AXIAL PLIERS

Abstract

A tool having gripping jaw teeth that provide a contact pattern for engaging fasteners on-axis. The gripping teeth are formed in a depression disposed at a distal end of a jaw and are oriented at an angle that turns away from a major axis of the tool or an axis that is orthogonal to a plane formed by a front face of the jaw to increase the gripping force that can be applied to the fastener before the tool disengages or slips against the fastener.

Claims

1. A tool comprising: first and second halves pivotally coupled together; a grip portion including a surface with a depression, the surface having a first set of teeth disposed on the depression, wherein the first set of teeth abut a front face of the grip portion and extend away from the front face at an angle that is offset from a major axis of the tool.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein the gripping section is formed on distal ends of first and second handles.

3. The tool of claim 1, wherein the angle is between about 1 and about 15.

4. The tool of claim 1, wherein the grip portion includes a second set of teeth disposed on the surface outside the depression.

5. The tool of claim 4, wherein the second set of teeth are cut along an axis substantially perpendicular to the major axis.

6. The tool of claim 4, wherein the grip portion includes a third set of teeth having a different tooth pattern than a tooth pattern of the first and second sets of teeth.

7. The tool of claim 4, wherein the second set of teeth are cut in a grid pattern.

8. The tool of claim 1, wherein when the tool is in a closed state, the first set of teeth form a helical pattern.

9. The tool of claim 1, wherein the depression follows a first curve that is in a plane substantially parallel to the major axis.

10. The tool of claim 9, wherein the depression follows a second curve that is in a plane substantially perpendicular to the major axis.

11. The tool of claim 1, further comprising first and second handles, wherein the major axis is substantially parallel to the first and second handles and substantially perpendicular to the front face of the grip portion.

12. The tool of claim 1, wherein the tool is a pliers-type tool.

13. The tool of claim 1, wherein the first set of teeth are cut in a continuous pattern.

14. The tool of claim 1, wherein when the tool is in a closed state, the first set of teeth form a mirrored pattern.

15. The tool of claim 1, wherein the tool is adapted to engage a fastener, and wherein when the tool is coupled to the fastener, the major axis is substantially parallel with an axis of rotation of the fastener.

16. The tool of claim 1, wherein the depression follows a first curve that is in a first plane that is at an angle relative to the major axis.

17. The tool of claim 16, wherein the depression follows a second curve that is in a second plane that is at an angle relative to the major axis

18. A tool comprising: a handle portion having a first axis that is substantially perpendicular to a front face of the tool; and a grip portion adapted to engage a fastener and having a first set of teeth disposed on a surface with a depression that follows a first curve that is in a first plane and a second curve that is in a second plane, wherein the first set of teeth abut the front face and extend away from the front face at an angle that is offset from the first axis.

19. The tool of claim 18, wherein the grip portion includes a second set of teeth disposed on the surface and cut along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis.

20. A pliers-type tool comprising: a first half including a first handle portion, a first joint portion having an aperture adapted to receive a fastener, and a first grip portion including a first surface with a first depression, the first surface having a first set of teeth disposed on the first depression, wherein the first set of teeth abut a front face of the pliers-type tool and extend away from the front face at a first angle that is offset from a major axis of the pliers-type tool; and a second half including a second handle portion, a second joint portion having a slot adapted to receive the fastener to couple the first and second halves, and a second grip portion including a second surface with a second depression, the second surface having a second set of teeth disposed on the second depression, wherein the second set of teeth abut the front face and extend away from the front face at a second angle that is offset from the major axis.

21. The pliers-type tool of claim 20, wherein the first and second angles are substantially the same.

22. The pliers-type tool of claim 20, wherein the first angle is positive and the second angle is negative.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected, there are illustrated in the accompanying drawings embodiments thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the subject matter sought to be protected, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a side, perspective view of a tool according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a side plan view of the tool of FIG. 1.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a side, perspective view of one half of the tool of FIG. 1 in a disassembled condition.

[0017] FIG. 4 is an enlarged, partial view of a tool jaw of the tool of FIG. 1.

[0018] FIG. 5 is a section view of a tool jaw of the tool of FIG. 1 taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

[0019] FIG. 6 is an enlarged, perspective view of a tool jaw of the tool of FIG. 1.

[0020] FIG. 7 is a plan view of the front of a tool, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 8 is a plan view of the front of a tool, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] While the present invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, embodiments of the invention, including a preferred embodiment, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the present invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to any one or more embodiments illustrated herein. As used herein, the term present invention is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but is instead used to discuss exemplary embodiments of the invention for explanatory purposes only.

[0023] The present invention broadly comprises a tool, such as pliers, having gripping jaw teeth that provide an enhanced contact pattern over the prior art for engaging fasteners, such as screws, pins, bolts, stripped fasteners, and other round or near round fasteners when engaging the fastener on-axis. The gripping teeth may be formed in a dished area disposed at a distal end of a jaw of the pliers and are oriented at an angle that turns away from a major axis of the pliers and/or an axis that is orthogonal to a plane formed by a front face of the jaws. The angle and greater contact area enhances the amount of torque that can be applied to the fastener before the tool disengages or slips against the fastener, compared to the prior art tools.

