Abstract:
The present invention relates to a tool for twisting a plurality of wires together. The tool includes a body portion having a cavity that includes a plurality of contiguous openings to receive a plurality of wires. The tool also includes a gripping portion for gripping the tool. The body portion holds the plurality of wires in a fixed position relative to one another. Rotation of the gripping portion in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction rotates the body portion in a clockwise or counter clockwise direction thereby twisting the plurality of wires together. The gripping portion may be a rod that can be is inserted substantially perpendicularly into the body portion.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/781,651, filed on Mar. 14, 2006. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to joining electrical wires or conductors. More specifically, the invention relates to an improved means of twisting a plurality of wires together. 
         [0004]    2. Background of the Invention 
         [0005]    In the electrical industry, conductors or wires carry current (electricity) from the power source to the device that is to be powered. Because of the limited length of conductors, the ends have to be properly joined or spliced in order to conduct the amount of electricity required. These connections can be made using various methods such as, for example: 1) by crimping on a compression sleeve; 2) using a mechanical clamping connector; 3) with a soldered joint; or 4) with a wire nut. In all of the previous connection methods, the wire has to be prepared. This procedure is usually accomplished by first removing the insulation covering the wires to a length sufficient to provide an adequate connection between the wires. 
         [0006]    There are several methods in the industry for preparing the ends of the wires. One of the methods of twisting wires typically involves removing approximately one inch of insulation from each end of the wires that are being connected. The ends of the wires that are being twisted are held by a pair of pliers approximately one inch from the ends. The far ends of the group of un-insulated wires are then held with another pair of pliers. The pliers on the far ends of the wires are then twisted in a clockwise direction. After twisting, the wires are joined in a spiral manner. The connector most commonly used to complete the connection is a wire nut. The wire nut is installed by placing it over the wire ends and twisting it in a clockwise direction. With this method, however, the ends of the wires prior to twisting are widely spread apart making it very difficult to twist them properly using two pair of pliers. In addition, often times the wires are not twisted properly and as a result they can separate prior to installing the connector. Typically with this method, one or more of the wires remain straight or untwisted with the other wires wrapping around it. Therefore the wires that remain straight or untwisted can be pulled out from within the twisted ones. Additionally, this method is difficult especially when there are four or more wires to be joined or twisted. 
         [0007]    The present invention overcomes the drawbacks of the prior methods of twisting wires together. The present invention relates to a tool that is both easy to use and also efficient in forming a uniform twist, irrespective of the number of wires being twisted together. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention relates to an improved means to twist a plurality of wires together. The invention is a wire twister that twists two or more metal or plastic wires together. 
         [0009]    It is an object of the invention to impart a uniform twist to all the wires while also twisting them together as one. This is accomplished by the instant wire twister, hereinafter referred to as the tool, by automatically grouping the ends together prior to twisting. In other words, the instant wire twister automatically arranges the wires in a proper orientation for them to be twisted. Two or more wires are basically inserted into the tool that has a cavity that arranges the ends of the wires from a widely spread out configuration into a properly twisted configuration. Because all of the wire ends are being properly held in the cavity of the tool, they are all twisted together to have uniform twist within the twisted or cabled wire. After the wires are twisted together, a wire nut can be installed over the twisted wire or cable to complete the connection. 
         [0010]    The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out in particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which corresponding components are identified by the same reference numerals. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The following detailed description, given by way of example and not intended to limit the present invention solely thereto, will best be appreciated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and parts, in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1A  is a side view of the wire twisting tool according to the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 1B  is a front perspective view of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2A  is a rear view of the twisting head of the of the wire twisting tool according to the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view of the twisting head shown in  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3A  is a cross-sectional view of the twisting head of the of the wire twisting tool setting forth various distances in accordance with; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3B  is a front view of the twisting head shown in  FIG. 3A ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the wire twisting tool (right) and a standard wire crimp pliers (left) holding two wires to be twisted; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the two wires being inserted into the openings of the wire twisting tool; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the wire twisting tool with the wires having been twisted inside the tool; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the bottom view of the wire twisting tool and the two wires having been twisted together; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of two wires twisted together using the wire twisting tool; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8B  is a perspective view of three wires twisted together using the wire twisting tool; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 8C  is a perspective view of four wires twisted together using the wire twisting tool. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]    The present invention is a wire twister used for twisting a plurality of metal or plastic wires together. The wire twister according to the present invention is designed based on a socket concept, similar to a mechanical socket tool. As depicted in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the wire twister or tool  24  comprises a twister head or body portion  10  and a twister rod or gripping portion  12 . The twister rod  12  can be inserted into the twister head  10  such that it is substantially perpendicular to the twister head  10 . Other means for twisting the head  10  may be utilized if suitable for the purpose. For example a ratchet device may be used and inserted into a standard type ratchet opening as shown in  FIG. 2A . 
