US3613235A

US3613235A - Cable ripper

Info

Publication number: US3613235A
Application number: US37673A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas C Mccormick
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-05-15
Filing date: 1970-05-15
Publication date: 1971-10-19
Anticipated expiration: 1988-10-19

Abstract

A PAIR OF FIRST AND SECOND CROSSED AND PIVOTALLY CONNECTED LEVERS INCLUDING REAR HANDLE ENDS AND FRONT JAW ENDS. THE JAW END OF THE FIRST LEVER DEFINES A CHANNEL EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY ALONG ONE SIDE THEREOF AND OPENING TOWARD THE OTHER JAW END AND INCLUDES A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING CUTTING LEVER HAVING A REAR BASE END AND A FRONT CUTTING END. THE CHANNEL OPENS TOWARD THE

CUTTING LEVER AND THE BASE END OF THE CUTTING LEVER IS PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED FROM THE JAW END OF THE FIRST LEVER FOR OSCILLATION OF THE FRONT CUTTING END THEREOF TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE CHANNEL AND THE JAW END OF THE SECOND LEVER IS CONNECTED TO THE CUTTING LEVER FORWARD OF ITS AXIS OF OSCILLATION.

Description

Get. 19, 1971 c, mcco c I 3,613,235

CABLE RIPPER Filed May 15, 1970 Thomas 6. McCormick INVIzN'IUK.

@Mmm. MIA WW EM?! United States Patent Olfice 3,613,235 Patented Oct. 19, 1971 3,613,235 CABLE RIPPER Thomas C. McCormick, Eugene, reg., assignor of a fractional part interest to John P. Neufeld, Eugene,

Oreg.

Filed May 15, 1970, Ser. No. 37,673 Int. CI. 13211: 13/00 US. Cl. 3091.1 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pair of first and second crossed and pivotally connected levers including rear handle ends and front jaw ends. The jaw end of the first lever defines a channel extending longitudinally along one side thereof and opening toward the other jaw end and includes a longitudinally extending cutting lever having a rear base end and a front cutting end. The channel opens toward the cutting lever and the base end of the cutting lever is pivotally supported from the jaw end of the first lever for oscillation of the front cutting end thereof toward and away from the bottom of the channel and the jaw end of the second lever is connected to the cutting lever forward of its axis of oscillation.

The cable ripper of the instant invention has been specifically designed to form a longitudinal cut in insulation surrounding an electrical conductor such as a metallic wire. The cable ripper includes a channel for embracingly engaging the insulation to be cut and a cutting lever including a cutting end oseillatable toward and away from the bottom of the channel through which the insulation to be slit or cut is longitudinally shifted as the cutting end of the cutting lever is urged toward the bottom of the channel. In this manner, the cutting end of the cutting lever, which defines a cutting edge extending longitudinally of the cutting lever and projecting outwardly from the side thereof adjacent the bottom of the channel, can be urged down into the insulation to be out while the insulation is slid through the channel to thus advance the cutting edge of the cutting lever through the insulation lengthwise of the latter.

The cable ripper is constructed in a manner whereby pressure on the cutting lever is applied thereto evenly and without any tendency of the cutting lever to be cocked relative to its axis of rotation.

In addition to the cutting lever a hold-down lever is also oscillatably supported for swinging movement about an axis coinciding with the axis of oscillation of the cutting lever and includes a bifurcated portion which also bears down upon the insulation being cut and between whose furcations the cutting edge of the cutting lever projects. By this construction, the insulation to be cut is gripped against lateral shifting relative to the cutting edge of the cutting lever during the cutting operation and the insulation to be cut is compressed along two paths immediately adjacent and on opposite sides of the cut being made by the cable ripper in the insulation.

The main object of this invention is to provide a tool for longitudinally slitting or cutting insulation disposed about a conductor wire.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide an insulation cutting tool constructed in a manner whereby the depth of penetration of the cutting member thereof is accurately controlled.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an insulation stripper constructed in a manner whereby the insulation to be cut longitudinally of the associated electrical conductor is frictionally retained against lateral shifting relative to the cutting blade of the cutter.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a cutting tool for longitudinally slitting insulation about a conductive wire and which includes means for positively adjustably limiting the depth of the cut to be made by the tool.

