Abstract:
The present disclosure provides an apparatus and method of combining pliers and tubing cutters. The resulting tools offers synergistic results that are unachievable with separate tools. In at least one embodiment, the tubing cutter pliers can be operated by rotating the pliers&#39; handles, cutting the tubing with a cutter wheel on the pliers, and gripping the tubing using the same pliers as was used to cut the tubing. Some intervening steps, particularly, removal of the tubing cutter and replacement of the tubing cutter with pliers, can be eliminated with a resultant increase in efficiency and productivity. In some embodiments, an adjusting mechanism can be provided to offer increased control over the amount of pressure exerted on the tubing by the tubing cutter pliers during the cutting process.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not applicable. 
       REFERENCE TO APPENDIX 
       [0004]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0005]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0006]    The invention relates to hand tools. More specifically, the invention relates to pliers. 
         [0007]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0008]    Pliers generally include a pair of handles attached to a pair of jaws with serrated teeth for gripping tubing, pipe, conduit, bolts, nuts, and other items therebetween. Typical pliers are slip joint, arc joint, long nose, self-adjusting, and other configurations. A tradesman or other person will have a wide variety of such pliers for performing various projects, often carrying large tool chests or tool belts to the projects. Other tools are often needed to complete the projects, including for example, tubing cutters of various shapes and sizes if working on tubing and conduit. A typical tubing cutter includes a set of rollers on one side of an adjustable opening and a cutter wheel on the other side of the opening. A section of tubing is inserted in the opening, the opening is closed over the tubing, and the tubing cutter is rotated around the tubing. Pressure on the cutter wheel is progressively increased, so that it progressively cuts through the tubing during the rotation, while the rollers maintain alignment between the tubing and the tubing cutter. Tubing cutters vary in shapes and sizes. A standard tubing cutter resembles a “C” clamp with a knob on a portion of the “C” to turn and progressively increase the pressure of the cutter wheel against the tubing. While generally not commercially available, some patents teach attaching the rollers and cutter wheel to a pair of handles to squeeze the rollers and cutter wheel around the tubing. Such patents include U.S. Pat. No. 6,751,867, U.S. Pat. No. 5,581,886, U.S. Pat. No. 5,475,924, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,316, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0009]    Because time and efficiency reward the person performing the tasks, it is motivating to have the tools organized for easy access. A misplaced or even lost tool frequently causes loss of productivity. Thus, it would be advantageous to combine various tools where practical and feasible. While some teaching exist for modifying a standard “C” clamp tubing cutter to a pair of handles, no known teaching combines a pliers&#39; function and structure of gripping surfaces with a tubing cutter. Even though such combinations may appear to be small improvements to some individuals, such combinations are nevertheless not existent in the art, offer new and inventive aspects to a mature art, and can be valuable commercially. 
         [0010]    Thus, there remains a need for combining pliers and tubing cutters to form an entirely different paradigm to the use of both types of tools. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0011]    The present disclosure provides an apparatus and method of combining pliers and tubing cutters. The resulting tools offers synergistic results that are unachievable with separate tools. In at least one embodiment, the tubing cutter pliers can be operated by rotating the pliers&#39; handles, cutting the tubing with a cutter wheel on the pliers, and gripping the tubing using the same pliers as was used to cut the tubing. In some embodiments, intervening steps, particularly, removal of the tubing cutter and replacement of the tubing cutter with pliers, can be eliminated with a resultant increase in efficiency and productivity. Further, in some embodiments, an adjusting mechanism can be provided to offer increased control over the amount of pressure exerted on the tubing by the tubing cutter pliers during the cutting process. 
         [0012]    The disclosure provides a tubing cutter pliers, comprising: a first handle coupled to a first jaw, the first jaw having a gripping surface; a second handle coupled to a second jaw, the second jaw having a gripping surface, and the second handle being rotatably coupled to the first handle so that an object can be held between the first and second jaws; and at least one tubing cutter coupled to at least one of the jaws. 
