Wire crimping tool

A wire crimping tool has two arms and an adjustable wire crimping device. The arms are pivotally connected to each other and each arm has a handle and a jaw. The adjustable wire crimping device is mounted on the jaws of the arms and has a duel crimping cavity and a threaded extension member. The duel crimping cavity is defined in a first one of the jaws and aligns with a second one of the jaws. The duel crimping cavity has an upper segment with a bottom and a lower segment. The lower segment is defined in the bottom of the upper segment and has a diameter smaller than that of the upper segment. The threaded extension member is adjustably mounted in the second jaw and has a crimping tip extending out of the second jaw and aligning with and extending into the duel crimping cavity.

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Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a crimping tool, and more particularly to a wire crimping tool that is adjustable for crimping different connectors with different diameters and is versatile in use.

2. Description of Related Art

To connect a wire with a connector, such as a male or female pin or a crimp eyelet or to connect two wires via a connecting sleeve, a crimping tool is always used. A conventional wire crimping tool substantially comprises a pair of pliers and a crimping device. The crimping device may comprise multiple teeth formed on the mouth of the plier head.

However, the conventional crimping tool must be used perpendicular to the lengths of the crimped wire, so the angle of operation of the conventional crimping tool restricts the ability of accessing and crimping connectors to wires which are located in confined or narrow spaces. Therefore, the conventional crimping tool is inconvenient in use.

In addition, to complete processes of connecting two wires or a connector needs different tools for different working steps. For example, a cutter is needed to cut wires to a required length, a stripping tool is needed to strip the insulation coat on the ends of the wires and a wire crimper is needed to join the wires or the connector. Conventional crimping tools can achieve only one function and is not versatile in use.

To solve the above problem, an Australian Patent No. 730840, entitled to “Wire Crimping Tool” is provided. The wire crimping tool comprises two longitudinal arms and a wire crimping means. The wire crimping means includes at least one crimping tip positioned at one end of a first pincer jaw and a crimping groove positioned at one end of a second pincer jaw. With the wire crimping means, a wire can be connected with a connector conveniently. In addition, the wire crimping tool further has a plate means and a wire engaging means including at least one wire stripping element and at least one wire cutting element. With the arrangement of the wire engaging means, the wire crimping tool can be used to cut and strip a wire and is versatile in use.

However, although extension member and the hole of the wire crimping means of the conventional wire crimping tool are threaded to make the length of the crimping tip protruding from the hole is adjustable, the crimping groove corresponding to the extension member has only one size and cannot be fit with different connectors with different diameters. Therefore, this conventional wire crimping tool is also not versatile in use.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide a wire crimping tool to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the invention is to provide a wire crimping tool that is convenient and versatile in use. The wire crimping tool has two arms and an adjustable wire crimping device. The arms are pivotally connected to each other and each arm has two ends, a handle formed one end of the arm and a jaw formed on the other end of the arm. The adjustable wire crimping device is mounted on the jaws of the arms and has a crimping cavity and an extension member. The crimping cavity is defined in a first one of the jaws and aligns with a second one of the jaws. The crimping cavity has an upper segment with a bottom and a lower segment. The lower segment is defined in the bottom of the upper segment and has a diameter smaller than that of the upper segment. The extension member is adjustably mounted in the second jaw and has a crimping tip extending out of the second jaw and aligning with and extending into the crimping cavity.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wire crimping tool in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of the wire crimping tool in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged end view of the jaws of the wire crimping tool in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of the jaws of the wire crimping tool in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged end view in partial section of the jaws of the wire crimping tool in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged operational end view of the jaws of the wire crimping tool in FIG. 1 showing that the position of the crimping tip is changed;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged side view of the plates with a cutting device and a stripping device of the wire crimping tool in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an operational side view of the wire crimping tool in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 9 is an operational side view of the wire crimping tool in FIG. 1 showing that the wire crimping tool is operated in a narrow space.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a wire crimping tool in accordance with the present invention comprises two arms (10,20) and an adjustable wire crimping device (40). The arms (10,20) are pivotally connected to each other with a pivot (30). Each arm (10,20) having two ends, a handle (12,22) formed one end of the arm (10,20) and a jaw (14,24) formed on the other end of the arm (10,20). Each arm (10,20) has a coat (122,222) made of an insulating material mounted around the handle (12,22) of the arm (10,20).

