Plastic inserter

Claim 2

A gripping device, comprising: a first jaw means for gripping an elongated member; second jaw means movable with respect to said first jaw means between open and closed positions for permitting entry of said elongated member between said first and second jaw means, or removal of said elongated member from said first and second jaw means, when said first and second jaw means are relatively open, and for gripping said elongated member in a cooperative manner with said first jaw means when said first and second jaw means are relatively closed; first handle means operatively connected to said first jaw means; second handle means operatively connected to said second jaw means for cooperating with said first handle means such that when said first and second handle means are moved toward each other said first and second jaw means are relatively open, while when said first and second handle means are moved away from each other, said first and second jaw means are relatively closed with respect to each other; cylindrical cavity means, defining a cylindrical cavity having a longitudinal axis along which said elongated member is housingly disposed when gripped by said first and second jaw means, for hingedly connecting said first and second jaw means together so as to permit said relative open and closed movements to occur about a hinge axis which is substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said cylindrical cavity, wherein one of said first and second handle means is provided with means for biasing said first and second handle means apart so as to in turn bias said first and second jaw means together; and the other one of said first and second handle means is provided with groove means for detachably receiving an end portion of said biasing means whereby said first and second handle means may be detachably connected together in a biased condition.

Claim 3

A gripping device as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said first and second jaw means, said first and second handle means, and said cylindrical cavity means are all fabricated from molded plastic material.

Claim 4

A gripping device as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said plastic material is polypropylene.

Claim 5

A gripping device as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said biasing means comprises a flexible elastic member interposed between said first and second handle means.

Claim 6

A gripping device, comprising: first jaw means for gripping an elongated member; second jaw means movable with respect to said first jaw means between open and closed positions for permitting entry of said elongated member between said first and second jaw means, or removal of said elongated member from said first and second jaw means, when said first and second jaw means are relatively open, and for gripping said elongated member in cooperation with said first jaw means when said first and second jaw means are relatively closed; first handle means operatively connected to said first jaw means; second handle means operatively connected to said second jaw means for cooperating with said first handle means such that when said first and second handle means are moved toward each other said first and second jaw means are relatively open, while when said first and second handle means are moved away from each other, said first and second jaw means are relatively closed with respect to each other; said first and second jaw means defining first and second portions of a cylindrical cavity having a longitudinal axis along which said elongated member is housingly disposed when gripped by said first and second jaw means; and hinge means, defining a third portion of said cylindrical cavity, for hingedly interconnecting said first and second jaw means so as to permit said relatively open and closed movements of said first and second jaw means to occur about a hinge axis which is incorporated within said third cylindrical cavity defining portion and which is disposed substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said cylindrical cavity; each of said first and second jaw means including a half section, in the circumferential direction of said cylindrical cavity, which is tapered in the direction of said longitudinal axis of said cylindrical cavity.

Claim 7

A gripping device, comprising: first jaw means for gripping an elongated member; second jaw means movable with respect to said first jaw means between open and closed positions for permitting entry of said elongated member between said first and second jaw means, or removal of said elongated member from said first and second jaw means, when said first and second jaw means are relatively open, and for gripping said elongated member in cooperation with said first jaw means when said first and second jaw means are relatively closed; first handle means operatively connected to said first jaw means; second handle means operatively connected to said second jaw means for cooperating with said first handle means such that when said first and second handle means are moved toward each other said first and second jaw means are relatively open, while when said first and second handle means are moved away from each other, said first and second jaw means are relatively closed with respect to each other; said first and second jaw means defining first and second portions of a cylindrical cavity having a longitudinal axis along which said elongated member is housingly disposed when gripped by said first and second jaw means; and hinge means, defining a third portion of said cylindrical cavity, for hingedly interconnecting said first and second jaw means so as to permit said relatively open and closed movements of said first and second jaw means to occur about a hinge axis which is incorporated within said third cylindrical cavity defining portion and which is disposed substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said cylindrical cavity; each of said first and second jaw means including a half section, in the circumferential direction of said cylindrical cavity, which is tapered in the direction of said longitudinal axis of said cylindrical cavity.

