Abstract:
A locknut tightening construction includes the construction of a locknut having a plurality of adjacent angularly disposed walls and pliers first and second jaws, with the first jaw having a first notch and the second jaw having a second notch, with the first notch being more elongate and distally disposed than the second notch, and the notches engage different angularly disposed locknut walls.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 10,784,841, filed Feb. 23. 2004, which claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/449,104, filed Feb. 24, 2003, which prior applications are incorporated by reference thereto. 

   BACKGROUND 
   (1) Technical Field 
   The present invention relates to a hand tool and a method for using a hand tool for tightening and loosening various styles of locknuts, including locknuts that are used to secure conduit fittings to electrical junction boxes. 
   (2) Discussion 
   As depicted in  FIG. 1 , when wiring residential and commercial structures, it is common to encounter electrical junction boxes  10  and various conduit fittings  12  that interface with them. Although these conduit fittings  12  are designed in differing ways and serve varying purposes, many incorporate external threads as a means to secure them to the electrical junction boxes  10 . These threaded conduit fittings  12  are commonly attached to electrical junction boxes  10  by placing the threaded portion of the conduit fitting  12  through a hole  14  in the electrical junction box  10  that was created by removing one of the boxes&#39; knockouts. A locknut  16  is then screwed onto the exposed thread of the conduit fitting  12 . Once the locknut  16  is screwed onto the threaded portion of the conduit fitting  12 , some means of tightening the locknut  16  must be utilized in order to firmly secure the conduit fitting  16  to the electrical junction box  10 . 
   These locknuts  16  come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes; however, certain design features make them a unique and difficult fastener to apply. First, their cross-section is usually very thin compared to their diameter. This feature makes them difficult to grasp with conventional tools. Second, because of their thin cross-section, they usually have protrusions or lugs extending from their outer diameter to make them easier to tighten or loosen. However, these lugs make it difficult for conventional tools to be applied to the locknut  16  in order to tighten or loosen it. Third, many styles of these locknuts  16  are produced by a stamping process which leaves rounded surfaces on the locknut  16  and protruding lugs, thus making it even harder to obtain a good grip on the locknut  16 . Fourth, the confines of electrical junction boxes  10  can become quite cramped for space once the various conduit fittings  12  and their corresponding wire bundles have been inserted. It can become extremely difficult to acquire access for manipulating the locknuts  16  under these conditions. 
   Heretofore locknuts  16  have been tightened and loosened utilizing hand tools such as pliers, screwdrivers, and wrenches. Most often the particular type of pliers known as channel lock pliers is used. The use of conventional hand tools and channel lock pliers in particular, to tighten and loosen the locknut  16  is problematic. This procedure often results in stripping the projections from the exterior of the locknut  16 , which renders the locknut  16  difficult to remove. A related problem involves slippage between the channel lock pliers and the locknut  16  which can lead to damage to parts and equipment and injury to the operator. A cylindrical tool with cylindrical opening has been attempted in U.S. Pat. No. 6,321,625 titled Wrench for Myers Nut, where the cylinder opening of the tool is matched to the dimensions of the cylinder. However, this tool has several drawbacks including the requirement of a number of cylinders for the different size locknuts, the wrench is too large to fit into many tight confined spaces, and the wires cannot be in the fitting when the wrench is used. Another tool available for tightening locknuts is a spanner wrench that has only one jaw and one handle. However, the disadvantage with this tool is that the tool only connects with one lug and one side of lug or protrusion. This again can result in slippage and damage to the locknut  16  and other parts. 
