GB2425748A

GB2425748A - Pair of pliers for snap rings

Info

Publication number: GB2425748A
Application number: GB0509044A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tien-Shui Wang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-05-04
Filing date: 2005-05-04
Publication date: 2006-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 2025-05-04
Also published as: GB2425748B; GB0509044D0

Abstract

A pair of pliers 10 for snap rings includes two handles 11 pivotally connected with each other, a spring 12 compressed between the handles 11 and two jaws 20 detachably installed on the handles 11. Each jaw 20 includes a first operative portion 21 with a first tip 211 extending from it and a second operative portion 22 with a second tip 221 extending from it, the first and second tips 211, 221 being of different sizes. The first operative portion 21 may be at an obtuse angle or a right angle or 180 degrees from the second operative portion 22. The jaws 20 may be locked in place in pockets 13 in the handles 11 by means of a quick release device 30 including a pin 31 and a spring 32.

Description

PAIR OF PLIERS FOR SNAP RINGS

3 Background of Invention

4 1. Field of Invention

S The present invention relates to a pair of pliers for snap rings.

7 2. Related Prior Art

8 As discussed in US Patent No. 6257105, BACKGROUND OF THE 9 INVENTION, referring to Fig 1, a pair of pliers is provided for snap rings (or "C-rings"). The pair of pliers includes two handles 1 and two 11 jaws 6 secured to the handles I by means of pins 11. Each jaw 6 12 includes a straight operative portion from which a tip extends.

13 As discussed in US Patent No. 6257105, BACKGROUND OF THE 14 INVENTION, referring to Fig. 2, a pair of pliers- is provided for snap rings. The pair of pliers includes two handles 1 and two jaws 7 secured 16 to the handles I by means of pins 11. Each jaw 7 includes a bent 17 operative portion from which a tip extends.

18 The pair of pliers shown in Fig. I is preferred sometimes, and the pair 19 of pliers shown in Fig. 2 is preferred in other situations. Since the jaws 6 and 7 are secured to the handles 1, the jaws 6 cannot be replaced with 21 the jaws 7, and not vice versa. To have two different pairs of jaws, a 22 user has to buy two identical pairs of handles 1. This is not economic.

23 Moreover, since each jaw 6 or 7 includes only one tip. it can only engage 24 with snap rings that include apertures of a size.

According to US Patent No. 6257105, DETAILED DESCRIPTION 26 OF THE INVENTION, referring to Figs. 3 through 6, a pair of pliers is I provided for snap rings. The pair of pliers includes two handles I and 2 two jaws 2 connected with the handles I in a detachable manner. Each 3 jaw 2 includes a straight operative portion 22 from which a tip extends 4 and a bent operative portion 23 from which a tip extends. The straight operative portions 22 can be replaced with the bent operative portions 23 6 and vice versa. However, each jaw 2 includes identical tips so that each 7 jaw 2 can only engage with snap rings that include apertures of a size.

8 The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least

9 alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

11 Summary of Invention

12 According to the present invention, a pair of pliers is provided for 13 snap rings. The pair of pliers includes two handles pivotally connected 14 with each other, a spring compressed between the handles and two jaws detachably installed on the handles. Each jaw includes a first operative 16 portion, a first tip extending from the first operative portion, a second 17 operative portion extending from the first operative portion and a second 18 tip extending from the second operative potion. The size of the second 19 tip is different from that of the first tip.

The primary advantage of the pair of pliers of the present invention is 21 that it can be used for two different sizes of snap rings.

22 Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will 23 become more apparent from the following detailed description in 24 conjunction with the attached drawings.

1 Brief Description of Drawings

2 The present invention will he described through detailed illustration 3 of embodiments referring to the drawings.

4 Fig. I is a perspective view of a pair of pliers for snap rings according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

6 Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the pair of pliers shown in Fig. 1.

7 Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the pair of pliers taken along a line 8 3-3inFig.4.

9 Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the pair of pliers taken along a line 4-4inFig.3.

11 Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the pair of pliers taken along a line 12 5-5 in Fig. 6.

13 Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the pair of pliers taken along a line 14 6-6inFig.5.

Fig. 7 is similar to Fig. 1 hut shows the pair of pliers with different 16 operative portions ready for use.

17 Fig. 8 is cut-away partial view of the pair of pliers shown in Fig. 7.

18 Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a pair of pliers for snap rings 19 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a pair of pliers for snap rings 21 according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

22 Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a pair of pliers for snap rings 23 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

24 Fig. 12 is an exploded view of the pair of pliers shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 1 3 is a cross-sectional view of the pair of pliers taken along a 26 line 13-13 in Fig. 14.

Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the pair of pliers taken along a 2 line 14-14 in Fig. 13.

3 Fig. 15 is similar to Fig. 14 hut shows the pair of pliers in a different 4 position.

6 Detailed Description of Embodiments

7 Referring to Fig. 1, according to a first embodiment of the present 8 invention, a pair of pliers 1 0 for snap rings includes two handles 11 9 pivotally connected with each other, a spring 12 compressed between the handles 11 and two jaws 20 installed on the handles 11 by means of quick 11 release devices 30.

12 Referring to Fig. 2, each handle 11 defines a pocket 13 and an 13 aperture 14 communicated with the pocket 13. A waIl 16 is formed on 14 each handle 11 around an end of the aperture 14.

Each jaw 20 includes a first operative portion 21 and a second 16 operative portion 22 with an obtuse angle defined between the first 17 operative portion 21 and the second operative portion 22. The first 18 operative portion 21 includes a tip 211 formed at an end and a neck 212 19 formed near the end. The second operative portion 22 includes a tip 221 formed at an end and a neck 222 formed near the end. The size of the 21 tip 211 is different from that of the tip 221. The second operative 22 portions 22 are inserted in the pockets 13 so that the first operative 23 portions 21 are exposed for use.

24 Each quick release device 30 includes a pin 3 1 and a spring 32. The pin 31 includes a first head 311 that is made before the pin 3 1 is inserted 26 in the aperture 15 and a second head 315 that is formed after the pin 31 is I inserted in the aperture 15 (Fig. 4). Thus, the pin 3 1 is kept on the 2 handle ii. The first head 311 defines an annular groove 312. The ping 3 31 includes a waist 3 14.

4 The spring 32 is put around the pin 3 1 before the pin 3 1 is inserted in the aperture 1 5. The spring 32 is compressed between the first head 311 6 and the handle 11. An end of the spring 32 is inserted in the annular 7 groove 31 2 while an opposite end of the spring 32 is inserted in the wall 8 16.

9 Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the pin 31 is engaged with the neck 222 so that the second operative portion 22 is kept in the pocket 13.

11 Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, the pin 3 1 is pushed at the first head 3 11 12 so that the waist 314 is aligned with the second operative portion 22 in 13 order to allow the removal of the second operative portion 22 from the 14 pocket 13.

Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, the second operative portions 22 are 16 exposed for use while the first operative portions 21 are kept in the 17 pockets 13.

18 Fig. 9 shows a pair of pliers for snap rings according to a second 19 embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is identical to the first embodiment except that an angle of 1 80 degrees is 21 defined between the first operative portion 21 and the second operative 22 portion 22 of each jaw 20.

23 Fig. 10 shows a pair of pliers for snap rings according to a third 24 embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment is identical to the first embodiment except that an angle of 90 degrees is defined 26 between the first operative portion 21 and the second operative portioi. 22 1 of each jaw 20.

2 Referring to Fig. II, according to a fourth embodiment of the present 3 invention, a pair of pliers 40 for snap rings includes two handles 41 4 pivotally connected with each other, a spring 42 compressed between the handles 41 and two jaws 50 installed on the handles 41 by means of quick 6 release devices 60.

