Patent Publication Number: US-10326248-B2

Title: Terminal crimp tool

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Fields of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a hand tool, and more particularly, to a terminal crimp tool. 
     2. Descriptions of Related Art 
     The conventional terminal crimp tools comprise two parts which are pivotably connected each other, and each part has a handle on one end and a crimp portion on the other end. The crimp portion of one part includes multiple recesses and the crimp portion of the other part has multiple protrusions. The terminals are usually a metal tube and wires are restricted in the terminals. The terminals are located between the two crimp portions and the user hold and squeeze the handles toward each other to crimp the terminals which are deformed so that the wires are not disengage from the terminals. The terminals are then connected with other appliances or electric parts. 
     A conventional terminal crimp tool known to applicant comprises two parts which are pivotably connected each other, and each part has a handle on one end and a crimp portion on the other end. The crimp portion of one part includes multiple recesses and the crimp portion of the other part has multiple protrusions. The two parts are made by iron which is heavy and difficult to be machined. In order to reduce the weight problem, some crimp tools are made of aluminum. Nevertheless, the aluminum cannot bear high pressure and torque so that when operating the crimp tool, the crimp portions may be deformed. 
     The present invention intends to provide a terminal crimp tool which is light in weight while the structural strength is strong enough so as to eliminate the shortcomings mentioned above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a terminal crimp tool and comprises a first unit, a second unit and a third unit. Each of the first, second and third units has two plates, wherein the two plates of the first unit are spaced apart from each other, and the two plates of the third unit are spaced apart from each other. Two respective first ends of the two plates of the second unit are overlapped with each other. A portion of the overlapped first ends of two plates of the second unit is partially inserted between the two plates of the first unit, and another portion of the overlapped first ends of two plates of the second unit is partially exposed from the first unit and inserted between the two plates of the third unit. Two respective second ends of the two plates of the second unit are bent outward and spaced apart from each other. The first unit is pivotably connected to the second unit. Each of the first and second units has a driving end and a handle end, and a plastic grip is mounted to each of the two respective handle ends. Two blocks are respectively connected to the two respective driving ends of the first and second units, and each of the two blocks has recesses and protrusions which are located alternatively between the recesses. The protrusions of one of the two blocks are located corresponding to recesses of the other one of the two blocks. 
     A restriction unit is located between the plates of the first, second and third units. Each of the plates has a pivotal hole defined in a position where the plates are overlapped to each other, and another pivotal hole is defined in a position where the plates of the first and third units are overlapped to the restriction unit. The restriction unit has a first link, a second link, a control member, a first spring and a second spring, wherein the first and second links are overlapped to each other and located between the first and third units. At least two of multiple pins extend through the first and second units and the first and second links. The second link has a toothed portion formed on the first end thereof which is located between the two plates of the third unit. The second end of the second link is located between the two plates of the first unit and connected with the first end of the first spring. The second end of the first spring is connected to the first rod located between the two plates of the first unit. The control member is located between the two plates of the third unit. One of the at least two pins extends through the control member. The control member has a lever, a pawl and an engaging portion. The lever extends beyond the third unit. The pawl is engaged with the toothed portion when the first unit moves toward the third unit. The engaging portion is connected to the first end of the second spring, and the second end of the second spring is connected to the second rod located between the two plates of the third unit. 
     Multiple reinforcement rings are respectively and force-fitted into the pivotal holes so as to reinforce the strength of the plate. The outer diameter of each of the reinforcement rings is larger than the inner diameter of each of the pivotal holes. The hardness of each of the reinforcement rings is larger than that of each of the plates. 
     Multiple pins respectively extend through the reinforcement rings. Each pin has a groove defined in the outer periphery of each of two ends thereof. A C-clip is engaged with each of the grooves of the pins and contacts the plate corresponding thereto so as to ensure smooth pivotal movement of the first, second and third units. 
     Preferably, each of the reinforcement rings has an inner face, an outer face and two end faces. Each reinforcement ring has the outer diameter defined as “H”, and the inner diameter of each of the pivotal holes is defined as “D”, wherein “H” is larger than “D”. When each of the multiple reinforcement rings is force-fitted into the pivotal hole corresponding thereto, the radius of the outer face is reduced a distance of (H−D)/2. The outer face contacts against the inner periphery of the pivotal hole. 
