Tube Clamping Hand Tool

Abstract

A handheld clamping tool is provided that is adapted to clamp to and secure rounded work pieces, including lengths of tubing without damaging the same. The tool comprises a locking clamp embodiment and a plyer clamp embodiment, whereby the tool includes a pair of jaws with one or more semicircular apertures therealong that align to form rounded openings when the jaws are brought together. In one embodiment, the tool includes a movable jaw and a fixed jaw, along with a handle and grip that are lockable in a static state. Along the upper portion of the locking embodiment is a vice block in which the locking clamp can be held by a bench vice and the tool can support a tube without interaction by the user. In another embodiment, the tool comprises a pair of handles, a pair of jaws, and a fixed pivot point between the handles.

Claims

1. A handheld clamping tool, comprising: a handle having an elongated length, a proximal end, and a distal end; a grip having an elongated length, a proximal end, and a distal end; a fixed jaw extending from the distal end of the handle; a movable jaw pivotably connected to the handle between the distal end of the handle and the fixed jaw; whereby the movable jaw is pivotably connected to the distal end of the grip; an intermediate link having a first end and a second end; the first end of the intermediate link being pivotably and slidably connected to the handle at a position along the length of the handle; the second end of the intermediate link being pivotably connected to the grip along the length of the grip; a turn screw disposed within the handle, whereby a distal end of the turn screw is adapted to secure to the first end of the intermediate link when the grip is moved toward the handle; whereby the turn screw is adapted to adjust the position of the first end of the intermediate link along the length of the handle and operably lock the first end of the intermediate link to the handle when the grip is moved toward the handle; a bias spring disposed between the handle and the movable jaw; a release link pivotably connected to the grip, the release link being adapted to engage the intermediate link and release the first end of the intermediate link from the distal end of the turn screw; whereby the fixed jaw has a semicircular aperture adapted to receive a rounded work piece therein; whereby the movable jaw has a semicircular aperture adapted to receive a rounded work piece therein; whereby semicircular aperture of the fixed jaw and the semicircular aperture of the movable jaw align to form complimentary pairs of rounded openings when the movable jaw is pressed against the fixed jaw.

2. The handheld clamping tool of claim 1, wherein the rounded opening further comprises a circular opening with a constant radius.

3. The handheld clamping tool of claim 1, wherein the rounded opening further comprises an enclosed opening with a continuous perimeter when the movable jaw is pressed against the fixed jaw.

4. The handheld clamping tool of claim 1, wherein: the fixed jaw has a plurality of semicircular apertures adapted to receive a rounded work piece therein; the movable jaw has a plurality of semicircular apertures adapted to receive a rounded work piece therein; and whereby semicircular apertures of the fixed jaw and the semicircular apertures of the movable jaw align to form complimentary pairs of rounded openings when the movable jaw is pressed against the fixed jaw.

5. The handheld clamping tool of claim 4, wherein: each of the complimentary pairs of rounded openings has different open areas to accommodate workpieces of different size in each of the rounded openings.

6. The handheld clamping tool of claim 1, wherein: the handle further comprises a clamping block therealong that provides purchase area for a third party clamping tool to support the handle.

7. The handheld clamping tool of claim 1, wherein: the handle further comprises a clamping block having a rectangular cross section therealong and along an upper surface thereof, whereby the clamping block provides purchase area for a third party clamping tool to support the handle.

8. A handheld clamping tool, comprising: a first handle having an elongated length, a proximal end, and a distal end; a second handle having an elongated length, a proximal end, and a distal end; a first jaw extending from the distal end of the first handle; a second jaw extending from the distal end of the second handle; the first handle being pivotably connected to the second handle at a pivot point such that the first jaw and second jaw are pressed together when the first handle and second handle are rotated relative to the pivot point; whereby the first jaw has a semicircular aperture adapted to receive a rounded work piece therein; whereby the second jaw has a semicircular aperture adapted to receive a rounded work piece therein; whereby semicircular aperture of the first jaw and the semicircular aperture of the second jaw align to form complimentary pairs of rounded openings when the first jaw and second jaw are pressed together.

9. The handheld clamping tool of claim 8, wherein the rounded opening further comprises a circular opening with a constant radius.

10. The handheld clamping tool of claim 8, wherein the rounded opening further comprises an enclosed opening with a continuous perimeter when the first jaw and second jaw are pressed together.

11. The handheld clamping tool of claim 8, wherein: the first jaw has a plurality of semicircular apertures adapted to receive a rounded work piece therein; the second jaw has a plurality of semicircular apertures adapted to receive a rounded work piece therein; and whereby semicircular apertures of the first jaw and the semicircular apertures of the second jaw align to form complimentary pairs of rounded openings when the first jaw and second jaw are pressed together.

12. The handheld clamping tool of claim 11, wherein: each of the complimentary pairs of rounded openings has different open areas to accommodate workpieces of different size in each of the rounded openings.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a view of the handheld clamping tool of the present invention in a working state, supporting a rounded tube between its fixed and movable jaw.

