Abstract:
A hand tool for inserting a large variety of connector components into narrow plastic irrigation piping is disclosed. This tool is an improved and progressive development of my previous Israeli patent no: 152089 in that it is designed to work with a large variety of connector components and is designed to accommodate both sizes of narrow spaghetti piping, whereas the previous patent could accommodate only a single size of narrow piping. 
     The tool as shown in FIG.  2  has a body onto which all the elements are connected and the body is configured to sit comfortably in the palm of the hand. When pressing down on the handle, the grips secure the narrow piping and cause a connector component, deployed in appropriate recess provided in the tool to be easily inserted into the narrow piping.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the irrigation industry in agriculture and gardening there is widespread use of plastic piping made of polyethylene. From the main large pipeline exit subsidery piping of smaller diameters of 5 or 7 mm and more. At one extremity of the subsidery piping there is a dripper element, and at the other extremity a connector component that connects the subsidiary piping to the main pipeline. Additionally there can be other subsidiary piping connected with a T shaped component. In  FIG. 1  one can see examples of dripper elements and connectors used in plastic piping. The insertion of the dripper and of the connector component into plastic piping is a difficult and uncomfortable procedure. Therefore there is the need for a hand tool to facilitate this operation. The tools at present available for this insertion operation are limited in that each size of piping requires a separate tool. These previous Israeli patents, no 111737, of 23 Nov. 1994, and no. 152089, of 2 Oct. 2002, (both under my name) describe such tools. In the present invention the insertion operation can be performed by the same tool but with piping having two diameters, 5 mm and 7 mm, or on piping with similar diameters. 
     All the parts of the tool are manufactured from plastic materials, apart from the springs, pins and screws that are made from metal. The tool of the present invention should be seen as an immense versatile improvement on previous inventions and therefore we are requesting a patent thereon. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE TOOL PARTS AND THEIR FUNCTION 
       1  TOOL BODY—main part of the tool on which all other parts are connected. 
       2  HANDLE—operation of this handle causes it to push down on the pushing element head. 
       3  PUSHING ELEMENT HEAD—closes the grips and pushes the inserter head in the direction of the piping. 
       4  INSERTER HEAD—accommodates the different dripper elements which are to be inserted into the piping. 
       5  GRIPS—holds the piping to allow for elements to be inserted. 
       6  FORWARD FLANGE—prevents the screws from moving sideways. 
       7  HOLDING PIN—hold the handle such that it can swivel with respect to the body of the tool. 
       8  PUSHING ELEMENT PIN—lower extremity of inserter head whose sharp shape allows it to penetrate between the grips. 
       9  HOLDING SCREW—screw that holds the inserter head secured to the body of the tool. 
       10  CLOSING HANDLES—enlarges or makes smaller the opening of the grips to accommodate the two different sized piping. 
       11  PUSHING ELEMENT SPRING—returns the pushing element to its original position after release of the handle at the end of the operation of the tool. 
       13  PIPING—piping with diameter of 5 or 7 mm into which is inserted a dripper element. 
       14  INSERTER HEAD SPRING—returns the inserter head to its&#39; position. 
       15  CLOSING HANDLE PIN—holds the closing handle. 
       17  GRIPS SPRING—causes the grips to open. 
       19  BOTTOM SCREWS—hold the grips to the body. 
       21  INSERTER HEAD COVER—additional part that sits on the inserter head allowing use of great range of dripper elements. 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1 : Examples of plastic piping and dripping elements and connectors. 
         FIG. 2 : General front view of the tool with piping held by the tool in position ready for insertion thereinto of a dripper or a connector. 
         FIG. 3 : Cross sectional view of the tool with all the parts when the handle is not pressed and the tool is in open position. 
         FIG. 4 : Cross sectional view of the tool with all the parts when the handle is pressed and the tool is in closed position. 
         FIG. 5 : Cross sectional view of the grips and closing handles. 
         FIG. 6 : Cross sectional view of frontal flange. 
