Adjustable Jaw Pliers for Spring Clamps via Pivot Joint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pliers for holding spring clips face challenges in achieving favorable lever ratios due to large opening widths, and existing designs often require complex adjustments and locking mechanisms, making them cumbersome to use, especially when handling spring clips with different end configurations.
Innovation Solution
The design features a rotatable support member with a central recess and circumferentially distributed crest portions, allowing for secure holding of both ends of a spring clip, with adaptable width and the option to lock the pliers mouth, simplifying handling and adjustment through identical holding elements and a pivotable joint mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If the jaw opening is made large to accommodate spring band clamps, then the handles require large opening which reduces leverage ratio, but smaller jaw opening limits the size of clamps that can be held
Solution Approach 1:
The pliers arm is divided into two separate arms that can move independently relative to each other in the crossing area, allowing the jaw opening to be adjusted without directly affecting the handle opening angle, thus maintaining leverage ratio while accommodating different jaw widths
Solution Approach 2:
The fixed joint connecting the two arms is made pivotable, allowing dynamic adjustment of the jaw opening width while maintaining the structural integrity needed for force transmission, enabling the user to optimize the jaw opening for different clamp sizes without compromising leverage
2Ease of operation
If identical retaining elements are used for both jaws, then handling is simplified and both end types can be held, but the design must accommodate different spring band clamp end configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining element is designed with a crown-like structure featuring a central recess and multiple pointed areas that can accommodate both narrow hook-like extensions and wide projections of spring band clamp ends, allowing identical retaining elements to universally hold different end configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining element incorporates asymmetric features including a central recess for receiving narrow ends and circumferentially distributed pointed areas for engaging wider ends, enabling a single symmetric component design to handle asymmetric clamp end configurations
3Manufacturing precision
If complex adjustment and locking mechanisms are added to achieve precise jaw width adjustment, then jaw width control is improved, but device complexity increases making the pliers cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The fixed joint is replaced with a pivotable joint that allows continuous adjustment of jaw opening width through simple arm pivoting, eliminating the need for complex discrete adjustment mechanisms and locking devices while maintaining precision through the natural pivot point geometry
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design enables efficient and secure gripping of spring clips with different ends, simplifies user interaction by eliminating the need to distinguish between end types, and allows for adjustable jaw width without complex locking, enhancing usability and versatility.
Implementation Method 1
The pivot pin is also engaged with the teeth in the rest position. The jaw opening, relative to a distance between the pivot pin and an upper fixed jaw, is fixed
Implementation Method 2
the jaws can still be pivoted relative to each other by pivoting the arms
Implementation Method 3
a rotatable retaining element be designed with a central recess and three or more pointed areas distributed circumferentially around it
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to pliers (1), comprising two plier legs (2, 3) and a jaw opening (M) formed by jaws (7, 8), wherein retaining elements (9) that can be rotated relative to a jaw (7, 8) are arranged in the jaw opening (M) in order to grasp ends of a spring clamp (11) and the plier legs (2, 3) are connected to each other in an intersection region (4). According to the invention, in order to provide pliers for installing or removing spring clamps that are ergonomically designed as favorably as possible with regard to hand forces to be applied, the plier legs (2, 3) can be adjusted relative to each other in steps in the intersection region (4) in order to change the size of the jaw opening (M).