Patent Document

PRIOR RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional of Ser. No. 12/419,592, filed Apr. 7, 2009, which is continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11/857,010, filed Sep. 18, 2007 now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11/493,682, filed Jul. 26, 2006 now abandoned, and claims priority thereto and incorporates the priority applications herein in their entireties by reference thereto. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to hand tools. This invention specifically relates to hand tools having improved or multiple functionalities. This invention specifically relates to a firefighter tool having multiple functionalities. This invention more specifically relates to a rescue tool used by firefighters in exigent circumstances. 
     2. Background of the Prior Art 
     Firefighter tools having multiple functions are disclosed in U.S. D210,141, granted Feb. 13, 1968 to Woods; U.S. D226,162, granted Jan. 30, 1973 to Zlayele, Jr., U.S. D233,405, granted Oct. 29, 1974 to Frey; U.S. D244,252, granted May 10, 1997 to Ardis; U.S. D281,216, granted Nov. 5, 1985 to Cutliff, Jr, et al.; U.S. D329,972, granted Oct. 6, 1992 to Calvagno; U.S. Pat. No. 1,561,647, granted Nov. 17, 1925 to Johnson; U.S. Pat. No. 2,360,163, granted Oct. 10, 1944 to Sadler; U.S. Pat. No. 3,599,255 granted Oct. 21, 1968 to Carroll, Sr.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,949,439, granted Apr. 13, 1976 to Ardis; U.S. Pat. No. 4,287,623, granted Sep. 8, 1981 to Tarran; U.S. Pat. No. 4,597,123, granted Jul. 1, 1986 to Cobe, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,646,378, granted Mar. 3, 1987 to Borden; U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,493, granted Apr. 21, 1992 to Lugtenaar; U.S. Pat. No. 5,428,853, granted Jul. 4, 1995 to Menke; U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,355, granted Oct. 30, 2001 to McMillan et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,397,420, granted Jun. 4, 2002 to Roxton; U.S. Pat. No. 6,899,001, granted May 31, 2005 to Sanders et al.; and US Publication 2004/0261188, published Dec. 30, 2004 to Mathis. 
     The art directed to wrenches generally discloses a unitary member having a hook for engaging one specifically sized coupling as disclosed in U.S. D138,515 to Hardy, U.S. D337,492 to Ryan et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,705,182 to Bennett. 
     The art directed to firefighter tools generally discloses a movable or displaceable hook or other movable element to engage diversely sized couplings as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,754 to Brown, U.S. Pat. No. 1,936,359 to Huthsing et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,428,853 to Menke et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,715 to Nishiguchi. 
     Referring specifically to  FIG. 1  (PRIOR ART), there is shown the multi-purpose rescue tool disclosed in US Publication No. 2006/015674, published Jul. 20, 2006 to Gillingham (“the Gillingham tool”). The Gillingham tool  1  includes handle  7  and handle  8  having a planar contact surface  2  for engaging small sized fire hose couplings (not shown), wherein there is line contact between the coupling cylindrical surface and the handle planar contact surface  2 . The Gillingham hook end  3  is curved with a terminal sharp edge  9 . Planar contact surface  2  in conjunction with hook end  3  has a limited range of utility. The Gillingham tool is only operable with the handles in the closed position. Handles  7  and  8  open to only a limited degree for cable cutting functionality only. Arm  4  with cutter  5  are disposed on the inside  6  of handle  7  and prevents a user from gripping handle  7 . The flared wedge has ends  7   a  and  7   b  further prevent a user from griping handle  7 . The Gillingham handles  7  and  8  subtend an angle of no more than about 37° in the fully open position (not shown). This limited open position is for the purpose of the jaws cutting a cable. Hook end  3  has no operability in the handles open position. 
     Referring specifically to  FIG. 2  (PRIOR ART), there is shown pliers  100  with jaws  111  and  112  for cutting a cable (not shown). Jaws  111  and  112  have elongate generally arcuate cutting edges  115  disposed in different planes. In the fully closed position (as shown) stops  113  and  114  limit the closure of jaws  111  and  112 . Pliers  100  are useful for only cutting cables with relatively soft metal components. Cutting edges  115  would readily chip in an attempt to cut metal sheath cables. 
     The art directed to firefighter tools requires quick positive force applications in cutting heavy-duty or metal sheath cables such as present in hybrid automobiles, jimmying seized windows, and opening seized fire hose couplings of diverse sizes and lug configurations. The present invention provides solutions to each and all the foregoing prior art needs in a readily operated tool and yet of practical design, manufacture and construction. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present firefighter tool provides complementary elongate handles wherein the handles may, in one operable mode, be separately gripped for cutting heavy duty metal component cables, and in a second mode, the wedge bearing handle is comfortably gripped and the handles fully opened to an extraordinary degree with the opposed handle specifically contoured with a sinusoidal outer surface to operably engage diversely sized and lug configured fire hose couplings. In the handles fully open mode, a high torque force is generated to rapidly uncouple the seized fire hose coupling. The handles open to approximately 114° in the fully opened or second mode position. The elongate contoured handles and elongate arcuate jaws cutting edges provide improved cutting of heavy duty electrical cable such as an aluminum shielded hybrid car battery cable. The wedge edge is disposed at between 85° and 89°, and preferably 88°, of the tool center plane in the fully closed position. The wedge is contoured to be effectively and comfortably separately gripped in the fully opened or second mode position to engagingly the fire hose coupling is engaged by the sinusoidal outer surface and hook of the opposed handle. The elongate handles have specific member handle length ratios and specific respective force bearing surfaces which permit high torque forces to be rapidly exerted on the seized fire hose coupling. 
