Button pin for pliers

Abstract

And a button pin for connecting the two halves of the pliers together. The pin may include one or more balls that are resiliently biased in a radially outward direction to connect the pin to the retainer. Typically the engagement portion urges the ball outward, but the button head may press axially downward and align the ball with the receiving portion, which allows the ball to fall into the interior of the pin. A button is also integrally formed with the receiving portion and the engaging portion to better facilitate movement of the ball and mobility of the pin. Accordingly, a user can quickly adjust the jaw width of the pair of pliers and make better use of the pliers during the process.

Description

[0001] Divisional Application Declaration

[0002] This application is a divisional application of the Chinese Invention Patent Application No. 201910866353.2, filed on September 12, 2019, entitled “Button Pin for Pliers”, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present invention relates generally to button pins. More specifically, the present invention relates to button pins that are removably connected to two halves of a pair of pliers. BACKGROUND

[0004] Pliers are commonly used tools for grasping workpieces or other objects. Pliers include two halves that rotate about a connecting pin, such that a user can hold the two halves at a first end and engage a workpiece at a second end. Pliers often have multiple configurations to allow a user to adjust from a narrow or wide mouth configuration, respectively, for small or large objects.

[0005] Traditional pliers include pins or slots to provide the adjustability required for multiple configurations. For example, a pair of pliers can include multiple openings to allow a user to adjust the plier mouth width when the user deems appropriate. A pin can fit into each opening, for example, a first opening for narrow mouth applications and a second opening for wide mouth applications. The pliers can also include a pin that is fixed about one of the plier halves, but at the pin, the other plier half includes a slot within which the pin slides to achieve a desired width of the plier mouth. Then, once the pin and slot are in a preferred arrangement, other mechanisms such as a toothed engagement can removably connect the plier halves in place.

[0006] It is advantageous to quickly adjust pliers and thus limit the steps required to adjust the pliers from a narrow mouth configuration to a wide mouth configuration. It is also advantageous to provide a compact mechanism that allows for such adjustability. SUMMARY

[0007] The present invention broadly includes a button pin for pliers. The pin includes one or more spring biased balls that can fall inward when a user pushes a button head against the bias of a spring. In particular, when the head is pushed inward, the balls can fall into a receiving portion, and then the pin can be removed from the opening in which it resides. The button head can also be integrally formed with the receiving portion and an engagement portion to better facilitate the movement of the balls into and out of the holes in which they reside. Thus, a user can quickly adjust the width of the plier mouth of the pliers and better utilize the pliers in the process.

[0008] In particular, the present invention broadly includes a pliers that includes a first half and a second half that are rotatably connected together by a pin. The pin includes a button having a head, a receiving portion extending axially from the head, and an engaging portion extending axially from the receiving portion. The engaging portion has an outer diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the receiving portion. A sleeve defines a cavity within which the button moves axially, and the sleeve includes a collar that receives the head and a stem that accommodates the receiving portion and the engaging portion. The stem further includes a bore within which a ball is disposed. Additionally, a spring is included that biases the button radially outward, and when the button is in an engaged position (i.e., without axial force being applied to the head), the spring aligns the ball with the engaging portion, and in a disengaged position (i.e., with axial force being applied to the head), the button aligns the receiving portion with the ball.

[0009] The present invention also broadly includes a pin that includes a button having a head, a receiving portion extending axially from the head, and an engaging portion extending axially from the receiving portion. The engaging portion has an outer diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the receiving portion. A sleeve defines a cavity within which the button moves axially, and the sleeve includes a collar that receives the head and a stem that accommodates the receiving portion and the engaging portion. The stem further includes a bore within which a ball is disposed. Additionally, a spring is included that biases the button radially outward, and when the button is in an engaged position (i.e., without axial force being applied to the head), the spring aligns the ball with the engaging portion, and in a disengaged position (i.e., with axial force being applied to the head), the button aligns the receiving portion with the ball. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0010] For the purposes of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected, there is illustrated in the drawings embodiments thereof, from an observation of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the subject matter, its structure and operation and many of its advantages would be readily understood and appreciated.

