CRIMPING PLIERS, DIE HALF UNIT AND METHOD FOR THE ASSEMBLY

Abstract

The invention relates to crimping pliers wherein a die comprises two die half units. The die half units each comprise a die half and a bearing body. The bearing body is supported in an associated bearing accommodation of a pliers jaw. The die halves are supported by a rotational bearing for being rotated about a crimping axis relative to the bearing body.

According to the invention it is possible to assemble and disassemble the bearing body of the die half unit to and from the bearing accommodation of the pliers jaw without the use of any tool. It is also possible that a latching or locking device is used for the assembly.

Claims

1. Crimping pliers comprising a die with a first die half unit supported on a first pliers jaw and a second die half unit supported on a second pliers jaw, wherein a) the first die half unit comprises a first die half and a first die half bearing formed by a first bearing body, which is supported in a first bearing accommodation of the first pliers jaw, the first die half being supported by a first rotational bearing for being rotated about a crimping axis relative to the first bearing body, the first die unit being designed and configured such that the first bearing body can be inserted in an insertion orientation into the first bearing accommodation, the first bearing body can be pivoted in the first bearing accommodation by a pivoting movement from the insertion orientation into a securing orientation wherein the first bearing body forms a positive engagement with the first bearing accommodation in the direction of the securing orientation, and the first bearing body of the first die half unit can be assembled and disassembled to and from the first bearing accommodation of the first pliers jaw without a use of a tool, and b) the second die half unit comprises a second die half and a second die half bearing formed by a second bearing body which is supported in a second bearing accommodation of the second pliers jaw, the second die half being supported by a second rotational bearing for being rotated about the crimping axis relative to the second bearing body, the second bearing body and the bearing accommodation being connected to each other by a latching or locking device, the second bearing body of the second die half unit can be assembled and disassembled to and from the second bearing accommodation of the second pliers jaw without a use of a tool, c) the crimping pliers being designed and configured such that the first bearing body cannot be transferred into the insertion orientation when the crimping pliers are completely assembled without at least partially disassembling the crimping pliers.

2. The crimping pliers of claim 1, wherein the second bearing body and the second bearing accommodation are connected to each other by a holding device designed and configured for connecting the second bearing body and the second bearing accommodation a) by a latching connection when inserting the second bearing body into the second bearing accommodation and b) by a locking connection against an exit of the second bearing body from the second bearing accommodation.

3. The crimping pliers of claim 1, wherein the second bearing accommodation comprises a recess which is limited by the second pliers jaw and a counter-holding element, the counter-holding element being movable between a) a holding position wherein the second bearing body is blocked by the counter-holding element from an exit from the recess and b) a release position wherein the second bearing body is able to exit from the recess.

4. The crimping pliers of claim 3, wherein the counter-holding element comprises an inclined surface being inclined relative to an insertion direction for inserting the second bearing body into the second bearing accommodation so that due to assembly forces applied to the second bearing body at the inclined surface a force biases the counter-holding element which induces a movement of the counter-holding element into a release position.

5. The crimping pliers of claim 3, wherein the counter-holding element comprises an inclined surface being inclined relative to a removal direction for removing the second bearing body from the second bearing accommodation so that due to disassembly forces applied to the second bearing body at the inclined surface a force biases the counter-holding element which induces a movement of the counter-holding element into a release position.

6. The crimping pliers of claim 3, wherein the counter-holding element comprises a transverse surface which has an orientation transverse to an insertion direction for inserting the second bearing body into the second bearing accommodation.

7. The crimping pliers of claim 3, wherein the counter-holding element comprise a transverse surface which has an orientation transverse to a removal direction for removing the second bearing body from the second bearing accommodation.

8. The crimping pliers of claim 3, wherein the counter-holding element is guided for being displaced relatively to the second pliers jaw and the counter-holding element is supported by a holding spring on the second pliers jaw.

