SYMMETRICAL OVERLAPPING JAW FRONT ACTION SEALING TOOL

• US 20130327117A1
• Filed: 05/13/2013
• Published: 12/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signode Industrial Group LLC (Crown Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Pearson, Daniel R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,387,573 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 72/409.01
• CPC Class Codes: B21F 9/02 by tools adapted also for making connections
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 27/146 Clip clamping hand tools
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 7/20 Pliers for sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 13/025 Hand-held tools

Abstract

A crimping tool for applying a deformable crimp seal onto overlapping layers of strap material includes a head and pairs of jaws disposed in the tool head and operably mounted thereto. Each pair includes opposingly oriented jaw elements. A shear extends between and is operably connected to the jaw elements. The jaw elements have an inwardly oriented crimping portion with a tip having a tapered portion terminating at a free end. A pair of handles are operably connected to the jaw elements and to one another. A side plate is operably connected to the jaw elements and shears and includes a centrally disposed slotted opening. When the tool is in a closed position the jaw elements of each pair align with one another and the free ends of the opposingly oriented jaw element tips overlap in a direction transverse to the jaw elements.

Claims

1. A crimping tool for applying a deformable crimp seal onto overlapping layers of strap material, comprising:

a tool head;

pairs of jaws disposed in the tool head and operably mounted thereto, each pair including opposingly oriented, aligned jaw elements, each jaw element of each pair being spaced from one another, and each pair being spaced from its adjacent pair, each jaw element having an inwardly oriented crimping portion with a tip, the tip having a tapered portion, the tapered portion terminating at a free end;

a shear extending between and operably connected to each element of each pair and between adjacent pairs of jaw elements;

a pair of handles, the handles having a terminal end operably connected to the jaw elements and operably connected to one another; and

at least one side plate operably connected to the jaw elements and the shear, the at least one side plate including a centrally disposed slotted opening,

wherein when the tool is in a closed position the jaw elements of each pair align with one another and the free ends of the opposingly oriented jaw element tips overlap in a direction transverse to the jaw elements.

2. The crimping tool of claim 1 wherein each jaw element is identical to each other jaw element.

3. The crimping tool of claim 1 wherein each jaw element has first and second surfaces defining the thickness and wherein the inwardly angled tapered region is formed in the first surface only, such that the second surface is flat.

4. The crimping tool of claim 1 including at least three pairs of jaws and two shears.

5. The crimping tool of claim 1 including a shear positioned between each of the pairs of jaw elements.

6. The crimping tool of claim 1 wherein the tapered portion has a width that is less than a width of the jaw.

7. The crimping tool of claim 1 including stops disposed to prevent over rotation of the handles in an open position.

8. The crimping tool of claim 7 wherein the stops are pins disposed in the shears.

9. The crimping tool of claim 1 including a connecting plate having two openings therein, a first opening for receipt of a handle pin and aligning with one of a handle first openings and a respective jaw element lower opening and a second opening for receipt of a link pin and aligning with a respective handle pivot opening and the side plate slotted opening.

10. The crimping tool of claim 1 wherein the shear includes a receiving region in which the deformable crimp seal can be positioned.

11. A crimping tool for applying a deformable crimp seal onto overlapping layers of strap material, comprising:

a tool head;

a pair of opposingly oriented jaw elements operably mounted in the head, each jaw element including an upper pivot opening and a lower pivot opening, each jaw element having an inwardly oriented crimping portion with a tip having a tapered portion and terminating at a free end;

a shear extending between and operably connected to the jaw elements, the jaw elements pivoting about respective pins extending through the shear and the jaw elements;

a pair of handles, the handles each having a terminal end operably connected to the jaw elements and to one another, the handles each having a pivot opening;

at least one side plate for securing the jaw elements, shear and handles to one another, the side plate including a slotted opening;

a pin extending through the side plate slotted opening and through handle pivot openings,

wherein when the tool is in a closed position the opposingly oriented jaw elements of each pair align with one another and the free ends of the opposingly oriented jaw element tips overlap in a direction transverse to the jaw elements.

12. The crimping tool of claim 11 including stops disposed to prevent over rotation of the handles in the open position.

13. A jaw element for a crimping tool, comprising:

a body having a pair of openings aligned generally longitudinally along the body and a projecting crimping portion, the crimping portion extending generally away from the body and having a beak-like shape defining a free end, the body having a thickness, the crimping portion having an inwardly angled tapered region terminating at the free end, the inwardly angled tapered region having a thickness that is less than a thickness of the body

14. The jaw element of claim 13 wherein the projecting crimping portion defines a tip.

15. The jaw element of claim 13 wherein the jaw element has first and second surfaces defining the thickness and wherein the inwardly angled tapered region is formed in the first surface only, such that the second surface is flat.