Adjustable pliers

Abstract

A plier having a receiving surface formed in a handle of the plier to increase a contact surface area between the plier and a workpiece. Compared with conventional adjustable pliers, the pliers clamp the workpiece at the jaws and the receiving surface of the pliers, and the contact area between the tool and the workpiece is increased.

Description

[0001] Divisional Application Statement

[0002] This application is a divisional application of the Chinese patent application with the invention title "Adjustable Pliers" and application number 202010910790.2, which was filed on September 2, 2020. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention generally relates to pliers. More specifically, the present invention relates to adjustable pliers having an increased contact surface area between the jaws of the pliers and the workpiece. Background Art

[0004] Pliers are common hand tools used for rotating workpieces. There are many different types of pliers available, including locking pliers, needle-nose pliers, and adjustable pliers. As Figure 10 shown, conventional adjustable pliers 1000 include a first handle 1005 and a second handle 1010 that are pivotally movable relative to each other. The first handle 1005 leads to a first jaw 1015, and the second handle 1010 leads to a second jaw 1020, where the first jaw 1015 and the second jaw 1020 cooperate to form a jaw clamping area adapted to grip a workpiece. The second handle 1010 includes a slot 1025 through which a pin 1030 can be inserted to allow the first handle 1005 to pivot about the second handle 1010.

[0005] As shown, conventional adjustable pliers 1000 utilize teeth on the first jaw 1015 of the pliers and teeth on the second jaw 1020 to grip the workpiece. This provides two gripping surfaces between the pliers and the workpiece and provides a contact surface area that is at most equal to the area of the teeth on the first jaw 1015 and the teeth on the second jaw 1020. The compressive gripping force from the pliers 1000 is transmitted to the workpiece through the contact area between the pliers and the workpiece. For this reason, an additional contact surface area between the pliers and the workpiece would be beneficial for more effectively applying the compressive gripping force from the pliers to the workpiece. Subsequently, this additional contact surface area minimizes wear on the fastener and reduces wear on the pliers clamping area. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention broadly includes pliers that have an increased contact surface area between the jaws and the workpiece. For example, the tool can include a receiving surface defined in the handle of the tool to increase the number of surfaces adapted to contact the workpiece and thus increase the contact surface area between the pliers and the workpiece to maximize the clamping of the pliers on the workpiece.

[0007] For example, the present invention broadly includes pliers for applying a compressive clamping force to a workpiece having a workpiece shape such as, but not limited to, a hex head bolt. The pliers include: a first handle, a first jaw extending from the first handle and having first jaw teeth, a second handle pivotally coupled to the first handle, a second jaw extending from the second handle and having second jaw teeth, a pin pivotally coupling the first handle and the second handle at an adjustment slot, wherein the pin is adapted to selectively move in the slot to adjust the clearance distance between the first jaw and the second jaw, a first receiving surface defined in the first handle and extending at a first angle relative to the first jaw teeth, and a second receiving surface defined in the second handle and extending at a second angle relative to the second jaw teeth. The first receiving surface and the second receiving surface, and the first jaw teeth and the second jaw teeth cooperate to define a shape substantially corresponding to the external shape of the workpiece, and at least a portion of the first receiving surface, the second receiving surface, the first jaw teeth and the second jaw teeth contact the workpiece during use to maximize the clamping of the pliers on the workpiece.

[0008] The present invention also broadly includes pliers for applying a compressive clamping force to a workpiece having a workpiece shape. The pliers include a first handle and a second handle extending to a first jaw and a second jaw respectively, the first jaw and the second jaw having first teeth and second teeth substantially parallel to each other respectively, and the second handle includes a slot provided therein. The pliers may further include a pin, a first receiving surface and a second receiving surface, the pin extending through the slot and sized to selectively move in the slot to adjust the clearance between the first jaw and the second jaw, the first receiving surface being defined in the first handle and extending at a first angle relative to the first jaw teeth, the second receiving surface being defined in the second handle and extending at a second angle relative to the second jaw teeth. The first receiving surface and the second receiving surface, and the first jaw and the second jaw cooperate to define a shape corresponding to the external shape of the workpiece, and at least a portion of the first receiving surface, the second receiving surface, the first jaw teeth and the second jaw teeth are adapted to contact the outer surface of the workpiece during use. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] For ease of understanding the subject matter to be protected, embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings. By reviewing the drawings, when considered in conjunction with the following description, the subject matter to be protected, its structure and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.

[0010] Figure 1 is a side view of pliers according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 2 is a side view of pliers according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the pliers hold an exemplary smaller workpiece clamped by the jaws.

[0012] Figure 3 A side view of a pair of pliers according to an embodiment of the present invention, where the pliers hold an exemplary larger workpiece clamped by the jaws.

