US2819638A

US2819638A - Adjustable plier type tool

Info

Publication number: US2819638A
Application number: US509442A
Authority: US
Inventors: Rundlette K Palmer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1955-05-19
Filing date: 1955-05-19
Publication date: 1958-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 1975-01-14

Description

Jan. 14, 1958 R. K. PALMER ADJUSTABLE PLIER TYPE Too'r.

Filed May 19, 1955 INVENTOR RUNDLETTE K. PALMER BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent @fiice 2,819,638 Patented Jan. 14, 1958 ADJUSTABLE PLIER TYPE TOOL Rundlette K. Palmer, Fredericlrsburg, Va.

Application May 19, 1955, Serial No. 509,442

1 Claim. (Cl. 81-316) This invention relates to a rnechanics hand tools and more particularly to a plier type tool which by interchanging different styles and shapes of jaws may be utilized for a large variety of operations by a mechanic for which he normally employs many separate tools.

Heretofore, numerous types of compound tools have been proposed in which jaws and other parts of the implements may be interchanged to permit performing a variety of operations, but the majority of these have been relatively cumbersome to use and much difficulty has been experienced in interchanging the jaws or other parts of the implements. Furthermore, these prior art devices have not afforded a sufficiently rigid joint between the interchangeable portions and the body of the tool, in order to maintain accurate alignment and adjustment and furthermore, these prior art devices have not provided a plier type tool in which adjustable wrench jaws are included, in order to permit the engagement of various sizes of nuts or bolts by mere adjustment of the spacing of the jaws while maintaining the jaw faces parallel.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an adjustable plier type tool in which various types and sizes of jaws may be interchangeably utilized with a basic plier type structure in order to facilitate the performance of a wide variety of operations.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an adjustable plier type tool which may be utilized as a wrench and in which the jaws may be adjusted to engage a wide range of sizes of nuts or bolts while maintaining the jaw faces substantially parallel.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an adjustable plier type tool having interchangeable jaws or working faces and in which the crossed handles of the tool may be locked in any desired position of adjustment.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an adjustable plier type tool in which the jaws or working faces may be conveniently interchanged and in which the connection between such interchangeable jaws and the basic plier structure is maintained substantially rigid and in accurate alignment.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an adjustable plier type tool in which the spacing between the jaws may be conveniently varied by manual manipulation of an adjusting worm associated with each jaw.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an adjustable plier type tool in which a large variety of jaws may be interchangeably utilized and in which the basic plier structure may be made of any desired size, in order to accommodate the tool to various general types of operations which would normally be performed by a relatively large variety of separate tools.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. l is a top plan view of an adjustable plier type tool constructed in accordance with this invention and 2 showing jaws which may be utilized for conventional plier operations or as a substitute for an adjustable wrench;

Fig. 2 a side elevational view of the tool shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 a fragmentary sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and showing the mounting and adjusting means for the removable adjustable jaws;

Fig. 4 a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1 and showing the manner in which the jaws may be adjusted to engage nuts or bolts of various sizes while maintaining the jaw faces substantially parallel; and

Figs. 5 and 6 top plan views of two different forms of jaws which may be interchangeably utilized in the tool of this invention.

With continued reference to the drawing, there is shown in Fig. 1, an adjustable plier type tool constructed in accordance with this invention and which may well comprise a pair of crossed handles 10 and 11 pivotally secured together by a suitable pin or other member 12 extending through such handles in the center of their overlapping portions. For convenience in operation, the handle 11 may be provided along a portion of its length with a corrugated finger engaging portion 13 providing spaces for receiving the fingers of the operator to prevent slipping thereof and the handle 10 may be provided adjacent the finger engaging portion 13 and on the outer surface thereof with a knurled portion 14 which further facilitates a firm gripping engagement between the hand. of the opera tor and the handles M1 and 11 of the tool.

The handle 10 is provided on its outer end with an enlarged portion 15 and the handle 11 is provided on its outer end with a similar enlarged portion 16. The outer ends of portions 15 and 16 present a substantially straight flat surface 17 and, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, there is provided in each portion 15 and 16, a slideway 18 which opens outwardly at the surface 17. The slideway 118 extends entirely through the enlarged portions 15 and 16 and is disposed transversely of the pivotal axis of the handles 10 and 11 and, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, each slideway 113 is provided with opposed ribs 19 and opposed grooves 21), the purpose of which will be presently described.

Each enlarged portion 15 and 16 is provided with an elongated rectangular recess 21 which is open on opposite sides of the enlarged portions 15 and 16 and which, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, communicates with the slideway 118 in each enlarged portion 15' and 16. Rotatably mounted in each recess 21 is an adjusting worm 22 which is rotatably mounted on a removable pin or axle 23 threaded into the enlarged portion 15 and 16. The pin or axle 23 may be conveniently removed to permit removal and replacement of the worm 22 in the case of damage thereto.

A jaw 24 may be removably received in the slideway 18 in each enlarged portion 15 and 16 and the jaw 24 may be provided with a surface 25 for slidably engaging the surface 17 on the enlarged portions 15 and 16 and also the jaw 24 may be provided with a reduced. portion having opposed grooves 26 and ribs 27 for slidingly engaging the ribs 19 and grooves 219 in the enlarged portions 15 and 16 of the handles lit and 11. Each jaw 24 is provided with an inwardly projecting, elongated portion 28 having teeth 29 formed therein, which teeth are designed to engage and mesh with the teeth on the adjusting worms 22. It will consequently, be obvious that upon rotation of either worm 22, that the associated jaw 24 will be moved transversely of the enlarged portion 15 or 16 to vary or adjust the distance between the opposed jaw faces 29 and thereby permit the engagement with work of varying sizes.

