Pliers

The invention relates to A pliers (1) having two pliers limbs (2, 3) which are connected so as to be pivotable relative to one another in a box joint having a joint pin (4), a working region (7, 8) being formed on one pliers limb (2, 3) on the one side of the joint and a gripping region (9, 10) being formed on the other side of the joint, and a passed-through pliers limb (3) being formed with a push-through slot (11) which has a slot width (s) in the joint region and through which the other through-passing pliers limb (2) extends, the working regions of the pliers limbs (2, 3) moreover having, at least in part, a width (b) that is greater than the slot width (s), and the working regions (7, 8) designed in the form of jaws or cutting edges pivoting toward a shared central plane (E). In order to improve the pliers with regard to high performance while optimizing manufacturability, it is proposed that the joint pin (4) be laterally offset with respect to the central plane (E).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the National Stage of PCT/EP2011/063428 filed on Aug. 4, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. The international application under PCT article 21(2) was not published in English.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a pliers having two pliers limbs which are connected so as to be pivotable relative to one another in a box joint having a joint pin, a working region being formed on one pliers limb on the one side of the joint and a gripping region being formed on the other side, a passed-through pliers limb being formed with a push-through slot, which has a slot width in the joint region and through which the other through-passing pliers limb extends, the working regions of the pliers limbs moreover having, at least in part, a width that is greater than the slot width, and the working regions in the form of jaws or cutting edges pivoting toward a central plane situated in the middle of the pivot region.

2. Description of the Related Art

Pliers of this kind are already known. Reference is made, for example, to DE 10 2006 024 296 A1. The known pliers is formed as a side cutter. It may also be for example a center cutter or a combination pliers.

In the case of a pliers known from U.S. Pat. No. 1,346,983, the articulation point of the passed-through pliers limb is very distant from the central plane. The pliers is designed only as gripping pliers. A pliers is known from DE 10 2004 022 943 A1, the pliers limbs of which lie on top of one another. For adjustment, an adjusting member is provided which is hinged to one pliers limb and which is displaceable in steps in the first pliers limb. A pliers is known from U.S. Pat. No. 1,729,695 A, in which only one of the pliers limbs forms a gripping region and a working region. This pliers limb encloses another pliers limb that has no gripping region.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim is to improve the pliers with regard to high performance while optimizing manufacturability.

Such a pliers is provided by the subject matter in accordance with the invention, in which it is provided that the joint pin is offset relative to the central plane by an offset dimension that corresponds to one-half the radius up to twice the diameter of the joint pin. A slot depth provided perpendicular to the slot width is provided in the joint region in a size such that a significant offset of the joint pin out of the central plane is made possible. As an alternative, in principle it is also possible that the push-through slot extends in a curved manner, thus practically without broadening in the joint region, in such a way that the slot depth essentially does not change. However, such a configuration is not necessarily conducive to a desired high stability. Due to the fact that the joint pin is offset from the center, the push-through slot can be designed in a more favorable manner. In particular, no special machining of the end region of the push-through slot on the jaw side is required in the region of the joint pin. Moreover, the receiving region for the joint pin, since it is offset to one side with respect to an extent of the push-through slot, is advantageously accessible from this side for machining. In particular, a broad cut-through of the push-through slot can be carried out in the region of the joint pin, parallel to the central plane. For example, a milling tool that is used for this purpose can thus be continuously moved in this region.

It is preferred that a geometric axis of the joint pin, with respect to a perpendicular to the central plane in the direction of this perpendicular, i.e., in a projection of the joint pin in the direction of the perpendicular onto the region of the passed-through pliers limb that is formed to one side of the joint pin, is arranged in alignment with a non-slotted region of the passed-through pliers limb. In the region of the joint pin, the passed-through pliers limb, perpendicular to the joint pin, is not cut through in full alignment with the joint pin. The stability is advantageously influenced. In the region of the joint pin, the push-through slot is formed, at least partially, in a position adjacent to a region of this pliers limb which is not cut through.

It is also preferred that the push-through slot of the passed-through pliers limb has an edge line on the jaw side, the edge line, in a view extending from the central plane, extending downwardly toward a free end of this pliers limb. If visualized in this regard from a conventional curved run of the pliers limb, the end region of the push-through slot, formed by a wall of the pliers limb region that is not cut through on the jaw side, does not extend perpendicularly with respect to the central plane or the longitudinal extent, but, rather, extends at an angle. Thus, in part, namely facing toward the central plane, the push-through slot in this pliers limb is formed more broadly in the working region side than in a region that is farther away from the central plane.

