Patent Abstract:
One embodiment of the invention relates to a locking pliers. The locking pliers include a pair of handles and a pair of interconnected jaws coupled to the handles. The jaws are movable between a retracted position within the handles and an extended position extending from the handles. The jaws are slidably coupled to the handles and configured to slide between the retracted position and the extended position without opening the handles. When the jaws are in the extended position, the jaws have an unclamped configuration in which the jaws are adjustable by a user to permit the jaws to lock onto objects of various sizes and clamped configuration in which the jaws are releasably locked onto an object.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present application relates generally to the field of multi-function tools. More specifically, the present application relates to a multi-function tool including locking pliers. 
     Multi-function tools typically include a pair of handles and an implement such as a pair of scissors or pliers, along with a number of pivotally attached ancillary tools used to perform any number of tasks. There have been several attempts to integrate a locking pliers into a multi-function tool with varying results. For example, some multi-function tools include locking pliers having non-retractable jaws that result in a device that is not as compact as a tool with retractable jaws. Other multi-function tools with locking pliers require several non-intuitive steps to unfold the jaws from the handles. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One embodiment of the invention relates to a locking pliers. The locking pliers include a pair of handles and a pair of interconnected jaws coupled to the handles. The pair of jaws are movable between a retracted position within the handles and an extended position extending from the handles. The jaws are slidably coupled to the handles and configured to slide between the retracted position and the extended position without opening the handles. When the jaws are in the extended position, the jaws have an unclamped configuration in which the jaws are adjustable by a user to permit the jaws to lock onto objects of various sizes and a clamped configuration in which the jaws are releasably locked onto an object. 
     Another embodiment of the invention relates to a multi-function tool. The multi-function tool includes a first handle, a second handle, and an ancillary tool pivotally coupled to a first end of the first handle. The multi-function tool further includes a first jaw having a tang coupled to the first handle and a second jaw pivotally coupled to the first jaw and having a tang coupled to the second handle. The jaws are slidably coupled to the handles and configured to slide between a retracted position within the handles and an extended position extending from the handles. When the jaws are in the extended position, the jaws have an unclamped configuration in which the jaws are adjustable by a user to permit the jaws to lock onto objects of various sizes and a clamped configuration in which the jaws are releasably locked onto an object. 
     Another embodiment of the invention relates to a multi-function tool having a pair of handles, each having a first end and a second end. A pair of jaws is coupled to the handles and the jaws have an unclamped configuration in which the jaws are adjustable by a user to permit the jaws to lock onto objects of various sizes and a clamped configuration in which the jaws are releasably locked onto an object. An adjustment mechanism is located between the handles and between the first end and the second end to permit adjustment of the clamped configuration distance between the jaws. 
     The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Alternative exemplary embodiments relate to other features and combinations of features as may be generally recited in the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a multi-function tool according to an exemplary embodiment with the jaws in a retracted configuration. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of a multi-function tool of  FIG. 1  with the jaws in an extended configuration. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a multi-function tool of  FIG. 1  with the jaws in an extended and open configuration. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of a multi-function tool of  FIG. 1  with several tools or implements deployed from the handles of the multi-function tool. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the multi-function tool of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the jaw assembly of the multi-function tool of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of one of the handles of the multi-function tool of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the jaw assembly in a clamped configuration with the jaws adjusted to a first position. 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of the jaw assembly in an clamped configuration with the jaws adjusted to a second position. 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the jaw assembly in a unclamped configuration with the jaws adjusted to a first position. 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of the jaw assembly in an unclamped configuration with the jaws adjusted to a second position. 
         FIG. 12  is a top view of the multi-function tool of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 13  is a cross section of the multi-function tool of  FIG. 12  taken along line  13 - 13  with the jaws in a retracted configuration. 
         FIG. 14  is a cross section of the multi-function tool of  FIG. 12  taken along line  14 - 14  with the jaws in an extended configuration. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , a multi-function tool  10  is shown according to an exemplary embodiment. The tool  10  includes a first handle or static handle  20 , a second handle or toggle handle  30 , a number of ancillary tools  28  pivotally attached to one or both handles  20  and  30  (see  FIG. 4 ), and a retractable jaw assembly  40  (see  FIGS. 2-3 ). In the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the multi-function tool  10  includes a pair of locking pliers. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , multi-function tool  10  may have a compact or retracted configuration in which the jaw assembly  40  is stowed within the handles  20 ,  30 . The compact configuration is useful for storing the multi-function tool  10  when not in use, permitting carrying in a pocket or attaching to a belt. The jaw assembly  40  may be moved to a deployed or extended configuration as shown in  FIGS. 2-3  to allow a user to open and close handles  20 ,  30  to manipulate jaw assembly  40 . 
