Abstract:
A hand tool similar in design to the commonly known “linesman” pliers with the added capacity to control the cut material during and after the cutting operation. The addition and placement of a shear edge on the outside of the jaw assembly allows the invention to maintain control of the cut material and to further manipulate the material if needed. The invention also include a tine on the leading edge of the above mentioned shear edge to increase the capacity of the invention to gain initial control of the material to be processed.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent No. 60/897,338 filed on Jan. 25, 2007. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The invention relates generally to pliers and handheld wire cutters. More particularly, the invention relates to pliers which incorporate a wire-cutting or strap-cutting capability. Specifically, the invention relates to such pliers which are configured both to simultaneously cut and hold a strap, a wire or the like. 
         [0004]    2. Background Information 
         [0005]    Pliers and handheld wire cutters are well known in the art. Pliers which have gripping jaws for holding various items in combination with cutting edges for cutting wires, straps and the like are also well known. Linesmans pliers, for example, all fall within this category. While such pliers are useful for both grasping and cutting straps and the like, they are not configured to simultaneously cut and hold a strap or wire. Nor do they employ a means or configuration that enhances their ability to effectively engage tightly affixed straps and the like. 
         [0006]    However, there are various situations which this ability to simultaneously grasp and cut a strap or wire is desired. For instance, in more recent years, packaging of toys and the like has utilized wires or various straps which extend through holes in cardboard or other parts of a package and wrap around a portion of the toy or other packaged item in order to secure the toy or item to the package in an effort to reduce theft and ensure the security of the merchandise during shipping. 
         [0007]    In such packaging, the wires or straps are configured in loops which must be cut or have the ends untwisted for removal. While some handheld wire cutters may be used to cut the strap or wire, these standard wire cutters do not allow the strap or wire to be held and controlled simultaneously. However, it is often necessary to pull the cut wire or strap through the holes in the package or from around the item of merchandise in order to release the item of merchandise from the package. In addition, sometimes such straps or wires may be cut more than one time which increases the likelihood of pieces thereof being strewn about the floor or various work surfaces. This not only creates a messy floor or work surface, but also may be a safety issue in creating small objects which may be swallowed by young children. The present invention addresses these and other problems in the art. 
         [0008]    In Kaiser et al U.S. Pat. No. 6,006,633, there is proposed a pliers configuration that can serve both the purposes of grasping materials and cutting materials but the actions cannot be conveniently performed simultaneously on the same piece of material. 
         [0009]    Further, in Elkins U.S. Pat. No. 7,174,640, the item is designed to cut cable ties leaving the end in a particular disposition. This tool does not gain control of the material to be cut at any point in the operation. 
         [0010]    Further still, U.S. Pat. No. 5,235,750 Brown, there is a proposed pliers like shear that is designed to maintain control of the material that is being cut during and after the shearing operation. This tool is designed to handle large thickness workpieces and controls both sides of the material. The design does not lend itself to wire like materials and controlling both sides of the cut material disallows the option of pulling only one side of the material with the intent of removing it from whatever it is binding. 
         [0011]    Another example of a cutting and holding tool is seen in Collins U.S. Pat. No. 7,073,261. This article is designed for pruning and loping operations and although it does maintain control of one side of the severed material its configuration does not lend itself to processing wire and cable tie like materials. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The present invention provides an apparatus comprising: first and second handles pivotally mounted on one another; first and second jaws respectively on the first and second handles and movable between open and closed positions; a first gripping surface on the first jaw; a second gripping surface on the second jaw which abuts or is closely adjacent the first gripping surface in the closed position; a side surface on the first jaw extending from the first gripping surface away from the second gripping surface; and a cutting projection on the second jaw which extends outwardly from adjacent the second gripping surface and which in the closed position extends beyond the first gripping surface in a direction away from the second gripping surface and is disposed closely adjacent or in abutment with the side surface. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of the pliers of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of the pliers including the jaws. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view of the jaws of the pliers. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is an end elevational view from the jaws end of the pliers. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing a wire or strap holding an object such as an item of merchandise to a wall such as the wall of a package. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the tine on the leading edge of the jaws being inserted into a portion of the loop formed by the wire or strap prior to the cutting thereof. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing the jaws of the pliers having cut the wire and continuing to hold the wire. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is similar to  FIG. 7  and shows the jaws of the pliers still grasping the wire and having removed it from the wall to which it was attached. 
