Hand-manipulated torque tool

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6564680
  • Patent Number
    6,564,680
  • Date Filed
    Monday, November 6, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, May 20, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
A hand manipulated torque tool, such as a screwdriver, having two handle portions pivotal between two modes of a straight relationship and a right angle relationship which forms a T-handled tool. A lock mechanism is operative between the handle portions to releasably hold the portions in the selected modes. The mechanism is accessible from the exterior of the tool, and it is operated by user finger pressure and it automatically re-locks upon release of the pressure and the subsequent pivoting of one handle portion to either of the two positions.
Description




This invention relates to a hand-manipulated torque tool, and more particularly, it relates to a torque tool which is optionally positionable between a straight handle configuration and a T-handle configuration.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




The prior art is aware of hand-manipulated torque tools which can optionally be positioned between straight and T-handle configurations.




This invention improves upon the prior art by providing a hand-manipulated torque tool that is sturdy, is easily positionable in its two positions, is not subject to being inadvertently positionable nor releasable relative to those two positions, is securely held in both two positions, and presents a substantial and firmly grippable handle in both two positions.




The tool of this invention is precision made, and, as such, it is useful in highly precise functions such as in the medical arts where orthopedic surgery is performed and screws are applied to a patient's skeleton, or in other precision applications. It is also arranged for rotatably supporting a tool bit such as a screwdriver bit for a ratcheting action.




There is a release mechanism which permits the handle to be re-configured from its straight position to its T-handle position, and that mechanism is manually operated and it is in a location where there is no likelihood of the user inadvertently operating the release. That is, the user can grip the tool for using it in either of its two positions and not have his hand or fingers in a position which could inadvertently cause the release mechanism to be operated.




This invention also includes the method of maneuvering the tool to establish the two working positions.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a side elevational view of the tool of this invention in its T-handle position.





FIG. 2

is a sectional view on the plane designated


2





2


in FIG.


1


.





FIG. 3

is a right side elevational view of the tool of

FIG. 1

but in the straight position.





FIG. 4

is an end elevational view of FIG.


3


.





FIG. 5

is a sectional view on the plane designated


5





5


in FIG.


2


.





FIG. 6

is a perspective view of a pivot post seen in

FIGS. 2 and 5

.





FIG. 7

is a side elevational view of the pivot post of FIG.


6


.





FIG. 8

is a perspective view of a locking part seen in FIG.


5


.





FIG. 9

is a left end elevational view of the end of a part of

FIGS. 1 and 5

.





FIGS. 10 and 11

are front elevational views of two parts seen in FIG.


5


.





FIG. 12

is a perspective view of a part seen in FIG.


2


.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT AND METHOD




This torque tool can releasably receive a tool bit designated


10


, and that may be a screwdriver bit which is chucked and ratcheted in the ratcheting mechanism which may be of any suitable construction at the tool end


11


. The ratcheting mechanism is seen in

FIG. 5

, and it has a heretofore known construction for driving the bit in either selected direction of rotation about the longitudinal axis A of the tool.




There are two handle portions


12


and


13


which, as seen in

FIGS. 1 and 3

, can be positioned in the T-handle position of FIG.


1


and the straight or aligned position of FIG.


3


. Both handle portions


12


and


13


are cylindrical and have a respective longitudinal axis extending along the respective lengths of each, namely, axis F and axis S. In the

FIG. 3

position, the axes F and S are in alignment with each other and with axis A, and in the

FIG. 1

position the axis S is positioned at a right angle to axis F. The two portions


12


and


13


are pivotally related by having the portion


13


pivotal on the portion


12


at a pivot axis P which is transverse to the lengths of each of the portions


12


and


13


. Handle portions


12


and


13


are substantially the same length, and the pivot axis P is at one end of portion


12


and it is at a mid-point or the center of the portion


13


.




The portion


12


has a hollow cylindrical body


14


with a wall


16


therealong and an opening


17


opposite the wall


16


. It is through the opening


17


that the handle portion


13


swings to and from alignment with the handle portion


12


. Thus handle portion


13


half-length


18


extends from the pivot axis P to an end


19


and adjacent a transverse wall


21


which is the back wall for the ratcheting mechanism


11


, and as seen in FIG.