9. The crimping pliers of claim 3, wherein a crimping force is supported by the second bearing body in the second bearing accommodation on the second pliers jaw and a removal force is supported by the counter-holding element.

10. The crimping pliers of claim 9, wherein the counter-holding element is made of plastic.

11. The crimping pliers of claim 1, wherein the first bearing accommodation is a bearing lug, the cross-section of the bearing lug comprising an edge opening which forms a narrowing of the bearing lug, the first bearing body comprises a bearing cross-section which is supported in the bearing lug and which in a direction transverse to the insertion orientation has an insertion extension and in a direction transverse to the securing orientation has a securing extension, the securing extension being larger than the narrowing of the bearing lug so that in the securing orientation the first bearing body is secured against an exit from the bearing lug and the insertion extension being smaller than the narrowing of the bearing lug so that it is possible to insert the first bearing body in the insertion orientation into the bearing lug.

12. The crimping pliers of claim 11, wherein the first bearing body comprises a cylinder segment portion and a flattening.

13. The crimping pliers of claim 11, wherein the first die half unit and the second die half unit have the same designs.

14. A die half unit comprising a) a die half and b) a die half bearing comprising a bearing body, c) a rotational bearing by which the die half is supported for being rotated about a crimping axis relative to the bearing body, d) the bearing body comprising both da) a bearing cross-section which has a securing extension in a direction transvers to a securing orientation and has an insertion extension transvers to an insertion orientation, the securing extension being larger than the insertion extension and db) a latching or locking element by which the bearing body can be latched or locked with a counter-holding element of a bearing accommodation.

15. A method for an assembly of crimping pliers comprising a die with a first die half unit supported on a first pliers jaw and a second die half unit supported on a second pliers jaw, wherein a) the first die half unit comprises a first die half and a first die half bearing formed by a first bearing body, which is supported in a first bearing accommodation of the first pliers jaw, the first die half being supported by a first rotational bearing for being rotated about a crimping axis relative to the first bearing body, the first die unit being designed and configured such that the first bearing body can be inserted in an insertion orientation into the first bearing accommodation, the first bearing body can be pivoted in the first bearing accommodation by a pivoting movement from the insertion orientation into a securing orientation wherein the first bearing body forms a positive engagement with the first bearing accommodation in the direction of the securing orientation, and the first bearing body of the first die half unit can be assembled and disassembled to and from the first bearing accommodation of the first pliers jaw without a use of a tool, and b) the second die half unit comprises a second die half and a second die half bearing formed by a second bearing body which is supported in a second bearing accommodation of the second pliers jaw, the second die half being supported by a second rotational bearing for being rotated about the crimping axis relative to the second bearing body, the second bearing body and the bearing accommodation being connected to each other by a latching or locking device, the second bearing body of the second die half unit can be assembled and disassembled to and from the second bearing accommodation of the second pliers jaw without a use of a tool, c) the crimping pliers being designed and configured such that the first bearing body cannot be transferred into the insertion orientation when the crimping pliers are completely assembled without at least partially disassembling the crimping pliers, d) the method comprising the following method steps: da) inserting the first bearing body in the insertion orientation into the first bearing accommodation; db) pivoting the first bearing body into the securing orientation; dc) inserting the second bearing body into the second bearing accommodation and dd) locking or latching the second bearing body in the second bearing accommodation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0054] In the following, the invention is further explained and described with respect to preferred exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings.

[0055] FIG. 1 shows crimping pliers in an open position.

[0056] FIG. 2 shows the crimping pliers of FIG. 1 in a closed position.

[0057] FIG. 3 in a three-dimensional frontal view shows the crimping pliers of FIGS. 1 and 2 in the region of a die formed by two die half units.

[0058] FIG. 4 in a partial sectional view shows the crimping pliers of FIGS. 1 and 3 in a closed position showing a latching device for a latching of a rotational position of the die halves.

