US3786670A

US3786670A - Wire gripping tool

Info

Publication number: US3786670A
Application number: US00243716A
Authority: US
Inventors: C Mcglothlin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-04-13
Filing date: 1972-04-13
Publication date: 1974-01-22
Anticipated expiration: 1991-01-22

Abstract

A wire gripping tool particularly adapted to grip and facilitate for bending and the like of large electric wires when wiring switch boxes, fuse boxes or the like, having a head including wire gripping jaws actuatable to gripping position by a lever controlled cable, the head and wire gripping jaws being pivotally mounted on a handle to be turned angularly with respect to the axis of the handle, and controllable ratchet means selectively permitting angular turning and locking of the head and jaws.

Description

United States Patent 1191 McGlothlin Jan. 22, 1974 WIRE GRIPPING TOOL [76] Inventor: Charles J. McGlothlin, Rt. 1, Box f 'f' La'mam 198 Madison Height Madison Assistant Examiner-Robert M. Rogers Heights Va 24572 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-David l-l. Semmes PP N01 243,716 A wire gripping tool particularly adapted to grip and facilitate for bending and the like of large electric [52] 72/480 81/391 [4006 wires when wiring switch boxes, fuse boxes or the like, 511 Int. Cl azsb 7/04 having a head including gripping Jaws actumab'e [53] Field of searchmo/ma 72/D]G 17.412 415, to gripping position by a lever controlled cable, the 72/416 81/39] 392 393 head and wire gripping aws being pivotally mounted on a handle to be turned angularly with respect to the [56] References Cited axis of the handle, and controllable ratchet means se- UNITED STATES PATENTS lectively permitting angular turning and locking of the head and jaws. 570,218 10/1896 Blumer l40/l06 1,123,243 1 1915 Champ 8l/393 6 Cla ms, 5 Drawing Figures WIRE GRIPPING TOOL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Bending of large electric wires when, for example,

wiring switch boxes or fuse boxes present problems due to confined operating areas and wire insu-lation damage. Prior tools usable for this purpose have not enabled leverage to be applied in the confined space of a switch box. The nature of pliers heretofore used have in many instances inherently damaged the wire insulation.

it is an object of the present invention to provide a wire bending tool which overcomes these drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A wire gripping tool suitable to facilitate bending large electric wires and the like, especially for wiring switch boxes, fuse boxes and the like. A cable which is lever actuatable allows pliers to lock and grip the wire firmly without damaging the insulation. A spring functions to open the plier jaws upon release of the handle. A ratchet section is attached to the plier head and is engageable by fingers which are spring biased into engagement therewith, but which are releasable by turning a ratchet pin. The pin upon turning releases ratchet engagement of the fingers and the pliers can be turned 90 to the left or right. A midway pin position locks the ratchet so that the pliers cannot turn left or right. The handle contains a reducing bushing to accommodate a one-half inch socket, and a square shaped handle permits use of other standard wrenches.

Additional features, objects and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a plan view of the tool including a schematic depiction of a jaw open position;

FIG. 2 is a side view taken at right angles to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view showing details of head pivoting control mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary detail of mechanism for pivoting or turning the head in a locked position; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to H0. 4 with the locking means being open to permit head rotation or pivoting.

Referring now in more detail to the drawings, the tool includes an elongate hollow handle which preferably is adapted at its free end for association with a onehalf inch socket ratchet or the like for additional leverage purposes. The opposite end of handle 10 is bifurcated as generally indicated at 12 and thereby providing spaced ears I4 and 16 having matching openings 18 and 20 therein. A head generally designated 22 in the nature of a pliers head is operatively associated with handle [0.

Head 22 includes a fixed jaw portion 24 and a movable jaw portion 26 pivotally mounted on fixed jaw section by pivot 28 or the like. The jaws are provided with mating curvilinear wire gripping segments 30 adapted for coacting engagement about a wire and ofa configuration which will prevent damage to wire insulation. The movable jaw portion includes a curved and extended arm 32 having an opening therethrough at 34 through which passes a flexible cable 36 having stop means 38 secured on the free end thereof for relative fixing with respect to arm 32. The cable extends through a hollow bushing 40 which is mounted between ears [4 and 16 as shown in FIG. I and then extends over a pulley 42 rotatably mounted on a triangular piece 43. A lever 44 is pivotally and slidably mounted on handle 10 by means of bracket 46 as operatively disclosed in FIG. 3.

Spring means are operatively interengaged between

jaws

24 and 26 at pivot 28 biasing the jaws to an open position. The open position of the jaws and associated cable and lever are indicated by broken lines in FIG. 1 with the open jaw being shown at 26A, cable at 36A and lever at 44A. The spring upon release of lever 44 will open the jaws to this position whereas when lever 44 is pressed toward handle 10 the jaws close to the full line position for gripping of the wire therebetween.

The head 22 which includes

jaws

24 and 26 includes a bifurcated rear portion 48 formed as an extension of fixed jaw 24. The arm 32 of movable jaw 26 extends into slot 50 and is pivotally mounted therein by pivot 28. The bifurcated rear portion 48 terminates in a toothed ratchet end 50 of circular configuration, dis posed at a right angle to the plane of the bifurcated por tion, and having spaced teeth 52 peripherally spaced therearound. The ratchet 50 preferably is formed as a separate unit and attached by means of set screws 54 or the like to the bifurcated rear portion 48 to facilitate manufacture and assembly.