     The tool provides for engaging a seized fire hose coupling in the handles fully closed and fully opened positions. The fully closed position is useful in confined space operations such as on a fire truck. The fully opened position is useful in an unconfined space weathered seized coupling operation. 
     In one embodiment, the tool functions as a cable cutter for rapidly cutting metal sheath cables such as aluminum sheath hybrid car battery cables. The cable cutter has opposed elongate arcuate first and second cutting edges disposed in different planes. 
     The handles have a specific elongate length ratio to complementarily effect the several afore-discussed rescue operations. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a proximate end perspective view of a PRIOR ART multi-purpose rescue tool (“the Gillingham Tool”); 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of a PRIOR ART cable cutter; 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of the rescue or firefighter tool of the present invention in a fully closed position and engaging a fire hose coupling; 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of the firefighter tool in a partially open position; 
         FIG. 5  is a front elevation view of the firefighter tool of the present invention in the fully closed position; 
         FIG. 6  is a edge wedge side view of the handle of the firefighter tool in the fully closed position; 
         FIG. 7  is a front elevational view of the firefighter tool in the fully open position; 
         FIG. 8  is a front fragmentary view of the wedge end of the firefighter tool; 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view taken along line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a sectional view taken along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a sectional view taken along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a sectional view taken along line  13 - 13  of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a sectional view taken along line  14 - 14  of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a sectional view taken along line  15 - 15  of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a sectional view taken along line  16 - 16  of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 17  is a sectional view taken along line  17 - 17  of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 18  is a sectional view taken along line  18 - 18  of  FIG. 8 ; and 
         FIG. 19  is a front elevational view as in  FIG. 7  showing a firefighter gripping the wedge end of one handle with the fully opened end opposed handle engaged with a seized fire hose coupling. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-18 , there is shown rescue or firefighter tool  10 . Tool  10  includes members  11  and  12  pivotally connected by pivot member  20  having pivot axis  20 A. Member  11  has a proximate end  13  and a distal end  14 . Distal end  14  includes jaw  15 . Proximate end  13  includes proximately disposed pin  16  and distally extending hook  17 , with hook end  31  for purposes hereinafter appearing. Member  12  has a proximate end  21  and a distal end  22 . Distal end  22  includes jaw  23 . Member  12  includes handle portion  24 . Member  11  includes handle portion  25 . Jaws  15  and  23  pivotably open and close with the movement of the handle portions  24  and  25 , by pivot member  20  and pivot axis  20 A. 
     Handle  25  is formed with a front surface  26 , a rear surface  27 , an inner surface  28  and an outer surface  30 . Outer surface  30  is specifically configured in a generally sinusoidal curvature  35 . Surface curvature  35  includes a proximately disposed concave portion  36 , a distally disposed convex portion  37 , and an intermediate or transitional portion  38 , for purposes hereinafter appearing. The respective radii of curvatures  36  and  37  are about equal. Handle  24  includes a wedge  39  formed at proximate end  21 . A through hole wrench  40  is disposed between handle portion  24  and wedge  39 . Through hole wrench  40  is in about parallel disposition with pivot axis  20 A of pivot member  20 . 
     Referring specifically to  FIG. 5 , there is shown tool  10  in the fully closed position. Jaws  15  and  23  are slidably contactingly engaged. A user (not shown) grips closed jaws  15  and  23  and use wedge  21  or wrench  40  of member  12 . The user (not shown) can otherwise grip closed jaws  15  and  23  and use the so specifically configured surface  35  in cooperation with hook end  31  for uncoupling a fire hose coupling or cap, as more fully discussed hereinafter. 
     The Wedge Grip and Function 
     Wedge  39  is contoured to provide a grip  50  disposed between transverse downwardly disposed fulcrum  51  ( FIG. 6 ) and wedge edge  52 . Grip  50  includes upper surface  53 , lower surface  54  and sides or side surfaces  55  and  56 . Upper surface  53  and lower surface  54  extends proximately and upwardly to the wedge edge  52 . Wedge sides  55  and  56  extend or bulge outwardly at  57  and  58 , between fulcrum  51  and wedge edge  52 . In the aforesaid manner of construction, the contoured wedge  39  surfaces provide a grip  50  for member  12  in the fully open position ( FIGS. 7 and 19 ). 
