Patent Description:
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a hand tool, and in particular to a hand tool for cutting clamps, such as ear clamps that are used for coupling tubing to fittings, such as crossed-linked polyethylene (PEX) for example.

PEX tubing is used in a variety of applications to transfer fluid between locations. PEX tubing provides many advantages as its inherent flexibility allows for installations that would be difficult or impossible with traditional tubing materials, such as copper. Where an installation uses a joint, such as a t-joint for example, or multiple tube are connected together, a fitting is used. Typically, the PEX tube is installed over the outer diameter of the fitting and a clamp is installed over the tube. The clamp secures the tube on the fitting.

One type of clamp is a stainless steel band clamp that is formed in a shape of a ring. The ring is slid over and surrounds the tubing and fitting. A tool is then used to crimp the clamp onto the tube. The process of crimping the band reduces the diameter of the band to secure the tubing and also deforms the band material (forming an "ear") to reduce the risk of the clamp loosening over time.

In some instances it may be desirable to remove the clamp. Typically, a second tool, referred to as a clamp cutter is used to cut or slice the ear portion and allow the clamp to be removed. The clamp cutter looks similar to the crimping tool with the exception that the jaws on the cutter tool are sharp and in the crimping tool they are rounded. It is possible to crimp the clamp with the cutter tool (intentionally or unintentionally), however potentially damages the clamp, causing a crack that eventually results in the clamp loosening or coming off of the tube. Unfortunately, by the time the clamp loosens any record of which tool was used is no longer available, and the property owner only knows that the clamp did not function the way it was intended.

Accordingly, while existing clamp cutting tools are suitable for their intended purposes the need for improvement remains, particularly in providing a cutting tool that includes the features and advantages described herein.

<CIT> discloses cutting pliers for jewelers having gripping surfaces from which the cutting edges extend laterally. This document discloses a cutting tool according to the preambles of claim <NUM> and <NUM>.

According to one aspect of the invention a cutting tool according to claim <NUM> is provided. The cutting tool includes a first jaw member having a first cutting edge and a first relief area adjacent the first cutting edge, the first jaw member further having a first projection extending from the first cutting edge into the first relief area. A second jaw member has a second cutting edge and a second relief area adjacent the second cutting edge, the second jaw member further having a second projection extending from the second cutting edge into the second relief area. Wherein the first projection and the second projection are sized to engage a leg of an ear clamp and prevent fully closing the ear clamp when the cutting tool is used in a crimping operation.

The tool further includes the first projection and the second projection having a convex outer surface. In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the tool may include the first projection and the second projection being centrally located along the first cutting edge and the second cutting edge. In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the tool may include the first cutting edge and the second cutting edge being configured to cut the leg of the ear clamp when the cutting tool is used in a cutting operation.

In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the tool may include the first cutting edge being configured to cut the leg in a first area between the first projection and a first side of the first jaw member. In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the tool may include the second cutting edge being configured to cut the leg in a second area between the second projection and a second side of the second jaw member. In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the tool may include the first area being opposite the second area.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention a cutting tool according to claim <NUM> is provided. The cutting tool includes a first handle and a second handle pivotally coupled to the first handle. A first jaw is pivotally coupled to the first handle, the first jaw having a first pincher end, the first pincher end having a first relief area, a first cutting edge, and a first projection that extends from the first cutting edge into the first relief area. A second jaw is pivotally coupled to the second handle, the second jaw having a second pincher end, the second pincher end having a second relief area, a second cutting edge, and a second projection that extends from the second cutting edge into the second relief area, the second jaw being pivotally coupled to the first jaw. Wherein the first projection and the second projection are sized to engage a leg of an ear clamp and prevent fully closing of the ear clamp when the cutting tool is used in a crimping operation.

The tool further includes the first projection and the second projection having a convex outer surface. In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the tool may include the first projection and the second projection being centrally located along the first cutting edge and the second cutting edge. In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the tool may include the first cutting edge and the second cutting edge being configured to cut the leg of the ear clamp when the cutting tool is used in a cutting operation. In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the tool may include the first cutting edge being configured to cut the leg in a first area between the first projection and a first side of the first jaw.

