Patent ID: 12226006

Corresponding reference numbers indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG.1, a sheath10of the present disclosure is usable for stowing a pair of pliers12(broadly, “multi-handle tool having jaws”). In the illustrated embodiment, the tool is a “needle-nose” type pliers configured to assist a fisherperson/user in removing a hook from a mouth of a fish. It will be appreciated the sheath10could be used for stowing a pair of scissors or other two-handled tool having jaws without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Moreover, aspects of the sheath could be used in other types of sheaths (e.g. knives, etc.) without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Illustrated inFIG.3, the pliers12includes two pliers arms12A,12B pivotably joined at a pivot point, referred to herein as a joint12C. Each of the pliers arms12A,12B includes a handle portion14A,14B and a jaws portion16. The handle portions14A,14B may be provided with a gripping portion to assist the user in grasping the pliers12. The handle portions14A,14B are configured to receive fingers and a thumb/palm of a user's hand, allowing the user to move the arms between an open (not shown) and closed position to actuate the jaw portions. In the illustrated embodiment, each handle portion includes a head having a pusher member18A and a recess18B, (together broadly considered “sheath engagement structure”). Each recess18B is defined by a finger/thumb bed18C configured to receive a finger and/or thumb of the user while the user grasps the pliers. In the illustrated embodiment, the handle portions14A,14B are overmolded with a polymeric material (e.g. Kraton material) gripping portion configured to assist the user in gripping the pliers. The gripping portions can provide friction to the user grasping the pliers and when the pliers is stowed in the sheath, as will be described in greater detail below. In the illustrated embodiment, the Kraton material of each handle portion provides the head and recess of each handle portion.

Referring toFIG.4, the sheath10includes a body forming a mount20and a holder22. The body is formed of a resiliently deformable material. In the illustrated embodiment, the resiliently deformable material is a polymeric material (e.g. injection molded plastic).

Referring toFIGS.1,2, and4, the holder22defines a receiver24having a tool-receiving recess26(broadly, “recess”) in which the jaws16of the pliers12are receivable for stowing the pliers12in the sheath10. The holder22includes a front (first) panel22A and a rear (second) panel22B bounding the recess26. Left (third) and right (fourth) panels22C,22D respectively, extend between the front and rear panels. The recess26includes a lower portion configured to receive the jaws16of the pliers12. The lower portion tapers and has a narrower width than an upper portion of the recess. The upper portion is configured to receive segments of the handle portions of the pliers, as will be described in greater detail below.

The holder22includes at least one keeper (broadly, “pliers engagement structure”) configured to releasably retain the pliers12in the holder22. In the illustrated embodiment, there are three keepers. Referring toFIGS.4and5, a first keeper30comprises a detent30A (broadly, “protrusion”) extending rearward toward the rear panel22B from an upper end portion of the front panel22A. The detent30A includes a camming surface30B angled generally toward the bottom of the recess. The first keeper30is configured such that a dimension of the recess18B between a distal end of the keeper30and a forward facing surface of the rear panel22B is less than the thickness of the joint. Other configurations can be used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG.6, the holder22includes a second keeper36and a third keeper46(broadly, “pliers engagement structure”) configured to releasably retain the pliers12in the holder22. The second and third keepers36,46are provided at upper end portions of the left and right panels22C,22D and protrude inward toward the recess26to obstruct removal of the pliers12from the holder22. The first and second keepers36,46are arranged to engage the handle engagement structure of respective handle portions of the pliers to obstruct removal of the pliers.

The second keeper36will be described in greater detail with the understanding that the third keeper46includes identical mirroring features with like reference numbers plus 10. The second keeper36includes a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a keeper body extending therebetween. The proximal portion is connected (e.g. integrally formed) to the sheath body. The second keeper36comprises a first ramp portion36A, a wing portion36B, and a second ramp portion36C. The first ramp portion36A includes a first tapered surface36D facing generally away from the recess26. The wing portion36B includes a thumb38having a camming surface38A facing in a generally transverse direction with respect to the recess26. The second ramp portion36C includes a second tapered surface36E facing generally toward the receiver26. The tapered surfaces36D,36E of the first and second ramp portions36A,36C and the camming surface38A of the thumb38are integrally formed and can all generally be referred to as handle portion engagement structure.

The dimension between the first tapered surfaces36D,46D of the respective first ramp portions36A,46A of the first and second keepers36,46is slightly wider than the dimension between the camming surfaces38A,48A of the respective thumbs38,48of the first and second keepers36,46. The dimension between the second tapered surfaces36E,46E of the respective second ramp portions36C,46C of the second and third keepers36,46is slightly wider than that of the first tapered surfaces36D,46D to form gaps in that region when the pliers is stowed in the sheath. The first and second keepers may be omitted without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

A cycle of use of inserting and removing the pliers12to and from the sheath10will now be discussed with respect toFIGS.1,7,9, and10. Referring toFIG.9, in a first stage, the user inserts the pliers12into the sheath10so the heads of the respective handle portions engage the respective second and third keepers36,46. The user provides a sufficient pushing force to allow pusher members18A of the respective handle portions14A,14B engage respective first tapered surfaces36D,46D, causing the respective second and third keepers36,46to resiliently deflect laterally outward to a Position1. In Position1, the joint12C of the pliers12is located above the first keeper30. A highest compression force is resulted on the handles at Position1, caused by the resilient deformity of the second and third keepers36,46pushing back on the heads of the handle portions.

