Abstract:
The present invention is an apparatus for use with irrigation systems. The tool may be used for connecting and removing sprinkler fittings for drip systems. The irrigation tubing may be held between the rotatable tool jaws located near the ends of coextensive members of the tool, allowing a user to easily install or uninstall sprinkler fittings from the irrigation tubing. The tool provides a cutter to accurately sheer the irrigation tubing while it is securely held in place in through holes located in the coextensive members.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is related to and claims priority from prior U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/998,588, filed Oct. 12, 2007, entitled “DRIP SYSTEM SPRINKLER FITTING TOOL DEVICE”, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of clamping tools and more specifically relates to an apparatus used for installing or uninstalling sprinkler fittings for irrigation drip systems. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Problems exist when drip systems are installed or maintained because of the flexibility of the irrigation tubing, the rigidity of the aperture for receiving a fitting, and the general slippery consistency of the fittings and tubing. These contributing factors tend to make the process both frustrating and time-consuming. The flexibility and slippery consistency of the tubing prevents the installer from getting a firm grip on the tubing in order that a sprinkler fitting may be inserted into or pulled out of the end of the tubing. Additionally, the rigidity of the aperture for receiving the fitting results in a high friction relationship between the fitting and the tubing resulting in difficulty of insertion and removal of the fitting due to the high finger pressure required to insert or remove the fitting from the tubing. The tubing tends to kink rendering it damaged and susceptible to future cracking thereby potentially introducing leaks to the system. Valuable time and materials may be wasted, increasing overall project costs. Increases in utility costs and water damage to adjacent structures may result if damages to the system are not noticed immediately. 
     During installation there is also a need to produce straight, uniform cuts in the irrigation tubing material, thereby permitting the tubing to fit flush against the body of the fittings when installed. Angled cuts allow less surface contact area for connection and may reduce effectiveness and efficiency of the drip system due to leaks and possible contamination by external environmental elements. 
     Thus, a need exists for a safe, portable, irrigation fitting tool to operate reliably allowing a user to efficiently install or uninstall sprinkler fittings within an irrigation drip system and to avoid the above-mentioned problems. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as an irrigation fitting tool device and system comprising: an u-shaped tool body forming a radius resiliently and integrally securing together a rigid, substantially flat first coextensive member and a rigid, substantially flat second coextensive member; a first through bore opening through the rigid, substantially flat first coextensive member a second through bore opening through the rigid, substantially flat second coextensive member; a first tool jaw coupled to the rigid, substantially flat first coextensive member via a pivotal pin; a second tool jaw coupled to the rigid, substantially flat second coextensive member via a removable pivotal pin; a clamp further comprising a guider and a first through bore wherein a length of irrigation tube may be supported at an angle perpendicular to the clamp; and a cutter. The cutter comprises: a cutter body having a first and second end wherein the cutter body comprises a rigid material; at least two facets forming a sharp point at the first end of the cutter body; an angularly disposed member at the second end of the cutter body, wherein the angularly disposed member is substantially perpendicular to the cutter body and may act as a stopper and a pusher/puller. 
     A method of use for the irrigation fitting tool device and system is disclosed comprising the steps of: pushing an irrigation tubing through a first through hole in a first coextensive member; continuing to push the irrigation tubing through a second through hole in a second coextensive member; manually cutting the irrigation tubing using a cutter guided within a clamp located on the first coextensive member; removing the usable cut portion of the irrigation tubing from the first through hole in the first coextensive member; then releasably clamping the usable cut portion of the irrigation tubing between a first tool jaw located on the first coextensive member and a second tool jaw located on the second coextensive member; and finally pushing a fitting into the clamped irrigation tubing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The objects and advantages of the instant invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description thereof, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a tool device showing usage; and 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a tool device of this invention showing movement; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of this invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a fragmentary perspective view of an alternate embodiment of this invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another alternate embodiment of this invention; and 
         FIG. 6  is a fragmentary perspective view of components of this invention taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Turning now to the drawings, in which like reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is first directed to  FIG. 1  in which is seen tubing  10 , which may be commercial irrigation tubing preferably made of rubber, plastic or other suitable material, fitting  11 , which may be a commercially available irrigation tube fitting, and a person&#39;s hand  12 . Also seen is a tool device embodying the principles of the present invention and generally designated by the reference character  20 . Person&#39;s hand  12  is shown as it may appear when gripping tool device  20 . 