         FIG. 7 : Cross sectional view of the closing handle and grips. 
         FIG. 8 : Side view of the tool and cross sectional view of the pushing element. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4  pressure on a handle ( 2 ) designated by an arrow creates a lever action that presses on the pushing element head ( 3 ) and by this action two elements become activated, one a couple of grips ( 5 ) with the help of the pushing pin ( 8 ) that at its&#39; extremity ( 8   a ) is narrow. The second activated element being the inserting head ( 4 ) that is forcibly displaced forward and pushes on the dripper element (A) or any other dripper element (A, B, C) as seen in  FIG. 1 . The dripper element is pushed in the direction of the piping ( 13 ) and penetrates into it. The piping is secured between grips ( 5 ). The result can be seen in  FIG. 4 , the required dripper element (A, or B, or C) upon displacing forward penetrates the piping ( 13 ) having diameter 5/3 or diameter 7/4. 
     The inserting head ( 4 ) is preferably square shaped with holes on its sides thus having different shapes to accommodate and store different dripper elements to be penetrated into piping e.g. round holes to suit various round shaped elements. 
     Additionally in  FIG. 4  is shown that a U-shaped opening ( 27 ) can be provided in the inserting head for inserting T-shaped dripper elements, that can be seen in  FIG. 1C , C 1  and in  FIG. 8C . 
     The inserting head ( 4 ) can be indexed in four positions with the help of a protrusion ( 22 ) which can lift against spring ( 14 ) which is under a screw ( 9 ) that connects the inserting head ( 4 ) to the pushing element ( 3 ). 
     While pressing on the handle ( 2 ) the inserting head ( 4 ) enters the T-shaped track ( 20 ), shown in  FIG. 6 , that ensures its steady location in correct position during displacement forward towards the piping. 
     In order to allow use of a large variety of dripper elements the inserter head has a cover ( 21 ) with different sized holes ( 21   a + 21   b ). This cover can be indexed in 2 positions or 4 positions as required. 
     As seen in  FIG. 6  the grips ( 5 + 5   a ) are connected to the tool body ( 1 ) with possibility for pivoting with respect to the body ( 1 ) since they are secured by screws ( 19 + 19   a ) which are in fact axes about which the grips pivot. The screws are inserted into the holes ( 16 + 16   a ) that are made in the grips ( 5 + 5   a ), and while the screws are tightened to the body the grips have freedom of pivotal movement sideways. 
     While the tool is in operation, i.e. when the handle is pressed, the pushing element pin ( 8 ) penetrates between the grips ( 5 + 5   a ) and its narrowing end causes the grips to pivot such that they close and hold the piping ( 13 ) between the grips jaws ( 18 + 18   a ). The spring ( 17 ) that is situated between the grips ( 5 + 5   a ) returns them to their original position upon completion of the operation and when the handle is released. In order to cause the grips to hold piping ( 13 ) of smaller diameter, the tool is provided with two levers, or closing handles ( 10 + 10   a ) which can pivot about steel pins ( 15 + 15   a ), passing through bores ( 15   b,    15   c ) made in the levers. In the further disclosure the closing handles will be referred-to as levers. 
     With reference to  FIG. 7A  and  FIG. 5A  the levers are provided with a tail portion T (it is designated as  10  in  FIG. 7A ) for holding, by a head portion H, which has an arched contour AC, defined by a non constant radius of curvature, and by a planar portion P. 
     To bring the grips in the closed position in which they secure the piping ( 13 ) the levers are held by hand and turned towards respective grip either clockwise or anticlockwise until respective planar portions of the levers press down on the grips ( 5 + 5   a ). As seen in  FIG. 5A and 7C  the grips are provided with a major portion MaP and with a minor portion MiP, which are separated from each other by a slot S. The slot has a width, delimited by two opposite planar sides  50 ,  52 . By virtue of this provision elastic bending of the minor portion of the grip with respect to the major portion is possible when pressure is exerted on planar side  50  by a lever. It could be appreciated that the grips can be brought closer to each other when pressure is applied to each grip by respective planar portion of a lever associated with each grip. 
