Abstract:
An interchangeable head system for tools is provided. The system includes a pair of handles connected at a pivot point. Each handles has two generally parallel walls forming a space therebetween, and a moveable pin attached therethrough. The pin is non-removably attached to one of the walls. A plurality of heads interchangeably connected at the pivot point. Each heads includes two components and each component includes two contact surfaces. The movable pin facilitates securing the head to the handle. The handles are designed to be squeezed together to thereby allow the contact surfaces to move towards one another.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to a clamping, cutting and/or clipping apparatus and more particularly, pliers and snips with interchangeable heads. The present invention provides for a device having an interchangeable head, and the device comprises: a pair of handles having opposing top and bottom ends, the top end of each of the handles is connected at a pivot point, and each of the top ends of the handles have two generally parallel walls forming a space therebetween, and the first wall has a moveable pin attached therethrough and the second wall has an aperture to receive the moveable pin. The device also comprises a head comprising a first and second component, each of the components has opposing top and bottom ends, and the top end of each of the components has at least one contact surface, and the first and second components are connected at a pivot point, and the bottom end of each of the components comprises at least one aperture designed to align with the aperture of the second wall of one of the top ends of the handle and to receive the moveable pin during an installment position, and each of the bottom ends of the components of the head is inserted within the space formed by the walls of the top ends of the handles, and the pin is inserted through the aperture of the bottom end of the head and the aperture of the top end of the handle. The device further comprises a means for securing the pin to the handle to thereby secure said head to the handle, and the handles are designed to be squeezed together to thereby allow the contact surfaces of the first and second top ends of the first and second components to move towards one another. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   There are various patents covering pliers type devices with interchangeable heads or components. These pliers type devices are difficult to use, the heads are difficult to change and most importantly, changing the head becomes dangerous for the user.  FIG. 1  shows a typical pliers device  100  with interchangeable head  101 . The device  100  has two handles  102   a  and  102   b , respectively, connected at a pivot point  103  and at least two stationary pins  104 . The head  101  has two components and each component has a top end  105  with a clamping surface  106  and a crescent shaped bottom  109 . To install the head  101 , the handles,  102   a  and  b , must be pulled apart and the crescent shaped bottoms  109  are then attached to the stationary pins  104  and then the handles,  102   a  and  b , are squeezed toward one another to secure the head  101  to the handles  102   a  and  b . This typical device is difficult to use and changing the heads is extremely awkward and cumbersome. 
     FIG. 2  relates to the pliers device  200  shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,336,387 by Lee. Lee has two handles,  202   a  and  b  respectively, and the handles meet at a pivot point  203  and each handle has an extended portion  207  with a stationary pin  204 . The portions  208  are situated above the pivot point  203 . The interchangeable head  201  has two components and each component has a top end  205  with a clamping surface  206  and a bottom end  210  with a crescent shaped bottom  209  and each component is attached at pivot point  208 . To install the head  201 , the handles,  202   a  and  b , must be pulled apart and the crescent shaped bottoms  209  are then attached to the stationary pins  204  and then the handles,  202   a  and  b , are squeezed toward one another to secure the head  201  to the handles  202   a  and  b . Like the first pliers discussed above, the Lee device is also difficult and dangerous to use when changing heads. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,147 to Beetz et al. is another complicated interchangeable head device. The Beetz device is similar to the Lee device with regards to the handle but there is a separate extended portion attached below the pivot point of the device. The extended portion has two ends, one end attached to the handle and the other end is to be attached to the interchangeable head. The extended portions are moveable and unstable and requires another component to prevent movement to the two extended portions. 
   Unlike the prior art, the present invention provides for pliers and clippers as well as clamping and cutting devices with interchangeable heads with improved interchangeability designs and safety features. Most importantly, the present invention provides for an improved device that is easy to change the heads and is safer for the user to work with. In addition, the present invention also provides for various head functions and designs such as different heads for cutting, snipping and clamping. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In one embodiment, the present invention provides for a device having an interchangeable head, the device comprises: a pair of handles having opposing top and bottom ends, the top end of each of the handles is connected at a pivot point, and each of the top ends of the handles have two generally parallel walls forming a space therebetween, and the first wall has a moveable pin attached therethrough and the second wall has an aperture to receive the moveable pin; a head comprising a first and second component, each of the components has opposing top and bottom ends, and the top end of each of the components has at least one contact surface, and the first and second components are connected at a pivot point, and the bottom end of each of the components comprises at least one aperture designed to align with the aperture of the second wall of one of the top ends of the handle and to receive the moveable pin during an installment position, and each of the bottom ends of the components of the head is inserted within the space formed by the walls of the top ends of the handles, and the pin is inserted through the aperture of the bottom end of the head and the aperture of the top end of the handle; and a means for securing the pin to the handle to thereby secure the head to the handle, and the handles are designed to be squeezed together to thereby allow the contact surfaces of the first and second top ends of the first and second components to move towards one another. 
