Patent ID: 8210845

Claim:
Pliers having handles, jaws, and a hinge, comprising: first and a second pliers parts, each pliers part comprising a handle, a jaw, and a hinge portion between the handle and the jaw, wherein the respective hinge portions together form the hinge; a pair of arcuate blades on the hinge portion of the first pliers part and a pair of arcuate grooves on the hinge portion of the second pliers part, wherein the blades and grooves extend concentrically around a central axis of the hinge and are of limited arcuate length, the blades thereby engaging the grooves when the handles of the first and second pliers parts are opened to a limited extent and disengaging the grooves when the handles of the first and second pliers parts are opened beyond the limited extent, thereby allowing the first and second pliers parts to be separated; wherein one of the hinge portions is a male hinge portion that comprises a shaft with a longitudinal axis, the shaft having a cylindrical peripheral bearing wall and a distal face, the distal face of the shaft further comprising a central protrusion extending axially therefrom, the central protrusion having a distal face; and wherein the other hinge portion is a female hinge portion that comprises a bore having a peripheral bearing wall for receiving the shaft of the male hinge portion, the bearing walls being close fitting with the cylindrical peripheral bearing wall of the shaft and concentric, the bore comprising a proximal face having a recess for receiving the central protrusion of the male hinge portion when the first and second pliers parts are engaged to form the pliers wherein the side walls of the central protrusion fit within the recess and the distal face of the central protrusion contacts the proximal face of the recess when the first and second pliers parts are engaged to form the pliers.