Tool for applying and removing a spring clamp

Claim 1

In combination with an openable spring clamp of circular configuration and having a radially outwardly extending latch at one end and a latch hook at the other end, said latch hook having a radially outwardly extending portion, a circumferentially extending portion and a radially inwardly and reentrantly folded portion, a tool for closing and opening said spring clamp comprising: a pair of handles, a pin joining said handles for relative rotation, a pair of jaws on said handles, respectively, each of said jaws having a radially outer surface extending generally concentrically with the axis of rotation thereof about said pin, one of said jaws having an end portion that is relatively thin in radial dimension as related to the axis of rotation thereof and the other of said jaws having an end portion that is relatively thick in radial dimension as related, to the axis of rotation thereof, the thin end portion on said one jaw being engagable with the latch on said clamp and the thick end portion on said other jaw being engagable with the radially outwardly extending portion of the latch hook on said clamp whereby rotation of said jaws toward one another effects closure of said clamp, the thick end portion on the other of said jaws having a concave section on the radially inner face thereof engageable with the radially inwardly extending portion of the latch hook on said clamp upon reversal of said tool relative to said clamp thereby to cam said latch hook radially outwardly relative to said latch whereby said tool is reversible to effect both closure and opening of said spring clamp.