Each jaw (14,24) is C-shaped to define a space between the jaws (14,24). With further reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the jaws (14,24) each have a cutting end (142,242) facing and selectively abutting against with each other, and the cutting end (142,242) of each jaw (14,24) has a triangular section to form a sharp tip (143,243) on the cutting end (142,242). The sharp tips (143,243) can be used to cut a wire and strip the insulation off wires.

With further reference to FIG. 5, the adjustable wire crimping device (40) is mounted on the jaws (14,24) of the arms (10,20) and comprises a duel crimping cavity (42) and a threaded extension member (44).

The duel crimping cavity (42) is defined in the sharp tip (143) of the crimping end (142) of a first one of the jaws (14) and aligns with a second one of the jaws (24). The duel crimping cavity (42) comprises an upper segment (422) with a bottom and a lower segment (424). The lower segment (424) is defined in the bottom of the upper segment (422) and has a diameter smaller than that of the upper segment (422).

The threaded extension member (44) is adjustably mounted in the second jaw (24) and has a crimping tip (442) extending out of the second jaw (24) and aligns with and extends into the duel crimping cavity (42). To mount the threaded extension member (44) to the second jaw (24), the second jaw (24) has a threaded through hole (244) and a positioning threaded hole (246). The threaded through hole (244) is defined through the second jaw (24) and aligns with the duel crimping cavity (42). The positioning threaded hole (246) defined in a side of the jaw (24) and communicates with the threaded through hole (244). In addition, the threaded through hole (244) in the second jaw (24) has a hemispherical opening (245) defined in the sharp tip (243) of the cutting end (242) of the second jaw (24) and corresponding to the upper segment (422) of the duel crimping cavity (42). In a preferred embodiment, the hemispherical opening (245) has a diameter same as that of the upper segment (422) of the duel crimping cavity (42).

The threaded extension member (44) is mounted in the threaded through hole (244) in the second jaw (24), and the crimping tip (442) of the threaded extension member (44) extends out from the opening (245) of the threaded through hole (244). The threaded extension member (44) has two flat surfaces (444) longitudinally formed on the threaded extension member (44). A lock screw (46), may be an Allen head grub lock screw is screwed into the positioning threaded hole (246) and has an end abutting against one of the flat surface (444) of the threaded extension member (44) to hold the threaded extension member (44) in position.

When the lock screw (46) is loosened from the positioning threaded hole (246), the holding effect to the threaded extension member (44) is released and the threaded extension member (44) can be rotated to move along the threaded through hole (244) to change the position of the crimping tip (442) in 180 degree increments. When the desired depth of the threaded extension member (44) is obtained, the lock screw (46) is tightened and then threaded extension member (44) is also tightened. With the changed depth of the crimping tip (442) of the threaded extension member (44) in cooperation with the upper and lower segments (422,424) of the duel crimping cavity (42), the crimping device (40) can fit with different wires and connectors of different sizes. Therefore, the wire crimping tool in accordance with the present invention is versatile in use.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 7, each arm (10,20) further has a plate (16,26) formed on the handle (12,22) and corresponding to and selectively abutting with the plate (16,26) on the other arm (10,20). Each plate (16,26) has an edge. A stripping device (50) is mounted between the edges of the plates (16,26) on the arms (10,20) and comprises multiple stripping holes (52) defined in and along the edges of the plates (16,26). The stripping holes (52) have diameters different from each other.

A crimping device (60) is mounted between the edges of the plates (16,26) on the arms (10,20) and comprises a recess (62) and at least one crimping edge (64). The recess (62) is defined in the edge of the plate (16) on a first one of the arms (10). The crimping edge (64) may be curved and is formed on the edge of the plate (26) on a second one of the arms (20) and aligns with the recess (62) in the first arm (10).

In use, with reference to FIGS. 1, 7 and 8, the arms (10,20) are spread into an open position, and a connector is placed between one crimping edge (64) and the recess (62). The connector is compressed by means of bringing the handles (12,22) into a closed position and a desired crimp connection is gained.

A wire cutter (70) is mounted between the edges of the plates (16,26) on the arms (10,20) and comprises a cutting edge (72) defined in the edge of one of the plates (16,26) for cutting a wire with a desired length.

The arms (10,20) are spread into the open position again, and the end of the wire is placed in a stripping hole (52) with a diameter corresponding to that of the wire for stripping but not cutting the wire. The handles (12,22) are brought together into the closed position, such that the insulation coat on the end of the wire is nicked without the wire being cut, then the process of stripping the insulation can be gained.