     In  FIG. 2  is seen tool device  20  including body  30  having outer surface  31 , inner surface  32 , upper edge  33 , lower edge  34 , end  35 , end  36 , a plurality of opening  37 . Distal end  35  and end  36 , body cooperates to form curved area  38  and coextensive members  40  and  41  providing relative movement between a gripping position and a release position, as shown in phantom. The direction of movement is indicated by directional arrows A. Also included is a plurality of jaws  44  having outer surface  45 , inner surface  46  (which preferably comprises a semi-circular arcuate shape to fit over tubing  10 ), frontward end  47 , and rearward end  48 . Inner surface  46  may include a plurality of edged undulations  49  or other such non-smooth surface. Outer surface  45  of jaws  44  are affixed to inner surface  32  of body  30  and preferably retained with welding or adhesive methods. It should be appreciated that other methods of securing jaws  44  could include retaining bands, through bolts or the like. Furthermore, toward the ends  35  and  36 , the inner surface  32  could be fashioned with teeth, undulations or other gripping surfaces. Body  30  and jaws  44  are preferably made from a rigid or semi-rigid material, such as metal, plastic, or composite. Also shown is clamp  50  having rearward surface  51  and opening  52 . Clamp  50  is preferably made from a metal such as steel, stainless steel, or iron. Surface  51  of clamp  50  is affixed to surface  31  of body  30  preferably using welding, or alternately preferably by molding, press-fitting, attachment through heating means, use of various fasteners or by adhesive methods. Seen also, is cutter  55  which is slidably carried against surface  31  of body  30  and which is detailed in  FIG. 6 . 
     In  FIG. 3  is again seen tool device  20 , including body  30  having outer surface  31 , inner surface  32 , end  35 , end  36 , and openings  37 , jaws  44  having outer surface  45  and end  47 , clamp  50  having rearward surface  51  and opening  52 . Also seen is cutter  55 . Surface  51  of clamp  50  is affixed against surface  31  of body  30  with opening  52  being generally coincident with opening  37  in body  30 , and preferably retained using welding, molding, or adhesive methods. Shown also is a plurality of jaws  44  having outer surface  45  and end  47 . Jaws  44  are affixed against surface  32  of body  30  with end  47  being proximate end  35  and  36  respectively, and preferably retained using welding, or alternately preferably by molding, press-fitting, attachment through heating means, use of various fasteners or by adhesive methods. 
     In  FIG. 4  is seen an alternate embodiment of this invention, generally designated by the reference character  60 . In common with the previously described embodiment designated  20 , the immediate embodiment  60  shares body  30  and a plurality of jaws  44 . However, embodiment  60  includes pin  61  pivotally being carried in opening  62  in body  30  and enjoining into jaw  44 . Although not shown herein, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that jaw  44  incorporates opening  63  used for affixing pin  61  into jaw  44 , and preferably being retained with welding, adhesives, or other suitable mechanical method. Aforementioned method allows jaws  44  to rotate between a first position, wherein jaws  44  are substantially parallel with the arms of the “U-shaped” body  30  and a second position shown in phantom, where the jaws  44  are rotated to an offset position, as indicated by directional arrow B. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 5 , another alternate embodiment of the present invention is seen, generally designated by the reference character  70 . In common with the previously described embodiment designated  20 , the immediate embodiment  60  shares a plurality of jaws  44  having outer surface  45 . The immediate embodiment  70  includes body  71  having outer surface  72  comprising a one piece unit having two coextensive arms  75  and  76  integrally joined together at one of their ends by a resilient connection  77  which preferably takes the form of a double loop formed in an intermediate part of the holder. Arm  75  has an upturned inverted U-shaped member  78 , and arm  76  has an upturned inverted U-shaped member  79 . Surface  45  of jaws  44  are affixed to outer surface  72  of body  71  proximate ends  75   a  and  76   a  and preferably retained using welding, adhesive, or forming methods. 
     In  FIG. 6  is seen clamp  50  having coplanar surface  51  with angularly disposed surface  80 , lateral surface  81  with angularly disposed surface  82  terminating at surface  51 , which cooperates to form recess  83 , end  84  end  85  having angularly disposed members  85   a . Also included in clamp  50  is opening  52  terminating at surface  81  cooperating to form edge  86 . Also seen is cutter  55  having frontward surface  90 , rearward surface  91 , upper edge  92  having downwardly displaced portion  93  terminating with angularly displaced edge  94  and angularly displaced edge  95 , lower edge  98  having upwardly displaced portion  99  terminating with angularly displaced edge  100  and angularly displaced edge  101 , end  102  having angularly disposed member  103 . Cutter  55  also has facet  105 , which is angularly displaced from surface  90 , and edge  92  and which terminates and converges with facet  106 , which is angularly displaced from surface  90  and edge  98 . It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the convergence of facet  105  and facet  106  cooperate to form sharp edge  107 , sharp edge  108 , and point  109 . 
     In use, and as shown in  FIG. 1  of this invention, tool device  20  may be used to clamp and grasp tubing  10  so as to generally assist with assembly of tube  10  onto fitting  11 . Also, tubing  10  such as commercially available rubber or plastic irrigation tubing may be inserted appositionally into openings  37  and  52  shown in  FIG. 2 , and cutter movement as indicated by directional arrow C in  FIG. 2 , will preferably result in cutting tubing  10  therein. 
     The embodiments and methods of using the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention.