Abstract:
Canvas stretching locking pliers having upper and lower lateral plates disposed on the jaws thereof with the upper lateral plate having a plurality of pointed prongs for crimping the canvas and the lower lateral plate having corresponding prong apertures for receiving the prongs and canvas therein. A fulcrum extension is provided on the lower lateral plate for placement against the stretcher bar wherein lowering the articulating arms of said locking pliers pulls the canvas in a regulated manner without overstretching.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to mounting tools and, more specifically, to a canvas stretching tool for stretching and mounting a canvas to a stretcher frame in a taut, uniform manner without overstretching the canvas. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     There are other stretching devices designed for mounting a canvas. While these devices may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described. 
     It is thus desirable to provide a canvas stretching tool for pulling a canvas taut against a picture frame during the mounting process comprising locking pliers with a pair of articulating arms terminating in lateral jaw plates with the underside of one jaw plate having a plurality of prong elements projecting therefrom and the other jaw plate having a plurality of prong apertures corresponding with said prongs for grasping the canvas firmly during the stretching thereof. 
     It is further desirable to provide a canvas stretching tool wherein the lower jaw plate includes a fulcrum extension extending forwardly from the front portion thereof that is placed against the frame when the tool is angled into a raised position and pulls the canvas as it is lowered. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide canvas stretching locking pliers to stretch a canvas across a stretching frame uniformly without overstretching the canvas. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide canvas stretching locking pliers having a pair of articulating arms having lateral plates disposed on the jaws thereof. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide canvas stretching locking pliers having gripping elements disposed on the lateral plates. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide canvas stretching locking pliers wherein the gripping elements are a plurality of prongs on the upper lateral plate and corresponding apertures for receiving the prongs on the lower plate. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide canvas stretching locking pliers having a fulcrum extension projecting from the front of the lower lateral plate. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide canvas stretching locking pliers wherein the fulcrum extension regulates the degree of stretching of the canvas throughout the mounting process. 
     A yet further object of the present invention is to provide canvas stretching locking pliers wherein the fulcrum extension increases the ease of stretching the canvas across the stretcher frame. 
     A still yet further object of the present invention is to provide canvas stretching locking pliers wherein the lower lateral plate and fulcrum extension provide means for positioning the fulcrum extension abutting a desired corner to obtain tight corners in preparing gallery wraps. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide canvas stretching locking pliers where the lower lateral plate and fulcrum extension provide means for positioning the fulcrum extension abutting a desired corner having 45 degree support extending between adjoining frame sides to obtain tight corners in preparing gallery wraps. 
     Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
     The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing canvas stretching locking pliers having upper and lower lateral plates disposed on the jaws thereof with the upper lateral plate having a plurality of pointed prongs for crimping the canvas and the lower lateral plate having corresponding prong apertures for receiving the prongs and canvas therein. A fulcrum extension is provided on the lower lateral plate for placement against the stretcher strip wherein lowering the articulating arms of said locking pliers pulls the canvas in a regulated manner without overstretching. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
     The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the present invention in use. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a front sectional view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a front sectional view of the present invention in use. 
         FIG. 10  is a front view present invention in use. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the figures illustrate the Canvas Stretching Locking Pliers with Gripping Elements and Fulcrum Extension of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures.
           10  Canvas Stretching Locking Pliers with Gripping Elements and Fulcrum Extension of the present invention     12  lower stationary arm     14  upper pivoting locking arm     16  canvas     18  stretcher frame     20  upper jaw     22  upper lateral plate     24  prong     26  underside of  22       28  lower jaw     30  lower lateral plate     32  prong aperture     34  fulcrum extension member     36  stretcher bar     38  base portion of  24       40  top portion of  22       42  raised bar of  22       44  front upper edge of  34         

     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims. 
       FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of present invention. The present invention is canvas stretching locking pliers  10  having a lower stationary arm  12  and an upper pivoting locking arm  14  for stretching fabric, such as canvas  16 , onto a frame structure such as a stretcher frame  18  prior to fastening the material to the stretcher bar  36  of the frame. The two hinged arms terminate in an upper jaw  20  with an integral upper lateral plate  22  having a plurality of prongs  24  disposed on the underside  26  thereof and a lower jaw  28  with an integral lower lateral plate  30  having a plurality of prong apertures  32  corresponding to said prongs  24 . The prongs  24  pierce the canvas  16  and penetrate the apertures  32  when the jaws close. It is also an object of the invention that the fabric stretcher tool incorporates arm means for locking the tool when in a closed state and arm means for unlocking the tool to an open state when desired. Also shown is the lower lateral plate  30  having a fulcrum extension member  34  forming fulcrum for stretching the canvas  16  over the stretcher bar  36  of the stretcher frame  18 . The front upper edge  44  of the fulcrum extension  34  is placed against the stretcher bar  36  and the canvas  16  is stretched as the pliers are lowered to a horizontal position. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the canvas stretching locking tool for stretching a canvas across a stretcher bar. Shown is the tool comprising vice grip style canvas stretching locking pliers  10  comprising articulated arm  12  having lateral plate  30  affixed thereto with fulcrum extension member  34  extending therefrom and pivoting locking arm  14  having upper lateral plate  22  affixed thereto with canvas  16  securely held between the lateral plates. Also shown is the tool being used to in preparing a gallery wrap, where lateral plate  30  having fulcrum extension  34  provides for positioning the fulcrum extension member  34  abutting a corner of the stretcher bar  36  to tighten canvas  16  in a first direction for fastening to the stretcher bar. Then the canvas is cut or folded with the tool  10  moved to the adjoining side and the procedure repeated for stretching the canvas for fastening to the stretcher frame thereby providing nice tight corners for the gallery wrap. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the present invention. Shown is a perspective view of canvas stretching locking pliers  10  in an open position comprising a lower stationary arm  12  and an upper, pivoting locking arm  14  terminating in an upper lateral plate  22  having a plurality of spaced prongs  24  with the base portions  38  embedded in a raised bar  42  disposed on the top portion  40  thereof substantially aligned along the front portion of the plate and correspondingly mating prong apertures  32  of the lower lateral plate  30  for receiving the opposing plate prongs  24 . Further provided is the lower lateral plate  30  having a fulcrum extension  34  providing for regulating the pressure applied to the fabric across the leading edge. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the present invention. Illustrated is a perspective view of the canvas stretching locking pliers  10  in a closed position showing the upper pivoting locking arm  14  in the closed and locked position relative to the lower stationary arm  12  with the upper lateral plate  22  compressed in face to face relation and the fulcrum extension  34  projecting beyond the edges thereof. 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of the present invention. Shown is a side view of the canvas stretching locking pliers  10  in an open position comprising a lower stationary arm  12  terminating in a lower lateral plate  30  having a plurality of spaced prong apertures  32  substantially aligned along the front portion of the plate and corresponding with the prongs  24  of the upper lateral plate  22  related with the upper, pivoting locking arm  14 . Further provided in one of the plates having a fulcrum extension  34  there by varying the pressure applied to the fabric across the leading edge. 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of the present invention. Shown is a side view of the canvas stretching locking pliers  10  in a closed position comprising a lower stationary arm  12  terminating in a lower lateral plate  30  having a plurality of spaced prong apertures  32  substantially aligned along the front portion of the plate and corresponding with the prongs  24  of the upper lateral plate  22  related with the upper, pivoting locking arm  14 . Further provided in one of the plates having a fulcrum extension  34  there by varying the pressure applied to the fabric across the leading edge. 
       FIG. 7  is a front view of the present invention. Shown is the canvas stretching locking pliers  10  with the upper lateral plate  22  and the lower lateral plate  30  separated into the open position and the prongs  24  aligned with the prong apertures  32 . 
       FIG. 8  is a front sectional view of the present invention. Shown is the canvas stretching locking pliers  10  with the upper lateral plate  22  and the lower lateral plate  30  clamped into the closed position and the prongs  24  inserted within the prong apertures  32 . 
       FIG. 9  is a front sectional view of the present invention in use. Shown is the canvas stretching locking pliers  10  with the upper lateral plate  22  and the lower lateral plate  30  separated into the open position and the prongs  24  aligned with the prong apertures  32  with the canvas  16  placed therebetween. 
       FIG. 10  is a front view present invention in use. Shown is the canvas stretching locking pliers  10  with the upper lateral plate  22  and the lower lateral plate  30  clamped into the closed position and the prongs  24  inserted within the prong apertures  32  with the canvas  16  crimped therebetween. 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. 
     While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.