   There is a need for a hand tool that has: 1) a unique profile shape cut into each jaw member of the hand tool enabling the jaw members to grip and securely hold a wide variety of shapes and sizes of conduit fitting locknuts, therefore, one hand tool can be used to manipulate all locknuts whose diameters fit within the range of opening of the two jaw members; 2) a thin cross-section of both the handles and their attached or integral jaw members enhance the user&#39;s ability to utilize the hand tool in confined spaces; 3) the shape of handles that allows both right-handed and left-handed persons to utilize the tool equivalently; 4) the profile shape cut into each jaw member in combination with the shape and thin cross-section of the handles that allows the user to tighten or loosen locknuts regardless of which way the pivot axis of the hand tool is oriented with respect to the axis of rotation of the locknut; and 5) jaw members that can be presented to the locknut perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the locknut and surround it, so that the hand tool can be used to tighten and loosen locknuts even when wires have already been passed through a conduit fitting. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is a hand tool that has: 1) a unique profile shape cut into each jaw member of the hand tool enabling the jaw members to grip and securely hold a wide variety of shapes and sizes of conduit fitting locknuts, therefore, one hand tool can be used to manipulate all locknuts whose diameters fit within the range of opening of the two jaw members; 2) a thin cross-section of both the handles and their attached or integral jaw members enhance the user&#39;s ability to utilize the hand tool in confined spaces; 3) the shape of handles that allows both right-handed and left-handed persons to utilize the hand tool equivalently; 4) the profile shape cut into each jaw member in combination with the shape and thin cross-section of the handles that allows the user to tighten or loosen locknuts regardless of which way the pivot axis of the hand tool is oriented with respect to the axis of rotation of the locknut; and 5) jaw members that can be presented to the locknut perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the locknut and surround it, so that the hand tool can be used to tighten and loosen locknuts even when wires have already been passed through a conduit fitting. 
   The present invention is a hand tool and a method to facilitate the tightening and loosening of the various styles of locknuts that are used to secure conduit fittings to electrical junction boxes. It consists of two handles, joined together at a pivot point that provides a means for one handle to pivot radially with respect to the other about the pivot point. The distal end of each handle consists of a uniquely designed jaw member that, when applied to the circumference of a conduit locknut by virtue of the user grasping and compressing the handles near their proximal ends, provide a means to securely grip the locknut and its projecting lugs in a manner sufficient to allow the user to impart a torque to the locknut to either tighten or loosen it. A spring or other such mechanical device may serve to maintain the jaws of the tool in an open position during use. A locking mechanism may be incorporated into the design of the handles to provide a means of securing the tool in its most compact configuration for storage. An electrically insulating compliant material may cover or be incorporated into the design of the handles to cushion the user&#39;s grip, aid in protection from electrical shock, and provide an ergonomic gripping surface. 
   It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a hand tool and a method for tightening and loosening locknuts. The hand tool of the present invention, in one embodiment, comprises a hand tool for tightening and loosening locknuts. The hand tool comprises a handle comprising a distal end, and a proximal end; a second handle comprising a distal end of the second handle, and a proximal end of the second handle, wherein the proximal end of the first handle and the proximal end of the second handle are used for holding the hand tool and applying a gripping force; a pivot point that joins the first handle and the second handle for rotating the first handle and the second handle about the pivot point; a shape formed on the distal end of the first handle for gripping the locknut; and a second shape formed on the distal end of the second handle for firmly gripping and rotating the locknut. 
   Another embodiment of the present invention may further include a hand tool for tightening and loosening locknuts wherein a straight configuration is incorporated into design of the first handle and the second handle. 
   In another embodiment, the present invention comprises a hand tool for tightening and loosening locknuts wherein an offset is incorporated into the design of the first handle and the second handle to provide additional clearance for the user&#39;s hand in confined spaces or tight quarters. 
   In yet another embodiment or aspect, the present invention comprises a hand tool for tightening and loosening locknuts wherein the first handle includes an insulating material covering the proximal end of the first handle and the second handle includes an insulating material covering the proximal end of the second handle for aiding in insulating the hands of the user from electrical shock, providing an ergonomic gripping surface, and cushioning the grip of the hand tool while in use. 
