Patent Publication Number: US-6338184-B1

Title: Manually-operated sealing tool for joining end portions of plastic strapping, seal member, and sealed joint formed thereby

Description:
This patent application is a Divisional patent application of prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/598,599, which was filed on Jun. 21, 2000. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to manually-operated sealing tools, and more particularly to a manually-operated sealing tool for joining the overlapped ends of plastic strapping, as well as to the seal member and the sealed joint formed upon the overlapped ends of the strapping by means of such tool effectively crimping the preformed seal member onto the overlapped ends of the plastic strapping. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Manually-operated sealing tools for joining and sealing the overlapped ends of steel or plastic strapping are of course well-known and the state of the prior art is exemplified by means of U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,185 which was issued on Jan. 7, 1992 to Angarola, U.S. Pat. No. 3,333,607 which was issued on Aug. 1, 1967 to Haraden, U.S. Pat. No. 3,089,366 which was previously issued on May 14, 1963 to Haraden, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,680,979 which was issued on Jun. 15, 1954 to Childress. In addition, it is seen that U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,575 which was issued on May 5, 1992 to Angarola et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,636,592 which was issued on Jan. 25, 1972 to Beach, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,237,256 which was issued on Mar. 1, 1966 to Young are also of interest for their disclosures of various sealed joints which are impressed or formed upon overlapped end portions of steel or plastic strapping. 
     While the aforenoted tools, particularly, for example, the tool such as that disclosed and illustrated within the patent issued to Childress, certainly operate satisfactorily in that they adequately perform clinching or crimping operations in connection with the mounting of seal members upon overlapped ends of strapping, the tools are relatively complex. In addition, and more importantly, while such tools can of course readily achieve their sealing functions, the resulting crimped seals, comprising the seal members and the overlapped ends of the strapping, are relatively flat or planar. Accordingly, the seals are relatively insecure in that the seals are subject to disengagement, that is, the overlapped ends of the strapping can become loosened with respect to each other, under the exertion of tensile loads because the flat or planar surfaces of the strapping ends can in effect slide or move with respect to each other. 
     A need therefore exists in the art for a new and improved manually-operated sealing tool for sealing the overlapped ends of plastic strapping, as well as for a seal member to be used in conjunction with such tool, by means of a sealed joint which will effectively prevent the loosening or relative disengagement of the overlapped ends of the plastic strapping with respect to each other. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved manually-operated sealing tool, seal member, and sealed joint, for sealing together the overlapped ends of plastic strapping. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved manually-operated sealing tool, seal member, and sealed joint, for sealing together the overlapped ends of plastic strapping wherein such tool, seal member, and sealed joint effectively overcome the various draw-backs and operational disadvantages characteristic of the PRIOR ART. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved manually-operated sealing tool, seal member, and sealed joint, for sealing together the overlapped ends of plastic strapping wherein such tool is relatively simple in construction. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved manually-operated sealing tool, seal member, and sealed joint, for sealing together the overlapped ends of plastic strapping wherein such tool can effectively crimp the seal member upon the overlapped ends of the strapping such that the resulting sealed joint has a substantially undulated configuration whereby such sealed joint, comprising the crimped seal member and the overlapped ends of the strapping, effectively comprises a locked structure such that the overlapped ends of the strapping cannot become loosened or disengaged with respect to each other. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The foregoing and other objectives are achieved in accordance with the teachings and principles of the present invention through the provision of a new and improved manually-operated sealing tool, seal member, and sealed joint, for sealing together the overlapped ends of plastic strapping wherein such tool can effectively crimp the seal member upon the overlapped ends of the strapping such that the resulting sealed joint has a substantially undulated configuration. In this manner, the sealed joint, comprising the crimped seal member and the overlapped ends of the plastic strapping, effectively comprises a locked structure such that the overlapped ends of the plastic strapping cannot become loosened or disengaged with respect to each other. The tool comprises a pair of manually-operated handles, an anvil, a pair of jaws operatively connected to the manually-operated handles, and a pair of side plates. The inner surfaces of the jaws comprise convex and concave portions, and the anvil member comprises in effect a central convex portion and a pair of recessed side portions. The side plates and anvil portions therefore define relative convex and concave portions which cooperate with the concave and convex portions of the inner surfaces of the jaws when the jaws are moved to their crimping positions. Consequently, the resulting locked structure, comprising the crimped seal member and the overlapped end portions of the plastic strapping, has an undulated configuration whereby loosening or disengagement of the overlapped ends of the plastic strapping is effectively prevented. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a new and improved manually-operable sealing tool for sealing together the overlapped ends of plastic strapping; 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the new and improved manually- operated sealing tool for sealing together the overlapped ends of plastic strapping as shown in FIG.  1  wherein the handles and jaws are disposed in their opened positions; 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the new and improved manually operated sealing tool for sealing together the overlapped ends of plastic strapping as shown in FIG. 2 showing, however, the handles and jaws disposed in their closed positions; 
