Patent
Apparatus for removing a coupler from tubing
| العنوان: | Apparatus for removing a coupler from tubing |
|---|---|
| Patent Number: | 9,527,195 |
| تاريخ النشر: | December 27, 2016 |
| Appl. No: | 13/665738 |
| Application Filed: | October 31, 2012 |
| مستخلص: | An apparatus for removing a coupler from tubing includes a pair of pivotally coupled elongated members. Proximal sections of the elongated members serve as handles, while other sections of the elongated members comprise structures for engaging the coupler and the tubing. The apparatus may be used, for example, to remove a coupler from flexible irrigation tubing. |
| Inventors: | Deane, Thomas C. (Redlands, CA, US) |
| Claim: | 1. An apparatus for removing a coupler from tubing, comprising: a first elongated member comprising a first proximal handle section and a first distal section, wherein: the first distal section comprises a cradle member for engaging the coupler, the cradle member comprises a surface that is oriented substantially parallel to a plane that lies along a longitudinal axis of the first distal section and that is aligned substantially parallel with an axis of a pivot point for the pivotal coupling of the first and second elongated members, and the cradle member defines an opening that extends to an edge of the cradle member for accepting a coupler oriented with a longitudinal axis of the coupler substantially perpendicular to the axis of the pivot point; and a second elongated member pivotally coupled to the first elongated member and comprising a second proximal handle section and a second distal section, wherein: the second distal section comprises a clamp member for engaging the tubing, the clamp member comprises a side wall that is oriented substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the second distal section, the clamp member comprises a lower wall that extends substantially perpendicular from the side wall, at least a portion of the lower wall is oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the second distal section, and the clamp member comprises a rotating member pivotally coupled to the side wall of the clamp member. |
| Claim: | 2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein: the surface is substantially flat; and the opening is within the surface and extends to an edge of the surface. |
| Claim: | 3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the cradle member comprises a plurality of protrusions that protrude from the surface for engaging an end of the coupler. |
| Claim: | 4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the cradle member comprises a partially cylindrical wall that is oriented substantially perpendicular to the surface for engaging at least one side of the coupler. |
| Claim: | 5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the partially cylindrical wall has an inner diameter within a range of approximately ⅜ of an inch to approximately 1 inch. |
| Claim: | 6. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the surface has an outer linear dimension within a range of approximately ½ of an inch to approximately 1 and ¼ inches. |
| Claim: | 7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the opening has a width within a range of approximately 5/16 of an inch to approximately ¾ of an inch. |
| Claim: | 8. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the surface comprises a rough surface for engaging the coupler. |
| Claim: | 9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lower wall comprises a rough upper surface for engaging the tubing. |
| Claim: | 10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the rough upper surface comprises a knurled surface. |
| Claim: | 11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lower wall has a width perpendicular to the side wall within a range of approximately 3/16 of an inch to approximately 1 and ¼ inches. |
| Claim: | 12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rotating member comprises a rough distal end surface for engaging the tubing. |
| Claim: | 13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the rough distal end surface comprises a knurled surface. |
| Claim: | 14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rotating member has a width perpendicular to the side wall within a range of approximately 3/16 of an inch to approximately 1 and ¼ inches. |
| Claim: | 15. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member coupled between the rotating member and the side wall. |
| Claim: | 16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the biasing member biases a distal end of the rotating member toward an upper surface of the lower wall. |
| Claim: | 17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the biasing member comprises a spring. |
| Claim: | 18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein: the first and second elongated members are pivotally coupled via a pivot pin; and the pivot pin extends through a hole in an intermediate section of the first elongated member. |
| Claim: | 19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein a distance from the pivot pin to a distal end surface of the rotating member is within a range of approximately ½ of an inch to approximately 2 inches. |
| Claim: | 20. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein: the pivot pin protrudes from the intermediate section of the first elongated member; or the pivot pin protrudes from the intermediate section of the second elongated member. |
| Claim: | 21. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the opening has a width within a range of approximately 5/16 of an inch to approximately ¾ of an inch. |
| Claim: | 22. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein: the rotating member and the side wall are pivotally coupled via a pivot pin; and a distance from the pivot pin to a lower edge surface of the rotating member is within a range of approximately ½ of an inch to approximately 2 inches. |
| Claim: | 23. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein: the first and second elongated members are pivotally coupled via a pivot pin; and the pivot pin extends through a hole in an intermediate section of the second elongated member. |
| Claim: | 24. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein: the cradle member further comprises a first arm and a second arm that extend in parallel from a third arm to define the opening; the surface comprises an outer surface of the first arm, an outer surface of the second arm, and an outer surface of the third arm; and the opening is located within an inner surface of the first arm, an inner surface of the second arm, and an inner surface of the third arm. |
| Patent References Cited: | 4522339 June 1985 Costa 4530142 July 1985 Schiffer 4769891 September 1988 Corral 5513425 May 1996 Williams 6581262 June 2003 Myers 6904660 June 2005 English 7617580 November 2009 Ellis 7918002 April 2011 Kissel 8308756 November 2012 Deskiewicz 2011/0167612 July 2011 Marshall 2012/0260481 October 2012 Hutchfield |
| Assistant Examiner: | Deonauth, Nirvana |
| Primary Examiner: | Carter, Monica |
| Attorney, Agent or Firm: | Loza & Loza, LLP Burbach, Stephen D. |
| رقم الانضمام: | edspgr.09527195 |
| قاعدة البيانات: | USPTO Patent Grants |
| الوصف غير متاح. |