Hand Operated Gripping Tools

Abstract

The main fixed handle optionally incorporates two swivel out arms, which can form part of a three-legged base. When operated thus, the jaws and moving handle point generally upwards from the formed base, the moving handle can now be operated by one hand leaving the other free to position the workpiece. The moving handle can incorporate a further locking switch that can be utilised in both a switchable locking position or non-locking position upon a sprung toothed strut between the handles, at least one of which further incorporates a curved resilient portion in order to provide useful sprung closure of the parallel moving jaws upon the workpiece in the locking method. A lanyard can be optimally attached to the swivel out arm ends to provide the user with a chest mounted portable vice.

1 . A hand operated gripping tool comprising:
 a fixed handle;   a fixed jaw connected with said fixed handle;   a movable handle pivotably connected with said fixed handle for pivoting movement relative to said fixed handle; and   a movable jaw connected with said movable handle for movement relative to said fixed jaw,   wherein said fixed handle comprises first portion to which said fixed jaw is fixed and second and third portions movable from a first position in which each forms a continuation of said first portion and a spread position in which said first second and third portions define a tripod base.   
     
     
         2 . A hand operated gripping tool as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said second and third portions are pivotably connected with a first end of said first portion. 
     
     
         3 . A hand operated gripping tool as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said fixed jaw is fixed to said first portion at a second end of said first portion. 
     
     
         4 . A hand operated gripping tool as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said movable jaw is slideable on said fixed handle towards said fixed jaw in response to movement of said movable handle towards said fixed handle. 
     
     
         5 . A hand operated gripping tool as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said movable handle is pivotably connected with said fixed handle via said movable jaw. 
     
     
         6 . A hand operated gripping tool as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism to lock said second and third portions in said first position. 
     
     
         7 . A hand operated gripping tool comprising:
 a fixed handle;   a fixed jaw connected with said fixed handle;   a movable handle pivotably connected with said fixed handle for pivoting movement relative to said fixed handler and   a movable jaw connected with said movable handle for movement relative to said fixed jaw,   wherein said movable jaw is mounted for sliding movement on said fixed handle.   
     
     
         8 . A hand operated gripping tool as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said movable handle is pivotably connected with said fixed handle via a pivot pin received in an aperture provided in said movable jaw. 
     
     
         9 . A hand operated gripping tool as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising a biasing member disposed between said fixed and movable handles to bias said movable handle away from said fixed handle. 
     
     
         10 . A hand operated gripping tool as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said biasing member is configured to resist movement of said movable handle towards said fixed handle such that a user applied force applied to said movable handle towards said fixed handle is resisted and causes said movable handle and movable jaw to move towards said fixed jaw. 
     
     
         11 . A hand operated gripping tool as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising a strut having a first end pivotably connected with said fixed handle and a locking switch pivotably connected with said movable handle, wherein said strut has a first side provided with a plurality of teeth, said locking switch comprises at least one tooth that is engageable with said teeth provided on said strut and, in use, when movement of said movable jaw towards said fixed jaw is blocked by a workpiece disposed between said jaws said user applied force applied to said movable handle causes said movable handle to move towards said fixed handle causing said strut to pivot towards said fixed jaw and said at least one tooth on said locking switch to ratchet along said plurality of teeth on said strut. 
     
     
         12 . A hand operated gripping tool as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said biasing member comprises a spring, said strut extends through said spring and said spring engages said locking switch to bias said at least one tooth into engagement with said plurality of teeth on said strut. 
     
     
         13 . A hand operated gripping tool as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said strut has a second side disposed opposite said first side and said movable handle is provided with a bearing surface engaging said second side to control said pivoting movement of said strut towards said fixed jaw. 
     
     
         14 . A hand operated gripping tool as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said locking switch further comprises a guide face and said guide face is configured such that pivotal movement of said locking switch by a user applied force to release said at least one tooth from engagement with said teeth on said strut causes said guide face to engage said strut to cooperate with said bearing surface to define a channel through which said strut slides guided by said bearing surface and guide face when, in use, said movable handle moves away from said fixed handle. 
     
     
         15 . A hand operated gripping tool as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said movable handle comprises a flexure portion configured to allow flexing of the movable handle in response to said user applied force when movement of said movable handle towards said fixed handle is prevented by said workpiece held between said jaws whereby said at least one tooth engaged with said teeth on said strut can be moved at least one strut tooth closer to said first end. 
     
     
         16 . A hand operated gripping tool as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of spring members having a first end pivotally attached to said movable jaw and a second end fixed to said flexure portion, wherein said spring members have respective elongate apertures that receive said pivot pin and said elongate apertures have different lengths. 
     
     
         17 . A hand operated gripping tool as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein at least one of said jaws has a mounting for a removable insert that defines at least one of:
 i) at least one cutting edge; and   ii) at least one face defining an anvil.   
     
     
         18 . A hand operated gripping tool as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said fixed handle comprises first portion to which said fixed jaw is fixed and second and third portions movable from a first position in which each forms a continuation of said first portion and a spread position in which said first second and third portions define a tripod base. 
     
     
         19 . A hand operated gripping tool comprising:
 a fixed handle;   a fixed jaw connected with said fixed handle;   a movable handle pivotably connected with said fixed handle for pivoting movement relative to said fixed handle;   a movable jaw connected with said movable handle for movement relative to said fixed jaw;   a strut having a first end pivotably connected with said fixed handle and having a first side provided with a plurality of teeth;   a locking switch having at least one tooth engageable with said teeth on said strut; and   a biasing member biasing said locking switch so that when, in use, a user applied force causes said movable handle to move towards said fixed handle said at least one tooth ratchets over said teeth on said strut,   wherein said movable handle comprises a flexure portion configured to allow flexing of the movable handle in response to said user applied force when movement of said movable handle towards said fixed handle is prevented by resistance provided by a workpiece held between said jaws whereby said at least one tooth engaged with said teeth on said strut can be moved at least one strut tooth closer to said first end.   
     
     
         20 . A hand operated gripping tool as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said movable handle is pivotably connected with said fixed handle via said movable jaw. 
     
     
         21 . A hand operated gripping tool as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said movable handle is connected with said movable jaw by a pivot pin and further comprising a plurality of spring members having a first end pivotally attached to said movable jaw by said pivot pin and a second end fixed to said flexure portion, wherein said spring members have respective elongate apertures that receive said pivot pin and said elongate apertures have different lengths so as to be progressively engageable by said pivot pin to provide a progressive increasing spring rate.