Patent Application
20060042422
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to tools having a handle and a clamp for holding a tool piece and, more specifically, to an improved clamp for holding a tool piece. The clamp is particularly useful for holding an extractor blade in a broken key extractor.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
When a key breaks off in a lock, a locksmith may use a broken key extractor to remove the broken part of the key from the lock. Key extractors are often inserted into the keyway of a lock to grab and pull the broken portion of a key from a lock. Thus the key extractor works best if it has an adequate tensile strength between the blade and the handle of the extractor.
One solution that has been developed is a broken key extractors designed as one-piece unit, in which a blade for the extractor is permanently connected to the extractor. However, when the blade of a one-piece extractor wears out or separates from the handle, another extractor is needed to remove parts of broken keys.
Another kind of broken key extractor has a removable blade that can be replaced when the blade breaks or wears out. One type of removable blade extractor is known as a “pin vise”, and is shown is
Thus, there remains a need for a new and improved broken key extractor that has a removable and replaceable extractor blade, and has increased tensile strength at the connection between the handle and the removable extractor blade.
The present invention is directed to a tool comprising: a handle extending along a longitudinal axis, the handle comprising a fore end region and an aft end region; a removable tool piece connected to the fore end region of the handle; and a clamp for removably connecting the tool piece to the handle, the clamp connected to the fore end region of the handle and comprising opposing arm portions, each opposing arm portion extending transverse the longitudinal axis through a portion of the handle.
The present invention is further directed to a broken key extractor comprising: a handle having a fore end region and an aft end region; a blade-holding aperture having an open end and a base end, the aperture defined by at least a portion of the fore end region of the handle; a pair of setscrews; a channel sized to receive the setscrews, the channel having two open ends defined by the handle, wherein the channel substantially intersects the blade-holding aperture, whereby opposing the pair of set screws in the channel creates a clamp; and an extractor blade for gripping broken keys, the blade sized to be received by the open end of the blade-holding aperture and sized to rest on the base end of the blade-holding aperture, wherein the blade is held in place by the pair of opposing set screws.
The present invention is further directed to a broken key extractor comprising: a handle having a fore end region and an aft end region; a blade-holding aperture having an open end and a base end, the aperture defined by at least a portion of the fore end region of the handle; a pair of diametrically opposed rods; an interior wall defining a channel in the fore end region of the handle, the channel for receiving the pair of diametrically opposed rods, the channel substantially intersecting the blade-holding aperture and having two open ends defined by the handle, whereby diametrically opposing the pair rods in the channel creates a clamp for holding an extractor blade; and an extractor blade for gripping broken keys, the blade sized to be received by the open end of the blade-holding aperture and rest on the base end of the blade-holding aperture, wherein the blade is held in place by the pair of diametrically opposed rods.
The present invention is further directed to a handle for holding a tool piece comprising: a fore end region and an aft end region; an edge at the fore end region of the handle defining an opening for inserting a tool piece; and a clamp connected to the fore end region of the handle comprising a pair of selectively movable, substantially diametrically opposed arms.
The present invention is further directed to a handle for a broken key extractor comprising: a fore end region and an aft end region; an edge in the fore end region of the handle defining an opening for inserting an extractor blade; and a clamp connected to the fore end region of the handle comprising a pair of arms substantially diametrically opposed along a clamp axis, each arm movable along the axis toward the opposing arm.
The present invention is further directed to a blade holder for a broken key extractor comprising: a handle disposed along a longitudinal axis, the handle comprising a fore end region and an aft end region; an edge in the fore end region of the handle defining an opening for inserting a blade; and a substantially cylindrical wall defining a channel extending substantially transverse the longitudinal axis of the handle.
The present invention is further directed to a broken key extractor comprising: a handle having a fore end region, wherein the handle fore end region at least partially defines a blade-holding aperture; a pair of substantially diametrically opposed rods; an interior wall defining a channel for receiving the pair of substantially diametrically opposed rods; and an extractor blade for gripping broken keys, the blade sized to be received by the blade-holding aperture.
