Strap tensioning and cut off tool

Claim 2

A tensioning and cut off tool for applying a strap wherein the strap has a locking collar and a free end, comprising a pair of swingable handles pivotally connected together, the handles having rear ends to be manually gripped and swung, and also having front ends with strap engaging means for gripping and tensioning the strap as the handles are swung toward each other, a cut off blade movably mounted on a portion of one of the handles to move against the strap for cutting the strap, one of the handles having a quick release operating mechanism connected with the blade for moving the blade against the strap when released, said operating mechanism releasing in response to a predetermined force manually applied to the handles as tension is applied to the strap, and said mechanism operating the blade when released to move the blade with a snap action to suddenly cut the strap, one of said handles including a support arm defining said blade mounting portion, said quick release operating mechanism including a pressure lever tiltably connected to the support arm, said pressure lever tilting on the support arm to produce movement of the blade for cutting the strap and the mechanism also including a pressure responsive releasable retainer normally retaining the pressure lever against tilting with respect to the support arm and releasing the lever for tilting when a predetermined pressure is applied on the lever causing swinging of the handle and resulting in predetermined pressure on the strap, and the quick release operating mechanism further including adjustment means for adjusting the predetermined force for releasing the operating mechanism such that the predetermined force for releasing the operating mechanism is variable.

Claim 3

A tensioning and cut off tool according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment means engages the pressure responsive releasable retainer.

Claim 4

A tensioning and cut off tool according to claim 1, wherein the releasable retainer comprises a spring pressed ball detent means connecting the support arm and pressure lever for releasably retaining the support arm and the pressure lever in the fixed relationship.

Claim 5

A tensioning and cut off tool according to claim 3, and wherein the releasable retainer includes relatively moving portions of the support arm and pressure lever, one of said moving portions having an indented seat, the other of said moving portions having a confining aperture aligned with the seat, a ball in the aperture and bearing on the seat, and a spring anchored on one of the portions and pressing the ball against the seat.

Claim 6

A tensioning and cut off tool according to claim 4, wherein the adjustment means includes a threaded pin connector engaging the spring and pressure lever, the pin connector including a knob threaded on the pin connector and bringing incremental pressure to bear on the spring and the ball, the knob being turnable to increase and decrease the incremental pressure.

Claim 7

A tensioning and cut off tool according to claim 3, wherein the adjustment means engages the spring pressed ball detent means.

Claim 8

A tensioning and cut off tool for applying a strap having a locking collar and a free end, comprising a pair of swingable handles pivotally connected together, the handles having rear ends to be manually gripped and swung, and also having front ends with strap engaging means for gripping and tensioning the strap as the handles are swung toward each other, a cut off blade movably mounted on a portion of one of the handles to move against the strap for cutting the strap, one of the handles having a quick release operating mechanism connected with the blade for moving the blade against the strap when released, said operating mechanism releasing in response to a predetermined force manually applied to the strap, and said mechanism operating the blade when released to move the blade with a snap action to suddenly cut the strap, one of the handles having means for resetting the operating mechanism to a fixed position from an operating position, the resetting means also returning the cut off blade to a rest position from an extended position, one of the handles being articulated and said front and rear ends being tiltably connected together for tilting between a rest position and an operating position, the tilting of said front and rear ends into operating position with respect to each other causing operation of said mechanism to move the blade for cutting the strap, said resetting means including a spring for returning the blade away from the strap when the front and rear ends of said one handle are returned to rest position, and the quick release operating mechanism including adjustment means for adjusting the predetermined force for releasing the operating mechanism such that the predetermined force for releasing the operating mechanism is variable.

Claim 9

A tensioning and cut off tool for applying a strap having a locking collar and a free end, comprising a pair of swingable handles pivotally connected together, the handles having rear ends to be manually gripped and swung, and also having front ends with strap engaging means for gripping and tensioning the strap as the handles are swung toward each other, a cut off blade movably mounted on a portion of one of the handles to move against the strap for cutting the strap, one of the handles having a quick release operating mechanism connected with the blade for moving the blade against the strap when released, said operating mechanism releasing in response to a predetermined force manually applied to the strap, and said mechanism operating the blade when released to move the blade with a snap action to suddenly cut the strap, one of the handles having means for resetting the operating mechanism to a fixed position from an operating position, the resetting means also returning the cut off blade to a rest position from an extended position, one of the handles being articulated and said front and rear ends being tiltably connected together for tilting between a rest position and an operating position, the tilting of said front and rear ends into operating position with respect to each other causing operation of said mechanism to move the blade for cutting the strap, said resetting means including a spring for returning the blade away from the strap when the front and rear ends of said one handle are returned to rest position, and the quick release operating mechanism including adjustment means for adjusting the predetermined force for releasing the operating mechanism such that the predetermined force for releasing the operating mechanism is variable.

Claim 10

A tensioning and cut off tool according to claim 7, wherein the adjustment means engages the articulated handle.

