Locking ring tool

An apparatus wherein a pivoted jaw structure is provided, with spaced relatively pivotal mounted support pins for securing a locking type ring in a fixed relationship, the tool includes a fixed lever with a pivoted jaw mounted thereto, wherein the pivot jaw includes a locking and release lever arrangement associated with the pivoted jaw to lock the spaced support pins in a fixed relationship.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The field of invention relates to locking ring tools, and more particularly 
pertains to a new and improved locking ring tool wherein the same permits 
fixed spacing of the locking ring prior to securement to an associated 
mounting environment. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Various locking ring tools have been utilized in the prior art to grasp and 
secure the locking rings prior to mounting. Such tools may be found in 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,416,045 to Staten wherein a snap-ring tool utilizes 
pivoted jaws biased relative to one another that permit spreading of a 
locking ring for removal of the locking ring relative to an associated 
structure. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,245 to Gustavson sets forth locking ring pliers 
utilizing pivoted jaws operative through relative pivoted levers for 
effecting spacing of the jaws relative to one another. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,625,379 to Anderson sets forth a locking ring tool wherein 
the jaws are mounted relative to one another and may be switched relative 
to associated handles to effect selective spreading or closing of the 
support pins upon manual manipulation of the handles. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,316,315 to Vogelnik sets forth a prior arrangement for 
securing a locking ring structure as a further example of structure to 
selectively spread or associate relative support pins of the tool 
structure. 
As such, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need for a new 
and improved locking ring tool as set forth by the instant invention which 
addresses both the problems of ease of use as well as effectiveness in 
construction and in this respect, the present invention substantially 
fulfills this need. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of 
locking ring tools now present in the prior art, the present invention 
provides a locking ring tool wherein the same provides locking lever 
structure to selectively lock relative jaws mounting support posts for 
engagement within a locking ring. As such, the general purpose of the 
present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, 
is to provide a new and improved locking ring tool which has all the 
advantages of the prior art locking ring tools and none of the 
disadvantages. 
To attain this, the present invention provides an apparatus wherein a 
pivoted jaw structure is provided, with spaced relatively pivotal mounted 
support pins for securing a locking type ring in a fixed relationship, the 
tool includes a fixed lever with a pivoted jaw mounted thereto, wherein 
the pivot jaw includes a locking and release lever arrangement associated 
with the pivoted jaw to lock the spaced support pins in a fixed 
relationship. 
My invention resides not in any one of these features per se, but rather in 
the particular combination of all of them herein disclosed and claimed and 
it is distinguished from the prior art in this particular combination of 
all of its structures for the functions specified. 
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features 
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that 
follows may be better understood, and in order that the present 
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, 
additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter 
and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which 
this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the 
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the 
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, 
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions 
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention. 
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent 
and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the 
scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar 
with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a 
cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of 
the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention 
of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to 
be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved locking ring tool which has all the advantages of the prior art 
locking ring tools and none of the disadvantages. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved 
locking ring tool which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and 
marketed. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved locking ring tool which is of a durable and reliable 
construction. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved locking ring tool which is susceptible of a low cost of 
manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly 
is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby 
making such locking ring tools economically available to the buying 
public. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved locking ring tool which provides in the apparatuses and methods 
of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously 
overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved locking ring tool wherein the same provides ease of mounting of 
the tool within a relatively positioned support ring and permitting 
locking of the support ring in an expanded orientation for subsequent 
mounting to an associated receiving structure. 
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various 
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with 
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating 
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should 
be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 to 5 
thereof, a new and improved locking ring tool embodying the principles and 
concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the 
reference numeral 10 will be described. 
FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art locking ring tool 1 utilizing support posts 
operative through relatively manipulatable levers 3 to mount a locking 
type ring or circlip, in a manner as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,245. 
Further, the locking ring tool, as illustrated in FIG. 2, sets forth a 
pivot structure to mount support post 5 relative to operative handle 7, 
wherein the post 5 may be switched relative to the handle 7 to permit 
selective spreading or contracting of an associated locking ring, in a 
manner as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,625,379. 
More specifically, the locking ring tool 10 of the instant invention 
essentially comprises an elongate fixed leg 11, including a first leg 
portion 11 defined by an elongate channel 12. The elongate channel 12 
includes a second leg portion 13 oriented generally orthogonally and 
upwardly relative to the first leg portion 12. A third leg portion 14 is 
integrally mounted to the second leg portion 13 and defines an acute 
included angle 15 therebetween. The third leg portion 14 terminates in a 
first support pin 16 that is oriented parallel to a longitudinal axis 
defined by the second leg portion 13. A first pivot leg 17 includes an 
adjusting link 18 mounted to a first pivot 19 adjacent a forward end of 
the first pivot leg 17, with an arcuate adjusting link heel 20 formed at a 
rear terminal end of the adjusting link 18 spaced from the first pivot 19 
to cooperate with a forward end of adjusting screw 22 that is threadedly 
mounted within an elongate channel of the first leg portion 12 to effect 
adjustment of the first pivot leg 17 relative to the first leg portion 12. 
A release link 21 is mounted to a second pivot 23 spaced from the first 
pivot 19 to effect subsequent release of the spaced jaws. The first pivot 
leg 17 is pivotally mounted at its forward end through a third pivot 24 to 
a second pivoted leg 25. The second pivoted leg 25 pivots from a first 
position, as illustrated in FIG. 3, wherein the second pivoted leg 25 and 
the second leg portion 13 are generally aligned relative to one another to 
a second position to define an acute included angle between the second leg 
portion 13 and the second pivot leg 25. A projecting leg 26 defines an 
acute angle 30 between a projecting leg 26 and the second pivot leg 25, 
with a second support pin 28 fixedly mounted at a forward terminal end of 
the projection leg 26 for alignment and contiguous contact with the first 
support pin 16 when the third leg portion 14 and the projecting leg 26 are 
in the first position, as illustrated in FIG. 3. A fourth pivot 27 
pivotally mounts the second pivot leg 25 to the fixed leg 11 at a junction 
of the second leg portion 13 and the first leg portion 12, with a return 
spring 29 biasing the third leg portion 14 and the projecting leg 26 to 
the first position. If desired, a conically beveled first forward end 16a 
and a second conically beveled forward end 28a may be formed to the 
forward terminal ends of the first and second support pins, as illustrated 
in FIG. 5 for example. 
In this manner, the support pins may be spread and fixed in desired spread 
configuration to spread an associated locking ring "C" relative to a 
mounting structure for securement to such mounting structure, or 
alternatively removal therefrom. 
As to the manner of usage and operation of the instant invention, the same 
should be apparent from the above disclosure, and accordingly no further 
discussion relative to the manner of usage and operation of the instant 
invention shall be provided. 
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the 
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of 
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to 
one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those 
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are 
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
Therefore, 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.