Locking pliers

A locking pliers preferably includes a fixed jaw, a movable jaw, a fixed handle, an adjusting screw, a biasing spring, a toggle link, a power triangle link, at least one tie link and a movable handle. The fixed jaw, the movable jaw, the fixed handle, the adjusting screw and the biasing spring are preferably taken from an Irwin item no. 502L3 vise grips, but other parts may also be used. A second embodiment of the locking pliers preferably includes a fixed jaw, a movable jaw, a fixed handle, an adjusting screw, a biasing spring, a toggle link, two power links, at least one tie link, a release link and a movable handle. The fixed jaw, the movable jaw, the fixed handle, the adjusting screw and the biasing spring are preferably taken from an Irwin item no. 502L3 vise grips.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to hand tools and more specifically to a locking pliers, which includes a reduced distance between the fixed handle and the movable when the locking pliers is an open position.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

Accordingly, there is a clearly felt need in the art for a locking pliers, which includes a reduced distance between the fixed handle and the movable when the locking pliers is an open position, relative to the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a locking pliers, which includes a reduced distance between the fixed handle and the movable when the locking pliers is an open position. The locking pliers preferably includes a fixed jaw, a movable jaw, a fixed handle, an adjusting screw, a biasing spring, a toggle link, a power triangle link, at least one tie link and a movable handle. The fixed jaw, the movable jaw, the fixed handle, the adjusting screw and the biasing spring are preferably taken from an Irwin item no. 502L3 vise grips, but other parts may also be used. U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,385 is hereby incorporated into this patent application by reference in its entirety. The fixed jaw is retained in one end of the fixed handle and the adjusting screw is threadably retained in an opposing end of the fixed handle. The movable jaw is pivotally retained in the one end of the fixed handle. One end of the biasing spring is attached to the movable jaw and the other end is attached to the fixed handle.

The toggle link includes a first end and a second end. A pivot lip extends from the first end of the toggle link. The movable handle includes a first end and a second end. The power triangle link preferably includes a U-shaped cross-section and has a substantially triangle shape. The power triangle link includes a first corner, a second corner and a third corner. A jaw pivot hole is formed through the first corner; a handle pivot hole is formed through the second corner; and a toggle pivot hole is formed through the third corner. The second end of the toggle link is pivotally engaged with the toggle pivot hole with a toggle pin.

Substantially a first end of the movable handle is pivotally engaged with the handle pivot hole with a handle pin. One end of the at least one tie link is pivotally engaged with the toggle link at substantially the second end thereof and the other end of the at least one tie link is pivotally engaged with the movable handle at substantially a middle thereof.

A second embodiment of the locking pliers preferably includes a fixed jaw, a movable jaw, a fixed handle, an adjusting screw, a biasing spring, a toggle link, two power links, at least one tie link, a release link and a movable handle. The fixed jaw, the movable jaw, the fixed handle, the adjusting screw and the biasing spring are preferably taken from an Irwin item no. 502L3 vise grips, but other parts may also be used. The fixed jaw is retained in one end of the fixed handle and the adjusting screw is threadably retained in an opposing end of the fixed handle. The movable jaw is pivotally retained in the one end of the fixed handle. One end of the biasing spring is attached to the movable jaw and the other end is attached to the fixed handle.

The toggle link includes a first end and a second end. A pivot lip extends from the first end of the toggle link and a pin cavity is formed in the second end of the toggle link. The movable handle includes a first end and a second end. First and second power links include a first end and a second end. A jaw pivot hole is formed through the first end of the first and second power links; a handle pivot hole is formed through the second end thereof; and a release pivot hole is formed between the first and second ends thereof.

The movable jaw is pivotally engaged with the jaw pivot hole of the two power links utilizing a jaw pin. Substantially a first end of the movable handle is pivotally engaged with the handle pivot hole of the two power links with a handle pin. The release link includes a first plate, a second plate and a connection member. The first plate extends from a first end of the connection member and the second plate extends from a second end of the connection member. A release hole is formed through a first end of the first and second plates and a toggle hole is formed through a second end of the first and second plates.

