Manual pliers tool

Abstract

The invention relates to a manually operated pliers tool, which may especially be crimping pliers. According to the invention, the pliers tool is equipped with an electronics construction unit. The electronics construction unit is realized separately from a mechanical pliers part and arranged in a pliers head part of the mechanical pliers part, which is arranged between hand levers and pliers jaws. The electronics construction unit is attached to this pliers head part. The electronics construction unit extends at least on two opposite sides of the pliers head part, sandwiching the pliers head part, and comprises a connector, where the connector extends through or around the pliers head part between the two opposite sides of the pliers head part.

Claims

1. A manual pliers tool comprising: a mechanical pliers part and an electronics construction unit that outputs and/or processes a plurality of operating parameters and measurements, the mechanical pliers part comprising: a) two pivotable hand levers, b) two pliers jaws movable relative to one another, c) a drive mechanism comprising a compression lever coupled to the pliers jaws and to the hand levers, d) a pliers head part comprising a pliers housing positioned over a portion of the hand levers and the pliers jaws, wherein e) the drive mechanism couples the pliers jaws with the hand levers pivoting the hand levers towards each other causes the pliers jaws to be moved towards each other over a working stroke, and the electronics construction unit comprising a connector that extends through or around the pliers head part between the two opposite sides of the pliers head part, wherein the electronics construction unit: a) is realized separately from the mechanical pliers part, b) is arranged on the pliers head part, c) is fixed to the pliers head part, and d) extends at least on two opposite sides of the pliers head part, wherein the electronics construction unit is positioned so that the pliers head part is at least partially enclosed by the electronics construction unit.

2. The pliers tool according to claim 1, wherein the electronics construction unit further comprises a continuous recess having a cross section with a closed circumference which extends through the electronics construction unit, and wherein the electronics construction unit completely encircles the mechanical pliers part.

3. The pliers tool according to claim 1, wherein the electronics construction unit further comprises one or more of the following: a) an electronic control unit, b) an input element, c) an output element, d) a display element, e) a lamp, f) an acoustic output element, g) a sensor.

4. The pliers tool according to claim 1, wherein the electronics construction unit further comprises a housing comprising two housing parts that define a continuous recess, and wherein the two housing parts extend around the mechanical pliers part without gaps in the circumferential direction.

5. The pliers tool according to claim 1, wherein the electronics construction unit further comprises a housing comprising a housing part which forms a front face of the electronics construction unit that is facing the pliers jaws.

6. The pliers tool according to claim 1, wherein the electronics construction unit further comprises a housing comprising two housing parts and a further housing part, where when the two housing parts are mounted to the mechanical pliers part the two housing parts extend around the mechanical pliers part without gaps in the circumferential direction, wherein the further housing part forms a front face of the electronics construction unit turned towards the pliers jaws, wherein the further housing part is in form-locking connection with the two housing parts and have a direction of assembly in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the pliers tool, and wherein the two housing parts are in form-locking connection with each other and have a direction of assembly vertically to the longitudinal axis of the pliers tool.

7. The pliers tool according to claim 1, wherein the pliers tool further comprises a pliers head plane and the electronics construction unit further comprises a housing comprising a front face turned towards the hand levers, wherein the front face is V-shaped when viewed from above the pliers head plane, and wherein the hand levers each extend from the housing from one leg of the V-shaped front face.

8. The pliers tool according to claim 1, wherein the pliers tool further comprises at least two circuit boards and a circuit board is arranged on each side of the pliers head part.

9. The pliers tool according to claim 8, wherein the pliers tool further comprises a cable which extends in the circumferential direction around or through the mechanical pliers part and the two circuit boards are connected to each other via the cable.

10. The pliers tool according to claim 1, wherein the electronics construction unit further comprises a housing and a lamp, wherein a portion of the housing of the electronics construction unit is transparent or partially transparent to light, and wherein the lamp is arranged in the interior of the housing and oriented in such a way that light emitted by the lamp impinges onto the transparent or partially transparent portion of the housing.

11. The pliers tool according to claim 1, wherein the pliers tool further comprises a battery or an accumulator and the electronics construction unit is supplied with electric energy via the battery or the accumulator.

12. The pliers tool according to claim 11, wherein the battery or the accumulator is integrated into one of the hand levers.

