Tool driver with a handle

• US 5,063,796 A
• Filed: 03/30/1990
• Issued: 11/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jan V. Gennep
• Original Assignee: Jan V. Gennep
• Inventors: Gennep, Jan V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, James G.
• Application Number:
  US07/502,569
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 81/57.29, 81/58.1, 81/177.4, 81/438, 81/490, 362/119, 362/120
• US Class Current: 81/57.29
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 13/481 for operating in areas having limited access
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 17/00 Hand-driven gear-operated wrenches or screwdrivers ratchet-operated B25B13/46 B25B13/467, B25B15/04; for mounting or dismounting wheels B60B29/005

Abstract

A tool driver with a handle for loosening and tightening fasteners or drilling holes in hard-to-reach locations. The tool driver contains a direct drive shaft and a mechanical means for converting force applied to the direct drive shaft to motion of a transverse tool attachment. A second tool attachment is located at one end of the direct drive shaft permitting a tool to be directly driven. A handle is provided for stabilizing and controlling the tool driver, as well as securing and containing extra tools. Alternatively, the handle is a container for batteries used to power a luminous element which illuminates the workpiece.

Claims

1. A device for driving tools, comprising:

a direct drive shaft enabling attachment of a driving implement to the device;

means for attaching a tool transverse to said drive shaft;

means for converting driving force applied to said direct drive shaft to movement of said attachment means on a driving axis transverse to said direct drive shaft;

a housing encasing the force converting means;

said means for converting driving force including a first bevel gear rotatably mounted in said housing and attached to said direct drive shaft and a second bevel gear meshing in said housing with said first bevel gear and rotatably mounted therein by a bearing, said second bevel gear being attached to said means for attaching a tool transverse to said drive shaft, and said bearing supporting said second bevel gear spaced from said housing; and

a handle attached to said housing and facilitating operation of a tool at said attachment means.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said handle is located generally coaxial with said driving axis to facilitate manual control of a tool at said attachment means.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said handle is attached to said housing opposite to the point of attachment of a tool to said attachment means.

4. The device of claim 1 further including means for attaching a tool generally axially relative to said direct drive shaft.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said handle is hollow for containing tools to be used with said attachment means.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for converting force is adapted to convert torque to rotary motion.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said handle includes a surface configuration to facilitate gripping.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said handle has a textured surface.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said handle is separable from the remainder of said device.

10. The device of claim 9 further including threads at the base of said handle to facilitate attachment to matching threads located at the desired point of attachment on said housing.

11. A device for driving tools, comprising:

a direct drive shaft enabling attachment of a driving implement to the device;

means for attaching a tool transverse to said drive shaft;

means for converting driving force applied to the direct drive shaft to movement of said attachment means on a driving axis transverse to said direct drive shaft;

a housing encasing the force converting means;

said means for converting driving force including a first bevel gear rotatably mounted in said housing and attached to said direct drive shaft and a second bevel gear meshing in said housing with said first bevel gear and rotatably mounted therein by a bearing, said second bevel gear being attached to said means for attaching a tool transverse to said drive shaft, and said bearing supporting said second bevel gear spaced from said housing.

12. The device of claim 11 also including means for attaching a tool generally axially relative to said direct drive shaft.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein said means for converting force is adapted to convert torque to rotary motion.

14. The device of claim 13 further including a means for illuminating a workpiece.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein said illuminating means is a light emitting diode.

16. The device of claim 14 wherein said illuminating means is positioned on said housing between said means for attaching a tool generally axially relative to said direct drive shaft and said means for attaching a tool transverse to said drive shaft.

17. The device of claim 14 further including a container attached to said housing for enclosing batteries to be used with said illuminating means.

18. The device of claim 11 further including a container attached to said housing for enclosing tools to be used with said attachment means.

19. The device of claim 17 or 18 wherein said container is a handle which is generally coaxial with said driving axis.

20. The device of claim 18 further including a magnet within said container for holding tools relatively stationary.

21. The device of claim 17 or 18 wherein said container is separable from the remainder of the said device.

22. The device of claim 17 or 18, wherein said container includes threads at its base to facilitate attachment to matching threads located at the desired point of attachment on said housing.

