MANUALLY ACTUATED HAND TOOL

Abstract

The invention relates to a manually actuated hand tool (2) which might e.g. be embodied as pliers (1). According to the invention, the hand tool (2) comprises a display device (13) by which it is possible to display a hand tool identification (16). It is possible to electrically modify the displayed hand tool identification (16). It is possible to permanently display the hand tool identification (16) without electric powering. Preferably, for this purpose the display device (13) comprises a so-called electronic paper.

Claims

1. A manually actuated hand tool comprising an electrically modifiable display device, the display being designed and configured for permanently displaying a hand tool identification without an electric powering of the same.

2. The hand tool of claim 1, wherein the hand tool identification is at least one of a) a user name, b) a sequence of ciphers, a sequence of letters or a sequence of numbers which individualizes the hand tool, c) a trademark of a manufacturer of the hand tool, d) an identification of a type or configuration of the hand tool, e) a running number of the hand tool or f) a logo or a graphic.

3. The hand tool of claim 1, wherein the display device is arranged in a region of a manual actuating surface of the hand tool.

4. The hand tool of claim 1, wherein the hand tool is a screw driver.

5. The hand tool of claim 1, wherein the hand tool is embodied as pliers comprising two hand levers that can be pivoted relative to each other.

6. The hand tool of claim 5, wherein the display device is arranged in a region of a) a hand lever or b) a pliers head.

7. The hand tool of claim 6, wherein a) a control unit, b) an electric cable and/or c) a port are/is integrated into a hand lever.

8. The hand tool of claim 7, wherein a) the control unit, b) the electric cable and/or c) the port are/is arranged between two metallic struts of a hand lever.

9. The hand tool of claim 1, wherein the display device comprises a cover which protects the display device against mechanical biases and/or seals the display device.

10. The hand tool of claim 1, wherein a wireless receiving device is provided for an external power supply and/or for a control signal for generating or modifying a display of the display device.

11. The hand tool of claim 1, wherein an interface is provided for a wired external power supply and/or for a wired control signal for generating or modifying a display of the display device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] In the following, the invention is further explained and described with respect to preferred exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings.

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a manually actuated hand tool embodied as pliers in a three-dimensional view.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a hand lever of the pliers of FIG. 1 in a longitudinal sectional view.

[0033] FIG. 3 shows the hand lever of FIG. 2 in a three-dimensional, partially sectional view.

[0034] FIGS. 4 to 7 show different embodiments of hand tools embodied as pliers with different locations for the arrangement of a display device.

[0035] FIG. 8 in a three-dimensional view shows a hand tool which is embodied as tube pressing pliers or plier for pressing of fittings.

[0036] FIG. 9 shows a detail IX of the hand tool of FIG. 8.

[0037] FIG. 10 shows a hand tool embodied as cutting pliers in a three-dimensional view.

[0038] FIG. 11 shows a detail XI of the cutting pliers of FIG. 10.

[0039] FIG. 12 shows a hand tool embodied as screw driver in a three-dimensional view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] FIG. 1 shows a hand tool 2 embodied as pliers 1. The pliers 1 are crimping pliers here and e.g. generally designed according to the publications DE 197 53 436 C2, DE 198 02 287 C1 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,054,025 A) or EP 2 305 428 A1 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 8,516,872 B2) of the applicant or current products with the label CK 100 of the applicant so that concerning the constructive design generally reference is made to these publications and products.

[0041] The pliers 1 comprise two hand levers 3, 4. The hand levers 3, 4 can be pivoted relative to each other in a pivot plane 5. The pivoting is provided by application of manual actuation forces by the user upon actuation surfaces 34 of handles 6, 7 of the hand levers 3, 4. The movement of the hand levers 3, 4 and the actuation forces manually applied thereupon are transmitted by a drive mechanism 8 (in particular with a toggle lever drive) with a suitable increasing or decreasing gear ratio to pliers jaws 9, 10. The pliers jaws 9, 10 form dies or carry dies (here not shown). Between the dies a workpiece to be processed is crimped (e.g. a plug is crimped to a cable). The plier jaws 9, 10 are arranged in the region of a pliers head 11. A pivoting of the pliers jaws 9, 10 is provided in a pliers head plane 12 or parallel to the same. The pivot plane 5 of the hand levers 3, 4 and the pliers head plane 12 are arranged parallel to each other or correspond to each other. A display device 13 is embedded into the handle 6 of the lever 3. A display 14 which comprises a here plane display area 15 displays a hand tool identification 16. The display area 15 might for a modified embodiment also be curved or bended and might e.g. adapt the contour of the handle 6. For the shown embodiment, the hand tool identification 16 is a lettering Max Mustermann, Firma Mustermann. According to FIG. 1, the surface normal of the display area 15 has an orientation vertical to the pivot plane 5. Accordingly, the display area 15 is arranged at a side surface of the handle 6 of the hand lever 3. The display area 15 is located in the front half of the handle facing towards the pliers head 11, the display area 15 being located behind a thickening 17 of the handle 6.

[0042] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view through the hand lever 3. The hand lever 3 comprises two plate-shaped struts 18 which are arranged distant from each other in the hand lever 3. In FIG. 2 only one strut 18 is shown. On the outer side the struts 18 are embedded into an elastomeric plastic material of the handle 6.