A further object of this invention is to provide a cutting tool for longitudinally slitting insulation in accordance with the preceding objects and including structure by which longitudinal zones of the insulation to be out are compressed on opposite sides immediately adjacent the cut being formed by the tool.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide an insulation cutting tool in accordance with the preceding objects and which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the insulation cutting tool of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the jaw end portions of the crossed and pivotally connected levers of the insulation cutting tool;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the jaw ends of the levers of the tool in assembled relation;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the assemblage illustrated in FIG. 4 and with an associated insulated electrical conductor in operative position illustrated in phantom lines; and

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the assemblage illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the cable ripper of the instant invention. The ripper 10 includes a pair of first and

second levers

12 and 14 which are crossed and pivotally connected by means of a removable pivot fastener 16. The lever 12 includes a handle end 18 and a jaw end 20 while the lever 14 includes a handle end 22 and a jaw end 24.

The forward end of the jaw end 20 defines an upwardly opening generally semi-cylindrical channel member 26 including a longitudinal extending bottom wall 28. The

channel member 26 is formed as an integral portion of the jaw end 20 and opens upwardly toward a laterally projecting force arm defining terminal end portion 30 of the jaw end 24 which projects transversely above the channel member 26 generally centrally intermediate its opposite ends. The jaw end 20 is notched as at 32 whereby the terminal end portion 30 may be swung downwardly into close proximity with the bottom wall 28 of the channel member 26 and a hold-down lever referred to in general by the reference numeral 34 is pivotally supported from the jaw end 20 by means of a pivot fastener 36 threadedly secured in the jaw end 20 and which also pivotally supports the rear end of a cutting lever referred to dinzgeneral by the reference numeral 38 from the jaw en The hold-down lever 34 includes a base end portion 40' which is generally U-shaped in configuration and includes a pair of upstanding parallel flanges 42 and 44 having aligned apertures 46 formed therethrough. The lower longitudinal marginal edge portions of the flanges 42 and 44 are interconnected by means of a bight portion 48 and the forward end of the bight portion 48 is inclined downwardly and notched as at 50 so as to define a bifurcated forward end portion.

The cutting lever 38 has an aperture 50 formed through its rear base end and includes 2. depending cutting edge 52 on its forward end. The fastener 36 includes a diametrically reduced terminal end 54 and a larger diameter smooth shank portion 56. The shank portion 56 extends through the apertures or

bores

46 and 50 and the terminal end 54 is threadedly engaged in a threaded bore 58 formed in the jaw end 20.

The flange 44 includes an inclined slot 60 and the cutting lever 38 includes a similar inclined slot 62 which is registered with the slot 60. The terminal end portion 30 of the jaw end 24 projects through the slots 60' and 62 and accordingly, a pin and slot connection is defined between the jaw end 24 and the

levers

34 and 38.

The handle end 22 of the lever 14 includes a laterally directed flange 66 through which an abutment screw 68 is threadedly engaged and the flange 66 is opposed by a laterally directed flange 70 carried by the handle end 18 of the lever 12. Further, a swing type cutting blade 72 has its base end pivotally supported from the handle end 18 of the lever 12 by means of a pivot fastener 74 and the free end of the cutting blade 72 includes a cutting edge 76 disposed in shear relation with the upper marginal edge portion of the handle end 18 of the lever 12.

In operation, a conductor such as conductor 78, see FIG. 4, and including an outer insulative covering 80 is positioned with one end portion thereof cradled in the channel member 26 when the handle ends 18 and 22 are swung away from each other. This of course causes the forward end of both the cutting lever 38 and the holddown lever 34 to swing upwardly to provide the necessary spacing between the

levers

34 and 38 and the channel member 26 to receive the conductor 78 with its insulation 80 within the channel member 26.

After the conductor 78 has been thus positioned, the handle ends 18 and 22 are moved toward each other and this movement causes the terminal end portion 30 to swing the front ends of the

levers

34 and 38 downwardly toward the bottom wall 28 of the channel member 26 until the cutting edge 52 is forced into the insulation 80 and the

furcations

84 and 86 disposed on opposite sides of the slot or notch 50 are compressively engaged with the insulation 80 immediately adjacent and on opposite sides of the cutting edge 52. Then, with pressure applied to the handle ends 18 and 20 to maintain the spatial relation of the

handle ends

18 and 22, the conductor 78 is pulled to the left while the tool is pulled to the right as viewed in FIG. 4 of the drawings whereby the insulation 80 will be cut by the cutting edge 52.

