TOOL HANDLE

• US 20030136234A1
• Filed: 01/23/2002
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eklind Tool Company (Eklind Tool)
• Original Assignee: Eklind Tool Company (Eklind Tool)
• Inventors: Cunningham, Earl T.
• Granted Patent: US 6,598,503 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 81/177.4
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 15/008 Allen-type keys
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/066 the grip itself being angularly adjustable

Abstract

A tool handle for receiving L-key wrenches of various sizes including an elongated axle member and first and second generally-cylindrical members, each cylindrical member having a central bore for receiving the elongated axle member. The first and second cylindrical members are mounted in end-to-end relationship on the axle member, and each is rotatable independently both with respect to the other cylindrical member and to the axle. Each of the first and second cylindrical members has an elongated slot along its length and a plurality of through bores of varying size spaced radially from the central bore and adapted to receive the shank portion of an L-key. First and second end caps are secured to the elongated axle, and both the first and second end caps have a slot therein corresponding in shape to the elongated slot on its adjacent cylindrical member. The end caps are rotatable with respect to the first and second cylindrical members so that the slots in the end caps can be selectively aligned with the slot and radially-spaced through bores in its adjacent cylindrical member.

Claims

1. A tool handle for receiving a plurality of L-key wrenches of varying sizes comprising:

an elongated axle member;

first and second generally-cylindrical members each having a central bore for receiving the axle member, the first and second generally-cylindrical members being mounted end-to-end on the axle member for independent rotational movement with respect thereto, each of the first and second generally-cylindrical members having an elongated slot along the length thereof and a plurality of through bores of varying size spaced radially from the central bore and adapted to receive the shank portion of an L-key wrench; and

first and second end caps secured to the elongated axle member, both the first and second end caps having a slot therein and being rotatable with respect to the first and second generally-cylindrical members so that the slots in the end caps are selectively alignable with the slot and radially-spaced through bores in its adjacent generally-cylindrical member,

whereby the slot in an end cap may be selectively aligned with either one of the radially-spaced through bores in the adjacent generally-cylindrical member to permit a hex key to be secured therein or with the slot in the adjacent generally-cylindrical member to permit a L-key wrench to be secured in the other generally-cylindrical member.

2. The tool handle of claim 1 wherein the surface of each of the generally-cylindrical members is relieved at the ends of its associated radially-spaced through bores in an amount corresponding to the size of the L-key adapted to be received in the through bore.

3. The tool handle of claim 1 in which the radially-spaced through bores in the first cylindrical member are each of a different size than the radially-spaced through bores in the second cylindrical member.

4. The tool handle of claim 1 wherein the slots in the first and second cylindrical members are sized to correspond to the largest through bore in the first and second cylindrical members, respectively.

5. The tool handle of claim 1 wherein the slots in the end caps are sized to receive the largest-sized hex key for which the tool handle is designed.

6. The tool handle of claim 1 wherein the all of the through bores and one of the generally-cylindrical members are larger than each of the through bores in the other generally-cylindrical member.

7. The tool handle of claim 1 wherein one of the end caps is formed integrally with the axle member.

8. The tool handle of claim 1 wherein the cylindrical members have a pentagonal cross-sectional shape with rounded corners.

9. The tool handle of claim 1 wherein the axle member includes an end portion that extends through the end cap, and the end cap and cylindrical members are secured to the axle by a snap ring.

10. The tool handle of claim 9 wherein the end portion of the axle member is formed with a loop.