Since it is frequently desirable to lock the handles 10 and 11 against movement toward or away from each other and in adjusted position, there is provided for this purpose, a locking means in the form of a set screw 30 threadedly received in the handle and such set screw projects through the handle 11) adjacent the pivot point 12 and the inner end 31 of the set screw 3d may be positioned within a selected cup-shaped recess 32 provided in the abutting surface of the handle 11 and it is, of course, to be understood, that as many recesses 32 may be provided as is desirable. T he locking screw may be provided with a wing-type head 33 to permit convenient manipulation by the user and it is also to be understood, that if desired, a pin may be utilized in place of the screw 319 with such pin slidably received in the handle 16? and engaging in a suitable recess in the adjacent part of the handle 11. By the use of this locking means, the handles 10 and 11 may be securely locked in any desired angular position of adjustment thereby preventing separation of the jaws 26 upon the application of a turning or other force to the handles 14% and 11.

As best shown in Fig. 4, the tool of this invention may be utilized as a wrench and for this purpose, the jaws 24 may be suitably adjusted by manipulation of the worms 22 to permit the same to engage a nut 34 of any desired size and, of course, for this operation, the handles 111 and 11 will be locked by means of the screw 34 in closed position, as shown in Fig. 1, in order that the jaw faces 29 will be maintained substantially parallel, regardless of the spacing therebetween, as afforded by adjustment of the worms 22. The nut or bolt 34 may be removed or tightened by suitable turning movement of the handles 10 and 11 and a series of such bolts or nuts 34 may be engaged without changing the adjustment of the jaws 24, by merely releasing the locking screw 30 to permit separation of the handles 10 and 11 and consequent separation of the jaws 24 to permit removal of the same from the nut or bolt 34. Upon applying the jaws 24 to another nut 34 of the same size, it is merely necessary to close the handles 10 and 11 and lock the same together by means of the locking screw 30.

It is, of course, obvious, that many different types, sizes and shapes of jaws may be substituted for the jaws 24 in order to expand the usefulness of the tool of this invention and to permit the performance of a wide variety of operations and for illustrative purposes onl there is shown in Fig. 5, a pair of jaws 35 provided with semi-circular recesses 35 in their opposed faces, which recesses may be provided with teeth 37 to permit engagement of the jaws 35 with a pipe or other round object and prevent slippage therebetween. The jaws 35 are provided with grooves 38 and ribs 39 which engage with the ribs 19 and grooves 21) respectively, in the enlarged portions 15 and 16, and the jaws 35 are likewise, provided with teeth dill on their inner ends for engaging the adjusting worms 22. In order to interchange these jaws, it is only necessary to manipulate the worms 22 in a manner to move the jaws 24 transversely of the enlarged portions 15 and 16, until they can be removed from the slideways 18, whereupon the jaws 35 may be inserted in such slideways and moved toward each other by rotation of the worms 22.

In a similar manner, there may be provided jaws 41, as shown in Fig. 6, which may be utilized for pruning or cutting purposes and in these jaws the same are provided with opposed cutting edges 42, which may be adjusted as to spacing by manipulation of the worms 22, in order to properly engage the object to be cut, depending upon the diameter or size thereof. In a like manner, the jaws 41 are provided with grooves 43 and ribs 4-4 to slidably engage the grooves 2d and ribs 19 in the enlarged portions 15 and 16 and these jaws 41 are also provided, on their inner ends, with teeth 45 for engaging the worms 22 to permit relative adjustment of the jaws. These jaws may be substituted for the jaws 24 in the manner above described.

Of course, a wide variety of other types, shapes and sizes of jaws may be utilized, but no useful purpose is seen in illustrating and describing such jaws, since the examples shown and described, are believed sufiicient to provide a clear understanding of the purpose and opera tion of the tool or" this invention. Obviously, such tool provides a convenient implement which is adapted to a wide variety of operations and which obviously, may be made in a manner to provide sufiicient strength and rigidity to maintain accurate spacing and alignment between the work engaging jaws. The tool of this invention, likewise, permits a mechanic to carry one such basic plier tool, together with the necessary interchangeable jaws, which will eliminate the necessity of transporting a large number and variety of separate tools while still permitting the user to perform all necessary and desired operations.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawing and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

An adjustable plier type tool comprising crossed levers pivotally secured together intermediate their ends, jaw mounting and adjusting means on one end and a handle member on the other end of each lever, a finger engaging portion on one handle member, said means comprising an open slideway extending transversely of the pivotal axis of each lever, opposed ribs and grooves in said slideway, an elongated rectangular recess in each lever open on opposite sides and communicating with said slideway, a jaw adjusting worm rotatably mounted in said recess and projecting into said slideway, a jaw removably and slidably disposed in each slideway, ribs and grooves on said jaw cooperating with the ribs and grooves of said slideway, teeth on the inner edge of said jaw engaging threads on said worm whereby upon rotation of said worm said jaw will be moved longitudinally of said slide way, a locking screw threadedly engaging and extending through one lever adjacent the pivot point and a plurality of angularly spaced recesses in the other lever for selective engagement by the end of said screw to selectively lock said levers in adjusted angular relationship, the ad justment of said jaws by said worms providing a variable spacing between said jaws while maintaining the same in a fixed angular relationship.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 874,394 Cork et al. Dec. 24, 1907 1,227,183 Needharn May 22, 1917 1,386,365 Roberts Aug. 2, 1921 1,488,811 Garletts Apr. 1, 1924 1,691,216 Strobel Nov. 13, 1928 2,513,401 Coles July 4, 1950 2,720,805 Brynge Oct, 18, 1955