Irwin-industrial Tool Company

Thomas M Chervenak

David Philip Engvall

Anthony B Fuller

Chris W Cicenas

Charles R McKean

Brett A Lucus

James Michael Burry

Scott Daniel Springer

Douglas J Baxendell

A method of operating a clamp () that includes a first clamping jaw (), a support element () to which the first clamping jaw is attached and a trigger handle () pivotably mounted to a clamp body (). The method includes actuating the trigger handle causing the first clamping jaw to experience incremental motion and varying the incremental motion as a function of a load encountered by the support element by varying an effective lever arm of the trigger handle by moving a fulcrum point into contact or out of contact with the trigger handle based on the load.

Increased and variable force and multi-speed clamps

A locking tool is provided that comprises an adjustment mechanism that can adjust the distance between the jaws, and the clamping force exerted by the jaws on a workpiece, using the same hand that grips the handles of the tool. A locking tool is also provided where the tool can be locked by moving the handles toward one another. Once locked, the pliers can be unlocked and the jaws opened by squeezing the handles toward one another in the same manner, in the same direction and using the same hand as was done to lock the pliers. As a result the pliers can be locked and unlocked using one-hand and using the same hand movement to both lock and unlock the pliers.

Locking pliers

The self-adjusting locking pliers include a fixed assembly having a fixed jaw supported at one end. A moveable jaw is pivotably supported on the fixed assembly at a slidable pivot connection. The slidable pivot connection includes a pawl provided with teeth. A rack of teeth includes first and second sets of teeth offset from one another by &#xbd; of the pitch that may each be engaged by the teeth formed on pawl. A lever is attached to the fixed assembly and a linkage transmits a force applied to the lever to the jaws and locks the jaws in the clamping position. The linkage allows the angle between the links to be preset to thereby control the clamping force applied to the work piece. The movable jaw is selectively attached to the linkage in one of two positions such that the jaw span may be adjusted without affecting the geometry of the linkage.

Self-adjusting locking pliers

Locking pliers jaw

The pliers comprise a fixed assembly and a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw between an open position and a closed, locked position. A movable pivot connects the second jaw to the fixed assembly such that the movable pivot can move relative to the fixed assembly when the second jaw is in the closed, locked position and a torque is applied to the pliers. The second jaw is configured such that a resultant force on the second jaw is inside of the fixed pivot, between the fixed pivot and the movable pivot.

A lockable pliers comprises a fixed assembly comprising a first handle supporting a first jaw. A second jaw is movable relative to the first jaw between an open position and a closed, locked position. A second handle is movable relative to the first handle and is connected to the second jaw at a fixed pivot. A toggle-link locking mechanism locks the second jaw in the closed, locked position. A movable pivot connects the second jaw to the fixed assembly such that the second jaw can move relative to the fixed assembly when the second jaw is in the closed, locked position and a torque is applied to the pliers.

A method of operating a clamp that includes a first clamping jaw, a support element to which the first clamping jaw is attached and a trigger handle pivotably mounted to a clamp body. The method includes actuating the trigger handle causing the first clamping jaw to experience incremental motion and varying the incremental motion as a function of a load encountered by the support element by varying an effective lever arm of the trigger handle by moving a fulcrum point into contact or out of contact with the trigger handle based on the load.

The self-adjusting locking pliers include a fixed assembly having a fixed jaw supported at one end. A moveable jaw is pivotably supported on the fixed assembly at a slidable pivot connection. The slidable pivot connection includes a pawl provided with teeth. A rack of teeth includes first and second sets of teeth offset from one another by 1/2  of the pitch that may each be engaged by the teeth formed on pawl. A lever is attached to the fixed assembly and a linkage transmits a force applied to the lever to the jaws and locks the jaws in the clamping position. The linkage allows the angle between the links to be preset to thereby control the clamping force applied to the work piece. The movable jaw is selectively attached to the linkage in one two positions such that the jaw span may be adjusted without affecting the geometry of the linkage.

A clamp that includes a first clamping jaw, a support element to which the first clamping jaw is attached and a clamp body having a first slot through which the support element passes along a first direction and an opening that faces in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. A handle grip attached to the clamp body, a braking lever and a brake actuator that contacts the braking lever and includes an engagement element that extends through the opening.

Bar clamp with side-activated braking lever

The self-adjusting locking pliers include a body having a fixed jaw supported at one end. A moveable jaw is pivotably supported on the body at a slidable pivot connection. A linkage transmits a force applied to the handles of the pliers to the jaws and locks the jaws in the clamping position. The linkage allows the angle between the links to be preset to thereby control the clamping force applied to the work piece. The movable jaw is selectively attached to the linkage in one of two positions such that the jaw span may be adjusted without affecting the geometry of the linkage.

The locking pliers comprises a first handle connected to a first jaw. A second handle and second jaw are pivotably connected to the first handle and first jaw such that movement of the first handle relative to the second handle causes the jaws to open and close. A mechanism is provided to lock the jaws relative to one another and apply a clamping or gripping force on a workpiece positioned between the jaws. A release mechanism is provided to unlock the pliers that is independent of the locking operation.

Growing community of inventors

Stanley, NC, United States of America

Thomas M Chervenak