Manual crimp/press tool

Abstract

A crimp or press tool is provided that includes two pivotally connected jaw members that can be selectively drawn toward one another in order to crimp or otherwise press a fitting onto a pipe or other workpiece. The tool uses a tightening assembly that enables the application of oppositely directed rotational forces to thereby prevent or at least significantly reduce the potential for imparting undesirable torque moments into the pipe or workpiece.

1 . A manual crimp or press tool comprising:
 a first jaw member having a hinge region, a tightening region, and a pressing surface extending therebetween, the first jaw member including in the tightening region, a first projection, a second projection spaced from and parallel to the first projection and defining a receiving slot between the first and second projections, the first jaw member defining in the tightening region, a concave arcuate surface oppositely directed from the pressing surface of the first jaw member, the receiving slot accessible along a distal end of the first jaw member, and at the concave arcuate surface;   a second jaw member having a hinge region, a tightening region, and a pressing surface extending therebetween, the second jaw member pivotally attached at the hinge region of the second jaw member, to the hinge region of the first jaw member, the first and second jaw members oriented such that the pressing surface of the first jaw member faces the pressing surface of the second jaw member;   a trunion defining an outer surface that includes a partially cylindrical region and an aperture extending through the trunion and accessible at the cylindrical region, the trunion disposed in the concave arcuate surface defined in the first jaw member; and   a tightening assembly including (i) an elongate threaded tightening member disposed within the receiving slot defined in the first jaw member, the tightening member extending through the aperture defined in the trunion, and (ii) a threaded engagement member threadedly engaging the tightening member along the tightening region of the second jaw member.   
   
   
       2 . The tool of  claim 1  wherein the elongate threaded tightening member includes a bolt head defined at one end, and the threaded tightening member positioned relative to the first jaw member such that the trunion disposed in the concave arcuate surface defined in the first jaw member is positioned between the bolt head and the first jaw member. 
   
   
       3 . The tool of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a friction reducing washer disposed between the bolt head and the trunion.   
   
   
       4 . The tool of  claim 1  wherein the second jaw member defines in the tightening region, a concave arcuate surface oppositely directed from the pressing surface of the second jaw member, the threaded engagement member is in the form of a second trunion, the second trunion defining an outer surface that includes a partially cylindrical region, the second trunion disposed in the concave arcuate surface of the second jaw member. 
   
   
       5 . The tool of  claim 1  wherein the aperture defined in the trunion is free from threads and is sized and adapted to loosely receive the elongate threaded tightening member extending therethrough. 
   
   
       6 . The tool of  claim 1  wherein the second jaw includes, in the tightening region of the second jaw, a first projection and a second projection spaced from and parallel to the first projection and defining a receiving slot between the first and second projections. 
   
   
       7 . The tool of  claim 6  wherein the second jaw member defines in the tightening region, a concave arcuate surface oppositely directed from the pressing surface of the second jaw member, the receiving slot defined in the second jaw member accessible along a distal end of the second jaw member, and at the concave arcuate surface defined in the second jaw member. 
   
   
       8 . The tool of  claim 7 , wherein the threaded engagement member is in the form of a second trunion, the second trunion defining an outer surface that includes a partially cylindrical region, the second trunion disposed in the concave arcuate surface of the second jaw member such that at least a portion of the cylindrical region of the second trunion contacts the arcuate surface of the second jaw member. 
   
   
       9 . The tool of  claim 1  wherein the second jaw includes a first projection, a second projection spaced from and parallel to the first projection and defining a receiving slot between the first and second projections, the second jaw defining an aperture extending through both the first and second projections, the aperture accessible from the receiving slot, the receiving slot accessible along a distal end of the second jaw member, and the threaded engagement member being in the form of a pin member defining a threaded aperture extending through the pin member, the pin member disposed in the aperture defined in the first and second projections of the second jaw member and oriented in the first and second projections such that the elongate threaded tightening member extends within and through the aperture defined in the pin member and is threadedly engaged with the pin member. 
   