[0011] Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a pliers according to at least some of the presently disclosed embodiments;

[0012] Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of a pliers according to at least some of the presently disclosed embodiments;

[0013] Figure 3 is a front perspective view of a pin according to at least some of the presently disclosed embodiments;

[0014] Figure 4 is a front sectional view of a pin according to at least some of the presently disclosed embodiments;

[0015] Figure 5 is a lower perspective view of a pin connected to a retainer according to at least some of the presently disclosed embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] While the application is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein is not intended to limit the application to particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the application as defined by the appended claims. As used herein, the term "the application" is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed application to a specific embodiment, but is only used to discuss exemplary embodiments of the application.

[0017] The present application broadly includes a button pin for connecting two halves of a tool, such as a pliers, together. The pin can include one or more balls that are resiliently biased in a radially outward direction due to the engagement portion of the button pushing the balls outward. A button head can be pressed axially downward and align the balls with a receiving portion, which allows the balls to drop into the interior of the pin. The button is integrally formed with the receiving portion and the engagement portion to better facilitate movement of the balls into and out of the hole in which they reside.

[0018] Reference Figures 1 to 2 Pliers 10 can include a first half 12 and a second half 14 rotatably connected together at a pin 100. The first half 12 and the second half 14 can include first and second handles 16, 18 positioned opposite first and second jaws 20, 22. The first and second jaws 20, 22 can be connected to the first and second handles 16, 18 by first and second base portions 24, 26. The first half 12 of the pliers 10 can include first and second openings 28, 30 for insertion of the pin 100. The second half 16 can include a single opening 32 via which the pin 100 is inserted. For example, the first and second openings 28, 30 can be located in the first base portion 24 and the single opening 32 can be located in the second base portion 26. In this manner, the first and second halves 12, 14 can be detachably connected together in at least two separate configurations to allow for wider or narrower mouthed jaws 20, 22 depending on the user’s application of the pliers 10.

[0019] Referring again to Figures 3 to 5 The pin 100 can include a button 103 having a head 105 and axially movable within a sleeve 110. The sleeve 110 can include a collar 115 for receiving the head 105 and a stem 120 housing internal components of the pin 100, as shown in Figure 4One or more balls 125, 130 can be disposed within the stem 120 and can be biased radially outward by the button 103, as described below. The balls 125, 130 and the collar 115 provide structure for retaining the pin 100 around the two halves 12, 14 of the forceps. For example, the two halves 12, 14 of the forceps can be clamped around the pin 100 in an axial direction between the balls 125, 130 and the collar 115. In particular, and by way of example only, the outer diameter of the collar 115 can be greater than the outer diameter of the stem 120, and the balls 125, 130 can extend beyond the outer diameter of the stem 120 in the engaged position.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the pin 100 can include a button 103 having a head 105 that is inserted into the sleeve 110. When the pin 100 is in the engaged position, the first ball 125 and the second ball 130 can rest within the first opening 135 and the second opening 140, respectively. The button 103 can also include a receiving portion 145 having a first diameter, and an engagement portion 150 having a second diameter that extends axially from the receiving portion 145. The first diameter can be less than the second diameter to allow the balls 125, 130 to drop into the receiving portion 145 when the button 103 is pushed inward. Figure 4

[0021] The button 103 can be axially movable within the cavity 155 of the sleeve 110, and a spring 160 resting on a shoulder 163 that extends circumferentially within the cavity 155 can elastically bias the button 103. The shoulder 163 can be axially and radially inclined to form a chamfer within the cavity 155. The shoulder 163 provides the necessary support for the spring 160 to bias the head 105 of the button 103.