13. The pliers tool according to claim 12, wherein the one of the hand levers into which the battery or the accumulator is integrated comprises a metallic hand lever bar and a plastic handle and an interspace formed between the metallic hand lever bar and the plastic handle and the battery or the accumulator is arranged in the interspace between the hand lever bar and the handle.

14. The pliers tool according to claim 1, wherein the electronics construction unit further comprises a sensor configured to sense movement of the drive mechanism by sensing movement of a component of the drive mechanism relative to the sensor.

15. The pliers tool according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical pliers part further comprises cover plates, an interspace formed between the cover plates and a cover element, where the cover element is arranged in the region of the pliers head and covers the interspace formed between the cover plates to the outside over at least a partial circumference of the pliers head.

16. The pliers tool according to claim 1, wherein the pliers tool further comprises an electronic control unit and the electronic control unit comprises control logic, where the control logic accomplishes one or more of the following functions: a) the pliers tool comprises a battery or an accumulator having a charge state and the control logic analyzes the charge state of the battery or the accumulator, b) the pliers tool comprises a sensor which determines a pliers jaw force effective onto the pliers jaws and/or a pliers jaw displacement and the control logic processes or analyzes the pliers jaw force effective onto the pliers jaws and/or the pliers jaw displacement determined by the sensor, c) the control logic determines or analyzes a number of completed working strokes of the pliers tool, d) a threshold value for the number of working strokes to be completed by the pliers tool can be pre-set and the control logic determines or analyzes a number of completed working strokes of the pliers tool and makes a comparison of the number of completed working strokes to the threshold value, e) the control logic makes an assessment of the processing process executed with the pliers tool, f) the control logic stores data, g) the pliers tool comprises a sensor sensing operation of the pliers tool and an acceleration sensor, a first time span can be pre-set and the pliers tool comprises a standby mode and a standby ready mode and in the standby mode the control logic activates the standby ready mode if movement of the pliers tool is detected via the acceleration sensor, where in the standby ready mode the sensor senses operation of the pliers tool, or the control logic activates the standby mode if via the acceleration sensor it is detected that the pliers tool is at rest and remains so for the pre-set first time span, h) the pliers tool comprises a sensor sensing operation of the pliers tool and at least one of a display and a lamp and the control logic activates at least one of the display and the lamp when operation of the pliers tool is detected via the sensor, i) the pliers tool comprises a sensor sensing operation of the pliers tool and an acceleration sensor, a first time span and a second time span can be pre-set, where preferably the first time span is longer than the second time span, and the pliers tool comprises at least one of a display and a lamp and the control logic deactivates at least one of the display and the lamp if it is detected via the sensor that for the pre-set first time span no operation of the pliers tool occurs or for the pre-set second time span there is no movement of the pliers tool as detected by the acceleration sensor, j) the pliers tool comprises a wireless sending and/or receiving device and the control logic operates the wireless sending and/or receiving device, k) the pliers tool comprises at least one lamp and the control logic controls the at least one lamp, l) the pliers tool comprises at least one lamp and a battery or an accumulator having a charge state, a threshold value for the charge state of the battery or the accumulator can be pre-set and the control logic dims the lamp if it is detected that the charge state of the battery or the accumulator falls under the threshold value, m) the pliers tool comprises a pushbutton, a lamp and the means to establish a wireless connection, a first time span and optionally a second time span can be pre-set and the control logic analyzes the signal of the pushbutton in such a way that when the pushbutton is actuated for the first time span the lamp is activated while when the pushbutton is actuated for the second time span the wireless connection is activated, n) the control logic enables configuration of the pliers tool, o) the hand levers comprise a closed end position and the control logic detects when the closed end position of the hand levers is reached, p) the pliers tool comprises a localization function that enables localizing the pliers tool and the control logic controls the localization function, q) the pliers tool comprises an anti-theft protection function and the control logic controls the anti-theft protection function of the pliers tool, r) the pliers tool is equipped with means to provide acoustic output and the control logic controls the acoustic output of the pliers tool, s) the pliers jaws are equipped to enable insertion of a workpiece that is to be processed with the pliers tool, the pliers tool comprises an electronic insertion control for controlling insertion of the workpiece into the pliers jaws and the control logic executes the electronic insertion control, t) the pliers tool comprises a display on which a notice can be shown, where one or more of the following values can be derived by the control logic: a name or an identification of a manufacturer, an owner or a user of the pliers tool, where the pliers tool comprises a battery or an accumulator, a charge state of the battery or the accumulator, where the pliers tool comprises a sensor to measure a pliers jaw force or a pliers jaw displacement or to monitor a progression of the pliers jaw force or the pliers jaw displacement, the measured pliers jaw force or the measured pliers jaw displacement or the progression of the pliers jaw force or pliers jaw displacement, where the control logic determines or analyzes a number of completed working strokes of the pliers tool, a number of completed working strokes, where the control logic makes an assessment of a processing process executed with the pliers tool, a result of that assessment, where a threshold value for the number of working strokes to be completed by the pliers tool can be pre-set and the control logic makes a comparison of the number of completed working strokes to the threshold value, the result of that comparison, an indication that maintenance of the pliers tool is necessary and the control logic generates the notice, where the notice is or correlates with one or more of the values derived.