[0059] FIG. 5 in a three-dimensional view shows a die half usable in crimping pliers of FIGS. 1 to 4.

[0060] FIG. 6 in a first sectional view shows a bearing body which can be used in crimping pliers of FIGS. 1 to 4 which shows the bearing cross-section of the bearing body for a connection according to the first variant.

[0061] FIG. 7 in a second sectional view shows the bearing body of FIG. 6 which shows a bearing cross-section for a connection according to the second variant, the sectional views of FIGS. 6 and 7 being taken in parallel planes.

[0062] FIG. 8 in a sectional view shows a die half unit comprising a bearing body of FIGS. 6 and 7 and a die half of FIG. 5.

[0063] FIG. 9 in an exploded view shows the die half unit of FIG. 8.

[0064] FIG. 10 shows an assembly of a die to a first pliers jaw of crimping pliers according to the first variant with an insertion of a bearing cross-section of the first bearing body of FIG. 6 into a first bearing accommodation.

[0065] FIG. 11 shows a detail XI of the crimping pliers of FIG. 10 in the region of the connection of the first bearing body to the first bearing accommodation.

[0066] FIG. 12 shows the crimping pliers of FIGS. 10 and 11 after the pivoting of the first bearing body relative to the first bearing accommodation of the first pliers jaw and also after the assembly of the die half unit according to the second variant to the second pliers jaw with the entry of the bearing cross-section of the second bearing body of FIG. 7 into the second bearing accommodation of the second pliers jaw under the establishment of a latching or locking device.

[0067] FIG. 13 shows a detail XIII of the crimping pliers of FIG. 12 in the region of the first bearing body and the first bearing accommodation.

[0068] FIG. 14 shows the assembly of the second die half unit to the second pliers jaw of the crimping pliers of FIGS. 10 and 12 by means of a holding device which here is in the released position.

[0069] FIG. 15 shows a detail XV of the crimping pliers of FIG. 14 in the region of the holding device.

[0070] FIG. 16 shows the assembly of the second die half unit to the second pliers jaw of the crimping pliers of FIGS. 10 and 12 by means of a holding device which is here in the holding position.

[0071] FIG. 17 shows a detail XVII of the crimping pliers of FIG. 16 in the region of the holding device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0072] In the description of the Figures and in the Figures in same cases the same reference numbers are used for components and parts of the same which at least partially have corresponding designs and/or functions. Here, these components are partly distinguished from each other by the additional letter a, b, . . . . Then, reference is made to these components with the reference numbers with or without the additional letter a, b, . . . which then refers to one single component, a plurality of components labeled in this way or all of the components labeled with the reference number.

[0073] FIG. 1 shows crimping pliers 1 in an open position whereas in FIG. 2 the crimping pliers 1 are shown in a closed position.

[0074] The crimping pliers comprise a fixed hand lever 2 which is fixedly connected to a fixed pliers jaw 3. Furthermore, the crimping pliers 1 comprise a moveable hand lever 4. The moveable hand lever 4 can be pivoted from the open position of FIG. 1 into the closed position of FIG. 2 by the application of manual forces by a hand of an user. During this closing movement the hand levers 2, 4 move towards each other. The moveable hand lever 4 is coupled to a moveable pliers jaw 6 by a drive mechanism 5. Over the closing stroke of the hand levers 2, 4 there is also a closing movement of the moveable pliers jaw 6. During the closing movement the pliers jaws 3, 6 move from an open position into a closed position. This movement provides the working stroke during the crimping process by which the workpiece is crimped.

