Grip assembly for clutch cap, front sleeve, rear sleeve and method of making

• US 20040227308A1
• Filed: 05/14/2003
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eastway Fair Company Limited
• Original Assignee: One World Technologies (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Ma, Dennis Wing Yuk, Wong, Thomas Kam Kee, Long, Charles Keith, Tam, Bing Hong, Chunn, Daniel Alex, Liu, Xiao Ping
• Granted Patent: US 7,325,812 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 279/62
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2226/33 Elastomers, e.g. rubber
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2231/38 Keyless chucks for hand tools
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 31/1207 moving obliquely to the axis of the chuck in a plane containing this axis
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14614 Joining tubular articles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 279/902 Keyless type socket
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 279/17632 Conical sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/65 Means to drive tool

Abstract

A grip assembly for one of a clutch cap for a clutch mechanism, a rear sleeve or front sleeve for a chuck assembly having a chuck mechanism with a plurality of adjustable jaws. The grip assembly includes an inner sleeve having open top and an open bottom opposite the top and defining a longitudinal axis with a peripheral wall disposed between the first end and the second end and an elastomeric grip comprising a plurality of spaced apart ribs extending generally circumferentially about an outer surface of the front sleeve. An optional a cover can encircle the inner sleeve and have a plurality of spaced apart apertures to receive respective ribs.

Claims

1. A grip for one of a clutch cap, rear sleeve, or front sleeve for a rotary tool comprising:

a. an open top and an open bottom opposite the top defining a longitudinal axis;

b. a radial wall connecting the open top and the open bottom, the wall having an outer surface, wherein the radial wall is formed from an elastomeric material; and

,

c. a plurality ribs extending outward from the outer surface and parallel with the longitudinal axis to provide a gripping surface.

2. The grip of claim 1 wherein the ribs extend from the bottom toward the top at least a portion of the distance from the bottom to the top.

3. The grip of claim 1 wherein the ribs extend from the bottom toward the top the entire distance from the bottom to the top.

4. The grip of claim 1 wherein the ribs are located about the entire periphery of the wall.

5. The grip of claim 1 wherein at least some of the ribs comprise a peripheral wall to define a valley within the peripheral wall.

6. The grip of claim 1 wherein at least some of the ribs comprise a pair of opposed upstanding ribs connected by a top surface to define a ledge.

7. The grip of claim 1 further comprising a cover surrounding the radial wall and having a plurality of apertures to receive the ribs.

8. The grip of claim 7 wherein the ribs extend radially beyond a top surface of the cover.

9. The grip of claim 7 wherein a top surface of the ribs is substantially flush with a top surface of the cover.

10. A grip assembly for one of a clutch cap for a clutch mechanism, a rear sleeve or front sleeve for a chuck assembly having a chuck mechanism with a plurality of adjustable jaws comprising:

a. an inner sleeve having open top and an open bottom opposite the top and defining a longitudinal axis with a peripheral wall disposed between the first end and the second end;

b. an elastomeric grip comprising a plurality of spaced apart ribs extending generally circumferentially about an outer surface of the front sleeve; and

,

c. a cover encircling the inner sleeve and having a plurality of spaced apart apertures to receive respective ribs.

11. The grip assembly of claim 10 wherein the ribs extend outward beyond a top surface of the cover.

12. The grip assembly of claim 10 wherein a top surface of the ribs is substantially flush with a top surface of the cover.

13. The grip assembly of claim 10 wherein the elastomeric grip comprises:

a. an open top and a open bottom opposite the top defining a longitudinal axis; and

b. a radial wall connecting the open top and the open bottom, the wall having an outer surface, wherein the radial wall is formed from an elastomeric material such that the plurality of ribs extend outward from the outer surface of the wall and parallel with the longitudinal axis.

14. The grip assembly of claim 13 wherein the radial wall has an inner surface with a plurality of ribs extending parallel with the longitudinal axis.

15. The grip assembly of claim 14 wherein the inner sleeve has an outer surface with a plurality of grooves to slidably receive the ribs on the inner surface of the elastomeric grip.

16. The grip assembly of claim 10 wherein the inner sleeve has an outer surface with a plurality of depressions to respectively receive the plurality of ribs.