3


. The handle portion


13


has a remaining half-length


20


which extends in alignment with, and as an extension of, the handle portion


12


in the

FIG. 3

mode.




The portion


12


also has two spaced-apart legs


22


extending from the wall


16


. The space between the legs


22


is substantially the same as the cross-sectional dimension of the handle portion along the pivot axis P, and thus the handle portion


13


is snugly supported by and between the legs


22


.




This invention provides for the apparatus and method for a hand tool which can optionally be placed in either the aligned position of

FIG. 3

or the T-handle position of

FIGS. 1

,


2


, and


5


. In both modes, there is a releasable locking mechanism which securely holds the handle portion


13


in the selected one of those two modes. To accommodate those two modes, it will be seen that the wall


16


spans an arc of approximately 240 degrees about the axis F, and that arrangement leaves the opening


17


of approximately 120 degrees. Supporting legs


22


have two inside surfaces


23


which are flat and are parallel to each other for snug support of the mid-section of the pivotal handle portion


13


which has its own two flat surfaces


24


to match with the respective surfaces


23


. Beyond that, the handle portion


13


is circular in cross section but of varying diameter along its length, as shown.




The pivotal mounting of the handle portion


13


is on a pivot post


26


which is secured by the legs


22


.

FIGS. 2

,


5


, and


6


show that the post


26


is cylindrical and hollow and has transverse openings


27


therethrough. The handle portion


13


has a cylindrical opening


28


extending therethrough for snug mounting of the handle


13


on the post


26


. The two ends of the post are threaded and respectively receive screws


29


and


31


for holding the post


26


on the legs


22


.




Additionally, as seen in

FIGS. 2 and 12

, there is a square insert


32


with an angularly shaped end


30


, and the screw


31


passes throught insert


32


and then holds the insert


32


in an opening


33


in the post


26


and also in an opening


34


in the one leg


22


. The openings


33


and


34


match the angularity of the insert end


30


. In that manner, the post


26


is always held in a fixed position and against rotation on the legs


22


. So the handle portion


13


pivots relative to the handle portion


12


but the pivot post does not pivot or rotate. Any suitable non-rotatable arrangement for the post


26


will suffice.




It will be noted that the handle portion


13


has a longitudinal central opening


35


that aligns with the post openings


27


, and the entire construction is arranged with a complete central passageway through the tool, as seen in FIG.


5


.





FIG. 5

shows there is a locking mechanism which includes a cylindrical rod or pin


36


slidably disposed in a cylindrical opening


37


in the handle portion


13


. The rod


36


and the opening


37


intersect the handle portion


13


transverse opening


28


and is akin to being tangential thereto. It will also be seen in

FIG. 5

that the post


26


has two surfaces


38


and


39


disposed adjacent to each other and at right angles to each other. The surfaces


38


and


39


are formed from semi-circular cutouts in the post


26


, as shown in FIG.


7


. The size of the two arcs formed by the two cutouts matches the cross-sectional circular shape of the rod, and thus the rod


36


snugly nests on the surfaces


38


and


39


, in accord with the selected mode for the handle portion


13


.




Therefore, with the handle portion in the

FIG. 1

T-handle mode, the circumference portion


41


of the rod presents a straight surface


40


along the length of the rod


36


and that straight surface nests in the semi-circular shape


39


for a significant length along the rod


36


, and thus the handle portion


13


is releasably held in the shown T-handle mode relative to the handle portion


12


. The handle portion


13


can not then pivot on the post


26


.




To release the T-handle mode and place the tool in the aligned mode, the rod


36


is slid along the cylindrical opening


37


to a position where a relief


42


in the rod


36


is adjacent the post


26


. That relieves the tool from the T-handle mode and the user can then pivot the handle portion


13


to the aligned mode. A sleeve


43


is threaded into the end of the handle portion


13


and it slidably receives a cylindrical interconnector


44


which moves back and forth along the axis S. A shoulder


46


on the connector


44


abuts the end of the sleeve


43


to limit the movement leftward as viewed in FIG.


5


.




