Abstract:
An increased torque applying pliers which utilizes two separate sets of jaws with each set of jaws having their own pivot axis. Each set of jaws are reversely oriented relative to each other. The sets of jaws are pivotally connected together with this pivot connection also being connected to a handle assembly. The handle assembly comprises two handles which are also pivotally connected together with the pivot axis for the handle being confined within a central cavity that is formed by the jaw members. The utilizing of a separate pivot axis for the handle members which is spaced from the connecting axes that interconnect the jaw members and the handles provides for the application of an increased amount of torque when clamping of the pliers onto an exterior structure.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to tools and more particularly to a pliers type of tool which embodies two different pair of jaws within the same tool and where the tool is constructed to apply an increased amount of torque when clamping of the tool onto an exterior structure. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Hand tools, of different types, have long been known. A common form of hand tool is known as a pliers. A typical pliers has a head on which is defined a pair of jaws which can be manipulated by a pair of handles into a pincher-like action on an exterior structure. There are several different types of pliers. There is what is deemed as sharp nose or needle nose type of pliers head. There is also a pliers referred to as a snub nose type of pliers head. Tradesmen and homeowners frequently carry both type of pliers on their person or within their tool box. If both heads could somehow be incorporated within a single tool, then the tradesman or homeowner would only be required to carry a single tool rather than two different tools. 
     It has been known to form a combination type tool in the form of pliers where two different types of heads are incorporated within a single tool. Reference is to be had to U.S. Pat. No. 5,245,721, which shows such a combination tool. However, the combination tool of the prior art has certain deficiencies. One of these deficiencies is that there is basically a one-to-one application of force relative to the squeezing force applied to the handle. In other words, if a ten pound squeezing force is applied to the handles, then there is a ten pound gripping force applied to the structure by the jaw of the head of the tool. The reason for this is that most pliers of the prior art are constructed so that the connecting axes of the handles to the jaws are aligned with the pivot axes for the different pairs of jaws. If the connecting axes were not the same as the pivot axes, then greater leverage could be obtained, such for example, applying only five pounds of force to the handles in order to produce a ten pound clamping force onto the exterior structure. At times, a greater application of force is desirable, such as when a tradesman or homeowner is attempting to collapse a portion of a tube or in any situation where a greater amount of force is needed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The first basic embodiment of the present invention provides for an increased torque applying pliers which utilizes a jaw assembly composed of a first pair of jaw members pivotally connected at a first pivot axis so these jaw members can move between a non-force applying position and a force applying position. The jaw assembly includes first rear extensions with one rear extension being fixed to one of the first jaw members and the other first rear extension being fixed to the other of the first jaw members. A handle assembly which comprises a first handle member and a second handle member are pivotally connected together at a handle pivot axis. The first handle member is pivotally connected to one of the first rear extensions at a first connecting axis. The second handle member is pivotally connected to the remaining first rear extension at a second connecting axis. The handle pivot axis is spaced from the first pivot axis and both the first connecting axis and the second connecting axis. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by both the first connecting axis and the second connecting axis being spaced the same distance from the handle pivot axis. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by the first pivot axis being locatable between the first rear extensions. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the jaw assembly includes a second pair of jaw members which are reversely positioned to the first pair of jaw members. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where each jaw member of the second pair of jaw members has a rear extension which is pivotally connected to a rear extension of the first pair of jaw members. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the just previous embodiment is modified by the first rear extensions being pivotally connected to second rear extensions with the rear extensions cooperating to form a central cavity. The first pivot axis is confined within this central cavity. 
     A second basic embodiment of the present invention comprises an increased torque applying pliers which comprises a first jaw pivot axis that is formed by a first jaw member that is mounted to a second jaw member that are movable between a clamping position where the first jaw member is being forced toward the second jaw member and a release position where the first jaw member is not being forced toward the second jaw member. There is a handle pivot axis which is spaced from the first jaw pivot axis with this handle pivot axis being established by interconnecting a first handle member with a second handle member. There is a first connecting axis that is formed by connecting a first handle member with a first jaw member. There is a second connecting axis that is formed by connecting a second handle with a second jaw member. The first connecting axis is spaced from the second connecting axis and also spaced from the first jaw pivot axis and also the handle pivot axis. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the second basic embodiment is modified by the first connecting axis and the second connecting axis being spaced the same distance apart from the first jaw pivot axis. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the second basic embodiment is modified by the handle pivot axis being locatable between a portion of the first jaw member and a portion of the second jaw member. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the second basic embodiment is modified by there being included a third jaw member and a fourth jaw member which are also pivotally mounted together and are reversely positioned relative to the first jaw member and the second jaw member. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the just previous embodiment is modified by the third jaw member having a rear extension and the fourth jaw member also having a rear extension with the rear extension of the third jaw member being pivotally mounted to a first jaw member and the rear extension of the fourth jaw member being pivotally mounted to a second jaw member. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the just previous embodiment is modified by the connected together rear extensions forming a central cavity with the handle pivot axis being mounted within the central cavity. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is to be made to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangement shown in the drawings. 