     Preferably, the C-clips each have an opening and a stud which protrudes from the inner periphery of the C-clip and is engaged with the groove of the pin corresponding thereto. 
     The advantages of the present invention are that the reinforcement rings are force-fitted into the pivotal holes of the first, second and third units so as to increase the strength of the plates which are able to bear higher force to prevent from being deformed. 
     The use of the pins help the reinforcement rings to strengthen the plates, and the force-fitted relationship between the reinforcement rings and the pins not only reinforces the reinforcement rings, and also prevents the three units from being disassembled from each other. 
     The plastic grips provide sufficient friction for the users to hold the tool comfortably. 
     The hardness of the plates is less than that of the reinforcement rings and the pins so that the total weight of the tool is reduced while the strength is sufficiently high. 
     The present invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a partially exploded view of the terminal crimp tool of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged view to show a portion of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows the size description of the reinforcement ring and the pivotal hole of the terminal crimp tool of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view to show that the reinforcement ring is force-fitted into the pivotal hole; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view to show the terminal crimp tool of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the terminal crimp tool of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  shows the pin and the C-clip of the terminal crimp tool of the present invention, and 
         FIG. 8  shows that the terminal crimp tool of the present invention is used to crimp a terminal of a cable. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 8 , the terminal crimp tool of the present invention comprises a first unit  1 , a second unit  2  and a third unit  3 . Each of the first, second and third units  1 ,  2 ,  3  has two plates  4 . The two plates  4  of the first unit  1  are spaced apart from each other, and the two plates  4  of the third unit  3  are spaced apart from each other. Two respective first ends of the two plates  4  of the second unit  2  are overlapped with each other. A portion of the overlapped first ends of two plates  4  of the second unit  2  is partially inserted between the two plates of the first unit  1 , and another portion of the overlapped first ends of two plates  4  of the second unit  2  is partially exposed from the first unit  1  and inserted between the two plates  4  of the third unit  3 . Two respective second ends of the two plates  4  of the second unit  2  are bent outward and spaced apart from each other. The first unit  1  is pivotably connected to the second unit  2 . Each of the first and second units  1 ,  2  has a driving end  11  and a handle end  12  respectively formed on two ends thereof. A plastic grip  21  is mounted to each of the two respective handle ends  12 . Two blocks  41  are respectively connected to the two respective driving ends  11  of the first and second units  1 ,  2 , wherein each of the two blocks  41  has recesses  411  and protrusions  412  which are located alternatively between the recesses  411 . The protrusions  412  of one of the two blocks  41  is located corresponding to recesses  411  of the other one of the two blocks  41 . 
     A restriction unit  5  is located between the plates  4  of the first, second and third units  1 ,  2 ,  3 . Each of the plates  4  has a pivotal hole  6  defined in a position where the plates  4  are overlapped to each other. Another pivotal hole  6  is defined in a position where the plates  4  of the first and third units  1 ,  3  are overlapped to the restriction unit  5 . 
     The restriction unit  5  includes a first link  51 , a second link  52 , a control member  53 , a first spring  54  and a second spring  55 . The first and second links  51 ,  52  are overlapped to each other and located between the first and third units  1 ,  3 . Multiple reinforcement rings  7  are respectively and force-fitted into the pivotal holes  6  so as to reinforce the strength of the plate  4 . The outer diameter of each of the reinforcement rings  7  is larger than the inner diameter of each of the pivotal holes  6 . The hardness of each of the reinforcement rings  7  is larger than that of each of the plates  4 . Multiple pins  8  respectively extend through the reinforcement rings  7 . Each pin  8  has a groove  81  defined in the outer periphery of each of two ends thereof. A C-clip  9  is engaged with each of the grooves  81  of the pins  8  and contacts the plate  4  corresponding thereto so as to ensure smooth pivotal movement of the first, second and third units  1 ,  2 ,  3 . 
     The reinforcement rings  7  are force-fitted into the pivotal holes  6  of the first, second and third units  1 ,  2 ,  3  so as to increase the strength of the plates  4  which are able to bear higher force to prevent from being deformed. The use of the pins  8  help the reinforcement rings  7  to strengthen the plates  4 , and the force-fitted relationship between the reinforcement rings  7  and the pins  8  reinforces the reinforcement rings  7 , and prevents the three units  1 ,  2 ,  3  from being disassembled from each other, such that the terminals  10  of cables can be deformed when using the terminal crimp tool of the present invention. 
