Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6725749
-
Patent Number
6,725,749
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, October 16, 200221 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, April 27, 200420 years ago
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Inventors
-
-
Examiners
- Hail, III; Joseph J.
- Thomas; David B.
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 081 438
- 081 439
- 081 443
- 081 446
- 081 455
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A tool includes a tool bit and a handle for releasable engagement with the tool bit. The tool bit includes an insert formed thereon. The handle includes a socket formed thereon. The socket includes a cavity defined therein for receiving the insert and at least one hole communicated with the cavity. The at least one hole includes an internal end and an external end larger than the internal end. The at least one annular groove defined in the insert is aligned with the at least one hole when the insert is inserted in the socket. At least one ball is received in the at least one hole. A sleeve includes an internal face and at least one cam surface formed on the internal face thereof. The sleeve is rotationally mounted on the socket between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the at least one cam surface allows complete removal of the at least one ball from the cavity. In the second position, the at least one cam surface pushes the at least one ball into the cavity.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a tool including a tool bit and a handle for releasable engagement with the tool bit.
2. Related Prior Art
A conventional hand tool includes a tool bit secured to or integrated with a handle. Therefore, a user has to carry many handles and corresponding tool bits if wanting to do various types of work. The handles are bulky and heavy to carry.
There have been devised various hand tools that each include a tool bit engaged with a handle in a releasable manner. Generally, such a tool bit includes an insert, and such a handle includes a socket for receiving the insert. A locking device is used to lock the insert in the socket.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a tool including a tool bit and a handle engaged with the tool bit in a releasable manner.
According to the present invention, a tool includes a tool bit and a handle for releasable engagement with the tool bit. The tool bit includes an insert formed thereon. The handle includes a socket formed thereon. The socket includes a cavity defined therein for receiving the insert and at least one hole communicated with the cavity. The at least one hole includes an internal end and an external end larger than the internal end. The at least one annular groove defined in the insert is aligned with the at least one hole when the insert is inserted in the socket. At least one ball is received in the at least one hole. A sleeve includes an internal face and at least one cam surface formed on the internal face thereof. The sleeve is rotationally mounted on the socket between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the at least one cam surface allows complete removal of the at least one ball from the cavity. In the second position, the at least one cam surface pushes the at least one ball into the cavity.
Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The present invention will be described through detailed illustration of embodiments referring to the attached drawings wherein:
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a tool including a tool bit and a handle for releasable engagement with the tool bit according to the present invention.
FIG. 2
is an exploded view of the tool according to the present invention.
FIG. 3
is a partial perspective view of the tool according to the present invention, with the handle broken so as to show some internal elements.
FIG. 4
is a cross-sectional view taken along a line
4
—
4
in FIG.
1
.
FIG. 5
is similar to
FIG. 4
, but showing the tool in a different position.
FIG. 6
is a cross-sectional view taken along a line
6
—
6
in FIG.
1
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to
FIG. 1
, according to the present invention, a tool includes a tool bit
40
and a handle
10
for releasable engagement with the tool bit
40
.
Referring to
FIG. 2
, the handle
10
includes a shaft
11
, a grip
12
mounted on an end of the shaft
11
and a socket
13
formed at an opposite end of the shaft
11
.
The socket
13
includes a cavity
14
defined therein and two holes
15
communicated with the cavity
14
are defined. Each of the holes
15
includes an internal end at an internal face of the socket
13
and an external end at an external face of the socket
13
. An annular stop
151
is formed on the wall of each of the holes
15
at the internal end. An annular groove
131
is defined in the external face of the socket
13
near an end. Two recesses
171
are defined in an annular rib
17
formed on the external face of the socket
13
at an opposite end .
As defining a hole, the sleeve
30
includes an internal face
31
. Two annular grooves are defined in the internal face
31
. Each of the annular grooves defined in the internal face
31
includes a bottom face
32
that is eccentric with respect to the internal face
31
and therefore will be referred to as “cam face.” The internal face
31
includes, at an end, an enlarged section formed with a plurality of teeth
33
. Thus, an annular shoulder
34
is formed between the enlarged section and the remaining section of the. internal face
31
.
