Hand Operated Gripping Tools

Abstract

A hand operated gripping tool has a first handle ( 301 ), a first jaw ( 201 ) connected with the first handle, a second handle ( 302 ) pivotably connected with the first handle to permit relative pivoting movement of the second handle with respect to the first handle and a second jaw ( 202 ) connected with the second handle. One of the first jaw and second jaw is a removable jaw and the removable jaw is push-fit attachable to the respective handle.

1 . A hand operated gripping tool comprising:
 a first handle;   a first jaw connected with said first handle;   a second handle pivotably connected with said first handle to permit relative pivoting movement of said first and second handles; and   a second jaw connected with said second handle,   wherein one of said first jaw and second jaw is a removable jaw and said removable jaw is push-fit attachable to the respective said handle.   
     
     
         2 . A hand operated gripping tool as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said removable jaw comprises an outboard portion defining a gripping region and an inboard portion that projects from said outboard portion and is received the respective said handle. 
     
     
         3 . A hand operated gripping tool as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said inboard portion comprises first part and a second part disposed opposite said first part to define a slot between said parts, said respective handle defines respective recesses to receive said first and second part and said recesses define a blade that complementary engages in said slot when said removable jaw is push-fit attached to said respective handle. 
     
     
         4 . A hand operated gripping tool as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said blade comprises a leading end provided with a plurality of formations that complementarily engage a plurality for formations defined by said removable jaw to define a plurality of selectable orientations of said removable jaw with respect to the respective said handle. 
     
     
         5 . A hand operated gripping tool as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism by which said removable jaw is lockable to the respective said jaw. 
     
     
         6 . A hand operated gripping tool as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said locking mechanism comprises a snap-fit mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . A hand operated gripping tool as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said snap-fit mechanism comprises a detent mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . A hand operated gripping tool as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said locking mechanism comprises a rotatable switch carried by the respective said handle and removable jaw comprises a recess engageable by said rotatable switch to lock said removable jaw to the said respective handle. 
     
     
         9 . A hand operated gripping tool as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of said movable and first jaws is a said removable jaw. 
     
     
         10 . A hand operated gripping tool comprising;
 a first handle;   a first jaw connected with said first handle;   a second handle pivotably connected with said first handle to permit relative pivoting movement of said first and second handles;   a second jaw connected with said second handle;   a strut having first end pivotally attached to said second handle;   a locking switch pivotally attached to said first handle; and   a biasing member acting on said locking switch,   wherein said locking switch has at least one tooth engageable with teeth provided on said strut, said biasing member biases said locking switch towards said strut so that said at least one tooth engages said strut and slides over said teeth on said strut when, in use, said first and second handles move towards one another.   
     
     
         11 . A hand operated gripping tool as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said teeth on said strut are provided on a first side of said strut, said strut has a second side disposed opposite said first side and said first handle defines a bearing surface engaging said second side to control pivoting movement of said strut when, in use, said whereby the relative orientation of said locking switch and strut is maintained during said movement of said first and second handles towards one another. 
     
     
         12 . A hand operated gripping tool as claimed in  claim 11 , 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 first and second handles move away from one another. 
     
     
         13 . A hand operated gripping tool as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said biasing member comprises a first portion engaging said locking switch and a second portion engaging said first handle and third portion engaging said second handle whereby said biasing member biases said locking switch and biases said second handle away from said first handle. 
     
     
         14 . A hand operated gripping tool as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein at least one of said first and second handles comprises a flexure portion configured to allow flexing of the respective handle in response to a force applied by a user to move said first and second handles towards one another when movement of said second jaw towards said first jaw is prevented 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. 
     
     
         15 . A hand operated gripping tool as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein one of said first jaw and second. jaw is a removable jaw and said removable jaw is push-fit attachable to the respective said handle. 
     
     
         16 . A hand operated gripping tool comprising:
 a first handle;   a first jaw connected with said first handle;   a second handle pivotably connected with said first handle to permit relative pivoting movement of said first and second handles;   a second jaw connected with said second handle;   a strut having first end pivotally attached to said second handle;   a locking switch pivotally attached to said first handle; and   a biasing member,   wherein said biasing member comprises a spring extending between said first and second handles to bias said first and second handles away from one another, said strut extends within said spring and said spring engages said locking switch to bias said locking switch towards said strut.   
     
     
         17 . A hand operated gripping tool as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said locking switch has at least one tooth engageable with teeth provided on said strut, said biasing member biases said locking switch towards said strut so that said at least one tooth engages said strut and slides over said teeth on said strut when, in use, said first and second handles move towards one another. 
     
     
         18 . A hand operated gripping tool as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein one of said first jaw and said second jaw is a removable jaw and said removable jaw is push-fit attachable to the respective said handle. 
     
     
         19 . A hand operated gripping tool comprising:
 a first handle;   a first jaw connected with said first handle;   a second handle pivotably connected with said first handle to permit relative pivoting movement of said first and second handles;   a second jaw connected with said second handle;   a strut having first end pivotally attached to said second handle;   a locking switch pivotally attached to said first handle and having at least one tooth engageable with teeth provided on said strut; and   a biasing member that biases said locking switch towards said strut,   wherein each said handle comprises a flexure portion configured to allow flexing of the respective handle in response to a force applied by a user to move said first and second handles towards one another when movement of said second jaw towards said first jaw is prevented 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 each said flexure portion is defined by an arch portion disposed intermediate said strut and said first and second handles. 
     
     
         21 . A hand operated gripping tool as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said arch portions arch in opposite directions and are disposed in opposed spaced apart relationship.