CONVERTIBLE PLIERS AND METHOD OF USE

Abstract

A switchable pair of pliers is disclosed for use with outer and inner snap rings. A jaw assembly is provided with easily changeable tips, and a spring loaded tip release mechanism and jaw assembly are provided for increased end user convenience.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention broadly relates to retaining ring pliers for use in removing and replacing both inner and outer retaining rings, the pliers being convertible between a first position that allows the jaws to move inwardly when the handles are moved inwardly, and a second position that allows the jaws to move outwardly when the handles are moved inwardly. [Background technology]

[0002] Pliers, particularly snap ring pliers, are well known in the art. Snap rings can be either "inner" or "outer". In between, the inner snap ring is generally arranged in a slightly open loop configuration. The inner snap ring may be used to hold a part in a cylinder, such as, for example, holding a bearing in a shaft. When installing the inner snap ring, the open loop end is closed to reduce the diameter to fit in the cylinder. The snap ring is then opened in the cylinder, ideally in a groove. The outer snap ring, on the other hand, may be used to hold an object on the outside of a shaft, such as, for example, holding a gear or pulley on the shaft. The outer snap ring is generally arranged in a closed loop configuration. The closed loop is stretched open to allow the outer snap ring to fit around the shaft, and then once in place, the outer snap ring is released, preferably in a groove around the shaft, to allow the object to be held on the shaft.

[0003] Generally, there are inner snap ring pliers used to install the inner snap ring and outer snap ring pliers used to install the outer snap ring. The inner snap ring pliers may consist of a pair of handles that intersect at a pivot pin and have tips at the ends that interact with the snap ring. This intersecting configuration allows the closing action of the handles to be translated into a closing action of the tips, thus closing the open loop of the inner snap ring. The outer snap ring pliers may consist of a pair of handles that are connected at a pivot point but do not intersect. This configuration allows the closing action of the handles to be translated into an opening of the tips, thus expanding the outer snap ring.

[0004] There are also inside / outside snap ring pliers that allow the user to switch between an orientation for use with an inside snap ring and an orientation for use with an outside snap ring, an example of which is shown in U.S. Patent No. 7,194,936, which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0005] Some convertible devices provide a first handle with a pivot pin fixed to it and a second handle with a V-shaped track within which the pin of the first handle travels. However, depending on the orientation during use, the orientation of the pin and groove and the spring force exerted by the biased snap ring can cause one of the handles to be displaced relative to the other. This can cause the snap ring to twist and become difficult to align with the groove, or the pliers to completely separate from one end of the snap ring.

[0006] In some embodiments of the snap ring pliers, the point or tip of the snap ring pliers is fixed. In other embodiments of the snap ring pliers, the user may select from a number of interchangeable tips, such as a hex tip, a round tip, square tips of various angles, and a straight tip. Interchangeable tips typically require tightening and loosening of a set screw or a hex wrench to tighten the interchangeable tip in place. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 7,194,936 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a jaw assembly having an easily changeable tip.A spring loaded tip release mechanism and jaw assembly are provided for increased end user convenience. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a top view of the retaining ring pliers having a slidable spring loaded switching mechanism configured in an outer ring mode with the pliers shown with their handles stationary and the jaws together. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating the placement of the handle in the inner ring mode and with slight clamping pressure applied. [Diagram 3] An exploded view of the retaining ring pliers. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a side view of the jaw assembly. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the jaw assembly of FIG. 4. [Figure 6] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the jaw assembly of FIG. 4. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pair of jaws carried by a retaining ring pliers. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a shaft having a pair of differently configured tips. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Although the disclosure is detailed and accurate to enable one skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments disclosed herein are merely exemplary of the invention, and the invention may be embodied in other specific structures. A preferred embodiment is described below, but the details may be changed without departing from the invention as defined by the claims.

[0011] 1-3, there is shown a convertible retaining ring pliers 10 with a slidable switching mechanism 12. The pliers 10 generally consist of a pair of handles 14, 16, a pair of elongated jaws 18, 20, and a pivot pin 22.