[0013] Figure 4 A partially enlarged side view of a pair of pliers according to an embodiment of the present invention, where the pliers hold an exemplary smaller hexagonal workpiece.

[0014] Figure 5 A partially enlarged side view of a pair of pliers according to an embodiment of the present invention, where the pliers hold an exemplary larger hexagonal workpiece.

[0015] Figure 6 A partially enlarged side view of a pair of pliers according to an embodiment of the present invention, where the pliers hold an exemplary square workpiece.

[0016] Figure 7 A partially enlarged side view of a pair of pliers according to an embodiment of the present invention, where the pliers hold an exemplary rectangular workpiece.

[0017] Figure 8 A partially enlarged side view of a pair of pliers according to an embodiment of the present invention, where the pliers hold an exemplary circular workpiece.

[0018] Figure 9 A partially enlarged cross-sectional view of an adjustment mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 10 A side view of a pair of pliers of the prior art. Detailed Description

[0020] Although the present invention is susceptible to many different forms of embodiments, the embodiments shown in the drawings and described in detail herein are the preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood that the present disclosure is to be considered as an example of the principles of the present invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspects of the present invention to the embodiments shown. As used herein, the term "the present invention" is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but is only a term for discussing exemplary embodiments of the present invention for purposes of explanation.

[0021] The present invention broadly includes a pair of pliers having (a plurality of) receiving surfaces formed in the handles of the pliers, the receiving surfaces being cooperatively adapted to increase the contact surface area between the pliers and a workpiece. Compared with conventional pliers that are only adapted to contact the workpiece at the jaws, the receiving surfaces can cooperatively grip the workpiece by utilizing the increased contact surface area between the pliers and the workpiece.

[0022] See Figures 1 to 3, the tool 100 may include a first handle 105 and a second handle 110 pivotally coupled together. The first handle 105 may lead to a first jaw 115, and the second handle 110 may lead to a second jaw 120. The second handle 110 may have a slot 125 formed therein, and the slot 125 is adapted to receive a pivot pin 130 that is coupled to the first handle 105 and permits pivotal movement between the first handle 105 and the second handle 110. The first handle 105 and the second handle 110 may also be coupled together with an adjustment mechanism 135 that, when engaged, prevents pivotal movement of the first handle 105 with respect to the second handle 110. The adjustment mechanism 135 may include offset teeth on both the first handle 105 and the second handle 110 that engage each other, as described in more detail below.

[0023] The head of the tool 100 may have various components adapted to grip a workpiece during use to apply a compressive gripping force to the workpiece. For example, the first jaw 115 may include a first set of teeth 140, and the second jaw 120 may include a second set of teeth 145, and the first set of teeth 140 and the second set of teeth 145 are adapted to grip the workpiece in a conventional manner. However, the first handle 105 may also include a first receiving surface 150 formed in the first handle 105 and providing an additional contact surface for gripping the workpiece and applying a compressive gripping force to the workpiece. Similarly, the second handle 110 may include a second receiving surface 155 that may grip the workpiece during use. By providing additional contact surfaces, the tool 100 can contact the workpiece with a greater surface area and can more effectively apply a compressive gripping force from the tool 100 to the workpiece.

[0024] The first receiving surface 150 may be at an angle of approximately 60 degrees relative to the teeth 140 of the first jaw 115, and similarly, the second receiving surface 155 may be at an angle of approximately 60 degrees relative to the teeth 145 of the second jaw 120. Thus, as Figure 2 and Figure 3 shown, compared to conventional pliers (which only use the teeth 140 and 145 to grip the workpiece W), the teeth 140, 145 and the receiving surfaces 150, 155 can cooperate to grip a hexagonal workpiece W, such as a hex head bolt or nut, for example, with an additional surface area and thus improved efficiency. For example, the same tool 100 can grip a smaller hexagonal workpiece W, as Figure 2 and Figure 4 shown; and can also grip a larger hexagonal workpiece W, as Figure 3 and Figure 5 shown.

[0025] As Figure 6 and Figure 7As shown, the tool 100 can also clamp square or rectangular workpieces in an improved manner. For example, as Figure 6 shown, the teeth 140, 145 of the jaws 115, 120 directly contact the workpiece W during use. However, the tool 100 can include a first corner 156 that intersects the first tooth 140 and the first receiving surface 150, and a second corner 157 that intersects the second tooth 145 and the second receiving surface 155. These corners 156, 157 provide additional contact area with the workpiece W during the application of a compressive clamping force. In particular, the corners 156, 157 also contact the workpiece W and reduce the chance of the workpiece W slipping with respect to the teeth 140, 145 when a rotational force is applied to the tool.

