Compression tool

• US 5,926,957 A
• Filed: 06/26/1997
• Issued: 07/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Walter C. Russell Jr
• Original Assignee: Walter C. Russell Jr
• Inventors: Russell, Walter C. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Watts, Douglas D.
• Application Number:
  US08/883,621
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 30/120.2-120.5, 81/3.44
• US Class Current: 30/120.4
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/26 Nutcrackers
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 7/00 Pliers; Other hand-held gripping tools with jaws on pivoted limbs; Details applicable generally to pivoted-limb hand tools implements for fastening, connecting, or tensioning wire or strip B25B25/00; adapted for other fitting or separating purposes B25B27/00; for marking animals A01K11/00; dentists' forceps A61C3/00; bending wire eyes B21F1/06; hand-held metal-shearing or metal-cutting devices B23D29/00; hand cutting tools B26B; for punching or perforating B26F1/36; devices for securing ends of binding material in bundling machines B65B13/24; specially designed for watch-making or comparable work G04D1/00

Abstract

A compression tool for use in applying compression with a predetermined limited movement to a workpiece. The tool includes first and second lever arms with workpiece engaging surfaces and adjacent hinged ends. When compressing a workpiece, e.g., a nut, the hinged ends are urged apart, and a stop face is moved into the pathway of a stop edge on one of the lever arms to limit the movement of the arms toward each other.

Claims

1. A compression tool for applying limited compression to a workpiece comprising:

a) a first lever arm having a hinged end and a stop edge movable along a pathway;

b) a second lever arm having a hinged end and a stop face, said first and second arms including facing workpiece engaging surfaces;

c) a locking means having a locked position holding said stop face out of the pathway of said stop edge when said arms are closed in the absence of a workpiece, and an unlocked position moving said stop face into the pathway of said stop edge when a workpiece is present; and

d) a spring urging said hinged ends toward each other, whereby compression of a workpiece between said workpiece engaging surfaces unlocks said locking means and moves said stop face into the pathway of said stop face, limiting the inward movement of said arms and the compression of said workpiece.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein said locking means comprises a cradle, and a stop pin attached to said first arm, said pin engaging said cradle in the absence of a workpiece.

3. A compression tool for applying limited compression to a workpiece comprising:

a) a first lever arm having a first workpiece engaging surface and a hinged end, and a stop edge moveable along a pathway;

b) a second lever arm having a second workpiece engaging surface facing said first workpiece engaging surface, a hinged end, and a stop member receiving opening;

c) a rotatable stop member positioned within said stop member receiving opening, said stop member having an outwardly projecting stop face, a cradle arm, and a vertically elongated hinge pin opening having upper and lower surfaces;

d) a hinge pin extending through said hinge pin opening, said pin having at least one end joined to said first lever arm; and

e) a stop pin extending from said first lever arm, whereby movement of said workpiece engaging surfaces toward each other when a workpiece is between said workpiece engaging surfaces moves said hinge pin into engagement with said hinge pin upper surface to release said stop pin from said cradle, and move said stop face into the pathway of said stop face, limiting the inward movement of said arms and the compression of said workpiece when said stop face engages said stop edge.

4. The tool of claim 3, wherein said hinge pin has a given curvature, and said hinge pin opening has inwardly curved lower and upper surfaces, said lower surface having a curvature approximately equal to the curvature of said hinge pin, the curvature of said upper surface being greater than the curvature of said lower surface.

5. A compression tool for applying limited compression to a workpiece comprising:

a) a first lever arm having a first workpiece engaging surface and a hinged end, first and second spaced parallel plates at said hinged end, and a stop edge between said plates toward said hinged end, said stop edge being moveable along a pathway;

b) a second lever arm having a second workpiece engaging surface facing said first workpiece engaging surface, a hinged end, and a block with a circular stop member receiving opening therein at said hinged end between the plates of said first arm;

c) a rotatable stop member having a circular section positioned within said receiving opening, a stop face, and a cradle arm integral with said rotatable element, said rotatable element including a vertically elongated hinge pin opening having inwardly curved upper and lower surfaces;

d) a hinge pin extending through said hinge pin opening, said pin having opposed ends joined to said plates;

e) a stop pin extending from one of said plates; and

f) a spring attached to the hinged ends of said arms to urge said hinged ends toward each other, said hinge pin against said hinge pin lower surface, and said stop pin into said cradle, whereby movement of said workpiece engaging surfaces toward each other when a workpiece is between said workpiece engaging surfaces forces said hinge pin into engagement with said hinge pin upper surface, releasing said stop pin from said cradle, and rotating said stop face into the pathway of said stop face, limiting the inward movement of said arms and the compression of said workpiece when said stop face engages said stop edge.