Claim 8

A gripping device as set forth in claim 5, wherein: said first and second jaw means, and said hinge means, are all fabricated from molded plastic material.

Claim 9

A gripping device as set forth in claim 6, wherein: said plastic material comprises polypropylene.

Claim 10

A gripping device as set forth in claim 5, further comprising: first handle means operatively connected to said first jaw means; and second handle means operatively connected to said second jaw means for cooperating with said first handle means such that when said first and second handle means are moved toward each other, said first and second jaw means are relatively open, while when said first and second handle means are moved away from each other, said first and second jaw means are relatively closed with respect to each other.

Claim 11

A gripping device as set forth in claim 3, wherein: said first and second jaw means, said first and second handle means, and said hinge means, are all fabricated from molded plastic material.

Claim 12

A gripping device as set forth in claim 9, wherein: said plastic material is polypropylene.

Claim 13

A gripping device as set forth in claim 8, wherein: one of said first and second handle means is provided with means for biasing said first and second handle means away from each other so as to in turn bias said first and second jaw means together; and the other one of said first and second handle means is provided with means for engaging said biasing means whereby said first and second handle means are connected together in a biased condition.

Claim 14

A gripping device as set forth in claim 11, wherein: said biasing means comprises a flexible elastic member interposed between said first and second handle means.

Claim 15

A gripping device as set forth in claim 6, wherein: said first and second jaw means, and said hinge means are all fabricated from molded plastic material.

Claim 16

A gripping device as set forth in claim 13, wherein: said plastic material is polypropylene.

Claim 17

A gripping device, comprising: first jaw means for defining a first wall portion of a cylindrical cavity having a longitudinal axis; second jaw means for defining a second wall portion of said cylindrical cavity and movable with respect to said first jaw means between open and closed positions for permitting entry of an elongated member between said first and second jaw means, or removal of said elongated member from said first and second jaw means, when said first and second jaw means are relatively open, and for gripping said elongated member in cooperation with said first jaw means when said first and second jaw means are relatively closed; first handle means operatively connected to said first jaw means; second handle means operatively connected to said second jaw means for cooperating with said first handle means such that when said first and second handle means are moved toward each other said first and second jaw means are relatively open, while when said first and second handle means are moved away from each other, said first and second jaw means are relatively closed with respect to each other; and hinge means, integrally formed with said first and second jaw means as a single unit and defining a third wall portion of said cylindrical cavity within which said elongated member is disposed when said first and second jaw means are relatively closed, for hingedly interconnecting said first and second jaw means together so as to permit said relatively open and closed movements of said first and second jaw means to occur about a hinge axis which is incorporated within said third wall portion of said cylindrical cavity so as to extend substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said cylindrical cavity along which said elongated member is disposed when gripped by said first and second jaw means; each of said first and second jaw means including a half section, in the circumferential direction of said cylindrical cavity, which is tapered in the direction of said longitudinal axis of said cylindrical cavity.

Claim 18

A gripping device, comprising: first jaw means for defining a first wall portion of a cylindrical cavity having a longitudinal axis; second jaw means for defining a second wall portion of said cylindrical cavity and movable with respect to said first jaw means between open and closed positions for permitting entry of an elongated member between said first and second jaw means, or removal of said elongated member from said first and second jaw means, when said first and second jaw means are relatively open, and for gripping said elongated member in cooperation with said first jaw means when said first and second jaw means are relatively closed; first handle means operatively connected to said first jaw means; second handle means operatively connected to said second jaw means for cooperating with said first handle means such that when said first and second handle means are moved toward each other said first and second jaw means are relatively open, while when said first and second handle means are moved away from each other, said first and second jaw means are relatively closed with respect to each other; and hinge means, integrally formed with said first and second jaw means as a single unit and defining a third wall portion of said cylindrical cavity within which said elongated member is disposed when said first and second jaw means are relatively closed, for hingedly interconnecting said first and second jaw means together so as to permit said relatively open and closed movements of said first and second jaw means to occur about a hinge axis which is incorporated within said third wall portion of said cylindrical cavity so as to extend substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said cylindrical cavity along which said elongated member is disposed when gripped by said first and second jaw means; each of said first and second jaw means including a half section, in the circumferential direction of said cylindrical cavity, which is tapered in the direction of said longitudinal axis of said cylindrical cavity.