23. The device of claim 17 or 18 wherein said container is attached to said housing opposite to the point of attachment of the tool.

24. The device of claim 17 or 18 wherein said container is adapted to have a surface configuration to facilitate gripping.

25. The device of claim 24 wherein said container is adapted to have a textured surface.

26. A device for driving tools, comprising:

a direct drive shaft enabling attachment of a driving instrument to the device;

means for attaching a tool generally axially relative to said shaft;

means for attaching a tool transverse to said drive shaft;

means for converting driving force applied to the direct drive shaft to movement of said attachment means on a driving axis transverse to said direct drive shaft;

a housing encasing the force converting means;

said means for converting driving force including a first bevel gear rotatably mounted in said housing and attached to said direct drive shaft and a second bevel gear meshing in said housing with said first bevel gear and rotatably mounted therein by a bearing, said second bevel gear being attached to said means for attaching a tool transverse to said drive shaft, and said bearing supporting said second bevel gear spaced from said housing; and

means attached to said housing for holding tools to be used with said attachment means.

27. The device of claim 26 including means for attaching a tool generally axially relative to said direct drive shaft.

28. The device of claim 27 wherein said means for converting force is adapted to translate torque to rotary motion.

29. The device of claim 26 wherein said means for holding tools is a magnet.

30. The device of claim 29 wherein said magnet is a permanent magnet positioned to magnetize a tool at said attachment means.

31. The device of claim 26 wherein said means for holding tools is within a container for such tools.

32. The device of claim 31 wherein said container is a handle.

33. A device for driving tools, comprising:

a direct drive shaft enabling attachment of a driving implement to the device;

means for attaching a tool generally axially relative to said shaft;

means for attaching a tool transverse to said drive shaft;

means for converting driving force applied to the direct drive shaft to movement of said attachment means on a driving axis transverse to said direct drive shaft;

a housing encasing the force converting means;

said means for converting driving force including a first bevel gear rotatably mounted in said housing and attached to said direct drive shaft and a second bevel gear meshing in said housing with said first bevel gear and rotatably mounted therein by a bearing, said second bevel gear being attached to said means for attaching a tool transverse to said drive shaft, and said bearing supporting said second bevel gear spaced from said housing;

a magnet for holding tools to be used with said attachment means; and

a hollow handle facilitating operation of a tool at said attachment means and being a container for tools.

34. A device for driving tools, comprising:

a direct drive shaft enabling attachment of a rotary driving implement to the device;

means for attaching a tool generally axially relative to said direct drive shaft;

means for attaching a tool transverse to said direct drive shaft;

means for converting rotary driving force applied to said direct drive shaft to rotary motion of said attachment means on a driving axis transverse to said direct drive shaft;

a housing encasing the force converting means;

said means for converting driving force including a first bevel gear rotatably mounted in said housing and attached to said direct drive shaft and a second bevel gear meshing in said housing with said first bevel gear and rotatably mounted therein by a bearing, said second bevel gear being attached to said means for attaching a tool transverse to said drive shaft, and said bearing supporting said second bevel gear spaced from said housing; and

a handle attached to said housing and located generally coaxial with said driving axis facilitating manual control of a tool at said attachment means.

35. A device for driving tools, comprising:

a direct drive shaft enabling attachment of a driving implement to the device;

means for attaching a tool generally axially relative to said shaft;

means for converting driving force applied to the direct drive shaft to movement of said attachment means on a driving axis transverse to said direct drive shaft;

a housing encasing said means for converting driving force;

said means for converting driving force including a first bevel gear rotatably mounted in said housing and attached to said direct drive shaft and a second bevel gear meshing in said housing with said first bevel gear and rotatably mounted therein by a bearing, said second bevel gear being attached to said means for attaching a tool transverse to said drive shaft, and said bearing supporting said second bevel gear spaced from said housing;

a magnet for holding tools to be used with said attachment means; and

a hollow handle facilitating operation of a tool at said attachment means and being a container for batteries used to power a luminous element attached to said housing between said means for attaching a tool transverse to said drive means and said means for attaching a tool generally axially relative to said direct drive shaft.