     FIG. 1 is a top plan elevational view of the increased torque applying pliers of the present invention showing the pliers in a closed position where the jaw members of the pliers abut each other; 
     FIG. 2 is a right side elevational view of the increased torque applying pliers of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the pliers in an open position; and 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded isometric view of the increased torque applying pliers of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring particularly to the drawings, there is shown the increased torque applying pliers  10  of this invention. Pliers  10  includes a jaw assembly  12  which is constructed of a first pair of jaw members  14  and  16  and a second pair of jaw members  18  and  20 . Jaw members  14  and  16  are of a sharp pointed shape and are commonly referred to as needle nose type of pliers. Jaw members  18  and  20  are blunted in shape and are what is deemed a more conventional type of pliers. The jaw members  14  and  16  are pivotally connected together by means of a pivot pin  22  which is fitted within hole  24  of jaw member  14  and hole  26  of jaw member  16 . The hole  24  is centrally mounted within a center section  28  which is basically round in configuration and has exterior cam surfaces  30  and  32  each of which are basically a segment of a circle with the surfaces  30  and  32  having the same circular center which coincides with pivot axis  34  which passes through the center of the pivot pin  22 . In a similar manner, the hole  26  is mounted within a basically circular shape center section  36  which has cam surfaces  38  and  40  located on its exterior surface. The cam surfaces  38  and  40  are again of a circle whose center coincides with the pivot axis  34 . The radius of the circle for the cam surfaces  38  and  40  is the same as for the cam surfaces  30  and  32 . 
     Formed within the center section  36  is an annular groove  42 . Within the annular groove  42  is to be located a spring  44 . It is the function of the spring  44  to exert a continuous bias imparted to the jaw assembly  14  that tends to locate the jaw members  14  and  16  in the open position shown in FIG.  3 . It is to be understood that the jaw members  14  and  16  can be clamped onto an exterior structure, which is not shown, and be in the position of FIG. 1 or be in any position where the jaw members  14  and  16  could be spread apart. For example, in FIG. 3, if an exterior object was located between the jaw members  14  and  16 , the spread apart position of FIG. 3 could actually be a clamping 
     The jaw member  16  includes a cam  46  which rides on the cam surface  32 . The jaw member  16  also includes a cam  48  which rides on the cam surface  30 . The jaw member  16  also includes a primary rear extension  50  which is attached to the center section  36  and extends rearwardly therefrom. Within the rear extension  50  is a hole  52 . In a similar manner, the jaw member  14  has a primary rear extension  54  that is integral with the center section  28  and extends rearwardly therefrom. The rear extension  54  includes a hole  56 . Cam  48  is to rest against the cam surface  30 . Integral with the rear extension is a cam  58 . Cam  58  is to abut against the cam surface  40 . When the pliers  10  moves between the closed position of FIG.  1  and the open position of FIG. 3, the cam  48  slides on cam surface  30  and cam  58  slides on cam surface  40 . 
     It can thus be seen that the jaw assembly  12 , composed of jaw members  14  and  16 , is pivotable so that the jaw members  14  and  16  can assume the spread apart position similar to what is shown in FIG. 3 or a closed position which is shown in FIG.  1 . In the closed position of FIG. 1, the flat planar interior surfaces  60  and  62  of the respective jaw members  14  and  16  abut each other. 
     Jaw member  18  includes a center section  64  which is also substantially circular. The center section  64  includes a center through hole  66  integrally connected to center section  64  is a an additional rear extension  68 . The rear extension  68  includes a through hole  70 . The jaw member  20  includes a circular shaped center section  72 . This circular shaped center section  72  has an exterior surface constructed to include a cam surface  74  and a cam surface  76 . Included within the center section  72  is a centrally located through hole  78 . The cam surfaces  74  and  76  are arcs of the same circle. Integrally connected to the center section  72  is a an additional rear extension  80 . Rear extension  80  has a through hole  82 . 
     The jaw members  18  and  20  are to interlock with the center sections  64  and  72  abutting one another. In this position, cam surface  84  of jaw member  18  conforms to and slides thereon the circular configuration of recess cam surface  86  of jaw member  20 . The cam surface  88  on jaw member  18  similarly rides within the recessed cam surface  90  which is actually part of rear extension  80  of jaw member  20 . The wall of rear extension  68 , which is located directly adjacent the center section  64 , is formed into a cam surface  92  which is located against cam surface  74 . There is to be formed on the inside surface of the jaw member  18  a cam surface which is similar in configuration to cam surface  86  that is to ride against cam surface  76 . 
     A connecting pin  94  connects hole  82  and hole  52 . This pivotally mounts the jaw member  20  to the jaw member  16 . The jaw member  20  is now capable of limited pivotal movement relative to jaw member  16  about a connecting axis  96 . In a similar manner, a connecting pin  98  connects hole  70  with hole  56  with the result that jaw member  14  is pivotally mounted relative to jaw member  18 . 