[0030] FIG. 2 shows another view of the handheld clamping tool of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 3 shows a view of the fixed and movable jaws of the handheld clamping tool pressed together to form rounded openings.

[0032] FIG. 4 shows a cross section view of an embodiment of the handheld clamping tool, whereby the tool comprises a locking clamp.

[0033] FIG. 5 shows a side view of an embodiment of the handheld clamping tool, whereby the tool comprises a plier tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the handheld clamping tool of the present invention. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for clamping a rounded work piece without damaging the work piece. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

[0035] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there are shown views of the handheld clamping tool of the present invention. The clamping tool is one that is designed to clamp and secure a work piece within its working end, and more specifically secure a rounded work piece 100 such as a tube or pipe. The working end of the tool has a pair of jaws that clamp the rounded work piece 100 without deforming the cross section of the work piece 100 or otherwise damaging its shape. In this way, the clamp is an improvement over standard pliers and locking clamps that are not conformal to a rounded work piece and thus have the ability to compress the work piece and deform its shape.

[0036] In one embodiment, the handheld clamping tool comprises a locking clamp construction, whereby the tool can clamp a rounded work piece 100 and maintain its grip thereon without continued pressure by the user. In another embodiment, the handheld clamping tool comprises a set of pliers or a standard hand clamp that requires consistent pressure by the user to maintain grip of the work piece 100. Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, there are shown views of an embodiment of the locking clamp.

[0037] The locking clamp comprises a handle 10 having an elongated length, a proximal end 11, and a distal end 12. Adjacent to the handle 10 is a moveable grip 20 having an elongated length, a proximal end, and a distal end 41. The handle 10 and grip 20 are used to control the position of a fixed jaw 35 and a movable jaw 45, respectively. The fixed jaw 35 extends from the distal end 30 of the handle, while the movable jaw 45 is pivotably connected 42 to the handle 10 along its length and between the distal end 30 and the fixed jaw 35 of the handle 10. Furthermore, the movable jaw 45 is pivotably connected to the distal end 41 of the grip 20, whereby the movable jaw 45 includes a body portion 40 and two pivot points 41, 42, the pivot points connected to the handle 10 and the grip 20. Finally, an intermediate link 50 is disposed between the handle 10 and the grip 20. When the grip 20 is moved relative to the handle 10, the body 40 of the movable jaw 45 pivots about its two pivot points 41, 42 and moves the movable jaw 45 towards or away from the fixed jaw 35 depending on the direction of motion of the grip 20.

[0038] The jaws of the tool are suited for securing a rounded work piece therebetween when the jaws are moved towards one another using the handle 10 and grip 20. In particular, the fixed jaw 35 has an interior surface that faces the interior surface of the moveable jaw 45. Disposed along the interior surfaces of the jaws are one or more series of semicircular apertures 55, each semicircular apertures 55 of the jaws being aligned with one another when the interior surfaces of the jaws are pressed together to form rounded openings 56 through the jaws when in a closed state 15. The semicircular apertures 55 are rounded surfaces extending inward into the jaw from the interior surface of the jaw. The apertures 55 are adapted to conform to the outer surface of a rounded work piece 100 and receive the same therein. As shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, the movable jaw 45 and the fixed jaw 55 each has at least one semicircular aperture 55 adapted to receive a rounded work piece therein. Together, the semicircular apertures 55 of the fixed jaw 35 and the semicircular apertures 55 of the movable jaw 45 align to form complimentary pairs of one or more rounded openings 56 when the movable jaw 45 is pressed against the fixed jaw 35. In this way, the rounded surfaces of each jaw bear against the rounded outer profile of the work piece 100, and preferably are sized to clamp therearound when the jaws are pressed together. This is accomplished without compressing or deforming the profile of the work piece when the correct size opening 56 is used to support a particular diameter work piece.

[0039] In the locking clamp embodiment, the movable jaw 45 can be fixed in a static position relative to the fixed jaw 35. This is accomplished using the movable jaw body 40 and its upper pivot points 42 at the handle 10 and its lower pivot point 41 at the grip 20. Extending between the grip 20 and the handle 10 is the intermediate link 50. The intermediate link 50 has a first end 51 and a second end 52. The first end 51 is pivotably and slidably connected to the handle 10 at a position along the length of the handle 10, while the second end 52 is pivotably connected to the grip 20 along the length of the grip 20. A turn screw 16 is disposed within the proximal end of the handle 10, whereby a distal end 17 of the turn screw 16 is adapted to secure to the first end 51 of the intermediate link 50 when the grip 20 is moved toward the handle 10. The distal end 17 of the turn screw 16 engages the first end 51 of the intermediate link 50 and sets the rearmost position along the handle 10 the first end 51 of the link 50 may travel. Therefore, the turn screw 16 position sets a rear wall against which the first end 51 of the link 50 bears against when the grip 20 is pulled toward the handle 10. Depending on the position of the distal end 17 of the screw 16, the body 40 of the movable jaw 45 will rotate to a final position that is flushly against the fixed jaw 35 or at a defined distance offset therefrom.