It is also preferred that the peripheral edge of the push-through slot on the jaw side extends in a curved manner in the mentioned longitudinal section. It is in particular preferred that the peripheral edge, viewed from the central plane, extends in a concave manner.

Furthermore, it is also preferred that in the mentioned longitudinal cross-section, the peripheral edge of the push-through slot associated with the free end of the passed-through pliers limb extends upwardly toward the central plane when the pliers is closed. The extent of the peripheral edge that is associated with the free end region of the pliers limb is thus, as it were, in any case with respect to the principal extent, a mirror image of the extent of the peripheral edge in the working region end of the push-through slot.

The peripheral edge of the push-through slot that is associated with the free end preferably also extends in a curved manner, and moreover preferably extends in a concave manner as viewed from the central plane.

Another preferred configuration provides that the delimitation of the push-through slot of the passed-through pliers limb on the working region side forms a limit stop for the through-passing pliers limb in the open position of the pliers. Via the configuration of the end region, the opening characteristic of the pliers can be adjusted in a simple manner. Moreover, this limit stop is not directly accessible. There is practically no danger of pinching.

Not least, it is preferred that the slot depth, with regard to a perpendicular to the central plane in the closed state of the pliers, is smaller on a line of the geometric axis of the joint pin than in a region that is connected thereto and is offset toward the free end of the pliers limb. The slot depth on a line of the geometrical axis of the joint pin, measured in the manner as indicated, is more than two times, preferably more than three times, the diameter of the joint pin. An upper limit may be, for example, five times the diameter of the joint pin. In the broadened region offset toward the free end of the pliers limb, the mentioned dimension broadens again in a range of from ¼ up to double the radius of the joint pin. A longitudinal extent of this broadened region of the push-through slot, measured in the direction of the central plane starting from a perpendicular to the central plane that extends through the geometric axis of the joint pin, within which region there is also a broadening of the breadth of the push-through slot, here preferably corresponds to one-third to twice the radius of the joint pin.

The joint pin, which is preferably formed as a regular cylinder, in any case in a middle region, can have a diameter that ranges from 3 to 9 mm, for example.

The gripping regions of the pliers limbs may also be accommodated in each case in a handle cover. Handle covers that are considered to be suitable are in particular handle covers that are produced using the plastics injection molding method. The handle covers are in particular configured in such a manner that with regard to both pliers limbs, they provide the same thickness to the hand enclosing them. With respect to the gripping region having the smaller dimension, thus in particular the gripping region of the pliers limb that passes through, a handle cover is thus preferably formed with material reinforcement. Material reinforcement can in a first instance be provided in the sense of a greater material thickness. Moreover, it can alternatively or additionally be provided in the sense of a reinforcement element that is incorporated into the handle cover. In further detail with regard to the handle covers, reference is also made to the above-cited DE 10 2006 024 296 A1, the disclosure content of which is hereby included in full in the present application, including for the purpose of incorporating features of the cited application in claims of the present application.

With regard to the gripping region of the through-passing pliers limb, in the present context it is also preferred that the pliers limb has a width, and optionally a thickness, that corresponds at a maximum to the slot width. However, it can also be provided that the width is slightly greater, in any case to an extent such that inserting the through-passing pliers limb into the passed-through pliers limb can still be carried out without a complex heating process, and instead can be carried out merely by means of cold forming, which can also include cold plastic deformation.

In absolute terms, the width of the pliers limb may be approximately 2 to 3 mm larger than the slot width.

With regard to the disclosure, the ranges or value ranges specified above and below also include all intermediate values, in particular in 1/10 increments of the respective dimension, thus for example 1/10 mm, on the one hand for delimiting the mentioned range boundaries from below and/or above, alternatively or additionally, however, also with regard to the disclosure of one or more single values from the respective range. This also relates to range boundaries that are given without dimensions, numerical values as such, whether as a delimitation and/or as single numerical values, in this respect being included in the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Illustrated and described is a pliers1having two pliers limbs2,3that are connected so as to be pivotable relative to one another in a box joint having an axially fixed joint pin4. On the one side of the joint pin4, the pliers limbs2,3form pliers jaws5,6which, in the exemplary embodiment, have working regions7,8in the form of cutting edges. Gripping regions9,10are formed on the other side of the joint pin4.

In the exemplary embodiment, the joint pin4illustrated is formed with a thin flat head on the one side and a (small) countersunk head on the other side. Such a countersunk head can also be formed on both sides. In the exemplary embodiment, the joint pin4has a diameter of 5 mm in its cylindrical region. In principle, diameters of 3 to 6 mm, for example, can be implemented in this respect.