     Rear extension  50  has an inner recess  100  and an outer recess  102 . Rear extension  54  also has an inner recess  104  and an outer recess  106 . Rear extension  68  has a similar inner recess  108  and outer recess  110 . Rear extension  80  also has a similar inner recess  112  and outer recess  114 . The function of these recesses  100 - 114  will be explained further on the specification. 
     The pliers  10  of this invention includes a handle assembly in the form of a first handle member  116  and second handle member  118 . The first handle member  116  is actually constructed of two separate identically shaped parts  120  and  122  which are connected together by a handle pivot pin  124 . The handle pivot pin  124  is fixedly mounted within through hole  126  formed within part  120  and also within through hole  128  formed within part  122 . The handle pivot pin  124  is also mounted within through hole  130  of handle part  132  of second handle member  118  and also pivotally mounted within through hole  134  of handle member  136 . The handle parts  132  and  136  are assembled together forming a single unit which comprises the second handle member  118 . The parts  132  and  136  are mounted together to move together as a single unit. The outer end of the handle parts  132  and  136  are fixedly secured together by a spacer pin  138 . A similar spacer pin  140  fixedly mounts together the outer end of the parts  120  and  122 . 
     The part  120  also includes a small through hole  142  into which is to be mounted the connecting pin  94 . This connecting pin  94  is also mounted within a through hole  144  of the handle part  122 . In a similar manner, the connecting pin  98  is mounted within a small through hole  146  formed within the handle part  132  and similarly within small through hole  148  formed within handle part  136 . 
     It is to be noted that the jaw members  14  and  16  are reversely positioned relative to jaw members  18  and  20 . Without any force applied tending to move the handle members  16  and  18  together, the spring  44  will apply a bias to the jaw assembly  12  tending to locate the jaw assembly  12  in the position shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings with the jaw members  14  and  16  being angularly spread apart and jaw members  18  and  20  being angularly spread apart. In this position, the handle pivot pin  124  is positioned very near one end of an internal cavity  150  which is formed by the connected together enclosing arrangement of the rear extensions  50 ,  54 ,  68  and  80 . It is to be noted that the handle pivot pin  124  is mounted on a handle pivot axis  152  and this handle pivot axis  152  is spaced from the connecting axis  96  and the connecting axis  154  established by a connecting pin  98 . The distance of the connecting axes  96  and  154  relative to the pivot axis  152  is the same and will generally comprise about five-eights of an inch. When the first handle member  116  is moved toward the second handle member  118 , the jaw members  14  and  16  move closer together as well as jaw members  18  and  20  move closer together. If an exterior object was placed between the jaw members  14  and  16 , a clamping action on that exterior object would occur. Although it is possible to utilize and maybe in some instances it may be convenient to utilize the jaw members  18  and  20  when in the position shown in FIG. 3, generally the position of the jaw members  18  and  20  will be deemed a storage position and a non-use position with only the jaw members  14  and  16  intending to be used. However, when it is desired to utilize jaw members  18  and  20 , the user only needs to move the first handle member  116  counterclockwise approximately one-hundred and forty degrees and the second handle member  118  clockwise also about one-hundred and forty degrees. This will result in the placing of the jaw member  14  and  16  in the storage position and extend the jaw members  18  and  20  in the extended position so that such can then be readily used. 
     It is to be noted that because of the handle pivot axis  124  not coinciding with the pivot axis  34  or the pivot axis  156  which is formed by pivot pin  158  which is mounted within the through holes  66  and  78 , additional leverage is obtained. This additional leverage is also acquired in part by the handle pivot axis  152  being spaced from the connecting axes  96  and  154 . This spacing is, in essence, the obtaining of additional leverage in the same way that a lever is used with a fulcrum to where a small force could be utilized to move a much heavier object. By way of an example, a five pound force applied tending to close the handle member  116  and  118  will apply a ten pound or more clamping force between the jaw members  14  and  16  or the jaw members  18  and  20 . 
     The reason for the recesses  110  and  104  is to provide sufficient clearance for the handle pivot pin  124  to permit the jaw assembly  12  to be moved to the closed position, as shown in FIG.  1 . The same is also true for recesses  108  and  112  when the jaw members  18  and  20  are located in the extended to be used position and the jaw members  14  and  16  are in the storage position. The reason for the recesses  110  and  114  and  102  and  106  is also to provide sufficient clearance of the rear extensions  50  and  54  and the rear extensions  68  and  80  in order to achieve a completely closed position, as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     Between the jaw members  14  and  16  and the jaw members  18  and  20  there will be formed serrated surfaces and/or cutters that are deemed to be common in constructing of pliers. The structure of this invention is making no effort to define that there is any specific novelty in the construction of these surfaces.