       
    
    
       [0021]    Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    The pliers of the present invention are shown generally at  10  in  FIG. 1 . Pliers  10  are configured to cut and hold straps, wires and the like, and are especially useful for cutting and holding straps which are looped around an object or objects secured thereby. Pliers  10  include a jaw assembly  12  and a handle assembly  14  respectively adjacent first and second ends  16  and  18  which define therebetween a longitudinal direction of pliers  10 .  FIG. 1  shows longitudinally extending reference plane A passing through the pivot about which jaw assembly  12  and handle assembly  14  pivot. 
         [0023]    To facilitate an understanding of the invention, pliers  10  are indicated as having a top  17  and a bottom  19 . Handle assembly  14  includes a first or top handle  20  and a second or bottom handle  22  each of which is longitudinally elongated. Jaw assembly  12  includes a first or bottom jaw  24  connected to top handle  20  and a second or top jaw  26  connected to bottom handle  22 . Typically, top handle  20  and bottom jaw  24  are a rigid integral one-piece member. Likewise, bottom handle  22  and jaw  26  are typically a rigid integral one-piece member. Thus, the handles and jaws pivot about an axis B which lies in plane A between an open position ( FIG. 1 ) and a closed position ( FIG. 2 ). Pliers  10  may include a spring  28  between handles  20  and  22  so that pliers  10  are spring biased to the open position. As is the case with standard linesmen pliers, the pivoting of the handles and jaws occur only about a single axis, unlike adjustable pliers having a pivot which is moveable within a slot to increase or decrease the distance between the jaws for gripping objects with a wider variety of sizes. The single-axis concept for pliers  10  provides greater precision by eliminating the play between the handles experienced with the adjustable type pliers. 
         [0024]    Bottom and top jaws  24  and  26  include respective bottom and top gripping surfaces  30  and  32  which face one another, are spaced from one another in the open position and are closely adjacent or abut one another in the closed position.  FIG. 2  shows surfaces  30  and  32  being spaced slightly from one another in the closed position. Surfaces  30  and  32  are substantially flat and substantially parallel to or lie along plane A in the closed position. Each of surfaces  30  and  32  is typically knurled to provide greater gripping ability. Each of gripping surfaces  30  and  32  extends radially outwardly with respect to axis B. Jaws  24  and  26  respectively include bottom and top cutting edges  34  and  36  positioned radially inwardly from gripping surfaces  30  and  32  with respect to axis B. Each of cutting surfaces  34  and  36  likewise extend radially outwardly from axis B, are spaced apart from one another in the open position and abut one another in the closed position so that they lie along plane A in the closed position whereby they are configured to cut wires and straps in a standard manner. 
         [0025]    Bottom jaw  24  has a downwardly facing bottom surface  38 . Top jaw  26  has an upwardly facing top surface  40 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , surfaces  38  and  40  face generally away from one another and away from gripping surfaces  30  and  32 . Bottom jaw  24  has first and second opposed sides  42  and  44  which are substantially parallel to one another and a plane C which cuts through pliers  10  as shown in  FIG. 4  and along which handles  20  and  22  and jaws  24  and  26  are moveable (arrow D) between the open and closed positions. Plane C is thus substantially perpendicular to axis B and plane A. Bottom jaw  24  also includes a third outer surface or side  46  at first end  16  which typically is substantially perpendicular to each of planes A and C and parallel to axis B. Third side  46  faces away from axis B and handles  20  and  22 . Each of sides  42 ,  44  and  46  intersect and extend downwardly from gripping surface  30  toward bottom  38  of jaw  24 , and thus extend generally away from top gripping surface  32  and jaw  26 . 
         [0026]    With continued reference to  FIG. 4 , top jaw  26  includes first and second opposed outer surfaces or sides  48  and  50  which are substantially parallel to plane C and respectively aligned with sides  42  and  44  of bottom jaw  24 . Top jaw  26  further includes a third outer surface or side  52  which is substantially perpendicular to each of planes A and C and parallel with axis B. Third side  52  is aligned with third side  46  of bottom jaw  24 . Each of sides  48  and  52  intersect and extend upwardly from top gripping surface  32  toward top  40  of jaw  26  and thus away from bottom gripping surface  30  and bottom jaw  24 . Side  50  extends upwardly from a position radially inward of gripping surface  32 . 