[0075] The drive mechanism 5 provides a suitable transmission with a gear ratio of the movement and forces from the hand levers 2, 4 to the pliers jaws 3, 6. Here, the drive mechanism 5 might be embodied as any drive mechanism known from the prior art. Preferably, the drive mechanism 5 is a toggle level mechanism 7,

[0076] For one possible embodiment of the toggle lever mechanism 7 the movable pliers jaw 6 is directly supported for being pivoted by a pivot joint on the fixed pliers jaw 3 (respectively a fixed pliers body which forms both the fixed pliers jaw 3 and also the fixed hand lever 2). The moveable hand lever 4 is linked by a pivot bearing 8 to the movable pliers jaw 6. Furthermore, an end region of a pressure lever 10 is linked by a toggle joint 9 to the movable hand lever 4. The other end region of the pressure lever 10 is linked by a pivot bearing to the fixed hand lever 2 (or to a fixed pliers body forming the fixed pliers jaw 3 and the fixed hand lever 2). Between the pivot bearing 8 and the toggle joint 9 the fixed hand lever 2 forms a first toggle lever 11 whereas the pressure lever 10 forms the second toggle lever 12.

[0077] The drawing plane of FIGS. 1 and 2 corresponds to a pliers head plane 13 wherein the hand levers 2, 4 are pivoted relative to each other, wherein the components of the drive mechanism 5 are moved and/or wherein the pliers jaws 3, 6 are moved. Also a crimping force is effective in the pliers head plane 13. Accordingly, a crimping axis 19 extends in the pliers head plane 13.

[0078] A die 14 is held by the pliers jaws 3, 6. The die 14 comprises two die half units 15a, 15b. The die half units 15 each comprise a bearing body 16 and a die half 17. The die halves 17 each form die half contours which limit a die accommodation 18. The workpiece can be introduced into the die accommodation 18. During the crimping process the workpiece is crimped in the die accommodation 18 between the die contours of the die halves 17. This is provided by a relative movement of the die halves 17 along the crimping axis 19.

[0079] The orientation of the crimping axis 19 changes during the crimping process relatively to the pliers jaws 3, 6. For that purpose the bearing bodies 16 of the die half units 15 together with bearing accommodations 20 of the pliers jaws 3, 6 form die half bearings 21. The die half bearings 21 provide a pivoting degree of freedom between the bearing bodies 16 and the associated pliers jaw 3, 6 about a pivot axis 22 having an orientation vertical to the pliers head plane 13.

[0080] The die halves 17 each comprise a guiding protrusion 23 on one side adjacent to the die accommodation 18 and a guiding recess 24 on the other side adjacent to the die accommodation 18. The guiding protrusion 23a of the die half 17a is received in the guiding recess 24b of the other die half 17b under the provision of a guiding effect. In a corresponding way the guiding protrusion 23b of the die half 17b is received in the guiding recess 24a of the die half 17a under the provision of a guiding effect. In this way on both sides from the die accommodation 18 a guidance of the die halves 17 parallel to the crimping axis 19 is provided so that during the crimping process an orientation of the die halves 17a, 17b relative to each other according to the demands is upheld.

[0081] A connection of the bearing body 16 to the associated die half 17 is provided by means of a rotational bearing 25 in a way such that the die half 17 can be rotated relative to the bearing body 16 about the crimping axis 19.

[0082] Due to the die half bearing 21 the bearing body 16 has only one pivoting degree of freedom about the pivot axis 22 relative to the associated pliers jaw 3, 6. Due to the rotational bearing 25 the die half 17 only has one rotational degree of freedom about the crimping axis 19 relative to the bearing body 16. Finally, due to the guidance by the guiding protrusions 23 and the guiding recesses 24 the two die halves 17 only have one translational degree of freedom along the crimping axis 19. Due to the coupling of the two die halves 17 by this guidance the die halves 17 can only be rotated in common about the crimping axis 19.

[0083] FIG. 3 shows a frontal view of the crimping pliers 1 in the region of the die 14. In this view on the one hand the comb-typed engagement of the two die halves 17 can be seen. Furthermore, here it can be seen that the guiding recesses 24 have a design with guiding bores and the guiding protrusions 23 have a design with guiding rods.