[0026] See Figure 8 , the tool 100 can also be advantageously used on a circular workpiece W. For example, as shown in the figure, the tool 100 can clamp the circular workpiece W with the teeth 140, 145 like a conventional pliers. Although the receiving surface 150 and the receiving surface 155 do not form a shape that is completely complementary to the circular shape of the workpiece W, the tool 100 can also contact the circular workpiece W at the receiving surface 150 and the receiving surface 155. As shown, the receiving surface 150 and the receiving surface 155 can be tangent to the workpiece W and clamp the workpiece W at the contact points between the receiving surface 150, the receiving surface 155, and the workpiece W.

[0027] Figure 9Shows an adjustment mechanism 135 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the adjustment mechanism 135 may include a first adjustment tooth 160 and a second adjustment tooth 165. The first adjustment tooth 160 is associated with a first handle 105, and the second adjustment tooth 165 is associated with a second handle 110. The adjustment tooth 160 and the adjustment tooth 165 may be generally parallel to each other and may engage the first handle 105 and the second handle 110 in a meshing manner for releasable coupling of the first handle 105 and the second handle 110. The adjustment tooth 160 and the adjustment tooth 165 may be further angled with respect to the handle direction in which the first handle 105 and the second handle 110 extend. For example, the first adjustment tooth may have a first leading face 167 and a first trailing face 169, and the second adjustment tooth 165 may have a second leading face 171 and a second trailing face 173. The first leading face 167 and the second trailing face 173 may extend at an angle that is non-perpendicular to the handle direction in which the first handle 105 and the second handle 110 extend. For example, the first leading face 167 and the second trailing face 173 may extend at an angle of about 8.5 degrees with respect to an angle perpendicular to the handle direction. Similarly, the first trailing face 169 and the second leading face 171 may extend at an angle of about 25 degrees with respect to an angle perpendicular to the handle direction. Compared with other angular orientations of conventional adjustment teeth, it has been found that the adjustment mechanism 135 having such an undercut forms a better grip between the first handle 105 and the second handle 110.

[0028] As used herein, the term "coupled" and its functional equivalents are not meant to be limited to direct mechanical coupling of two or more components. Instead, the term "coupled" and its functional equivalents are intended to represent any direct or indirect mechanical connection, electrical connection, or chemical connection between two or more objects, features, workpieces, and / or environmental substances. "Coupled" is also intended in some embodiments to represent one object being integrated with another object.

[0029] What has been set forth in the foregoing description and in the drawings is presented by way of example only and not as a limitation. Although specific embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications can be made without departing from the broader aspects of the contribution of the present inventor. The actual scope of protection sought is intended to be defined by the appended claims when considered in their proper perspective based on the prior art.

Claims

1. A pliers adapted to engage a workpiece, said pliers comprising: a first pliers half including a first handle and a first jaw extending from said first handle and including first jaw teeth; a second pliers half including a second handle and a second jaw extending from said second handle and including second jaw teeth, wherein said first jaw and said second jaw cooperatively define a gap therebetween; a pin pivotally coupling said first pliers half and said second pliers half together at a slot, said pin being adapted to be selectively movable in said slot to adjust said gap; an adjusting mechanism disposed adjacent to said slot and including a plurality of adjusting teeth; a first receiving surface defined in said first handle and having a first receiving surface length, said first receiving surface being substantially straight and extending from said first jaw teeth at a first angle substantially relative to a plane extending along said first jaw teeth; a second receiving surface defined in said second handle and having a second receiving surface length greater than said first receiving surface length, wherein said second receiving surface is substantially straight and extends from said second jaw teeth at a second angle of approximately 60 degrees substantially relative to a plane extending along said second jaw teeth, and at least a portion of said second receiving surface intersects at least one of said plurality of adjusting teeth.

2. The pliers according to claim 1, wherein, said first angle and said second angle are equal.

3. The pliers according to claim 1, wherein, said first angle and said second angle are each approximately 60 degrees.

4. The pliers according to claim 1, wherein, said plurality of adjusting teeth includes a plurality of first adjusting teeth and a plurality of second adjusting teeth, said plurality of first adjusting teeth being disposed on said first handle, and said plurality of second adjusting teeth being disposed on said second handle and being engageable with said plurality of first adjusting teeth in a meshing engagement to releasably couple said first handle and said second handle together.

5. The pliers according to claim 4, wherein, each of said plurality of first adjusting teeth includes a first guiding surface and a first tail surface, and each of said plurality of second adjusting teeth includes a second guiding surface and a second tail surface, wherein said first guiding surface and said second tail surface extend at an angle of approximately 8.5 degrees relative to an angle perpendicular to said first handle and said second handle, respectively.