[0022] The head 105 can be any structure or size that allows a user to push the button 103 and move the button 103 axially inward relative to the cavity 155. The head 105 can have a lower surface that is axially lower (i.e., closer in the axial direction to the balls 125, 130) than the leading edge 115a of the collar 115 in the engaged position. In this manner, the collar 115 can provide structural support for the head 105 in the radial direction and reduce the likelihood of the head 105 being released from the cavity 155.

[0023] ​Balls 125, 130 can be any size, but are typically larger than the holes 135, 140 in which they reside to prevent the balls 125, 130 from exiting the cavity 155 via the holes 135, 140. In the engaged position, the balls 125, 130 are elastically biased outward in the radial direction by the force with which the engagement portion 150 pushes the balls 125, 130. In the disengaged position, when the head 105 is pushed inward, the balls 125, 130 drop into the cavity 155 and abut the receiving portion 145. In this manner, the balls 125, 130 are small enough to drop into the cavity 155 in the disengaged position without extending outside of the holes 135, 140.

[0024] Figure 5 A retainer 165 is shown positioned on at least one of the second halves 14 and having an inner diameter 170. During use, when the user wishes to remove the pin 100 from the pliers 12, the user can push the head 105 downward to push the button 103 axially inward into the cavity 155. In doing so, the button 103 aligns the receiving portion 145 with the balls 125, 130 and allows the balls 125, 130 to drop radially inward and rest on the receiving portion 145. This allows the balls 125, 130 to pass over the outer diameter of the rod 120 to allow the rod 120 to be removed from the pliers 14. For example, the outer diameter of the rod 120 can be slightly smaller than the inner diameter 170 of the retainer, allowing the rod 120 to move within the second half 14. Thus, the user can push the head 105 downward and remove the pin 100 from the retainer 165. When the user wishes to re-engage the pin 100 into the openings 28, 30 in the preferred arrangement, the user can again push the head 105 downward and reverse the above operation to insert the pin 100 into the openings 28, 30 and connect the plier halves 12, 14 together in the preferred orientation.

[0025] As shown, the balls 125, 130 can both be two balls biased in a radially outward direction. However, the number of balls 125, 130 need not be two, but can be any number, including a single ball, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0026] As shown, the pliers 10 can be a ring clamp pliers having jaws 20, 21 suitable for ring clamp pliers applications. However, the pliers 10 can be any other type of pliers, such as needle-nose pliers, slip joint pliers, channel locks, hose clamp pliers, diagonal cutting pliers, or line pliers. Furthermore, the pliers 10 need not be pliers at all, but can be a cutting tool or other multi-handle tool having rotatable halves.

[0027] As used herein, the term "connected" and its functional equivalents are not intended to necessarily connote a direct mechanical connection between two or more components. Rather, the term "connected" and its functional equivalents are intended to connote any direct or indirect mechanical, electrical, or chemical connection between two or more objects, features, workpieces, and / or environmental substances. In some examples, "connected" also means one object is integrally formed with another object.

[0028] The foregoing description and the accompanying drawings set forth herein illustrate by way of illustration and not of limitation the claimed technology. Although specific embodiments have been shown and described, it is understood that various modifications and changes can be made by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the present inventors' contribution, which is defined by the appended claims. When based on existing technologies, the actual scope of the sought protection is intended to be defined in the claims, viewed in light of the specification.

Claims

1. A tool comprising: A first half and a second half, the first half and the second half being pivotally connected together by a pin, wherein the pin comprises: A button that can be selectively moved to either an engaged position or a disengaged position, and includes a head, a receiving portion, and an engaging portion, the receiving portion having a receiving portion outer diameter and extending axially from the head, the engaging portion having an engaging portion outer diameter and extending axially from the receiving portion, wherein the engaging portion outer diameter is larger than the receiving portion outer diameter; A sleeve defining a cavity in which the button is adapted to slide axially, the sleeve including a collar receiving the head and a rod for receiving the receiving portion and the engaging portion, the collar having a first inner diameter, the rod having a second inner diameter smaller than the first inner diameter, the sleeve including a third inner diameter between the first inner diameter and the second inner diameter, the third inner diameter being smaller than the first inner diameter and larger than the second inner diameter, the rod also including a hole; A ball, which is disposed within the hole; A spring adapted to radially outwardly bias the button and adapted to substantially align the ball with the engagement portion when the button is in the engagement position, wherein an end of the spring is received in a portion of the cavity having the third inner diameter, and the ball is received in the receiving portion when an axial force is applied to the head and the button is in the disengaged position; and A retainer disposed in one of the first half and the second half, wherein the retainer is adapted to retain the pin to one of the first half and the second half, and the inner diameter of the retainer is greater than the outer diameter of the rod.