In assembly, a ball
16
is received in each of the holes
15
through the external end and is retained there by means of the annular stop
151
. A spring
21
is received in each of the recesses
171
before a pin
22
. Each of the pins
22
may include a recess defined in an end in order to receive an end of one of the springs
21
. The socket
13
is inserted in the sleeve
30
. The pins
22
are aligned with the teeth
34
. Each of the holes
15
is aligned with one of the cam faces
32
. The annular groove
131
is positioned beyond the sleeve
30
. The annular shoulder
33
is positioned against the annular rib
17
, and a C-ring
35
is received in the annular groove
131
. Thus, the sleeve
30
is retained on the socket
13
. The sleeve
30
is rotational on the socket
13
.
The tool bit
40
includes a working head
41
formed at an end and an insert
42
formed at an opposite end. The profile of the insert
42
is shaped corresponding to the internal face of the socket
13
.
The engagement of the tool bit
40
with the handle
10
will be described referring to FIGS.
3
˜
5
.
To insert the insert
42
in the socket
13
, the sleeve
30
is located on the socket
13
in an angular position shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4
. A point in each of the cam surfaces
32
that is furthest from an axis of the sleeve
30
is aligned with one of the balls
16
. Each of the balls
16
is allowed complete removal from one of the holes
15
. The insert
42
can thus be inserted in the socket
13
and vice versa. When the insert
42
is inserted in the socket
13
, each of the annular grooves
43
is aligned with one of the holes
15
.
To lock the insert
42
in the socket
13
, the sleeve
30
is rotated on the socket
13
to an angular position shown in
FIG. 5. A
point in each of the cam surfaces
32
that is not furthest from an axis of the sleeve
30
is aligned with one of the balls
16
. Each of the balls
16
is pushed, on a side, by means of the point of each of the cam faces
32
and is thus inserted, on a opposite end, in one of the annular grooves
43
. Thus, the insert
42
is locked in the socket
13
.
Referring to
FIG. 6
, to retain the socket
30
in an angular position on the socket
13
, an end of each of the pins
22
is trapped between two of the teeth
34
. The end of each of the pins
22
trapped between two of the teeth
34
is substantially flat in the shown embodiment; however, it may be shaped corresponding to the teeth
34
in other embodiments for better engagement with the teeth
34
.
The present invention has been described via detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive many variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined in the attached claims.
Claims
- 1. A tool includinga tool bit including an insert formed thereon; and a handle including: a socket formed thereon, the socket including a cavity defined therein for receiving the insert and at least one hole communicated with the cavity, the at least one hole including an internal end and an external end larger than the internal end, wherein the at least one annular groove defined in the insert is aligned with the at least one hole when the insert is inserted in the socket; at least one ball received in the at least one hole; a sleeve including an internal face and at least one cam surface formed on the internal face thereof, wherein the sleeve is rotationally mounted on the socket between a first position wherein the at least one cam surface allows complete removal of the at least one ball from the cavity and a second position wherein the at least one cam surface pushes the at least one ball into the cavity.
- 2. The tool according to claim 1 including an annular stop formed at the internal end of the at least one hole.
- 3. The tool according to claim 1 including a C-ring mounted on an end of the socket for restricting axial movement of the sleeve on the socket.
- 4. The tool according to claim 3 wherein the socket includes an annular groove defined in an external face for receiving the C-ring.
- 5. The tool according to claim 1 wherein the socket includes an annular rib formed on the external face for restricting axial movement of the sleeve on the socket.
- 6. The tool according to claim 1 including at least one spring-biased pin mounted on an internal face of the socket, wherein the sleeve including a plurality of teeth formed on an internal face for trapping the at least one spring-biased pin.
US Referenced Citations (6)