Patent Publication Number: US-2021187702-A1

Title: Ergonomic plier

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application claims priority to EP19218319.2, filed Dec. 19, 2019, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an ergonomic plier tool. More specifically, the invention relates to a piston actuated ergonomic plier tool having a rotative and exchangeable head. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The general concept of a pliers or cutting snips is well known. These handheld tools are used to manipulate or cut various objects. Typically, these tools include first and second arms that are rotatably held together at a fulcrum. At one end, these arms include opposing working portions and handles portions at the ends distal thereto. In operation, a user moves the handles ends close to one another, which, in turn closes the working portions so that an object can be manipulated or cut. Critically, these standard tools can only function in a single orientation or plane. In other words, as the handles are moved together through an imaginary X-Y plane, the working portions also operate through the same X-Y plane. This lack of versatility is a drawback. 
     Mechanics, electricians or even your average do-it-yourselfer, often need to use their tools in tight spaces. It is not uncommon for these tight spaces to only offer space for an operator&#39;s hand in the X-Y plane, but the object to be cut/manipulated is in the X-Z plane. In this situation, standard pliers/snips would not be effective. It would be advantageous to have a tool that would allow an operator&#39;s hand to function in one plane while the working end of the tool operators in a second different plane. In addition to the foregoing, it would also be advantageous to have a tool that has replaceable heads such that it could operate as either pliers or snips. The present invention overcomes one or more of the foregoing shortcomings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to an aspect of the invention, a tool having a body defining a cavity and including a handle portion. The tool also includes a lever hingedly fixed to the body. The lever includes both a piston engaging portion and a trigger portion. The piston engaging portion of the lever is disposed within the cavity of the body. The lever is also movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the trigger portion is distal from the handle portion and the piston engaging portion is proximal thereto. In the second position, the trigger portion is proximal to the handle portion and the piston engaging portion is distal thereto. The tool also includes a head cylinder that is at least partially disposed within the cavity. The head cylinder has a body engaging portion and a jaw receiving portion. The body engaging portion ( 26 ) further defines a piston cavity that opens into the jaw receiving portion. The tool also includes a piston disposed within the piston cavity. The piston includes a lever engaging portion and a jaw engaging portion. The piston is movable between a retracted position and an advanced position. In the retracted position, the piston does not extend into the jaw receiving portion. In the advanced position, the piston extends into the jaw receiving portion. The tool also includes a jaw assembly disposed in the jaw receiving portion. The jaw assembly includes a first jaw and second jaw that are rotatably coupled to one another at a fulcrum. Each of the first and second jaws include a working portion and a piston engaging portion. The jaw assembly is movable between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the respective working portions are spaced apart from one another and the piston engaging portions are adjacent one another. In the closed position, the respective working portions are adjacent one another and the piston engaging portions are spaced apart. The tool is characterized in that the head cylinder is freely rotatable within the cavity. The tool is further characterized in that in that the piston engaging portion of the lever is in communication with the lever engaging portion of the piston, and the jaw engaging portion of the piston is in communication with the piston engaging portions of the jaws, such that when the lever is moved from its first position to it second position, the piston is moved from its retracted position to its advanced position, and the jaw assembly is moved from its open position to its closed position. 