         [0013]    The disclosure also provides a method of cutting and gripping a tubing, comprising: placing a pliers having a tubing cutter and jaws over the tubing; cutting the tubing with a tubing cutter on the pliers; and gripping the tubing with gripping surfaces on the jaws of the pliers. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    While the concepts provided herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, only a few specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are described in detail below. The figures and detailed descriptions of these specific embodiments are not intended to limit the breadth or scope of the concepts or the appended claims in any manner. Rather, the figures and detailed written descriptions are provided to illustrate the concepts to a person of ordinary skill in the art as required by 35 U.S.C. § 112. 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective schematic diagram of at least one embodiment of a tubing cutter pliers. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a schematic side view of a variation of the tubing cutter pliers of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective sectional view through jaw portions of the tubing cutter pliers of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a top perspective schematic view of the tubing cutter pliers of  FIG. 1  in the direction of a lower jaw and the cutter wheel. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    One or more illustrative embodiments of the concepts disclosed herein are presented below. Not all features of an actual implementation are described or shown in this application for the sake of clarity. It is understood that the development of an actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developer&#39;s goals, such as compliance with system-related, business-related and other constraints, which vary by implementation and from time to time. While a developer&#39;s efforts might be complex and time-consuming, such efforts would be, nevertheless, a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of this disclosure. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a perspective schematic diagram of at least one embodiment of a tubing cutter pliers. A tubing cutter pliers  2  generally includes a first handle  4  coupled with a first jaw  6  and a second handle  8  coupled with a second jaw  10 . The handles are rotatably coupled to each other about a pivot element  12  so that manipulation of the handles causes a change in spacing between the first and second jaws. In some embodiments, the tubing cutter pliers can include an adjustable initial height between the jaws for greater flexibility in the use of the pliers. In such embodiments, a spacing slot  14  can be provided in which the pivot element  12  can move in a translating direction up and down the slot relative to the other handle and jaw. Once the proper spacing is selected or otherwise reached, the pivot element  12  can engage the other corresponding handle and jaw by use of various elements known in the art. These include, for example, spacing elements  16 , such as teeth, ridges, slots, and other adjustable joints as may be found, for example, in self-adjusting pliers, arc joint pliers, slip joint pliers, long nose pliers, and other types of pliers known in the art with this particular feature. 
         [0021]    The jaws generally include a gripping surface which can be smooth or have a particular shape to assist in holding an element therebetween. For example, one or more of the jaws  6 ,  10 , can include gripping teeth  18  which may be particularly useful for circular or rounded elements disposed therebetween. The junction between the jaws  6 ,  10  adjacent the pivot element  12  forms a throat  20 . The throat  20 , as explained below, is conducive in at least one embodiment for placing the tubing cutter assembly of the tubing cutter pliers. Thus, the jaws  6 ,  10  would extend distally from the pivot element  12  relative to the tubing cutter assembly in at least some embodiments. In other embodiments, the orientation could be reversed, so that the tubing cutter assembly is distal from the throat relative to the jaws. Further, the tubing cutter assembly can be on an opposite side of the pivot element  12  relative to the jaws. 
         [0022]    The tubing cutting elements generally include at least a cutter wheel  22  described in more detail below and shown particularly in  FIG. 4 . Further, in at least some embodiments, the tubing cutter assembly can include one or more tubing rollers  24 . The tubing rollers  24  can assist in maintaining alignment with the cutter wheel  22  as the tubing cutter pliers  2  and a tubing is rotated relative thereto. Generally, the cutter wheel  22  includes a circular, relatively sharp surface that can shear with sufficient pressure a tubing placed adjacent thereto. The term “tubing” is used broadly herein and is intended to include any generally circular element that can be typically cut by a tubing cutter, and specifically includes tubing, pipe, conduit, and some bolts, and even bars. Additionally, the tubing cutter assembly can include one or more tubing rollers  24 . The tubing roller is generally a circular element that has a flatter surface than the cutter wheel  22 . The tubing roller  24  can act as a bearing surface about which the tubing can rotate as the tubing is being cut by the cutter wheel  22 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a schematic side view of a variation of the tubing cutter pliers of  FIG. 1 . Similar elements described in  FIG. 1  are similarly numbered. For illustrative purposes, a tubing  42  is shown drawn at a first location designated as a cutting position  44 , and at a second location designated as a gripping position  46  between the gripping surfaces of the jaws  6 ,  10 . The cutting position  44  is generally between the cutter wheel  22  and the tubing roller  24 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the cutting position  44  would generally be in the throat  20 . To help maintain alignment of the tubing  42  in the cutting position  44  when disposed between the cutter wheel  22  and the tubing roller  24 , an additional tubing roller  24   a  can be coupled to the tubing cutter pliers. Generally, the tubing roller  24  and tubing roller  24   a  will be disposed at an angular distance away from each other, such as angle “α”, where the angle would originate in the center point of the cutter wheel  22  as shown. Thus, a tubing  42  disposed between the cutter wheel  22  and the tubing rollers  24 ,  24   a  forms a triad which helps maintain the position of the tubing  42  to be cut therebetween. 