     The present construction is designed to permit members  11  and  12  to open to an angle B of at least about a 100° angle, and preferably 114°, when operated in the fully opened mode ( FIGS. 7 and 19 ). Preferably, the handles are fully opened to an angle of at least about 114°. This large angular disposition in combination with the force transfer bearing surfaces  47  and  48  cause a substantial torque to be transferred from member  12  to member  11  and in turn exerted on the seized coupling. It has been found that when a 250 lb. force is exerted on handle portion  24  of member  12  in both the upward and sideward directions (arrow D of  FIG. 19 ) a resultant 354 lb. force is generated at 45° and transfer to member  11  for resultant angular movement (arrow E of  FIG. 19 ). A Von Mises (WCS) stress analysis reveals that the area of highest stress is not in the pivot member  20  area but counterintuitively at portion  59  of member  12 . Pivot member  20  and force bearing surfaces  47  and  48  were found to be surprisingly under low stress in the operable disposition of  FIG. 19 . This design and construction permits an effective high torque force to be generated and transmitted without damage or deformation in and to the pivot member. 
     The Wedge Edge 
     Wedge edge  52  is disposed at a slightly acute angle A with respect to tool center plane or centerline C ( FIG. 5 ). Angle A is about 85° and 89°, and preferably about 88°. The user grips the jaws in the fully closed position and applies a force transversely to the center plane C to exert a leverage force at the wedge edge. In the aforesaid manner of construction, wedge edge  52  readily operably engages a seized window lower edge under exigent circumstances. The wedge edge is preferably operable in the fully closed position, as well as in the fully open position. 
     The Wedge Grip 
     Referring specifically to  FIGS. 7-19 , there is shown the wedge grip  50 . Wedge grip  50  has a front or upper surface  53 , a rear or lower surface  54 , an outside surface  55  and an inside surface  56 . A wedge fulcrum  51  is formed on rear surface  54 . Wrench opening  40  is transversely disposed in grip  50 . Surfaces  55  and  56  are spacedly disposed at  57  and  58 . Surfaces  55  and  56  have convex contours at  85  and  86  respectively ( FIGS. 14-16 ). In this manner of construction, a grip  50  is provided between fulcrum  51  and wedge edge  52  ( FIGS. 14-16 ). The user fully opens the handles ( FIGS. 7 and 19 ) and grips member  12  at grip  50  and engages a coupling between sinusoidal transfer surface  35  and hook end  31 . The user then exerts a force on member  11  through force bearing or transfer surfaces  47  and  48  to surface  35  and hook end  31  and in turn to the coupling lug and cylindrical outer surface. A seized fire hose coupling is readily unseized in the manner of construction and operation as particularly shown in  FIG. 19 . 
     The tool of claim  16 , the wedge upper and lower surfaces being in about parallel disposition adjacent the fulcrum surface and said wedge lower surface curves towards the upper surface in the proximate direction, wherein the said wedge upper, lower and side surfaces permit the rescue tool to be readily inserted into and removed from a pocket or holster in the fully closed position. 
     The Handles Length Ratio 
     It has been found that by providing members  11  and  12  having respective handles  24  and  25 , with a specific length ratio, the seized coupling engagement functions are improved. Handle  24  has a length L 1  measured from axis  20 A to wedge edge  52 , and handle  25  has a length L 2  measured from axis  20 A to hook end  31  ( FIG. 7 ). It has been found that a handle length ration L 1 :L 2  of about 5:4 provides effective torque forces to be exerted from member  12  to member  11  and in turn by sinusoidal surface  35  and hook end  31  on a seized fire hose coupling in the fully open position. The handles length ratio provides complementary effectiveness in the several rescue tool operations as further discussed hereinabove and hereinafter. 
     The Cable Cutter 
     Handles  24  and  25  are generally of greater length than in conventional hand tool cutting pliers ( FIG. 2 ). Jaws  15  and  23  are similar to the construction of the jaws shown in  FIG. 2 . The present handles construction, and configurations and length ratio construction with jaws  15  and  23  provide heavy duty cable cutter functionality. The cutting force of the present firefighter tool permits the cutting of an aluminum shielded 04 hybrid car battery cable in a single rapid cutting action. The user readily exerts a 120 lb force on the cable. Tool  10  is preferably manufactured entirely of 1080 steel. 
     Certain firefighter elements viz. wrench  140 , and pin  16  are operated in a manner similar to that described in U.S. application Ser. No. 11/857,010, filed Sep. 18, 2007, published as US Pub. No. 20080022813 and U.S. application Ser. No. 11/493,682, filed Jul. 26, 2006, published as US Pub. No. 20080022815, which applications are incorporated herein in their entireties by references thereto. 
     The foregoing describes a rescue or firefighter tool with a combination of novel and improved functions. The present tool provides a firefighter tool with multi-functionality which is practical in construction and use under exigent firefighter circumstances. 
     While the present invention has been described by reference to a specific embodiment, it should be understood that modifications and variations of the invention might be constructed without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Technology Category: 7