In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the tool may include the second cutting edge being configured to cut the leg in a second area between the second projection and a second side of the second jaw. In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the tool may include the first area being opposite the second area.

According to another aspect of the invention a method of operating a cutting tool with an ear clamp, according to claim <NUM>, is provided. The method includes placing an ear portion of the ear clamp between a first cutting edge and a second cutting edge of the cutting tool, the first cutting edge having a first projection extending from the first cutting edge into a first relief area, the second cutting edge having a second projection extending from the second cutting edge into a second relief area. Handles of the cutting tool are moved from an open position towards a closed position. The first projection and the second projection are engaged on a pair of opposing legs of the ear portion as the handles are moved from the open position towards the closed position. The ear clamp is prevented fully closing based on the engaging of the first projection and the second projection on the pair of opposing legs of the ear portion.

In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the method may include placing one of the pair of opposing legs between the first cutting edge and the second cutting edge, wherein the first projection and the second projection are offset from the ear portion of the ear clamp. In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the method may include moving the handles from the open position towards the closed position. In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments of the method may include cutting through the one of the pair of opposing legs as the handles are moved to the closed position.

Embodiments disclosed herein provide for a cutting tool for band clamps, such as an ear clamp used with PEX tubing. Embodiments of the cutting tool provide advantages in preventing an ear clamp from being fully closed when an operator attempts to crimp using the cutting tool.

Referring now to <FIG>, a cutting tool <NUM> is shown having a first handle <NUM> and a second handle <NUM>. The handles <NUM>, <NUM> are covered by a grip member <NUM>, <NUM> respectively. The handles <NUM>, <NUM> are rotationally connected to each other by a pivot <NUM>. The first handle <NUM> includes an end portion 32A, 32B and the second handle <NUM> includes an end portion 34A, 34B. The end portions 32A, 32B define a u-shaped slot that is sized to receive a first jaw member <NUM>. Similarly the end portions 34A, 34B define a u-shaped slot that is sized to receive a second jaw member <NUM>. The jaws <NUM>, <NUM> are pivotally coupled to the end portions 32A, 32B, 34A, 34B by pivots <NUM>, <NUM> respectively.

The jaws <NUM>, <NUM> are further rotationally coupled to each other by a pivot <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the pivot <NUM> is disposed between a pincher end <NUM>, <NUM> and the pivots <NUM>, <NUM> such that when the handles <NUM>, <NUM> are moved from the open position (<FIG>) to a closed position (<FIG>), the pincher ends <NUM>, <NUM> move towards each other. The pincher ends <NUM>, <NUM> each include an edge <NUM>, <NUM> that is sharp, such that when the tool <NUM> is placed over an ear clamp (<FIG>), the closing of the handles <NUM>, <NUM> causes the edges <NUM>, <NUM> to cut through a leg of the ear clamp as the pincher ends <NUM>, <NUM> move towards each other.

To facilitate the cutting of the clamp, each jaw <NUM>, <NUM> includes a relief area <NUM>, <NUM> adjacent the edges <NUM>, <NUM> that provides a space for the displaced/cut material to move as the edges cut through the material. It should be appreciated that the cutting of the ear on the clamp is performed by the area of the edges <NUM>, <NUM> that are closer to the sides of the jaws <NUM>, <NUM>. In other words, the cutting action is not performed by the center section of the edges <NUM>, <NUM>.

It should be appreciated that an operator may intentionally or unintentionally use a cutting tool <NUM> to crimp an ear clamp by placing the ear portion in between the edges <NUM>, <NUM> (<FIG>) and squeezing the handles <NUM>, <NUM> causing the edges <NUM>, <NUM> to crimp the ear clamp. Unfortunately, this unintended use of the tool by the operator may damage the ear portion of the clamp causing the clamp to loosen over time.

