Pliers

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/408,760, filed Nov. 1, 2010 and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/529,324, filed Aug. 31, 2011; the entire contents of both of which are incorporated by reference herein.

The present invention relates to hand tools and, more particularly, to pliers.

A pliers often includes two members that are pivotally connected at a pivot point. A rear end portion of the pliers typically forms a handle of the pliers and a front end portion forms a head of the pliers. The handle is used to open or close jaws formed at the head that pivot about the pivot point, and the handles can be rotated to rotate the head. Therefore, the jaws can be used to grip a fastener, wire, or any suitable material, and the pliers is rotated via the handle to rotate the fastener, wire, or material.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a pliers including a first member including a first head and a first handle, a first grip including a first open end and a second open end. The first grip is positioned on the first handle where the first handle extends through the first open end and the second open end such that an end portion of the first handle opposite the first head is exposed. The pliers further includes a second member pivotally coupled to the first member, and the second member includes a second head and a second handle. The pliers further includes a second grip including a first open end and a second open end, and the second grip is positioned on the second handle where the second handle extends through the first and second open ends of the second grip such that an end portion of the second handle opposite the second head is exposed. The first grip includes a first slot between the first and second open ends of the first grip and configured to allow the first grip to deflect to facilitate sliding the end portion of the first handle through the first and second open ends of the first grip, and the second grip includes a second slot between the first and second open ends of the second grip and configured to allow the second grip to deflect to facilitate sliding the end portion of the second handle through the first and second open ends of the second grip.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a pliers including a pliers including a first member including a first head and a first handle, a first grip including a first open end and a second open end, and the first grip is positioned on the first handle where the first handle extends through the first open end and the second open end such that an end portion of the first handle opposite the first head is exposed. The pliers further includes a second member pivotally coupled to the first member, and the second member includes a second head and a second handle. The pliers further includes a second grip including a first open end and a second open end, and the second grip is on the second handle where the second handle extends through the first and second open ends of the second grip such that an end portion of the second handle opposite the second head is exposed. The first head includes a first reaming surface and the second head includes a second reaming surface, and the first and second reaming surfaces are configured to ream an inner surface of a conduit. The end portions of the first and second handles are also exposed such that the end portions are also configured to ream an inner surface of a conduit.

In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a method of manufacturing a pliers. The method includes forming a first member having a first head and a first handle, forming a second member having a second head and a second handle, forming a first grip having a first open end, a second open end, and a slot between the first and the second open ends, and forming a second grip having a first open end, a second open end, and a slot between the first and the second open ends of the second grip. The method further includes sliding an end portion of the first handle that is opposite the first head through the first and second open ends of the first grip such that the end portion of the first handle extends past the second open end of the first grip to expose the end portion of the first handle, and sliding an end portion of the second handle that is opposite the second head through the first and second open ends of the second grip such that the end portion of the second handle extends past the second open end of the second grip to expose the second end portion of the second handle.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a first side view of a pliers according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a second side view of the pliers of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the pliers of FIG. 1 taken along line 3 - 3 of FIG. 2 .

FIG. 4 is a side view of a pliers according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 5-7 illustrate the pliers of FIG. 4 during use as a pipe reamer.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a pliers according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a pliers according to yet another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the pliers of FIG. 9 without grips.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the pliers of FIG. 9 without the grips.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a portion of the pliers of FIG. 9 .

FIG. 13 is another perspective view of the portion of the pliers shown in FIG. 12 .

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a portion of the pliers of FIG. 9 including another embodiment of a grip.

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.