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1-8, a tool 100, such as pliers, includes a first portion 102. The first 102 portion includes a handle portion 104, a joint portion 106, and a grip portion 108 (also referred to as a jaw). The first portion can include an aperture 110. The aperture 110 may be disposed in the joint portion 106. The pliers also include a second portion 112 that may include a handle portion 114, a joint portion 116, and a grip portion 118. In an embodiment, the second portion 112 may include a slot 120 adapted to pivotally couple with the aperture 110 in the first portion 102 via a fastener, such as a screw, pin, or rivet, thus allowing the first and second portions to be pivotal relative to each other. The slot 120 can further allow the opening between the first and second gripping portions 108 to change, by moving or sliding the first portion 102 relative to the second portion 112 along the slot 120. The tool 100 may be any of the variety of tools in the family of pliers, such as locking pliers, water pump pliers, linesman pliers, or the like, in which a tool is composed of at least a gripping section, a pivot point, and handles and where force is amplified by the ratio of the length of the handles to the length of the jaws about the pivot point. Embodiments of the invention disclosed herein embody the fastener-gripping portion (i.e., jaws) of any such pliers.

[0025] The gripping portions 108, 118 may include respective first tooth regions 122, 124 and second tooth regions 126, 128, with differing tooth patterns. In an embodiment, an axis system [x1, y1, z1] can be aligned with the respective handle portions 104, 114. However, the axis system is not limited to being aligned with the handle portions 104, 114 and can be aligned in any desired alignment relative to the handle portions 104, 114. Teeth in the second tooth regions 126, 128 can be cut along the major y1 axis and formed in the [x1 y1] plane as a grid pattern. In another embodiment, the teeth in the second tooth regions 126, 128 may not be aligned with the axis system.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 5, another axis system [x2, y2, z2] can define the grip portions 108, 118 where the plane [y2 z2] defines the front faces 134, 136 of the respective grip portions 108, 118 and where the x2 axis is orthogonal to this plane. Alternately, the plane [y2 z2] may not define the front faces 134, 136 such that the x2 axis is at an angle relative to the front faces 134, 136. The coordinate system defining the respective grip portions 108, 118 may or may not be aligned with the handle coordinate system [x1, y1, z1].

[0027] The surface of the second tooth regions 126, 128 can have respective depressions 130, 132 (also referred to as a concave bowl). The teeth disposed on the depressions 130, 132 can abut respective front faces 134, 136 of the grip portions 108, 118 and extend towards the joint portions 106, 116 at an angle offset from the major x1 and/or x2 axes of the pliers at an angle . The teeth disposed on the depressions 130, 132 may be cut in a continuous pattern, as illustrated, or cross-hatched such that an array of teeth are formed in a grid pattern.

[0028] In an embodiment, angle may range from about 1 to about 15 off of the x1 and/or the x2 axes. For example, the angle may range from about 1 to 10, 2 to 7, 3 to 8, etc. off of the x1 and/or x2 axes. Preferably, angle is 5 off of the x1 and/or the x2 axes. Referring to FIG. 7, the teeth disposed in the respective depressions 130, 132 of the respective first and second portions 102, 112 may have substantially same angle , such that when the tool 100 is in a closed state, the teeth disposed in the depressions 130, 132 of the respective first and second portions 102, 112, form a substantial spiral or helical pattern. The spiral or helical pattern of the teeth has been found to cause the tool 100 to be further pulled onto a fastener when the tool 100 is rotated about an axis of rotation of the fastener. In an embodiment, angle may be positive or negative, depending on the direction of rotation (e.g., clockwise or counter-clockwise) required to rotate the tool 100 to engage the fastener. Alternately, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the teeth disposed in the respective depressions 130, 132 of the respective first and second portions 102, 112 may have opposing angles , such that when the tool 100 is in a substantially closed condition, the teeth disposed in the respective depressions 130, 132 of the respective first and second portions 102, 112, form a substantially identical pattern.

[0029] The inventors of the present invention conducted extensive testing of tools according to embodiments of the present invention and compared it to results of the same testing conducted on a typical pliers tool having a vamplier design (indicated as prior art in the tables below). A first tool according to an embodiment of the present invention had an angle of 0 was tested (Tool 1, =0), a second tool according to an embodiment of the present invention had an angle of 2 (Tool 2, =2), and a third tool according to an embodiment of the present invention had an angle of 5 (Tool 3, =5). As shown by the following testing, the embodiments of the present invention are able to apply more rotational force (torque) to an indicated fastener before slipping off, compared to typical pliers having a vamplier design.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Fastener: 3/16 socket head capscrew (0.37 outside diameter) Normalized Average of Max Tested Tool Torque to Slip (%) Prior Art 100.0 Tool 1 = 0 107.3 Tool 2 = 2 120.1 Tool 3 = 5 121.1