   In another embodiment, the device of the present invention further comprises a spring situated between the handles. 
   In still another embodiment, the contact surfaces of the device function as clamping contact surfaces, and the device functions as a clamping device. In yet another embodiment, the clamping device functions as pliers. In still yet another embodiment, each of the contact surfaces of the first and the second top ends of the first and second components comprise cutting surfaces, and the device functions as a cutting device. In a further embodiment, the cutting device functions as snips. In yet a further embodiment, the cutting device functions as scissors. 
   In still a further embodiment, the device of the present invention further comprises a locking device and one end of the locking device is connected to one of the moveable pins. 
   In still yet a further embodiment, the opposing end of the locking device comprises at least one latch, and the latch is designed to hook onto the second pin during a locked position wherein the contact surfaces of the first and second components of the head are connected to one another. 
   In another embodiment, the present invention provides for an interchangeable head system for tools, the system comprises: a pair of handles having opposing top and bottom ends, and the top end of each of the handles is connected at a pivot point, and each of the top ends of the handles has two generally parallel walls forming a space therebetween, and the first wall has a moveable pin attached therethrough and the second wall has an aperture to receive the moveable pin; a plurality of heads, each head comprising a first and second component, each of the components has opposing top and bottom ends, and the top end of each of the components has at least one contact surface, and the first and second components is connected at a pivot point, and the bottom end of each of the components comprises at least one aperture designed to align with the aperture of the second wall of one of the top ends of the handle and to receive the moveable pin during an installment position, each of the bottom ends of the components of the head is inserted within the space formed by the walls of the top ends of the handles, and the pin is inserted through the aperture of the bottom end of the head and the aperture of the top end of the handle; and a means for securing the pin to the handle to thereby secure the head to the handle, and the handles are designed to be squeezed together to thereby allow the contact surfaces of the first and the second top ends of the first and second components to move towards one another. 
   In still another embodiment, the system further comprising a spring situated between the handles. In yet another embodiment, the contact surfaces of the components of the system function as clamping contact surfaces, and the tool functions as a clamping device. In still yet another embodiment, the clamping device functions as pliers. 
   In a further embodiment, each of the contact surfaces of the first and second top ends of the first and second components comprise cutting surfaces, and the tool functions as a cutting device. In another further embodiment, the cutting device functions as snips. 
   In still another further embodiment, the system further comprises a locking device, and one end of the locking device is connected to one of the moveable pins. In yet another further embodiment, the opposing end of the locking device comprises at least one latch, and the latch is designed to hook onto the second pin during a locked position wherein the contact surfaces of the first and second components of the head are connected to one another. 
   In still yet another further embodiment, the present invention relates to a hardware device having an interchangeable head system, the device comprises: a pair of handles having opposing top and bottom ends, the top end of each of the handles is connected at a pivot point, each of the top ends of the handles has two generally parallel walls forming a space therebetween, and the first wall has a moveable pin attached therethrough and the second wall has an aperture to receive the moveable pin; a spring situated between the handles; an interchangeable head system comprising at least two heads, each head comprising a first and second component, each of the components has opposing top and bottom ends, and the top end of each of the components has at least one contact surface, and the first and second components are connected at a pivot point, and the bottom end of each of the components comprises at least one aperture designed to align with the aperture of the second wall of one of the top ends of the handle and to receive the moveable pin during an installment position, each of the bottom ends of the components of the head is inserted within the space formed by the walls of the top ends of the handles, and the pin is inserted through the aperture of the bottom end of the head and the aperture of the top end of the handle; and a means for securing the pin to the handle to thereby secure the head to the handle, and the handles are designed to be squeezed together to thereby allow the contact surfaces of the first and the second top ends of the first and second components to move towards one another. 
   In another further embodiment, the contact surfaces of the components of the interchangeable head system of the present invention function as clamping contact surfaces, and the device functions as a clamping device. 
   In a further embodiment, each of the contact surfaces of the first and the second top ends of the first and second components comprise cutting surfaces, and the device functions as a cutting device. 