To avoid this situation, in the illustrated embodiment a projection <NUM>, <NUM> (<FIG>, <FIG>) is provided on each jaw <NUM>, <NUM> that extend from the edges <NUM>, <NUM> into the relief areas <NUM>, <NUM>. It should be appreciated that the projections <NUM>, <NUM> are not located in the cutting areas of the edges <NUM>, <NUM>, but rather is centrally located. In an embodiment, the projections <NUM>, <NUM> are centered on the edges <NUM>, <NUM> between the sides of the jaws <NUM>, <NUM>. As such, the projections <NUM>, <NUM> do not interfere with the intended cutting operation of the tool <NUM>. The projection <NUM> is formed as a rib having an outer surface with a convex curvature. The rib is an elongated body that has one end adjacent the edges <NUM>, <NUM> and an opposing end that intersects the surface defining the relief area <NUM>, <NUM>. The projections <NUM>, <NUM> are sized such that when the cutting tool <NUM> is used for crimping, the projections <NUM>, <NUM> contact the ear portion of the clamp and prevent the cutting tool <NUM> from fully closing the clamp.

Referring to <FIG>, an example is shown of the operation of the cutting tool <NUM> when attempting a crimping operation. The operator initially slides the band clamp <NUM> onto the tube <NUM> to be coupled and installs the end of the tube <NUM> over a fitting <NUM>. The band clamp <NUM> has a u-shaped section, sometimes referred to as an "ear" <NUM> that is defined by a pair of opposing legs that are joined by an end section. When the tool <NUM> is used in an unintended manner, the ear <NUM> can be inserted between the edges <NUM>, <NUM>. As the operator squeezes the handles <NUM>, <NUM>, the ear <NUM> starts to crimp or deform such that the portion closest to the tube <NUM> deflects inward, and the outer portion of the ear <NUM> expands outward. As the crimping continues, the "legs" <NUM> of the ear <NUM> engage the projections <NUM>, <NUM>. This contact of the projections <NUM>, <NUM> with the legs <NUM> prevents the clamp <NUM> from being fully closed when the tool <NUM> is moved to the fully closed position. In other words, the tool <NUM> will be unable to close completely. As the operator tries to close the tool, the hand force will increase dramatically, providing a tactile feedback to the operator that there is something wrong. Further, the clamp will remain in a visibly open position. As a result, the operator will immediately know that an improper crimp was performed and the risk of the clamp <NUM> loosening later is reduced.

Referring to <FIG>, an example is shown of an intended operation of the cutting tool <NUM>. As illustrated, the tool <NUM> is oriented perpendicular to the hoses <NUM> and one of the legs <NUM> is placed between the edges <NUM>, <NUM> such that the projections <NUM>, <NUM> are offset from the top of the ear <NUM> or the sides of the legs <NUM>. The operator squeezes the handles <NUM>, <NUM> causing the edges <NUM>, <NUM> to move toward each other and cut into the metal of the leg <NUM>. The handles <NUM>, <NUM> are squeezed until the edges <NUM>, <NUM> cut through the leg <NUM>. Since the projections <NUM>, <NUM> are offset from the ear <NUM>, the projections <NUM>, <NUM> do not interfere with the cutting operation.

It should be appreciated that while embodiments herein refer to the use of a tool <NUM> with a particular type of clamp (e.g. an ear type band clamp), this is for exemplary purposes and the claims should not be so limited. In other embodiments, the tool <NUM> may be used with other types of clamps. In still other embodiments, the tool <NUM> may be adapted to cooperate with ring clamps.

Technical effects and benefits of some embodiments include providing a tool that allows the cutting of a clamp while preventing its use for crimping.

Claim 1:
A cutting tool comprising:
a first jaw member (<NUM>) having a first cutting edge (<NUM>) and a first relief area (<NUM>) adjacent the first cutting edge, the first jaw member further having a first projection (<NUM>) extending from the first cutting edge into the first relief area; and
a second jaw member (<NUM>) having a second cutting edge (<NUM>) and a second relief area (<NUM>) adjacent the second cutting edge, the second jaw member further having a second projection (<NUM>) extending from the second cutting edge into the second relief area;
wherein the first projection and the second projection are sized to engage a leg of an ear clamp and prevent fully closing the ear clamp when the cutting tool is used in a crimping operation;
characterized in that
where+mthe first projection (<NUM>) and the second projection (<NUM>) have a convex outer surface.