[0084] FIG. 4 shows latching devices 26 by which it is possible to latch the rotational position of the die halves 17 relative to the bearing bodies 16 about the crimping axis 19. The latching devices 26 comprise a latching spring 27 and a latching sphere 28. The latching spring 27 and the latching sphere 28 are here accommodated in a recess or bore of the bearing body 16 having an orientation parallel to the crimping axis 19. The latching spring 27 biases the latching sphere 28 towards a front face 29 of the die half 17. Latching recesses 30 are provided in the front face 29. The latching spheres 28 are able to latch in the latching recesses 30 due to the bias by the latching spring 27. A number of latching recesses 30 is dispersed or arranged over the circumference so that it is possible to latch the die half 17 in different rotational angles relative to the bearing body 16. Preferably, at least one latching effect is provided for a lateral orientation of the die accommodation 18 (so for an orientation of the longitudinal axis of the die accommodation 18 vertical to the pliers head plane 13) as well as for a frontal orientation of the die accommodation 18 (so for an orientation of the longitudinal axis of the die accommodation 18 within the pliers head plane 13).

[0085] FIG. 5 shows a die half 17b in a three-dimensional view. Here, it can be seen that the die halves 17 comprise a plurality of pairs of ribs 31a, 31b, . . . and 32a, 32b, . . . being plate-shaped and arranged parallel to each other as well as accommodating spaces 33a, 33b . . . and 34a, 34b, . . . between the ribs 31, 32. When inserting the die half 17b according to FIG. 5 in a comb-like fashion into a correspondingly designed die half 17a (which however has an inverted orientation) the ribs 31 of the die half 17a enter into accommodating spaces 34 of the die half 17b whereas the ribs 32 of the die half 17a enter into the accommodating spaces 33 of the die half 17b. In a reversed fashion the ribs 31, 32 of the die half 17b enter into the accommodating spaces 33, 34 of the die half 17a. The die contours provided by the front faces of the ribs 31, 32 limit the die accommodation 18. During the crimping process the ribs 31, 32 enter further into the accommodating spaces 33, 34 which makes the die accommodation 18 smaller and provides a crimping of the workpiece in the die accommodation. The engaging interaction of the parallel ribs 31, 32 of the two die halves 17 with each other is provided in a way such that the ribs 31, 32 are able to slide along each other with a small play or also without any play. The comb-like engagement of the ribs 31, 32 into each other provides a guidance along the crimping axis 19.

[0086] The guidance blocks a relative movement of the die halves 17 relative to each other along the surface normal of the ribs 31, 32. An additional guidance between the die halves 17 is provided by the guidance of the guiding protrusions 23 in the guiding recesses 24.

[0087] For the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 the guiding protrusion 23 is formed by a thickening 35 of a rib 33d (here arranged in the middle). For the shown embodiment the thickening 35 has a cylinder-shape or the shape of a cylinder segment.

[0088] For the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 the guiding recess 24 is formed by a hollow cylinder segment 36 which attaches to the end regions of the ribs 33c, 33d between which the rib 31d with the thickening 35 is accommodated.

[0089] FIGS. 6 and 7 show a bearing body 16 in different parallel sectional views, namely in a first partial sectional view according to FIG. 6 and in a second partial sectional view according to FIG. 7. The partial sectional views of FIGS. 6 and 7 provide alternative coupling or holding options on the same bearing body 16 for the connection to a bearing accommodation 20 of a pliers jaw 3, 6.

[0090] The bearing body 16 comprises a stud-shaped protrusion 37 which attaches to a supporting surface 38. In the end region facing away from the supporting surface 38 the protrusion 37 comprises a circumferential groove 39. The stud-shaped protrusion 37 can be inserted into an accommodating bore 78 initiating from the front surface 29 of the die half 17 and is guided in the accommodating bore 78 for rotating about the crimping axis 19 for the establishment of a rotational bearing 25. In the state inserted in this way into the die half 17 the bearing body 16 is secured on the die half 17 by a securing ring or any other securing element 77 against an undesired re-exit. The securing ring or the securing element 77 is accommodated in the circumferential groove 29 of the bearing body 16 and is supported on a supporting surface provided by the die half 17. The die half 17 is accordingly captured between securing element 77 in the circumferential groove 39 and the supporting surface 38 (cp. FIGS. 8 and 9). The contact of the supporting surface 38 of the bearing body 16 with the die half 17 provides a good transfer and a transfer with a large surface area of the crimping force between the bearing body 16 and the die half 17.

