Abstract:
A pair of preferably substantially buoyant-in-water hand pliers comprising a pair of non-metallic lever members each having a handle portion and a jaw portion and formed of material preferably having a density greater than water. The lever members are pivotally connected together at common central portions between the jaw and handle portions. Each handle portion preferably has one or more outwardly opening cavities formed into a side surface of the handle portions. An elongated tubular sheath preferably formed of material buoyant in water covers and sealingly encloses the cavities whereby the effective density of the pliers is less than that of water. An effective, durable, non-corrosive wire cutting arrangement is also provided, the components uniquely configured and supported in the non-metallic jaw portions.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not applicable 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not applicable 
   INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
   Not applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates generally to hand tool construction, and more particularly to a lightweight preferably non-conductive pair of pliers preferably having water buoyant characteristics and a durable, effective wire cutter for use by fishermen and boaters and others using such tools in the vicinity of water and/or electricity. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Boaters and fishermen and others who use hand tools in the vicinity of water are notorious for dropping hand tools irretrievably into the water. If the tool happens to be fabricated of metallic material, magnets may be used at the end of a long flexible line to afford some chance of retrieval. Additionally, use of metallic hand tools around salt water will quickly cause substantial, detrimental corrosion in the form of surface rust on such hand tools. Moreover, those conventional pliers which include a wire cutter do not work well at cutting high-tensile strength steel or stainless steel solid or braided leader wire. Another concern for users of such hand tools is with respect to the presence of water on the ground or floor surface or carelessness while using a conductive hand tool around sources of electric power and energized wiring and connectors therefor. 
   To address the issue of buoyancy in water, Kreitz teaches a set of floating pliers in U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,523 wherein a block of closed cell polymeric foam is inserted between the handle portions of the lever members to provide sufficient flotation to render the pliers buoyant and also to provide a resilient automatic jaw opening mechanism during use. 
   In U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,077, Moffitt discloses floating, non-conductive hand tools in the form of pliers or channel locks which utilize non-conductive lever members pivotally connected together. Water buoyancy is achieved either by entrapping gas or air within a sealed airtight hollow cavity formed within the handle portion of each lever member by special manufacturing methods and apparatus and/or by providing a closed-bottomed sheathing material having a low density substantially below that of water fitted over the end of the handle portion of each lever member. A further enhancement of that disclosure by Moffift is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,518 which additionally teaches wear resistant removable jaw members and a line cutter for nylon and fabric line only and being interconnected to one of the handle portions of one lever member thereof. 
   Pliers made from a plastic material are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,023,450 invented by Ygfors whose basic object is to produce pliers suitable for picking up small objects. 
   The present invention discloses a light weight preferably non-conductive, substantially non-corrosive preferably water buoyant pair of pliers which achieves water buoyancy through the cooperative effects of an elongated low density sleeve open at each end thereof and fitted over the handle portions of each lever member to sealingly enclose one or more open air cavities formed in outwardly opening fashion into each handle portion. An effective, corrosive-resistant two-part wire cutter secured into the mating faces of the plastic jaws which easily cuts steel wire and leader line is also provided. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention is directed to a pair of preferably non-conductive, buoyant-in-water hand pliers comprising a pair of non-metallic lever members each having a handle portion and a jaw portion and formed of material having a density greater than water. The lever members are pivotally connected together at common central portions between the jaw and handle portions. Each handle portion preferably has one or more outwardly opening cavities formed into a side surface of the handle portions. An elongated tubular sheath formed of material buoyant in water covers and sealingly encloses the cavity whereby the effective density of the pliers to less than that of water. An effective corrosive resistant two-part wire cutter arrangement secured into the non-metallic, preferably plastic jaws is also provided. 
   It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a lightweight preferably non-conductive pair of pliers having an effective high-strength wire cutter arrangement. 
   It is another object of this invention to provide a substantially non-corrosive pair of pliers which are substantially water buoyant, particularly in salt water and which will cut braided or solid leader wire of steel or composite material. 
   Still another object of this invention is to provide a non-corrosive polymer or plastic pair of pliers which includes an effective wire cutting arrangement for high-strength wire. 