         [0027]    In accordance with the invention, top jaw  26  includes a cutting projection  54  and a tine  56  which extend downwardly from gripping surface  32  and generally toward bottom jaw  24  when in the open position. More particularly, cutting projection  54  extends outwardly from second side  50  of upper jaw  26  away from first side  48  and downwardly from gripping surface  32  along a plane in which second side  50  lies. Cutting projection  54  thus intersects gripping surface  32  at an radially extending linear intersection  58  ( FIGS. 3-4 ) along a boundary of surface  32  which is furthest from side  48  and aligned with side  50 . Cutting projection  54  terminates at a longitudinally extending cutting edge  60 . Cutting projection  54  has an outwardly facing surface  62  which faces away from first side  48  and an inwardly facing surface  64  which faces toward first side  48 . Surface  64  is substantially perpendicular to gripping surface  32  and is closely adjacent or in abutment with second side  44  of lower jaw  24  in the closed position with cutting edge  60  disposed below gripping surface  30  in an overlapping fashion. 
         [0028]    Tine  56  extends downwardly from cutting edge  60  and thus further away from top gripping surface  32 . Tine  56  extends downwardly from adjacent third side  52  of top jaw  26  and may together with cutting projection  54  form an outer surface  66  which intersects third side  52  and faces away from axis B and handles  20  and  22 . Tine  56  typically tapers downwardly in a narrowing fashion from a wider portion  68  ( FIG. 3 ) adjacent cutting edge  60  to a narrower terminal portion  70  so as to form a generally pointed lower end of tine  56 . 
         [0029]    The operation of pliers  10  is described with reference to  FIGS. 5-8 .  FIG. 5  shows generally a wire or strap  72  which is used to secure two or more items to one another. For purposes of illustration, one of the objects is referred to as a wall  74  having a pair of holes  76  and  78  formed therethrough. Wall  74  may be any structure with a pair of holes extending therethrough and may be, for example, a wall of a package used to attach another object such as an item  80  of merchandise. Item  80  here is shown in fragmentary and dashed lines as the leg of a toy doll although item  80  may be any object. As shown in  FIG. 5 , strap or wire  72  extends through each of holes  76  and  78  and loops around item  80  and is twisted adjacent its free ends in order to secure item  80  to wall  74 . Other straps which are commonly used are plastic straps having one-way ratchet teeth thereon which allow for the tightening of the loop formed thereby around an item such as item  80  while preventing removal of one end of the strap from the other. It will be appreciated that various types of straps or wires may be used for this purpose. The loop of strap or wire  72  forms an interior space  82  there within in which a portion of wall  74  is disposed with strap  72  tightened to a degree so that only a relatively small portion of space  82  extends outwardly from wall  74 . 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , jaws  24  and  26  are positioned adjacent strap  72  and tine  56  is inserted into space  82  (arrow E) between strap  72  and wall  74  so that a portion of strap  72  is positioned adjacent cutting edge  60  of cutting projection  54 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , jaws  24  and  26  move toward the closed position in response to the squeezing together of handles  20  and  22  so that cutting projection  54  and bottom gripping surface  30  along second side  44  of lower jaw  24  cut wire  72  as cutting edge  60  moves downwardly beyond gripping surface  30  and inwardly-facing surface  64  of cutting projection  60  slides closely adjacent or in abutment with second side  44  in a shearing action. Wire  72  is thus severed to produce two cut ends  84  and  86 . As the cutting action occurs, gripping surfaces  30  and  32  grip the twisted portion of wire  72  and are thus configured to remove strap  72  from wall  74  while maintaining control of it. More particularly, as shown in  FIG. 8 , pliers  10  apply a force away from wall  74  to pull the portion of strap  72  adjacent cut end  84  through holes  76  and  78  and from around item  80  so that strap  72  is free from wall  74  and item  80 , and item  80  is no longer attached to wall  74 . 
         [0031]    Pliers  10  are thus configured to conveniently provide a gripping and a cutting capability which may be applied simultaneously in order that the gripping surfaces of the jaws of the pliers are able to maintain a grasp on the wire or strap, which is cut in a single cutting and clamping action via a single closing of pliers  10 . Thus, even if a given wire or strap might be cut by standard cutting edges of, for instance, linesman pliers, it would require the additional opening and closing of such pliers in order to further grasp the wire which would be cut thereby. Pliers  10  further offers the advantage of being able to easily cut a wire or strap which forms a closed loop or is otherwise disposed closely adjacent the object to which it attached via the insertion of the tine adjacent its cutting edge. Various changes may be made to pliers  10  which are within the scope of the present invention. One option is a cutting projection similar to cutting projection  54  which extends downwardly from top jaw  26  and overhangs third side  46  of bottom jaw  24  so that the cutting action would take place along third side  46  with a cutting projection disposed closely adjacent thereto in the closed position of such a pair of pliers. 
         [0032]    In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. 
         [0033]    Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.