The present invention relates generally to tools, and more specifically to a shaft securing mechanism for use in securing a shaft to the handle of a tool, such as a driving tool.
In many types of tool structures, such as drills, wrenches and screwdrivers, among other types of tools, a shaft fastening mechanism is incorporated within the handle for the tool in order to allow the same shaft configuration utilized on a variety of implements of different types, ratcheting heads, bolt sockets, screwdriver bits, etc., to be releasably secured to the handle. The mechanism enables the shaft an implement disposed on the shaft to be securely held on the handle when the mechanism is engaged with the handle during use. The mechanism also can be quickly and easily disengaged from the shaft to allow the shaft to be removed from the handle when the shaft for a different implement is to be engaged with the handle.
In one particular prior art mechanism, such as shown in
However, while the Hudson connector is able to withstand high torque forces without failing and to deliver high impact using the handle via the shaft, there are a number of deficiencies with the Hudson connector.
In particular, with the Hudson connector, the shaft is able to move in both the lateral and longitudinal directions as a result of the slop in the securing mechanism 100 for the Hudson connector. This is due to the angle at which the pins or bearings 106 contact the shaft 108, which is normal to the axis of the shaft 108, and the configuration of the pin or bearings 106 used, which are cylindrical or spherical in shape, such that they contact the shaft 108 only at a point on the pin or bearing 106, limiting the force exerted on the shaft 108 other than at that specific point. As such, and in conjunction with the slots/recesses 110 in the shaft 108 being formed to be larger than the associated pin/bearing 106 to increase the ease of engagement, the shaft 108 can readily move relative to the handle 104 which is not desirable.
Further, the shafts 108 utilized with the Hudson connector 100 are formed with a flat leading edge or surface 114 designed to align the shaft 108 with the connector 100 when contacting a shoulder 116 disposed within the connector 100. When the leading edge 114 contacts the shoulder 116, the shaft 108 is then rotated to align the configuration of the leading edge 114 with the configuration of the shoulder 116 to enable the shaft 108 to be centered within the connector 100. However, as the shaft 108 must be rotated within the connector 100 to properly align the leading edge 114, this can often make the centering of the shaft 108 within the connector 100 more difficult as a result of the flatness of the leading edge 114.
Also, as a result of the configuration of the Hudson connector 100, when operated it is necessary to manually displace the plunger or collar 102 inwardly with respect to the handle 104 in order to move the pins or bearings 106 out of the path of the shaft 108 before the shaft 108 can be engaged by the mechanism 100. In various situations the ability of an individual to both hold the handle 104 and move the plunger 102 is difficult as it requires the individual be able to hold the handle 104 and move the plunger 102 with a single hand, as the other hand is holding the shaft 108 to be inserted into the handle 104.
Thus, it is desirable to develop a shaft securing mechanism that addresses these shortcomings with prior art shaft securing mechanisms.
According to one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a shaft securing mechanism is provided that includes pins, bearings or other securing members that are biased inwardly at an angle with respect to the axis of the shaft being engaged by the mechanism. The angled orientation of the engagement of the pins with the shaft enables the pins to more securely hold the shaft relative to the handle without significant slop or play in the lateral or longitudinal directions.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the connector/shaft securing mechanism includes an angled or sloped surface within the connector to assist in guiding the shaft into alignment with the center of the mechanism.
According to still another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the shaft securing mechanism is formed such that the plunger or collar can be displaced by the insertion of the shaft into the mechanism alone without the need for additional force to be exerted directly on the plunger by the user.
Numerous other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description together with the drawing figures.
The drawings illustrate the best mode currently contemplated of practicing the present invention.
In the drawings:
Referring now in detail to the drawing figures, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the several views, an exemplary embodiment of a tool handle 10 is illustrated in
Looking now at the exemplary embodiment illustrated in
The ring shuttle 7 defines a passage 200 therethrough and includes an inner portion 15 disposed within the spring 8 and an outer portion 16 engaged by the end of the spring 8 and extending outwardly from the spring 8. The ring shuttle 7 also contains a set of flats 30 disposed on opposed sides of the passage 200 that will align with corresponding flats 32 on the main body 4 to orient the shuttle 7 to the main body 4 and prevent the pins 5 from jamming. The overall length of the ring shuttle 7 prevents the spring 8 from getting stuck in the slots 17 of the main body 4. The outer portion 16 is circular in shape and engages a slide washer 6 that is disposed around the main body 4 of the mechanism 13.
The main body 4 is cylindrical in shape and extends through the washer 6 and the passage 200 in the shuttle 7 into the interior of the spring 8 and the core 9 were it is fixed to the core 9. The main body 4 includes a central bore 25 and a pair of angled slots 17 formed on opposed sides of the bore 25 within the main body 4 in which pins 5 are positioned in a manner to allow sliding of the pins 5 within the slots 17. The pins 5 are secured at opposite ends within a circumferential slot 202 formed within the interior of the outer portion 16 of the ring shuttle 7 such that the pins 5 do not move axially along the mechanism 13 but can move laterally within the ring shuttle 7 as directed by the shape of the slots 17 and movement of the main body 4. Further, the slots 17 are formed in the main body 4 to be disposed at an angle with regard to a central axis of the main body 4 extending through the main body 4 along a centerline of the bore 25 within the main body 4. The slots 17 intersect the bore 25 at their inner end and extend completely though the main body 4 to the exterior of the main body 4. In an alternative embodiment, the slots 17 can be formed to terminate within the main body 4, if desired. The pins 5 are disposed within the slots 17 such that the pins 5 are oriented perpendicularly to the length of the slots 17 extending from the exterior of the main body 4 to the bore 25 within the main body 4. This orientation of the pins 5 within the slots 17 enables the entire portion of the pin 5 exposed within the slot to contact and engage a shaft 20 in a manner to be discussed in the operation of the mechanism 13.
A release collar 1 is disposed around the ring shuttle 7 with a cylindrical section 18 located within and engaged with the wide end 14 by retaining ring 3, and an annular section 19 located outside of the handle 10. The cylindrical section 18 extends through a cover or cap 2 engaged with the wide end 14 and which forms an outer end stop for the movement of the release collar 1 with respect to the core 9 and main body 4.
When a shaft 20 is inserted within the mechanism 13 using only a force exerted by the user along the shaft 20, as shown in
The tolerance of the slots 17 is close to the diameter of the pins 5 such that the shaft 20 cannot significantly move relative to the main body 4 when the pins 5 are disposed within the recesses 24 as a result of the angular and constant pressure or force exerted on the tapered region of the shaft 20 via the pins 5 from the spring 8. In this configuration for the mechanism 13, the ring shuttle 7 and pins 5 can be displaced to secure the shaft 20 within the mechanism 13 by only having to press the shaft 20 into the mechanism 13 without having to simultaneously displace the collar 1. Further, as the pins 5 extend perpendicularly to the recesses 24, the pins 5 contact the recesses 24 along the entire length of the pin 5 exposed within the slots 17. As a result, the engagement of the pins 5 with the recesses 24 provides multiple, or an elongated area of contact between the mechanism 13 and the shaft 20 to more securely hold the shaft 20 within the handle 10.
Referring now to
Various other embodiments of the present invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the filed claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/362,817, filed on Jul. 15, 2016, the entirety of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20180015597 A1 | Jan 2018 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62362817 | Jul 2016 | US |