Adjustable pliers

{
  "publication_number": "US6145415A",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A",
  "title": "Adjustable pliers",
  "abstract": "A pair of pliers includes a head and a handle pivotally connected to the head which includes three parts. A movable jaw is movably received between the first part and the third part of the head and a first spring is connected between the movable jaw and the second part. The movable jaw has a toothed portion defined in one of two sides thereof. A pawl member is movably received between the first part and the second part with a second spring connected to the pawl member and the second part. The pawl member is moved along an inclined surface of the second part and has a toothed side which is disengagably matched with the toothed portion of the movable jaw by rotating the handle.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A pair of pliers comprising: a head comprising a first part, a second part and a third part, said second part fixedly connected between said first part and said third part, each of said first part and said third part having a slot defined therethrough and a first fixed jaw member extending laterally therefrom, said second part having a second fixed jaw member sandwiched between said two first fixed jaw members, a recess defined in said second fixed jaw member and a plate extending inclinedly from said second fixed jaw member, said plate having a guide surface defined in one of two sides thereof, a shoulder portion connected between said plate and said recess; a handle having an action end pivotally connected between said first part and said third part; a movable jaw movably received between said first part and said third part, a first spring having one end thereof connected to said movable jaw and the other end of said first spring securely received in said recess of said second part, said movable jaw having two protrusions extending laterally from two opposite faces thereof and respectively and movably received in said two slots of said first part and said third part, a toothed portion defined in an end of said movable jaw, and a pawl member movably installed between said movable jaw and said plate of said second part, said pawl member having the first end thereof contacting said action end of said handle between said first part and said third part, a second spring connected between the second end of said pawl member and said shoulder portion of said second part, said pawl member having a first side slidable on said guide surface of said plate and a second side having a toothed surface which is disengagably engaged with said toothed portion of said movable jaw.",
    "2. The pair of pliers as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first spring pulls said movable jaw toward said second fixed jaw member.",
    "3. The pair of pliers as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second spring pushes said pawl member away from said second fixed jaw member.",
    "4. The pair of pliers as claimed in claim 1, wherein said action end is a curved end which pushes said pawl member along said guide surface when rotating said handle.",
    "5. The pair of pliers as claimed in claim 1, wherein said guide surface is inclined relative to said slots."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to a pair of pliers, and more particularly, to a pair of pliers having a movable jaw which is pulled by a spring toward the fixed jaw, a pawl member disengagably connected to the movably movable jaw. The movable jaw is engaged with the pawl member when tightening an object and disengaged from the pawl member when rotating the pliers in the opposite direction.\n\nA conventional pair of pliers generally have a fixed jaw and a movable jaw which is moved by rotating an adjusting screw in the head of the pliers. The adjusting screw is threadedly engaged with a rack integrally connected to the movable jaw so that the movable jaw can be moved toward the fixed jaw or can be moved away from the fixed jaw by rotating the adjusting screw. Nevertheless, the pliers cannot reciprocatingly operated with the object clamped between the movable jaw and the fixed jaw without removing the pliers from the object because the object will be co-rotated with the pliers. Therefore, the operator has to remove the pliers from the object when the pliers is rotated to an extreme position and remove the pliers to clamp the object again. This is time-consuming and the operator feels frustration. Furthermore, it is difficult to rotate the adjusting screw because lubricant or oil is usually attached to the operator's hand. The pliers in accordance with the present invention have a movable jaw which is removed from the fixed jaw whenever the handle of the pliers is rotated counter clockwise so that the pliers can tighten or loosen an object without removing the pliers from the object.",
  "cpc": [
    "B25B 13/12",
    "B25B 13/18"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B25B 13/12",
    "B25B 13/18"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "LIU KUO-CHEN"
  ],
  "filing_date": "1999-02-12",
  "publication_date": "2000-11-14",
  "grant_date": "2000-11-14",
  "priority_date": "1999-02-12",
  "application_number": "US-24889599-A",
  "family_id": "22941150",
  "citations": [
    "US3232150A",
    "US3257878A",
    "US5568752A"
  ]
}