Patent Publication Number: US-2012042709-A1

Title: Pex clamp fastening tool

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of tools configured for use with cross-linked polyethylene (“PEX”) tubing and accessories, and more particularly, to a tool for fastening PEX tubing clamps including a ratchet for controlling operational movement of the clamping jaws of the tool through handle movement, and a set screw recessed in the handle of the tool for adjusting the position of the ratchet and thus the amount of travel of the handles to provide a tool for fastening clamps of varying dimension. 
     2. Background of the Invention 
     Known to those skilled in the art, PEX tubing is commonly used in plumbing applications as an alternative to polyvinylchloride (“PVC”) and copper pipe. Uses of PEX tubing include general plumbing applications, hydronic radiant heating systems, water piping and insulation systems, and the general transportation of fluids and slurries, among other uses. PEX tubing is commonly terminated in a fitting requiring a clamp fastened over the tubing for ensuring sealing engagement of the tubing and fitting. 
     While clamp fastening tools are known in the art, conventional tool designs either do not include means for adjusting the ratchet mechanism to accommodate clamps of varying size, or include cumbersome adjustment mechanisms difficult to operate or that do not give a clear indication of ratchet mechanism position. Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a PEX clamp fastening tool that provides adjustability of the ratchet while overcoming the disadvantages of prior art tool designs. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, an adjustable clamping tool for fastening (i.e. “closing”) an ear-type PEX tubing clamp is provided herein. 
     In another aspect, the tool includes first and second handles operationally connected to first and second jaw members, respectively, wherein opening and closing of the handles causes simultaneous opening and closing of the jaw members, however to a lesser degree. 
     In another aspect, the first and second jaw members each define a first end pivotally connected to their respective handle and a second free end terminating in a clamping jaw. 
     In another aspect, the first and second handles are interconnected at one end at a common pivot point, the first and second jaw members are pivotally connected about their first end to their respective handle, and the first and second jaw members are independently pivotally interconnected through a common jaw connector, wherein closing of the handles causes simultaneous closing of the jaw members. 
     In another aspect, the tool further includes a ratchet pivotally carried on the common pivot point and between the handles for controlling the operational travel between the handles. 
     In another aspect, the ratchet includes a toothed member pivotally moveable with respect to the first and second handles, and a pawl carried on one of the handles for engaging the toothed member to permit movement of the handles in only the closing direction when the pawl is engaged with the teeth of the toothed member. 
     In another aspect, the pawl is spring biased to maintain a predetermined angle of the pawl with respect to the teeth of the toothed member. 
     In another aspect, the toothed member includes a clearance adjacent the series of teeth for clearing the pawl upon full closing of the handles to provide automatic release of the ratchet. 
     In another aspect, the first handle defines an internally threaded opening through a sidewall thereof receiving an externally threaded set screw for adjusting through contact the position of the toothed member with respect to the first handle. 
     In another aspect, advancing the set screw in the first handle in the direction toward the second handle urges the toothed member apart from the first handle. 
     In another aspect, withdrawing the set screw from the first handle in the direction away from the second handle returns the toothed member toward the first handle. 
     In another aspect, the set screw defines head geometry corresponding to that of a screwdriver for facilitating turning of the set screw. 
     To achieve the foregoing and other aspects and advantages, a PEX clamp fastening tool is provided herein including first and second handles pivotally connected at a common pivot point, first and second jaw members pivotally connected to the first and second handles, respectively, and independently pivotally interconnected through a common jaw connector, each of the first and second jaw members defining a free end terminating in a clamping jaw, a ratchet pivotally connected at the common pivot point and positioned between the first and second handles, and an adjustable set screw threadably engaged in an opening through a sidewall of the first handle for physically contacting the ratchet to adjust the position of the ratchet with respect to the first handle. 
     In a further embodiment, the ratchet includes a toothed member having a series of teeth and a pawl carried on the second handle for engaging the series of teeth to permit movement of the first and second handles in only a closing direction when the pawl is engaged with the teeth. 
     In a further embodiment, the set screw physically contacts a sidewall of the toothed member to urge the toothed member apart from the first handle when the set screw is advanced in the opening in a direction toward the second handle, and return the toothed member toward the first handle when the set screw is withdraw from the opening in the direction away from the second handle. 
     In a further embodiment, the pawl is biased in a direction toward the first handle to maintain a predetermined orientation of an engaging portion of the pawl with respect to the series of teeth. 
     In a further embodiment, the toothed member further defines a clearance adjacent the series of teeth for clearing engagement of the toothed member with the pawl upon complete closing of the first and second handles. 
     In a further embodiment, the set screw is recessed in the sidewall of the first handle and defines head geometry corresponding to screwdriver geometry for facilitating turning of the set screw. 
     In a further embodiment, each of the first and second jaw members are pivotally connected at a first end to their respective handle, are pivotally connected to the jaw connector at about their mid-span, and terminate at a second free end in a clamping jaw such that closing of the first and second handles causes simultaneous closing of the first and second jaw members. 
     Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the invention as described herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention are better understood when the following detailed description of the invention is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the PEX clamp fastening tool in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an alternate perspective view of the tool of  FIG. 1  detailing the set screw; 
         FIG. 3  is a detailed perspective view of the tool of  FIG. 1  showing ratchet adjustment; 
         FIG. 4  is a detailed view of the tool of  FIG. 1  showing the ratchet disengaged; 
         FIG. 5  is a detailed view of the tool of  FIG. 1  showing the ratchet engaged; and 
         FIG. 6  is a detailed view of the tool of  FIG. 1  showing the ratchet disengaged. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying figures in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. However, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the representative embodiments set forth herein. The exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be both thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention and enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make, use and practice the invention. 
