Tool handle for holding multiple tools of different sizes during use

• US 5,592,859 A
• Filed: 07/29/1994
• Issued: 01/14/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wagic, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kenneth R. Johnson, Robert L. Johnson, Ronald L. Johnson
• Inventors: Johnson, Robert L., Johnson, Ronald L., Johnson, Kenneth R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kisliuk, Bruce M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DANGANAN, JONI BALDOS
• Application Number:
  US08/282,828
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 81/177.1, 81/177.2, 81/177.4, 81/177.5, 81/439, 81/DIG. 5
• US Class Current: 81/177.4
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 13/56 Spanner sets
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 15/008 Allen-type keys
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/08 with provision for storing tool elements
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/10 characterised by material or shape B25G1/01, B25G1/02 take precedence ; for hand tools comprising coating rollers B05C17/0205

Abstract

A generally cylindrical shaped tool handle holds multiple sizes of tools. The preferred embodiment of the handle is hexagonal shaped and holds multiple sizes of hexagonal tools. The handle includes one or more holding slots each positioned on one of multiple surface faces into which hexagonal tools are inserted and held. Each holding slot is of a size and dimension which corresponds to a hexagonal tool size. In use, a hexagonal wrench is positioned in the appropriate holding slot with the short leg or mounting end of the hexagonal wrench resting in the holding slot and the long leg of the hexagonal wrench extending through a receiving hole formed through the bottom of the slot and the tool handle. The long leg having a proximal end for driving the screw or tool. A lock is then positioned over the short leg of the hexagonal wrench and the holding slot. The width of the bottom of the lock is smaller than the width of the top of the lock in order to give the lock a natural spring-like property, thereby allowing it to clamp onto the handle and remain in its locked position. The lock is positionable along the handle on any surface face. The lock may be positioned to hold a tool in any one of the holding slots. The movement of the lock is enhanced by pinching external ridges located on the top sides of the lock and thereby spreading its bottom allowing it to slide along the handle. Hexagonal shaped tools other than wrenches may also be used with the handle of the present invention such as screwdrivers and socket wrenches.

Claims

1. A generally cylindrical tool handle having two ends and a generally cylindrical surface, the handle for accepting and holding a plurality of tool drivers each of a differing size, wherein each of the plurality of tool drivers includes an elongated rod having a bend through a predetermined angle and including a proximal end for engaging a tool, and a mounting end between the bend and a distal end, wherein the tool handle includes a plurality of holding slots formed into the cylindrical surface, each holding slot for accepting the mounting end of a corresponding tool driver so that the proximal end of the tool driver extends away from the cylindrical surface, further comprising a plurality of apertures each formed through a bottom of one of the holding slots and penetrating the tool handle wherein a tool driver is mounted to the tool handle by passing the proximal end through an appropriate one of the apertures before engaging the mounting end in the holding slot, and a slidable lock configured to slide along the cylindrical surface for holding the mounting end in the slot.

2. The tool handle according to claim 1 wherein the tool driver is a hexagonal wrench and the tool is a hexagonal screw.

3. The tool handle according to claim 2 wherein the generally cylindrical surface has a hexagonal shape.

4. A tool handle for accepting and holding one or more tools of differing sizes during use comprising;

a. one or more holding slots each integrally formed within an outer surface face, each holding slot configured to receive and hold an appropriate one of the tools, and

b. a slidable lock configured for slidably coupling to the handle and selectively positionable over any of the one or more holding slots for locking a tool in a holding slot during use.

5. The tool handle as claimed in claim 4 wherein each of the holding slots are an integrally formed individual pocket having a width dimension of a size to firmly hold a corresponding tool.

6. The tool handle as claimed in claim 4 wherein the slidable lock comprises a top and a bottom and further wherein the bottom is of a dimension smaller than a dimension of the top in order to promote a natural spring function and facilitate locking of the lock to the handle.

7. The tool handle as claimed in claim 6 wherein the slidable lock further comprises external ridges on a first top side and a second top side for enhancing a user'"'"'s ability to unlock the lock from the handle and position the lock along the handle.

8. The tool handle as claimed in claim 7 wherein the one or more tools are hexagonal.

9. The tool handle as claimed in claim 8 wherein the one or more tools includes a hexagonal wrench.

10. The tool handle as claimed in claim 9 wherein the one or more tools includes a screwdriver.

11. The tool handle as claimed in claim 10 wherein the one or more tools includes a socket wrench.

12. The tool handle as claimed in claim 11 wherein the plurality of outer surface faces includes six outer surface faces thereby forming a hexagonal shaped handle.

13. The tool handle as claimed in claim 12 wherein a size of a corresponding tool is printed on the handle to correspond with each of the one or more holding slots and specifies the appropriate holding slot which will hold a particular sized tool.

14. A hexagonal tool handle for accepting and holding hexagonal shaped tools of multiple sizes comprising:

a. a handle including a plurality of outer surface faces and one or more holding slots each integrally formed within one of the plurality, each holding slot configured to receive and hold an appropriate one of the hexagonal shaped tools; and

b. a slidable lock comprising a top, a bottom and external ridges on a first top side and a second top side, the lock configured for slidably coupling to the handle and positionable over any of the one or more holding slots for locking a hexagonal tool in a corresponding holding slot during use, wherein the bottom is of a dimension smaller than a dimension of the top.

15. The hexagonal tool handle as claimed in claim 14 wherein the one or more hexagonal shaped tools includes a hexagonal wrench.

16. A tool set comprising:

a. a first plurality of tools each including a size and dimension;

b. a handle including a second plurality of outer surface faces and one or more holding slots each integrally formed within one of the second plurality for receiving one of the first plurality, wherein each holding slot is of a size and dimension corresponding to a size and dimension of one of the first plurality; and

c. a slidable lock configured for slidably coupling to the handle and positionable over any of the one or more holding slots for locking one of the first plurality in a corresponding holding slot during use.

17. The tool set as claimed in claim 16 wherein the slidable lock comprises a top and a bottom and further wherein the bottom is of a dimension smaller than a dimension of the top in order to promote a natural spring function and facilitate locking of the lock to the handle.

18. The tool set as claimed in claim 17 wherein the slidable lock further comprises external ridges on a first top side and a second top side for enhancing a user'"'"'s ability to unlock the lock from the handle and position the lock along the handle.

19. The tool set as claimed in claim 18 wherein the first plurality comprises hexagonal wrenches.

20. The tool set as claimed in claim 19 wherein the first plurality further comprises a screwdriver.

21. The tool set as claimed in claim 20 wherein the first plurality further comprises a socket wrench.

22. The tool set as claimed in claim 21 wherein the second plurality includes six outer surface faces thereby forming a hexagonal shaped handle.

23. The tool set as claimed in claim 22 wherein a size of a corresponding tool is printed on the handle to correspond with each of the one or more holding slots and specifies the appropriate holding slot which will hold a particular sized tool.