[0040] The final position of the movable jaw when the grip 20 is pulled toward the handle 20, and therefore the final position of the grip 20, is maintained by way of a bias spring 49 between the body 40 of the movable jaw 45 and the handle 10. The bias spring 49 maintains tension on the body 40 of the moveable jaw 45 at a position 48 between the first 41 and second 42 pivot points. The bias spring also draws the intermediate link 50 against the turn screw distal end 17. The final position of the movable jaw 45 is therefore determined by the turn screw 16, which can be adjusted using a turn knob 15 at the proximal end of the handle 10.

[0041] Along the interior of the grip 20 is a release link 60 pivotably connected to the grip 60. The release link 60 is one that is adapted to bear against the intermediate link 50 to release the first end 51 thereof from the distal end 17 of the turn screw 16. The release link 60 engages the intermediate link 50 along the length of the intermediate link 50 and rotates the intermediate link upwards from the grip 20 thereby lifting the first end 51 of the intermediate link 50 from the turn screw 16. When the release link 60 releases the intermediate link 50 from the turn screw 16, the grip 20 can be freely rotated relative to the handle 10, and the moveable jaw 45 can be rotated relative to the fixed jaw 35.

[0042] Overall, the fixed jaw 35 and the movable jaw 45 each has one or more semicircular apertures 55 therealong, which are adapted to receive a rounded work piece therein. Together, the semicircular apertures 55 of the fixed jaw 35 and the semicircular aperture 55 of the movable jaw 45 align to form complimentary pairs of a rounded opening 56 when the movable jaw 45 is pressed against the fixed jaw 35. The rounded openings 56 may circular openings with a constant radius, oblong openings, or otherwise. Moreover, the rounded openings 56 may also form enclosed opening with a continuous perimeter when the movable jaw 45 is pressed against the fixed jaw 35. Finally, each of the complimentary pairs of rounded openings 56 may have different open areas (i.e. open cross sections for receiving a specifically sized work piece) to accommodate workpieces of different size in each of the rounded openings.

[0043] While the jaws allow for the clamping of a rounded work piece without damaging the same, the locking clamp elements of the tool allow the tool to clamp a work piece while the user releases his or her grip on the tool. The locking clamp elements ensure the clamp retains its grip on the work piece. Being able to clamp a work piece and release manual pressure thereon is important for several tasks. When cutting, soldering, or otherwise working with the work piece, it may be necessary to have both hands free from the tool while the tool handles the work piece.

[0044] To further this ability, the handle 10 further comprises a clamping block 90 therealong that provides purchase area for a third party clamping tool to support the handle 10 and the tool while in use. The clamping block 90 is a raised protrusion that extends above the upper surface of the handle 10 and allows a vice tool, table vice, or other support to grip the block 90 (i.e. obtain purchase thereof) and support the same while the tool supports a rounded work piece between its jaws. Rather than have the third party vice tool directly grip the work piece, the jaws of the present invention support the work piece without damaging it, while the third party vice tool supports the tool of the present invention. This allows hands free support of a rounded work piece. The clamping block 90 may comprises a rectangular cross section extending upwards from the handle 90, whereby the block is a solid member suited to be clamped by a vice tool.

[0045] In addition to a clamping embodiment, the present invention also contemplates a plier tool embodiment. In this embodiment, the handheld clamping tool comprises a first handle 201, a second handle 202, and a pivot point 203 therebetween. Each handle 201, 202 has an elongated length, a proximal end, and a distal end. The first handle 201 has a first jaw 35 extending from the distal end thereof. The second handle 202 has a second jaw 45 extending from the distal end thereof. The first handle 201 is pivotably connected to the second handle 202 at the pivot point 203 such that the first jaw 35 and second jaw 45 are pressed together when the first handle 201 and second handle 202 are rotated relative together about the pivot point 203.

[0046] Each of the jaws has an inner surface. Each inner surface further comprises one or more semicircular apertures 55 as provided in the clamping tool embodiment. Each of the semicircular apertures 55 is adapted to receive a rounded work piece therein. Together, the semicircular apertures 55 of the first jaw 201 and the semicircular apertures 55 of the second jaw 202 align to form complimentary pairs of rounded openings 56 when the first jaw 201 and second jaw 202 are pressed together. The rounded openings 56 may further comprise circular openings, each with a constant radius, or alternatively the rounded openings may have oblong or ellipse shape. Furthermore, each of the rounded openings may comprise an enclosed opening with a continuous perimeter when the first jaw 35 and second jaw 45 are pressed together. Finally, each jaw may include several semicircular apertures 55 therealong, each corresponding to a different size work piece. In this way, each rounded opening has a different open area to accommodate workpieces of different size along the jaws when closed together.

[0047] It is submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

[0048] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.