         [0024]    Advantageously and uniquely, the tubing cutter pliers  2  can cut the tubing  42  between the cutter wheel  22  and the tubing rollers  24 ,  24   a . Either prior to cutting or after cutting, the tubing  42  can be relocated along the jaws  6 ,  10  for gripping and handling of the tubing therebetween without necessitating another pair of pliers to grip the tubing. In some embodiments, the repositioning can occur without the tubing cutter pliers having to be removed from the tubing. Thus, the steps can be combined within one tool for both cutting and gripping the tubing. 
         [0025]    In at least one method of use, a tubing can be placed between the jaws  6 ,  10  at the gripping position  46 , and gripped, turned, or otherwise manipulated, if necessary. The tubing can simply be located within the throat  20  and the handles compressed either by squeezing the handles or by using an adjustable element  30 , if provided, to cut tubing between the cutter wheel  22  and the tubing rollers  24 ,  24   a . The tubing can be located to the gripping position  46  between the jaws  6 ,  10  for other or further manipulation. Variations of the sequence can naturally be made, such as cutting first, cutting last, not gripping in particular cases, or not cutting and only gripping. The flexibility of the present invention allows the operator to make such choices with a single tool that is heretofore not been possible. 
         [0026]    The particular embodiment of the tubing cutter pliers shown in  FIG. 2  can include a self-adjusting feature  40 . The self-adjusting bar  40  pivots longitudinally along the first handle  4  and is spring biased in position on the second handle  8 . When starting to grasp a tubing  42  between the jaws and squeezing the first and second handles  4 ,  8  together, the jaws initially move closer to each other, moving the pivot element  12  to a different translated position in the spacing slot  14 . Upon contact of the jaws with the tubing  42  or other element disposed therebetween and continued squeezing of the handles  4 ,  8 , the self-adjusting bar  40  slides longitudinally down the handle  8 . The translated movement of the self-adjusting bar  40  then allows the pivot element  12  to engage the spacing element  16  in the slot  14  and lock the pivot element  12  in a particular translated position, so that the pliers&#39; jaws can rotate thereafter in a conventional manner. The self-adjusting feature is known in the art and is covered, for example, by U.S. Pat. No. 4,651,598 and other similar patents, and is incorporated herein by reference. Other tubing cutter pliers may not have the self-adjusting feature and such features are described only for clarity and to include such exemplary pliers within the scope of the claims that follow. 
         [0027]    Generally, the handles  4 ,  8  can be squeezed together and the pliers rotated about the tubing  42  to be cut. Alternatively, the tubing can be rotated within the pliers. It may be advantageous to include an additional feature to help maintain a steady amount of pressure on the tubing cutter while cutting the tubing. An adjustable element  30  can be used to increase the cutting pressure on the tubing  42  to cut in a more controlled manner. In at least one embodiment, the adjustable element  30  can include a threaded rod that can be rotated so that the relative distance between the first handle  4  and the second handle  8  and therefore the jaws  6 ,  10  can be moved in a controlled fashion. For example and without limitation, the adjustable element  30  can be pivotally coupled to the first handle  4  at a first pivot  32 , and be pivotally and treadably coupled to the second handle  8  at a second pivot  34 . Further, the adjustable element  30  can include an adjuster  36 , such as a thumbwheel or other conveniently accessed element. Thus, the adjuster  36  could be rotated conveniently by hand pressure, so that the relative distance between the first handle  4  and the second handle  8  is decreased. The decreased distance between the handles causes the cutter wheel  22  to more firmly engage the tubing disposed therebetween. As the pliers are rotated relative to the tubing or vice versa, the cutter wheel engages the outer surfaces of the tubing and eventually cuts through the tubing. After cutting is complete, the adjuster  36  can be rotated in the opposite direction to release the pliers to operate in a more conventional manner. 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective sectional view through jaw portions of the tubing cutter pliers of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  illustrates elements described above in  FIGS. 1 and 2  and the numbering will be consistent therewith. The sectional portion of  FIG. 3  is cut through the second jaw  10  between the tubing roller  24  and tubing roller  24   a  and through a sectional portion of the cutter wheel  22  disposed on the first jaw  6 . In at least one embodiment, the relatively flatter surface of the roller  24   a  is illustrated compared to the relatively narrower and sharper cutting surface of the cutter wheel  22 . Also illustrated in  FIG. 3  is an exemplary embodiment of one or more of the tubing handles  4 ,  8 . For example, the first handle  4  can include a first side  26  and a second side  28 . Similarly, the second handle  8  can include a first side  26   a  and a second side  28   a . The various elements described herein can be located between the first sides  26 ,  26   a  and second sides  28 ,  28   a , including the adjustable element  30 , the self-adjusting bar  40 , and the various pivotal joints associated therewith. Further, tubing roller  24   a  and the cutter wheel  22  can be disposed between the first sides  26 ,  26   a  and second sides  28 ,  28   a  of the respective tubing handles  4 ,  8 . Other embodiments are possible, including cantilevered connections that extend outward from one or more of the sides. Thus, the embodiment shown is not to be restricted to the particular method of connecting the various joints. For example, the pliers could include a solid jaw without the separate laminar pieces. 