     As seen in  FIG. 5A  the arched contour AC has a circular portion  54  defined by a first curvature radius R 1 . This portion conjugates with a curved portion  56  having a second curvature radius R 2 . The radii R 1  and R 2  are selected in such a manner that when a lever is turned it first freely rotates and the circular portion  54  exerts no pressure on the planar side  50  of the slot. However upon still further turning of the lever when the second curved portion comes in contact with the side  50  it exerts pressure on it because radius of curvature of this portion is larger than of the first portion. 
     This pressure increases the slot width and elastically bends the minor portion of the grip such that it is displaced towards the opposite grip. As soon as the lever is turned in such extent that the entire second curved portion is passed, the planar portion P of the lever is brought in contact with the planar side  50  of the slot. The lever remains locked in this position until pressure is exerted on the lever in order to turn it in reverse direction and to release the grip. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7   c  and  7   d  the increase of the slot width due to pressure exerted on one of the slot sides is shown. The initial slot width is designated as Y in  FIG. 7   c  and it refers to a situation when lever  10  is not yet turned. In  FIG. 7   d  is seen a situation when lever  10  is turned until its planar portion P is brought in contact with the side  50  of the slot. In this position the slot has increased width, designated Y+1 which is by 1 mm wider than the width Y. 
     Thus with reference to  FIG. 5A  it is seen a situation when the levers are in initial positions and the grips are separated from each other by a distance X. The handle is not pressed yet. 
     In  FIG. 5B  is seen the situation after the levers have been turned and locked in a position where the grips approach each other and are separated by a smaller distance X−2. The handle is not pressed yet. 
     In  FIG. 5C  is shown a situation when the grips are brought to each other by pressing the handle, while the levers are left in an open position. A piping of larger diameter can be secured between the grips. 
     In  FIG. 5D  is shown a situation after the handle has been pressed and after the levers were turned to lock the grips in a position where piping of smaller diameter can be secured between the grips. 
     Description of the Operation of the Grips and Closing Handles 
     The grips ( 5 + 5   a ) sit on axis ( 16 + 16   a ) and are capable to pivot in a closed position and in an open position. The grips ( 5 + 5   a ) closing movement causes the piping ( 13 ) of a larger diameter, already placed in position in the tool, to be secured between the grips. The grips ( 5 + 5   a ) opening movement causes the piping ( 13 ) to be released. For securing piping of smaller diameter the grips ( 5 + 5   a ) closing movement can be carried out in two steps. The first step when the grips ( 5 + 5   a ) are open and the piping ( 13 ) is situated between them, by pressing on the handle ( 2 ) we cause the grips ( 5 + 5   a ) to pivot and close towards each other, thanks to the pushing element ( 8   a ) that has a narrowing end. The second step is done by pivoting levers ( 10   a,    10   b ), which brings the grips closer and eventually locking the grips ( 5 + 5   a ) in the closed position. This operation is caused by the following: each of the grips ( 5 + 5   a ) has a slot dividing the grip in two portions and imparting ability for elastic bending of one of the portions upon exerting pressure on one side of the slot. When bendable portions of both grips are elastically bent the distance separating between the grips diminishes such that piping of smaller diameter can be secured between them. 
     Each lever ( 10 + 10   a ) has a holding tail portion ( 10   b,    10   c ) which serves for grasping and a head portion ( 10   d,    10   e ) which has curved contour, causing elastic bending of the grips such that the grips approach each other and when the planar portions of each lever are brought in contact with respective planar sides of each slot the levers remain locked in this position. By virtue of this provision the piping of smaller diameter is secured between the grips. 
     At the conclusion of the insertion action the handle ( 2 ) is released and returns to its&#39; initial position, and is pushed by the spring ( 11 ). The spring ( 17 ) distances the grips ( 5 + 5   a ) from each other. Thus the piping ( 13 ) can be released.