FIG. 1 illustrates a pliers 10 , which, in the illustrated embodiment, is an adjustable pliers. The pliers 10 includes a first member 14 and a second member 18 . The second member 18 is pivotally connected to the first member 14 . The members 14 , 18 both include a head portion 22 and a handle portion 24 that are integrally formed as a single component. The handle portions 24 are covered with a grip 26 , which is a rubber over mold in the illustrated embodiment. In the other embodiments, the handle portions 24 may be covered with injection molded grips that are created independently from the members 14 , 18 and slipped onto the members 14 , 18 or the members 14 , 18 may be covered with insert molded grips that are molded directly onto the members 14 , 18 . Together the head portions 22 form jaws 28 of the pliers 10 . The jaws 28 are used to grip pipes, electrical conduits, nuts, other types of fasteners, and the like.

The second member 18 of the pliers 10 includes an elongated aperture 44 that extends through the head portion 22 . Teeth 48 are located within the elongated aperture 44 to further define the aperture 44 . The first member 14 includes a first aperture 50 and the second member 18 extends through the first aperture 50 . The first aperture 50 is sized so that the second member 18 can pivot with respect to the first member 14 . The first member 14 further includes a second aperture 52 that extends through the first member 14 generally transverse to the first aperture 50 ( FIG. 3 ).

Referring to FIG. 3 , a pivot pin 56 extends through the first aperture 50 and the second aperture 52 to pivotally couple the first member 14 and the second member 18 . The pivot pin 56 includes a first end portion 60 and a second end portion 62 . The first end portion 60 includes an end surface 64 and the second end portion 62 includes a flange 66 and teeth 68 .

The pliers 10 further includes a cap 72 . The cap 72 is press fit into a recess 74 that is formed in the head portion 22 of the first member 14 . In other embodiments, the cap 72 may be coupled to the recess 74 using other suitable means. A biasing member 76 is located between the cap 72 and the flange 66 of the pivot pin 56 to bias the pivot pin 56 in the direction of arrow 80 ( FIG. 3 ). In the illustrated embodiment, the biasing member 76 includes three wave springs, but in other embodiments, the biasing member can include fewer or more wave springs, and in yet other embodiments, other types of biasing members can be used. The flange 66 and the cap 72 inhibit dirt, debris, and the like from entering a cavity 82 between the flange 66 and the cap 72 where the wave springs 76 are located.

In operation, a user presses on the end surface 64 of the pivot pin 56 in the direction of arrow 86 against the bias of the wave springs 76 . The user presses on the end surface 64 to move the pivot pin 56 in the direction of arrow 86 to move the teeth 68 of the pivot pin 56 out of engagement with the teeth 48 in the aperture 44 of the second member 18 . Then, the user slides the pivot pin 56 (i.e., moves the first member 14 with respect to the second member 18 through the aperture 50 ) along the aperture 44 in the directions of arrows 90 ( FIG. 1 ) to adjust an opening width 94 of the jaws 28 . The opening width 94 of the jaws 28 is adjusted in order to grip objects having different sizes. When the user has the jaws 28 adjusted to the desired width, the user releases the end surface 64 of the pivot pin 56 and the wave springs 76 move the pivot pin 56 back to the position illustrated in FIG. 3 so that the teeth 68 of the pivot pin 56 engage the teeth 48 of the second member 18 . With the pivot pin 56 in the position illustrated in FIG. 3 , the user is able to pivot the members 14 , 18 with respect to each other to grasp an object with the jaws 28 . Further, the pivot pin 56 does not slide within the aperture 44 in the directions of arrows 90 to keep the opening width 94 fixed in a desired distance.

FIG. 4 illustrates a pliers 110 according to another embodiment. The pliers 110 includes features similar to pliers 10 of FIGS. 1-3 . Accordingly, only differences between the pliers 10 and 110 will be discussed in detail below and like components have been given like reference numbers plus 100.

Referring to FIG. 4 , the pliers 110 includes a first member 114 and a second member 118 that is pivotally coupled to the first member 114 as discussed above with regard to the pliers 10 of FIGS. 1-3 . The first member 114 includes a head 122 A and a handle 124 A, and the second member 118 includes a head 122 B and a handle 124 B. The handles 124 A and 124 B both include an end portion 125 A and 125 B, respectively, opposite the heads 122 A and 122 B, respectively. The end portions 125 A and 125 B do not include a grip or rubber over mold 126 such that base metal 127 used to form the members 114 and 118 is exposed, a purpose of which will be discussed in more detail below.