The connector


44


has a flange


47


which is received in a notch


48


in the rod


36


to thus establish the axial position of the rod


36


in accord with the position of the connector


44


. A compression spring


49


abuts a shoulder


51


on the connector


44


and exerts a force between the connector


44


and the bottom of a bore


52


in the handle portion


13


to thus urge the connector


44


and the attached rod


36


leftwards as viewed in FIG.


5


.




There is a button


53


slidable on the end of the handle portion


13


and it is threadedly connected with the connector


44


. While the button


53


is counter-sunk in the sleeve


43


, it can be finger depressed to move the rod


36


rightwards and thereby place the rod relief


42


adjacent the post


26


to release the lock of the handle portion


13


relative to either on of its setting modes.




In that arrangement and method, there is a positive lock between the handle portions


12


and


13


and only a specific maneuver of pressing on the button


53


will release the locking mechanism. In the aligned mode, the post surface


38


is in abutment with the rod circumference to thereby hold the tool in that aligned mode.




Throughout this description, the method of achieving the two modes of alignment and T-handle have been described. The user maneuvers the lock mechanism described by inserting a finger into the sleeve


43


and onto the button


53


and depresses the button to release the lock against the force of the spring


49


. Once the lock is released, the user need only slightly pivot the handle portion


13


, then release finger pressure, and then continue to pivot the handle portion


13


to its next position of alignment or right angle disposition, as desired, and the lock will snap into its locked mode. Thus, upon release of finger pressure on the button


53


and positioning the handle portion


13


, the lock mechanism will automatically return to the lock position. There is the audible click when seating into the lock position so the user then knows that the lock is in its operative position.




Movement to the finality of the selected mode will cause the connector shoulder


46


to abut the adjacent end of the sleeve


43


in that locked and non-pivotal securement of the handle portion


13


, as seen in FIG.


5


. Also, the two handle ends


18


and


20


are of a similar cylindrical shape for optimum gripping in the T-handle mode. With the spring


49


always urging the rod


36


toward its locked position where the surfaces


41


and


38


or


39


are aligned and in contact with each other, the two handle modes are secured and subject only to the user depressing the button


53


to release the lock mechanism. Also, in arriving at the locked position where the surface


41


abuts the selected one of the surfaces


38


and


39


, an audible sound of a click will be produced to tell the user that the locked mode has been achieved.




Of course the lock mechanism is accessible from the exterior of the handle portion


13


and through the button


53


which can be considered to be a part of the lock mechanism. The post


26


is considered to be an engager which is cooperative with the lock mechanism.




In addition to the stability provided by the contacting surfaces


23


and


24


being in snug contact with each other and held toward each other by the screws


29


and


31


, an end


54


of the handle portion


13


snugly nests within the arcuate wall


16


, as best seen in FIG.


3


. That provides further sturdiness of the tool in its aligned mode.



