Adjustable reverse drive pliers
Patent Information
- Application Number
- ES2025031987U
- Authority / Receiving Office
- ES · ES
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-10-12
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-31
- Estimated Expiration
- 2035-10-12
Abstract
Description
REVERSE DRIVE ADJUSTABLE PLIERS TECHNICAL SECTOR The invention falls within the field of hand gripping tools, specifically adjustable parrot-nose pliers. These tools are designed for gripping and manipulating objects of varying cross-sections in plumbing, electrical, automotive, and industrial applications. The focus of the invention is on the mechanism for operating and locking the jaws of this type of pliers. PRIOR ART Adjustable pliers with parallel or converging jaws, commonly called parrot beak pliers, constitute a consolidated category of hand clamping tools, widely used in sectors such as plumbing, electricity, automotive and industry. These adjustable pliers integrate two arms articulated at an intermediate point; each arm incorporates, at its proximal end, a toothed jaw and, at its distal end, an ergonomic handle. The joint includes an opening adjustment mechanism that fixes the distance between jaws in predefined positions, usually adopting configurations such as: (i) ratchet with toothed rack and pin, (ii) ratchet actuated by a push button, or (iii) sliding joint with multiple locking points. Regardless of the adjustment mechanism variant, these designs share a common kinematic principle: the jaws close when simultaneous compression is applied to both handles. Under a first-class lever scheme, the central joint acts as a fulcrum, and the movement of one handle induces the opposite displacement of the jaw on the complementary arm (the upper handle controls the lower jaw and vice versa). As a result of this coupling, acting on only one of the handles does not create an effective closure: if only the upper handle is pressed, the opposite arm pivots around the joint without transmitting sufficient gripping force due to the lack of counterpressure. In practice, the user must wrap the tool with their palm and fingers to exert bilateral force, which is ergonomically demanding, especially during prolonged tasks, in confined spaces, or when operating with one hand. EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION Based on the identified deficiency in conventional pliers, namely the need to simultaneously compress both handles to generate and maintain a grip, the invention proposes an adjustable, reverse-action, parrot-beak type pliers, in which the active transmission is concentrated in the upper handle (3), enabling effective one-handed closure. The lower handle (1) forms the structural body by means of two parallel branches that define a longitudinal recess (1b). Each arm has a longitudinal groove (1a) through which a transverse pin (6) moves, which in turn passes through the through hole (3b) of the upper handle (3). When the user pushes the upper handle (3) down, the pin (6) travels along the grooves (1a) and acts as an effective lever support between the upper handle (3) and the lower handle (1), so that the applied force is converted into a guided displacement that is transmitted directly to the upper jaw (2) through the pivot joint formed by the cylindrical extension of the upper handle (3a) and the female cavity of the jaw (2a). This "top-to-top" configuration reverses the conventional behavior, since the movement of the upper handle (3) directly controls the upper jaw (2) and not the lower one (1), allowing the closing jaw to be brought together precisely without requiring continuous bilateral compression. The upper jaw (2) incorporates on one of its inner faces a linear longitudinal toothing (2b) arranged to cooperate with a ratchet (4) mounted on the upper part of the lower handle (1c). The ratchet (4) is a common element whose function in this model is limited to deciding the locking of the movement and its manual release by pressing, but it is relevant to highlight its kinematic behavior during closing: the ratchet is oriented parallel to the lateral faces of the jaw (2) and passes through the line of the toothing (2b), so that, when the upper jaw (2) tilts towards the bite due to the lever action of the upper handle (3) and the advancement of the pin (6) in the grooves (1a), the ratchet (4) rotates on its own axis and pivots while remaining engaged with the toothing (2b).This inherent rotation of the ratchet, even when locked in the direction of the return movement, allows the jaw (2) to continue its closing path, describing the necessary angle without losing the distance already achieved. In other words, the ratchet does not lock the jaw; it blocks the movement in the opposite direction and, thanks to its ability to rotate