17. A clutch cap operatively associated with a clutch mechanism for a rotary tool, the cap comprising:

a. an inner sleeve having a first end opposed to a second end to define a longitudinal axis with a peripheral wall disposed between the first end and the second end;

b. an elastomeric grip extending generally circumferentially about the inner sleeve and having an outer surface, the grip being located between the first end and the second end; and

,

c. a plurality of ribs extending outward from the outer surface and parallel with the longitudinal axis to provide a gripping surface.

18. The clutch cap of claim 17 wherein the inner sleeve is cylindrical.

19. The clutch cap of claim 18 wherein the first end has an outer periphery with a diameter larger than a diameter defined by an outer surface of the peripheral wall.

20. The clutch cap of claim 19 wherein the first end has indicia to indict a torque setting.

21. The clutch cap of claim 17 further comprising a cover surrounding the grip and having a plurality of apertures to receive the ribs.

22. A grip assembly for a chuck assembly having a chuck mechanism with a plurality of adjustable jaws comprising:

a. a front sleeve encircling and attached to at least a portion of the chuck mechanism;

b. an elastomeric grip comprising a plurality of spaced apart ribs extending generally circumferentially about the front sleeve; and

,

c. a cover encircling the front sleeve and having a plurality of spaced apart apertures to receive respective ribs.

23. The grip assembly of claim 22 wherein the ribs extend outward beyond a top surface of the cover.

24. The grip assembly of claim 22 wherein a top surface of the ribs is substantially flush with a top surface of the cover.

25. The grip assembly of claim 22 wherein the elastomeric grip comprises:

a. an open top and a open bottom opposite the top defining a longitudinal axis; and

b. a radial wall connecting the open top and the open bottom, the wall having an outer surface, wherein the radial wall is formed from an elastomeric material such that the plurality of ribs extend outward from the outer surface of the wall and parallel with the longitudinal axis.

26. The grip assembly of claim 25 wherein the radial wall has an inner surface with a plurality of ribs extending parallel with the longitudinal axis.

27. The grip assembly of claim 26 wherein the front sleeve an outer surface with a plurality of grooves to slidably receive the ribs on the inner surface of the elastomeric grip.

28. The grip assembly of claim 22 wherein the front sleeve has an outer surface with a plurality of depressions to respectively receive the plurality of ribs.

29. In a rotary tool having a handle, a motor, a rotatable shaft driven by the motor and extending from a forward end of the tool, a clutch mechanism operatively engaged with the rotatable shaft to adjust the torque of the shaft, the improvement comprising a clutch cap operatively associated with the clutch mechanism and comprising:

a. an inner sleeve having a first end opposed to a second end to define a longitudinal axis with a peripheral wall disposed between the first end and the second end; and

,

b. an elastomeric grip comprising a plurality of spaced apart ribs extending generally circumferentially about the inner sleeve to provide a gripping surface.

30. In a rotary tool having a handle, a motor, a rotatable shaft driven by the motor and extending from a forward end of the tool, and a chuck assembly operatively engaged with the rotatable shaft and having a chuck mechanism with a plurality of adjustable jaws, the improvement comprising:

a. a front sleeve encircling and attached to the chuck mechanism;

b. an elastomeric grip comprising a plurality of spaced apart ribs extending generally circumferentially about the front sleeve; and

,

c. a cover encircling the front sleeve and having a plurality of spaced apart apertures to receive respective ribs.

31. In a rotary tool having a handle, a motor, a rotatable shaft driven by the motor and extending from a forward end of the tool, a clutch mechanism operatively engaged with the rotatable shaft to adjust the torque of the shaft, and a chuck assembly operatively engaged with the rotatable shaft and having a chuck mechanism with a plurality of adjustable jaws, the improvement comprising:

a. a clutch cap operatively associated with the clutch mechanism and comprising;

i. an inner sleeve having a first end opposed to a second end to define a longitudinal axis with a peripheral wall disposed between the first end and the second end;

ii. an elastomeric grip comprising a plurality of spaced apart ribs extending generally circumferentially about the inner sleeve to provide a gripping surface;

b. a front sleeve encircling and attached to at least a portion of the chuck mechanism;

c. an elastomeric grip comprising a plurality of spaced apart ribs extending generally circumferentially about the front sleeve; and

,

d. a cover encircling the front sleeve and having a plurality of spaced apart apertures to receive respective ribs.