Tool for disconnecting an air-hose coupler

• US 8,341,816 B1
• Filed: 02/23/2009
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eric R. Swinford
• Original Assignee: Eric R. Swinford
• Inventors: Swinford, Eric R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Lee D
• Application Number:
  US12/390,559
• Time in Patent Office: 1,408 Days
• Field of Search: 292/37, 292/38, 292/435.6, 292/63, 292/61, 292/78
• US Class Current: 29/237
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 27/10 inserting fittings into hoses

Abstract

A tool for use in disconnecting a quick-connect air-hose coupler has a pair of arms, each arm having a tool end and a handle, the arms being hinged to each other for relative rotation in generally parallel planes, such that selected relative movement of the handles causes opposite relative movement of the tool ends. An incomplete ring is formed on each tool end, the rings being generally coaxial when the rings are adjacent to each other. An insert is configured for insertion into one of the rings, the insert comprising an opening of a selected width. The handles are able to be moved toward each other for causing the rings to move away from each other while the rings engage an air-hose coupler and a hose, so as to cause the insert in one of the rings to abut a movable sleeve of an air-hose coupler while other of the rings abuts an apparatus fixedly engaging the hose, so that when sufficient force is applied to the handles the sleeve is moved relative to a body of the coupler and to the hose for disconnecting the coupler from the hose. The width of the opening of the insert is selected according to the diameter of the hose.

Claims

1. A tool for use in disconnecting a quick-connect air-hose coupler, the tool comprising:

a pair of arms, each arm having a tool end and a handle, the arms hinged between the tool end and the handle, the hinge located inboard of the tool ends, the arms being hinged to each other for relative rotation in generally parallel planes, such that selected relative movement of the handles causes opposite relative movement of the tool ends;

an incomplete ring formed on each tool end, the rings being generally coaxial when the rings are adjacent to each other; and

an insert configured for insertion into one of the rings, the insert comprising an opening of a selected width and a groove along an outer surface of the insert, the groove configured to engage the incomplete ring, such that the insert extends along the sides of the incomplete ring;

wherein the handles are adapted to be moved toward each other for causing the rings to move away from each other while the rings engage air-hose coupler and a hose, so as to cause the insert in one of the rings to abut a movable sleeve of an air-hose coupler while other of the rings abuts an apparatus fixedly engaging the hose, so that when sufficient force is applied to the handles the sleeve is moved relative to a body of the coupler and to the hose for disconnecting the coupler from the hose;

wherein the width of the opening of the insert is selected according to the diameter of the hose.

2. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the insert has an outer groove sized for receiving a thickness of one of the rings.

3. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the width of the opening of the insert is selected from the group consisting of ⅛

″

, ¼

″

, ⅜

″

, ½

″

, ⅝

″

, and ¾

″

.

4. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus fixedly engaging the hose is a pair of pliers.

5. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the insert is formed from a plastic material.

6. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the insert is formed from a metal material.

7. A tool for use in disconnecting a quick-connect air-hose coupler, the tool comprising:

a pair of arms, each arm having a tool end and a handle, the arms hinged between the tool end and the handle, the hinge located inboard of the tool ends, the arms being hinged to each other for relative rotation in generally parallel planes, such that selected relative movement of the handles causes opposite relative movement of the tool ends;

an incomplete ring formed on each tool end, the rings being generally coaxial when the rings are adjacent to each other;

an insert configured for insertion into one of the rings, the insert comprising an opening of a selected width and an outer groove extending internally along an outer surface of the inert, the groove being sized for receiving a thickness of one of the rings and for extending along the sides of the ring; and

wherein the handles are adapted to be moved toward each other and cause the rings to move away from each other while the rings engage an air-hose coupler and a hose, so as to cause the insert in one of the rings to abut a movable sleeve of an air-hose coupler while the other of the rings abuts an apparatus fixedly engaging the hose, so that when sufficient force is applied to the handles the sleeve is moved relative to a body and to the hose of the coupler for disconnecting the coupler from the hose;

wherein the width of the opening of the insert is selected according to the diameter of the hose.

8. The tool according to claim 7, wherein the width of the opening of the insert is selected from the group consisting of ⅛

″

, ¼

″

, ⅜

″

, ½

″

, ⅝

″

, and ¾

″

.

9. The tool according to claim 7, wherein the apparatus fixedly engaging the hose is a pair of pliers.

10. The tool according to claim 7, wherein the insert is formed from a plastic material.

11. The tool according to claim 7, wherein the insert is formed from a metal material.

12. A method for disconnecting a quick-connect air-hose coupler from a hose, the method comprising:

(a) providing a pliers-type tool having two rings capable of being separated by actuating the tool, the rings being generally coaxial when adjacent to each other;

(b) inserting an insert around one of the rings, a width of the insert being selected according to a width of a hose on which a coupler is to be disconnected, the insert extending along the sides of the ring;

(c) engaging the hose with the rings and insert, the rings being located along the hose between a rim of a quick-connect coupler and an apparatus fixedly engaging the hose; and

(d) actuating the tool to cause the rings to move away from each other contacting the apparatus and the coupler, such that the rim of the coupler is moved relative to a body of the coupler, thereby disconnecting the coupler from the hose.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the apparatus fixedly engaging the hose is a pair of pliers.