[0091] In the cross-sectional view of FIG. 6 the bearing body 16 comprises a bearing cross-section 40. In the bearing cross-section 40 the bearing body 16 comprises a flattening 41 and a cylinder segment portion 42 or cylinder segment portions 42 arranged on both sides of the flattening 41.

[0092] In a direction transverse to an insertion orientation 43 the bearing cross-section 40 comprises an insertion extension 44 which is defined by the flattening 41. Instead, the bearing cross-section 40 comprises a securing extension 46 in a direction transverse to a securing orientation 45. The securing extension 46 is larger than the insertion extension 44. Here, the securing extension 46 might correspond to the diameter of the cylinder segment portion 42. For a securing orientation 45 differing from that of FIG. 6 the securing extension 46 might also be (slightly) smaller than the diameter of the cylinder segment portion 42 if the securing extension 46 is formed in an end region of the flattening 41. The insertion orientation is parallel to the flattening whereas the securing orientation 45 is inclined relative to the insertion orientation 43 and might e. g. in the assembled state have an orientation along the crimping axis 19 or the longitudinal axis of the protrusion 37. Also different bearing cross-sections 40 are possible. The flattening 41 might e. g. be domed and/or instead of the cylinder segment portions 42 any other outer contours of the bearing cross-section 40 can be used as long as it provided that the rules for the dimensions of the insertion extension 44 and the securing extension 46 as explained above still apply.

[0093] In the sectional view shown in FIG. 7 it can be seen that in this cross-section the bearing body 16 comprises a bearing cross-section 47. Also here, the bearing cross-section 47 comprises at least one cylinder segment portion 48 and a flattening 49. However, the protrusion 50 of the bearing cross-section 47 forms a holding element 51 which might form a latching element 52 and/or a locking element 53. It is possible that (as shown) the bearing cross-section 47 has a design as a hook. The protrusion 50 extends on the side of the bearing cross-section 47 facing away from the protrusion 37 with a transverse surface 54 having an orientation transverse to the longitudinal axis of the protrusion 37 and parallel to the supporting surface 38.

[0094] On the side facing away from the protrusion 37 the holding element 51 comprises a transverse surface 54, the transverse surface 54 having an orientation transverse to the longitudinal axis of the protrusion 37. Also on the side facing towards the protrusion 37 the holding element 51 comprises a transverse surface 55 of this type. However, in the outer end region the transverse surface 55 continues to an inclined surface 56 which again via a rounded nose 57 continues into the transverse surface 55. In the region of the transverse surface 55 the nose 57 establishes an undercut 58. In the region of the undercut 58 a latching recess or locking recess 59 is formed for providing a latching or locking effect.

[0095] FIGS. 10 to 13 show the assembly of the bearing body 16a of the die half unit 15a to the bearing accommodation 20 of the fixed pliers jaw 3 in the region of the bearing cross-section 40. The bearing accommodation 20 of the fixed pliers jaw 3 here comprises a cross-section with a bearing surface shaped as cylinder segment. The circumferential angle of the cylinder segment of the bearing surface is here more than 180° (e. g. 200° to 260° or 220° to 250°). The cross-section of the bearing accommodation 20 comprises an edge opening 60 located at a position remote from the cylinder segment shaped bearing surface. The edge opening 60 forms a narrowing 61 of the bearing accommodation 20 so that an undercut 62 is formed between the narrowing 61 in the interior of the bearing accommodation 20. In this way the bearing accommodation 20 forms a bearing lug 73 having a cross-section with an open edge.