     FIG. 4 is a first embodiment of a new and improved seal member be used in connection with the new and improved manually-operated sealing tool shown in FIGS. 1-3 and to be applied to the overlapped ends of the plastic strapping so as to form a locked joint upon the overlapped ends of the plastic strapping and thereby securely seal such overlapped ends of the plastic strapping together; 
     FIG. 5 is a second embodiment of a new and improved seal member to be used in connection with the new and improved manually-operated sealing tool shown in FIGS. 1-3 and to be applied to the overlapped ends of the plastic strapping so as to form a locked joint upon the overlapped ends of the plastic strapping and thereby securely seal such overlapped ends of the plastic strapping together; 
     FIG. 6A is a partial cross-sectional view of the side plates, anvil, and jaw components of the manually-operated tool shown in FIGS. 1-3 when the components are disposed at their relative positions with respect to each other and with respect to the overlapped ends of the plastic strapping just prior to initiation of a crimping operation to be performed in connection with the seal member so as to apply the same to the overlapped ends of the plastic strapping; 
     FIG. 6B an end elevational view, corresponding to the partial, cross-sectional view of FIG. 6A, showing the seal member and overlapped ends of the plastic strapping during such initial disposition of the seal member with respect to the overlapped ends of the plastic strapping; 
     FIG. 7A is a partial cross-sectional view of the side plates, anvil, and jaw components of the manually-operated tool shown in FIGS. 1-3, and similar to that of FIG. 6A illustrating, however, the components disposed at their relative positions with respect to each other and with respect to the overlapped ends of the plastic strapping during the initial folded disposition of the side portions of the seal member during the crimping operation being performed in connection with the seal member so as to apply the same to the overlapped ends of the plastic strapping; 
     FIG. 7B is an end elevational view, corresponding to the partial, cross-sectional view of FIG. 7A, showing the seal member and overlapped ends of the plastic strapping during the initial folded disposition of the side portions of the seal member with respect to the overlapped ends of the plastic,strapping; 
     FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the side plates, anvil, and jaw components of the manually-operated tool shown in FIGS. 1-3, and similar to that of FIGS. 6A and 7A illustrating, however, the components disposed at their relative positions with respect to each other and with respect to the overlapped ends of the plastic strapping during the final stage of the crimping operation whereby the seal member and the overlapped end portions of the plastic strapping now have the undulated configuration such that the seal member and the overlapped ends of the plastic strapping are securely locked together; 
     FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the seal member and the overlapped end portions of the plastic strapping showing such components in their final crimped mode and having the undulated configuration such that the seal member and the overlapped ends of the plastic strapping are securely locked together; 
     FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view, similar to those of FIGS. 6A,  7 A, and  8 , showing in more detail the side plates, anvil, and jaw components of the manually-operated tool when the components are disposed at their relative positions with respect to each other and with respect to the overlapped ends of the plastic strapping during the final stage of the crimping operation such that the seal member and the overlapped ends of the plastic strapping are formed with the undulated configuration. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1-3 thereof, a new and improved manually-operable sealing tool, for lockingly sealing together overlapped ends of plastic strapping and constructed in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention, is disclosed and is generally indicated by the reference character  10 . The sealing tool  10  is seen to comprise a pair of identical handles  12 , 12  each of which respectively has a manipulative distal end portion  14 , 14  and an actuated proximal end portion  16 , 16 . More particularly, each one of the proximal end portions  16 , 16  comprises a laterally inward clevis axle portion  18  and a laterally outward pivot portion  20 . It is noted that one of the members comprising each one of the clevis axle portions  18  is laterally offset with respect to the other one of the members comprising each one of the clevis axle portions  18  as at  22 , and this structure permits the two clevis axle portions  18 , 18  to be enmeshed or interdigitated with respect to each other when the clevis axle portions  18 , 18  are assembled with respect to each other upon a toggle pin  24  which is adapted to pass through the clevis axle portions  18 , 18  as well as an axially central washer  26 . 