   
       10 . A manual crimp or press tool comprising:
 a first jaw member having a hinge region, a tightening region, and a pressing surface extending therebetween, the first jaw member including in the tightening region, a first projection, a second projection spaced from and parallel to the first projection and defining a receiving slot between the first and second projections, the first jaw member defining in the tightening region a concave arcuate surface oppositely directed from the pressing surface of the first jaw member, the receiving slot accessible along a distal end of the first jaw member and at the concave arcuate surface;   a second jaw member having a hinge region, a tightening region, and a pressing surface extending therebetween, the second jaw member including in the tightening region, a first projection, a second projection spaced from and parallel to the first projection and defining a receiving slot between the first and second projections, the second jaw member defining in the tightening region, a concave arcuate surface oppositely directed from the pressing surface of the second jaw member, the receiving slot accessible along a distal end of the second jaw member and at the concave arcuate surface of the second jaw member, the second jaw member pivotally attached at the hinge region of the second jaw member, to the hinge region of the first jaw member, the first and second jaw members oriented such that the pressing surface of the first jaw member faces the pressing surface of the second jaw member;   a first trunion defining an outer surface that includes a partially cylindrical region and an aperture extending through the first trunion and accessible at the cylindrical region, the first trunion disposed in the concave arcuate surface defined in the first jaw member;   a second trunion defining an outer surface that includes a partially cylindrical region and a threaded aperture extending through the trunion and accessible at the cylindrical region, the second trunion disposed in the concave arcuate surface defined in the second jaw member; and   an elongate threaded tightening member disposed within the receiving slot defined in the first jaw member and also disposed within the receiving slot defined in the second jaw member, the tightening member extending through the aperture defined in the first trunion and threadedly engaged with the threaded aperture of the second trunion.   
   
   
       11 . The tool of  claim 10  wherein the second trunion includes an integral hexagonal region adapted for engagement by a wrench or socket. 
   
   
       12 . The tool of  claim 10  wherein the elongate threaded tightening member includes a bolt head defined at one end, and the threaded tightening member positioned relative to the first jaw member such that the bolt head is proximate to the first trunion disposed in the concave arcuate surface defined in the first jaw member. 
   
   
       13 . The tool of  claim 12  further comprising:
 a friction reducing washer disposed between the bolt head and the first trunion.   
   
   
       14 . A manual crimp or press tool comprising:
 a first jaw member having a hinge region, a tightening region, and a pressing surface extending therebetween, the first jaw member including in the tightening region, a first projection, a second projection spaced from and parallel to the first projection and defining a receiving slot between the first and second projections, the receiving slot accessible along a distal end of the first jaw member;   a second jaw member having a hinge region, a tightening region, and a pressing surface extending therebetween, the second jaw member including in the tightening region, a first projection, a second projection spaced from and parallel to the first projection and defining a receiving slot between the first and second projections, the second jaw defining an aperture extending through both the first and second projections, the aperture accessible from the receiving slot of the second jaw member, the receiving slot accessible along a distal end of the second jaw member, the second jaw member pivotally attached at the hinge region of the second jaw member, to the hinge region of the first jaw member, the first and second jaw members oriented such that the pressing surface of the first jaw member faces the pressing surface of the second jaw member;   a trunion defining an aperture extending through the trunion, the trunion disposed along the tightening region of the first jaw member;   a pin member rotatably disposed in the aperture defined in the first and second projections of the second jaw member, the pin member defining a threaded aperture extending through the pin member and in a direction generally transverse to the aperture defined in the second jaw member extending through both the first and second projections; and   an elongate threaded tightening member disposed within the receiving slot defined in the first jaw member and also disposed within the receiving slot defined in the second jaw member, the tightening member extending through the aperture defined in the trunion and threadedly engaged with the aperture defined in the pin member disposed in the second jaw member.   
   
   
       15 . The tool of  claim 14  wherein the first jaw member defines in the tightening region, a concave arcuate surface oppositely directed from the pressing surface of the first jaw member, the trunion further defining an outer surface that includes a cylindrical region, and the trunion disposed in the concave arcuate surface of the first jaw member such that at least a portion of the cylindrical region of the trunion contacts the arcuate surface of the first jaw member. 
   
   
       16 . The tool of  claim 15  wherein the receiving slot of the first jaw member is also accessible at the concave arcuate surface defined in the first jaw member. 
   
   
       17 . The tool of  claim 15  wherein the aperture extending through the trunion is accessible at the cylindrical region of the trunion. 
   
   
       18 . The tool of  claim 14  wherein the elongate threaded tightening member includes a bolt head defined at one end, and the threaded tightening member positioned relative to the first jaw member such that the bolt head is proximate to the trunion disposed in the concave arcuate surface defined in the first jaw member. 
   
   
       19 . The tool of  claim 18  further comprising:
 a friction reducing washer disposed between the bolt head and the trunion.