Dual in line package handling tool

Claim 2

A tool for handling electronic modular circuit packages having two rows of nearly parallel diverging spaced contact leads, said tool comprising: a first elongated member having a handle portion and a jaw portion; a second elongated member having a handle portion and a jaw portion, said first and second members being pivotally interconnected at a point intermediate their respective handles and jaws so that said handles may be cooperatively manipulated to open and close said jaws, said jaws each being formed with a shoulder projecting inwardly and having a surface facing the forward end of said tool; and first stop means coacting with said first and second members and acting to permit said jaws to close only to a positively adjustable predetermined spaced relationship.

Claim 3

The tool recited in claim 1 wherein each said jaw is further formed with a ridge extending across the full width of the forward end thereof, said ridges on said jaws projecting inwardly toward each other in confronting spaced relationship.

Claim 4

The tool recited in claim 2 wherein said shoulders are spaced rearwardly of said ridges, said shoulders being adapted to abut the top of said package while said ridges engage the contact leads extending therefrom.

Claim 5

The tool recited in claim 1 wherein the forward surfaces of said shoulders define a plane spaced rearwardly from the forward ends of said jaws.

Claim 6

The tool recited in claim 3 wherein said first stop means is adjustable so that said rows of contact leads are brought into substantially parallel relationship with said jaws are closed to the limit permitted by said first stop means.

Claim 7

The tool recited in claim 1 wherein said first and second members are formed with abutting surfaces which act as a second stop means to limit the oepning of said jaws to a predetermined spacing greater than the spacing between said jaws permitted by said first stop means.

Claim 8

The tool recited in claim 6, further comprising a spring between said first and second members urging them apart so that said tool is normally in its open position as limited by said second stop means.

Claim 9

The tool recited in claim 1 wherein said first stop means comprises a shaft having one end threaded and adjustably engaging one of said handles at said threaded end, said shaft being formed with a reduced diameter portion adjacent the other end terminated by shoulders at either end of said reduced diameter portion, said reduced diameter portion passing through a bore in the other of said handles, the distance between the open position and the closed position of said tool being defined for any setting of said shaft by the constant distance between said shoulders at either end of said reduced diameter portion.

Claim 10

The tool recited in claiM 1 wherein each said jaw is further formed with spaced teeth in a row extending across the full width of the forward end thereof, said rows of teeth on said jaws projecting inwardly toward each other in confronting spaced relationship.

Claim 11

The tool recited in claim 9 wherein said teeth are spaced forward of said shoulders and include an inner sloping surface extending rearwardly from the inwardly projecting ends of said teeth, said shoulders being adapted to abut the top of said package while said teeth extend between said contact leads and said sloping surfaces engage the bottom corner of said package.

Claim 12

The tool recited in claim 10 wherein said first stop means is adjustable so that the tips of said teeth extend under said package sufficiently for said sloping surface to urge said package snugly against said shoulders when said jaws are closed to the limit permitted by said first stop means.

Claim 13

A tool for handling electronic modular circuit packages having two rows of nearly parallel diverging spaced contact leads, said tool comrising: a first elongated member having a handle portion and a jaw portion; a second elongated member having a handle portion and a jaw portion, said first and second members being pivotally interconnected at a point intermediate their respective handles and jaws so that said handles may be cooperatively manipulated to open and close said jaws; first stop means mounted between said first and second members and acting to permit said jaws to close only to an adjustably predetermined spaced relationship; and a spring between said first and second members urging them apart so that said tool is normally in an open position; second stop means between said first and second members to limit the normally open position of said jaws to a predetermined spacing; said jaws being formed with ridges at their forward ends extending across the full width thereof and projecting inwardly toward each other in confronting spaced relationship, said jaws also being formed with inwardly extending forward facing shoulders rearwardly spaced from said ridges, said shoulders being adapted to abut the top of said package while said ridges engage said contact leads and urge them into substantially parallel relationship when said jaws are closed to the limit permitted by said first stop means.

Claim 14

A tool for handling electronic modular circuit packages having two rows of nearly parallel diverging spaced contact leads, said tool comrising: a first elongated member having a handle portion and a jaw portion; a second elongated member having a handle portion and a jaw portion, said first and second members being pivotally interconnected at a point intermediate their respective handles and jaws so that said handles may be cooperatively manipulated to open and close said jaws; first stop means mounted between said first and second members and acting to permit said jaws to close only to an adjustably predetermined spaced relationship; and a spring between said first and second members urging them apart so that said tool is normally in an open position; second stop means between said first and second members to limit the normally open position of said jaws to a predetermined spacing; said jaws being formed with ridges at their forward ends extending across the full width thereof and projecting inwardly toward each other in confronting spaced relationship, said jaws also being formed with inwardly extending forward facing shoulders rearwardly spaced from said ridges, said shoulders being adapted to abut the top of said package while said ridges engage said contact leads and urge them into substantially parallel relationship when said jaws are closed to the limit permitted by said first stop means.

Claim 15

A tool for handling electronic modular circuit packages having two rows of nearly parallel diverging spaced contact leads, said tool comprising: a first elongated member having a handle portion and a jaw portion; a second elongated member having handle portion and a jaw portion, said first and second members being pivotally interconnected at a point intermediate their respective handles and jaws so that said handles may be cooperatively manipulated to open and close said jaws; first stop means mounted between said first and second members and acting to permit said jaws to close only to an adjustably predetermined spaced relationship; a spring between said first and second member urging them apart so that said tool is normally in an open position; and second stop means between said first and second members to limit the normally open position of said jaws to a predetermined spacing; each of said jaws being formed with a row of spaced teeth extending across the full width of the forward end thereof, said rows of teeth projecting inwardly toward each other in confronting spaced relationship, said jaws also being formed with inwardly extending forward facing shoulders rearwardly spaced from said teeth, said shoulders being adapted to abut the top of said package while said teeth extend between said contact leads and engage the bottom of said package, said first stop means being adjustable so that the tips of said teeth extend under said package sufficiently for engagement of the bottom corners thereof when said jaws are closed to the limit permitted by said first stop means.

Claim 16

A tool for handling electronic modular circuit packages having two rows of nearly parallel diverging spaced contact leads, said tool comprising: a first elongated member having a handle portion and a jaw portion; a second elongated member having handle portion and a jaw portion, said first and second members being pivotally interconnected at a point intermediate their respective handles and jaws so that said handles may be cooperatively manipulated to open and close said jaws; first stop means mounted between said first and second members and acting to permit said jaws to close only to an adjustably predetermined spaced relationship; a spring between said first and second member urging them apart so that said tool is normally in an open position; and second stop means between said first and second members to limit the normally open position of said jaws to a predetermined spacing; each of said jaws being formed with a row of spaced teeth extending across the full width of the forward end thereof, said rows of teeth projecting inwardly toward each other in confronting spaced relationship, said jaws also being formed with inwardly extending forward facing shoulders rearwardly spaced from said teeth, said shoulders being adapted to abut the top of said package while said teeth extend between said contact leads and engage the bottom of said package, said first stop means being adjustable so that the tips of said teeth extend under said package sufficiently for engagement of the bottom corners thereof when said jaws are closed to the limit permitted by said first stop means.