Gripping Hand Tools

Abstract

Various embodiments of pliers and pipe wrenches are provided. Wire cutters enable a finger pivot hole to enhance the grasp of the wire cutters while rotating the tool and/or stripping wire. Pipe wrenches include different configurations of teeth to improve durability and grip on a workpiece. Pliers are provided with axial teeth to enhance gripping a workpiece in different directions. Pliers are provided with selectable mechanical advantages so that a user may select the mechanical advantage desirable for a particular application.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Pliers, comprising:
 a first body comprising:
 an upper handle; 
 a lower jaw coupled to the upper handle; and 
 a first pivot body located between the upper handle and the lower jaw; 
   a second body comprising:
 an lower handle; 
 a upper jaw coupled to the lower handle; and 
 a second pivot body located between the lower handle and the upper jaw; and 
   a pivot formed between the first pivot body and the second pivot body, wherein the upper jaw pivots relative to the lower jaw about a pivot axis of the pivot;   wherein an inner surface of the first pivot body and an inner surface of the second pivot body define a finger hole configured to receive a finger of a user;   wherein the pivot axis is at least partially surrounded by the inner surfaces of the first and second pivot bodies such that the pivot axis is located in the finger hole.   
     
     
         2 . The pliers of  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of first pivot body is curved surface and the inner surface of second pivot body is curved surface, wherein, when the upper and lower jaws are in a closed position, the inner surfaces of the first and second pivot bodies define a circle that defines the outer perimeter of the finger hole. 
     
     
         3 . The pliers of  claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism that locks the upper handle relative to the lower handle such that the upper jaw is locked adjacent to the lower jaw in a locked position. 
     
     
         4 . The pliers of  claim 1 , further comprising a spring that biases the upper handle away from the lower handle such that the upper jaw pivots to an open position relative to the lower jaw. 
     
     
         5 . The pliers of  claim 1 , further comprising wire strippers on the upper jaw and the lower jaw, wherein the wire strippers have apertures configured to strip different gauges of wire, wherein the wire strippers on the upper jaw and the lower jaw comprise a carbide steel. 
     
     
         6 . The pliers of  claim 1 , further comprising upper and lower jaws with needle-nose gripping tips comprising carbide steel and diamond grit. 
     
     
         7 . The pliers of  claim 6 , wherein the needle-nose gripping tips form a taper from the finger hole pivot, wherein a thickness of the finger hole pivot measured along a pivot axis is greater than a thickness of the needle-nose gripping tips. 
     
     
         8 . The pliers of  claim 7 , wherein the upper and lower handles and the upper and lower jaws comprise the carbide steel material, and wherein the needle-nose gripping tips comprise the diamond grit. 
     
     
         9 . High leverage pliers, comprising:
 an upper jaw;   a lower jaw;   an upper handle coupled to the lower jaw;   a lower handle coupled to the upper jaw;   a low leverage pivot comprising a low leverage pin and a low level pivot opening;   a high leverage pivot comprising a high leverage pin and a high level pivot opening; and   a selector switch that allows a user to select between the low leverage pivot and the high leverage pivot;   wherein, when the user selects a rotational pivot about the low leverage pivot, the low leverage pin passes through the low level pivot opening to form a low leverage pivot, and wherein when the user selects the rotational pivot about the high leverage pivot, the high leverage pin passes through the high leverage opening to form the high leverage pivot.   
     
     
         10 . The high leverage pliers of  claim 9 , wherein the low leverage pivot is located between a central arm of the selector switch and one of the upper or lower handles, and the high leverage pivot is located between the central arm and one of the upper or lower jaws. 
     
     
         11 . The high leverage pliers of  claim 9 , wherein the low leverage pivot provides a 1:1 ratio, such that movement of the upper handle relative to the lower handle through a first angle results in movement of the upper jaw relative to the lower jaw by the first angle. 
     
     
         12 . The high leverage pliers of  claim 9 , wherein the high leverage pivot provides a 2:1 ratio, such that movement of the upper handle relative to the lower handle through a first angle results in movement of the upper jaw relative to the lower jaw by two times the first angle. 
     
     
         13 . The high leverage pliers of  claim 9 , further comprising a third leverage pin associated with a third leverage pivot, wherein the selector switch selects the rotational pivot of the handles among the low leverage pivot, the high leverage pivot, and the third leverage pivot. 
     
     
         14 . The high leverage pliers of  claim 13 , wherein the third leverage pivot has a leverage ratio that is greater than the low leverage pivot and less than the high leverage pivot. 
     
     
         15 . A pipe wrench, comprising:
 a handle;   a head located on an end of the handle and comprising an aperture;   a lower jaw coupled to the head, the lower jaw comprising teeth;   a thumbwheel located in the aperture; and   a V-shaped hook jaw comprising a first set teeth having tips lying in a first engagement plane and a second set of teeth having tips lying in a second engagement plane, the first engagement plane being oriented at a non-zero angle relative to the second engagement plane;   wherein the hook jaw is threadedly coupled to the thumbwheel and extends through the aperture of the head such that rotating the thumbwheel moves the hook jaw relative to the lower jaw on the head.   
     
     
         16 . The pipe wrench of  claim 15 , wherein the teeth comprise a carbide steel and a diamond grit. 
     
     
         17 . The pipe wrench of  claim 15 , wherein a width of the first engagement plane is within ±10% of a width of the second engagement plane. 
     
     
         18 . The pipe wrench of  claim 15 , wherein a length of the first engagement plane is within ±10% a length of the second engagement plane. 
     
     
         19 . The pipe wrench of  claim 15 , wherein the angle of the V-shaped hook jaw is less than 170°. 
     
     
         20 . The pipe wrench of  claim 15 , wherein the lower jaw is coupled to the head by a pivot and rotates about the pivot located in the head. 
     
     
         21 . The pipe wrench of  claim 20 , wherein a working area is defined between the teeth on the lower jaw and the teeth on the hook jaw, and wherein when the lower jaw rotates about the pivot in the head the working area is decreased.