on its axis, accompanies the change in orientation of the jaw (2) during closing, maintaining the position already achieved on the teeth (2b). When it is desired to readjust the opening, the user presses the ratchet from the housing (1c) and it is released; outside of this specific action, the ratchet remains locked and assists the closing by pivoting on its axis. The torsion spring (5) is arranged between the upper jaw (2) and the upper handle (3) and is limited to keeping the tool open at rest and tending to open when the user ceases to act; it does not intervene in the release of the ratchet or in locking functions, its mission is only to ensure the open position and provide the elastic return once the upper handle (3) is released.Thus, the functional sequence is clean and direct: the user holds the tool so that there is counterpressure on the lower jaw, operates only the upper handle (3) with their fingers, the pin (6) advances guided by the grooves (1a) and establishes the leverage point, the articulation between the handle extension (3a) and the jaw cavity (2a) converts this movement into the effective approximation of the upper jaw (2) towards the workpiece, the ratchet (4) remains engaged in the teeth (2b) blocking the return movement and, simultaneously, rotates on its own axis to allow the jaw (2) to pivot and finish clamping stably. The result is a progressive closing that can be executed continuously or in successive pulses, accumulating advance without losing the position already reached and with the alignment preserved by the internal confinement in the recess (1b). This architecture concentrates the active transmission in the upper handle (3) and utilizes the pin (6) guidance in the grooves (1a) as a lever fulcrum, the direct articulation at (3a-2a) as a trajectory converter, and the rotation of the ratchet (4) on its own axis to accompany the teeth (2b) without backlash, so that a firm and precise grip is achieved with the sole action of the upper handle. If there is support pressure on the lower jaw due to contact with the workpiece, the user can grip with greater effective force than in conventional designs and without needing to keep both handles compressed, all with a return to open position ensured by the spring (5) at the end of the maneuver. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 1. Lower handle 1st. Longitudinal groove 1b. Two-branch box 1c. Ratchet housing 2. Upper jaw 2a. Female cavity 2b. Longitudinal teeth 3. Top handle 3a. Cylindrical extension 3b. Through hole 4. Ratchet 5. Torsion spring 6. Pin PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION The reverse-drive adjustable pliers integrate a lower handle (1) provided with longitudinal grooves (1a), a two-branch recess (1b) and a ratchet housing (1c); an upper jaw (2) with a female cavity (2a) and longitudinal teeth (2b); an upper handle (3) with a cylindrical extension (3a) and a through hole (3b); a pin (6); a ratchet (4) and a torsion spring (5). The active transmission is concentrated in the upper handle (3): its actuation moves the pin (6) along the grooves (1a) establishing leverage with respect to the lower handle (1) and, by means of the pivot joint (3a-2a), directly pulls the upper jaw (2) towards the closure. The ratchet (4), pivotally mounted in the housing (1c), remains engaged with the longitudinal teeth (2b) to accommodate the tilting of the upper jaw (2) and prevent reverse recoil. The spring (5) tensions the opening in the rest position, facilitating effective one-handed operation when there is a counterforce in the lower jaw portion integrated into the lower handle (1) and reversing the conventional relationship of similar adjustable pliers. Figure 1. An exploded view of the reverse-drive adjustable pliers is shown with the parts separated: a lower handle (1) with a longitudinal groove on each side (1a), a two-branched recess (1b) and a ratchet housing (1c); an upper jaw (2) with a female cavity (2a) and longitudinal teeth (2b); an upper handle (3) with a cylindrical extension (3a); a pin (6), a ratchet (4) and a spring (5). The upper jaw (2), the upper handle (3), the longitudinal groove (1a) and the ratchet (4) stand out for defining the joint (3a-2a), the guiding of the pin (6) in the longitudinal groove (1a) and the engagement of the ratchet (4) in the longitudinal teeth (2b), which together reverse the conventional relationship and allow one-handed use. Figure 2. The upper jaw (2) and the upper handle (3) are shown in the closed state. The upper jaw (2) is closed by the action of the upper handle (3); the joint (3a-2a) transmits the movement and the ratchet (4) remains engaged with the longitudinal teeth (2b) to prevent recoil, pivoting on itself in a parallel manner and causing the upper jaw (2) to close. Figure 3. The