     Generally, when crimping the terminals  10 , the pivotal portions of the plates  4  have to bear a high torque and force, and the reinforcement rings  7  are force-fitted into the pivotal holes  6  to effectively strengthen the plates  4  to bear a higher torque and force. 
     It is noted that each of the reinforcement rings  7  has an inner face  71 , an outer face  72  and two end faces  73 . Each reinforcement ring  7  has the outer diameter defined as “H”, and the inner diameter of each of the pivotal holes  6  is defined as “D”, wherein “H” is larger than “D”. When each of the multiple reinforcement rings  7  is force-fitted into the pivotal hole  6  corresponding thereto by using a proper tool, the outer face  72  is reduced a distance of (H−D)/2, and the outer face  72  contacts against the inner periphery of the pivotal hole  6 . Therefore, the reinforcement rings  7  do not drop from the pivotal holes  6 , and the plates  4  will not dis-assembled from each other. 
     The C-clips  9  each have an opening  91  and at least one stud  92  which protrudes from the inner periphery of the C-clip  9  and is engaged with the groove  81  of the pin  8  corresponding thereto. In this embodiment, each C-clip  9  has three studs  92  wherein two of the studs  92  are formed on two ends of the opening  91 , and the third stud  92  is located at the even distance from the two studs  92  that are formed on the two ends of the opening  91 . The studs  92  are engaged with the grooves  81  and the C-clips contact against the plates  4  corresponding thereto so as to prevent the pins  8  from shifting in the reinforcement rings  7 . Therefore, the first, second and third units  1 ,  2 ,  3  are not separated from each other. The use of the reinforcement rings  7 , the pins  8  and the C-clip  9  strengthen the plates  4  and ensures that the terminal crimp tool is operated smoothly. 
     Specifically, the restriction unit  5  includes the first link  51 , the second link  52 , the control member  53 , the first spring  54  and the second spring  55 . The first and second links  51 ,  52  are overlapped to each other and located between the first and third units  1 ,  3 . At least two pins  8  extend through the first and second units  1 ,  2  and the first and second links  51 ,  52 . The second link  52  has a toothed portion  521  formed on the first end thereof which is located between the two plates  4  of the third unit  3 . The second end of the second link  52  is located between the two plates  4  of the first unit  1  and connected with the first end of the first spring  54 . The second end of the first spring  54  is connected to a first rod  56  located between the two plates  4  of the first unit  1 . The control member  53  is located between the two plates  4  of the third unit  3 . One of the at least two pins  8  extends through the control member  53 . The control member  53  has a lever  531 , a pawl  532  and an engaging portion  533 . The lever  531  extends beyond the third unit  3 . The pawl  532  is engaged with the toothed portion  521  when the first unit  1  moves toward the third unit  3 . The engaging portion  533  is connected to the first end of the second spring  55 , and the second end of the second spring  55  is connected to a second rod  57  located between the two plates  4  of the third unit  3 . When in use, the user pivots the handle ends  12  to move the first and third units  1 ,  3  toward each other, by the first and second springs  54 ,  55 , and the engagement between the toothed portion  521  and the pawl  532 , the distance between the first and third units  1 ,  3  is properly controlled. The terminal  10  is located between the two blocks  41  and deformed when the two blocks  41  are moved toward each other, such that the wires in the terminal  10  are firmly restricted in the deformed terminal  10 . 
     After the terminal  10  is deformed, the first and third units  1 ,  3  are released, the first and third units  1 ,  3  return to their initial positions. When folding the crimp tool, the two handle ends  12  are moved toward each other, and the pawl  532  is engaged with the toothed portion  521  of the second link  53  to maintain the crimp tool at the folded status. When using the crimp tool, further moving the two handle ends  12  toward each other to disengage the pawl  532  from the toothed portion  521 , the first and third units  1 ,  3  are separated from each other. 
     The hardness of the plates  4  is less than that of the reinforcement rings  7  and the pins  8  so that the total weight of the tool is reduced while the strength is sufficiently strong. 
     While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.