     The first handle  20  and second handle  30  are coupled together at one end with a pivot mechanism, such as a pair of rivets  38 . The rivets  38  allow the handles  20  and  30  to pivot relative to each other and operate jaw assembly  40 . As shown best in  FIG. 4 , according to one exemplary embodiment, a wide variety of ancillary tools  28  may be coupled to one or both of handles  20 ,  30 . Exemplary types of tools  28  include blades, screwdrivers, bottle openers, can openers, scissors, files, box openers, and the like. One or both handles  20 ,  30  may have a channel (or multiple channels) configured to house the ancillary tools  28 , the channel(s) open toward the exterior of the multi-function tool  10  permitting a user to pivotally open and close ancillary tools  28  when multi-function tool  10  is in the compact configuration, as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , an exploded view shows the jaw assembly  40  according to an exemplary embodiment. The jaw assembly  40  is coupled to the first handle  20  and the second handle  30  such that the jaw assembly  40  can slide relative to the handles  20 ,  30  between a compact or retracted position and a deployed or extended position. The jaw assembly  40  includes a pair of jaws  42 . A first end of the jaws  42  forms working portions  44  and a second end of the jaws  42  forms tangs  46  (see also  FIGS. 8-11 ). The tangs  46  are coupled to the handles  20 ,  30  via links, shown as a first or static saddle  50  and a second or toggle saddle  60 . The jaws  42  are coupled together at a pivot point  49  between the working portions  44  and the tangs  46 . A biasing member such as a spring  48  may be included. According to an exemplary embodiment, spring  48  is an extension spring coupled to the tangs  46  and is configured to bias the tangs  46  toward each other and, in turn, bias the working portions  44  away from each other. In another embodiment, one end of the extension spring may be attached to the static saddle  50  instead of the tang  46  while still biasing the working portions  44  away from each other. 
     The first saddle  50  and the second saddle  60  are each coupled to one of the tangs  46  and to an adjustment linkage or a mechanism, shown as a toggle assembly  80 , that allows a user to adjust positioning of the second saddle  60  relative to the first saddle  50  and positioning of the working portions  44  relative to each other. The first saddle  50  and the second saddle  60  are slidably coupled to the first handle  20  and the second handle  30 , respectively. 
     The jaw assembly  40  is slidably coupled to first handle  20  with a sliding mechanism in the form of a slide cap  52  that is coupled to the first saddle  50  with fasteners  54 . The slide cap  52  and the first saddle  50  are provided on opposite sides of a wall of the first handle  20  and the fasteners  54  are received by a first slot  22  (e.g., a narrow slot) that runs along the first handle  20 . A second wide slot or opening  24  is provided on one end of the first slot  22  (e.g., proximate to rivets  38 ) and is connected to the first slot  22 . The fasteners  54  are also coupled to a button retainer  55  ( FIG. 6 ). A slide button  56  is provided with a shoulder  57  that is trapped between the button retainer  55  and the slide cap  52 . A portion of the button  56  extends out through a button opening  53  in the slide cap  52 . A biasing member such as a spring  58  is provided to bias the button  56  outward, away from the button retainer  55 . The first slot  22  has a width that is large enough to receive a portion of the button  56  but too narrow to allow the shoulder  57  of the button  56  to pass through. The second slot  24  is wide enough to receive the shoulder  57  of the button  56 . 
     To deploy the jaw assembly  40  (e.g., to move the jaw assembly  40  from the compact or retracted configuration to the deployed or extended configuration) a user forces the jaw assembly  40  forward either by pushing forward on the button  56  or by “flicking” the tool  10  such that momentum of the jaw assembly  40  forces jaw assembly  40  forward (e.g., towards the end of the handles  20 ,  30  coupled together with rivets  38 ). As the jaw assembly  40  moves forward, the button  56  slides along the first slot  22 , and jaw assembly  40  does not pivot forward. When the button  56  is aligned with the second slot  24 , the spring  58  forces the button  56  upward such that the shoulder  57  is received in the second slot  24 . Because the shoulder  57  is too wide to be received in the first slot  22 , the button  56  cannot slide until the shoulder  57  is disengaged and therefore functions as a lock for the jaw assembly  40  locking jaw assembly  40  in the deployed configuration. 
