Hand Held Apparatus and Method for Pipe Crimping

U.S. Patent : Pending

Inventor : Joseph A. Hecht

The present invention relates generally to plumbing tools and, more specifically, to a hand tool having compressible jaws for Pipe Crimping. The tool is designed so that one of the jaws has a cavity for receiving an article to be held while the other jaw has a nub for exerting a concentrated point of pressure that creates a dimple when the jaws are engaged in a gripping action.

In use, flux is applied to the ends (inside and out side) of a pipe and pipe fitting. The pipe is inserted within the pipe fitting and the compression tool is then used to crimp the pipe fitting to the inserted pipe rendering both pipe and pipe fitting in a desired fixed state due to said crimp until soldering is performed.

As attorney for the inventor of the innovative new Hand Held Apparatus and Method for Pipe Crimping we are currently seeking investors and manufacturing companies to license, purchase patent rights or enter into a royalty agreement for this timely invention. Interested parties can reach the attorney at the contact numbers listed at the bottom of this page.

Invention Objectives & Goals

to provide a hand tool having compressible jaws incorporating means for creating at least one dimple within a pipe fitting that impinges on an interiorly positioned pipe

to provide a hand tool having compressible jaws with one jaw having a cavity for receiving an article to be held, the receiving jaw, while the other jaw, the crimping jaw, has a nub for exerting a concentrated point of pressure for creating said impinging dimple when the jaws are moved to engage the mated workpieces

to provide a compression tool that will crimp a pipe and a pipe fitting into a desired fixed position to prevent lateral and rotational movement during a soldering process

to provide a plurality of nubs positioned on said jaws to create a plurality of impinging dimples between mated workpieces

to provide a crimping tool wherein said plurality of nubs are positioned on said receiving jaw and said crimping jaw

to provide a crimping tool wherein said plurality of nubs are positioned on said crimping jaw

Patent Drawings

The following pictures are meant to display possible physical characteristics of the present invention and are not to be taken in a limiting sense. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

10 present invention 30 crimping jaw of 24

12 pipe 32 nub of 30

14 pipe fitting 34 main handle of 24

16 torch 36 inner spring

18 user 38 adjustment screw

20 user's hand 40 release handle

22 prior art 42 flux

24 pipe crimping compression tool 44 solder

26 receiving jaw of 24 46 abrasive cleaning elements

28 retaining cavity of 26 48 dimpled crimp

patent drawing

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1 is an illustrative view of prior art 20. Shown is the user 18 awkwardly trying to use a torch 16 to sweat the joints 15 between copper pipes 12 and the adjoining fitting 14. Where most big or small plumbing projects arise, a great deal of time is lost in the sweating or soldering of copper pipe joints 15, holding pipe 12 and fitting 14 while trying to prop them up, using broom sticks, buckets or other items, wishing you had three hands.

The present invention provides a tool that will eliminate this problem and can be used by all phases of the industry including residential, commercial, and industrial, do-it-yourselfer and home owner, additionally the present invention is small enough to fit in a pocket keeping it always in reach.

patent drawing

FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2 is a side view of the present invention 10. The present invention 10 is a hand held pipe crimping tool 24 having compressible jaws with an upper jaw 26 having a cavity 28 for receiving an article to be held while the bottom jaw 30 has a nub 32 for exerting a point of pressure greater than the rest of the jaw 30 when the jaws are engaged in a gripping action by compressing the release handle 40 and inner spring 36 against the main handle 34 which is adjusted accordingly with the adjustment screw 38. In use, flux is applied to the ends (inside and out side) of a pipe and pipe fitting. The pipe is inserted within the pipe fitting. The compression tool 24 is then used to crimp the pipe fitting to the inserted pipe rendering both pipe and pipe fitting in a desired fixed state. The compression tool 24 is now removed and soldering is then performed.

patent drawing

FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3 is a chart of the present invention 10. The above chart shows the procedure and use of the present invention 10. Cleaning and abrasive elements 46 are used to clean a pipe 12 and fitting 14 and flux 42 is applied to the ends (inside and out side) of the pipe 12 and pipe fitting 14. The pipe 12 is inserted within the pipe fitting 14. The compression tool 24 is then used to crimp the pipe fitting 14 to the inserted pipe 12 forming a dimpled crimp 48 from the nub thereby rendering both pipe 12 and pipe fitting 14 in a desired fixed state. The compression tool 24 is now removed and soldering 44 is then performed.

patent drawing

FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4 is a side view of the crimping tool 24 present invention 10 in an open position. Shown is the pipe 12 inserted into the pipe fitting 14 and ready for placement between the retaining cavity 28 of the upper jaw 26 and the crimping nub 32 of the lower jaw 30 of the crimping tool 24.

patent drawing

FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5 is a side view of the crimping tool 24 present invention 10 in an open position. Shown is the pipe 12 inserted into the pipe fitting 14 and placed between the retaining cavity 28 of the upper jaw 26 and the crimping nub 32 of the lower jaw 30 of the crimping tool 24.

patent drawing

FIGURE 6
FIGURE 6 is a side view of the crimping tool 24 present invention 10 in a closing position. Shown is the pipe 12 inserted into the pipe fitting 14 and placed between the retaining cavity 28 of the upper jaw 26 and the crimping nub 32 of the lower jaw 30 of the crimping tool 24. The release handle 40 is being drawn towards the main handle 34 to force the jaws closed.

patent drawing

FIGURE 7
FIGURE 7 is a detailed view of the crimping tool 24 present invention 10 in the closed crimping position. Shown is the pipe 12 inserted into the pipe fitting 14 and crimped between the retaining cavity 28 of the upper jaw 26 and the crimping nub 32 of the lower jaw 30 thereby forming a crimping dimple 48 to prevent the extraction or rotation of the pipe 12 within the fitting 14.

patent drawing

FIGURE 8
FIGURE 8 is a detailed view of a pipe 12 within a fitting 14 prior to being crimped by the compression tool.

FIGURE 9
FIGURE 9 is a detailed view of a pipe 12 within a fitting 14 crimped in a fixed position. Shown is a pipe 12 within a pipe fitting 14 that has been crimped by the compression tool of the present invention. Both pipe 12 and pipe fitting 14 are now in a fixed state.

patent drawing

FIGURE 10
FIGURE 10 is a detailed view of a pipe 12 within a fitting 14 crimped in a fixed position. In use, flux is applied to the ends (inside and out side) of a pipe 12 and pipe fitting 14. The pipe12 is inserted within the pipe fitting 14 and the compression tool is then used to crimp the pipe fitting 14 to the inserted pipe 12 rendering both pipe 12 and pipe fitting 14 in a desired fixed state. The compression tool is now removed and soldering is then performed. Shown is the result of the use of the present invention after steps 1 -7 are completed as depicted in figure 3. While using the present invention, after crimping 48 of a pipe 12 is performed the tool is no longer needed to maintain the connection and easy soldering and continuation of a pipe fitting 14 procedure can be finished.