   Another embodiment of the present invention may further include a hand tool for tightening and loosening locknuts wherein first handle includes a jaw member attached to the distal end of the first handle wherein the first unique shape is formed in the jaw member and the second handle includes a second jaw member attached to the distal end of the second handle wherein the second unique shape is formed in the second jaw member. 
   In another embodiment, the present invention comprises a hand tool for tightening and loosening locknuts further comprising a spring incorporated into the hand tool between the first handle and second handle to maintain the handles in a normally open position. 
   Another embodiment of the present invention may further include a hand tool for tightening and loosening locknuts further comprising a locking mechanism attached to the tool between the first and second handle to maintain the handles in a closed or locked position. 
   The present invention also comprises the provision of a method for tightening and loosening locknuts using a hand tool comprising a pair of handles, attached at a pivot point with a distal end of each end handle forming a shaped jaw member for gripping the locknut, the method comprising: grasping the pair of handles of the hand tool; orienting the hand tool so as to make an axis that passes through the pivot point of the hand tool parallel to an axis of rotation of the locknut to tighten or loosen the locknut; maneuvering the hand tool so as to place the jaw members around the locknut in order to make the jaw members grip around the circumference of the locknut and engage any protrusions extending from the periphery of the locknut; gripping the pair of handles of the hand tool to firmly hold the locknut in the jaw members; rotating the locknut about its axis while maintaining the gripping on the pair of handles of the hand tool; and repeating the rotating of the locknut in small increments, as necessary due to the crowded confines. 
   Another embodiment of the present invention may further include a method of tightening and loosening locknuts used to secure a electrical conduit fitting using a hand tool comprising a pair of handles, attached at a pivot point with a distal end of each end handle forming a shaped jaw member for gripping the locknut, the method comprising: grasping the pair of handles of the hand tool; orienting the hand tool so as to make an axis that passes through the pivot point of the hand tool parallel to an axis of rotation of the conduit fitting and locknut to tighten or loosen the locknut; maneuvering the hand tool so as to place the jaw members around the locknut in order to make the jaw members grip around the circumference of the locknut and engage any protrusions extending from the periphery of the locknut; gripping the pair of handles of the hand tool to firmly hold the locknut in the jaw members; rotating the locknut about its axis while maintaining the gripping on the pair of handles of the hand tool; and repeating the rotating of the locknut in small increments, as necessary due to the normally crowded confines of typical electrical boxes. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed descriptions of various aspects of the invention in conjunction with reference to the following drawings, where: 
       FIG. 1  is an illustration of a typical electrical junction box, fiftings and locknuts; 
       FIG. 2A  is a isometric view of the present invention depicting a hand tool in the open position; 
       FIG. 2B  is a isometric view of the present invention depicting a hand tool in the closed position; 
       FIG. 3A  is a isometric view of the present invention depicting the jaw members as separately attached components; 
       FIG. 3B  is a isometric view of the present invention depicting the jaw members incorporated into the design of the handles; 
       FIG. 3C  is a isometric view of the present invention depicting the jaw members as separately attached components with the jaw members gripping a locknut; 
       FIG. 3D  is a isometric view of the present invention depicting the jaw members incorporated into the design of the handles with the jaw members gripping a locknut; 
       FIG. 4A  is an enlarged plan view of the present invention depicting the jaw members engaging a larger locknut; 
       FIG. 4B  is an enlarged plan view of the present invention depicting the jaw members engaging a smaller locknut; 
       FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the present invention applied to a conduit locknut in a vertical orientation; and 
       FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the present invention applied to a conduit locknut in a horizontal orientation. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The present invention is a hand tool and a method designed to facilitate the tightening and loosening of various styles of locknuts. The locknuts may be used to secure conduit fiftings to electrical junction boxes. The following description, taken in conjunction with the referenced drawings, is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and to incorporate it in the context of particular applications. Various modifications, as well as a variety of uses in different applications, will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein, may be applied to a wide range of aspects. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the aspects presented, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein. Furthermore, it should be noted that, unless explicitly stated otherwise, the figures included herein are illustrated diagrammatically and without any specific scale, as they are provided as qualitative illustrations of the concept of the present invention. 