6. The pliers according to claim 4, wherein, each of said plurality of first adjusting teeth includes a first guiding surface and a first tail surface, and each of said plurality of second adjusting teeth includes a second guiding surface and a second tail surface, and said second guiding surface and said first tail surface extend at an angle of approximately 25 degrees relative to an angle perpendicular to said first handle and said second handle, respectively.

7. The pliers according to claim 1, wherein, The first clamping tooth intersects the first receiving surface at a first corner, and the second clamping tooth intersects the second receiving surface at a second corner. The first corner and the second corner are adapted to contact the workpiece during use.

8. A pair of pliers adapted to engage a workpiece, the pair of pliers comprising: a first handle and a second handle extending respectively to a first clamp and a second clamp, the first clamp and the second clamp cooperatively defining a gap therebetween, the first clamp and the second clamp each having a first clamping tooth and a second clamping tooth respectively, and the second handle including a slot; a pin extending through the slot and dimensioned to be selectively movable in the slot to adjust the gap; a plurality of first adjusting teeth provided on the first handle and including a first guiding surface and a first trailing surface; a plurality of second adjusting teeth provided on the second handle and including a second guiding surface and a second trailing surface, wherein the plurality of second adjusting teeth are engageable with the plurality of first adjusting teeth in a meshing manner, the plurality of first adjusting teeth and the plurality of second adjusting teeth form an adjusting mechanism, and the first guiding surface and the second trailing surface extend at an angle of approximately 8.5 degrees respectively with respect to an angle perpendicular to the first handle and the second handle; a first receiving surface defined in the first handle and having a first receiving surface length, the first receiving surface being substantially straight and extending from the first clamping tooth at a first angle substantially with respect to a plane extending along the first clamping tooth; a second receiving surface defined in the second handle and having a second receiving surface length greater than the first receiving surface length, wherein the second receiving surface is substantially straight and extends from the second clamping tooth at a second angle of approximately 60 degrees substantially with respect to a plane extending along the second clamping tooth, and at least a portion of the second receiving surface intersects at least one of the plurality of second adjusting teeth.

9. The pair of pliers according to claim 8, wherein the first angle and the second angle are equal.

10. The pair of pliers according to claim 8, wherein the first angle and the second angle are approximately 60 degrees respectively.

11. The pair of pliers according to claim 8, wherein the second guiding surface and the first trailing surface extend at an angle of approximately 25 degrees respectively with respect to an angle perpendicular to the first handle and the second handle.

12. The pair of pliers according to claim 8, wherein the first clamping tooth intersects the first receiving surface at a first corner, and the second clamping tooth intersects the second receiving surface at a second corner. The first corner and the second corner are adapted to contact the workpiece during use.

13. A pair of pliers having a first handle and a second handle, the first handle being pivotally coupled to the second handle at a slot of the second handle, the first handle and the second handle extending to a first jaw and a second jaw respectively, the first jaw and the second jaw cooperatively defining a gap therebetween, the first jaw and the second jaw each having a first jaw tooth and a second jaw tooth, the pair of pliers comprises: a plurality of first adjusting teeth formed in a first side surface of the first handle and extending from the first side surface of the first handle towards the second handle; a plurality of second adjusting teeth formed in a second side surface of the second handle and extending from the second side surface of the second handle towards the first handle, the plurality of second adjusting teeth being engageable with the plurality of first adjusting teeth to releasably couple the first handle and the second handle, wherein the first side surface and the second side surface face each other; wherein each of the plurality of first adjusting teeth comprises a first guiding surface and a first trailing surface, the first guiding surface and the first trailing surface extending at a first guiding surface non-vertical angle and a first trailing surface non-vertical angle respectively with respect to a first handle direction in which the first handle extends, and each of the second adjusting teeth comprises a second guiding surface and a second trailing surface, the second guiding surface and the second trailing surface extending at a second guiding surface non-vertical angle and a second trailing surface non-vertical angle respectively with respect to a second handle direction in which the second handle extends, wherein the first guiding surface non-vertical angle and the second trailing surface non-vertical angle are approximately 8.5 degrees; a first receiving surface defined in the first handle and extending substantially at a first angle from the first jaw tooth; and a second receiving surface defined in the second handle and extending substantially at a second angle of approximately 60 degrees from the second jaw tooth, and at least a portion of the second receiving surface intersects at least one of the plurality of second adjusting teeth.

14. The pair of pliers according to claim 13, wherein, the first guiding surface non-vertical angle and the second trailing surface non-vertical angle are equal.

15. The pair of pliers according to claim 13, wherein, the first trailing surface non-vertical angle and the second guiding surface non-vertical angle are approximately 25 degrees.

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