   In still yet another embodiment, the device comprises a means for securing the pin to the handle and the head to the handle or pin securing devices. In another embodiment, the moveable pin has opposing ends, one end has a threaded portion and the opposing end has at least one stop. The moveable pin is attached to the first wall of the top end of the handles and is moveable through an aperture in the first wall. In still another embodiment, the second wall comprises a cap with a cavity having grooves for receiving the treaded portion of the moveable pin during an installed position. In yet another embodiment, the second wall has an aperture leading to a cap with a cavity having grooves for receiving the treaded portion of the moveable pin during an installed position. The stop of the pin is designed to also secure the pin into the aperture of the second wall. The pin is secured using a screw or twist mechanism. 
   In a further embodiment, the moveable pin has opposing ends, one end has an extended portion and the opposing end has at least one stop. The moveable pin is attached to the first wall of the top end of the handles and is moveable through an aperture in the first wall. In still another further embodiment, the second wall of the top end of the handles and the bottom end of each of the components comprise an aperture with an extended cavity designed to fit the extended portion of one end of the pin. The pin with the extended portion is inserted into the apertures with extended cavity and then the pin is secured with a lock and key mechanism. 
   In another embodiment, the moveable pin has opposing ends, one end has a groove and the opposing end has at least one stop. The moveable pin is attached to the first wall of the top end of the handles and is moveable through an aperture in the first wall. In yet another further embodiment, the aperture in the second wall has a rim designed to fit around the groove of the moveable pin to thereby secure the pin the handle and the components. This is a snap fit lock mechanism. In a further embodiment, the means for securing the pin to the handles and the components can be of any design and mechanism. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention. These drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention. 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a typical pliers device with interchangeable heads; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the pliers device in U.S. Pat. No. 6,336,387 to Lee; 
       FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention, in particular, pliers device with interchangeable head in an open use position; 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded view of  FIG. 1  showing the how the interchangeable head fits and is secured onto the handles of the pliers; 
       FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of  FIG. 1  showing the device in a closed position; 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the screw and twist lock mechanism of one of the embodiments of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the lock and key mechanism of another embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the snap and lock mechanism of a further embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   Among those benefits and improvements that have been disclosed, other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale, some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates the typical pliers device  100  with an interchangeable head  101 , and more specifically, the device  100  has two handles  102   a  and  102   b , respectively, connected at a pivot point  103  and at least two stationary pins  104 . The head  101  has two components and each component has a top end  105  with a clamping surface  106  and a crescent shaped bottom  109 . To install the head  101 , the handles,  102   a  and  b , must be pulled apart and the crescent shaped bottoms  109  are then attached to the stationary pins  104  and then the handles,  102   a  and  b , are squeezed toward one another to secure the head  101  to the handles  102   a  and  b . To remove the head  101 , the handles,  102   a  and  b , must again be pulled apart and the head  101  is pulled away from the handles,  102   a  and  b , allowing the crescent shaped bottoms  106  to be detached from the stationary pins  104  and then the handles,  102   a  and  b , are ready to receive another head. 
     FIG. 2  illustrates the pliers device shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,336,387 by Lee. Lee has two handles,  202   a  and  b  respectively, and the handles meet at a pivot point  203  and each handle has an extended portion  207  with a stationary pin  204 . The portions  208  are situated above the pivot point  203 . The interchangeable head  201  has two components and each component has a top end  205  with a clamping surface  206  and a crescent shaped bottom  209 . To install the head  201 , the handles,  202   a  and  b , must be pulled apart and the crescent shaped bottoms  209  are then attached to the stationary pins  204  and then the handles,  202   a  and  b , are squeezed toward one another to secure the head  201  to the handles  202   a  and  b . To remove the head  201 , the handles,  202   a  and  b , must again be pulled apart and the head  201  is pulled away from the handles,  202   a  and  b , allowing the crescent shaped bottoms  209  to be detached from the stationary pins  204  and then the handles,  202   a  and  b , are ready to receive another head. 
   The main difference between  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  is that, in the Lee device ( FIG. 2 ), the connection point for the head and the handle has been moved above the pivot point. However, the handles,  202   a  and  b , still have to be moved or pulled apart to install and remove the head  201 . 
