Multi-purpose fishing pliers

Claim 2

A pliers comprising: a first lever arm including an intermediate portion having a pivot axis, and a handle extending from the intermediate portion; a second lever arm generally complementary to the first lever arm and including an intermediate portion having a pivot axis, and a handle extending from the intermediate portion, the first and the second lever arms coupled along their pivot axes for relative pivoting movement between an open position and a closed position; a first cutting jaw formed with the intermediate portion of the first lever arm, the first cutting jaw having a first cutting edge; and a second cutting jaw formed with the intermediate portion of the second lever arm generally opposed to the first cutting jaw, the second cutting jaw having a second cutting edge, the first and the second cutting edges placed in butting engagement along a common cutting line when the first and the second lever arms are in a closed position; the first and the second cutting edges positioned so that their common cutting line is offset from the coupled pivot axes of the first and the second lever arms, whereby both a relative slicing motion and a relative compressive motion are produced between the first and the second cutting edges as the lever arms are opened and closed.

Claim 3

The pliers according to claim 1 wherein: an imaginary straight line extends from the pivot axes of the first and the second lever arms to an approximate center point of the first and the second cutting edges when the first and the second lever arms are in a closed position; and an angle formed between the common cutting line and said imaginary straight line is in a range of about 15°-55°.

Claim 4

The pliers according to claim 2 wherein: an imaginary straight line extends from the pivot axes of the first and the second lever arms to a center point of the first and the second cutting edges when the first and the second lever arms are in a closed position; and an angle formed between the common cutting line and said imaginary straight line is substantially 25°.

Claim 5

The pliers according to claim 3 wherein the first and second lever arms are coupled by a pivot assembly including a bearing sleeve and bearings, a shaft extending through the bearings, the shaft secured to hold the first and second lever arms together.

Claim 6

The pliers according to claim 3 wherein the first and second lever arms are coupled by a pivot assembly including: a first bushing press fit into an opening in the first lever arm and defining a bore therethrough; a second bushing press fit into an opening in the second lever arm and defining a bore therethrough aligned with the bore of the first bushing; a shaft inserted through the aligned bores of the bushings and including an enlarged head; and a bolt received in a threaded opening in the shaft and including an enlarged head, the bushings and lever arms secured together between the enlarged heads of the shaft and bolt.

Claim 7

The pliers according to claim 5 wherein the bushings each have a cylindrical body portion press fit into their respective lever arms, and each have an annular flange positioned adjacent the enlarged heads of the shaft and bolt, respectively.

Claim 8

The pliers as defined in claim 6 and further comprising: an O-ring positioned between the first and second lever arms surrounding the bushings; an O-ring between each of the enlarged heads of the shaft and bolt and the adjacent bushing, thereby sealing the interface between the shaft and the bushings.

Claim 9

The pliers according to claim 2 wherein the first and second lever arms are coupled by a pivot assembly including a bearing sleeve and bearings, a shaft extending through the bearings, the shaft secured to hold the first and second lever arms together.

Claim 10

The pliers according to claim 1 wherein the first cutting edge is formed as part of a first cutting blade secured to the first cutting jaw, and the second cutting edge is formed as part of a second cutting blade secured to the second cutting jaw.

Claim 11

The pliers according to claim 9 wherein the first and the second cutting blades are received in mating pockets defined in the first and the second cutting jaws.

Claim 12

The pliers according to claim 9 wherein the first and the second cutting blades are made of stainless steel.

Claim 13

The pliers according to claim 9 wherein the first and the second cutting blades are secured to the first and the second cutting jaws with screws.

Claim 14

The pliers according to claim 9 wherein the first and the second cutting edges are positioned on a side of the pliers.

Claim 15

The pliers according to claim 1 wherein the first and the second cutting edges are positioned on a side of the pliers.

Claim 16

The pliers according to claim 1 wherein the first and second lever arms are coupled by a pivot assembly including a bearing sleeve received in an opening defined by one of the first and second lever arms, bearings carried by the bearing sleeve, and a shaft extending through the bearings and through an opening in the other of the first and second lever arms, the shaft secured to hold the first and second lever arms together.

Claim 17

The pliers according to claim 15 wherein the shaft has an enlarged head engaged by one of the first and second lever arms and the shaft defines a threaded axial opening receiving a threaded bolt having an enlarged head engaged by the other of the first and second lever arms, thereby securing the first and second lever arms together.

Claim 18

The pliers according to claim 1 wherein the first and second lever arms are coupled by a pivot assembly including: a first bushing press fit into an opening in a first lever arm and defining a bore therethrough; a second bushing press fit into an opening in the second lever arm and defining a bore therethrough aligned with the bore of the first bushing; a shaft inserted through the aligned bores of the bushings and including an enlarged head of the shaft; and a bolt received in a threaded opening in the shaft and including an enlarged of the bolt, the bushings and lever arms secured together between the enlarged heads of the shaft and bolt.