Adjustment of the abutment screws 68 will limit movement of the handle ends 18 and 22 toward each other and thus the depth of the cut made by the cutting edge 52. Further, the frictional engagement of the

furcations

84 and 86 with the insulation 80 also has the effect of limiting the depth of penetration of the cutting edge 52 and inasmuch as the hold-down lever 34 as well as the cutting lever 38 are disposed on one side of the jaw end 20 and the terminal end portion 30 is carried by the jaw end 24 which is disposed on the other side of the jaw end 20, downward pressure applied to the hold-down lever 34 4 as Well as the cutting lever 38 is evenly applied to these levers with substantially no tendency of the applied pressure tending to cock either of the

levers

34 and 38 relative to their pivot fastener 36.

The cutting blade 72 includes a laterally directed thumb or finger engageable portion 90 which overlies the upper marginal edge portion of the handle 18 of the lever 12 when the cutting blade 72 is swung to a position generally paralleling the lever 12. The cutting blade 72 may be utilized to cut a conductor in two by placing the conductor to be cut between the cutting edge 76 and the upper edge of the handle end 18 of the lever 12 after which rearward and downward pressure is applied to the laterally directed portion 90 so as to shear the conductor to be out between the upper edge of the lever 12 and the cutting edge 76.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A pair of first and second crossed and pivotally connected levers including rear handle ends and front jaw ends, the jaw end of the first lever defining a channel extending longitudinally along one side of the first lever and opening toward the other jaw end, said jaw end of the first lever also including a longitudinally extending cutting lever having a rear base end and a front cutting end, said cutting lever extending longitudinally of the jaw end of the first lever and the channel opening toward the cutting lever, the base end of the cutting lever being pivotally supported from the jaw end of the first lever for oscillation of the front cutting end of the cutting lever toward and away from the bottom of the channel, the jaw end of the second le-ver including means operatively connected to the cutting lever forward of its axis of oscillation for swinging the forward end of the cutting lever toward the bottom wall of the channel in response to swinging movement of the jaw end of the second lever toward the jaw end of the first lever.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means on the jaw end of the second lever and connected to the cutting lever includes a laterally directed extension carried by the jaw end of the second lever, the cutting lever having a longitudinal slot formed therein intermediate its opposite ends through which the laterally directed extension of the jaw end of the second lever is received, whereby a pin and slot connection is defined between the jaw end of the second lever and the cutting lever.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said jaw end of said first lever further includes a pressure lever generally paralleling the cutting lever and having its base end pivotally supported from the jaw end of the first lever for oscillation about an axis concentric with the axis of oscillation of the cutting lever, the front end of the pressure lever including a bifurcated end portion, said cutting end including a cutting edge projecting between the furcations of the bifurcated end of the pressure lever, said means carried by the jaw end of said second lever and connected to said cutting lever also being connected to said pressure lever for oscillation of the latter simultaneously with the cutting lever.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said means on the jaw end of the second lever and connected to the cutting lever includes a laterally directed extension carried by the jaw end of the second lever, the cutting le-ver having a longitudinal slot formed therein intermediate its opposite ends through which the laterally directed extension of the jaw end of the second lever is received, whereby a pin and slot connection is defined between the jaw end of the second lever and the cutting lever, said pressure lever also having a longitudinal slot formed therein through which said lateral extension is received, whereby a pin and slot connection is also defined between the jaw end of the second lever and the pressure lever.

5. The combination of claim 1 including adjustable abutment means carried by one of said handle ends and shiftable toward and away from the other of said handle ends for limiting movement of said handle ends toward each other.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means on the jaw end of the second lever and connected to the cutting lever includes a laterally directed extension carried by the jaw end of the second lever, the cutting lever having a longitudinal slot formed therein intermediate its opposite ends through which the laterally directed extension of the jaw end of the second lever is received, whereby a pin and slot connection is defined between the jaw end of the second lever and the cutting lever, said jaw end of said first lever including a notch formed therein open- 2,363,758 11/1944 Thompson 3091.1 3,197,865 8/1965 Bourdier 309l.1 X

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,035,717 8/1958 Germany 3091.1 525,691 9/1940 Great Britain 30-91.1

ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner M. KOCZO, JR., Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 81-95 R, 381