One end of the at least one tie link is pivotally engaged with the toggle link at substantially the second end thereof and the other end of the tie link is pivotally engaged with the movable handle at substantially a middle thereof. Substantially the second end of the toggle link is pivotally engaged with the toggle pivot hole in the release link utilizing a toggle pin. The release pivot hole of the release link is pivotally engaged with release pivot hole of the two power links with a power pin.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a locking pliers, which includes a reduced distance between the fixed handle and the movable when the locking pliers is an open position, relative to the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference now to the drawings, and particularly toFIG. 1, there is shown a side view of a locking pliers1. With reference toFIGS. 2-4, the locking pliers1preferably includes a fixed jaw10, a movable jaw12, a fixed handle14, an adjusting screw16, a biasing spring18, a toggle link20, a power triangle link22, at least one tie link24and a movable handle26. The fixed jaw10, the movable jaw12, the fixed handle14, the adjusting screw16and the biasing spring18are preferably taken from an Irwin item no. 502L3 vise grips, but other parts may also be used. The fixed jaw10is preferably retained in one end of the fixed handle14with welding or the like. The adjusting screw16is threadably retained in an opposing end of the fixed handle14. The movable jaw12is pivotally retained in the one end of the fixed handle14with a rivet28or the like. One end of the biasing spring18is retained in a spring hole30formed through the movable jaw12and the other end is attached to a retention opening32formed in substantially a middle of the fixed handle14.

The toggle link20includes a first end and a second end. A pivot lip34extends from the first end of the toggle link20and a stop surface36is formed on the second end thereof. A retention pin38is preferably pressed through the first end of the toggle link20to retain the second end of the toggle link20in the fixed handle14. The movable handle26includes a first end and a second end. The power triangle link22includes a first triangle plate40, a second triangle plate42and a connection plate44. The first triangle plate40extends from one end of the connection plate44and the second triangle plate42extends from the other end of the connection plate44. The stop surface36of the toggle link20contacts an underside of the connection plate44, when the locking pliers1is in a closed position. The first and second triangle plates40,42preferably have a substantial triangle shape. The first and second triangle plates40,42include a first corner46, a second corner48and a third corner50. A jaw pivot hole52is formed through the first corner46; a handle pivot hole54is formed through the second corner48; and a toggle pivot hole56is formed through the third corner50.

A toggle pivot hole58is formed through the second end of the toggle link20to receive a toggle pin60to pivotally engage the power triangle link22with the toggle link20. A handle pivot hole62is formed through substantially a first end of the movable handle26. A handle pin64is retained in the handle pivot hole62and the handle pivot hole54to pivotally retain the movable handle26relative to the power triangle link22. A toggle hole66is formed through one end of the at least one tie link24. A link pivot hole68is formed through the toggle link20. A link pin70is retained in the toggle hole66and the link pivot hole68to pivotally retain the toggle link20relative to the at least one tie link24. A link slot72is formed through the other end of the at least one tie link24.

A tie hole74is formed through substantially a middle of the movable handle26. A tie pin76is slidably retained in the link slot72and the tie hole74to pivotally and slidably retain the at least one tie link24to the movable handle26. A jaw hole78is formed through the movable jaw12. A jaw pin80is retained in the jaw hole78and the jaw pivot holes52to pivotally engage the power triangle link22with the movable jaw12.

A cam surface84is formed on the first end of the movable handle26. A contact surface86is formed on the second end of the toggle link20. When the locking pliers1is closed, the toggle link20goes over a powerline88; and the stop surface36contacts an underside of the connection plate44. The locking pliers1is opened by pulling the movable handle26away from the fixed handle14; the cam surface84has contact with the contact surface86, causing the power triangle link22to rotate clockwise; the power triangle link22rotation causes the toggle link20to pass through the powerline88. Continued travel of the movable handle26causes the tie pin76to bottom out in the link slot72and the power link triangle22to open the movable jaw12.