2. The tool according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a shoulder portion disposed within the cavity and extending axially and radially within the cavity, the shoulder portion being adapted to provide support for the end portion of the spring.

3. The tool according to claim 1, characterized in that, The head integrally includes the receiving portion and the engaging portion.

4. The tool according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a second ball disposed within a second hole located on the rod.

5. The tool according to claim 1, characterized in that, The dimensions of the ball and the receiving portion are designed to allow the ball to move into the receiving portion such that when the button is in the disengaged position, the entire ball is radially located inside the outer diameter of the rod.

6. The tool according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer diameter of the ball is larger than the outer diameter of the hole.

7. The tool according to claim 1, characterized in that, The head includes a lower surface, and the collar includes a leading edge, wherein the lower surface is axially located inside the cavity compared to the leading edge.

8. The tool according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer diameter of the collar is larger than the outer diameter of the rod.

9. The tool according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first half includes two openings through which the pin is adapted to be inserted, and the second half includes one opening through which the pin is adapted to be inserted.

10. A push-button pin adapted to pivotally connect a first half and a second half of a tool, the push-button pin comprising: A button adapted to be selectively movable to either an engaged position or a disengaged position, and having a head, a receiving portion, and an engaging portion, the receiving portion having a receiving portion outer diameter and extending axially from the head, the engaging portion having an engaging portion outer diameter and extending axially from the receiving portion, wherein the engaging portion outer diameter is larger than the receiving portion outer diameter. A sleeve defining a cavity in which the button is adapted to slide axially, the sleeve including a collar receiving the head and a rod for receiving the receiving portion and the engaging portion, the collar having a first inner diameter, the rod having a second inner diameter smaller than the first inner diameter, the sleeve including a third inner diameter between the first inner diameter and the second inner diameter, the third inner diameter being smaller than the first inner diameter and larger than the second inner diameter, the rod also including a hole; A ball, which is disposed within the hole; A spring adapted to radially outwardly bias the button and adapted to align the ball with the engagement portion when the button is in the engagement position, wherein an end of the spring is received in a portion of the cavity having the third inner diameter, and the ball is received in the receiving portion when an axial force is applied to the head and the button is in the disengaged position; and A retainer adapted to hold the button to one of the first half and the second half, wherein the inner diameter of the retainer is larger than the outer diameter of the rod.

11. The pin according to claim 10, characterized in that, It also includes a shoulder portion disposed within the cavity and extending axially and radially within the cavity, the shoulder portion providing support for the spring.

12. The pin according to claim 10, characterized in that, The head integrally includes the receiving portion and the engaging portion.

13. The pin according to claim 10, characterized in that, It also includes a second ball disposed within a second hole located on the rod.

14. The pin according to claim 10, characterized in that, The dimensions of the ball and the receiving portion are designed to allow the ball to move into the receiving portion such that the entire ball is radially located inside the outer diameter of the rod in the disengaged position.

15. The pin according to claim 10, characterized in that, The outer diameter of the sphere is larger than the outer diameter of the hole.

16. The pin according to claim 10, characterized in that, The head includes a lower surface, and the collar includes a leading edge, wherein the lower surface of the head is axially located inside the cavity compared to the leading edge.

17. The pin according to claim 10, characterized in that, The outer diameter of the collar is larger than the outer diameter of the rod.

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