Referring toFIG.10, in a second stage, the user continues to push the pliers12into the sheath10, causing the heads of the respective handle portions14A,14B to begin to pass the first tapered surfaces36D,46D. As the heads begin to pass the first tapered surfaces, the recesses18B of the handle portions begin to engage the camming surfaces38A,48A of the thumbs38,48of the wing portions36B,46B of the respective second and third keepers36,46to a Position2. In Position2, the joint12C of the pliers12is still located above the first keeper30. Referring toFIGS.1and7, in a third stage, the user continues to push the pliers12into the sheath10, causing the heads of the respective handle portions to begin to move into the gaps defined by the respective second ramp portions36C,46C of the second and third keepers36,46. Substantially simultaneously, the joint12C of the pliers12begins (or already has begun) to engage the detent30A of the first keeper30. The sufficient force provided by the user pushing the pliers12into the sheath10causes the first keeper30to resiliently deflect outward. The surface of the joint12C slides over the detent30A until the pliers is inserted into the sheath10a sufficient amount, at which point the detent30A passes the joint12C causing the first keeper30to deflect back (i.e. snap) into its at rest position (or at least toward or near its at rest position) in a space above the joint12C and between the handle portions.

Substantially simultaneously, as the joint12C is sliding over the detent30A, the heads of the respective handle portions14A,14B begin entering (or have already entered) into the gaps provided by the second ramp portions36C,46C. Once the first keeper30is back into its at rest position, now located above the joint12C, and the thumbs38,38of the second and third keepers36,46are seated in the recesses18B of the respective handle portions14A,14B, the pliers12is in the stowed position. The gripping portion of the handle portions provide a friction fit when engaged with the camming surfaces to further secure the pliers in place. The camming surface30B of the detent is arranged above the top of the joint12C such that a gap may be provided between the top of the joint12C and the first retainer30when the pliers is in the stowed position. The holder22may be configured so that the camming surface30B engages the top of the joint12C when the pliers12is in the stowed positon without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

A similar but reverse sequence takes place when the user supplies a sufficient pulling force for removing (e.g. by pulling) the pliers from the sheath. It will be appreciated that the keepers are configured to permit camming of the keepers away from their respective at rest (retaining) positions to facilitate removal of the pliers from the receiving space by pulling force applied to the handles of the pliers. Accordingly, removal of the pliers from the sheath can be a one-handed operation.

The mount20comprises mount connection structure configured for mounting the sheath to a support structure such as, a belt, clothes of the user (e.g. a pocket), a suitable location of a boat (e.g. interior paneling on a fishing boat), etc.

The mount20includes an upper portion of the sheath body, and includes a clip50. The upper portion of the body defines two slots52A,52B (broadly, “openings”) through which a belt can be threaded to connect the sheath10to the belt. The mount20also comprises connection structure configured to removably connect the clip50to the mount20. In the illustrated embodiment, the mount20defines a through hole20A configured to receive a Chicago style screw54(broadly, “fastener”) and nut54A. The mount20defines openings20C,20D arranged to correspond with and configured to receive barbs56A,56B (broadly, “locks”) of the clip50. The mount20defines anti-rotation structure configured to prevent the clip from rotating when secured to the mount, as will become apparent. The anti-rotation structure includes a recess20E defined by a top portion of the mount20and two slits20F,20G defined by the upper portion of the mount20. The recess20E is bounded by protrusions on each side of the recess20E. In the illustrated embodiment, the slits20F,20G do not pass through the mount body. Additionally, the mount20defines two (broadly, “at least one”) additional through holes20H,20I configured to receive a standard fastener (e.g. a screw).

The clip50comprises a clip body, an upper portion of the clip includes mounting structure, and a lower portion of the clip includes locking structure. The mounting structure includes a through hole50A arranged to correspond with the through hole20A of the mount20and configured to receive the Chicago style fastener54. The upper portion includes tabs58A,58B,58C arranged to engage with the anti-rotation structure. The locking structure includes two barbs56A,56B sized shaped and arranged to correspond with the openings20C,20D. A latch60is arranged below the barbs56A,56B to provide a surface for which the user can pull the clip backwards, as will become apparent.

When the clip50is fastened to the mount20, the tab58A is seating in the recess20E and the tabs50B,50C are inserted into the corresponding slits20F,20G. Moreover, the barbs56A,56B are seated in the corresponding openings20C,20D. The configuration is such that the depths of the slits20F,20G and the lengths of the tabs50B,50C, together with the depths of the openings20C,20D and the length of the barbs56A,56B permit the clip to reside generally parallel fashion with the mount body when the clip is in an at rest position. The arrangement is such that a space64is provided by an interior of the clip body and an exterior of the mount body.

The user may thread a belt through at least one, preferably both, openings52A,52B defined by the mount body. Moreover, the user may thread a belt through the space64provided by the clip and the mount body. Alternatively, the user may pull the latch60backward away from the mount body to slide the clip50over a belt in which the clip will resiliently deflect back to its at rest position with the belt trapped in the space64. Alternatively, the user may pull the latch60backward and slide the clip50into a pant or shirt pocket (broadly, “clothing material”). Once the user releases the latch60, the clip50will tend to return to its at rest position however the barbs56A,56B will trap the clothing material into the openings20C,20D.

The user may mount the sheath to a more semi-permanent fixture (e.g. suitable paneling in a fishing boat, work bench, etc.), if desired. The user first removes the clip50from the mount20by removing the Chicago style fastener54. Once the clip has been removed, the user can pass screws through the openings20H,20I, and/or the opening20A where the Chicago style fastener previously occupied, to thread the screws to the chosen fixture.

It will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims. The dimensions and proportions described herein are by way of example without limitation. Other dimensions and proportions can be used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.