     These and other objects, features, and characteristics of the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structure and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. In one embodiment of the invention, the structural components illustrated herein are drawn to scale. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. In addition, it should be appreciated that structural features shown or described in any one embodiment herein can be used in other embodiments as well. As used in the specification and in the claims, the singular form of “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Features of the tool in accordance with one or more embodiments are shown in the drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like elements. The drawings form part of this original disclosure in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of the tool according the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded view of the tool; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the tool; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a detailed perspective view of piston of the tool engaging the assembly; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a detailed perspective view of the body of the tool; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a detailed perspective view of the head cylinder; and 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a detailed perspective view of the piston. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT(S) 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  respectively illustrate perspective and exploded views of a tool  10  according to the present invention. The tool  10  includes a body  12 , a lever  18 , a head cylinder  24 , a piston  32 , and a jaw assembly  38 , which includes first and second jaws  40 ,  42 . Body  12  defines a cavity  14  and also includes a handle portion  16 . Generally speaking, body  12  is L-shaped with the cavity  14  and the handle portion being spaced apart. As best seen in  FIG. 5 , the cavity  14  is positioned along Axis A. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , Lever  18  is hingedly fixed to the body  12 . Lever  18  also includes a piston engaging portion  20  and a trigger portion  22 . In a preferred embodiment, lever  18  is secured to the body by a pivot axis  58 . Pivot axis  58  is oriented along Axis B, which is fixed in the same plane as Axis A but substantially perpendicular thereto. secures lever  18  to the body  12  by simultaneously being disposed through lever stirrups  60  and pivot cavity  62 . In a preferred embodiment, lever stirrups  60  are defined by the body  12  and the pivot cavity  62  is defined by the lever. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the hinged arrangement of securing the lever  18  to the body  12  can be accomplished in a variety of ways without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     Lever  18  is hingedly secured to the body  12  such that the piston engaging portion  20  is disposed within the cavity  14 . Lever  18  is free to move about pivot axis  58  between a first and second position. In the first position the trigger portion  22  of the lever  18  is distal from the handle portion  16  of the body  12 , and the piston engaging portion  20  of the lever  18  is proximal to the handle portion  16  of the body  12 . In the second position, the trigger portion  22  of the lever  18  is proximal to the handle portion  16  of the body and the piston engaging portion  20  of the lever  18  is distal to the handle portion  16  of the body  12 . 
     The head cylinder  24  of the tool  10  includes a body engaging portion  26  and a jaw receiving portion  28 . As best seen in  FIG. 6 , the body engaging portion defines a piston cavity  30  that opens into the jaw receiving portion  28 . In the preferred embodiment, piston cavity  30  is positioned along Axis A. The jaw receiving portion  38  preferably includes two opposing tines  64 ,  66 , which extend away from the body receiving portion  26 . 
     The body engaging portion  26  of the head cylinder  24  is also configured to be disposed within the cavity  14  of the body. An axle lock  50  may secure the body engaging portion within the cavity  14 . In a preferred embodiment, axle lock  50  is disposed in an axle cavity  76  defined by the body  12 . Axle cavity  76  is oriented along Axis C, which, similar to Axis B, is fixed in the same plane as Axis A but substantially perpendicular thereto. Additionally, axle cavity  76  is positioned such that when axle lock  50  is disposed therein, at least a portion of the axle lock  50  extends into the cavity  14 . In operation, the axle lock  50  secures the head cylinder  24  to the body  12 , by engaging an axle groove  52  in the body engaging portion  26  of the head cylinder  24 . Preferably, the axle groove  52  is circumferential about the body engaging portion  26 . The engagement of the axle lock  50  to the axle groove  52 , secures the head cylinder  24  to the body  12  by limiting axial movement of the head cylinder along Axis A. At the same time, the engagement, between the axle lock  50  and the axle groove  52 , permits the free rotation of the head cylinder  24  about Axis A. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of piston  32 , which is substantially cylindrical and includes a lever engaging portion  34  and a jaw engaging portion  36 . As expected, the lever engaging portion  34  includes a surface  68  that is intended to be engaged by the piston engaging portion  20  of the lever  18 . In a preferred embodiment, the diameter of the lever engaging portion  34  is larger than that of the jaw engaging portion  36 , which is sized to fit within the piston cavity  30 . Also, preferably, the jaw engaging portion  36  may include one or more tapered surfaces  70 .  FIG. 7  shows tapered surface  70  as being two tapers about a rounded end. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that tapered surface  70  could also be a single conical taper that has a pointed end. 
     Piston  32  is also configured to move along Axis A between a retracted position and an advanced position. In the retracted position, piston  32  (and more specifically surface  70 ) does not extend into the jaw receiving portion  28  of the head cylinder  24 . In the advanced position, piston  32  (and more specifically, surface  70 ) extends into the jaw receiving portion  28  of the head cylinder. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the tool may also include a piston spring  48  that is disposed about the jaw engaging portion  36  of the piston  32 . As best seen in  FIG. 3 , the piston spring  48  is configured bias the piston  32  toward its retracted position by engaging an interior wall  78  of the piston cavity  30  and a spring surface  80  of the lever engaging portion  34  of the piston. Axial movement of the piston toward its retracted position may be limited by a grub screw  54  disposed within the cavity  14  and configured to engage a piston groove  56 . As best shown in  FIG. 7 , piston groove  56  is preferably formed in the lever engaging portion  34  of piston  32 . 