[0096] The edge opening 60 is slightly larger than the insertion extension 44 of the bearing cross-section 40 of the bearing body 16. Accordingly, it is possible to introduce the bearing body 16 in its insertion orientation 43 through the edge opening 60 into the bearing accommodation 20 with a movement along the insertion orientation 43. For avoiding a re-exit of the bearing body 16 from the bearing accommodation 20 the bearing body 16 is pivoted from the insertion orientation 43 of

[0097] FIG. 11 into the securing orientation 45 of FIG. 13. Due to the fact that the securing extension 46 which comes into effect is larger than the dimension of the edge opening 60 due to the narrowing 41 the bearing body 16 is not able to exit from the bearing accommodation 20 in the direction of the securing orientation 45. When the die 14 has been completely assembled to the pliers jaw 3, 6 the bearing body 16 is no longer able to be returned into the insertion orientation 43 during the operation of the crimping pliers 1 without a further disassembly so that an undesired re-exit of the bearing body 16 from the bearing accommodation 20 is not possible. In the assembled position of FIGS. 12 and 13 the bearing cross-section 40 of the bearing body 16 is supported by the cylinder segment portion 42 with the crimping force on the cylinder-segment-shaped bearing surface of the bearing accommodation 20. Accordingly, the effective crimping force is supported in a good way and with a large surface area between the bearing body 16 and the bearing accommodation 20. Instead, any forces acting in removal direction are in a reliable way supported by supporting the securing extension 46 due to the undercut 62 formed by the narrowing 61 on the material of the pliers jaw 3 forming the narrowing 61.

[0098] Within the frame of the present description this type of connecting the bearing cross-section 40 of FIG. 6 to a bearing accommodation 20 is also denoted as “first variant” of the connection or bearing. For the first variant the connection or bearing is preferably exclusively provided between the pliers jaw 3 and the bearing body 16 without an additional component being required for providing the connection or bearing.

[0099] A second variant for the connection or bearing can be seen from FIGS. 14 to 17. For the shown embodiment the second variant is cumulatively used to the use of the first variant, namely for the support of the second die half unit 15b on the moveable pliers jaw 6.

[0100] A counter-holding element 63 is guided for being displaced in a locking or latching direction 64 relative to the moveable pliers jaw 6. Preferably, the latching or locking direction 64 has an orientation transverse to the longitudinal axis of the protrusion 37 or transverse to the crimping axis 19. The guidance of the counter-holding element 63 is here provided by two studs 65, 66 which are held by the pliers jaw 6 and which are guided in an elongate hole 67 of the counter-holding element 63. Due to the given constructional space for the shown embodiment the studs 65, 66 have different diameters so that here the guiding elongate hole 67 comprises subsections with different widths corresponding to the different diameters of the studs 65, 66.

[0101] The counter-holding element 63 comprises an actuation surface 68 which is freely accessible for the user from the outside of the crimping pliers 1. By means of actuation forces manually applied by the user on the actuation surface 68 it is possible to move the counter-locking element 63 between a locking position and a released position. Preferably, the actuation can be induced by the user by biasing the actuation surface 68 with the end portion of the thumb which might even be the case when the hand is positioned on at least one of the hand levers 2, 4.

[0102] The counter-holding element 63 is biased by the holding spring 69 from the released position of FIGS. 14 and 15 towards the holding position of FIGS. 16 and 17. In the region of the front face the counter-holding element 63 comprises a counter-holding nose 70 which is biased by the holding spring 69 towards the bearing cross-section 47 of the bearing body 16.