     To return the jaw assembly  40  to the retracted position, the user may push down on the button  56  to compress the spring  58  and force the shoulder  57  out of the second slot  24 , thus unlocking the jaw assembly  40 . The user may then pull back on the button  56  to slide it into the first slot  22 . The jaw assembly  40  is retracted by either continuing to pull back on the button  56  until the jaw assembly  40  is fully retracted or to turn the tool  10  upright (e.g., in a vertical position) and tapping it against a surface such that momentum of the jaw assembly  40  forces it into the retracted position. 
     The jaw assembly  40  maintains contact with the second handle  30  with a fore pawl  62  and an aft pawl  70  that are coupled to the second saddle  60 . The fore pawl  62  and the aft pawl  70  slide along and are retained by a slide rail  32  (see  FIGS. 7 and 14 ) on the second handle  30 . According to one exemplary embodiment, the slide rail  32  is separately formed and coupled to the second handle  30  (e.g., with rivets). According to another exemplary embodiment, the slide rail  32  may be integrally formed with the second handle  30  as built-in walls, ridges, etc. The fore pawl  62  and the aft pawl  70  include arms (extensions, pegs, etc.)  64  and  72 , respectively, that are trapped between the slide rail  32  and the second handle  30 . The arms  64 ,  72  partially prevent the fore pawl  62  and the aft pawl  70  from being pulled away from the second handle  30  while still allowing the fore pawl  62  and the aft pawl  70  (as well as the second saddle  60  and the rest of the jaw assembly  40 ) to slide along the length of the second handle  30 . 
     The fore pawl  62  and the aft pawl  70  each rotate about their own pivot points. The fore pawl  62  pivots about a first pivot pin  66  (see  FIGS. 5 and 14 ) that couples the fore pawl  62  to the second saddle  60 . The aft pawl  70  pivots about a second pivot pin  74  (see  FIGS. 5 and 14 ) that couples the aft pawl  70  to the second saddle  60 . By having different pivot points  66 ,  74 , both the fore pawl  62  and the aft pawl  70  can always maintain contact with the lock slide rail  32  as the second saddle  60  pivots with respect to the second handle  30  as the jaws  42  are opened and closed. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , an exploded view of the jaw assembly  40  is shown according to an exemplary embodiment. The fore pawl  62  includes a protrusion or nose  65  that is in contact with a curved bearing surface  75  (see  FIG. 13 ) on the aft pawl  70  so that a movement in one of the pawls  62  or  70  may impose a movement in the other. Springs  68  and  76  are coupled to the second saddle  60  and to the fore pawl  62  and the aft pawl  70 , respectively, to maintain rotational tension on the fore pawl  62  and the aft pawl  70 . The rotational tension helps to maintain a constant contact between the protrusion  65  and the bearing surface  75 . 
     A toggle  80  is coupled on a first end  82  to the first saddle  50  and on a second end  84  (opposite to end  82 ) to the second saddle  60 . The first end  82  is provided on a toggle yoke  86  while the second end  84  is provided on a threaded toggle eye  88 . The yoke  86  forms a longitudinal shaft or opening that is configured to receive the eye  88 . 
     The yoke  86  further includes an opening  92  that is configured to receive an adjustment wheel  90 . The adjustment wheel  90  is a cylindrical member with a threaded central opening that engages the threaded toggle eye  88 . The opening  92  in the yoke  86  is aligned with the longitudinal shaft in the yoke  86  and allows the adjustment wheel  90  to rotate while still remaining in the yoke  86 . In this way, with the toggle eye  88  engaging the adjustment wheel  90 , the adjustment wheel  90  may be turned to move the eye  88  relative to the yoke  86 . A retainer, such as a clip  94 , may be coupled to an end of the eye  88  to prevent the eye  88  from being moved out of the adjustment wheel  90  and disengage from the threaded opening in the adjustment wheel  90 . Moving the eye  88  relative to the yoke  86  in turn moves the second end  84  of the toggle  80  relative to the first end  82  of the toggle  80 , effectively lengthening or shortening the toggle  80 . By adjusting the toggle  80  with the adjustment wheel  90 , a user can change the length of the toggle  80  and the orientation of the first saddle  50  and the second saddle  60  to in turn adjust the orientation and range of motion of the jaws  42 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7  (presenting vantage point different than the  FIG. 5  view), the second handle  30  includes a locking mechanism with a lock  36  that is configured to selectively lock one of the ancillary tools  28  in a deployed position (e.g., a functional position, extended from the second handle  30 ). A tang of the ancillary tool  28  includes a flat or cutout  29 . According to an exemplary embodiment, lock  36  includes a spring arm  37 . The spring arm  37  is biased against a side of the ancillary tool  28 . When the ancillary tool  28  is moved into the deployed position, the cutout  29  allows the spring arm  37  to move into a space behind the ancillary tool  28 , locking the ancillary tool  28  in the deployed position. Some ancillary tools  28  (i.e., screwdrivers, saws, files, etc.) may experience forces when in use that are countered by the lock  36  allowing the ancillary tool  28  to remain in the deployed position. A user may unlock the ancillary tool  28  by pressing on the spring arm  37  to move it out from behind the ancillary tool  28  and rotate the ancillary tool  28  into a stored position within the handle  30 . While  FIG. 7  shows the second handle  30 , it should be understood that a similar locking mechanism may be provided for ancillary tools  28  in the first handle  20 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 8-11 , the jaw assembly  40  is shown both open ( FIGS. 10 and 11 ) and closed ( FIGS. 8 and 9 ) in both a maximum adjustment position ( FIGS. 9 and 11 ) and a minimum adjustment position ( FIGS. 8 and 10 ). In the minimum adjustment position, the toggle  80  is adjusted so that the first end  82  and the second end  84  of the toggle  80  are at a maximum distance from each other and the working portions  44  of the jaws  42  are at a minimum distance from each other (e.g., touching at the tip) when the jaws  42  are closed. In the maximum adjustment position, the toggle  80  is adjusted so that the first end  82  and the second end  84  of the toggle  80  are at a minimum distance (e.g., the toggle eye  88  is fully seated in the toggle yoke  86 ) from each other and the working portions  44  of the jaws  42  are spaced apart from each other when the jaws  42  are closed. 
     The pawls  62 ,  70  are provided to compensate for a differing pivot axis for the second handle  30  (see  FIGS. 1-4 ) and the second saddle  60 . The second handle  30  rotates around the rivet  38  and the second saddle  60  rotates around a first saddle pivot  78 . 
     The variation in the positions of the jaws  42  in the minimum and maximum positions is caused by a linkage formed between the saddles  50 ,  60 , the jaws  42 , and the handles  20 ,  30  (see  FIGS. 1-4 ). The jaw assembly  40  is configured to grip and hold items using an over-the-center toggle clamp mechanism. In the open configuration, the jaw spring  48  pulls the jaw tangs  46  together, thereby opening the jaws  42 . As the second saddle  60  is pulled toward the first saddle  50  (when the handle  20 ,  30  are squeezed together), the second saddle  60  rotates around a second saddle pivot  79 , and the jaw tangs  46  move away from each other, causing the working portions  44  to close. 
     In the closed or clamped position, the jaws  42  are held in place (e.g., releasably locked) by an over-the-center condition between the forces at the first saddle pivot  78  and the second saddle pivot  79  (see  FIGS. 8 and 9 ). The over-the-center condition locks the jaws  42  in the closed or clamped position until the tool  10  is manually released or unclamped by a user. This locking feature allows a user to clamp down on an object with the tool  10  without having to maintain pressure on the handles  20 ,  30 , leaving the user&#39;s hand available for another task. 
     The jaw assembly  40  opening angle can be adjusted by changing the distance between the first end  82  and the second end  84  of the toggle  80  (i.e., the distance between the toggle pivot pin  96  and the second saddle pivot  79 ). The shorter the distance, the larger the opening that will be formed by the jaws  42  in the closed or clamped position and the larger an object that can be clamped with the tool  10 . As described above, the distance may be adjusted by rotating the adjustment wheel  90  around the threaded portion of the toggle eye  88 . The adjustment wheel  90  pulls the toggle yoke  86  towards the second saddle pivot  79 . 
     In the embodiment shown  FIG. 3 , the toggle  80  and the adjustment wheel  90  are between the first handle  20  and the second handle  30  proximate to the jaws  42  so that the adjustment wheel  90  may be manipulated by a user with the same hand that is holding the tool  10 . In this way, the user can adjust the size of the opening formed by the jaws  42  in the clamped position without having to reach to the back end of the tool with the other hand to make the adjustment as is the case with certain conventional locking pliers. The user may therefore use the other hand for another task such as holding the object to be clamped or other tools. 
     It is important to note that the construction and arrangement of the multi-function tool as shown in the various exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter described herein. While the detailed drawings, specific examples, and particular formulations given describe certain exemplary embodiments, they serve the purpose as illustration only. The invention is not limited to the specific forms shown. The configuration of multi-function tool may differ depending on chosen performance characteristics and physical characteristics of the components of the multi-function tool. For example, the implement may take a variety of configurations and perform different functions depending on the needs of the user. Furthermore, other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. Elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements, the position of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may also be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the various exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention

Technology Classification (CPC): 1