17. A manual pliers tool comprising: a mechanical pliers part comprising: a) two pivotable hand levers, b) two pliers jaws movable relative to one another, c) a drive mechanism comprising a compression lever coupled to the pliers jaws and to the hand levers, d) a pliers head part comprising a pliers housing positioned over a portion of the hand levers and the pliers jaws, wherein e) the drive mechanism couples the pliers jaws with the hand levers pivoting the hand levers towards each other causes the pliers jaws to be moved towards each other over a working stroke; and an electronics construction unit that outputs a plurality of operating parameters and measurements, the electronics construction unit comprising: at least two circuit boards, wherein a circuit board is arranged on each side of the pliers head part; and a connector that extends through or around the pliers head part between the two opposite sides of the pliers head part, wherein the electronics construction unit is: a) realized separately from the mechanical pliers part, b) arranged in or on the pliers head part, c) fixed to the pliers head part, and d) extends at least on two opposite sides of the pliers head part, wherein the electronics construction unit is positioned so that the pliers head part is at least partially enclosed by the electronics construction unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

(2) In the following, the invention is further explained and described with respect to preferred exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings.

(3) FIG. 1 in a three-dimensional view shows a pliers tool embodied as crimping pliers.

(4) FIG. 2 shows the pliers tool according to FIG. 1, with the pliers tool being partially disassembled.

(5) FIG. 3 shows the pliers tool according to FIGS. 1 and 2 in a more disassembled state.

(6) FIG. 4 shows handles of hand levers of the pliers tool according to FIGS. 1 to 3 in a three-dimensional view.

(7) FIG. 5 shows an electronics construction unit of a pliers tool according to FIGS. 1 to 3 with a removed lid and a connection to a holder for a battery or an accumulator via a cable.

(8) FIG. 6 in a three-dimensional view shows the lid removed from the electronics construction unit according to FIG. 5.

(9) FIG. 7 shows half-shell-like housing parts of the electronics construction unit with circuit boards arranged within them, which are connected to each other via a cable, and a connection of the electronics construction unit to a battery or an accumulator via a cable.

(10) FIG. 8 shows the construction elements of the electronics construction unit according to FIG. 7 in an exploded view.

(11) FIG. 9 shows a pliers tool according to FIGS. 1 to 3 in a three-dimensional exploded view.

(12) FIG. 10 in an exemplary way shows a method which can be executed by means of the control logic of an electronic control unit of an electronics construction unit 6 of a pliers tool 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(13) Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a pliers tool 1. The pliers tool shown in FIG. 1 is embodied as crimping pliers 2, shown in a closed position and in a completely assembled state. FIGS. 2 and 3, on the contrary, show the crimping pliers 2 in different partially disassembled states. According to FIG. 3, due to the disassembly only a mechanical pliers part 3 remains (where, however, the mechanical pliers part 3 differently from FIG. 3 may also comprise the handles 4, 5 removed in FIG. 3). The mechanical pliers part 3 is a completely functional pliers tool 1′, by means of which the desired processing of the workpiece can be achieved. The further construction elements removed from the mechanical pliers part 3, especially an electronics construction unit 6, only provide further functions which are not involved in the mechanical processing of the workpiece itself.