     An anvil member  28  is provided with a central section  30  and a pair of side portions  32 , 32  wherein the side portions  32 , 32  are integral with the central section  30  and extend axially outwardly from the central section  30 . The anvil member  28  further comprises a pair of transversely disposed end portions  34 , 34  which are also integral with, and in effect comprise extended portions of, the central section  30 , and a pair of side plates  36 , 36  are adapted to be fixedly mounted upon the side portions  32 , 32 . More particularly, the anvil member  28  is provided with an axially extending throughbore  38  which passes axially through the side portions  32 , 32  as well as the central section  30 , and each one of the side plates  36 , 36  is respectively correspondingly provided with an aperture  40 , 40 . A threaded bolt fastener  42  is adapted to be passed through the apertures  40 , 40  defined within the side plates  36 , 36  as well as the throughbore  38  of the anvil member  28 , and a nut member  44  is adapted to be threadedly disposed upon the threaded end portion of the bolt fastener  42  such that the side plates  36 , 36  are fixedly mounted upon the oppositely disposed side portions  32 , 32  of the anvil member  28 . It is further noted that each one of the side plates  36 , 36  includes an axially outwardly upset slotted or track portion  46 , 46  for housing or accommodating the opposite distal ends of the toggle pin  24  whereby, as will be more fully appreciated hereinafter, after the toggle pin  24  has been passed through apertures  47 , 47  defined within each one of the clevis axle portions  18 , 18  respectively defined upon the handles  12 , 12 , the opposite distal ends of the toggle pin  24  can reciprocatingly move or ride within the slots or tracks  46 , 46  as the tool handles  12 , 12  are manipulated during relative opening and closing movements thereof in connection with a sealing and crimping operative cycle to be performed upon a seal member to be applied to the overlapped end portions of the plastic strapping. 
     With reference continuing to be made to FIGS.  1 - 3 , the sealing tool  10  is seen to further comprise a pair of pivotal jaws  48 , 48  wherein the pivotal jaws  48 , 48  are adapted to be pivotally mounted upon the anvil member  28  and interposed between the oppositely disposed side plates  36 ,  36 . More particularly, each one of the pivotal jaws  48 , 48  comprises a pair of axially spaced side frame members  50 , 50  which are integrally connected together by means of a crimping jaw member  52  which is integrally connected to first end portions of the side frame members  50 , 50  and a cross-piece  54  which is integrally connected to intermediate portions of the side frame members  50 , 50 . As a result of such structure, a substantially rectangularly-shaped aperture  56  is defined within each pivotal jaw  48  which is adapted to house or accommodate a respective one of the end portions  34  of the anvil member  28 . The ends portions  34 , 34  are each respectively provided with a throughbore  58 , 58 , and in a corresponding manner, the side frame members  50 , 50  of each one of the pivotal jaws  48 , 48  are respectively provided with apertures  60 ,  60 . The side plates  36 , 36  are also respectively provided with apertures  62 , 62 , and a jaw pin  64  is adapted to be passed through the apertures  62 , 62  of each side plate  36 , 36 , the apertures  60 , 60  defined within each pivotal jaw  48 , 48 , and the throughbore  58  defined within the anvil member  28 , with the opposite end portions of the jaw pin  64  being snap-fitted within the apertures  62 , 62  of the side plates  36 , 36 , so as to pivotally mount the pivotal jaws  48 , 48  upon the anvil member  28  and between the side plates  36 , 36 . 
     It is still further to be appreciated that the free end portions of the side frame members  50 , 50  of each pivotal jaw  48 , 48 , along with each cross-piece  54 , together define a clevis portion  66 , 66  which is adapted to respectively house or accommodate the pivot portion  20 , 20  of each handle  12 , 12 . More particularly, each one of the free end portions of the side frame members  50 , 50  is provided with an aperture  68 , while the pivot portions  20 , 20  of the handles  12 , 12  are provided with throughbores  70 , 70 . In addition, in order to assemble such pivot portions  20 , 20  of the handles  12 , 12  within the clevis portions  66 , 66  of the pivotal jaws  48 , 48 , each assembly further includes a link pin  72 , 72  which is passed through the clevis member apertures  68 , 68  and the pivot portion throughbores  70 , 70  so as to pivotally retain the pivotal jaws  48 , 48  assembled with the handles  12 , 12 . 