7 Referring to Fig. 12, each handle 41 defines a pocket 43 and an s aperture 44 communicated with the pocket 43. A wall 46 is formed on 9 each handle 41 around an end of the aperture 44. The wall 46 is formed with a thread.

11 Each jaw 50 includes a first operative portion 51 and a second 12 operative portion 52 with an obtuse angle defined between the first 13 operative portion 51 and the second operative portion 52. The first 14 operative portion 51 includes a tip 55 formed at an end and an aperture 53 defined near the end. The second operative portion 52 includes a tip 56 16 formed at an end and an aperture 54 defined near the end. The size of 17 the tip 55 is different from that of the tip 56. The second operative 18 portions 52 are inserted in the pockets 43 so that the first operative 19 portions 51 are exposed for use.

Each quick release device 60 includes a ring 61, a spring 62 and a pin 21 63. The ring 61 is formed with a thread. The pin 63 includes a first 22 portion, a second portion and an enlarged portion 631 formed between the 23 first and second portions. The first portion of the pin 63 is inserted in 24 the aperture 45 while the enlarged portion 63 1 is inserted in the wall 46.

The thread of the ring 61 is engaged with the thread of the wall 46 so as 26 to keep the pin 63 in position (Fig. 14). The second portion of the pin 1 63 is exposed.

2 Referring to Figs. 1 3 and 14, the first portion of the pin 63 is inserted 3 in the aperture 54 so that the second operative portion 52 is kept in the 4 pocket 43.

Referring to Fig. 15, the second portion of the pin 63 is pulled so that 6 the first portion of the pin 63 is removed from the aperture 53 in order to 7 allow the remova] of the second operative portion 52 from the pocket 43.

8 The present invention has been described through detailed illustration 9 of the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present 11 invention. Therefore, the embodiments shall not limit the scope of the 12 present invention defined in the claims.

Claims

I What is claimed is
2 1. A pair of pliers for snap rings, the pair of

pliers comprising two
3 handles pivotally connected with each other, a spring compressed 4 between the handles and two jaws detachably installed on the handles, wherein each of the jaws comprises a first operative portion, a first tip 6 extending from the first operative portion, a second operative portion 7 and a second tip extending from the second operative potion, wherein 8 the second tip is made with a size different from that of the first tip.

9 2. The pair of pliers according to claim I wherein each of the handles defines a pocket for receiving selective one of the first and second 11 operative portions of related one of the jaws.

12 3. The pair of pliers according to claim I wherein the first operative 13 portion is at an obtuse angle from the second operative portion of 14 each of the jaws.
4. The pair of pliers according to claim 1 wherein the first operative 16 portion is at an angle of 1 80 degrees from the second operative 17 portion of each of the jaws.

18
5. The pair of pliers according to claim 1 wherein the first operative 19 portion is at the right angle from the second operative portion of each of the jaws.

21
6. The pair of pliers according to claim I comprising a quick-release 22 device for locking each of the jaws to related one of the handles.

23 7. The pair of pliers according to claim 6 wherein each of the handles 24 defines a pocket for receiving selective one of the first and second operative portions and an aperture communicated with the pocket for 26 receiving the quick release device.

1 8. The pair of pliers according to claim 7 wherein each of the first and 2 second operative portions comprises a neck, wherein the quick release 3 device comprises a pin with a waist, wherein the pin is movable in the 4 aperture between a locking position where it engages with the neck and a releasing position where the waist aligns with selective one of 6 the first and second operative portions.
7 9. The pair of pliers according to claim
8 wherein the pin comprises two 8 heads formed thereon for keeping the pin in the aperture.
9
1 0. The pair of pliers according to claim 9 wherein the quick release device comprises a spring compressed between one of the heads and
11 of the pin each of the handles.
12. A pair of pliers for snap rings as generally hereinbefore described with reference to and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings. ( ( ( ( (((C

CCC

12 11. The pair of pliers according to claim 10 wherein the head defines an 13 aimular groove for receiving the spring.