   In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective exploded view of the invention as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the wire cutting blade of the invention as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is an end elevation view of  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 6  is a side elevation view of the cutting anvil of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 7  is an end elevation view of  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 8  is a bottom plan view of  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 9  is a transverse section view of the invention through the center of the cutting blade and anvil and respective supporting jaws associated therewith. 
       FIG. 10  is a side elevation enlarged partially broken view of the jaw portion and wire cutting components of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the invention is there shown generally at numeral  10 . This embodiment  10  is in the form of a pair of pliers having elongated handle portions  28  and  30  and shorter jaw portions  18  and  20 , each forming respective end portions of lever members  12  and  14 , respectively. 
   The two lever members  12  and  14  are pivotally connected together at their central overlapping portions about a pivotal axis  15 . A retaining cap  16  secures the two lever members  12  and  14  together. These components are formed of molded plastic or fiberglass material generally, and are preferably formed of a 43% glass fiber reinforced NYLON produced by Polyplastics Celanese, NYLON PA-66, Material No. 1603-2 having a relatively low density of 1.47 g/cc. The mating facing surfaces  22  of each of the jaw portions  18  and  20 , respectively, are serrated or grooved for enhanced gripping of objects therebetween when the handle portions  28  and  30  are first opened, then placed around an object and then squeezed for retention within the jaw portions  18  and  20  in a well-known manner. 
   Each of the handle portions  28  and  30  are substantially covered by tubular low-density sleeves  32  and  34 . Each of these sleeves  32  and  34  are formed of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) having a wall thickness of approximately 0.12″ and a density of approximately 0.12 g/cc. This foam material is of a closed cell design for air tightness and lightweight characteristics. 
   Each of the handle portions  28  and  30  include stops or flanges  46  and  48  which limit the longitudinal movement of the sheaths  32  and  34  when installed over the handle portions  28  and  30 . A lanyard aperture  44  is provided in one of the distal ends  36 . By this arrangement, each of the sheaths  32  and  34  are slidably installed onto the handle portions  28  and  30 , respectively, against the flanges  46  and  48  to prevent any further longitudinal movement along the handle portions  28  and  30 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 3 to 10 , the wire cutting aspect of the invention is there shown. This wire cutting aspect includes a wire cutting blade  24  and a mating anvil  26 , each of which is securely embedded into mating cavities molded into the facing jaw surfaces of the lever members  12  and  14 . 
   As best seen in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the cutting blade  24  is embedded into one of the jaws  18  while the anvil  26  is embedded into the other jaw  20  such that the cutting edge  64  is aligned with and makes central longitudinal contact with the flat anvil face  76 . Clearance scallops  80  and  82  are also provided. The cutting blade  24  is formed of class C2 micrograine tungsten-carbide material having a thickness of 0.087″, a length of 0.5″ and a width of 0.216″. The side bevels  66  are at an angle of 45° one to another with respect to the parallel side surfaces  60 . The embedded straight longitudinal edge  62  is radiused to the sides  60  for ease of assembly into the mating cavity formed into jaw  18 . 
   The anvil  26  is also formed of class C2 micrograine tungsten-carbide material having a thickness of 0.087″, a length of 0.5″ and a width of 0.25″. The profile  72  embedded within jaw  20  is preferably semi-circular, the purpose of which will be described in more detail herebelow. Tapered side surfaces  74  furthermost from the flat anvil surface  76  are tapered at an angle of 10° with respect to the side surfaces  70  to facilitate installation of the anvil  26  into preformed mating cavities within each jaw  20 . 
   Referring particularly to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the cutting blade  24  and the anvil  26  are secured within precisely mating pockets formed orthogonally into facing jaw surfaces of the jaws  18  and  20  by incorporating both an interference press fit and the use of an adhesive. Preferably, LOCKTITE 406, which is a rigid cyanoacrylate CA bonding material, not only forms an extremely strong bond, but also fills any small microgaps between the molded cavity and the corresponding cutting blade  24  and anvil  26  to enhance the securement of the cutting blade  24  and the anvil  26  in the designed position. Alternately, a flexible CA-type glue may be utilized which has additional impact strength and which provided a greater retention force should the bond be displaced slightly. 
