US2513401A - Lockable pliers - Google Patents

Description

J y 1950 s. L. COLES 2,513,401

LOCKABLE PLIERS Filed Aug. 15, 1947 mmnnmmmnmn ./NVENTOR, SAMUEL L. COLE-3,

Patented July 4, 1950 Samuel L. Coles, Robertson, Mo.

I Application August 15, 1947, Serial No. 768,799

'7 Claims. (01. 81-49) This invention pertains to pliers and similar tools for providing a firm holding grip on a small article. Y

One of the objects of this invention is to :pro-

vide such a tool with improvedmeans for locking it in holding position.

. ceptible of various embodiments, within the scope I,

of the appended claims, without departing from the principles orspirit of the invention.

. In the accompanyinggdrawing'z Fig.1 is a plan view of a pair of pliers embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. l, and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail (side and end views) of the clamping screw.

Referring now to the drawing, the pliers comprise, generally, a pair of levers having grip portions I and 2, and pivoted on a pin 3. This pivot, in the embodiment illustrated, is of the type that is shiftable to either of a pair of sockets 4, in order to increase or decrease the gap between'the jaws 5 and 6.

One of thelevers, in this case lever I, is formed with .an opening I therethrough to accommodate a clamping screw 8 passing slantwise through the opening. Adjacent the opening I an upward-bent lug 9 is formed on the lever. This lug is provided with a clearance hole through which the screw 8 passes freely. A thumbnut II! on the screw 8 is arranged to bear against the underside of the lug 9.

The lever 2 is provided with one or more notches II positioned to receive the end of the screw 8. In the embodiment illustrated, a series of such notches is arranged in a circle centered on the pivot pin 3. The notches I I may be wedgeshaped, with one face vertical so as to provide an abutment for the correspondingly wedge-shaped end I2 of the screw 8. In the type of pliers in which the pivot 3 is shiftable, a second series of notches I3 may be provided, arranged in a circle centered on the shifted position of the pivot.

The screw 8 may be formed, at its lower end, with the wedge-shaped portion I2 adapted to provide a pawl engageable in the ratchet notches I I or I3. This end of the screw 8 may also have formed thereon an upstanding wing or fin I4 arranged to engage a slot I5, formed at the end of the opening I, so as to prevent turning of the screw when the nut I is turned. A web I6 may be' formed to span the lower part of the opening Y It will be noted that, while the nut II! is ma- I to keep the screw 8 from falling out. This web my have a sloping upper face acting as a cam to lift the screw, when loosened, during rotation of the lever I to open the jaws 5 and 6.

In the operation of the tool, the same is held in the hand by the grip portions in the usual manner. In the embodiment illustrated, when so held in the right hand the thumb of that hand will be in a convenient position to manipulate the nut III. The grip portion may now be pressed together to close the jaws 5 and 6 upon the article to be held. During this movement the pawl I2 rides over the notches I I (or I3) until the one best positioned for the required jaw opening is arrived at. The nut II) is then rotated by the thumb, while maintaining pressure on the grips, so as to force the pawl l2 into the appropriate notch and tighten the nut against the lug 9. The tool is then securely clamped upon the work. When the work is to be released the reverse operation is carried out.

nipulated merely by the thumb, firm clamping pressure on the work can be obtained by pressure on the grips.

4 against the lug 9 to hold the pressure applied by the grips.

Similarly, in releasing the work, this pressure on the nut may be relieved by pressing the grips so as to free the nut for easy manipulation.

As the jaws are opening after loosening the screw, the web I6 moves to the right, Fig. 2, and picks up the screw 8 thereby lifting the pawl I 2 out of the notch. When the lever I is shifted to the other center for the pivot 3, the screw 8 moves with it so as to be engageable with the other series of notches I3.

The loose fit of the screw 8 in the lug 9 provides freedom for the screw to swing up and down or sidewise as it rides over the notches I I or iii. During such swing the nut IIJ may rock upon the face of the lug 9. The underface of the lug may be rounded slightly to accommodate such rocking and to allow slight misalignment of the screw when in clamping engagement.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A tool of the character described, comprising, a pair of pivoted levers having jaw portions and grip portions, a screw mounted on one of said levers and having a tail portion providing a pawl, said other lever being formed with one or more notches arranged for engagement by said pawl to provide a purchase for said screw, and manipulating means associated with said screw, operable to advance said pawl into engagement with one of said notches to lock said levers relatively to the work held in said jaw portions.

2. A tool of the character described, comprising, a pair of pivoted levers having jaw portions and grip portions, a screw mounted on one of said levers and having a tail portion providing a pawl, said other lever being formed with a series of notches arranged at a uniform distance from the pivot-point of said levers providing a ratchet arranged to receive said pawl, and manipulating means associated with said screw,

operable to advance said pawl into engagement;-

with one of said notches to lock said levers relatively to the work held in said jaw portions.

3. A tool of the character described, comprising, a pair of pivoted levers having jaw portions and grip portions, a screw mounted on one of said levers and having a tail portion providing a pawl, said other lever being formed with one or more notches arranged for engagement by said pawl to provide a purchase for said screw, and manipulating means associated with said screw, located adjacent the thumb position of a hand holding said gripportions and operable to advance said pawl into engagement with one of said notches to lock said levers relatively to the work held in said jaw portions.

4. A tool of the character described, compris ing, a pair of pivoted levers having jaw portions and grip portions, a screw mounted on one of said levers and having a tail portion providing a pawl, said other lever being'formed with a series of notches arranged at a uniform distance from the pivot-point of said lever providing a ratchet arranged to receive said pawl, an abutment on said first lever, and a nut on said screw having rockable engagement with said abutment and operable to advance said pawl into engagement with one of said notches to lock said levers relatively to the work held in said jaw portions.

5. A tool of the character described, compris- 4 said other lever being formed with a series of notches arranged in an arc with its center substantially at the pivot-point of said lever providing a ratchet arranged to receive said pawl, an abutment on said first lever, and a nut on said screw having rockable engagement with said abutment and operable to advance said pawl into engagement with one of said notches to lock said levers relatively to the workheld in said jaw portions.

6. A tool of the character described, comprising, a pair of levers having jaw portions and grip portions, a pivot joining said levers, said pivot being fixed to one of said levers and shiftable relatively to the other, a screw mounted on said first lever and having a tail portion formed to provide a pawl, said other lever ibeing provided ing, a pair of pivoted levers having jaw portions with a plurality of series of notches each series arranged in an are centered on a different positionof said pivot providing ratchets arranged to receive said pawl, and manipulating means associated with said screw operable to advance said pawl into engagement with one of said notches to lock said levers relatively to the Work held in said jaw portions. I

'7. A tool of the character described, comprising, a pair of levers having jaw portions and grip portions, a pivot joining said levers, said pivot being fixed on one of said levers and shiftable relatively to the other, a screw mounted on said first lever and having a tail portion formed to provide a pawl, said other lever being provided with a plurality of series of notches each series arranged in an are centered on a diiferent position of said pivot providing ratchets arranged to receive said pawl, an abutment on said first lever, and a nut on said screw having rockable engagement with said abutment and operable to advance said pawl into engagement with one of said notches to lock said levers relatively to the work held in said jaw portions.

SAMUEL L. COLES.

REFERENCES CITED The followingrferences are of record in the fileof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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