Tool Handle Structure

Abstract

A tool handle for an L-shaped Allan Wrench or the like comprising a tubular structure for receiving one leg of the wrench and having an opening intermediate its ends for passing the other leg of the wrench therethrough. Several embodiments comprise a tubular structure which has upper and lower interlocked portions which are separable lengthwise to permit insertion and withdrawal of the tool and which snugly embrace and pocket one leg of the tool.

Description

DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART

Prior art devices are either expensive or are cumbersome to apply and remove. None, to applicant's knowledge, comprise a simple tubular structure which can be easily applied to or removed from a tool to form a T-shaped handle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention pertains to handles for tools and more specifically to a handle structure fabricated from sheet steel.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a handle which may be easily fabricated without excessive tooling costs and which is inexpensive and improves the usefulness of the tool.

A further object is to provide in one embodiment of the invention a one-piece tubular structure which is of closed C-shape, the walls of the structure being resilient and adapted to spring closed about a leg of the tool which has its other leg extended through an opening in the base portion of the tubular structure, the tool being insertable and releasable from the handle by springing the side portions of the tube apart.

The invention comprehends several other embodiments in which the handle is a tubular structure comprising an elongated base portion with an intermediate transverse aperture through which one of the legs of the tool extends, the other leg being pocketed in a trough provided by the base portion and a cover portion being interlocked with the base portion and snugly embracing the other leg of the tool therewith.

A more specific object is to provide in the several embodiments a handle in which the base and cover portions are separable by sliding them relatively lengthwise and are mounted on the tool by telescoping them together with the tool portion embraced therebetween.

These and other objects and advantages inherent in and encompassed by the invention will become more readily apparent from the specifications and the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view partially in axial section of one form of the invention shown in applied position to a tool;

FIG. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view thereof taken substantially on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2A is an end view showing the assembly procedure of the handle with the tool;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a further embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4 being a perspective view partly broken away; and

Fig. 5 being a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 6 being a perspective view, and

Fig. 7 being a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION OF FIGS. 1--3

The tool handle generally designated 2 comprises a generally C-shaped lower or base portion 3 including an arcuate bottom section 4 and curved side portions 5 and 6 which terminate in upper edges 7 and 8 defining a tool accommodation gap 9 therebetween.

The bottom wall section 4 is provided substantially medially between its ends 10 and 11 and an opening 12 which accommodates the vertical leg 13 of an L-shaped Allan wrench generally designated 14.

The horizontal or shorter leg 15 of the wrench is pocketed within the trough 16 formed by the sidewall portions 5 and 6 and the bottom wall portion 4.

It will be noted that the handle is preferably made of sheet steel which has a resilient or springy characteristic and that the gap 9 therefore may be narrower in width than the corresponding width dimension X-X (FIG. 2A) of the tool so that in inserting or withdrawing of the tool the side sections 5 and 6 are adapted to be sprung apart preferably by wedging the downwardly converging flat sides 18 and 19 of the hexagonal-shaped tool leg 15. By pressing downwardly the surfaces 18, 19, which are placed to engage surfaces 7 and 8, spread the side portions apart (FIG. 2A) until the apices 20, 21 of the tool pass the edges 7 and 8 whereupon the side portions spring back about the tool leg 15.

The upper wedge surfaces 22, 23 provide accommodation spaces 24, 25 with the internal concave surfaces 26, 27 of side portions 5 and 6 to admit the lateral edge portions 28, 29 of the cover or locking element 30.

The locking element 30 is elongated and arcuate or concave-convex in cross section and seats with its concave side 32 on the tool portion 15 in line engagement with the apices 33, 34 formed by the egress wedge surfaces 22, 23 and top surface 35 of the tool.

The upper convex side 37 of the locking element has complementary engagement at 39, 40 between the edge portions 28, 29 and the upper edge portions 41, 42 of the side sections 5 and 6 of the base portion 3.

The limited line engagement between the apices 33, 34 and the internal side 32 of the locking element reduces frictional drag whereby the element 30 is readily inserted from either end 10, or 11 of the base 3 and slid over the leg 15 in closing position to the gap 9.

To remove the tool, the locking element 30 is withdrawn by displacing it lengthwise with respect to the portion 3. Then a tool such as a screwdriver is wedged between the surface 46 at the bottom of leg 15 and the concave surface 46 of the bottom portion of the base whereupon the wedge surfaces 23, 24 engage the edges 7 and 8 and spread the side portions 5 and 6 apart and the leg 15 is exited through the enlarged gap 9. Leg 13 is then forced through the enlarged gap 9 and withdrawn from opening 12.

To reinsert the tool into the handle the side portions are spread apart by a wedge or any other suitable tool and the wrench leg 13 is passed through the opening 12 until the leg 14 passes the apices 20, 21 and enters the handle base portion. Then the cover locking element 30 is driven in from either end between leg 14 and the upper edge portions 41, 42 of the side portions 5 and 6.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 4 AND 5

This embodiment is somewhat similar to the previous embodiment and like parts are identified with the same reference numerals. The tool handle 50 is a tubular sheet steel structure C-shaped or generally cylindrical in cross section comprising a bottom portion 51 and side portions 52, 53 which terminate in upper edges 54, 55 which edges define a tool-admitting gap 56 therebetween.

The horizontal leg 15 of the tool 14 is pocketed within trough 57 formed by the segments 51, 52 and 53 and has its apices 20, 21, 33, 34 and 58, 59 engaging the internal cylindrical surface 64 of the tool handle which exerts a sphincteral force about leg portion 15 of the tool holding it in tight engagement with the handle.

