Retractible Tool Holder

Abstract

The tool holder is of a pencil type and includes a barrel or outer member in which is slidably carried a support or inner member that is connected in an end to end relation with a tool member for movement of the tool member to extended and retracted positions relative to one end of the barrel member. A linearly extendible and retractible latch means positioned transversely of and through the tool holder coacts with portions of the barrel member and the support member to define the retracted and extended positions of the tool member.

Description

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The tool holder is efficient in operation, of a simple construction and comprised of easily machined and assembled parts so as to be economical in cost. The latch mechanism positively locks the tool member in an extended operating position and can be used with different slot lengths in the barrel member and support member of the tool holder to provide for variations in the effective stroke or movement of the tool member to an extended position therefor. A pocket clip member utilized to maintain the latch mechanism in assembly relation within the tool holder has a securing screw which may function as an abutment to define the retracted position of the tool member. Various type tool members may be used with the tool holder and depending upon their function or use can be either held against rotation or permitted to rotate relative to the longitudinal axis of the holder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the retractible tool holder of this invention with the tool member in a retracted or inoperative position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the holder as seen along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1 showing a tool member used for cutting purposes;

FIG. 3 is a partial e1evational view as seen on the line 3--3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 4--4 in FIG. 3 and showing a latching mechanism that forms part of the tool holder;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the tool holder; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the tool holder in assembly relation with a tool member adapted for use as an awl or scribe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The tool holder of this invention, indicated generally as 10, in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a tubular barrel or outer member 11 and an elongated tubular support or inner member 12 which is telescopically received for slidable movement within the barrel member 11. The support member has a closed rear end section 13 projected outwardly from the rear end of the barrel or holder member 11 and an open front end 14 to which is releasably attached an elongated tool member 16. The barrel 11 includes a main body 22 and a head or front piece 23 of a conical shape that is threadably secured to the front end 24 of the body member 22 so as to constitute a forward extension thereof.

The tool member 16 (FIG. 2) is formed of a small diameter rod material that is integrally formed with a flat rear end section 17 (FIGS. 2 and 5) and a forward knife section 18. The flat end 17 is received in a screw driver relation within a groove 19 that is provided in a plug 21 assembled in a press fit within the forward end of the support member 12. The head piece 23 has a longitudinally extended bore 26 in axial alignment with the body member 22 formed with a rear or inner portion 27 of an enlarged diameter relative to its front portion 28. From its rear flat end 17 the tool member 16 extends through the bore rear portion 27 for guidable sliding engagement within the front bore portion 28. A coil spring 29 mounted about the tool member 16 has its respective ends in abutting engagement with the flat end 17 of the tool member and a shoulder 31 formed at a junction of the bore portions 27 and 28. The spring 29 functions to continuously bias the tool member 16 toward its retracted position shown in FIG. 2 along with holding the rear end portion 17 of the tool member in releasable connection with the support member 12. It is thus seen that the tool member 16 and the support member 12 are axially aligned in an end to end relation longitudinally of the barrel member 11 for movement as a unit relative to the barrel member.

Movement of the support member 12 longitudinally of the barrel member 11 to positions defining the retracted and extended positions of the tool member 16 is provided by means including a linearly extendible and retractible latch mechanism 32 (FIGS. 2 and 4) which extends transversely of and through the tool holder 10. The barrel member 11 has a pair of diametrically opposite openings 33 and 34 with the opening 33 being of a larger diameter than the opening 34. Corresponding to and opposite the openings 33 and 34 are a pair of slots 36 and 37, respectively, that are formed in the support member 12, with the slot 37 being of a shorter length than the slot 36. The latch mechanism 32 includes a button or locking member 38 of a tubular shape having a shank section 39 and an enlarged section 41. The locking member 38 is slidably supported about the stem portion 42 of a guide member 43. A head member integrally formed with the stem section 42 includes a circular bearing section 46 and a pin section 47.

As best appears in FIG. 4, when the pin section 47 is located within the opening 34, the bearing section 46 is positioned within the slot 37 with the stem section 42 directed in axial alignment towards the opening 33. The locking member 38 is mounted about the stem section 42 with the shank 39 thereof projected outwardly of the tool holder through the slot 36 and opening 33 so that the enlarged portion 41 is within the tubular support member 12 for slidable engagement on the inner peripheral wall thereof to opposite sides of the slot 36. A coil spring 48 within the locking member 38 is held in compression between the closed end of the locking member 38 and the terminal end of the stem 42 so as to continuously bias the locking member in a direction outwardly from the tool holder.

As thus far described it is seen that the bearing section 46 is positioned within the slot 37 in engagement with opposite sides of the slot. With the pin section 47 anchored within the opening 34, the bearing section functions to hold the support member 12 against rotational movement relative to the barrel member 11. This function of the bearing section 46 is complemented by a similar action of the shank 39 of the locking member 38 relative to the side walls of slot 36.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the rear end of the slot 36 is formed with an enlarged circular recess 49 of a size and shape corresponding to the opening 33 in the barrel member 11. On depressing the rear section 13 of the support member 12 to move the tool member 16 to an operative extended position projected forwardly from the head piece 23, the recess 49 is moved into axial alignment with the opening 33 shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4. When this aligned position of the openings 33 and 49 takes place the enlarged section 41 of the latching mechanism 32 is automatically moved into such aligned openings whereby to positively lock the support member 12 against further longitudinal movement relative to the barrel member 11 in the fully extended position of the tool member 16. To maintain the enlarged section 41 of the locking member 38 from being moved by the spring 48 completely out of the holder 10 there is provided a stop plate 50 that is secured to the outer surface of the barrel member 11 and has an opening 51 of a size to receive only the shank 39 of the locking member 38. The enlarged section 41 is thus retained within the openings 33 and 48 by the abutting engagement thereof with the underside of the stop plate 50.

As clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the stop plate 50 is formed as part of a pocket clip member 52 wherein the plate 50 is of a semicircular shape in transverse section providing for its being arranged in clamping engagement about the barrel member 11. The clip member 52 is secured to the barrel member by a screw 53 threadable through the barrel member and into the slot 36.

On depressing the button member 38 from its dotted line position shown in FIG. 4 to its full line position shown in the same figure, the enlarged section 41 of the locking member 38 is moved out of the openings 33 and 49 to permit movement of the tool member 16 to its inoperative position by the action of the spring 29. This inoperative position is defined by the engagement of the bearing section 46 with the end 54 of the slot 37 (FIGS. 2 and 4). With the screw 53 extended through the slot 36 such inoperative position is also defined by the engagement of the screw with the end 56 of the slot 36. It is thus seen that either or both the screw 56 or the latch mechanism 32 can be used in conjunction with corresponding slots 36 and 37 to define the inoperative or retracted position of the tool member 16.

The latch mechanism 32 is assembled within the tool holder 10 prior to the assembly therewith of the tool member 16 so as to remove the action of the spring 29 from the support member 12. With the support member 12 thus freely movable, it is manipulated relative to the barrel member 11 to position the slots 36 and 37 transversely opposite the openings 33 and 34 with the enlarged opening 49 in axial alignment with the openings 33 and 34. With the clip member 52 removed, the latch mechanism 32 is thus freely movable transversely of the tool holder to locate the pin section 47 within the opening 34 with the locking member 38 extended outwardly from the opening 33. The clip member 52 is then secured to the barrel member 11 by the screw 53 to maintain this assembly relation.

The tool member 16 is assembled by insertion thereof within the front end of the barrel member 11 to locate the flat end 17 within the groove 19 of the plug 21. The spring 29 is then mounted about the tool member 16 after which the head piece 23 is threadably secured to the forward end of the barrel member 11.

In FIG. 6 the tool holder 10 is shown in assembly relation with a tool member 16a adapted to be used for metal scribing purposes. The tool member 16a is of a rod construction provided at its rear end section 57 with an adjustable shoulder 58, illustrated as a split washer, adapted to be selectively located within axially spaced grooves 59 formed in the rear end section 57 of the tool member 16a. In assembly the section 57 is inserted within the plug 21 until the shoulder 58 abuts the front surface of the plug. The assembly of the tool member 16a within the barrel member 11 is then completed in all respects the same as the assembly of the tool member 16. The selective adjustment of the shoulder 58 compensates for the wear of the scribe point 61.

Although the invention has been described with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications can be made therein which are within the full intended scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

I CLAIM:

1. A retractible tool holder comprising:

a. a tubular barrel member,

b. an elongated tubular tool support member,

c. a tool member connectible to the front end of said support member,

d. said support member and said tool member located within said barrel member for slidable movement relative thereto between an inoperative position wherein said tool member is retracted inwardly from one end of said barrel member and an operative position wherein said tool member extends outwardly from a corresponding adjacent end of said barrel member,

e. said support member having a pair of transversely opposite elongated longitudinally extended slots, and said barrel member having a pair of diametrically opposite openings in transverse alignment with said slots, one of said slots having an enlarged end portion of a size and shape corresponding to an adjacent one of said openings, and

f. a retractible and extendible linear transverse latch means projected through said pair of openings and said pair of slots, including a locking member having an enlarged section movable within said one opening and the enlarged end portion of said one slot when said tool member is moved to the operative position thereof, whereby to lock said barrel member and support member against relative movement, said tool member, on movement of the enlarged section of said locking member out of said one opening and adjacent one of said slots, being movable to the inoperative position therefor.

2. The retractible tool holder according to claim 1 including:

a. spring means in said barrel member mounted about said tool with the respective ends thereof in bearing engagement with said barrel member and support member to continuously urge said tool member to the inoperative position therefor.

3. The retractible tool holder according to claim 1 wherein:

a. said latch means, on removal of said enlarged section of the locking member from said one opening and enlarged portion of said one slot, being engageable with the opposite end of said one slot to define the retracted position of said tool member.

4. A retractible tool holder according to claim 1 wherein:

a. said support member and said tool member are in an axially aligned relation longitudinally of said barrel, and

b. means releasably connecting together the adjacent ends of said tool member and support member including means for adjustably extending said tool member longitudinally of said support member,

5. A retractible tool holder according to claim 1 wherein:

a. said support member and said tool member are in an axially aligned relation longitudinally of said barrel member, and

b. means releasably connecting together the adjacent ends of said tool member and support member including means for locking said tool member against rotation relative to said support member.

6. The retractible tool holder according to claim 1 wherein:

a. said locking member is of a tubular shape having an outer end section of a reduced size relative to said enlarged section,

b. a guide member for said locking member having a first section located within the other one of said slots and the other one of said openings, and a second section slidably supported within said locking member,

c. means within said locking member for continuously biasing said locking member in a direction toward and axially of said one opening, and

d. stop means secured to the outer surface of said barrel and engageable with said enlarged section to limit the movement of said locking member by said biasing means.

7. A retractible tool holder according to claim 6 including:

a. means for securing said stop means to said barrel member having an abutment portion projected inwardly of said barrel member and through said one slot,

b. said abutment portion, on movement of the enlarged section of said locking member out of said one opening and enlarged portion of said one slot, being engageable with the opposite end of said one slot to define the retracted position of said tool member.