[0012] The convertible retaining ring pliers 10 are adapted to accommodate two modes of operation which may be referred to as an "outer ring mode" and an "inner ring mode." Referring now to Figures 1 and 3, the end plate 48 of the handle 16 is engraved with the symbol "EXT" adjacent the hole 62 positioned to receive the transfer pin 56, and the end plate 48 is engraved with the symbol "INT" adjacent the hole 60 positioned to receive the transfer pin 58. In the outer ring mode, the switch plate actuator 102 covers the INT symbol and shifts the EXT symbol to be visible, informing the user that the pliers 10 are in "outer ring mode." Similarly, when the pliers 10 are in "inner ring mode," the switch plate actuator 102 covers the EXT symbol and provides a visible INT symbol "inner ring mode" indication to the user.

[0013] Preferably, the pivot pin 22 is formed by a screw 24 having a head 25, a shank 26 and a threaded shaft 27 that is threadably received in a barrel 28 of a nut 30 having a head 31. The handles 14, 16 include a grip that provides a cover for the handle, which is generally made of a hard metal. The handles 14, 16 are biased apart by a spring 34 that is disposed between two opposing projections 36, 38 on the inside of both handles 14, 16. In the retaining ring pliers 10 of the present disclosure, the jaws 18, 20 are designed to receive a tool in the form of an elongated retaining ring tip 40 having an operator post at its distal end that is received in a standard retaining ring mounting hole.

[0014] 1 and 3, the jaws 18, 20 are arranged in juxtaposed relationship and have a transverse, cylindrically recessed bearing recess 42 for bearing engagement with the cylindrical portion of the pivot pin 22. On their respective opposing faces, each jaw 18, 20 has a projecting semicircular flange 44 which presents an outer bearing shoulder 46 coaxial with the bearing recess 42.

[0015] Handles 14 and 16 may be made from a suitable plate material, such as steel, and are engaged at their respective opposing ends to define end plates 48, 49 disposed parallel to one another to partially enclose jaws 18 and 20 and surround other components of pliers 10 as described below.

[0016] The handle end plates 48, 49 are provided with a transverse bore 50 for receiving the pivot pin 22 and with an internal cylindrical bearing shoulder which interacts with the bearing shoulder of the jaws 18, 20. Through the interaction of the pivot pin 22 with the bearing shoulder, both jaws 18, 20 and both handles 14, 16 are then mounted for rotation about a defined common axis. These major components are maintained in an operative position by the pivot pin 22. A vertical channel 53 (FIG. 3) is formed in the head of the handle plates 48, 49 for purposes which will be explained below.

[0017] To achieve the convertibility of the pliers 10, means are provided for alternatively connecting each of the jaws 18, 20 to one or the other of the two handles 14, 16. In this way, each jaw 18, 20 is operatively connected to one or the other of the handles 14, 16 so as to swing therewith about the pivot 22. To achieve this, each jaw 18, 20 is provided at its inner end with a transverse cylindrical bore 54 (FIG. 3) spaced from and parallel to the respective bearing recess 42. Elongated cylindrical transfer pins 56 and 58 are disposed in these bores 54 and are designed to fit closely and slidingly therein.

[0018] Each of the handle end plates 48, 49 includes a pair of transverse holes 60 and 62 spaced from one another and from the pivot pin hole 50 and arranged for axial alignment with the respective holes 54 of the jaws 18, 20 in a selective relative position. The handle holes 60, 62 have the same diameter as the holes 54 of the jaws 18, 20 such that the handles 14, 16 are securely coupled to the respective jaws 18, 20 when the transfer pins 56, 58 are received within the handle holes 60, 62. It will be seen that in the assembled relationship of the pliers 10, the handle end plates 48, 49 contact opposing faces of the jaws 18, 20 and are maintained in that relationship by the pivot pin assemblies 22, and that the transfer pins 56, 58 are designed for vertical sliding movement within the aligned jaw holes 54 and respective handle end plate holes 60, 62.