Claims
  • 1. A hand-manipulated torque tool comprising:a first handle having a longitudinal axis and a pivot axis extending transverse to said longitudinal axis and having a receptor for supporting a work tool and having a cavity therein extending parallel to said longitudinal axis, an elongated second handle having a length and two terminal ends and being pivotally connected with said first handle on said pivot axis and at a mid-length location along said length and being pivotal to a position within said cavity for alignment with said longitudinal axis and a position out of said cavity to be transverse to said longitudinal axis to present a T-handle and with a first one of said terminal ends pivotal into and out of said cavity and a second one of said terminal ends always extendable to the side of said pivot axis away from said first handle, an engager on said first handle, a manually actuated locking member movably supported on said second handle and being movable independent of any movement of said second handle and always being exposed on said second terminal end for manual actuation and being cooperative with said engager to lock and non-lock modes for said handles and for releasably restraining said second handle alternately in said positions, and a spring yieldingly urging said locking member in said lock mode.
  • 2. The hand-manipulated torque tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein:said locking member has an actuation button connected thereto and with said button always being exposed exteriorly of said second terminal end for moving said locking member transverse to said pivot axis for the lock and non-lock modes.
  • 3. The hand-manipulated torque tool as claimed in claim 2, wherein:said engager has two surfaces thereon and said surfaces are arranged to respectively establish said positions, and said locking member is a pin extending interiorly of said second handle and transverse to said pivot axis and is disposed to contact said two surfaces for locking in said two positions.
  • 4. The hand-manipulated torque tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein:said cavity and said first terminal end are of equal size whereby said cavity completely snugly receives one-half of said length at said second terminal end.
  • 5. A hand-manipulated torque tool comprising:a first handle having a longitudinal axis and a pivot post presenting a pivot axis extending transverse to said longitudinal axis and having a receptor for supporting a work tool and having a cavity therein extending parallel to said longitudinal axis, a second handle having a total length and being pivotally mounted on said pivot post and at a mid-length of said second handle to extend equally to each side of said pivot axis and being pivotal to a position of alignment with said longitudinal axis and a position transverse to said longitudinal axis, a manually actuated locking member movably supported on said second handle and being movable independent of any movement of said second handle, said pivot post and said locking member having mutually engageable surfaces for precluding pivoting of said second handle when said surfaces are engaged with each other and thereby effect lock and non-lock modes of said second handle relative to said first handle and in said positions, and said locking member being accessible exteriorly of said second handle for the movement of said locking member and consequent movement of said locking member said surface relative to said pivot post said surface.
  • 6. The hand-manipulated torque tool as claimed in claim 5, wherein:said pivot post is fixedly mounted on said first handle to preclude movement of said pivot post relative to said first handle.
  • 7. The hand-manipulated torque tool as claimed in claim 5, including:a spring yielding urging said locking member to have said surfaces in contact with each other and thereby have said handles in said lock mode.
  • 8. The hand-manipulated torque tool as claimed in claim 5, wherein:said locking member has a relief therein adjacent said lock member surface and being positionable contiguous to said pivot post to establish said non-lock mode.
  • 9. A hand-manipulated torque tool comprising:a first handle portion having a longitudinal axis and having a receptor for supporting a work tool and having two spaced-apart legs, a pivot member affixed to and extending between said legs and presenting a pivot axis disposed transverse to said longitudinal axis, a second handle portion pivotally mounted on said pivot member and being pivotal about said pivot axis to a position of alignment with said longitudinal axis and alternatively to a position transverse to said longitudinal axis, a manually actuated locking member movably supported on said second handle portion and being movable independent of any movement of said second handle portion and being cooperative with said pivot member to establish lock and non-lock modes of said second handle portion relative to said first handle portion and for restraining said second handle portion alternately in said positions, said pivot member has two surfaces arranged to respectively establish said positions, said locking member is disposed to contact said two surfaces for locking said second handle portion in said two positions, and a spring yieldingly urging said locking member in said lock mode.
  • 10. The hand-manipulated torque tool as claimed in claim 9, wherein:said locking member has a relief therein and a locking locking member surface adjacent said relief and said relief being positionable contiguous to said pivot member surfaces upon movement of said locking member to establish said non-lock mode.
  • 11. A hand-manipulated torque tool comprising:a first handle portion having a longitudinal axis and having a receptor for supporting a work tool and having two spaced-apart legs, a post affixed to and extending between said legs and presenting a pivot axis disposed transverse to said longitudinal axis, a second handle portion pivotally mounted on said post and being pivotal about said pivot axis to a position of alignment with said longitudinal axis and alternatively to a position transverse to said longitudinal axis and having an end always disposed distal from said first handle portion throughout the pivoting to and between said positions, a manually actuated locking member movably supported on said second handle portion and being movable independent of any movement of said second handle portion and being cooperative with said post to establish lock and non-lock modes of said second handle portion relative to said first handle portion and for restraining said second handle portion alternately in said positions, a button movably supported on said end of said second handle portion and being in contact with said locking member for moving said locking member transverse to said pivot axis, and a spring yieldingly urging said locking member in said lock mode.