The vertical leg 13 is passed through the vertical opening 60 disposed intermediate the ends 61, 62 of the handle in the bottom section 51 thereof.

To remove the tool from the handle a screwdriver may be inserted into the end portion 63 of the handle through the open end 61 thereof and canted upwardly while the user holds the leg 13 and moves it in a direction away from such screwdriver. This tends to rotate the tool about the juncture corner 65 of legs 13, 14 thereof whereupon the horizontal leg is elevated at its free end 66 while concurrently spreading the side portions 52, 53 to enlarge the gap 56 due to a wedging action between the apices 33, 34 and the internal concave surface 64. As the gap enlarges the wedge surfaces 22, 23 engage the edges 54, 55. Further movement of the tool and handle as aforesaid spreads the gap by the surfaces 22, 23 wedging the side portions apart until the apices 20, 21 pass the edges 54, 55.

The leg 14 is then above the handle which then is forced downwardly off the vertical leg 13.

It will be understood that alternatively to remove the tool 14 from handle 50 a screwdriver may be inserted between the bottom surface 46 on leg 14 of the tool and the bottom section 51. The leg 14 is pried up. The ensuing action in removing the leg 14 is the same as heretofore described, the side portions of the handle being wedged apart.

To insert the tool into the handle, the side portions 52, 53 are spread apart by a wedge or any other suitable tool and the leg 13 is dropped into the opening 60 and the leg 14 placed into the trough. The sides 52, 53 are released which spring back about leg 14.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 6 AND 7

The handle 100 comprises a bottom or base portion 101 of U-shape having an arcuate bottom portion 102 and upright generally flat side portions 103, 104 which together form a trough 105 receiving the leg 15 of the tool 14. The vertical leg 13 of the tool 14 extends through an aperture 106 in bottom section 102 and is disposed intermediate the ends 107, 108 of the base portion.

In this embodiment the upper edge portions 109, 110 of the sidewalls 103, 104 are turned outwardly to form flanges and extend into the grooves 112, 113 formed at the lateral edges of the locking element 114 by the flat top wall 115 and the reentrant flanges 116, 117 which extend under the edge portions 109, 110 respectively. The bottom side 119 of wall 115 lays tightly flat upon the flat upper surface 35 of the leg 15 of the tool 14.

The locking element 114 is separated from the base by relative longitudinal movement and in the separated position the tool 14 may be readily inserted or removed from the handle structure 100.

It will be understood that in the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 the tube 50 may be fashioned from a flat sheet of steel with the aperture 60 therein, and while the leg 13 is passed therethrough the sheet is wrapped by swagging about the leg 15 of the tool 14, whereby the handle is thus permanently installed.

Claims

I claim:

1. A handle for use with an L-shaped tool having a pair of angularly related legs, said handle comprising a tubular element having a wall with a transverse aperture intermediate its ends dimensioned only slightly larger than one leg of the tool for admitting said one leg therethrough transverse to the handle and said wall defining a trough admitting the other leg therein, said wall having spaced edges defining a tool ingress and egress gap angularly displaced from the aperture, and means comprising at least a portion of said wall opposite the aperture closely confining the other leg and providing the sole means for locking the tool via said other leg to the handle to prevent withdrawal of the tool transversely of the other leg, and the peripheral edge of the aperture preventing movement of the tool lengthwise of the handle, said gap adapted to be opened to permit separation of the tool from the handle and closed to retain the tool in the handle.

2. A handle according to claim 1 and said element comprising a base portion with said aperture and said confining means comprising a locking portion diametrically opposite said aperture, and means releasably interlocking said locking portion with the base portion.

3. The invention according to claim 1 and said element being of one piece and being made of inherently resilient metal and said wall having arcuate bottom and side segments sphincterally embracing a tool portion therebetween, said side portions being springable apart to enlarge the gap to permit ingress and egress of the tool.

4. The invention according to claim 1 and said wall of the element being generally cylindrical.

5. The invention according to claim 4 and said wall having edge portions at opposite sides of the gap, and a locking member arcuate in cross section disposed within the tubular element and bridging the gap and providing a closure therefor.

6. The invention according to claim 1 and said wall being generally U-shaped in cross section and having out-turned flanges, a locking member bridging said gap and having lateral edges coincident with said out-turned flanges and having inturned flanges underlapped with respect to said out-turned flanges.

7. The invention according to claim 1 and in combination with a polysided tool providing at least on said other leg peripheral surfaces converging transversely thereof, said surfaces serving to engage the edges of the wall defining the gap for insertion into the handle and other converging surfaces on the other leg disposed to engage and wedge apart said edges of the gap to facilitate removal of the tool from the handle.

8. The invention according to claim 7 and a locking element disposed between said leg of the tool and the sections of the wall portion at opposite sides of the gap and said tool having means providing limited contact with said locking member to facilitate removal and insertion of said member between the said other leg of the tool and said sections of the wall portion.

9. The invention according to claim 1 and said wall portion being U-shaped and a flat locking member having flat face engagement with the other leg of the tool.

10. The invention according to claim 1 and said element being substantially cylindrical and said aperture and gap being diametrically opposed and said aperture being dimensioned to accommodate canting of the one leg of the tool to displace the other leg toward the gap, and said tool being polysided and providing on said other leg a pair of surfaces converging toward the gap for engagement with opposite edges thereof to wedge the tool between said edges to widen the gap for egress.