The handle 124 B further includes a first handle portion 130 and a second handle portion 132 that extends between the first handle portion 130 and the end portion 125 B. The first handle portion 130 includes a longitudinal axis 134 and is covered with and surrounded by the rubber over mold grip 126 . The second handle portion 132 includes a longitudinal axis 136 and a length 137 measured along the axis 136 . The second handle portion 132 does not include the over mold 126 such that the base metal 127 used to form the members 118 is exposed. The second handle portion 132 is bent or at an angle with respect to the first handle portion 130 such that an angle 138 is defined between the longitudinal axes 134 , 136 . In the illustrated embodiment, the angle 138 is approximately 125 degrees. In other embodiments, the angle 138 can be greater than or less than 125 degrees.

The angle 138 between the first handle portion 130 and the second handle portion 132 provides a relatively large opening or space 140 between the handles 124 A, 124 B when the members 114 , 118 are pivoted to close the heads 122 A, 122 B (as shown in FIG. 4 ). Alternatively stated, the angle 138 and the length 137 of the second handle portion 132 maintain a relatively large distance 142 between the handles 124 A, 124 B. The relatively large distance 142 and the space 140 reduce the likelihood that the user's hand will be pinched between the handles 124 A and 124 B during operation of the pliers 110 .

As illustrated in FIGS. 5-7 , the pliers 110 can also be used to smooth or ream an inner wall or surface 146 ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ) of a piece of pipe 149 , or other conduit. Referring to FIG. 5 , as discussed above, the end portions 125 A, 125 B ( FIG. 4 ) of the handles 124 A, 125 B, respectively, include exposed base metal 127 . The user inserts the end portions 125 A, 124 B into the pipe 149 until the exposed base metal 127 contacts the pipe 149 . The user then rotates the pliers 110 or pipe 149 to remove burrs from the pipe 149 or otherwise smooth the inner surface 146 of the pipe 149 . The exposed metal 127 can include ridges, edges, and the like to facilitate removing material from the pipe 149 .

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 , the heads 122 A, 122 B of the handles 124 A, 124 B can also be used to ream the pipe 149 . The heads 122 A, 122 B also do not include the rubber over mold 126 and, therefore, the base metal 127 is exposed. As illustrated in FIG. 6 , the user can insert the head 122 B of the second member 118 into the pipe 149 and rotate the pliers 110 to ream the pipe 149 . Referring to FIG. 7 , the user can insert both heads 122 A, 122 B or the jaws 128 into the pipe 149 to ream the pipe 149 . In the illustrated embodiment, the end portions 125 A, 125 B are configured such that the handles 124 A, 124 B are used to ream a pipe in a first size range, for example ½ inch to 1 inch inner diameter electrical metal tubing (“EMT”), and the heads 122 A, 122 B are configured to ream pipe of a second size range, for example, greater than 1 inch inner diameter EMT. Thus, in one method of operation, the user determines the size range of the pipe and uses either the handles 124 A, 124 B or the heads 122 A, 122 B to ream the pipe depending on the size range (e.g., inner diameter) of the pipe.

FIG. 8 illustrates a pliers 210 according to another embodiment. The pliers 210 includes features similar to the pliers 10 of FIGS. 1-3 . Accordingly, only differences between the pliers 10 and 210 will be discussed in detail below and like components have been given like reference numbers plus 200.