(14) The mechanical pliers part 3 comprises a pliers head 7 and hand levers 8, 9 (which may be realized with the handles 4, 5 not shown in FIG. 3). The pliers head 7 extends in parallel to a pliers head plane 10. The pliers head plane 10 is inclined with a very small acute angle with respect to the plane of drawing according to FIGS. 1 to 3.

(15) The hand levers 8, 9 and the pliers jaws 11, 12 over the working stroke of the crimping pliers 2 move in the pliers head plane 10, which for the embodiment shown is achieved by pivoting around a pivoting axis oriented vertically to the pliers head plane 10. The crimping pliers 2 comprise a longitudinal axis 13 which corresponds to the main direction of extension of the crimping pliers 2 and corresponds to the angle bisector of the hand levers 8, 9 or is oriented parallel to a fixed hand lever 8 and/or parallel to a fixed pliers jaw 11.

(16) The pliers head 7 comprises a first pliers head part 14, in the region of which the pliers jaws 11, 12 are arranged, and a second pliers head part 15, which is arranged between the first pliers head part 14 and the hand levers 8, 9.

(17) In the region of the pliers head part 15, the crimping pliers to comprise a housing 16 not moved over the working stroke. For the embodiment shown, the crimping pliers 2 are realized with a plate-like construction. In this case, the housing 16 is formed with cover plates 17, 18.

(18) For the embodiment shown, the housing 16 or the cover plates 17, 18 are rigidly connected to a fixed hand lever 8 and a fixed pliers jaw 11, so that the pliers jaw 11 over the working stroke of the crimping pliers 2 does not undergo a relative motion with respect to the hand lever 8. These fixedly connected components form a fixed pliers part 21. In the region of the pliers head part 15, the hand levers 8, 9 are coupled to the pliers jaws 11, 12 via a drive mechanism 19, which for the embodiment shown is only true for the coupling of the movable hand lever 9 to the movable pliers jaw. Any drive mechanism 19 can be employed here, which preferably comprises a toggle lever drive with a compression lever 20. The drive elements of the drive mechanism 19 may be arranged between the cover plates 17, 18 and/or outside of these.

(19) It can be seen in FIG. 3 that the compression lever 20 of the drive mechanism 19 lies outside of a cover plate 17. Over the working stroke, there is a relative motion of the compression lever 20 with respect to the fixed pliers part 21 which is realized with the hand lever 8, the housing 16, which here is embodied by the cover plates 17, 18, and the fixed pliers jaw 11.

(20) With respect to the further realization of the drive mechanism 19, the drive elements employed here, the coupling of the drive elements with one another and with the hand levers 8, 9 and the pliers 11, 12 and the design of the drive elements and the pivot bearings for the drive elements, the hand levers 8, 9 and the pliers jaws 11, 12 the non-prepublished European patent application EP 18 166 739.5 is referred to. Within the framework of the invention, however, any other pliers tool may be employed in which for example the pliers jaws are not pivoted relative to one another but in which there is a translational movement of the pliers jaws with respect to one another and/or the hand levers are coupled to the pliers jaws via another drive mechanism; cp. also the embodiments of pliers tools according to the prior art mentioned in the beginning. It is only important for the pliers tool to comprise a pliers head part 15 which comprises a housing 16 and is arranged between the pliers jaws 11, 12 and the hand levers 8, 9.

(21) The hand levers 8, 9 each comprise plate-like hand lever bars 22, 23 onto which the handles 4, 5 may be pushed from the end region turned away from the pliers head 7 and be fixed to them, which may be achieved e.g. by a compressed connection and/or gluing. A holder 24 for a battery or accumulator 25 is fixed to the hand lever bar 22 which is part of the fixed pliers part 21.

(22) The electronics construction unit 6 comprises a housing 26. The housing 26 comprises two half-shell-like housing parts 27, 28 and another housing part 29 which forms a kind of lid 30.

(23) FIG. 5 shows the assembly of the two parts 27, 28 with one another while FIG. 6 shows the lid 30. The housing part 27, 28 are joined in a direction of assembly 31 oriented vertically to a separating plane of the housing parts 27, 28 (which here corresponds to the pliers head plane 10). In order to achieve this, trunnions or protrusions of a housing part 27, 28 or pins formed separately from the housing parts 27, 28 (cp. the connecting pin 55) along the direction of assembly 31 enter into corresponding openings of the housing parts 27, 28, which preferably is done establishing a compressed connection.

