Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6564680
-
Patent Number
6,564,680
-
Date Filed
Monday, November 6, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, May 20, 200321 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 081 1778
- 081 1779
- 081 1775
- 081 1777
- 081 1772
- 081 450
- 081 489
-
International Classifications
-
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.
US Referenced Citations (20)