         [0029]    Further, the elements can be coupled to the handles, jaws, or a combination thereof by various fasteners such as pins, rivots, screws and other known fastening elements. For example, the cutter wheel  22  can be coupled to the first jaw  6  with a fastener  38 . Likewise, the tubing roller  24   a  can be coupled to the second jaw  10  with a fastener  38   b.    
         [0030]      FIG. 4  is a top perspective schematic view of the tubing cutter pliers of  FIG. 1  in the direction of a lower jaw and the cutter wheel. Looking down on the first handle  4  from  FIG. 2 , the first handle  4  is shown coupled to the first jaw  6 . In at least some embodiments, the jaw  6  can include gripping teeth  18  although the gripping surfaces of the jaw  6  could be flat, rounded, or otherwise as may be appropriate for the particular use of the tubing cutter pliers  2 . The cutter wheel  22  can be coupled to the first jaw  6  with a fastener  38 . The pivot element  12  can be coupled to the first handle  4  to rotate within the spacing slot  14  as described above. The adjustable element  30  is also shown pivotally coupled to the first handle  4  at a first pivot  32 , if the tubing cutter pliers  2  includes such feature. 
         [0031]    The various methods and embodiments of the invention can be included in combination with each other to produce variations of the disclosed methods and embodiments, as would be understood by those with ordinary skill in the art, given the understanding provided herein. Also, various aspects of the embodiments could be used in conjunction with each other to accomplish the understood goals of the invention. Also, the directions such as “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “upper,” “lower,” and other directions and orientations are described herein for clarity in reference to the figures and are not to be limiting of the actual device or system or use of the device or system. The term “coupled,” “coupling,” “coupler,” and like terms are used broadly herein and can include any method or device for securing, binding, bonding, fastening, attaching, joining, inserting therein, forming thereon or therein, communicating, or otherwise associating, for example, mechanically, magnetically, electrically, chemically, directly or indirectly with intermediate elements, one or more pieces of members together and can further include without limitation integrally forming one functional member with another in a unity fashion. The coupling can occur in any direction, including rotationally. Unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising ”, should be understood to imply the inclusion of at least the stated element or step or group of elements or steps or equivalents thereof, and not the exclusion of a greater numerical quantity or any other element or step or group of elements or steps or equivalents thereof. The device or system may be used in a number of directions and orientations. Further, the order of steps can occur in a variety of sequences unless otherwise specifically limited. The various steps described herein can be combined with other steps, interlineated with the stated steps, and/or split into multiple steps. Additionally, the headings herein are for the convenience of the reader and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
         [0032]    The invention has been described in the context of various embodiments and not every embodiment of the invention has been described. Apparent modifications and alterations to the described embodiments are available to those of ordinary skill in the art. The disclosed and undisclosed embodiments are not intended to limit or restrict the scope or applicability of the invention conceived of by the Applicant, but rather, in conformity with the patent laws, Applicant intends to protect all such modifications and improvements to the full extent that such falls within the scope or range of equivalent of the following claims. 
         [0033]    Further, any references mentioned in the application for this patent as well as all references listed in the information disclosure originally filed with the application are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety to the extent such may be deemed essential to support the enabling of the invention. However, to the extent statements might be considered inconsistent with the patenting of the invention, such statements are expressly not meant to be considered as made by the Applicant.