     Referring to the figures, an adjustable clamping tool for fastening (i.e. “closing”) an ear-type PEX tubing clamp is provided herein. Referring specifically to  FIGS. 1-2 , the clamping tool  10  generally includes first and second handles  12 ,  14  operationally connected to first and second jaw members  16 ,  18 , respectively, wherein opening and closing of the handles causes simultaneous opening and closing of the jaw members, however to a lesser degree. First and second handles  12 ,  14  are pivotally interconnected through common pivot point  20 , which additionally pivotally carries a toothed member  22  of a ratchet  24  between the first and second handles  12 ,  14  and adjustable in position relative thereto as described in detail below. 
     The first and second handles  12 ,  14  are interconnected at one end through the common pivot point  20 . The first and second jaw members  16 ,  18  are pivotally connected about their first end to their respective handle, and are also independently pivotally interconnected through a common jaw connector  26 . Thus, the first and second jaw members  16 ,  18  are each pivotally connected to the jaw connector  26  at pivot points  28  to allow them to pivot relative thereto in response to movement of the first and second handles  12 ,  14 . The jaw connector  26 , with one jaw connector  26 , preferably provided on each “side” of the tool  10 , locks the first and second jaw members  16 ,  18  together. Each of the jaw members  16 ,  18  terminates at a first free end in a pivotal connection with its handle at pivot point  30 , and at a second free end in a clamping jaw  32 . 
     Each of the first and second handles  12 ,  14  generally define an elongate channel for cooperatively receiving the ratchet  24  therein when the handles  12 ,  14  are in their “closed” configuration, i.e. brought together. As used herein, the term “opened” or “opening” is intended to describe the act pulling the handles  12 ,  14  apart, and the term “closed” or “closing” is intended to describe the act of bringing the handles  12 ,  14  together. The tool  10  is closed to fasten a PEX clamp. The tool is opened to release a fastened PEX clamp to a degree sufficient to clear the ears of the fastened clamp. 
     Referring specifically to  FIGS. 3-6 , the tool  10  includes a ratchet  24  generally including a toothed member  22  pivotally carried on the common pivot point and associated with the first handle  12 , and a pawl  34  rotatable carried on the second handle  14  for engaging a series of teeth  36  of the toothed member  22 . The ratchet  24  permits movement of the handles  12 ,  14  in only the closing direction when the pawl  34  is engaged with the teeth  36  of the toothed member  22 . The pawl  34  may be released without traversing the entire series of teeth  36  by slightly closing the handles  12 ,  14  to a degree sufficient to actuate trigger  38  of pawl  34  to release pawl  34 . Pawl  34  is biased, i.e. spring biased as shown with spring  40 , such that engagement portion of pawl  34  is positioned for locking engagement when disengaged and tool  10  is open. 
     The toothed member  22  includes a series of teeth  36  defining a generally linear path along which the pawl  34  travels as the handles are closed to prevent opening. The toothed member  22  further defines a clearance  42  at the end of the tooth path for clearing engagement with the pawl  34  when the tool is fully functionally closed, thus providing an auto-release feature that in cooperation with the biasing spring  40  positions pawl  34  such that it does not lock in engagement with the teeth  36  when the tool is opened and the pawl  34  passes back over the teeth  36 . Referring specifically to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the ratchet is shown engaged with pawl  34  engaging teeth  36 . Referring specifically to  FIG. 4 , the tool  10  is shown open with pawl  34  disengaged from teeth  36 . Referring specifically to  FIG. 6 , the tool  10  is shown closed with pawl  34  positioned in the clearance  42  of the toothed member  22  and thus disengaged. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-6 , the first handle  12  of tool  10  defines an internally threaded opening  44  through a sidewall thereof that receives an externally threaded set screw  46  for adjusting through contact the position of the toothed member  22  with respect to the first handle  12 . It is envisioned that alternative set screw positions, such as mounting on either handle, can be practiced while achieving the same functionality of ratchet adjustment without departing from the scope of the invention. The opening  44  not only receives and threadably engages the set screw  46 , but also provides access for turning the screw to adjust the position of the toothed member  22  with respect to at least the first handle  12 . Set screw  46  preferably defines head geometry for engaging a screwdriver or other tool for facilitating turning of the set screw  46 . The head of set screw  46  may be recessed within the opening  44  or protrude from the opening. The position of the set screw  46 , such as the head of the set screw, relative to the opening or entrance of the opening can be used to determine the appropriate set screw position for a predetermined clamp size. For example, a fully withdrawn set screw with its head apart from the sidewall may indicate a first position for a predetermined clamp size, while a head flush against the sidewall may indicate a second position for a different clamp size from the first. 
     Set screw  46  physically contacts a sidewall  48  of the toothed member  22  such that advancing the set screw  46  in the opening  44  in the first handle  12  in the direction toward the second handle  14  urges the toothed member  22  apart from the first handle  12 , and withdrawing the set screw  46  from the opening  44  in the first handle  12  in the direction away from the second handle  14  returns the toothed member  22  toward the first handle  12 . Compared with conventional adjustment assemblies, adjustment of the toothed member  22  is accomplished with only the single set screw  46 . 
     The ratchet, through the adjustment of toothed member  22  provides adjustability in the travel of the clamping jaws  32  of the first and second jaw members  16 ,  18  to accommodate a variety of clamp sizes. 
     While a PEX clamp fastening tool has been described herein with reference to specific embodiments and examples, it is envisioned that various details of the invention may be changed without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation.