Safeguard or safety feature to secure a pivot handled tool

Abstract

An apparatus and method to secure a bolt cutter, wire cutter, cable cutter or other type of pivot handled tool with two protruding tabs whose apertures align with each other as the handles of the pivot handled tool enter a closed position. A shackle of a padlock may be inserted through the aligned apertures to lock the handles in the closed position.

Claims

1. An apparatus that secures a pivot handled tool, comprising: a pivot handled tool having two handles that pivot between a spread apart relation and a neighboring relation, each of the handles having a respective tab, each of the respective tabs having an associated aperture, the associated apertures being in alignment with each other with the tabs in an overlapping relation with each other as the two handles finish pivoting into the neighboring relation and being out of alignment with each other as the two handles pivot into the spread apart relation at which the tabs are separated and no longer in the overlapping relation with each other; and wherein each of the associated apertures are configured to accommodate insertion of a shackle of a padlock through the associated apertures to simultaneously secure the tabs to each other and thereby secure the two handles when positioned into the neighboring relation.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shackle of the padlock is inserted through both of the apertures to simultaneously secure the respective tabs to each other and thereby secure the two pivoting handles in the neighboring relation.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: means for affixing the respective tabs to the two handles, the means for affixing being selected from the group consisting of a weld, a clamp, a press, a mold, and an adhesive that is applied into or onto each of the handles of the pivot handled tool.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pivot handled tool is selected from the group consisting of bolt cutters, wire cutters, cable cutters, shears, scissors and any combination thereof.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising: a common packaging that packages together the padlock with the pivot handled tool with the tabs.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a common packaging that packages together the padlock with the pivot handled tool with the tabs.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the two handles each has distal free ends; further comprising: grips on each of the distal ends each having a plurality of spaced apart projections that extend into a space between the handles.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the two handles are separated from each other by a space, the tabs extending toward each other into the space between the two handles so that the apertures reside between the two handles.

9. An apparatus that secures a pivot handled tool, comprising: a pivot handled tool having two handles that pivot between a spread apart relation and a neighboring relation, the two handles being separated from each other by a space between the two handles, each of the handles having a respective tab, each of the respective tabs having an associated aperture, the tabs extending toward each other into the space between the two handles so that the apertures reside between the two handles and wherein each of the associated apertures are configured to accommodate insertion of a shackle of a padlock through the associated apertures as the two handles pivot into the neighboring relation from the spread apart relation to simultaneously secure the tabs to each other and thereby secure the two handles when positioned into the neighboring relation, and wherein the associated aperture of each of the respective tabs is arranged in an overlapping relation with each other as the two handles position into the neighboring relation.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the shackle of the padlock is inserted through both of the apertures to simultaneously secure the respective tabs to each other and thereby secure the two pivoting handles in the neighboring relation.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: means for affixing the respective tabs to the two handles, the means for affixing being selected from the group consisting of a weld, a clamp, a press, a mold, and an adhesive that is applied into or onto each of the handles of the pivot handled tool.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the pivot handled tool is selected from the group consisting of bolt cutters, wire cutters, cable cutters, shears, scissors and any combination thereof.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising: a common packaging that packages together the padlock with the pivot handled tool with the tabs.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: a common packaging that packages together the padlock with the pivot handled tool with the tabs.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each of the two handles has distal free ends; further comprising: grips on each of the distal ends each having a plurality of spaced apart projections that extend into the space between the handles.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

(1) For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings, while the scope of the invention is set forth in the appended claims.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a conventional bolt cutter whose handles are pivoted into an open position and equipped with two apertured tabs in accordance with the invention.

(3) FIG. 2 shows the conventional bolt cutter of FIG. 1 in its closed position with the handles rotated about a pivot so as to align apertures in the two apertured tabs with each other.

(4) FIG. 3 shows the conventional bolt cutter of FIG. 2 with the two apertured tabs whose apertures are aligned with each other and with a shackle of a padlock inserted through both of the aligned apertures and closed to lock the padlock.