   Referring now to the drawings,  FIGS. 3-5  show the embodiments of the pliers devices  1  of the present invention. Unlike the prior art, the present invention does NOT require opening or pulling the handles apart to install and remove the interchangeable head. The device  1  of the present invention comprises: a pair of handles  2  having opposing top and bottom ends,  2   a  and  2   b  respectively. The top end  2   a  of each of the handles  2  is connected at a pivot point  3 , and each of the top ends  2   a  of the handles  2  have two generally parallel walls  3  forming a space  4  therebetween, and the first wall  3   a  has a moveable pin  5  attached therethrough and the second wall  3   b  has an aperture  6  to receive the moveable pin  5 . The head  7  comprising a first and second component,  8  and  9  respectively, and each of the components has opposing top ends,  8   a  and  9   a , and bottom ends,  8   b  and  9   b . The top ends,  8   a  and  9   a , of each of the components,  8  and  9 , have at least one contact surface  10 . 
   The first and second components,  8  and  9 , are connected at a pivot point  11 , and the bottom ends,  8   b  and  9   b , of each of the components,  8  and  9 , comprise at least one aperture  12  designed to align with the aperture  6  of the second wall  3   b  of one of the top ends  2   a  of the handle  2  and to receive the moveable pin  5  during an installment position. 
   Each of the bottom ends  8   b  and  9   b , of the components of the head  7  is inserted within the space  4  formed by the walls  3  of the top ends of the handles  2 , and the pin  5  is inserted through the aperture  12  of the bottom end of the head  7  and the aperture  6  of the top end of the handle  2 . 
   The device  1  further comprises a means for securing the pin  5  to the handle  2  to thereby secure the head  7  to the handle  2 . The handles  2  are designed to be squeezed together to thereby allow the contact surfaces  10  of the first and second top ends of the first and second components,  8  and  9 , to move towards one another. The device  1  of the present invention further comprises a spring  13  situated between the handles  2 . 
   The contact surfaces  10  of the device  1  function as clamping contact surfaces, and the device functions as a clamping device. Each of the contact surfaces  10  of the first and the second top ends of the first and second components,  8  and  9 , comprise cutting surfaces and the device functions as a cutting device. The cutting device functions as snips by attaching a head with sharp cutting edges as contact surfaces  10 . 
   The device  1  of the present invention further comprises a locking device  14  and one end of the locking device  14  is connected to one of the moveable pins  5   a . The opposing end of the locking device  14  comprises at least one latch  55  and the latch  55  is designed to hook onto the second pin  5   b  during a locked position wherein the contact surfaces of the first and second components of the head  7  are connected to one another. 
     FIGS. 6-8  relate to the pin securing devices of the present invention.  FIG. 6  uses a screw and/or twist mechanism. The moveable pin  5  has opposing ends,  5   a  and b respectively, one end  5   a  has a threaded portion  15  and the opposing end  5   b  has at least one stop  16 . The moveable pin  5  is attached to the first wall  3   a  of the top end of the handles  2  and is moveable through an aperture  21  in the first wall  3   a . The second wall  3   b  comprises a cap  17  with a cavity  18  having grooves  19  for receiving the threaded portion  15  of the moveable pin  5  during an installed position. In yet another embodiment, the second wall  3   b  has an aperture  6  leading to a cap  17  with a cavity  18  having grooves  19  for receiving the threaded portion  15  of the moveable pin  5  during an installed position. The stop  16  of the pin  5  is also designed to secure the pin  5  into the aperture  6  of the second wall  3   b.    
     FIG. 7  uses a lock and key mechanism. The moveable pin  5  has opposing ends,  5   a  and  b , one end  5   a  has an extended portion  20  and the opposing end  5   b  has at least one stop  16 . The moveable pin  5  is attached to the first wall  3   b  of the top end of the handles  2  and is moveable through an aperture  21  in the first wall  3   b . In still another further embodiment, the second wall  3   b  of the top end of the handles  2  and the bottom end of each of the components comprise apertures,  6  and  12 , with an extended cavity  22  designed to fit the extended portion  20  of one end of the pin  5 . The pin  5  with the extended portion  20  is inserted into the apertures,  6  and  12 , with extended cavity  22  and then the pin  5  is secured with a lock and key mechanism. 
     FIG. 8  relates to use of a snap fit mechanism. The moveable pin  5  has opposing ends,  5   a  and  b  respectively, one end  5   a  has a groove  23  and the opposing end  5   b  has at least one stop  16 . The moveable pin  5  is attached to the first wall  3   a  of the top end of the handles  2  and is moveable through an aperture  21  in the first wall. The aperture  6  in the second wall has a rim  24  designed to fit around the groove of the moveable pin  5  to thereby secure the pin  5  to the handle  2  and the components,  8  and  9 . The means for securing the pin to the handles and the components can be of any design and mechanism. 
   Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the attendant claims attached hereto, this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically disclosed herein.