TODAY’S PATENT – GRIPPING TOOL

The GRIPPING TOOL was invented by  Louis R. Verna (Holland, PA) on the 7^th of June 1983 , bearing patent number US4386542A.

The present invention relates generally to gripping tools and more particularly relates to gripping tools having specific applications for use with sheet metal work, as for example in connection with automobile body repair.

The gripping tool according to the invention overcomes deficiencies in the prior art by providing a locking  type of device which is provided with very large gripping jaw surfaces movable into face to face apposition, with each being provided with accurately curved rows of accurate teeth or serrations which inter fit with one another when the jaws are brought together. The accurate teeth or serrations are angled so that oppositely directed pulls on the tool and the sheet metal clamped between the jaws of the tool tends to cause the serrations to penetrate slightly into the surface of the sheet metal to thereby increase the grip of the tool on the sheet metal. The apposed jaws of the tool may be made of any convenient size but it has been found that platen type jaws on the order of an inch and three eighths to an inch and a half square produce quite satisfactory results and permit the exertion of very strong pulling forces on sheet metal panels of substantial size.