TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to pliers. More particularly, the present invention relates to crimping pliers having an angled crimping location.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Crimping tools are a common hand tool used in electrical applications. Crimping tools crimp a connector to a terminal end of a wire, typically by crimping or plastically deforming the connector to compress an electrically conductive material inside of the connector (e.g., a metal) against a bare, terminal portion of the wire being connected, thus electrically bonding the wire to the connector. The tools include handles that are pivotally coupled and can be brought together, thereby causing jaws to close on the connector to crimp the connector, such as common with pliers.

A conventional crimping tool is shown inFIG. 14. As shown, a tool1400includes a first handle1405and a second handle1410that are pivotally connected and that a user can grip to apply a crimping force to a connector C. The crimping tool1400can include a crimper1415with a first crimping surface1420and a second crimping surface1425. The connector C can be inserted within these two surfaces1420,1425and, based on the force of the handles1405,1410, can crimp by plastically deforming the connector C to couple the connector C to a wire terminal end.

As shown, the crimping tool1400typically includes crimping surfaces1420,1425that are disposed on the side of the jaws and extend perpendicular to the axis along which the tool1400extends. In this manner, the tool1400must be inserted into an area with sufficient clearance for the handles1405,1410surrounding the connector C, and can therefore be difficult to use in hard to reach areas.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention broadly comprises a wire-crimping tool having a crimping opening located within the jaws of the tool and extending at an angle to the axial direction of the jaws. The tool can include multiple crimping openings, with one of the openings being substantially in line with the longitudinal axis of the tool; and another of the crimping openings extending at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the tool. For example, the angled opening can extend normal to a face of the tool that extends at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the tool. In this manner, the tool allows for crimping of wire connectors at a variety of different angles, reduced jaw size, and improved leverage on the crimpers due to their proximity to the connection point of the first and second handles of the tool.

In particular, the present invention broadly comprises a tool having a longitudinal axis and includes a first handle extending to a first jaw and a second handle extending to a second jaw. The first and second jaws cooperatively define first and second faces. The tool further includes a connection point pivotably coupling the first and second jaws, with a first crimper cooperatively defined by the first and second jaws and extending from the first face at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis, and a second crimper cooperatively defined by the first and second jaws and extending from the second face at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis.

The present invention also broadly comprises a tool having a longitudinal axis and includes a first handle extending to a first jaw and a second handle extending to a second jaw. The first and second jaws cooperatively define first and second faces. The first face extends at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis, and the second face extends perpendicular relative to the longitudinal axis. The tool further includes a connection point pivotably coupling the first and second jaws, a first crimper cooperatively defined by the first and second jaws and extending from the first face at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis, and a second crimper cooperatively defined by the first and second jaws and extending from the second face at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis.

The present invention further broadly comprises a tool having a longitudinal axis and includes a first handle extending to a first jaw and a second handle extending to a second jaw. The first and second jaws cooperatively define first and second faces. The first face extends at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis, and the second face extends from the first face at an angle relative to the first face. The tool can further include a connection point pivotably coupling the first and second jaws, a first crimper cooperatively defined by the first and second jaws and extending from the first face at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis, and a second crimper cooperatively defined by the first and second jaws and extending from the second face at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis.