(24) The two housing parts 27, 28 form an recess 32 oriented in the direction of the longitudinal axis extending through the housing parts 27, 28, with a front aperture 33 turned towards the pliers head part 14 and with a back opening 34 turned towards the hand levers 8, 9.

(25) In order to completelyassemble the housing 26, the lid 30 is brought into a connection with the assembled housing parts 27, 28 in a direction of assembly 35 oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis 13. The lid 30 comprises trunnions 36 protruding in the direction of assembly 35 which enter into recesses or bores 37 of the housing parts 27, 28, especially with a press fit.

(26) The housing 26 when viewed vertically to the pliers head plane 10 in the region of its front face turned towards the hand levers 8, 9 is approximately V-shaped with legs 38, 39 of the V. In the region of the legs 38, 39, the hand levers 8, 9 extend from the housing 26 of the electronics construction unit 6 via the back opening 34.

(27) In the interior of the housing 16, the electric and electronic components of the electronics construction unit 6 are arranged. This interior is limited to the outside by the housing parts 27, 28, 29 and is limited to the inside by the housing 16 of the mechanical pliers part 3, which here is embodied by the cover plates 17, 18.

(28) The electronics construction unit 6 comprises two circuit boards 40, 41. The circuit board 41 is supplied with electric energy by the battery or the accumulator 25 via a cable 42. The circuit board 40, 41 are connected to one another via a flexible cable 43. The cable 43 guarantees the circuit board 40 is supplied with energy by the circuit board 41 (and therefore by the battery or the accumulator 25) on the one hand. On the other hand, an exchange of data between the two circuit boards 41, 42 takes place via the cable 43. The circuit boards are each screwed to a corresponding housing part 27, 28 via screws 44. If the electronics construction unit 6 is mounted to the mechanical pliers part 3, the circuit boards 40, 41 extend on the outside of the housing 16, here embodied by the cover plates 17, 18, lying outwardly of the housing 16 or the cover plates 17, 18, where preferably there is no electric contacting between the housing 16 and the circuit boards 40, 41. In this mounted state, the cable 43 in a cross section of the mechanical pliers part 3 extends in a U-shaped way around a front face 45 of the mechanical pliers part 3 from a front side of the mechanical pliers part 3 to a back side of the mechanical pliers part 3 (see FIG. 2). In this way, the cable 42 is part of a connector; the connector being that part of the electronics construction unit 6 extending between the front side and the back side of the mechanical pliers part 3. Those sections of the housing parts 27, 28 extending between the front side and the back side of the mechanical pliers part 3 are also parts of this connector.

(29) In the region of the circuit board 40, an input element 46 is arranged which here is a pushbutton 47. In the region of the circuit board 41, a display 48 is arranged. The circuit board 40 serves for processing the input signal entered by the user via the input element 46 while the circuit board 41 serves for controlling the display 48.

(30) The housing part 28 comprises a tongue-like cut under which the pushbutton 47 is arranged. If the user exerts pressure forces onto the tongue-like section 49 of the housing part 28 with their finger, the pushbutton 47 may be actuated.

(31) The housing part 27 comprises a window-like aperture 50. Within and behind the aperture 50, a cover pane 51 is arranged which protects the display 48 arranged behind it. As can be seen especially in FIG. 8, the circuit board 40 comprises a recess 52 formed here by an elongated hole. A connecting cable 53 is guided through the recess 52 from the display 48 to the other side of the circuit board 40, where the connecting cable 53 is connected to an electric connection element 54, via which the circuit board 40 controls the display 48.

(32) In the exploded view according to FIG. 9, the lid 30 is realized in a U-shaped way. The base leg of the U on the upper side of the mechanical pliers part 3 rests against the front face 45 in the region of the fixed pliers part 21. The side legs of the U, on the contrary, extend along the housing 16, which here is embodied by the cover plates 17, 18. The lid 30 is open on the side of the movable pliers jaw 12 and the movable hand lever 9, so that possibly for large opening angles of the pliers jaws 11, 12 the movable pliers jaw 12 can extend downwardly from the lid 30. Possibly, the housing parts 27, 28 on the underside may comprise a corresponding slit, which enables a large opening angle of the movable pliers jaw 12.

