PLIERS-VALVE-WHEEL COMBINATION TOOL

Abstract

A pliers-valve-wheel combination tool for safe and efficient working upon systems and equipment having large wheeled valves, from a ladder, lift, or platform, often with only one hand free, providing adjustable pliers for performing various maintenance tasks and a valve-wheel wrench for quickly, efficiently, and safely manipulating valves in both expected and unexpected circumstances, without a cumbersome change of tools.

Claims

1. A pliers-valve-wheel combination tool comprising: (i) a primary unit comprising at a first end a primary jaw, intermediately a primary handle, and at an opposite end a valve-wheel-wrench unit comprising a valve-wheel-wrench structure defining a valve-wheel-wrench opening; (ii) a secondary unit comprising a secondary jaw and a secondary handle; where said primary jaw and said secondary jaw form a set of jaws at a first end; where said primary handle and said secondary handle form a set of handles toward an opposite end; and (iii) a fulcrum formed between said jaws and said handles, comprising a slip joint, in turn comprising a pivot pin and a pivot slot; where, in use, said slip joint provides adjustment of the distance between said jaws.

2. The pliers-valve-wheel combination tool of claim 1, where said slip joint further comprises a groove joint.

3. The pliers-valve-wheel combination tool of claim 1, where said jaws are placed at an angle to said handles.

4. The pliers-valve-wheel combination tool of claim 1, where said valve-wheel-wrench opening is placed facing away from said secondary handle.

5. A pliers-valve-wheel combination tool comprising: (i) a primary unit comprising at a first end a primary jaw, intermediately a primary handle, and at an opposite end a valve-wheel-wrench unit comprising a valve-wheel-wrench structure defining a valve-wheel-wrench opening; (ii) a secondary unit comprising a secondary jaw and a secondary handle; where said primary jaw and said secondary jaw form an angled set of jaws at a first end; where said primary handle and said secondary handle form a set of handles toward an opposite end; where said valve-wheel-wrench opening on said primary unit faces away from said secondary handle; and (iii) a fulcrum formed between said jaws and said handles, comprising a slip joint, in turn comprising a pivot pin and a pivot slot; where, in use, said slip joint provides adjustment of the distance between said jaws.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals, and wherein:

[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the pliers-valve-wheel combination tool of the invention;

[0018] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the pliers-valve-wheel combination tool of the invention;

[0019] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the pliers-valve-wheel combination tool of the invention in use as pliers; and

[0020] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the pliers-valve-wheel combination tool of the invention in use as a valve-wheel wrench.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the pliers-valve-wheel combination tool 10 is shown. The pliers-valve-wheel combination tool 10 provides a set of jaws 20, a set of handles 30, a fulcrum 40 between the jaws 20 and the handles 30, and a valve-wheel-wrench unit 50. A primary unit 1 provides a primary jaw 21, a primary handle 31, and a valve-wheel-wrench structure 51. The valve-wheel-wrench structure 51 is located on the primary unit 1 at the end opposite the primary jaw 21. The valve-wheel-wrench structure 51 defines a valve-wheel-wrench opening 52, forming the valve-wheel-wrench unit 50.

[0022] A secondary unit 2 provides a secondary jaw 22 and a secondary handle 32. The fulcrum 40 is formed by a slip joint 41 having a pivot pin 42 and a pivot slot 43, which joins the primary unit 1 and the secondary unit 2 in such a way as to make the size of the jaw opening adjustable, as known in the art. In an embodiment of the pliers-valve-wheel combination tool 10 the slip joint 41 is a groove joint, as known in the art. In an embodiment, the jaws 20 are at an angle to the handles 30, as known in the art.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, in use the pliers-valve-wheel combination tool 10 is used in one way for gripping, clamping, or turning parts of the system being worked on, and can be quickly used another way to turn a valve wheel to open, close, or adjust the valve. The user is able to change very quickly, and to change back and forth, between the adjustable-pliers use and the valve-wheel-wrench use, with one hand, without any putting away or taking up of separate tools, and therefore without having to let go of anything gripped in the other hand, and without any loss of focus or concentration on the task. Also, the overall weight and bulk of the tool belt or tool kit brought to the location of the work being done is reduced in comparison to the use of separate tools.

[0024] Many other changes and modifications can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. I therefore pray that my rights to the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.