Claim 19

The pliers according to claim 17 wherein the bushings each have a cylindrical body portion press fit into their respective lever arms, and each have an annular flange positioned adjacent the enlarged heads of the shaft and bolt, respectively.

Claim 20

The pliers as defined in claim 18 and further comprising: an O-ring positioned between the first and second lever arms surrounding the bushings; an O-ring between each of the enlarged heads of the shaft and bolt and the adjacent bushing, thereby sealing the interface between the shaft and the bushings.

Claim 21

The pliers according to claim 1 further comprising: a first gripping jaw extending from the intermediate portion of the first lever arm generally opposite the first handle and having a gripping surface; and a second gripping jaw extending from the intermediate portion of the second lever arm generally opposite the second handle and complementary to the first gripping jaw and having a gripping surface, the gripping surface of the second gripping jaw placed in butting engagement with the gripping surface of the second gripping jaw when the first and the second lever arms are in a closed position.

Claim 22

The pliers according to claim 1 wherein the first lever arm and the second lever arm are made of aluminum.

Claim 23

A pliers comprising: a first lever arm including an intermediate portion having a pivot axis, and a handle extending from the intermediate portion to a distal handle end of the first lever arm; a second lever arm complementary to the first lever arm and including an intermediate portion having a pivot axis, and a handle extending from the intermediate portion to a distal handle end of the second lever arm, the first and the second lever arms coupled along their pivot axis for relative pivoting movement between an open position and a closed position; a first gripping jaw extending from the intermediate portion of the first lever arm to a distal jaw end of the first lever arm, generally opposite the first handle, the first gripping jaw defining a channel extending from the intermediate portion of the first lever arm to the distal jaw end of the first gripping jaw; a first gripping insert having a gripping surface, the first gripping insert having a spline received and secured within the channel of the first gripping jaw; a second gripping jaw extending from the intermediate portion of the second lever arm to a distal jaw end of the second lever arm, generally opposite the second handle and complementary to the first gripping jaw, the second gripping defining a channel extending from the intermediate portion of the second lever arm to the distal jaw end of the second gripping jaw; a second gripping insert having a gripping surface placed in butting engagement with the gripping surface of the first gripping insert when the first and the second lever arms are in a closed position, the second gripping insert having a spline received and secured within the channel of the second gripping jaw; wherein the first and second lever arms are coupled by a pivot assembly including: a first bushing press fit into an opening in the first lever arm and defining a bore therethrough; a second bushing press fit into an opening in the second lever arm and defining a bore therethrough aligned with the bore of the first bushing; a shaft inserted through the aligned bores of the bushings and including an enlarged head; and a bolt received in a threaded opening in the shaft and including an enlarged head, the bushings and the lever arms secured together between the enlarged heads of the shaft and bolt.

Claim 24

A pliers comprising: a first lever arm including an intermediate portion having a pivot axis, and a handle extending from the intermediate portion to a distal handle end of the first lever arm; a second lever arm complementary to the first lever arm and including an intermediate portion having a pivot axis, and a handle extending from the intermediate portion to a distal handle end of the second lever arm, the first and the second lever arms coupled along their pivot axis for relative pivoting movement between an open position and a closed position; a first gripping jaw extending from the intermediate portion of the first lever arm to a distal jaw end of the first lever arm, generally opposite the first handle, the first gripping jaw defining a channel extending from the intermediate portion of the first lever arm to the distal jaw end of the first gripping jaw; a first gripping insert having a gripping surface, the first gripping insert having a spline received and secured within the channel of the first gripping jaw; a second gripping jaw extending from the intermediate portion of the second lever arm to a distal jaw end of the second lever arm, generally opposite the second handle and complementary to the first gripping jaw, the second gripping defining a channel extending from the intermediate portion of the second lever arm to the distal jaw end of the second gripping jaw; a second gripping insert having a gripping surface placed in butting engagement with the gripping surface of the first gripping insert when the first and the second lever arms are in a closed position, the second gripping insert having a spline received and secured within the channel of the second gripping jaw; wherein the first and second lever arms are coupled by a pivot assembly including: a first bushing press fit into an opening in the first lever arm and defining a bore therethrough; a second bushing press fit into an opening in the second lever arm and defining a bore therethrough aligned with the bore of the first bushing; a shaft inserted through the aligned bores of the bushings and including an enlarged head; and a bolt received in a threaded opening in the shaft and including an enlarged head, the bushings and the lever arms secured together between the enlarged heads of the shaft and bolt.

Claim 25

The pliers according to claim 22 wherein: the first gripping jaw defines a bore generally traverse to and intersecting the channel defined by the first gripping jaw, the spline of the first gripping insert defines a traverse bore in alignment with the bore defined by the first gripping jaw, and a first pin is wedged within the bore of the first gripping jaw and the bore of the spline to secure the first gripping insert to the first gripping jaw; and the second gripping jaw defines a bore generally traverse to and intersecting the channel defined by the second gripping jaw, the spline of the second gripping insert defines a traverse bore in alignment with the bore defined by the second gripping jaw, and a second pin is wedged within the bore of the second gripping jaw and the bore of the spline of the second gripping insert to secure the second gripping insert to the second gripping jaw.

Claim 26

The pliers according to claim 23 wherein the gripping surfaces of the first and the second gripping inserts are knurled.

Claim 27

The pliers according to claim 24 wherein the gripping surfaces of the first and the second gripping inserts are progressively more finely knurled nearer the distal jaw ends of the first and the second lever arms.

Claim 28

The pliers according to claim 25 wherein the first and the second gripping inserts are made of stainless steel.

Claim 29

The pliers according to claim 23 wherein the first lever arm and the second lever arm are made of aluminum.

Claim 30

The pliers according to claim 22 wherein the gripping surfaces of the first and the second gripping inserts are knurled.

Claim 31

The pliers according to claim 22 wherein the gripping surfaces of the first and the second gripping inserts are progressively more finely knurled nearer the distal jaw ends of the first and the second lever arms.

Claim 32

The pliers according to claim 22 further comprising: a first cutting jaw formed with the intermediate portion of the first lever arm, the first cutting jaw having a first cutting edge; and a second cutting jaw formed with the intermediate portion of the second lever arm generally opposed to the first cutting jaw, the second cutting jaw having a second cutting edge, the first and the second cutting edges in butting engagement along a common cutting line when the first and the second lever arms are in a closed position; the first and the second cutting edges positioned so that their common cutting line is offset from the coupled pivot axes of the first and the second lever arms, whereby both a relative slicing motion and a relative compressive motion are produced between the first and the second cutting edges as the first and the second lever arms are opened and closed.

Claim 33

The pliers according to claim 30 wherein: an imaginary straight line extends from the pivot axes of the first and the second lever arms to the an approximate center point of the first and the second cutting edges when the first and the second lever arms are in a closed position; and an angle formed between the common cutting line and said imaginary straight line is in a range of about 15°-55°.

Claim 34

The pliers according to claim 31 wherein: an imaginary straight line extends from the pivot axes of the first and the second lever arms to a center point of the first and the second cutting edges when the first and the second lever arms are in a closed position; and an angle formed between the common cutting line and said imaginary straight line is substantially 25°.

Claim 35

A plier comprising: a first lever arm including an intermediate portion having a pivot axis, and a handle extending from the intermediate portion to a distal handle end of the first lever arm; a second lever arm complementary to the first lever arm and including an intermediate portion having a pivot axis, and a handle extending from the intermediate portion to a distal handle end of the second lever arm, the first and the second lever arms coupled along their pivot axis for relative pivoting movement between an open position and a closed position; a first gripping jaw extending from the intermediate portion of the first lever arm to a distal jaw end of the first lever arm, generally opposite the first handle, a first gripping insert secured to the first gripping jaw and having a gripping surface, a second gripping jaw extending from the intermediate portion of the second lever arm to a distal jaw end of the second lever arm, generally opposite the second handle and complementary to the first gripping jaw, a second gripping insert having a gripping surface placed in butting engagement with the gripping surface of the first gripping insert when the first and the second lever arms are in a closed position, wherein the first and second lever arms are coupled by a pivot assembly including a bearing sleeve received in an opening defined by one of the first and second lever arms, cylindrical bearings carried by the bearing sleeve, and a shaft extending through and supported by the cylindrical bearings and through an opening in the other of the first and second lever arms, the shaft secured to hold the first and second lever arms together.

Claim 36

A plier comprising: a first lever arm including an intermediate portion having a pivot axis, and a handle extending from the intermediate portion to a distal handle end of the first lever arm; a second lever arm complementary to the first lever arm and including an intermediate portion having a pivot axis, and a handle extending from the intermediate portion to a distal handle end of the second lever arm, the first and the second lever arms coupled along their pivot axis for relative pivoting movement between an open position and a closed position; a first gripping jaw extending from the intermediate portion of the first lever arm to a distal jaw end of the first lever arm, generally opposite the first handle, a first gripping insert secured to the first gripping jaw and having a gripping surface, a second gripping jaw extending from the intermediate portion of the second lever arm to a distal jaw end of the second lever arm, generally opposite the second handle and complementary to the first gripping jaw, a second gripping insert having a gripping surface placed in butting engagement with the gripping surface of the first gripping insert when the first and the second lever arms are in a closed position, wherein the first and second lever arms are coupled by a pivot assembly including a bearing sleeve received in an opening defined by one of the first and second lever arms, cylindrical bearings carried by the bearing sleeve, and a shaft extending through and supported by the cylindrical bearings and through an opening in the other of the first and second lever arms, the shaft secured to hold the first and second lever arms together.