(33) In FIGS. 3 and 9 a connecting pin 55 can also be seen which in the direction of assembly 31 enters into the housing parts 27, 28.

(34) Via the circuit boards 40, 41, lamps 58, 59 are controlled. For example, the lamps 58 may be a white LED while the lamp 59 is an RGB LED. For the embodiment shown, the circuit boards 40, 41 each comprise a lamp 58a, 58b and a lamp 59a, 59b.

(35) The housing parts 27, 28 are not transparent to light. The housing part 29, on the contrary, is completely or in a region corresponding to the lamps 58 and 59 partially or completely transparent or translucent. Preferably, the housing part 29 is transparent in the region of a white lamp 58, so that by means of the light emitted by the lamp 58 a region outside the electronics construction unit 6 can be lit. On the contrary, an RGB lamp 59 may be arranged in a partially transparent partial region 74 of the housing part 29 or one that scatters the light diffusely so that this partial region is backlit by the RGB lamp 59 so that in the region of the lid 30 towards the outside a colored stripe or a colored ring can be generated with suitable control of the RGB lamp 59.

(36) At least one circuit board 40, 41 comprises an electronic control unit 57, where the two circuit boards 40, 41 can form a control unit 57 together. The control unit 57 comprises control logic which especially may execute part or all of the method steps described in the following and shown in FIG. 10:

(37) In a method step 16, the electronics construction unit 6 is connected by an external device such as a PC, a smartphone or similar, where this connection may be wire-bound or wireless. In case a wireless connection is to be established (e.g. via Bluetooth), in a method step 61 the pushbutton 47 is actuated for a longer time span, especially at least 5 seconds. If by means of this longer actuation of the pushbutton 47 the control unit 57 detects that a connection is to be established, in a method steps 62 the RGB lamp 59 is controlled in a suitable color by the control unit 57 so that it flashes. In this way, the user can recognize by way of the flashing backlight of the lid 30 that the function of establishing the connection is activated. In a method step 63 then the connection routine of the control unit 57 is started and the connection to the external device is established. If a device is found, on this device a prompt appears such as e.g. “Couple pliers tool no.) xx? Yes/no”. A connection can only be established when the prompt is acknowledged by the user. A connection once established can be automatically, e.g. after 120 seconds, interrupted if the connection is not used within this time span. If the connection has been established, in a method step 64 the control of the lamp 59 is changed by deactivating it or generating a constant lighting effect, in which way it is a visible for the users that a connection has been established. After the connection has been established in this way, in a method step 64 the electronics construction unit 6 can be programmed or data can be transferred to the electronics construction unit 6. For example, via the connection established a name or a designation of a manufacturer of the pliers tool 1, an owner of the pliers tool or of the company in which it is used or a name of the user or worker may be transmitted. Furthermore it is possible for calibrating factors for sensors employed in the electronics construction unit 6 to be transmitted to the control unit 57 in the method step 65. It is also possible that the operating mode of the pliers tool 1 is individualized in that e.g. colors may be set by the user in which the lamps 58, 59 are to emit light or threshold values for an analysis of the measurement signals recorded by the sensors may be set.

(38) If, however, while establishing the connection is attempted no device for coupling is found within a pre-set time span, especially 60 seconds, establishing the connection is automatically terminated and the RGB lamp 59 is deactivated again. If, however, a coupling to a device is successfully established, the RGB lamp 59 may permanently shine for a pre-set time span, especially 5 seconds, and then be deactivated again.

