Multipurpose pliers

Claim 1

Multipurpose pliers comprising: a. a pair of elongated members each having a planar pivot portion intermediate its length with a pivot aperture therein, a handle portion extending in one direction from said pivot portion and to one side of said pivot aperture therein and a jaw portion extending in the opposite direction from said pivot portion to the opposite side of said pivot aperture therein, said elongated members having their planar pivot portions disposed in side by side sliding relationship and with said apertures thereof in alignment, said handle portions extending in said one direction from said pivot portion to provide substantial spacing therebetween throughout substantially the entire length thereof in the closed position of said pliers; and b. a pivot member seated in said pivot apertures and securing said pivot portions in surface contact for pivotable sliding movement therebetween, said jaw portions and handle portions respectively of said operating members being disposed on opposite sides of said pivot portion so as to lie on opposite sides thereof and said jaw portions being angularly offset towards each other from their respective pivot portions so as to extend in a common plane, said jaw portion having opposed edges extending in abutting relationship along a portion of their length when said operating members are pivoted into closed position, said opposed edges being configured to provide crimping means, wire cutting means, gripping means and wire stripping means, said crimping means being adjacent said pivot member and including at least one curved surface in each edge proximate said pivot member and forming a pair of aligned surfaces of different curvature which are opposed when said operating members are in said closed position; said wire cutting means including aligned, bevelled edge surfaces providing abutting knife edges in said closed position of said operating members, said edge surfaces being disposed outwardly from and adjacent said crimping means; said wire-stripping means being disposed on said edges outwardly from and adjacent said wire cutting means and including cooperating arcuate recesses in each of said edge positioned equidistantly from said pivot member and forming a sharp edge circular opening when said operating members are in said closed position; said gripping means including toothed edge portions at the end of the jaw portions distal to said pivot member and abutting in said closed position of said operating members; said pivot portions each including a plurality of cutter spaced from said pivot apertures therein, said cutter apertures being aligned when said operating members are pivoted into open position and arcuately misaligned when said operating members are pivoted into closed position whereby shearing action may be effected upon a member seating in the cooperating apertures in said open position of said operating members.