Improvements in Combination Cutters, Connectors, and Pliers.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd May, 1898-Accepted, 13th Aug., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Combination Cutters, Connectors, and Pliers.
We, CHARLES PERCIVAL TOWARD, Telegraph Operator, of Worcester, in the
County of Worcester, and State of Massachusetts, ELMER DELMONT MERRILL, M.D.,
of Foxcroft, in the County of Piscataquis, and State of Maine, and FRANK FOLSOM,
Gentleman, of Dover, in the County of Piscataquis, and State of Maine, all in the
United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates generally to a combination tool, known as a combin
plier and connector, the object being to provide a combination tool for telegraph line-
men's use, by means of which wires can be cut, connected or handled, as described.
Another object of the invention is to provide a tool which embodies in a single
device the features commonly found in several tools now in use.
With these various objects in view, the invention consists in the peculiar con-
struction of the various parts, and in their novel combination or arrangement all
of which will be fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings forming a part of this specification:-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a combination tool constructed in accordance
with this invention.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the tool opened.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of the end of one of the handles, showing the
position the catch occupies when not in use.
In carrying out my invention, we employ the jaws A and B, pivotally connected
at C, and provided with integral handles A and B respectively.
At their forward ends the jaws are shaped substantially the same as the ordinary
pliers now in use, but directly back of the forward end are produced the trans-
verse recesses D and D¹ of different sizes, and so arranged that when the jaws are
brought together, transverse openings are produced in which the ends of the wire
may be held while making connections.
To the rear of the pivot point, a series of openings D2 and D3 are produced, said
penings being of different sizes in order to accommodate different gauges of wire.
The jaws are also recessed from each side, as shown at E, (sec Figs. 2 and 5) in
rder to provide centrally-located cutting edges F, and we also recess the jaws
rom one side only, as shown at G, in order to provide a cutting edge H, at one
ide only, the object of such cutting edge at one side being to take up the short
nds of the wire which cannot be used by the central cutting edge F.
It will thus be seen that we provide an exceedingly cheap and simple construc-
ion of plier, cutter and connector, and in order to hold the jaws and handles in
heir proper positions while the connections are being made, we employ a catch I,
hich is pivotally arrangd in the recesses K produced in the end of one of the
andles, such catch having a nose or dog I, which is adapted to engage the end

page_text: of the opposing handles when in use, and when not in use, it rests in a supple-
mental recess K¹.
An ordinary leaf spring contained within the recess holds the catch open after
it has been once set for use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. In a tool of the kind described, the combination of the jaws having the
integral handle portions, said jaws being recessed from each side and providing the
central cutting edges, substantially as shown and described.
2. In a tool of the kind described, the combination of the jaws and handles
pivotally connected, said jaws being recessed upon one side in order to produce
the cutting edges at the opposite side, substantially as shown and described.
3. In a tool of the kind described, the combination of the jaws and handles
pivotally connected, said jaws having transverse grooves or recesses produced there-
in upon opposite sides of the pivot, substantially as shown and described.
4. In a tool of the kind described, the combination of the jaws and handles, said
jaws having the transverse grooves or recesses, and a catch attached to the rear
end of one of the handles and adapted to engage the opposing handle, substantially.
as shown and described.
5. In a tool of the kind described, the combination of the jaws and handles
pivotally connected, said jaws having the transverse recesses or grooves upon
both sides of the pivot, the forward portion of the jaws being recessed from both
sides to provide central cutting jaws, and also recessed from one side to provide
a side cutting edge, substantially as shown and described.