Referring to FIG. 8 , the pliers 210 includes a first member 214 and a second member 218 that is pivotally coupled to the first member 214 as discussed above with regard to the pliers 10 of FIGS. 1-3 . The first member 214 includes a head 222 A and a handle 224 A, and the second member 218 includes a head 222 B and a handle 224 B. The handles 224 A and 224 B both include an end portion 225 A and 225 B, respectively, opposite the heads 222 A and 222 B, respectively. The end portions 225 A, 225 B do not include a rubber over mold 226 such that base metal 227 that is used to form the members 214 and 218 is exposed. In the illustrated embodiment, the over mold 226 is generally flush with the adjacent end portion 225 A, 225 B such that there is a flush or smooth interface 229 between the over mold 226 and the end portion 225 A, 225 B. In one embodiment, the rubber over mold 226 is replaced with a rubber slip-on grip that is slid over the base metal 227 of the handles 224 A, 224 B rather than over molded. In such an embodiment, the slip-on grip still exposes the base metal 227 of the end portions 225 A, 225 B.

As discussed above with regard to FIGS. 4-7 , the end portions 225 A, 225 B can be used to ream or smooth a cut end of a pipe, and the heads 222 A, 222 B can also be used to ream a pipe.

FIGS. 9-13 illustrate a pliers 310 according to another embodiment of the invention. The pliers 310 includes features similar to the pliers 10 of FIGS. 1-3 , the pliers 110 of FIGS. 4-7 , and the pliers 210 of FIG. 8 . Accordingly, only differences between the pliers 310 and the pliers 10 , 110 , 210 will be discussed in detail below, and like components have been given like reference numbers plus 300.

Referring to FIG. 9 , the pliers 310 includes a first member 314 and a second member 318 that is pivotally coupled to the first member 314 as discussed above with regard to the pliers 10 of FIGS. 1-3 . The first member 314 includes a head 322 A and a handle 324 A, and the second member 318 includes a head 322 B and a handle 324 B. In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second members 314 , 318 are formed by forging. In other embodiments, the first and second members 314 , 318 may be formed by machining or casting.

Each member also includes a grip 326 A, 326 B coupled to the corresponding handle 324 A, 324 B. Unlike the pliers 10 , 110 , 210 discussed above, the second grip 326 B of the illustrated pliers 310 does not extend as far toward the head 322 B of the second member 318 such that base metal 327 at a knuckle portion 331 of the second member 318 is exposed. The illustrated grips 326 A, 326 B are slip-on grips that slide over end portions 325 A, 325 B of the handles 324 A, 324 B to fit on the handles 324 A, 324 B. Providing the grips 326 A, 326 B as slip-on members, as opposed to insert molding grips directly onto the handles 324 A, 324 B, reduces the cost of manufacturing the pliers 310 , particularly when the members 314 , 318 are formed by forging. In some embodiments, such as the illustrated embodiment, each of the grips 326 A, 326 B includes a first, or base, portion 333 A, 333 B and a second, or overlay, portion 335 A, 335 B. The first portions 333 A, 333 B are composed of a first material having a first hardness (e.g., 80 durometer) and the second portions 335 A, 335 B are composed of a second material having a second hardness (e.g., 70 durometer), which is less than the first hardness. In other embodiments, the first material can have any suitable hardness and the second material can have any suitable hardness different than the first material. In yet other embodiments, the grips 326 A, 326 B may be formed from a single material having a uniform hardness.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 , the first handle 324 A includes a first grip area 337 A and the second handle 324 B includes a second grip area 337 B. The grip areas 337 A, 337 B are shaped and sized to receive and support the grips 326 A, 326 B to couple the grips 326 A, 326 B to the handles 324 A, 324 B. In the illustrated embodiment, the grip areas 337 A, 337 B have a smaller cross-sectional area than the end portions 325 A, 325 B of the handles 324 A, 324 B. A forward lip 339 A, 339 B is formed on each member 314 , 318 between the grip area 337 A, 337 B and the portion of the handle 324 A, 324 B adjacent the head 322 A, 322 B, and a rear lip 341 A, 341 B is formed on each member 314 , 318 between the grip area 337 A, 337 B and the end portion 325 A, 325 B. The lips 339 A, 339 B, 341 A, 341 B define the boundaries of the smaller cross-section grip areas 326 A, 326 B on the members 314 , 318 . The grip areas 337 A, 337 B facilitate positioning the grips 326 A, 326 B on the handles 324 A, 324 B and reduce the cross-sectional areas of the handles 324 A, 324 B so that the grips 326 A, 326 B are generally flush with the rest of the handles 324 A, 324 B.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13 , the first grip 326 A includes a first elongated slot 343 A and the second grip 326 B includes a second elongated slot 343 B. In the illustrated embodiment, the slots 343 A, 343 B extend entirely through the grips 326 A, 326 B to form openings in the grips 326 A, 326 B. In other embodiments, the slots 343 A, 343 B may only extend partway through the grips 326 A, 326 B such that the slots 343 A, 343 B define recesses or reliefs where the grips 326 A, 326 B have less material. The illustrated slots 343 A, 343 B are formed on inward-facing sides 345 A, 345 B of the grips 326 A, 326 B (i.e., the side of each grip 326 A, 326 B that faces the other grip 326 A, 326 B) such that the slots 343 A, 343 B typically do not interfere with a user grasping and squeezing the pliers 310 . In the illustrated embodiment, each grip 326 A, 326 B includes a single elongated slot located adjacent a rear end 347 A, 347 B of the corresponding grip 326 A, 326 B (i.e., adjacent the end of the grip 326 A, 326 B nearest the end portion 325 A, 325 B of the corresponding handle 324 A, 324 B). In other embodiments, each grip 326 A, 326 B may define a series of elongated slots, slits, or other openings formed along the grip 326 A, 326 B.