To crimp the wire, the stripped end of the wire is inserted into a connector clamped between the crimping tip (442) and the duel crimping cavity (42). With the arms (10,20) being brought together to the closed position, the connector will be deformed by the crimping tip (442) and tightly engage with the stripped end of the wire. Accordingly, the wire and the connector can be connected conveniently. In addition, with the C-shaped jaws (14,24), a connector with a large dimension can also be held between the jaws (14,24) so that the wire crimping tool can fit with different types and sizes connector.

Furthermore, with reference to FIG. 9, the connector can be tightly held by the crimping device (40) to be inserted with a wire in a narrow space for crimping the connector with the wire. Therefore, the wire crimping tool can be operated in a narrow condition or in a lateral or vertical direction, so the wire crimping tool in accordance with the present invention is convenient in use.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. A wire crimping tool comprising:

two arms pivotally connected to each other and each arm having two ends, a handle formed one end of the arm and a jaw formed on the other end of the arm; and
an adjustable wire crimping device mounted on the jaws of the arms and comprising a duel crimping cavity defined in a first one of the jaws and aligning with a second one of the jaws, wherein the crimping cavity comprises an upper segment with a bottom and a lower segment; and the lower segment is defined in the bottom of the upper segment and has a diameter smaller than that of the upper segment; and a threaded extension member adjustably mounted in the second jaw and having a crimping tip extending out of the second jaw and aligning with and extending into the duel crimping cavity.

2. The wire crimping tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the second jaw has a threaded through hole defined through the second jaw and aligning with the duel crimping cavity; and a positioning threaded hole defined in a side of the second jaw and communicating with the threaded through hole;
the threaded extension member is mounted in the through hole in the second jaw; and
a lock screw is screwed into the positioning threaded hole and has an end abutting against the threaded extension member to hold the threaded extension member in position.

3. The wire crimping tool as claimed in claim 2, wherein each jaw is C-shaped to define a space between the jaws.

4. The wire crimping tool as claimed in claim 3, wherein the jaws each have a cutting end facing and selectively abutting against with each other; and

the cutting end of each jaw has a triangular section to form a sharp tip on the cutting end for cutting and stripping insulated wires.

5. The wire crimping tool as claimed in claim 4, wherein each arm further has a plate formed on the handle of the arm having an edge and corresponding to and selectively abutting with the plate on the other arm; and

a stripping device is mounted between the edges of the plates on the arms and comprises multiple stripping holes defined in and along the edges of the plates and having diameters different from each other.

6. The wire crimping tool as claimed in claim 5, wherein a crimping device is mounted between the edges of the plates on the arms and comprises

a recess defined in the edge of the plate on a first one of the arms; and
at least one crimping edge formed on the edge of the plate on a second one of the arms and aligning with the recess in the first arm.

7. The wire crimping tool as claimed in claim 6, wherein each arm has a coat made of an insulating material mounted around the handle.

8. The wire crimping tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein each jaw is C-shaped to define a space between the jaws.

9. The wire crimping tool as claimed in claim 8, wherein the jaws each have a cutting end facing and selectively abutting against with each other; and

the cutting end of each jaw has a triangular section to form a sharp tip on the cutting end for cutting and stripping insulated wires.

10. The wire crimping tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein each arm further has a plate formed on the handle of the arm, having an edge and corresponding to and selectively abutting with the plate on the other arm; and

a stripping device is mounted between the edges of the plates on the arms and comprises multiple stripping holes defined in and along the edges of the plates and having diameters different from each other.

11. The wire crimping tool as claimed in claim 10, wherein a crimping device is mounted between the edges of the plates on the arms and comprises

a recess defined in the edge of the plate on a first one of the arms; and
at least one crimping edge formed on the edge of the plate on a second one of the arms and aligning with the recess in the first arm.

12. The wire crimping tool as claimed in claim 10, wherein a wire cutter is mounted between the edges of the plates on the arms and comprises a cutting edge defined in the edge of one of the plates for cutting a wire with a desired length.

13. The wire crimping tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein each arm has a coat made of an insulating material mounted around the handle.

Patent History
Publication number: 20080098791
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 31, 2006
Publication Date: May 1, 2008
Inventors: Ross Phillip Clark (Portland), Heather Lorraine Clark (Portland)
Application Number: 11/589,894
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Electrical Connector (72/409.14)
International Classification: B21F 15/00 (20060101);