benders are preferably disposed close- 2 1y adjacent the opposite sides of the head, the tool being adapted to be shifted parallel to the plane of the slot between a position in which one of the prong benders is opposed to one prong and a position in which the other prong bender is opposed'to theother prong so that the two prongs may be bent successively, the tool being shifted between prong bending operations. Operating means are preferably provided which are connected with both prong benders for operat: ing them simultaneously.

Desirably the prong bender is pivoted to the head and means are provided which are connected with the prong bender and with the head for pivotally moving the prong bender relatively to the head in a direction transversely of the plane of the slot in the head of the tool to engage and bend the prong. The means for pivotally moving the prong bender is preferably a lever also pivoted to the head and I preferably provide a link pivotally connected with the lever and with the prong bender for pivotally moving the prong bender upon operation of the lever.

The head of the prong bending tool preferably has a handle and means are preferably provided which include a second handle connected with the head and with the prong bender so that upon relative movement of the handles the prong bender is operatively moved.

As above indicated, my tool may be employed for bending a prong of a pronged member into a channel of a channeled member lying against the pronged member. The head of the tool may have at one side of the slot a positioning portion adapted to seat in the channel and at the other side a prong bender. The positioning porably disposed at the other side of the slot directly opposite the backing up portion. When the tool is to be employed with double pronged members the head may have at one side of the slot a backing up portion having a pair of downward projections each shaped to seat in the channel of one of two channeled members, one of the prongs of the double pronged member cooperating with each channeled member. The head will prefer,- ablyhave prong benders at the other side of the slot opposite the respective downward projections.

The head may have a base portion adapted to seat on a support to position -the tool. The base portion may have a handle formed as a part thereof. In such case the tool preferably comprises an operating portion having a slot for receiving a portion of the pronged member, a prong bender connected with the operating portion of the head and means connected with the prong bender and with the head and including a handle positioned in opposed relationship to the first mentioned handle for moving the prong bender relatively to the head in a direction transversely of the plane of the slot to engage and bend the prong when the handles are relatively moved toward each other.

The head of the prong bending tool may be a generally planar head having a slot transversely therethrough for receiving a portion of the pronged member and the head may have a handle projecting therefrom generally in the plane of the head. The prong bender may be connected with the head and means including a second handle may be provided, said means being connected with the head and with the prong bender and positioned with the second handle in opposed relationship to the first mentioned handle so that upon movement of the handles toward each other the prong bender is moved relatively to the head in a direction transversely of the plane of the slot to engage and bend the prong.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of certain present preferred embodiments thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown certain present preferred embodiments of the invention in which Figure 1 is a face view of a prong bending tool showing the tool in position to bend a prong of a pronged baseboard clip, the clip being indicated in chain lines;

Figure 2 is an edge view of the tool shown in Figure 1 in position to bend one of two prongs of a double pronged baseboard clip into the channel of a channeled baseboard member, the clip and two channeled baseboard members being indicated in chain lines;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary face view similar to Figure 1 showing the position of the parts of the prong bending tool and the position of the bent prong after bending thereof;

Figure 4 is an end view of the prong bending tool of Figures 1, 2 and 3 as viewed from the lower end of the tool as shown in those figures;

Figure 5 is an end view of a modified form of prong bending tool;

Figure 6 is a side view of the tool shown in Figure 5; and

Figure '7 is a fragmentary side view of the tool shown in Figures 5 and 6 viewed from the side of the tool opposite that shown in Figure 6 and with the tool partially operated.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, there is shown a prong bending tool having a generally planar head 2 having a slot 3 transversely therethrough for receiving a portion of a pronged member indicated in chain lines in Figure 1 and designated generally by reference numeral 4. The pronged member 4 may be a baseboard clip as disclosed in my said application.

The head 2 has a handle 5 projecting therefrom generally in the plane of the head, the handle being integral with the head. A grip portion 6 is applied to the end of the handle 5 to facilitate operation of the tool.

