Patent Publication Number: US-2011067184-A1

Title: Locking pliers for controlled manipulation

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/267,718, filed Nov. 10, 2008 which is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/530,538, filed Sep. 11, 2006 and claims priority to Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/986,739, filed on Nov. 9, 2007, the complete disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to locking pliers or wrenches. Specifically, the present invention relates to improved locking pliers or wrenches for the controlled manipulations of loads. 
     Various types of locking pliers are well known to those ordinarily skilled in the art and have been around for many years. Such locking pliers generally operate using an over-center toggle linkage that closes and locks a movable jaw in an adjustable position with respect to a fixed jaw. Once the toggle linkage or fulcrum bar has been closed to an over center location, the opposing jaws of the locking pliers remain locked onto the object. 
     There are many instances when a user needs to use locking pliers to manipulate a load or to use the locking pliers as a third hand while retaining the ability to use the locking pliers conventionally. There is a need for a locking pliers that is able to be used to manipulate a load while also being used in a conventional manner that overcomes the limitations of the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An improved locking pliers is provided with an attachment member having a threaded aperture fixed on the handle of the locking pliers. In one embodiment, the attachment member is in the form of a coupling nut or other extended wide nut welded to the handle. In another embodiment, the attachment member is integrally formed as part of the handle during the manufacture of the pliers. In another embodiment, the attachment member is concentrically attached to the end of the handle so that a pulling, pushing or twisting force is applied along the plane of the handle without torque. The attachment member does not interfere with the normal locking operation or any other normal operation of the pliers. In another embodiment, a quick connection attachment member, such as a locking pin or quick disconnect joint, is used in place of a threaded portion. 
     Other features and advantages of the instant invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the improved locking pliers of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the improved locking pliers shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the improved locking pliers of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of a blank used in forming the handle of the locking pliers shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of another embodiment of the improved locking pliers of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevation view showing the locking pliers gripped to an overhead beam with a load applied via the attachment member, in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged view taken along lines  7 - 7  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a view showing an indicia for an original equipment manufacturer of the improved locking pliers. 
         FIG. 9  is a view showing tandem or lateral connection of four pliers equipped with the present invention and connected to a wide load. 
         FIG. 10  is a view showing a pair of pliers according to the present invention used in tandem to hold a load. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the locking pliers of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the locking pliers of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the locking pliers of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is an illustration of the locking plier shown in  FIG. 1  showing the force axis. 
         FIG. 15  is an illustration of the locking plier shown in  FIG. 1  with a strap insert member. 
         FIG. 16  is an illustration of the locking plier shown in  FIG. 1  with an extension handle insert member. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is made to the drawings in which reference numerals refer to like elements, and which are intended to show by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. 
     The locking pliers of the present invention are generally designated by the reference numeral  10  in the drawings. The pliers  10  include a handle  12  with a fixed jaw  14  at the forward end and a threaded sleeve  16  at the rearward end. The handle  12  is generally formed from a flat blank or plate which is bent into a U shape having opposite side walls  18 . The sleeve  16  is formed by opposite edges of the plate being wrapped around to meet at a seam  17 . A pivot pin  20  extends between the side walls  18  of the handle  12 . The fixed jaw  14  is welded to the enlarged wings or flanges  22  of the handle  12  after the handle is formed. 
     A moveable jaw  24  is pivotally connected to the handle  12  by pin  20 . A lever  28  is pivotally connected to the moveable jaw  24  via a pivot pin  26 . The lever  28  has a U-shaped construction with opposite side walls  32  between which the moveable jaw  24  extends. A fulcrum bar  34  extends between the opposite sides  32  of the lever  28  and is pivotally connected thereto by a pin  30 . The opposite end of the fulcrum bar  34  is received between the side walls  18  of the handle  12  adjacent the rearward end thereof, so as to be in contact with a threaded shank  36  matingly received in the threaded sleeve  16 . The shank  36  has a knurled end or knob  37  for turning the shank  36  into or out of the sleeve  16  so that the rearward end of the fulcrum bar  34  slides within the channel formed by the opposite side walls  18  of the handle  14 . 