   (1) Introduction 
   The present invention includes a hand tool and a method to facilitate the tightening and loosening of the various styles of locknuts especially locknuts that are used to secure conduit fittings to electrical junction boxes. The hand tool is capable of manipulating various and uniquely designed forms of conduit fitting locknuts as well as a variety of other fasteners of thin cross section and/or of unique shape. 
   (2) Discussion 
   The present invention is depicted in  FIG. 2A , and comprises a hand tool  20  that includes a first handle  22 A and a second handle  22 B that rotate about a common pivot point  24 . The pivot point  24  can be a mechanical fastener, such as a rivet, screw, or any other such component that will allow the first handle  22 A to rotate upon the second handle  22 B about the fastener. The first handle  22 A and the second handle  22 B may be designed in either a straight configuration or alternatively, incorporate an offset  26  in them in order to provide additional clearance for the user&#39;s hand when the hand tool  20  is used in confined spaces or tight quarters. The design of the first handle  22 A and the second handle  22 B may take a multitude of forms depending on the manufacturing method selected. The first handle  22 A and the second handle  22 B may be made of a variety of materials and may take various shapes or forms consistent with the method of manufacture and the function of the hand tool. Regardless of material, shape, or form of the first handle  22 A and the second handle  22 B, the hand tool  20  is designed so as to provide a right or left-handed user with the ability to access, grip, and manipulate conduit fitting locknuts and other fasteners regardless of spatial orientation. In one embodiment, the first handle  22 A and the second handle  22 B may be designed as stamped components and incorporate bends, offsets  26 , or other formed features required to impart strength and/or rigidity to the first handle  22 A, the second handle  22 B, and the hand tool  20 . Regardless of the shape of the first handle  22 A and the second handle  22 B, the hand tool  20  is designed to give the user the ability to access, grip, and manipulate the conduit fitting locknuts regardless of the spatial orientation of the locknuts and is designed so that both right-handed and left-handed persons can utilize the hand tool  20 . The proximal end of each of the first handle  22 A and the second handle  22 B may be covered in an electrically insulating compliant material  28  in order to aid in insulating the hands of the user from electrical shock and cushion the grip of the hand tool  20  while in use. The electrically insulating compliant material  28  may be incorporated into the proximal ends of the first handle  22 A and the second handle  22 B and this electrically insulating compliant material  28  may incorporate features to enhance the ergonomics of the tool and the grip of the user. The hand tool  20  is designed to be of a thin profile in order for it to be used within the tight confines of typical electrical junction boxes. 
   In one possible configuration as shown in  FIG. 3A , a first jaw member  30 A and a second jaw member  30 B may be affixed to the distal end of the first handle  22 A and the second handle  22 B respectively. A manner of attaching  32  the first jaw member  30 A and the second jaw member  30 B to the first handle  22 A and the second handle  22 B can be a mechanical fastener, such as a rivet or screw or any other such means of attachment, including suitable adhesives, welding or brazing. Alternatively as shown in  FIG. 3C , the design of the first jaw member  30 A and the second jaw member  30 B which are of thin cross-section may be incorporated into and made integral with the design of the first handle  22 A and the second handle  22 B thus, making the handle/jaw member combination capable of being manufactured from a single piece of material. 
