Locking pliers with handle locking mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9844857-B2
Application number	US-201514689946-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 17, 2015
Priority date	Jan 27, 2012
Publication date	Dec 19, 2017
Grant date	Dec 19, 2017

Abstract

A pair of pliers includes an upper structure, a lower structure including a lower handle, an over center linkage, and a lock member. The lock member is movable between a locking configuration and a release configuration. When the lock member is in the locking configuration, it prevents pivoting movement of the lower handle from a closed configuration and retains jaws of the pliers in a closed position. When the lock member is in the release configuration, it enables the lower handle to be moved away from the closed configuration and allows the jaws to move to an open position. Movement of the lock member from the locking configuration to the release configuration requires sequential movement of the lock member in a first direction and then in a second direction. The second direction is different than the first direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pair of pliers comprising:
an upper structure including an upper jaw and an upper handle extending from the upper jaw;
a lower structure including a lower jaw and a lower handle, the lower jaw being configured to pivot relative to the upper jaw, and the lower handle being configured to pivot relative to the lower jaw;
an overcenter linkage operatively connected between the upper structure and the lower structure, the linkage biasing the lower handle and the lower jaw away from the upper handle and the upper jaw, respectively, when in a jaw-opening position, and enabling the lower jaw and the lower handle to be retained in a closed configuration when the linkage is in a jaw-closing position; and
a lock member comprising a unitary member that is movable between a locking configuration and a release configuration, wherein when the lock member is in the locking configuration it prevents pivoting movement of the lower handle from the closed configuration and retains the jaws in a closed position, and wherein when the lock member is in the release configuration, it enables the lower handle to be moved away from the closed configuration and allows the jaws to move to an open position;
wherein movement of the lock member from the locking configuration to the release configuration requires sequential movement of the lock member in a first direction and then in a second direction, wherein the second direction is different than the first direction.

2. The pliers of claim 1 , wherein the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to one another.

3. The pliers of claim 1 , wherein the first direction is a direction perpendicular to a plane of movement of the linkage.

4. The pliers of claim 1 , wherein the second direction is in a plane parallel to a plane of movement of the linkage.

5. The pliers of claim 1 , wherein the movement of the lock member in the first direction requires an axial pushing of the lock member in a direction perpendicular to a plane of movement of the linkage.

6. The pliers of claim 1 , further comprising a spring, wherein application of a threshold force on the lock member in the first direction enables the lock member to overcome a spring force, provided by the spring, that impedes movement of the lock member from its locking configuration.

7. The pliers of claim 6 , wherein the spring force, provided by the spring, impedes movement of the lock member from its release configuration.

8. The pliers of claim 7 , wherein when the spring force is overcome, the lock member is configured to move between the locking configuration and the release configuration.

9. The pliers of claim 8 , wherein the lower handle includes an elongate opening having opposing end openings and a center opening therebetween, wherein each of the opposing end openings are enlarged relative to the center opening, and wherein when the lock member is in the locking configuration, the lock member is received by one of the enlarged opposing end openings and a lock receiving recess of the linkage and when the lock member is in the release configuration, the lock member is received by the other of the enlarged opposing end openings.

10. The pliers of claim 1 , further comprising a spring that is configured to provide a spring force on the lock member such that when the lock member is moved to its locking configuration, the spring force urges the lock member into its locking configuration in which the lock member is received by a lock member receiving recess of the lower handle and a lock member receiving recess of the linkage.

11. The pliers of claim 10 , wherein the spring is configured to provide the spring force on the lock member such that when the lock member is moved to its release configuration, the spring force urges the lock member into its release configuration in which the lock member is received by another lock member receiving recess of the lower handle.

12. The pliers of claim 1 , wherein the lock member includes a larger sized lock portion and a smaller sized lock portion, and wherein, when in the locking configuration, the lock member is positioned such that the larger diameter lock portion is received in a lock member receiving recess of the linkage and a lock member receiving recess of the lower handle.

13. The pliers of claim 12 , wherein, when the larger diameter lock portion is positioned in the lock member receiving recess of the linkage, the linkage surrounds the larger diameter lock portion, preventing the linkage from moving out of the jaw-closing position due to the engagement between the lock member and the lock member receiving recess of the linkage.

14. The pliers of claim 1 , further comprising indicator configured to provide a first indication to indicate to a user when the lock member is in the locking configuration and a second indication to indicate to the user when the lock member is in the release configuration.

15. The pliers of claim 14 , wherein the first indication and the second indication are visual indications.

16. The pliers of claim 1 , further comprising a manually engageable member that is operatively associated with the lock member and that is manually actuatable to move the lock member in the first and second direction.

17. The pliers of claim 16 , wherein the manually engageable portion includes a non-axially symmetric configuration.

18. The pliers of claim 17 , further comprising a movement limiting member that is constructed and arranged to limit movement or rotation of the manually engageable member.

19. The pliers of claim 18 , wherein the manually engageable portion includes an angled protrusion on a surface thereof, and wherein the angled protrusion is constructed and arranged to align more comfortably with a user's thumb, when the manually engageable member is constrained by the movement limiting member.

20. A pair of pliers comprising:
an upper structure including an upper jaw and an upper handle extending from the upper jaw;
a lower structure including a lower jaw and a lower handle, the lower jaw being configured to pivot relative to the upper jaw, and the lower handle being configured to pivot relative to the lower jaw;
an overcenter linkage operatively connected between the upper structure and the lower structure, the linkage biasing the lower handle and the lower jaw away from the upper handle and the upper jaw, respectively, when in a jaw-opening position, and enabling the lower jaw and the lower handle to be retained in a closed configuration when the linkage is in a jaw-closing position; and
a lock member movable between a locking configuration and a release configuration, wherein when the lock member is in the locking configuration it prevents pivoting movement of the lower handle from the closed configuration and retains the jaws in a closed position, and wherein when the lock member is in the release configuration, it enables the lower handle to be moved away from the closed configuration and allows the jaws to move to an open position;
wherein movement of the lock member from the locking configuration to the release configuration requires sequential movement of the lock member in a first direction and then in a second direction, wherein the second direction is different than the first direction, and
wherein the movement of the lock member in the second direction requires a lateral sliding of the lock member in a plane parallel to a plane of movement of the linkage.

21. A pair of pliers comprising:
an upper structure inc

Assignees

• Stanley Black & Decker Inc

Inventors

• Skodje David
• Caglar Tolga
• Cripps Brian

Classifications

• B25B7/14

  Locking means {(B25B7/123 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B25B7/123 Primary

  with self-locking toggle levers · CPC title