     A spring  38  is connected to the moveable jaw  24  at a spring anchor point  40  and at the opposite end to the interior of the handle  12 . The spring  38  biases the moveable jaw  24  to an open position. 
     The fulcrum bar  34  has an intermediate lobe or lug  42  which engages the lever  28  when the pliers  10  is closed, as seen in  FIG. 2 . A release lever  44  is pivotally connected to the lever  28  by a pin  46 . When the rearward end of the release lever  44  is squeezed toward the rearward end of the lever  28 , the release lever  44  pivots about the pin  46  so that the forward end  48  of the release lever  44  pushes against the lobe  42  of the fulcrum  34  so as to release the pliers  10  from a gripping mode. 
     The above-described structure of the pliers  10  is conventional. The locking pliers  10  are improved in the present invention by the addition of an attachment member  54  having threaded port or aperture on the rearward end of the handle  12 . As seen in  FIG. 1 , the attachment member  54  is in the form of a coupling nut or other extended wide nut welded on opposite sides to the rear flanges  52  of the handle  12  so as to overlay the longitudinal slot  50  extending between the handle flanges  52 . Thus, the axis of the attachment member  54  is substantially parallel to the axis of the sleeve  16 . 
     It is understood that the aperture  54  could also be formed by welding the coupling nut or other extended wide nut at any location around the rearward end of the handle  12  in an orientation parallel to the sleeve  16 . It is noted that with the coupling or extended wide nut  54  welded to the inside of the handle  12 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the axis of the aperture passes through the fixed jaw  14 . Preferably, a weld  56  is provided on each side of the coupling or wide nut  54  and each side wall  18  of the handle  12 , which precludes the sleeve  16  from being opened along the seam  17 . 
     A threaded attachment rod  58  can be matably threaded into the coupling or extended wide nut  54 .  FIG. 1  shows the rod  58  to be in the form of a hook, although other forms may also be utilized which allow both pulling and pushing forces to be applied to the pliers  10  through the threaded connection of the rod  58  and the nut  54 . As seen in  FIG. 6 , the nut  54  and the rod  58  do not interfere with the operation of the fulcrum bar  34  or the release lever  44 . Thus, the pliers  10  are fully functional. If necessary, the rearward end of the attachment member  54  may be tapered or beveled so as to have a reduced diameter to assure that interference is avoided. The rod  58  is provided with a lock or jam nut  59  to tighten against nut  54  once the desired position of the pliers  10  is set, so as to lock the pliers  10  in the exact position. 
     A second embodiment of the improved pliers  10  of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . In this alternative embodiment, the nut  54  is replaced with an attachment member formed by a pair of lobes  60  on the handle blank, such that the attachment member is integral with the handle  12  when the handle is manufactured. A weld  56  may be applied along the seam of the lobes  60  and along the seam  17  of the sleeve  16  so as to preclude spreading or pulling apart of the lobes  60  or the sleeve  16 . The internal threads of the attachment member lobes  60  are adapted to receive the threaded rod  58 , as described with respect to the first embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a third embodiment of the present invention, wherein the attachment member is a threaded collar  64  retrofit onto the handle  12  by a band  66  slid over the sleeve  16  and  64  are adapted to receive the rod  58 , as described above with respect to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 7 , the nut  54 , lobes  60  or collar  64  which form the apertured attachment member may include text  62  regarding the weight limit for the pliers  10 . Alternatively or additionally, the attachment member  54  may also include a name or indicia  64 , as seen in  FIG. 8 , to identify a manufacturer for product liability purposes. 
     In use, the pliers  10  allow a pulling, pushing, twisting, or other force to be applied to the pliers  10  via the rod  58  threaded into the nut  54 , lobe  60 , or collar  64 . Similarly, a pushing force can be applied through the axis of the nut  54 , lobe  60 , or collar  64  and a threaded attachment member or rod  58 . As a further alternative, the locking pliers  10  can be locked onto a support, such as a beam  100 , with a load  102  suspended from the opposite end of the rod  58 , as seen in  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 9  shows multiple pliers  10  used to support a large work piece  102 . The rod  58  is connected to the pliers  10  have different lengths to accommodate an uneven edge  103  of the piece  102 . The rods  58  are bolted or attached to a bar or support beam  104  so that the piece  102  can be pulled, pushed or suspended to a desired position. While four pliers  10  are shown, it is understood that any number of pliers  10  be utilized in combination, depending on the size and weight of the load  102 . An eye-bolt  106  may be provided on the beam  104  to lift the piece  102  via the pliers  10 . 
       FIG. 10  shows a pair of pliers  10  according to the present invention which are interconnected by a rod  58 , with one of the pliers clamped to a support beam  100  and the other pliers  10  gripping a load or work piece  102 . 
     Thus, the threaded aperture connected to the handle  12  of the locking pliers  10 , in the form of the nut  54 , the lobe  60 , or the collar  64 , increases the versatility and applications for the locking pliers  10 , including controlled movement, pulling, pushing, twisting, lifting and/or suspension of the pliers. Of course it is clear that the threaded aperture is used to connect threaded rod  58 , but any appropriate attachment means such as a pin and hole, locking quick disconnect or locking twist shaft would be suitable as long as an attachment piece is firmly held in place during use. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 11 , a locking pliers  200  is shown having a sleeve  216  formed as a channel to accept a threaded shank with knurled portion  300 . Threaded shank  300  adjusts to control the jaw force as discussed above. An independently rotating shaft  320  is attached to threaded shank  300  to isolate rotational movement of an attachment member  310  when threaded shank  300  is adjusted. Attachment member  310  is threaded  340  to accept threaded insert portion  330 . As discussed above, threaded insert portion  330  has threaded portion  258  and jam nut  259 . In this orientation, no torque is produced in use because attachment member  310  and sleeve  216  are concentrically aligned. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 12 , a locking pliers  400  is shown having a sleeve  420  formed as a channel to accept a self adjusting portion  410  and an attachment member  430 . Attachment member  430  is threaded  440  to accept threaded insert portion  330 . Again, as discussed above, this orientation also produces no torque because attachment member  430  and sleeve  420  are concentrically aligned. 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , a locking pliers  500  is shown having a sleeve  216  formed as a channel to accept a threaded shank with knurled portion  300 . Threaded shank  300  adjusts to control the jaw force as discussed above. An independently rotating shaft  320  is attached to an attachment member  560  to isolate rotational movement of attachment member  560  when threaded shank  300  is adjusted. Attachment member  560  has an opening  570  to accept an insert member  550  and a locking pin hole  530 . Insert member  550  has an insert end  505  and a locking hole  510 . A locking pin  580  is inserted through locking pin hole  530  and locking hole  510  to lock insert member  550  securely in place during use. Of course other locking mechanisms are suitable and are known in the art such as but not limited to locking quick disconnect joints and a twist and lock channel or end. Again, as discussed above, this orientation produces no torque because attachment member  310  and sleeve  216  are concentrically aligned. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 14 , locking plier  10  is shown having fixed jaw  14  and movable jaw  24 . Fixed jaw  14  is securely attached to handle  12 . Attachment member  54  is distally disposed from jaws  14  and  24  and lies generally in line with an axis x passing through jaws  14  and  24 . An insert member  330  is attached to attachment member  54  so that any forces applied are in line with jaws  14  and  24  and does not introduce torque about jaws  14  and  24 . This allows locking pliers  10  to lift, push and generally manipulate objects. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 15 , locking plier  10  is shown having a strap  332 . Strap  332  is an insert member that allows a user to manipulate items conveniently and comfortably. 
       FIG. 16  shows a locking plier  10  with an extension handle  334 . Extension handle has a grip portion  342  for comfort. This allows a user to manipulate an item while maintaining a significant distance from the item such as when working with heat. Of course other insert members such as chains and rods, etc. that are selected to match specific needs. 
     Although the instant invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art.