upper jaw (2) and the upper handle (3) are shown in their open state, typical of the rest position. The pivot joint (3a-2a) between the upper jaw (2) and the upper handle (3) is shown. The through hole (3b), through which the pin (6) passes, is visible, its movement guided by the longitudinal groove (1a), as well as the opening tendency given by the spring (5) fitted in the joint area between the upper handle (3) and the upper jaw (2). Figure 4. The lower handle (1) is shown exclusively in an oblique perspective with the viewpoint located in the upper left corner of the assembly. The view exposes the two-branch recess (1b), showing the bifurcation and the geometry of the walls that define the upper housing of the tool; the longitudinal grooves (1a), coplanar and aligned with the longitudinal axis of the handle, configured for guiding the pin (6); the ratchet housing (1c), arranged in the proximal area of the handle, with its access opening and the seating surface for pivoting the ratchet (4). Figure 5. The lower handle (1) is shown in side view, with internal lines. The projection allows observation of the assembly fitting in the closed state by geometric correspondence with the upper handle (3) and the possible tilting of the upper jaw (2). The longitudinal grooves (1a), visible along the handle, define the guided path of the pin (6) when the assembly is closed, showing the advanced stop achievable in closing and opening. The ratchet housing (1c) is identified in its relative position with respect to the axis of the longitudinal grooves (1a), prepared for the pivoting mounting of the ratchet (4) and its engagement with the longitudinal teeth (2b). On the other hand, the two-arm recess (1b) shows its internal profile and depth, defining the receiving surface for the other parts and ensuring alignment and transmission of forces by lever. Figure 6. The tool is shown in side projection, with internal lines for reading the mechanism. The system is in the open rest state, with the upper handle (3) unactuated and the torsion spring (5) tending towards opening; the pin (6) is in a rearward position within the longitudinal grooves (1a) of the lower handle (1), while the joint (3a-2a) is at an open angle, with the upper jaw (2) separated and the ratchet (4) operatively engaged with the longitudinal teeth (2b), without preventing opening. Figure 7. The tool is shown in side projection, with internal lines, in the closed state, with the upper handle (3) actuated and the pin (6) advanced along the longitudinal groove (1a). The joint between the upper handle (3) and the upper jaw (2), defined by (3a-2a), pivots, bringing the upper jaw (2) to the closed position against the portion of the lower jaw integrated into the lower handle (1) by lever action, while the ratchet (4) remains engaged and blocks the return, leaving the torsion spring (5) under elastic load for the return to the open position when the force ceases.
Claims
1. An adjustable, reverse-drive pliers comprising a lower handle (1) forming a structural body with two parallel arms defining a longitudinal recess (1b), each arm having a longitudinal groove (1a); an upper handle (3) with a cylindrical extension (3a) and a through hole (3b); an upper jaw (2) with a female cavity (2a) pivotally coupled to the cylindrical extension (3a) of the upper handle (3) and provided with longitudinal teeth (2b); a transverse pin (6) passing through the through hole (3b) of the upper handle (3) and guided into the longitudinal grooves (1a) of the lower handle (1); and a ratchet (4) mounted in a housing (1c) of the lower handle (1), configured to engage with the longitudinal teeth (2b) of the upper jaw (2).blocking the movement of said upper jaw (2) in the recoil direction and preventing the loss of the position achieved; characterized in that the action of the upper handle (3) displaces the transverse pin (6) along the longitudinal grooves (1a), establishing a movable lever support with respect to the lower handle (1), such that said action is transmitted, through the articulation formed between the cylindrical extension (3a) and the female cavity (2a), to the upper jaw (2), causing it to tilt towards closing, while the ratchet (4) remains engaged with the longitudinal teeth (2b), accompanying the tilting of the upper jaw (2) and blocking its recoil.
2. Adjustable pliers with reverse actuation according to claim 1, wherein the transverse pin (6) and the longitudinal grooves (1a) define a guided path for the advance and recoil of the upper handle (3) with respect to the lower handle (1),allowing the closure of the upper jaw (2) to occur progressively through the cooperation of the transverse pin (6), the longitudinal grooves (1a) and the joint formed between the cylindrical extension (3a) and the female cavity (2a).