(5) FIG. 4 shows the conventional bolt cutter with two aperture tabs in accordance with the invention of FIGS. 1-3 all packaged together with a padlock in a common package.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) Turning to the drawing, progressive views are shown for locking a conventional bolt cutter 10 in its closed position. The handles 12 of the bolt cutter 10 are squeezed together from an open position of FIG. 1 to a closed position of FIG. 2 by pivoting about a pivot 14. In the closed position, openings or apertures 18 of two apertured tabs 16 align as shown in FIG. 2. The aligned openings 18 accommodate insertion of a shackle 20 of a locking mechanism 22, such as a padlock.

(7) To free the bolt cutter 10 from such a locked condition, the locking mechanism 22 must be unlocked and its shackle 20 removed from the aligned openings or apertures 18 of the apertured tabs 16. The handles 12 may then be rotated about the pivot from the closed position of FIG. 2 to the open position of FIG. 1.

(8) In accordance with the invention, the two apertured tabs 16 are fixed to the two handles respectively as a safeguard and/or safety feature.

(9) Each tab 16 extends from a respective one of the handles 12 into the space between the handles 12 and each has a respective opening or aperture 18 that, when the bolt cutter or other type of pivot handled tool is in the closed position, the apetured tabs 16 align with each other in an overlapping manner so as to make it possible for a shackle 20 of a locking mechanism 22 (such as a padlock) to be inserted through both openings or apertures 18 simultaneously as shown in FIG. 3. This will make the bolt cutter or other type of pivot handled tool inoperable for its intended purpose unless the locking mechanism 22 is removed after being unlocked.

(10) The addition of such apertured tabs 16 with openings or apertures 18 that align may be secured to pivoting handles of any other kind of pivot handled tool for which its two handles that can be squeezed toward each other into a closed position and spread apart into an open position. As mentioned previously, the pivot handled tool may be bolt cutters, wire cutters, cable cutters, shears, scissors or any combination thereof. The safeguard or safety feature of the invention does not interfere with or affect the intended use of the pivot handled tool when the handles are unlocked without the locking mechanism present.

(11) Indeed, the placement of the apertured tabs 16 and their aligned openings or apertures 18 for insertion of a shackle 20 of a locking mechanism on pivoting handles of a bolt cutter or other type of pivot handled tool is designed as both an added security/safety feature for inexperienced users and as a safeguard against unauthorized use. In the case of the latter, a person with criminal intent would find the bolt cutter or other type of pivot handled tool inoperative so that the bolt cutter or other type of pivot handled tool could not be used for cutting locks or chains that are used to secure belongings of a homeowner.

(12) Bolt cutters, wire cutters and cable cutters are inherently dangerous if they are used by inexperienced individuals or children. This safety or safeguard improvement of adding such tabs whose openings or apertures align to accommodate insertion of a lock shackle may reduce the likelihood of injuries to such inexperienced individuals and children.

(13) While it is preferred that the apertured tabs 16 be affixed to the respective handles 12 during the manufacturing process, the tab 16 could instead be affixed as an add-on feature after manufacture of the bolt cutting device or other type of pivot handled tool has been already manufactured. Thus, a consumer could purchase the bolt cutter device or other type of pivot handled tool and then send it to a service that affixed the tabs. The locking mechanism could be purchased separately or provided by the service provider who affixed the tabs.

(14) Further, the bolt cutter device or other type of pivot handled tool 10 with the apertured tabs 16 affixed to the respective handles 12 may be packaged together in a common package 30 with the locking mechanism 22 so that both may be sold together as shown in FIG. 4. The common package 30 could be a conventional shrink wrap packaging around the assembly of FIG. 3 but with a key (not shown) included. Alternatively, the packaging may be conventional clear plastic packaging whose halves are shaped to accommodate therebetween the pivot handled tool and padlock with key. The halves are welded together with any one of various conventional techniques, such as sonic welded or thermal welded.

(15) Preferably, the apertured tabs 16 are made of metal. Such metal apertured tabs 16 are affixed, e.g., welded, clamped, pressed, molded or adhered into or onto each of the two handles 12 of the bolt cutter or other type of pivot handled tool 10 during the manufacturing process or subsequently. Further, the two handles 12 each has a respective grip at their distal end. Each grip has projections spaced apart from each other that project into the space between the handles.

(16) While the foregoing description and drawings represent the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

SEQUENCE LISTING

(17) Not applicable.