   Should an extremely hard wire segment shown in phantom at B in  FIG. 10 , be cut at a point which is off center from each end of the mating cutting blade  24  and anvil  26 , the anvil  26  may rotate in the direction of arrow A such that the anvil surface  76  in phantom becomes misaligned with the cutting edge  64  of the cutting blade  26 . Should this occur, because the embedded periphery  72  is semi-circular, the jaws  18  and  20  only need be closed and the handle portions  40  and  42  squeezed together to exert sufficient force between the cutting edge  64  and the flat anvil surface  76  to realign these two surfaces by corresponding rotation of the entire anvil  26  back into the realigned position shown in solid line in  FIG. 10 . 
   A small clearance gap  84  between the facing jaw surfaces of jaw portions  18  and  20  is also provided so that the resiliency of the non-metallic or plastic material forming the jaw portions  18  and  20  may be compensated for so as to insure that the cutting edge  64  and the anvil surface  76  always make contact before the facing surfaces of the jaw portions  18  and  20  do so. By this arrangement, the resiliency of the material forming the jaw portions will elastically deform sufficiently by handle portion pressure to cause the cutting blade  24  and the anvil  26  to resiliently deform the mating pockets within the jaw portions  18  and  20  so that the facing jaw surfaces  18   a  and  20   a  will physically touch to grasp very thin objects. This initial gap is in the range of 0.02″ to 0.04″. 
   Buoyancy in Water 
   One of the most important features of the invention, that being buoyancy in water, is achieved as shown in  FIG. 2 . The essence of the buoyancy of this invention is achieved through the combination of very light weight low density closed-cell foam material selected in the manufacture of each of the sheaths  32  and  34 , in combination with the overall size and dimensions thereof and a series of one or more properly sized cavities  36  and  38  which are formed into the side surfaces of each of the handle portions  40  and  42 . 
   As each of these sheaths  32  and  34  are assembled onto the handle portions  40  and  42 , each of cavities  36  and  38  are automatically sealed closed. These cavities  36  and  38  are formed in open fashion into the side surfaces of each of the handle portions  42  and  40  such that, when the tightly fitting sheaths  32  and  34  formed of somewhat elastic material are slidably assembled onto the handle portions  40  and  42 , the airtight sealing of these cavities  36  and  38  is achieved. Note additionally that the size of each of these cavities  36  and  38  is effectively enlarged outwardly due to the fact that the actuate configuration of the inner surface of the foam sleeves  32  and  34  extends outwardly from the open perimeter of the cavities  36  and  38 . 
   Note further that, in the preferred embodiment shown, a plurality of cavities  36  and  38  are formed into the side surfaces in opposing inward directions of each of the handle portions  40  and  42 . Thus, a somewhat “H”-shaped section is produced with sufficient plastic material utilized to form the web or central part of the “H”-shaped section of handle portions  40  and  42  for further increased depth of each of these cavities  36  and  38  toward the central plane of each of the handles  40  and  42  if desired for added buoyancy 
   Moreover, by providing multiple cavities  36  and  38  extending in end-to-end fashion on either side surface of each of the handle portions  40  and  42 , should one of the sheaths  32  or  34  be punctured or cut to the extent that water is allowed to enter into and flood one or more of the cavities, only a small portion of the buoyancy of the pliers  10  results from such a breach of air-tight status. 
   An example utilizing the embodiment of the invention is here provided. The pair of pliers, having an overall length of 6½″, have the following additional physical characteristics:
         Total weight of plastic material: (3 pcs.): 59.95 g.   Total volume of plastic (3 pcs.): 39.43 cc.   Total weight of foam sheaths (2 pcs): 3.19 g.   Total volume of foam sheaths (2 pcs): 26.62 cc.   Total volume of trapped air within the cavities collectively: (16 cavities): 4.50 cc.       

   When formed based upon the above described plastic material having a density of 1.47 g/cc and a foam material having a density of 0.12 g/cc, the effective density of the entire assembly was less than 1.0 g/cc, sufficient to establish buoyancy in water. 
   Although it is preferred to have approximately 16 to 20 individual cavities which become fully airtight and water impervious upon installation of the tubular sheaths onto the handle portions as above described, it should be understood that one elongated open cavity formed into one or both sides of one or both of the handle portions which has a sufficiently trapped air tight volume to establish the overall buoyancy in water of the pair of pliers in combination with the above described foam sheaths is within the scope of this invention. 
   While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in what are conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be afforded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent apparatus and articles.