     As can readily be appreciated from FIGS. 2 and 3, when the handles  12 , 12  are pivoted with respect to the toggle pin  24  so as to be disposed in their relatively opened position as shown in FIG. 2, the opposite ends of the toggle pin  24  are disposed at the upper ends of the slots, channels, or tracks  46 , 46  of the side plates  36 , 36 , the pivotal jaws  48 , 48  are pivoted around the jaw pins  64 , 64  such that the clevis end portions  66 , 66  of the pivotal jaws  48 , 48  are pivoted radially inwardly so as to be disposed adjacent to each other while the jaw members  52 , 52  are effectively pivoted radially outwardly so as to be relatively remote from each other and thereby disposed at relatively opened positions. The manually-operable tool  10  is therefore readied for the initiation of a crimping operation whereby a seal member  74  can be lockingly sealed upon overlapped end portions  76 , 76  of plastic strapping. Subsequently, when the handles  12 , 12  are pivoted with respect to the toggle pin  24  so as to be disposed in their relatively closed position as shown in FIG. 3, the opposite ends of the toggle pin  24  are disposed at the lower ends of the slots, channels, or tracks  46 , 46  of the side plates  36 , 36 , the pivotal jaws  48 ,  48  are pivoted around the jaw pins  64 , 64  such that the clevis end portions  66 , 66  of the pivotal jaws  48 , 48  are pivoted radially outwardly so as to be disposed relatively remote from each other while the jaw members  52 , 52  are effectively pivoted radially inwardly so as to be moved toward each other to their relatively closed position. In this manner, the jaw members  52 , 52  perform the crimping operation upon the seal member  74  so as to lockingly engage or seal the same upon the overlapped end portions  76 , 76  of the plastic strapping. 
     In connection with the particulars comprising the crimping operation so as to lockingly secure the seal member  74  upon the overlapped end portions  76 , 76  of the plastic strapping, it is initially noted that a first embodiment of the seal member  74  constructed in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention is disclosed within FIG.  4 . It is noted that the seal member  74  comprises a three-sided structure which generally has the configuration of an inverted U and is seen to be defined by means of an upper member  78  and a pair of dependent side members  80 , 80 . In addition, unlike the conventional seal member disclosed within the aforenoted U.S. Pat. No. 3,237,256 which was issued to Young on Mar. 1, 1966, the side members  80 , 80  are effectively disposed in a convergent mode with respect to each other as opposed to the divergent mode as disclosed within Young. This convergent mode of the side members  80 , 80  enables the seal member, disposed around the overlapped ends of the plastic strapping, to be advantageously initially disposed or positioned within the manually-operable tool  10  in preparation for the crimping operation to be performed upon the seal member  74  so as to lockingly secure the seal member  74  upon the overlapped end portions  76 , 76  of the plastic strapping. More particularly, as may best be appreciated from FIGS. 1-3, the lower edge portion of each one of the side plates  36 , 36  of the tool  10  is provided with a three-sided cut-out region  82  which has a predetermined dimension wherein the cut-out regions  82 , 82  cooperate together so as to in effect define an axially oriented channel  84 , as best seen in FIG. 2, within which the seal member  74 , and the overlapped ends  76 , 76  of the plastic strapping, can be longitudinally disposed. As can then be best appreciated from FIGS. 2 and 3, the jaw members  52 , 52  can then engage the dependent sides  80 , 80  of the seal member  74  so as to effectively move the dependent sides  80 , 80  of the seal member  74  from their relatively opened position to their relatively closed position at which the seal member  74  is then crimped upon the overlapped end portions  76 , 76  of the plastic strapping. 