         [0026]    A cavity  14  inside the twister head  10  is specifically designed to receive the wires and re-arrange them prior to twisting.  FIG. 1B , which is a front view of the twister head  10  of tool  24  of the present invention and shows the cavity  14  consisting of several stages of intersecting configurations. In other words, the cavity  14  is a combination of a plurality of contiguous cylindrical or circular holes or openings  16 . The holes or openings  16  can be cylindrical, tapered cylindrical or any other geometrical shape suitable for twisting purposes. Generally, the shape of the openings  16  depends on the cross-sectional shape of the wires being twisted. In the case of circular openings  16 , the openings  16  formed may be of different diameters to assist twisting of wires having varied thicknesses or gauges. Though the examples cited herein refer to twisting two, three or four wires, the tool according to the present invention is not confined to these numbers, but can also be used to twist a plurality of wires irrespective of their gauge. 
         [0027]    The configurations of the twisting head of the tool according to the present invention are designed to capture and reshape the ends of the wires. As shown in  FIG. 2B , at the entrance of the first end  21  of the cavity  14  there is a funnel shape area ‘C’. This consists of an angle ‘A’ which has a large opening  18  at one end and tapers down ultimately to a smaller opening  20  at the opposite end. This tapered angle ‘A’ is extended along the length ‘L 1 ’ as shown in  FIG. 3A . Area ‘C’ is where the wires are converted from a spread open shape to a bundle or are grouped together. 
         [0028]    After being pushed into and entering into area ‘D’, the wires are then guided along the length ‘L 2 ’ in  FIG. 3A  to the next area, area ‘E’. Area ‘E’ is the area were the individual wires are separated into several radius cavities  23  of which four are shown in  FIG. 3B . These are somewhat cross shaped with the rewired portion thereof having a stop at least for a portion of the ends of the cross. The wires are then held in these cavities along the length ‘L- 3 ’. In other words, the tool has a provision for grouping the wires together and then holding them in a fixed position relative to each other. This task may be performed by having grooved or guided channels (not shown in the Figures) within the cavity  14  for guiding the wires into the cavities  16  and holding them in their respective positions. The channels may also be used to re-arrange the wires prior to twisting. Accordingly, area ‘E’ serves to grip a plurality of wires, typically four prior to twisting. Note that it would also serve to grip a three wire arrangement prior to twisting. 
         [0029]    The next area ‘F’ is where the two wires are guided into area ‘G’. Area ‘F’ is tapered or funnel-shaped with an angle ‘B’ along length ‘L- 4 ’. Area ‘G’ in  FIG. 2B  is the area that allows only two wires to enter. In other words, when only two wires are being twisted together, they pass thru areas ‘C’, ‘D’ and ‘E’ and into area ‘G’. If more than two wires are being twisted together, they are only able to enter into areas ‘C’, ‘D’, and ‘E’ and are prevented from entering area ‘G’ due to the construction between areas E′ and G′ at the back of area E′. This prevents more than two wires passing into area G′ which is formed in the shape of an oval so as to accommodate only two wires of various gauges. Area ‘G’ is where the wires are held in the cavity radius  25  along the length ‘L- 5 ’ as shown in  FIGS. 2B and 3A . When all of the wires are fully inserted into the cavity  14 , the twister head  10  can then be twisted in a clockwise or counter clockwise direction in order to impart the required amount of twist to the wires, thereby twisting them together as one. This converts the plurality of wires from a wide spread group into a uniformly twisted wire or cable. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 4-8  show the process of twisting a plurality (in this case two) of wires  22  using the tool  24  according to the present invention.  FIG. 4  is a shape of the twister  24  (right) and a standard wire crimp pliers  28  (left) holding two wires  22  to be twisted. It should be noted that a portion of the wire insulation has been removed from the wires  22  to be twisted or joined together. This enables proper arrangement of the wires  22  within the cavity  14  of the twister head  10 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 5  shows the two wires  22  being inserted into the cavity  14  of the wire twister head  10  which are allowed to extend into area G′ which as aforesaid is oval shaped. After insertion, the wires  22  are then twisted by rotating the twister rod  12  as shown in  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 7  shows the bottom view of the twister  24  and the two wires  22  that are now twisted together. As depicted in  FIG. 8A , in addition to twisting two wires together, those skilled in the art will appreciate that an additional number of wires can be twisted at the same time using the tool of the instant invention. For example, the tool of the instant invention may also be used to twist three or four wires together as shown in  FIGS. 8B-C . However, the use of the tool is not confined to the numbers mentioned herein and may be used to twist a plurality of wires together. The tool may even be used to join wires of different gauges. Each wire gauge will have a different size twister and this size may be adjustable according to the gauge of the wires being twisted. 
         [0032]    Although preferred embodiments of the present invention and modifications thereof have been described in detail herein, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to this precise embodiment and modifications, and that other modifications and variations may be effected by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The use of the instant tool in accordance with the invention is not limited to metal wires, in other words, the tool can be used anywhere where there is a requirement for two or more elements to be twisted or cabled together, including flexible plastic or other twistable material.