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Fastener: 18-8 SS panhead screw (0.475 outside diameter) Normalized Average of Max Tested Tool Torque to Slip (%) Prior Art 100.0 Tool 1 = 0 114.6 Tool 2 = 2 109.5 Tool 3 = 5 117.4

[0030] The above tables show the normalized average, represented as a percentage, of the maximum amounts of torque applied to the indicated fasteners during testing of the tools according to embodiments of the present invention having various angles compared to a typical pliers design. As compared to the typical pliers design, the present invention tool 100 can apply more rotational force before slipping off the fastener, thereby enhancing the ability to remove damaged fasteners, such as, for example, stripped out fasteners.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 5, the teeth disposed in the respective depressions 130, 132 may be cut along a first curve 138 in a plane that defines the respective depressions 130, 132, thereby forming a substantially concave dish. The plane may be disposed at an angle such that it is not parallel to the x1 and/or the x2 axes. Alternately, the plane may be parallel to the x1 and/or the x2 axes. The first curve 138 may be defined by a radius 140. The length of the depressions 130, 132 is defined by a distance 142 that a center of origin of the radius 140 is from the front faces 134, 136 of the respective grip portions 108, 118, and by a distance 144 of the origin of the radius 140 above the grip portions 108, 118. Alternately, the first curve 138 may follow a parabolic or spline path or may follow a straight-line path.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 6, a second curve 146 can further define the respective depressions 130, 132 and is defined by a radius 148. The second curve 146 may be disposed at an angle such that the second curve 146 is on a plane that is not orthogonal or perpendicular to the x1 and/or the x2 axes. Alternately, the second curve 146 may be on a plane that is orthogonal or perpendicular to the x1 and/or the x2 axes. The origin of the radius 148 may be set at a distance 150 above a surface of the grip portions 108, 118, which is illustrated by line 152, and at a distance 154 from an edge of the grip portions 108, 118, such that the teeth disposed in the respective depressions 130, 132 are substantially symmetrically disposed in the front faces 134, 136 of the respective grip portions 108, 118, where the cut of the depressions 130, 132 intersects the respective front faces 134, 136 of the grip portions 108, 118 in the [y2 z2] plane. The teeth in the depressions 130, 132 can be formed with a tooth angle and a tooth depth 156 to couple with a broad range of fasteners with different diameters and cross-sectional shapes.

[0033] In an embodiment, the tooth angle and tooth depth 156 are dependent on the radius 148 and the type and dimensions of fasteners to be coupled. Likewise, the radius 140 and the origin location of the first curve 138, as defined by distances 142 and 144, can be defined such that an optimal normal force is achieved for a range of fastener types and sizes. The tooth angle may range from about 20 to about 120 and is preferably 40-70. The teeth disposed in the depressions 130, 132 may be separated by a radius trench varying in radius from about 0.002 to about 0.01 inches, or a flat trench varying in length from about 0.002 to about 0.01 inches. The tooth depth 156 may range from about 0.005 inches to about 0.1 inches, preferably about 0.01 to about 0.07 inches. The radius 148 may range from about 0.04 inches to about 2 inches. In addition, the second curve 146 may be a complex curve, such as a parabolic or a spline, and may extend across the entire front faces 134, 136 of the respective grip portions 108, 118. In an embodiment, the second curve 146 may follow a straight line path. The distance 150 defining the depth of the cut for the second curve 146 may range from about 0.02 inches to about 2.1 inches. The difference of the distance 150 subtracted from the radius 148 can be between about 0.01 and about 0.2, but not so great that the thickness of the grip portions 108, 118 at its thinnest point is less than about 0.07 inches. The distance 154 may be about half of the grip portions 108, 118 width plus or minus about 0.2 inches to cause the depressions 130, 132 to be placed on or about the center of the grip portions 108, 118.

[0034] The radius 140 defining the first curve 138 may range from about 0.04 inches to about 2 inches. And the distance 144 defining the depth of the cut along the first curve 138 may range from about 0.02 inches to about 2.1 inches. The difference of the distance 144 subtracted from the radius 140 may be between about 0.01 and about 0.2, but not so great that the thickness of the grip portions 108, 118 at its thinnest point is less than about 0.07 inches. The distance 144 may range between about 0.002 inches and about seven-eighths of the radius 140. In an embodiment where the first curve 138 is a hyperbola, the distance 144 may range from about 0.002 inches to about 0.5 inches.

[0035] While aspects of the disclosure describe a tool having a grip portion delineated into three teeth sections, other configurations are possible. For example, a configuration can include the first tooth regions 122, 124 as a cutting section, or can exclude the first tooth regions 122, 124 such that the second tooth sections 126, 128 extends all the way the joint portions 106, 116. Further yet, the grip portions 108, 118 may be formed entirely of the depressions 130, 132, in other words a dish-shaped, single section jaw.

[0036] The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. While particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects of the inventors' contribution. The actual scope of the protection sought is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.