   In use, the first shape  34 A of the portion of the first jaw member  30 A and a second shape  34 B of the second jaw member  30 B grips the conduit fitting locknut. Referring to  FIG. 3A , the first shape  34 A and the second shape  34 B are asymmetrical, unique, and are intended to grip around the various styles and shapes of protrusions which extend from the periphery of the wide variety of locknuts. The first shape  34 A of the portion of the first jaw member  30 A and the second shape  34 B of the second jaw member  30 B are designed in such a manner that, when the tool&#39;s first handle  22 A and second handle  2  are closed, the first jaw member  30 A and the second jaw member  30 B independently engage one or more of the locknut protrusions. The first jaw member  30 A and the second jaw member  30 B are of different lengths. Referring to  FIGS. 3B , and  3 D, the length and the first shape  34 A of the portion of the first jaw member  30 A and the length and the second shape  34 B of the portion of the second jaw member  30 B that grip the conduit fitting locknut  16 , are unique and are intended to grip around the various sizes, styles, and shapes of lugs or protrusions  40  which extend from the periphery of a wide variety of locknuts. The first jaw member  30 A and the second jaw member  30 B are designed in such a manner that, when the tool&#39;s first handle  22 A and second handle  22 B are closed, held closed, and a rotational motion along the rotational axis of the locknut is applied, each jaw member independently engages or bears against one or more of the locknut&#39;s lugs or protrusions  40 , or alternatively, engages or bears against the facets, flats, or other features present on these or other kinds of nuts. As shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the design of each jaw member is unique and incorporates one or more hooks  42 A and  42 B, cutouts  44 A and  44 B, surfaces  46 A and  46 B, and/or protrusions  48 A and  48 B. These hooks  42 A and  42 B, cutouts  44 A and  44 B, surfaces  46 A and  46 B, and/or protrusions  48 A and  48 B enable the first jaw member  30 A and the second jaw member  30 B to surround and/or bear against the sides and/or ends of the various lugs or protrusions  40 , or alternatively, the facets, flats, or other features present on the conduit locknut or other kinds of nuts. These hooks  42 A and  42 B, cutouts  44 A and  44 B, surfaces  46 A and  46 B, and/or protrusions  48 A and  48 B may or may not be in the same plane as the hand tool&#39;s  20  first handle  22 A and second handle  22 B when viewed along the rotational axis of the locknut  16 . Regardless of their design, such hooks  42 A and  42 B, cutouts  44 A and  44 B, surfaces  46 A and  46 B, and/or protrusions  48 A and  48 B are unique and asymmetric with respect to each jaw member when viewed along the rotational axis of the locknut and provide the hand tool with the ability to grip and manipulate all sizes of conduit fitting locknuts  16  and their lugs or protrusions  40  whose diameters fit within the range of opening of the first jaw member  30 A and the second jaw member  30 B. The unique shapes of the hooks  42 A and  42 B made by the cutouts  44 A and  44 B allow the user to place the first jaw member  30 A and the second jaw member  30 B into the narrow space created when two locknuts are placed side by side or close together. The longer first jaw member  30 A and shorter second jaw member  30 B design allows the user to grip the locknut so as to allow the maximum movement when rotating the locknut  16 .  FIG. 4A  depicts the hand tool  20  gripping a larger locknut  16  and  FIG. 4B  depicts the hand tool  20  gripping a smaller locknut  16 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 2A , a spring or spring mechanism  36  may be incorporated into the hand tool  20  and is used to maintain the first handle  22 A and the second handle  22 B and their attached or integral first jaw member  30 A and the second jaw member  30 B in a normally open position. 
   A locking mechanism  38  may be incorporated into the hand tool  20  to lock the first handle  22 A and the second handle  22 B for storage into the closed position against the force of the spring or spring mechanism  36 .  FIG. 2B  depicts the hand tool  20  locked in the closed position. 