Additionally, a kit may be sold, which contains the toggle link20, the power triangle link22, the at least one tie link24, and the movable handle26. The kit would be used to retrofit an existing Irwin item no. 502L3 vise grips into the locking pliers1.

With reference toFIGS. 5-8, a second embodiment of the locking pliers2preferably includes the fixed jaw10, the movable jaw12, the fixed handle14, the adjusting screw16, the biasing spring18, a toggle link120, two power links122,123, at least one tie link124, a release link126and a movable handle128. The fixed jaw10, the movable jaw12, the fixed handle14, the adjusting screw16and the biasing spring18are preferably taken from an Irwin item no. 502L3 vise grips, but other parts may also be used. The fixed jaw10is preferably retained in one end of the fixed handle14with welding or the like. The adjusting screw16is threadably retained in an opposing end of the fixed handle14. The movable jaw12is pivotally retained in the one end of the fixed handle14with a rivet28or the like. One end of the biasing spring18is retained in a spring hole30formed through the movable jaw12and the other end is attached to a retention opening32formed in substantially a middle of the fixed handle14.

The toggle link120includes a first end and a second end. A pivot lip130extends from the first end of the toggle link120and a pin cavity132is formed on the second end of the toggle link120. The movable handle128includes a first end and a second end. First and second power links122,123include a first end and a second end. Each power link122,123includes a middle offset portion134, which provides clearance for a width of the release link126. A jaw pivot hole136is formed through the first end of the power links122,123; a handle pivot hole138is formed through the second end thereof; and a release pivot hole140is formed between the first and second ends thereof.

A jaw hole142is formed through the movable jaw12. A jaw pin146is retained in the jaw hole142and the jaw pivot holes136to pivotally engage the first and second power links122,123with the movable jaw12. A link hole144is formed through substantially the first end of the movable handle128. The release link126includes a first plate148, a second plate150and a connection member152. The first plate148extends from a first end of the connection member152and the second plate150extends from a second end of the connection member152. A release hole154is formed through a first end of the first and second plates148,150and a toggle hole156is formed through a second end of the first and second plates148,150. A retention projection151extends from the first end of the second plate150. A projection stop139is formed between the first and second ends of the second power link123. The projection stop139engages the retention projection151.

A first end158of each tie link124is offset from a length thereof. A toggle hole160is formed through the first end158. A link slot162is formed through a second end of each tie link124. A tie hole164is formed through the movable handle128between the first and second ends thereof. A tie pin166is retained in the tie hole164and slidably retained in the link slot162to pivotally and slidably retain the at least one tie link124relative to the movable handle128. A toggle pivot hole168is formed through substantially the second end of the toggle link120. A link pivot hole170is formed through the toggle link120, between the toggle pivot hole168and the first end of the toggle link120. A link pin172is retained in the toggle hole160and the link pivot hole170to pivotally retain the toggle link120relative to the at least one tie link124.

A handle pin174is retained in the link hole144and the handle pivot holes138to pivotally retain the movable handle128relative to the power links122,123. A toggle pin176is retained in the toggle pivot hole168and the toggle hole156to pivotally retain the toggle link120relative to the release link126. A power pin178is retained in the release pivot holes140and the release holes154to pivotally retain the power links122,123relative to the release link126. The pin cavity132is sized to receive the power pin178.

A cam surface180is formed on the first end of the movable handle128. A contact surface182is formed on the second end of the toggle link120. When the locking pliers2is closed, the toggle link120goes over a powerline184; and the pin cavity132acts as a stop for the power pin178. The locking pliers2is opened by pulling the movable handle128away from the fixed handle14; the cam surface180has contact with the contact surface182, causing the two power links122,123to rotate clockwise; the two power links122,123rotation causes the toggle link120to pass through the powerline184. Continued travel of the movable handle128causes the tie pin166to bottom out in the link slot162and the two power links122,123to open the movable jaw12.

Additionally, a kit may be sold, which contains the toggle link120, the two power links122,123, the at least one tie link124, the release link126and the movable handle128. The kit would be used to retrofit an existing Irwin item no. 502L3 vise grips into the locking pliers2.