  • 12. A hand-manipulated torque tool comprising:a first handle portion having a longitudinal axis and a receptor for supporting a work tool, a second handle portion pivotally connected with said first handle portion and being pivotal on a pivot axis extending transverse to said longitudinal axis and being pivotal to a position of alignment with said axis and a position transverse to said axis, a fixed member fixedly supported by said first handle portion and is disposed and extends along said pivot axis and has two surfaces oriented to be respectively compatible with said positions, a locking member being elongated and extending transverse to said pivot axis for movement across said fixed member and being movably supported on said second handle portion and having a surface positionable in selective contact with said fixed member surfaces for respectively securing said second handle portion in said positions and with said locking member being movable independent of any movement of said second handle portion and to a location to have said locking member surface movable out of contact with said fixed member surfaces, said locking member having a relief therein adjacent said locking member surface and being positionable contiguous to said fixed member surfaces to establish said non-lock mode, and a spring operative on said locking member for yieldingly urging said locking member surface into contact with said fixed member surfaces.
  • 13. The hand-manipulated torque tool as claimed in claim 12, wherein:said fixed member two surfaces are straight and oriented at a right angle to each other and to thereby respectively establish said positions.
  • 14. The hand-manipulated torque tool as claimed in claim 12, including:a button movably supported on the exterior of said second handle portion and being in contact with said locking member for moving said locking member transverse to said pivot axis.
  • 15. A hand-manipulated torque tool comprising:a first handle portion having a longitudinal axis and a receptor for supporting a work tool, a second handle portion pivotally connected with said first handle portion and being pivotal on a pivot axis extending transverse to said longitudinal axis and being pivotal to a position of alignment with said axis and a position transverse to said axis, a fixed member being a pin fixedly supported by said first handle portion and is disposed and extends along said pivot axis and has a longitudinal axis extending along said pivot axis and has two surfaces oriented to be respectively compatible with said positions, a locking member being elongated and extending transverse to said pivot axis for movement across said fixed member and being movably supported on said second handle portion and having a surface positionable in selective contact with said fixed member surfaces for respectively securing said second handle portion in said positions and with said locking member being movable independent of any movement of said second handle portion and to a location to have said locking member surface movable out of contact with said fixed member surfaces, and a spring operative on said locking member for yieldingly urging said locking member surface into contact with said fixed member surfaces.
  • 16. A hand-manipulated torque tool comprising:a first handle portion having a longitudinal axis and a receptor for supporting a work tool, a second handle portion pivotally connected with said first handle portion and being pivotal on a pivot axis extending transverse to said longitudinal axis and being pivotal to a position of alignment with said axis and a position transverse to said axis, a fixed member fixedly supported by said first handle portion and is disposed and extends along said pivot axis and has two surfaces oriented to be respectively compatible with said positions, a locking member being elongated and extending transverse to said pivot axis for movement across said fixed member and being movably supported on said second handle portion and having a surface positionable in selective contact with said fixed member surfaces for respectively securing said second handle portion in said positions and with said locking member being movable independent of any movement of said second handle portion and to a location to have said locking member surface movable out of contact with said fixed member surfaces, a spring operative on said locking member for yieldingly urging said locking member surface into contact with said fixed member surfaces, said locking member has a relief therein adjacent said locking member surface and being positionable contiguous to said fixed member surfaces to establish said non-lock mode, and a button movably supported on the exterior of said second handle portion and being in contact with said locking member for moving said locking member transverse to said pivot axis.
  • 17. A hand-manipulated torque tool comprising:a first handle portion having a longitudinal axis and a receptor for supporting a work tool, a second handle portion pivotally connected with said first handle portion and being pivotal on a pivot axis extending transverse to said longitudinal axis and being pivotal to a position of alignment with said axis and a position transverse to said axis, a fixed member fixedly supported by said first handle portion and is disposed and extends along said pivot axis and has two surfaces oriented to be respectively compatible with said positions, a locking member being elongated and extending transverse to said pivot axis for movement across said fixed member and being movably supported on said second handle portion and having a surface positionable in selective contact with said fixed member surfaces for respectively securing said second handle portion in said positions and with said locking member being movable independent of any movement of said second handle portion and to a location to have said locking member surface movable out of contact with said fixed member surfaces, a spring operative on said locking member for yieldingly urging said locking member surface into contact with said fixed member surfaces, said second handle portion having a longitudinal axis extending transverse to said pivot axis and having an end on said second handle portion located on said longitudinal axis, said second handle portion being pivotally connected with said first handle portion to have said end always disposed distal from said first handle portion throughout the pivoting to and between said positions, and a button movably supported on said end of said second handle portion and being in contact with said locking member for moving said locking member transverse to said pivot axis.
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