(39) If the pliers tool 1 has been prepared for use as explained before, its use itself may commence. At first, the pliers tool 1 in a method step 66 is in a rest state so that it is not moved. In the method step 66, the pliers tool 1 is a standby mode in which the electric power consumption of the electronics construction unit 6 is minimized. The electronics construction unit 6, however, monitors whether an acceleration sensor, which may also be integrated into the electronics construction unit 6, detects acceleration, in which way it is determined that the pliers tool 1 has been taken into the hand of a user. In order to achieve this, the control unit 57 preferably compares the signal of the acceleration sensor to a threshold value. If a movement of the pliers tool 1 is detected, the electronics construction unit 6 in a method step 67 switches from a standby mode to a standby ready mode in which an enlarged function pool is guaranteed and there is a higher power consumption than in the standby mode. In the standby ready mode, in a method step 68 it is checked whether there is an operation of the pliers tool 1. This can e.g. be achieved by checking whether the hand levers are contacted or there is a movement of a component of the pliers tool 1 or a force is effective on the hand levers, the drive mechanism or the pliers jaws. During this check and in the standby ready mode, the lamps 58, 59 may still be deactivated and the display 48 may still be deactivated. If during a pre-set time span, e.g. 60 seconds, there is no actuation of the pliers tool 1 in the standby ready mode, in a method step 69 the electronics construction unit 6 can automatically return to the standby mode. If, however, the pliers tool 1 is operated, in a method step 70 the display 48 and at least one lamp 58, 59 are activated. The desired notice can then be generated on the display 48, where it e.g. displays the number of completed working strokes, a charge state of the battery or the accumulator 25 (preferably in percent or by means of a bar), a name or a designation of a manufacturer, owner or user and a possible prompt that service of the pliers tool 1 is necessary since a number of completed working strokes is larger than a threshold value. After a working stroke has been completed, in a method step 71 the result of an analysis e.g. of the pliers force progression may be displayed on the display 48. In a method step 72, the electronics construction unit 6 may automatically return to the standby mode if via the acceleration sensor it is detected that for more than e.g. 5 seconds there has been no movement of the pliers tool 1.

(40) If a preferably white lamp 58 is to be switched on in order to light the environment of the electronics control unit 6, this may be achieved by a short actuation of the pushbutton 47, while another short actuation of the pushbutton 47 leads to the deactivation of the lamp 58 or the lamp 58 is automatically deactivated after a pre-set time span or when it is determined by the acceleration sensor that the pliers tool 1 has been put down. Therefore, the pushbutton 47 is multifunctional in that depending on the mode of actuation, which here is the length of actuation, via the pushbutton establishing the connection can be initiated or the lamp 58 can be activated.

(41) The display especially comprises two or more lines for text which may e.g. each comprise more than 10 characters. The character set may be an 8-bit ASCII character set so that it may contain alphanumeric characters as well as accents and umlauts.

(42) If the control unit 57 recognizes that the charge state of the battery or the accumulator 25 is insufficient, the lamps 58, 59 and/or the display 48 may be automatically dimmed or even deactivated by the control unit 57.

(43) As a sensor for detecting a movement of a construction element of the pliers tool 1, especially the compression lever 20, an IR proximity sensor may be employed which in this case may fulfil two functions. The sensor may detect whether components of the pliers tool 1 are moved, in which way completion of the working stroke can be inferred and therefore operation of the pliers tool one can be inferred. On the other hand, the sensor can be used to count the completed working strokes. When the pliers tool is opened and closed, the counter is increased by 1. When switching from the standby mode to the standby ready mode, the IR proximity sensor is activated.

(44) For the embodiment described, no manual actuation of the electronics construction unit via a switch or pushbutton is necessary before the pliers tool 1 is operated. For the embodiment shown, the compression lever 20 comprises a lug or nose 73, which is moved along the IR proximity sensor so that the IR proximity 70 sensor can detect the relative movement of the lug 73.

(45) In the region of the pliers head 7, an interspace open to the outside is formed between the cover plates 17, 18. This interspace is covered by a cover element 75 at least over a partial circumference of the pliers head 7 and especially in the interior of the electronics construction unit 6 and neighboring to the electronics construction unit 6. The cover element 75 comprises a T-shaped cross-section. The vertical leg of the T is inserted into the interspace between the cover plates 17, 18 and fixed there, which may be achieved by clipping or a friction-locking connection to the cover plates 17, 18 or by fixing to them in another way. The horizontal leg of the T covers the interspace between the cover plates 17, 18 to the outside, where the horizontal leg of the T rest against the front faces of the cover plates 17, 18. Preferably, the cover element 75 is made of plastic. It is possible for the vertical leg of the T to be continuous so that it forms a kind of ridge which enables connection to the cover plates 17, 18. It is, however, also possible for the vertical leg of the T to be only realized in partial circumferential regions of the pliers head 7, in which way then only in these partial circumferential regions the cover element 75 is fixed to the cover plates 17, 18.

(46) 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.