[0043] For the embodiment shown here, the display device 13 comprises a cover 19, a display 14 embodied as an electronic paper 20, a control unit 21 and a port 22 (here an USB port). The control unit 21 is connected via an electric cable 23 (preferably through a recess or bore 35 of the strut 18) to the electronic paper 20 and by another electric cable 24 to the port 22. For a generation or modification of a display of the electronic paper 20 the port 22 is connected by a cable to an external device. By the external device and the port 22 then on the one hand the electric power supply of the control unit 21 and the electronic paper 20 for the generation or modification of the display of the electronic paper 20 is provided. On the other hand by the external device and the port 22 a control signal is provided which contains the information for the intended hand tool identification to be displayed.

[0044] It is possible that the port 22 is embedded into the plastic material of the handle 6. Also the port 22 might be extrusion-coated by the plastic material. It is also possible that the port 22 is mounted to a strut 18. The cable 24 extends between the two struts 18 in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the hand lever 3. The control unit 21 is mounted to the strut 18. The electronic paper 20 and the cover 19 are also embedded into the outer surface of the handle 6. It is possible that the cover is releasably connected to the handle 6 (and to the electronic paper 20), e.g. by clipsing into the handle 6, screwing to the handle 6 or any other connection. However, it is also possible that the cover 19 is fixedly connected to the handle 6. Preferably, the cover also provides a sealing when using the pliers 1 in a wet environment. The cover 19 might also protect the electronic paper 20 arranged thereunder against mechanical impairments. The cable 23 extends preferably transverse to the longitudinal axis of the hand lever 3 between the control unit 21 and the electronic paper 20 through the recess 35. This can also be seen from the three-dimensional view according to FIG. 3.

[0045] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the pliers 1. Here, the display area 15 of the display device 13 comprises a surface normal which is arranged in the pivot plane 5 and has an orientation vertical to the longitudinal axis of the hand lever 3. Accordingly, the display device 13 with its display area 15 is arranged on the outer side of the hand lever 3 facing away from the hand lever 4. Also here the display device 13 is embedded into the handle 6.

[0046] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of pliers 1 wherein the surface normal of the display area 15 of the display device 13 is also arranged in the pivot plane 5 and arranged vertical to the longitudinal extension of the hand lever 4. However, here the display area 15 with the display device 13 is arranged on the inner side of the hand lever 4 facing towards the hand lever 3. The comparison of the FIGS. 4 and 5 shows that it is possible to arrange the display device 13 with the display area 15 at any longitudinal extension of a hand lever 3, 4.

[0047] FIGS. 6 and 7 show embodiments of pliers 1 wherein the display device 13 is not arranged in the region of the hand levers 3, 4. Instead, here the display device 13 is arranged in the region of the pliers head 11. For the embodiment of FIG. 6, the display device 13 with its display area 15 is arranged on an upper side of the pliers 1. The surface normal of the display area 15 extends in the pliers head plane 12 and has an orientation vertical to the longitudinal axis of the pliers 2. The display device 13 is here supported at the front sides 25, 26 of cover plates 27, 28. It is possible that the display device 13 extends in an intermediate space 29 formed between the cover plates 27, 28.

[0048] For the embodiment of FIG. 7, the surface normal of the display area 15 extends vertical to the pliers head plane 12. The display area 15 is here arranged at the outer surface of the cover plates 27. For the shown embodiments, with the cover plates 27, 28 a here fixed pliers jaw 9 is formed. This is a resting pliers jaw 9 which together with the hand lever 3 forms a rigid component. Here, it is possible that the cover plates 27, 28 integrally form the two struts 18.

[0049] For the embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9, the hand tool 2 is embodied as pressing pliers 30 for pressing tubes or fittings. Also here the display device 13 is arranged in the region of a pliers head 11, here in the region of a cover plate 27. With respect to options for the constructive design of pressing pliers 30 of this type, exemplary reference is made to the publications DE 199 24 086 C2 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,286,358 B1), DE 199 24 087 C2 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,712 B1), DE 199 63 097 C1 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,474,130 B2), DE 103 46 241 B3 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 7,155,954 B2), DE 10 2007 001 235 B4 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 8,127,589 B2), EP 2 995 424 A1 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 9,864,948 B2) of the applicant.

[0050] According to FIGS. 10 and 11, the hand tool 2 is embodied as cutting pliers 31 which are in particular designated for cutting of cables with large diameters or other strut-like or elongated workpieces. Also here the display device 13 is arranged in the region of a pliers head, here also in the region of a cover plate 27. With respect to the constructive design of cutting pliers 31, in particular reference is made to the publications DE 43 03 180 C1 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,570 A), EP 3 159 088 A1 (corresponding to US 2017/0113367 A1), EP 3 159 107 A1 (corresponding to US 2017/0113358 A) of the applicant or current products with the label Kabelschneider SH.

[0051] Finally, FIG. 12 shows an embodiment of the hand tool 2 as screw driver 32. Here, the display device 13 is embedded into a handle 33 of the screw driver 32, for the shown embodiment in the region of the outer circumferential surface which here forms an actuation surface 34. A display area 15 of the display device 13 here extends in longitudinal direction in the region of the outer circumferential surface of the handle 33.

[0052] It is not intended that the use of the inventive display device 13 for a hand tool 2 is limited to the shown embodiments of hand tools 2. Instead, the invention might be used for any hand tool. In particular, the invention is used for a hand tool which is currently distributed by the applicant, cp. also the current catalogue Werkzeuge fr die professionelle Anwendung of the applicant.

[0053] 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.