The present invention is further directed to a clamp for connecting a tool piece to a handle, the clamp comprising: at least two arms at least partially defining an aperture having at least one open end, the aperture at least partially within the handle, each arm selectively movable toward the aperture at least partially defined by the arms; and an interior wall within the handle at least partially defining the space for inserting the tool piece.
The present invention is further directed to a broken key extractor comprising a handle and a selectively removable 0.050-inch extractor blade wherein a tensile force of at least about 50 pounds is required to remove the blade from the handle using a SCOTT J Model Tensile Tester.
The present invention is further directed to a handle for a broken key extractor, the handle capable of holding a selectively removable 0.050-inch broken key extractor blade such that a tensile force of at least about 50 pounds is required to remove the blade from the handle using a SCOTT J Model Tensile Tester.
In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views. Also in the following description, it is to be understood that such terms as “forward,” “rearward,” “left,” “right,” “upwardly,” “downwardly,” and the like are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms.
Referring now to the drawings in general and
In the embodiment of the invention shown in
In the embodiment of the invention shown in
In the embodiment shown, the clamp 16 is disposed within the channel 24 in the handle 14 of the key extractor 10. The channel 24 may be defined by a substantially cylindrical wall 26 extending substantially transverse the longitudinal axis 40 of the handle 14. The substantially cylindrical wall 24 may comprise a helical groove on its surface. The channel 24 may substantially perpendicularly intersect the blade-holding aperture 22. The channel 24 may have two open ends 60 defined by the handle 14 and may be sized to receive a pair of opposing setscrews.
In one embodiment, the blade holding aperture 22 comprises an open end 90 and a base end 92. The open end 90 of the aperture 22 may be defined by an edge 36 in the fore end region 30 of the handle 14. The base end 92 may include a wall 96 for positioning an extractor blade.
In the embodiment shown, the broken key extractor 10 further includes a blade storage compartment 72. The blade storage compartment 72 may be completely or partially disposed within the aft end region 32 of the handle 14. The blade storage compartment 72 may be at least partially defined by a wall 76 within the interior of the handle 14 of the extractor 10. The wall 76 at least partially defining the storage compartment 72 may be a cylindrical wall. The extractor 10 may further include an opening for accessing the storage compartment and an end cap for retaining items within the storage compartment.
The broken key extractor 10 may further include the removable extractor blade 20. In the embodiment shown, the extractor blade 20 comprises a barb 80 disposed helically around the blade 20 for gripping a broken key and extracting the broken key from a lock. The extractor blade 20 may be a 0.040-inch or 0.050-inch diameter blade available from HPC, Inc., 3999 N. 25th Avenue, Schiller Park, Ill. 60176 USA. The extractor blade 20 may extend longitudinally in substantially the same direction as axis 40 of the handle 14, but the invention can be practiced with handle axis 40 and the longitudinal extension of the extrusion blade 20 substantially perpendicularly disposed with respect to one another, or at any other desired angle with respect to each other.
A series of two tests were conducted to determine the tensile strength of the broken key extractor described herein as compared to the prior art pin vise shown in
While the preferred embodiment of the invention is described herein as a broken key extractor, the invention is not limited to such use. For example, other embodiments of the invention include an awl or other device for punching holes in leather or other articles. In this embodiment, a sharp rod or needle can be inserted into the handle of the invention. Similarly, the invention may also be used as a reamer for reaming holes, or a wire or other bit may be inserted into the handle of the invention so a locksmith can use it to work upon a lock or latch of a door. In addition, a drill bit can be inserted into the handle for boring holes. These embodiments, and others, are within the scope of the following claims.
Certain modifications and improvements may occur to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the foregoing description. All such modifications and improvements have been deleted herein for the sake of conciseness and readability but are properly within the scope of the following claims.