One of the pliers limbs, the pliers limb3in the exemplary embodiment, is provided with a push-through slot11through which the other pliers limb2is pushed through. The pliers jaws5,6have, at least in parts, a width b that is greater than the slot width s (cf.FIG. 2, for example).

Moreover, the gripping region10of the through-passing pliers limb2has a width B (dimension in the direction of the geometric axis of the joint pin4), seeFIG. 6, for example, that corresponds at a maximum, and in the exemplary embodiment corresponds precisely, to the slot width s (on the other hand, as discussed earlier, a greater width B could also be implemented here).

The push-through slot11is provided between slot walls20,21that extend parallel to one another.

The pliers jaws5,6or working regions7,8, specifically, the cutting tips of the working regions in the exemplary embodiment, are to be pivoted toward a shared central plane E. It is preferred that in this central plane E, the cutting tips lie against one another when the pliers is closed (seeFIGS. 1, 4).

In the plan view according toFIG. 1in which the central plane E is indicated as a line, the joint pin4is laterally offset with respect to the central plane E. In the exemplary embodiment, the dimension v of the offset, in relation to the geometric center axis g of the joint pin4, corresponds to the dimension of the radius of the joint pin4that is formed as a cylinder body.

As is apparent in particular fromFIGS. 3 and 4, the geometric axis g of the joint pin4on a perpendicular S to the central plane E is aligned with a non-slotted region12on the jaw side of the passed-through pliers limb3. With respect to the perpendicular S, the region12extends below the perpendicular S, with respect to the illustration inFIG. 4, toward a free end13or14, respectively, of the pliers limbs, in a spandrel-like manner or in the form of a triangle. It is apparent that the outer edges of the triangle are formed to extend in a curved manner. This is also illustrated by the sectional view according toFIG. 3.

With respect to the central plane E, a peripheral edge15of the end region of the push-through slot11converges with this central plane approximately at a point16or at a region which has a smaller wall thickness and which is associated with the ends of the cutting edges on the joint side. The point16is located above the joint pin4. Viewed from the start on the central plane E, the peripheral edge in the illustration according toFIG. 4extends downwardly from the point16toward the free ends13and14of the pliers limbs. Moreover, as viewed from the central plane E, the peripheral edge15is also formed to extend in a concavely curved manner.

Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment, the peripheral edge15is situated on a shared circular line17with respect to the end of the peripheral edge18of the push-through slot11facing the free end13of the pliers limb3.

A radius of the circular line17corresponds to a multiple of the width s of the push-through slot11. In the exemplary embodiment, the radius corresponds to approximately 13 times the width s. It is preferred that the radius corresponds to a range of from 5 to 20 times the clearance s of the push-through slot.

Accordingly, the peripheral edge18likewise extends in a curved manner; as viewed from the joint pin4, the peripheral edge extends in a concave manner.

As is apparent in particular fromFIG. 5, the peripheral edge15, here the tip19thereof at the outer edge, represents a limit stop for the through-passing pliers limb2in the open position.

A slot depth t1, measured on the perpendicular S, is less than a slot depth t2in an adjoining region that is offset toward the free end13of the passed-though pliers limb3. t2is greater than t1by approximately 15%.

As is apparent, for instance, fromFIG. 6, the regions, shown here in crosshatch, of the two slot walls20,21of the passed-through pliers limb3in a manner of speaking freely overlap the pliers jaw6, as viewed from the pliers jaw5. The jaw material that connects the slot walls20,21at the base of the cutting edge of the pliers jaw5(see also point16) ends approximately in the region of the central plane. The crosshatched regions of the slot walls20,21protrude therefrom in a balcony-like manner. The protrusion arises with regard to a connecting line V between the point16and a vertex P of the outer curvature contour of the passed-through pliers limb3in the gripping region thereof. The holes for the joint pin4, which are formed in alignment with one another in the slot walls20,21, extend at least partially, preferably with more than half of their hole area, more preferably with up to their entire hole area, within the mentioned protruding regions.

All features disclosed are (in themselves) pertinent to the invention. The disclosure content of the associated/accompanying priority documents (copy of the prior application) is also hereby included in full in the disclosure of the application, including for the purpose of incorporating features of these documents in claims of the present application. The subsidiary claims in their optional subordinated formulation characterize independent inventive refinement of the prior art, in particular to undertake divisional applications based on these claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS/CHARACTERS