Claim 19

A gripping device as set forth in claim 15, further comprising: first handle means operatively connected to said first jaw means; and second handle means operatively connected to said second jaw means for cooperating with said first handle means such that when said first and second handle means are moved toward each other, said first and second jaw means are relatively open, while when said first and second handle means are moved away from each other, said first and second jaw means are relatively closed with respect to each other.

Claim 20

A gripping device, comprising: first jaw means for gripping an elongated member; second jaw means movable with respect to said first jaw means between open and closed positions for permitting entry of said elongated member between said first and second jaw means, or removal of said elongated member from said first and second jaw means, when said first and second jaw means are relatively open, and for gripping said elongated member in a cooperative manner with said first jaw means when said first and second jaw means are relatively closed; first handle means operatively connected to said first jaw means; second handle means operatively connected to said second jaw means for cooperating with said first handle means such that when said first and second handle means are moved toward each other, said first and second jaw means are relatively open, while when said first and second handle means are moved away from each other, said first and second jaw means are relatively closed with respect to each other; cylindrical cavity means, defining a cylindrical cavity having a longitudinal axis along which said elongated member is housingly disposed when gripped by said first and second jaw means, for hingedly connecting said first and second jaw means together so as to permit said relative open and closed movements to occur about a hinge axis which is substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said cylindrical cavity; and wherein one of said first and second handle means is provided with a window through which a free end of said other one of said first and second handle means can be moved about said hinge axis in order to maintain said first and second jaw means in a relatively open state.

Claim 21

A gripping device, comprising: first jaw means for gripping an elongated member; second jaw means movable with respect to said first jaw means between open and closed positions for permitting entry of said elongated member between said first and second jaw means, or removal of said elongated member from said first and second jaw means, when said first and second jaw means are relatively open, and for gripping said elongated member in a cooperative manner with said first jaw means when said first and second jaw means are relatively closed; first handle means operatively connected to said first jaw means; second handle means operatively connected to said second jaw means for cooperating with said first handle means such that when said first and second handle means are moved toward each other, said first and second jaw means are relatively open, while when said first and second handle means are moved away from each other, said first and second jaw means are relatively closed with respect to each other; cylindrical cavity means, defining a cylindrical cavity having a longitudinal axis along which said elongated member is housingly disposed when gripped by said first and second jaw means, for hingedly connecting said first and second jaw means together so as to permit said relative open and closed movements to occur about a hinge axis which is substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said cylindrical cavity; and wherein one of said first and second handle means is provided with a window through which a free end of said other one of said first and second handle means can be moved about said hinge axis in order to maintain said first and second jaw means in a relatively open state.

Claim 22

A gripping device as set forth in claim 17, wherein: said first and second jaw means, and said hinge means, are all fabricated from molded plastic material.

Claim 23

A gripping device as set forth in claim 18, wherein: said plastic material is polypropylene.

Claim 24

A gripping device as set forth in claim 17, wherein: one of said first and second handle means is provided with a flexible elastic biasing member interposed between said first and second handle means for biasing said first and second handle means apart so as to in turn bias said first and second jaw means together; and the other one of said first and second handle means is provided with groove means for detachably receiving an end portion of said biasing member whereby said first and second handle means may be detachably connected together in a biased condition.