     Tool  10  also includes a jaw assembly  38  disposed in the jaw receiving portion  28  of the head cylinder  24 . The jaw assembly  38  preferably includes a first jaw  40  and a second jaw  42  coupled together at a fulcrum  44 . Each of the first and second jaws include a working portion  40   a ,  42   a  and a piston engaging portion  40   b ,  42   b . Jaws  40 ,  42 , which may be mirror images of one another, are configured to operate by rotating around the fulcrum  44 . In operation, fulcrum  44  may be a jaw pivot axle which not only facilitates the rotational movement of the jaws, it also secures the jaws to the head cylinder  24 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, each of the tines  64 ,  66  of the head cylinder  24  define jaw stirrups  72 . Similarly, each of the jaws  40 ,  42  also define a jaw cavity  74 . The jaws are secured within the head cylinder  24  by disposing the fulcrum (or jaw axle pivot)  44  through both the jaw stirrups  72  and the jaw cavities  74 . 
     The jaws  40 ,  42  of the jaw assembly  38  are configured to rotate about the fulcrum  44 , such that the opposing working portions  40   a ,  42   a  come together as the jaw engaging portions  40   b ,  42   b  are moved away from one another. This is considered to be the closed position of the jaw assembly. Conversely, the jaw assembly is in the open position when the working portions  40   a ,  42   a  are spaced apart and the jaw engaging portions  40   b ,  42   b  are adjacent one another. 
     The jaw assembly  38  may further include a jaw spring  46  that is configured to bias the jaw assembly in its open position. In a preferable embodiment, the jaw spring  46  may be a circular spring having first and second tines  46   a ,  46   b . These tines  46   a ,  46   b  are configured to be disposed in spring grooves  40   c ,  42   c  of jaws  40 ,  42 . Spring grooves  40   c ,  42   c  are positioned such that when tines  46   a ,  46   b  are in position, the piston engaging portions  40   b ,  42   b  of jaws  40 ,  42  are biased together, which in turn biases the working portions  40   a ,  40   b  away from each other. As explained above, this is defined as the open position of the jaw assembly. 
     The functionality of the tool will now be discussed. The piston engaging portion  20  of the lever  18  is in communication with the lever engaging portion  34  of the piston  32  such that when the lever  18  is moved from its first position to its second position, the piston  32  moves from its retracted position to its advanced position. The jaw engaging portion  36  of the piston  32  is in selective communication with the piston engaging portions  40   b ,  42   b  of the jaws  40 ,  42 . When the piston  32  is in its retracted position, the jaw engaging portion  36  and the piston engaging portions  40   b ,  42   b  are not in communication and the jaw assembly  38  is in the its open position. Conversely, when the piston  32  is in its advanced position, the jaw engaging portion  36  is in communication with the jaw engaging portions  40   b ,  42   b  and the jaw assembly  38  is moved to its closed position. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The tool of the present disclosure provides the advantage of providing a user the comfort of a trigger type activation, and the versatility of being able to work in tight spaces through an infinite number of planes. In operation, the handle portion of the body is configured to rest comfortably in the palm of the hand. The trigger portion of the lever is configured to be engaged by the tips of one or more fingers. Thus, by using a natural squeezing or “gun-like” trigger action, a user can selectively operate the tool as needed. Ergonomically, this action is more comfortable for a user. 
     In addition to the ergonomic comfort, the present tool also has the advantage of being able to operate in tight spaces through an infinite number for planes. This is achieved through the free rotation of the head cylinder  24 . It is not uncommon for a user to need to cut or manipulate an object that is in a plane different from that of the hand. If this is the case, the user can simply rotate the head cylinder  24  (and jaw assembly  38 ) to the desired plane while keeping the hand in its original plane. A simple squeeze of the trigger action lever will allow the user to cut or manipulate the object in this different plane as desired. 
     The presently disclosed tool is also versatile in its applicability. Although the figures depict a tool with jaw working portions  40   a ,  42   a  as being cutting edges for snips, the working portions could also be opposing tines of pliers, forceps, needle nose, scissors or any other tool that operates with a first arm and second arm coupled together at a fixed fulcrum. 
     Although aspects of the invention have been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present invention contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any embodiment can be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment.