US2948171A - Tool for adjusting the snap-action of a leaf-type operating device - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 9, 1960 L. v. LUCIBELLO TOOL FOR ADJUSTING THE SNAP-ACTION OF A LEAF-TYPE OPERATING DEVICE Filed Dct. 1958 INV EN TOR. Lam's Vi zzazZeZZo MM 4x701?? clips for numerous purposes.

TOOL FoR ADJUSTING THE SNAP-ACTION on" A LEAF-TYPE OPERATING DEVICE LouisV. Lucibello, 1858 DixweH Ave., Hamden 14, Conn.

Filed Oct. 2, 1958, Ser. No. 764,869

1 Claim. (Cl.81--1 This invention relates to a tool for adjusting the snapaction of a leaf-type operating device into different into different positions, usually two positions, and a leaftype spring or action arm thereon which at its free end is held out of its natural repose position so as to be resiliently stressed in a manner yieldingly to retain the operating element in at least one of its two positions, and

to snap the operating element into either of its positions on prying the same part-way from its other position. In the exemplary case of clips, the action arm is'sub- 'jected to bending stresses by being normally resiliently flexed at its free end against spaced dwells of a cam or shoulder formation on the pivot support of the operating element so as to hold the latter in its two-positions, respectively, and by being increasingly flexed as the operating element is pried from either of its positions until the action arm passes over the intermediate crest of the cam formation sufficiently to snap the operating element into its other position.

It is the primary aim and object of the present invention to provide a tool for quickly and accurately adjusting the magnitude of the resilient stresses in the action arms of snap-action devices of this type, ther'eby to adjust the force of the snap-action of their operating arms or elements into each of their positions.

It is' another object of the present invention to provide a tool which on simple application to the action arms of snap-action devices of this type and on as simple manipulation thereof, instantaneously adjusts the magnitude of the resilient stresses in these action arms by the simple expediency of permanently bending the latter.

'It is a further object of the present invention to provide a single tool which on simple application to the action arms of snap-action devices of this type in either of two reversed fashions and on the same simple manipulation thereof, instantaneously adjusts the magnitude of the resilient stresses in these action arms by the simple expediency of permanently bending the latter in either of two directions, thereby to increase or decrease the force of the snap-action of their operating arms or elements into each oftheir positions. 3

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tool for the aforementioned purpose which is of exceedingly simple construction, low cost and small size,

yet performs highly accurately on simple manipulation thereof without requiring any special skill on'the part of the manipulator.

It is also among the objects of the present invention to provide a tool especially, though by no means exclusively, for ready adjustment of the closing force of mass-produced, usually stamped-out, clips or locks of widely varying snap-actions on jewelry, and particularly I i United States Patent 2,948,171 Fatented Aug. 9, 1960 iearrings, of the low-cost custom variety which hereto- 7 individual feel and comfort.

Another object of the present invention is to provide .the aforementioned tool for any of its applications in a form resembling simple pliers, so that the tool may for the performance of its designated exacting function advantageously be held and manipulated with one hand with the same ease and control as ordinary pliers.

Other objects and advantages will appear to those skilled in the art from the following, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out the present invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1 is a side view of an exemplary earring releasably secured to a wearers ear lobe by a clip with which the present invention is concerned;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same earring clipped in place on the wearers earlobe;

Fig. 3 shows the earring with its clip open;

Fig. 4 is a side view of a tool embodying the present invention; 7

Figs. 5 and 6 are other views of the tool as seen in the direction of the arrows 5 and 6, respectively, in Fig. 4; and

Figs. 7 and 8 show the tool applied to the clip of the earring of Fig. 3 for increasing and decreasing the closing force of the clip, respectively.

Referring tothe drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3 thereof, the reference numeral 10 designates an object, in the present example an earring, which has a snap-type holding or clamp-on device 12 that is characteristic of devices of this type for which the tool to be-described of the present invention has been devised in order to adjust the snap or holding force of these devices. The exemplarly earring 10 comprises the usual setting 14 for an ornament 16, with the setting 14 being a part of the holding device 12. Suitably secured at 18 to the setting 14 in back thereof is a presently L-shaped support or bracket 20 having on its rearwardly extending leg 22 spaced upstanding end lugs or ears 24 provided with holes 26 in which are pivotally received lateral tongues 28 at the inner end of a leaf-type operating arm or element 30 which forms another part of the holding device 12. The element 30 is thus pivotally mounted on the support 20 for closure of the clamp-on device 12 on the ear lobe 1 of the wearer of the earring (Figs. land 2), or for opening this device for removal of the earring (Fig. 3). Hence, the operating arm 30 may in the present example be aptly termed the clamping arm of the holding device 12. i

The clamping arm 30 of the holding device 12 is also provided with a spring-type action arm 32 which at its free end is supported in such manner that this action arm is held under resilient stress, and more particularly bending stress or resilient fiexure for the snap-action of the clamping arm 30 into either of its closed or'open positions (Figs. 1 and 3) on prying it part-way from its other position. To this end, the clamping arm 30, which is made of adequately resilient material, preferably metal such as low-grade spring steel, for instance, has an integral punched-out tongue Which forms the action arm 32 and is at one end integral and continuous with a free endle'ngth of the clamping arm 30. The action arm' 32 is presently flanked by opposite legs 34 of the clamping arm 30 (Fig. 2). The action arm 32'is held under resilient bending stress or fiexure through cooperation between its free end and a :cam or shoulder formation 36 which presently is in the f orm of a rearward extension of thesupport leg 22'beyo'nd the ears 24 thereon, with this extension being furthermore slightly offset inwardly from the bases of the ears 22 in the present example (Figs. 2 and 3). Thus, the action arm 32 bears in the open position of the clamping arm 36 against one side or dwell, presently the lower side (Fig. 3), of the cam formation 36 and is thus held resiliently flexed to retain the clamping arm 34) yieldingly in its open position. Conversely, the clamping arm 30 is in its closed position, presently against the wearers ear lobe I (Fig. 1), biased with sufiicient force against the latter to hold the earring thereon, by engagement of the free end of the action arm 32 with the junction, presently edge, between the other side or dwell of the cam formation 36 and the top or crest thereof. Of course, if the ear lobe were not in the way, the clamping arm 30 would be snapped all the way into engagement with the setting 14 with gradually decreasing force, however, as will be readily understood.

On prying the clamping arm 39 from its closed position (Fig. 1) toward its open position (Fig. 3), the same will at first resist such opening movement with gradually increasing force until the free end of the action arm 32 has passed the top or crest of the cam formation 36 and comes to bear against the junction of this crest and the lower side or dwell of the cam formation in an angular position in which the resultant force of the resiliently flexed action arm 32 urges the latter, and with it the clamping arm 30, first with maximum force and then with gradually diminishing force into the position shown in Fig. 3. Conversely, on prying the clamping arm 30 from its open position (Fig. 3) toward its closed position (Fig. 1), the action arm 32 will at first resist such closing movement of the clamping arm with increasing force until the action arm arrives in a position short of that in Fig. 1, and more particularly in an angular position of unstable equilibrium in which the resultant force of this resiliently flexed action arm urges the clamping arm with almost maximum force into its presently closed position against the wearers ear lobe 1.

One of the pressing problems that led to the tool tobe-described of the present invention are mass-produced low-cost earrings of the custom variety, as shown, which were found to lack wide appeal to the purchasing public because of the lack of adjustability of the holding devices 12 thereof to the individual feel and comfort of prospective purchasers. Thus, the holding devices on these earrings close in most cases either too tightly or too loosely on the ear lobes of interested customers and hence, feel uncomfortable if not painful, or drop off shortly, yet sales personnel had hitherto no way of adjusting these holding devices to proper fit and comfortable and safe wear, save by crude attempts with conventional tools which mostly ruined the holding devices beyond worthwhile repair.

To the end of solving this problem in particular, but by no means exclusively, there is provided the tool 40 in Figs. 4 to 6. This tool, in its preferred form, resembles simple pliers having two levers with opposite jaws 42 and 44 of which inclined rear lengths 46 and 48, respectively, are pivotally connected as at 50. The jaw 42 and its pivoted inclined rear length 46 are presently in the form of a blade of uniform thickness (Figs. and 6), and the oposite jaw 44 is presently also of the same thickness as the jaw 42 (Fig. 6), but its pivoted inclined rear length 48 is of greater thickness and is slotted at 52 for fitted reception of the inclined rear length 46 of the other jaw 42. Continuous with the inclined rear lengths 46 and 48 of the jaws 42 and 44 are suitable handles 54 and 56, respectively, for manipulation of the latter. The jaws 42 and 44 are preferably normally urged into their open position (Fig. 4) by a preloaded spring 58 which is interposed between the handles 54 and S6 and held thereon by pins 60 and 62, respectively.

One of the jaws, presently the jaw 42, has two projections or fulcrum elements 64 and 66 spaced apart longitudinally thereof a distance approximately equal,

more or less, to the length of the action arm 32, and facing the oposite jaw 44. These fulcrum elements 64 and 66 are presently formed integrally with the jaw 42 and have preferably rounded fulcrum ends or surfaces 68 and 70, respectively, these fulcrum elements further leaving a gap g between them.

The other jaw, presently the jaw 44, has a projection or fulcrum element 72 which may be in all respects like either of the fulcrum elements 64 or 66, and confronts the opposite jaw 42. The fulcrum element 72, which resently is formed integrally with the jaw 44, is located on the latter so as to be intermediate, and preferably substantially midway between, the fulcrum elements 64 and 66 on the oposite jaw 42.

Assuming now that the holding device 12 of the exemplary earring 14? (Fig. 1) closes too loosely on the wearers ear lobe, the present tool 40 is applied to the holding device 12 in a manner like or similar to that shown in Fig. 7, and preferably when the clamping arm 30 is in its open position. Thus, in order to increase the closing and holding force of the holding device 12,

the jaw 42 preferably terminates at this fulcrum element 64. Preferably also, the other jaw 44 terminates in close proximity to its fulcrum element 72. Jawclosing pressure may next be applied to the handles 54 and 56 of the tool, with the result that the action arm 32 will be permanently bent into steeper or more pronounced curve shape and its preload will be correspondingly increased which causes the transmission of a closing and opening force of increased magnitude to the clamping arm 30 from the action arm 32 through cooperation of the latter with the cam formation 36, as will be readily understood. Conversely, if the holding device 12 of the exemplary earring 10 closes too tightly on the wearers ear lobe, the present tool 40 is applied to the holding device in a manner like or similar to that shown in Fig. 8, and preferably also when the clamping arm 30 is in its open position. Thus, in order to decrease the closing and holding force of the holding device 12, the two fulcrum elements 64 and 66 may be brought to bear anywhere against the support leg 22 or cam formation 36 and near the inner end of the action arm 32, but it is imperative that the single fulcrum element 72 be brought to bear against that surface of the action arm which faces away from the clamping arm 30. Jaw-closing pressure may then be applied to the handles 54 and 56 of the tool. with the result that the action arm 32 will be permanently bent into less steep or less pronounced curve shape and its preload will be correspondingly decreased which causes the transmission of a closing and opening force of decreased magnitude to the clamping arm 30 from the action arm 32 through cooperation of the latter with the cam formation 36, as will also be readily understood.

Another feature of the present tool 40 for regulating the closing force of a holding or clamp-on device of the present type 12 or a similar type is the provision of a clearance space between the fulcrum element 66 and the pivot connection 50 of the jaws for the reception of the free endlength of the clamping arm 30 with which the action arm 32 is at one end integral and continuous (Figs. 2, 7 and 8), with this free endlength of the clamping arm 30 having in this clearance space freedom to respond in free motion to any permanent flexing of the action arm 32 by the tool.

The closing force, and also the opening force, of the holding device 12 may thus be adjusted or regulated instantaneously and accurately with the present tool 40 on its described simple application to the holding device and on merely applying to the handles of the tool jaw-closing pressure of the correct magnitude, which may readily be achieved at a single try most of the time after the operator has gotten the feel of the tool and its response to manual pressure on the handles thereof after a few tries. Obviously, this task requires no special skill on the part of the operator. Moreover, on mere application of the same tool in either of two reverse fashions on holding devices of this type (Figs. 7 and 8), the closing forces of the latter may be increased or decreased, as required. Accordingly, and in the specific exemplary'case of mass-produced low-cost earrings of the custom variety, even technically unskilled sales personnel are fully capable to use the present tool right at the sales counter and accurately fit the holding devices of these earrings to the ears of customers for comfortable and safe wear and to the entire satisfaction of the latter. It is also fully within the capacity of any purchaser of these earrings to use the present tool thereon for their accurate fit and cornfortable and safe wear on her ears.

While the use of the present tool 40 has herein been demonstrated on an earring with the exemplary holding device 12, the tool is in its use by no means limited either to earrings or to the specific holding device 12, but may have many other applications generally involving spring-force adjustment or regulation of the resiliently bent action arms of snap-action operating elements, such as are frequently used in snap-type electric switches, just to mention another example.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive,

and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

A plier-type tool for increasing or decreasing the holding force of pivot-mounted jewelry holders having clamp-on endlengths remote from, and remaining continuing lengths to, their pivot mounts, and longitudinal leaf-type snap-action arms struck from their remaining lengths and continuous with their endlengths, comprising a pair of levers pivoted intermediate their ends to provide opposed jaws and opposed handles on opposite sides of the pivot axis, with the jaws having three porjections terminating in fulcrum ends, of which two first projections extend from one jaw toward the other jaw and the remaining projection extends from said other jaw toward said one jaw substantially midway between said first projections, said first projections being spaced apart to span at least the greater part of a snap-action arm, and said first and remaining projections being adapted for application to a snap-action arm therebetween in reversible fashion and to impart on their variable closure on the arm variable permanent flexure in either of two opposite directions to the latter and thereby increase or decrease the holding force of its holder, and said jaws being between the pivot connection of said levers and the nearest projection on said one jaw spaced from each other sufficiently to provide clearance space for the reception of the clamp-on endlength with which the arm is continuous with freedom to respond in free motion to the permanent flexing of the arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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