   (3) Manner of Use: 
   Assuming that the hand tool  20  is in the locked position as depicted in  FIG. 2B , a user first unlocks the hand tool  20 . As shown in  FIG. 2A , the user opens the first jaw member  30 A and the second jaw member  30 B. Referring to  FIG. 5 , the user then grips the first handle  22 A and the second handle  22 B of the hand tool  20  and orients it in such a manner so as to make the axis that passes through the pivot point  24  of the hand tool parallel to the axis of rotation of the locknut  16  he desires to tighten or loosen. The user then maneuvers the hand tool  20  to place the first jaw member  30 A and the second jaw member  30 B around the locknut  16  he desires to loosen or tighten and closes the first handle  22 A and the second handle  22 B in order to make the first jaw member  30 A and the second jaw member  30 B grip around the circumference of the locknut  16  and engage any protrusions extending from the periphery of the locknut  16 . The user then simultaneously rotates the locknut  16  about its axis while maintaining his grip on the first handle  22 A and the second handle  22 B of the hand tool  20  to facilitate either the tightening or loosening the locknut  16 . It is assumed that the user will have to rotate the locknut  16  in small repeated increments due to the normally crowded confines of typical electrical junction boxes  10 . As mentioned above, the hand tool  20  may be oriented it in such a manner so as to make the axis that passes through the pivot point  24  of the hand tool parallel to the axis of rotation of the locknut  16 . However, the orientation may vary on an arc out to and including an axis that passes through the pivot point  24  of the hand tool perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the locknut  16 . 
     FIG. 6  depicts the typical electrical junction box  10  with the hand tool  20  flipped over. The shape of the first handle  22 A and the second handle  22 B allows both right-handed and left-handed persons to utilize the hand tool  20  equivalently. In addition, the shape cut into the first jaw member  30 A and the second jaw member  30 B in combination with the shape and thin cross-section of the first handle  22 A and the second handle  22 B allows the user to tighten or loosen locknuts  16  regardless of which way the pivot axis of the hand tool  20  is oriented with respect to the axis of rotation of the locknut  16 . 
   (4) Uniqueness: 
   As depicted in  FIG. 2A , the uniqueness of this invention is illustrated in many ways, nine of which are as follows. First, the unique profile of the first shape  34 A and the second shape  34 B cut into the first jaw member  30 A and the second jaw member  30 B of the hand tool  20  enables the first jaw member  30 A and the second jaw member  30 B to grip and securely hold a wide variety of shapes and sizes of locknuts, therefore, one hand tool  20  can be used to manipulate all locknuts whose diameters fit within the range of opening of the first jaw member  30 A and the second jaw member  30 B. Second, the thin cross-section of the first handle  22 A and the second handle  22 B and their attached or integral first jaw member  30 A and second jaw member  30 B enhance the user&#39;s ability to utilize the hand tool  20  in confined spaces. Third, the shape of the first handle  22 A and the second handle  22 B allows both right-handed and left-handed persons to utilize the hand tool  20  equivalently. Fourth, the profile of the first shape  34 A and the second shape  34 B cut into the first jaw member  30 A and the second jaw member  30 B in combination with the thin cross-section of the handles  22  allows the user to tighten or loosen locknuts  16  regardless of which way the pivot axis of the hand tool  20  is oriented with respect to the axis of rotation of the locknut  16 .  FIG. 6  depicts the hand tool  20  oriented horizontally. Fifth, because the first jaw member  30 A and the second jaw member  30 B can be presented to the locknut  16  perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the locknut  16  and surround it, the hand tool  20  can be used to tighten and loosen locknuts  16  even when wires have already been passed through a conduit fitting. Sixth, referring to  FIG. 2A , the hand tool  20  aids in protection of the user from electrical shock by the incorporation of an electrically insulating material  28  covering or incorporated on the proximal end of the first handle  22 A and the second handle  22 B. Seventh, the incorporation of an ergonomic gripping surface into the electrically insulating material  28  attached to or surrounding the proximal end of the first handle  22 A and the second handle  22 B enhances and cushions the user&#39;s grip. Eight, the incorporation of a spring or spring mechanism  36  which serves to maintain the first jaw member  30 A and the second jaw member  30 B in an opened position makes the tool easier for the user to manipulate since they only have to squeeze first handle  22 A and the second handle  22 B in order to maneuver a locknut subsequently gripped between the first jaw member  30 A and the second jaw member  30 B. Ninth, as shown in  FIG. 2B , the incorporation of a latch  38  allows the user to store the tool in a compact, safe, closed configuration.