Hand tool for gripping and joining duct sections

Details Hand tool for gripping and joining duct sections Hand tool for gripping and joining duct sections

1998-06-10

2001-01-23

Watson, Robert C. (Department: 3723)

Metal working

Means to assemble or disassemble

Puller or pusher means, contained force multiplying operator

C081S420000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06175998

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a hand tool and, more particularly, to a hand tool for gripping and joining duct sections.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The installation of heating and air conditioning systems requires the installation of an extensive network of ducting which consists of a plurality of separate box-like duct sections which have been joined together along their respective peripheral edges into an adjoining and abutting relationship. The duct sections include respective peripheral adjoining and abutting drive edges adapted to receive drive cleats which securely clamp the respective adjoining duct sections together.
The procedure for gripping and joining adjacent duct sections together presently includes the use of a conventional screwdriver or the like prying device for initially prying the drive edges on the duct sections away from the outer surface of the duct section. The procedure also involves the use of a conventional pliers or the like hand tool for gripping the drive edges of the respective adjoining duct sections and subsequently joining the adjacent duct sections together into abutting relationship so as to allow the securement of the drive cleat thereto.
A problem associated with the use of a conventional pliers is that the jaws are not particularly structured to effectively and securely grip the respective duct drive edges. Another disadvantage is that a conventional pliers or the like tool cannot be clamped onto the drive edges and, as a result, one hand must remain on the tool at all times during the procedure. Because the procedure also requires holding up the bottom of the duct section which is being secured and further securing the drive cleat to adjoining duct sections, the assistance of a second person or the use of a third tool such as a lift or a ladder is required to hold the bottom of the duct section in place while the drive cleat is being applied and secured thereto.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,314,319 to Schmidt discloses a hand tool including jaws adapted to grasp the drive edges of adjacent duct sections and a toggle vice-grip type handle which allows the hand tool to be clamped to the duct sections after the duct sections have been joined together by the tool into adjacent and abutting engagement. The clamping feature allows the user to remove his/her hand from the tool to retrieve and secure a drive cleat onto the abutting drive edges of the respective adjoining duct sections.
A disadvantage associated with the Schmidt tool however is that it is usable only where the tool is disposed in an orientation generally perpendicular to the duct sections. This disadvantage is particularly significant where necessity requires, as it does in most situations, the installation of duct sections in close proximity to a wall or the like and there is insufficient room between the wall and the duct sections to orient the tool perpendicularly to the duct section.
Another disadvantage associated with the Schmidt tool is the forked jaw structure thereof allows the drive edges of the respective duct sections to be gripped only if the drive edges have previously been separated from the outer surface of the duct sections. However, since duct sections are fabricated in a manner in which the drive edges are smashed closed against the outer surface thereof, the drive edges must be pried away from the surface of the duct sections with another tool before the Schmidt tool can be used.
The hand tool of the present invention avoids the disadvantages associated with prior tools by providing a hand tool which is adapted to easily and efficiently open up the drive edges and subsequently grip and join together adjoining duct sections and which is useable in two different orientations, i.e., an orientation where the tool is positioned generally perpendicular to the duct sections and an orientation where, because of limited clearance space, the tool is positioned generally parallel to the duct sections.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a hand tool for use in gripping and joining together adjacent duct sections each including an outer surface and a peripheral drive edge. The hand tool comprises first and second handles and first and second jaws associated with the first and second handles respectively. The jaws are movable and positionable towards and away from each other in response to the movement of one or both of the first and second handles. Each of the first and second jaws includes a distal outwardly converging top surface. In another embodiment of the invention, each of the first and second jaws also includes a distal outwardly converging bottom surface which, in combination with the outwardly converging top surface, defines a tip.
According to the invention, the hand tool is operable in a orientation where the hand tool is disposed generally perpendicularly to the adjacent duct sections and the first and second jaws are brought into gripping engagement with the respective duct sections such that the top surface of the tip of the respective first and second jaws contiguously engages the outer surface of the respective duct sections and the bottom surface of the respective first and second jaws engages the drive edge of the respective duct sections to facilitate the wedging of the tip of the respective jaws between the outer surface and the drive edge of the respective duct sections.
Each of the first and second jaws further includes a notch in the tip which defines a tine. The tine allows the hand tool to be used in a second orientation where the hand tool is positioned generally parallel to the duct sections and the tine on the first and second jaws respectively is adapted to be wedged between the outer surface and the drive edge of the respective duct sections when the first and second jaws are brought into gripping engagement with the drive edge of the respective duct sections.
In both orientations, the duct sections are joined together into abutting relationship by bringing the jaws of the hand tool together after the jaws have gripped the drive edges of the duct sections respectively.
A lock assembly associated with the first and second handles allows the first and second jaws and the hand tool to be releasable clamped to the abutting duct sections after they have been joined together. The lock assembly allows a user to release his/her hand from the tool to retrieve and apply a drive cleat to the adjoining duct sections thereby securing the abutting duct sections together.
There are other advantages and features of the hand tool of the present invention which will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.


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