In order to assemble the grips 326 A, 326 B onto the handles 324 A, 324 B, the grips 326 A, 326 B are slid over the end portions 325 A, 325 B of the handles 324 A, 324 B toward the heads 322 A, 322 B. As the end portions 325 A, 325 B pass through the grips 326 A, 326 B, the grips 326 A, 326 B are stretched and deflected. The elongated slots 343 A, 343 B allow the grips 326 A, 326 B to stretch and deflect to fit over the enlarged end portions 325 A, 325 B of the handles 324 A, 324 B. The illustrated grips 326 A, 326 B generally taper in cross-sectional area from a forward open end 349 A, 349 B (i.e., the end of the grip 326 A, 326 B nearest the head 322 A, 322 B) to the rear open end 347 A, 347 B such that the forward open ends 349 A, 349 B are generally large enough to slide over the end portions 325 A, 325 B of the handles 324 A, 324 B without slots.

FIG. 14 illustrates another embodiment of a grip 426 for use with the pliers 310 . The grip 426 includes features similar to the grips 326 A, 326 B shown in FIGS. 12-13 . Accordingly, only differences between the grip 426 and the grips 326 A, 326 B will be discussed in detail below, and like components have been given like reference numbers plus 400.

The illustrated grip 426 is an injection molded, slip-on grip that slides over the enlarged end portion 325 B of the handle 324 B. In the illustrated embodiment, the grip 426 includes three discrete slots 443 and a relief 451 extending the length of the grip 426 . In other embodiments, the grip 426 may include fewer or more slots 443 . The slots 443 are generally evenly spaced along and formed through an inward-facing side 445 of the grip 426 . The relief 451 is formed on an inner surface 453 of the grip 426 that faces the grip area 337 B to remove material from the grip 426 . In some embodiments, the slots 443 may be omitted such that the grip 426 only includes the relief 451 . In other embodiments, the relief 451 may be omitted such that the grip 426 only includes the slots 443 . The slots 443 and the relief 451 facilitate stretching the grip 426 to slide the grip 426 over the enlarged end portion 325 B and onto the handle 324 B.

Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects of the invention as described. For example, aspects of the invention may be applied to other types of hand tools with pivotable members, such as pex cutters, snips, riveters, wire strippers, and the like. Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.