     As can also be seen from FIG. 4, and in order to increase or enhance in effect the gripping force generated between the seal member  74  and the outer surfaces of the overlapped end portions  76 , 76  of the plastic strapping when the seal member  74  is crimpingly locked upon the end portions  76 , 76  of the plastic strapping, the interior surfaces of the seal member  74  may be provided with a grit material  86  similar to that disclosed within the aforenoted patent issued to Young. However, as disclosed within FIG. 5, a second embodiment of the seal member is disclosed and is denoted by the reference character  174  wherein in lieu of the grit material  86 , the interior surfaces of the seal member  174  may be provided with teeth members  188  which are similar to the teeth disclosed within U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,575 which was issued to Angarola et al. on May 5, 1992 or to the teeth disclosed within U.S. Pat. No. 3,636,592 which issued to Beach on Jan. 25, 1972. It is to be noted that unlike the teeth of the aforenoted patents, the teeth members  188  all have their apex portions oriented in the same direction, that is, toward the right as seen in FIG. 5, so as to further enhance the prevention of separation of the overlapped end portions  76 , 76  of the plastic strapping when the overlapped end portions  76 , 76  of the plastic strapping are in fact overlapped together as shown in FIGS. 6A,  7 A,  8 , and  9 . 
     With reference lastly being made to FIGS. 6A-9 and  10 , the formation of the sealed or crimped joint upon the overlapped end portions  76 , 76  of the plastic strapping, and the unique, new and improved structure of the tool  10  constructed in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention for forming such sealed or crimped joint, is disclosed. More particularly, it is seen that each cut-out region  82 , 82  of each side plate  36 , 36  comprises undersurface or bottom surface portions  90 , 90 , the central section  30  of the anvil  28  comprises a first bottom or undersurface portion  92 , and each one of the side portions  32 ,  32  of the anvil  28  comprises a second bottom or undersurface portion  94 , 94 . 
     In addition, as can best be appreciated from FIGS. 6A,  7 A,  8 , and  10 , the second undersurface portions  94 , 94  of the side portions  32 , 32  of the anvil  28  are in effect disposed at an elevational level which is raised, offset, or recessed with respect to, or above, the elevational level of the undersurface portions  90 , 90  of the side plates  36 , 36  and the first undersurface portion  92  of the central section  30  of the anvil  28 . In this manner, the undersurface region across the tool as considered in the axial direction has in effect an undulated configuration. In particular, it is seen in effect that the undersurface portions  90 , 92 , and  94  define alternative sections having substantially trapezoidal configurations. In a similar manner, it is seen that the upper inner surface of each one of the jaw members  52 , 52  of the pivotal jaws  48 , 48  is provided with a pair of axially spaced protrusions  96 , 96  which define third surface portions which are in effect axially aligned with the second under-surface portions  94 , 94  of the side portions  32 , 32  of the anvil  28 , while in effect a fourth depressed or recessed portion  98  is defined at an axially central portion of each jaw member  52 , 52 . In a manner similar to portions  90 , 92 , 94 , it is seen that the protrusions  96  and portion  98  comprise sections having substantially trapezoidal configurations which are complementary to portions  90 , 92 , 94 . Accordingly, when the pivotal jaws  48 , 48  are moved to their full closed positions, the upwardly extending projections or protrusions  96 ,  96  will cooperate with the second undersurface portions  94 ,  94  of the side portions  32 , 32  of the anvil  28 , the recessed portion  98 , 98  of each jaw member  52 , 52  will cooperate with the first undersurface portion  92  of the central section  30  of the anvil  28 , and the undersurface portions  90 , 90  of the side plate recessed portions  82 , 82  will be disposed upon the sides of the jaw members  52 , 52  and at levels substantially coincident with the first surface portion  92  whereby as best seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, the resulting crimped seal member  74  and overlapped end portions  76 , 76  of the plastic strapping are formed with an undulated configuration across the axial extent thereof so as to form the resulting joint  100  wherein each alternative section of the undulated joint likewise has a substantially trapezoidal configuration. This is significant because the overlapped end portions  76 , 76  therefore cannot be simply pulled apart when axially oriented tensile forces are impressed upon the overlapped end portions  76 , 76  of the plastic strapping. 
     Thus, it may be seen that in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention, a new and improved manually-operable crimping tool for lockingly securing a seal member upon overlapped end portions of plastic strapping has been developed and disclosed. The tool is provided with the particularly aforenoted structure such that the resulting crimped seal member and overlapped end portions of the plastic strapping have an undulated configuration whereby the overlapped end portions of the plastic strapping cannot readily become loosened or disengaged with respect to each other under the influence of axially applied tensile forces. The present invention is also directed toward the particularly structured or configured seal member as well as toward the resulting sealed joint formed or defined between the seal member and the overlapped end portions of the plastic strapping. 
     Obviously, many variations and modifications of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.