[0103] Together with the counter-holding element 63 (here the counter-holding nose 70) the pliers jaw 6 forms the bearing accommodation 20. When the counter-holding element 63 is in the released position of FIGS. 14 and 15 the counter-holding element 63 allows the entry of the bearing cross-section 47 of the bearing body 16 into the bearing accommodation 20. In the position shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 the bearing cross-section 47 contacts the cylinder-segment-shaped bearing surface of the bearing accommodation 20 (provided by the pliers jaw 6) with the cylinder segment portion 48 and the transverse surface 54. During the operation of the crimping pliers 1 a crimping force is supported in a reliable way and with a large surface area by this contact surface. However, the bearing body 16 might re-exit from the bearing accommodation 20 in the released position of the counter-holding element 63. In order to avoid that the bearing body 16 exits in this way the holding spring 69 moves the counter-holding element 63 into the holding position of FIGS. 16 and 17. In the holding position the counter-holding nose 70 engages in the recess 69. The counter-holding nose 70 engages behind the undercut 62 of the bearing cross-section 47. A transverse surface 71 of the counter-holding element 63 contacts the transverse surface 55 of the holding element 51 of the bearing body 16 with a surface area. If a removal force biases the bearing body 16, the removal force (having an orientation of the crimping force or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the protrusion 37) is supported by the contact of the transverse surfaces 55, 71 without biasing the counter-holding element 63 with a force component acting towards the released position. Accordingly, here a locking applies. As an optional feature the bearing cross-section 47 cannot only be introduced into the bearing accommodation 20 when the counter-holding element 63 has been moved manually against the bias by the holding spring 69 into the released position of FIGS. 14, 15. For this option the counter-holding element 63 comprises an inclined surface 72. When the counter-holding element 63 is in the holding position and the bearing body 16 is inserted into the bearing accommodation 20, the rounded nose 57 of the bearing body 16 contacts the inclined surface.

[0104] An insertion force applied by the user on the bearing body 16 is converted by the inclined surface 72 into a force component which acts opposite to the bias of the counter-holding element 63 by the holding spring 69. A sufficient insertion force can so lead to the automatic movement of the counter-holding element 63 from the holding position towards the released position for successively freeing the entry into the bearing accommodation 20. When with the entry of the bearing body 16 the end position in the bearing accommodation 20 has been reached, the counter-holding element 63 snaps back into the holding position due to the bias by the holding spring 69. Accordingly, for this embodiment a holding device 74 for inserting the bearing cross-section 47 into the bearing accommodation 20 is embodied as a latching device whereas the holding device 74 forms a locking device 76 against a removal of the bearing cross-section 47 from the bearing accommodation 20, the removal only being allowed when manually moving the counter-holding element 63 from the holding position into the released position.

[0105] In the case that for a modification also the transverse surfaces 55, 71 are embodied as inclined surfaces, it is also possible to allow an unlatching of the connection between the bearing cross-section 47 and the bearing accommodation 20.

[0106] The connection of the bearing body 16 and the bearing accommodation 20 of the pliers jaw 6 is in the frame of the present description also denoted as “second variant”. For the second variant, the connection or bearing is preferably not exclusively provided between the pliers jaw 6 and the bearing body 16. Instead, at least one additional component embodied at the counter-holding element 63 is required for the provision of the connection or bearing. For a modified embodiment, it is however also possible that the counter-holding element 63 is integrally formed by the pliers jaw 6 or the bearing body 16, e.g. by forming a holding nose as an integral, elastically supported component of the pliers jaw 6 or the bearing body 16.

[0107] It is generally possible that (differing from the shown embodiment) the connection of the die 14 to the fixed pliers jaw 3 is provided by the holding device 74 whereas the connection to the moveable plies jaw 6 is provided by the bearing cross-section 40 having the flattening 41.

[0108] It is possible that the bearing cross-section 37 is arranged between two bearing cross-sections 40 so that for the connection according to the first variant a symmetric support is possible in the region of the two bearing cross-section 40 (cp. FIG. 9).

[0109] Many variations and modifications may be made to the preferred embodiments of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the following claims.