Claim 11

A tensioning and cut of tool for applying a strap wherein the strap has a locking collar and a free end, comprising a pair of swingable handles pivotally connected together, the handles having rear ends to be manually gripped and swung, and also having front ends with strap engaging means for gripping and tensioning the strap as the handles are swung toward each other, a cut off blade movably mounted on a portion of one of the handles to move against the strap for cutting the strap, one of the handles having a quick release operating mechanism connected with the blade for moving the blade against the strap when released, said operating mechanism releasing in response to a predetermined force manually applied to the handles as tension is applied to the strap, and said mechanism operating the blade when released to move the blade with a snap action to suddenly cut the strap, one of said handles including a support arm defining said blade mounting portion, said quick release operating mechanism including a pressure lever tiltably connected to the support arm, said arm tilting on the support arm to produce movement of the blade for cutting the strap and the mechanism also including a pressure responsive releasable retainer normally retaining the pressure lever against the tilting with respect to the support arm and releasing the lever for tilting when a predetermined pressure is applied on the lever causing swinging of the handle and resulting in predetermined pressure on the strap, and the strap engaging means being swingable and including an edge that engages the strap during the gripping and tensioning of the strap, the edge having an indent for decreasing the overall length of the edge and thereby minimizing the chances of a severing of the strap by the strap engaging means.

Claim 12

A tensioning and cut of tool for applying a strap wherein the strap has a locking collar and a free end, comprising a pair of swingable handles pivotally connected together, the handles having rear ends to be manually gripped and swung, and also having front ends with strap engaging means for gripping and tensioning the strap as the handles are swung toward each other, a cut off blade movably mounted on a portion of one of the handles to move against the strap for cutting the strap, one of the handles having a quick release operating mechanism connected with the blade for moving the blade against the strap when released, said operating mechanism releasing in response to a predetermined force manually applied to the handles as tension is applied to the strap, and said mechanism operating the blade when released to move the blade with a snap action to suddenly cut the strap, one of said handles including a support arm defining said blade mounting portion, said quick release operating mechanism including a pressure lever tiltably connected to the support arm, said arm tilting on the support arm to produce movement of the blade for cutting the strap and the mechanism also including a pressure responsive releasable retainer normally retaining the pressure lever against the tilting with respect to the support arm and releasing the lever for tilting when a predetermined pressure is applied on the lever causing swinging of the handle and resulting in predetermined pressure on the strap, and the strap engaging means being swingable and including an edge that engages the strap during the gripping and tensioning of the strap, the edge having an indent for decreasing the overall length of the edge and thereby minimizing the chances of a severing of the strap by the strap engaging means.

Claim 13

A tensioning and cut off tool according to claim 9, wherein the edge is disposed in a first plane and the indent includes a surface area disposed in a second plane oblique to the first plane.

Claim 14

A tensioning and cut off tool according to claim 9, wherein the strap engaging means includes a spring pressed piece pivotally mounted on one of the front ends, the piece including the edge with the indent.

Claim 15

A tensioning and cut off tool for applying a strap having a locking collar and a free end, comprising a pair of swingable handles pivotally connected together, the handles having rear ends to be manually gripped and swung, and also having front ends with strap engaging means for gripping and tensioning the strap as the handles are swung toward each other, a cut off blade movably mounted on a portion of one of the handles to move against the strap for cutting the strap, one of the handles having a quick release operating mechanism connected with the blade for moving the blade against the strap when released, said operating mechanism releasing in response to a predetermined force manually applied to the strap, and said mechanism operating the blade when released to move the blade with a snap action to suddenly cut the strap, one of the handles having means for resetting the operating mechanism to a fixed position from an operating position, the resetting means also returning the cut off blade to a rest position from an extended position, one of the handles being articulated and said front and rear ends being tiltably connected together for tilting between a rest position and an operating position, the tilting of said front and rear ends into operating position with respect to each other causing operation of said mechanism to move the blade for cutting the strap, said resetting means including a spring for returning the blade away from the strap when the front and rear ends of said one handle are returned to rest position, and the strap engaging mean being swingable and including a discontinuous edge that engages the strap during the gripping and tensioning of the strap for minimizing the chances of a severing of the strap by the strap engaging means.

Claim 16

A tensioning and cut off tool for applying a strap having a locking collar and a free end, comprising a pair of swingable handles pivotally connected together, the handles having rear ends to be manually gripped and swung, and also having front ends with strap engaging means for gripping and tensioning the strap as the handles are swung toward each other, a cut off blade movably mounted on a portion of one of the handles to move against the strap for cutting the strap, one of the handles having a quick release operating mechanism connected with the blade for moving the blade against the strap when released, said operating mechanism releasing in response to a predetermined force manually applied to the strap, and said mechanism operating the blade when released to move the blade with a snap action to suddenly cut the strap, one of the handles having means for resetting the operating mechanism to a fixed position from an operating position, the resetting means also returning the cut off blade to a rest position from an extended position, one of the handles being articulated and said front and rear ends being tiltably connected together for tilting between a rest position and an operating position, the tilting of said front and rear ends into operating position with respect to each other causing operation of said mechanism to move the blade for cutting the strap, said resetting means including a spring for returning the blade away from the strap when the front and rear ends of said one handle are returned to rest position, and the strap engaging mean being swingable and including a discontinuous edge that engages the strap during the gripping and tensioning of the strap for minimizing the chances of a severing of the strap by the strap engaging means.

Claim 17

A tensioning and cut off tool according to claim 12, wherein a first portion of the edge is disposed in a first plane and a second portion of the edge is disposed in a second plane oblique to the first plane.

Claim 18

A tensioning and cut off tool according to claim 12, wherein the strap engaging means includes a spring pressed piece pivotally mounted on one of the front ends, the piece including the discontinuous edge.