A pair of

separate fingers

56 and 58 are pivotally mounted on pin 60 extending through handle l0 and are spring pressed or biased by springs 62 to an inner ratchet locking position as will appear hereinafter. Intennediate the

fingers

56, 58 is a cam 64 pivotally mounted on pin 66 journalled in and through ears l4, l6 and having an operating handle 68 extending exteriorally.

As shown in FIG. 4, the springs 62, with the lobe of cam 64 in a neutral or disengaged position, bias or

press fingers

56, 58 into engagement with the teeth 52 of ratchet 50. This is a locking position and coaction of the fingers with the ratchet teeth prevent rotation of the head 22 about bushing 40 which mounts the same between ears l4, 16 on andle 10. with the pin 66 and handle 68 moved to a middle position as shown in FIG. 4, the head is locked with respect to its angular positionment on the handle. By turning pin 66 the lobe on cam 64 will press against one or the other of

fingers

56, 58 to move the same to an open position as shown in FIG. 5. Movement of handle 68 is indicated by arrows 70 and in this position of the fingers the head can be ro tated through release of the ratchet to positions to the left or right. Such positionment or increments therebetween enables leverage to be applied in the confined space of the switch box.

As pointed out above, the handle is adapted for engagement with a socket ratchet for additional leverage and it will be noted that the square shape of the handle also permits the use of other standard wrenches.

Manifestly, minor changes in details of construction can be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in and limited solely by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A wire gripping tool comprising:

A. a handle;

B. a gripping head pivotally mounted on said handle for angular rotation therearound, and including:

i. a fixed jaw,

ii. a pivoted jaw; and

iii. said fixed and pivoted jaws being spring biased to an open position;

C. a lever actuated cable operatively connected to said pivoted jaw, for pivoting movement thereof, said cable upon actuation of said lever and pivoting of said pivoted jaw closing said jaws with respect to one another opposedly to the spring biasing means;

D. a toothed ratchet segment on said head pivotally mounted therein;

E. pivotally mounted spring pressed fingers operably normally engaged with the ratchet teeth preventing rotation of said head; and

F. means to selectively disengage one or the other of said fingers from said ratchet, whereby said head is angularly movable with respect to said handle.

2. A tool as claimed in claim 1, said means to selectively disengage said fingers comprising a rotatable pin mounted on said handle intermediate said fingers, a cam mounted on said pin and having a lobe thereon selectively engageable with one or the other of said fingers upon rotation of said pin and cam therewith to disengage one or the other of said fingers from engagement with said ratchet teeth to permit rotation of said head 3. A tool as claimed in claim 2 wherein said pin has an extended operating handle, said pin being rotatable by said handle from a median position with both fingers spring engaged with teeth on said ratchet to oppositely angled positions wherein one or the other of said fingers is disengaged from the teeth of said ratchet and permitting head rotation in the disengaged pin direction.

4. A tool as claimed in claim 3, said handle having a bifurcated end, said ratchet segment on said head being pivotally mounted between the ears of the bifurcated portion, said fingers, springs and cam being mounted between and attached to said ears of said bifurcated portion.

5. A tool as claimed in claim 4, said movable jaw including an extended arm thereon, said cable extending through said arm and being operatively attached thereto, a pulley mounted on said handle, a lever arm pivotally mounted on said handle, said cable extending around said pulley and at its free end being attached to said lever and operable thereby for moving said pivoted jaw to a closed position.

6. A tool as claimed in claim 5, said fixed jaw includ' ing a bifurcated end, said arm on said pivoted jaw extending through the bifurcated portion of said fixed jaw and being pivotally connected thereto, said jaws having respective coacting curvilinear wire engaging segments thereon.

* 1F il l

Claims

1. A wire gripping tool comprising: A. a handle; B. a gripping head pivotally mounted on said handle for angular rotation therearound, and including: i. a fixed jaw, ii. a pivoted jaw; and iii. said fixed and pivoted jaws being spring biased to an open position; C. a lever actuated cable operatively connected to said pivoted jaw, for pivoting movement thereof, said cable upon actuation of said lever and pivoting of said pivoted jaw closing said jaws with respect to one another opposedly to the spring biasing means; D. a toothed ratchet segment on said head pivotally mounted therein; E. pivotally mounteD spring pressed fingers operably normally engaged with the ratchet teeth preventing rotation of said head; and F. means to selectively disengage one or the other of said fingers from said ratchet, whereby said head is angularly movable with respect to said handle.

2. A tool as claimed in claim 1, said means to selectively disengage said fingers comprising a rotatable pin mounted on said handle intermediate said fingers, a cam mounted on said pin and having a lobe thereon selectively engageable with one or the other of said fingers upon rotation of said pin and cam therewith to disengage one or the other of said fingers from engagement with said ratchet teeth to permit rotation of said head.

3. A tool as claimed in claim 2 wherein said pin has an extended operating handle, said pin being rotatable by said handle from a median position with both fingers spring engaged with teeth on said ratchet to oppositely angled positions wherein one or the other of said fingers is disengaged from the teeth of said ratchet and permitting head rotation in the disengaged pin direction.

6. A tool as claimed in claim 5, said fixed jaw including a bifurcated end, said arm on said pivoted jaw extending through the bifurcated portion of said fixed jaw and being pivotally connected thereto, said jaws having respective coacting curvilinear wire engaging segments thereon.