14 12. The pair of pliers according to claim 1 0 wherein each of the handles comprises a wall fom-ied around the aperture for guiding the spring.

16
13. The pair of pliers according to claim 7 wherein each of the first and 17 second operative portions defines an aperture, wherein the quick 18 release device comprises a pin, wherein the pin is movable in the 19 aperture between a locking position where it is inserted in the aperture of selective one of the first and second operative portions and a 21 releasing position where it is removed from the aperture of selective 22 one of the first and second operative portions.

23
14. The pair of pliers according to claim 1 0 wherein each of the handles 24 comprises a wall formed around the aperture, wherein the pin comprises an enlarged portion, wherein the quick release device 26 comprises a ring engaged with the wall for abutting the enlarged 1 portion of the pin for keeping the pin in the aperture.

2
15. The pair of pliers according to claim 14 wherein the quick release 3 device comprises a spring compressed between the ring and the 4 enlarged portion of the pin.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows:

1. A pair of pliers for snap rings, the pair of pliers comprising two handles pivotally connected with each other; a spring compressed between the handles; two jaws detachably installed on the handles; and a quickrelease device for locking each of the jaws to a related one of the handles; each of the jaws comprises a first operative portion; a first tip extending from the first operative portion; a second operative portion; and a second tip extending from the second operative portion, wherein each of the first and second operative portions comprises a neck, and the second tip is a different size to the first tip; each of the handles defines a pocket for receiving a selective one of the first and second operative portions, and an aperture in communication with the pocket for receiving the quick release device; and the quick release device comprises a pi with a waist, the pin being moveable in the aperture between a locking position, where it engages with the neck, and a releasing position, where the waist aligns with selective one of the first and second operative portions.

2. A pair of pliers for snap rings, the pair of pliers comprising two handles pivotally connected with each other; a spring compressed between the handles; two jaws detachably installed on the handles; and a quickrelease device for locking each of the jaws to a related one of the handles; each of the jaws comprises a first operative portion; a first tip extending from the first operative portion; a second operative portion; and a second tip extending from the second operative portion, wherein each of the first and second operative portions defines a first aperture, and the second tip is a different size to the first tip; each of the handles defines a pocket for receiving a selective one of the first and second operative portions, and a second aperture in communication with the pocket for receiving the quick release device; and the quick release device comprises a pin, the pin being moveable in the aperture between a locking position, where it is inserted in the aperture of a I ( selective one of the first an second operative portions, and a releasing position, where it is removed from the aperture of a selective one of the first and second operative portions.

3. The pair of pliers according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the first operative portion is at an obtuse angle from the second operative portion of each of the jaws.

4. The pair of pliers according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the first operative portion is at an angle of 180 degrees from the second operative portion of each of the jaws.

5. The pair of pliers according to Claim I or Claim 2 wherein the first operative portion is at a right angle from the second operative portion of each of the jaws.

6. The pair of pliers according to Claim 1 wherein the pin comprises two heads formed thereon for keeping the pin in the aperture.

7. The pair of pliers according to Claim 6 wherein the quick release device comprises a spring compressed between one of the heads of the pin and each of the handles.

8. The pair of pliers according to Claim 7 wherein the head defines an annular groove for receiving the spring.

9. The pair of pliers according to Claim 7 wherein each of the handles comprises a wall formed around the aperture for guiding the spring.

10. The pair of pliers according to Claim 2 wherein each of the handles comprises a wall formed around the second aperture, wherein the pin comprises an enlarged portion, wherein the quick release device comprises a ring engaged with the wall for abutting the enlarged portion of the pin for keeping the pin in the aperture.

11. The pair of pliers according to Claim 10 wherein the quick release device s comprises a spring compressed between the ring and the enlarged portion of the pin.