Pivoted to the head 2 at 1 are two opposed

prong benders

8 and 9. Each prong bender is of generally triangular shape having an operative face it adapted upon operation of the

tool

8 and 9 disposed downwardly.

to bend a prong H from the position indicated in Figure 1 to the position indicated in Figure 3. The

prong benders

8 and 9 are disposed at opposite sides of the body 2 as shown in Figure 2. A link 12 is pivoted at one end to both

prong benders

8 and 9 at l3, being positioned therebetween. The opposite end of the link I2 is pivoted at hi to an arm :15 projecting laterally from a handle it. The handle it is disposed in generally opposed relationship to the handle 5 and has a grip portion H. The handle I6 is pivoted to the head 2 at it. A spring is biased between the handles 5 and. I6 urges the handles apart to the position shown in Figure 1.

At the opposite side of the slot 3 from the

prong benders

8 and 9 the head 2 has a backing up portion 21!. The backing up portion 20 has at its bottom two positioning portions 2| and 22, each shaped to enter a channel of a channeled baseboard member to position the tool relatively thereto. In Figure 2 the pronged baseboard clip 4 is shown as having two flanged

baseboard members

23 and 24 applied thereto. The tool is shown with the positioning portion 2| in the bottom channel of the channeled baseboard member 23. The positioning portions 215 and 22 also serve as stop portions for limiting the extent of operation of the

prong benders

8 and 9 since they prevent bending of the prongs any farther than as shown in Figure 3. When a prong is bent down from the position of Figure 1 to the position of Figure 3 to engage the lower channel of a channeled baseboard member the bottom extremity or point of the prong may be bent slightly out of the plane of the prong through engagement with the channel as indicated in Figure 3, although in that figure the channeled baseboard member has been omitted for clarity of showing. After one of the prongs of a double pronged member has been bent down the tool may be shifted over to the opposite side of the double pronged member where the other of the positioning portions is disposed within the lower channel of the other baseboard member and the second prong is bent down.

In use the tool of Figures 1-4 is held by a workman either in one hand or in two hands with the end of the tool having the prong benders With the handles apart as shown in Figure l the tool is lowered over a pronged member so that a portion of the pronged member is received Within the slot 3. The tool is positioned with one of the

prong benders

8 and 9 in line with a prong of the pronged member. If the prong is to be bent into engagement with a channel of a channeled member the tool is positioned by disposing one of the positioning portions 2| and 22 in the channel. Then the handles 5 and !5 are relatively moved toward each other causing the prong benders to turn from the position shown in Figure l to the position shown in Figure 3, bending the prong from the position of Figure 1 to the position of Figure 3. Bending of the prong is limited by the backing up portion 23. After the prong has been bent the handles are released and the spring [9 returns them to the position of Figure 1 whereupon the tool may be shifted over to bend the second prong of a double pronged member as above explained or applied to a different prongeol member to bend the prong thereof.

While the tool of Figures 1-4 has proved eminently satisfactory in use, it is sometimes desirable to provide the head of the tool with a support to position the tool, as against a floor member.

or other supporting surface; Figures 5, 6 and '7 show a modified form of tool which so far as the prong bending function is concerned operates the same as the tool of Figures 1-4 but which is provided with a supporting base portion. Parts in Figures 5, 6 and '7 which correspond to parts in Figures 1-4 are designated by the same reference numerals, each with a prime afiixed.

Referring now to Figures 5, 6 and 7, projecting laterally from the head 2' and connected therewith, as, for example, by welding, is a base portion 25 adapted to seat on a support to position the tool. Integral with the base portion 25 and with the head 2' is a handle 5 having a grip portion 6.

The head 2 is, like the head 2 of Figures 1-4, generaly planar and has a slot 3' transversely therethrough for receiving a portion of a pronged Pivoted to the head 2 at l are two opposed prong benders 3' and 9. Each prong bender is of generally triangular shape having an operative face l0 adapted upon operation of the tool to bend a prong of a pronged member. The prong benders 8 and 9' are disposed at opposite sides of the body 2' as shown in Figure 6. A link [2 is pivoted at one end to both prong benders 8' and 9 at I3, being positioned therebetween. The opposite end of the link i2 is pivoted at M to a lever l5 pivoted to the head 2 at l8. At its end opposite the pivotal connection 14 the lever l5 has a slot 26 extending thereinto, the faces of the slot being of concave cross section as shown at 2! in.