[0019] As can be seen in Fig. 3, covers 72, 73 are provided, formed by flat thin plates with a central opening 76. Between them is a changeover plate 70, which is movably mounted adjacent to the handle plate 48 and carries a protective cover 103 surrounding its surface area. Each cover 72, 73 is formed on one side with a changeover plate engagement tab 78 extending at an angle of generally 90° to the plane of the plate and on the opposite side with a kidney-shaped dome 80. The tab 78 is designed to be registered in a recess 53 formed in the head of the handle plate 48, 49. The dome 80 of each cover 72, 73 defines a retention pocket for holding a spring pin 82 and a reaction member in the form of a rocker or torsion spring 84.

[0020] 4, a side view of the jaw assembly 20 is shown. Jaws 18 and 20 are preferably identical or mirror images of one another, and it should be understood that the description of jaw 20 applies equally to jaw 18. As best shown in FIG. 5, an exploded view of the jaw assembly of FIG. 4, jaw 20 comprises a hollow jaw shaft 130 which carries a ball 128 (of the ball and recess) in a pocket. Shaft 130 has a step 134 which is configured and dimensioned to receive a spring 132 rearwardly of step 134. A sleeve 124, preferably with a finger grip 126, is provided about hollow jaw shaft 130. Tip 40 is carried by tip shaft 120 which has a recess 122 for receiving ball 128.

[0021] 6, a cross-sectional view of the jaw assembly 20 of FIG. 4 is shown. The tip shaft 120 is shown fitted within the hollow jaw shaft 130. The ball 128 engages the recess 122 of the tip shaft 120. In operation, the user engages the finger grip 126 (see, e.g., FIG. 7) and pulls the sleeve 124 towards the tip 40. The spring retaining collar 136 compresses the spring 132 between the spring retaining collar 136 and the shoulder 134. This pulling action moves the ball 128 out of the recess 122 and releases the shaft 120 from its grip within the jaw shaft 130. Thus, to insert a different tip 40 into the jaw 20, the user pulls the sleeve 124 to compress the spring 132 and inserts the tip shaft 120 into the hollow jaw shaft 130 while the sleeve 124 is being pulled. The user then releases the sleeve 124 , which causes the tip shaft 120 to be secured within the hollow jaw shaft 130 by the ball 128 engaging the recess 122 .

[0022] 8, a side view of an alternative embodiment of a shaft 120 is shown having a pair of tips 40, 40' of different sizes and configurations. In this embodiment, two recesses 122 are provided, thereby making the shaft 120 of this alternative embodiment a double-ended tip configuration.

[0023] The foregoing is considered as merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. Moreover, 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 as shown and described. Although preferred embodiments have been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention as defined in the claims.

Claims

1. a jaw having a transverse cylindrical bore and a cylindrically recessed bearing recess at a proximal end, said jaw having a hollow jaw shaft, said hollow jaw shaft having a step; a ball carried by said hollow jaw shaft; a hollow sleeve removably carried by the hollow jaw shaft, the hollow sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end; a spring retaining collar provided at the proximal end of the hollow sleeve, the spring retaining collar configured to pass over the shoulder; a spring disposed about the hollow jaw shaft between the shoulder and the spring retaining collar; a tip provided on a tip shaft, the tip shaft including a recess, the tip shaft sized and configured to be removably disposed within the hollow sleeve, the recess being removably coupled to the ball; The pliers are provided with:

2. The pliers of claim 1 , wherein the hollow sleeve includes finger-grip formations.

3. The pliers of claim 1 , wherein the tips and the tip shaft extend from the hollow jaw shaft.

4. The pliers of claim 1 , wherein the hollow jaw shaft extends from the sleeve.

5. The pliers of claim 1 , wherein the tip shaft includes a pair of tips, and the tip shaft includes a pair of recesses.

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