formed by the tool of Figures 5, 6 and 7 is the same as that performed by the tool of Figures 1-4, but the tool of Figures 5, 6 and '7 is adapted to be supported upon the floor or other surface while being used and hence is more readily adaptable to one-handed use with a degree of speed and precision perhaps somewhat greater than in the case of the tool of Figures 1-4. When the tool of Figures 5, 6 and '7 is suitably positioned relatively to the work the handle I6 is pressed downwardly. This may be done by squeezing the grip portions 6' and H together with the hand but exerting suflicient downward pressure on the tool as a whole that the base portion remains seated on the floor or other supporting surface. The pin 29 projecting from the end of the handle l6 moves generally upwardly in an are about the axis of the pivot 28;

Since the ball 30 is engaged by the concave faces 21 of the slot 28 its upward movement causes pivoting of the lever l5 in the clockwise direction about the axis of the pivot I8 viewing Figure 5 with consequent operation of the prong benders 8 and 9' in the same fashion as the

prong benders

8 and 9 of the form of tool shown in Figures 1-4.

While I have shown and described certain present prefered embodiments of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A tool for bending a prong of a pronged member into a channel of a channeled member lying against the pronged member comprising a head having a slot for receiving a portion of the pronged member, the head having at one side of the slot a positioning portion adapted to seat in the channel and having at the other side of the slot a prong bender pivoted to the head adjacent the mouth of the slot, and means connected with the prong bender for moving the same relatively to the head in a direction transversely of the plane of the slot to engage and bend the prong.

2. A tool for bending a prong of a pronged member into a channel of a channeled member lying against the pronged member comprising a head having a slot for receiving a portion of the pronged member, the head having at one side of the slot a backing-up portion whose extremity is shaped to seat in the channel and having at the other side of the slot directly opposite the backing-up portion a prong bender pivoted to the head adjacent the mouth of the slot, and means connected with the prong bender for moving the same relatively to'the head toward the backingup member to engage and bend the prong.

3. A tool for bending a prong of a pronged member comprising a head having a base portion adapted to seat on a support to position the tool, a grip portion shaped to receive a portion of a hand when the base portion is seated on a support to position the tool and an operating portion having a slot for receiving a portion of the member, 8, prong bender connected with the operating portion of the head and means connected with the prong bender and with the head for moving the prong bender relatively to the head in a direction transversely of the plane of the slot to engage and bend the prong.

4. A tool for bending a prong of a pronged member comprising a head having a base portion having a. part adapted to seat on a support to position the tool, the base portion having a handle formed as a part thereof and spaced from said first mentioned part, and an operating portion having a slot for receiving a portion of the member, a prong bender connected with the operating portion of the head and means connected with the prong bender and with the head and including a handle positioned in opposed relationship to the first mentioned handle for moving the prong bender relatively to the head in a direction transversely of the plane of the slot to engage and bend the prong when the handles are relatively moved toward each other.

5. A tool for bending spaced apart prongs of a pronged member comprising a head having a generally planar slot for receiving a portion of the member disposed generally between the prongs, a prong bending unit mounted on the head for movement relatively to the head in a direction intersecting the plane of the slot, the prong bending unit comprising two prong benders respectively disposed at opposite sides of the head, and an operating member movably mounted on the head and connected with the prong bending unit for moving the prong bending unit relatively to the head in said direction to an extreme operative position to bend the prongs of the pronged member, the head having backingup means at the opposite side of the slot from the prong benders, substantially parallel to the plane of the slot and in directly opposed relation to the prong benders when the prong bending unit is in said extreme operative position, the

7 tool being adapted to be shifted parallel to the plane of the slot between a position in which one of the prong benders is opposed to one of the spaced apart prongs and a position in which the other prong bender is opposed to the other of the spaced apart prongs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 630,387 Maxwell Aug. 8, 1899 919,989 Wood Apr. 27, 1909 Number Number 745,375

Name Date Thestrup Aug. 18,1914 Erickson Aug. 31, 1915 Marshall Apr. 12, 1927 Jones Nov. 13, 1928 Jurey et a1 Feb. 2'7, 1934 Lovinggood Oct. 23, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France May 10, 1933