Tool holder

• US 5,765,454 A
• Filed: 07/22/1996
• Issued: 06/16/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lucian Manea, Mihai Barbulescu
• Original Assignee: Lucian Manea, Mihai Barbulescu
• Inventors: Manea, Lucian, Barbulescu, Mihai
• Primary Examiner(s): MEISLIN, DEBRA S
• Application Number:
  US08/681,292
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 81/28, 81/487, 81/489, 81/155, 81/157, 81/158, 81/164, 81/175, 81/176, 81/491, 81/436-439, 81/125, 81/177.1, 81/177.2, 279/83, 408/239, 408/240, 206/376-379
• US Class Current: 81/487
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 15/008 Allen-type keys
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/005 for screwdrivers, wrenches or spanners with additional levers, e.g. for increasing torque
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 3/26 comprising nails, screws, bolts, or pins traversing or entering the socket
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 3/32 in association with, or including, tang, bolt, or other member passing axially through whole length of handle
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 3/06 Trays

Abstract

A tool holder for holding tool bits, e.g. Allen wrenches or the like, that includes a tool head having a transversely extending hole for receiving a tool or tool bit and a connected stem having an internally threaded bore connected in communication with the transverse hole. A screw is threaded in the bore of the stem for securing and releasing the tool adapted to be received in the transverse hole. A handle having an internal seat is rotatable about the stem and connected screw and longitudinally movable relative thereto between a latched and unlatched position. In the latched position, the handle is freely rotatable relative to the stem and independently of the connected screw. In the unlatched position a seat in the handle engages the head of the screw whereby the rotation of the handle in one direction or the other effects the drive of the screw toward or away from the toolhead accordingly to either secure or release the tool bit. Included in combination with the tool holder is a magazine having a plurality of pockets for stowing various sized tool bits and a bracket connected to one side of the magazine for releasably stowing the tool holder on the magazine.

Claims

1. A tool holder comprising a head having a transverse hole extending therethrough for receiving a tool,

a stem connected to said head,

said stem having a threaded bore disposed normal to and connected in communication with said transverse hole,

a screw mating with said threaded bore for movement toward and away from said transverse hole for securing and releasing a tool adapted to be received in said hole,

and a handle rotatably journalled about said stem and said screw and longitudinally movable relative thereto between a latched and unlatched position, and

a seat formed intermediate the length of said handle internally thereof,

a latching means for releasably latching said handle to said stem in said latched position whereby said handle is rendered freely rotatable relative to said stem and screw threaded thereto, and

said screw includes a screw head shaped to engage with said seat in the unlatched position of said handle whereby rotation of said handle effects the drive of said screw toward or away from said transverse hole to secure or release a tool bit therein.

2. A tool holder as defined in claim 1 wherein said latching means includes a laterally extending collar on said stem,

said collar being slightly spaced from said head,

and a latching O-ring seated internally of said handle between said collar and said head in the latched position.

3. A tool holder as defined in claim 1 wherein said transverse hole has a configuration partly complementing the shape of the tool to be received therein.

4. A tool holder as defined in claim 1 wherein said transverse hole includes angular surfaces defining an acute angle therebetween adapted to complement corresponding angular surfaces of a tool adapted to be received therein.

5. A tool holder as defined in claim 1 wherein said screw includes a shank having a threaded portion threaded to said threaded bore, and a connected screw head, and said handle having a seat formed internally of said handle intermediate thereof for engaging said screw head in the unlatched position of said handle.

6. A tool holder as defined in claim 5 wherein said seat and screw head have complementary interfitting shapes.

7. A tool holder as defined in claim 1 wherein said hole is sized for receiving tools of varying diameters that fall within a predetermined range of diameters.

8. A combination comprising

a tool holder and a tool for use therewith,

said tool including an allen wrench having an elongated arm with an angularly disposed shorter arm, and

said tool holder having a tool head having a hole extending transversely therethrough,

a tubular stem connected to said tool head,

said tubular stem having an internally threaded bore,

a screw having a screw head and threaded shank threaded to said tubular stem,

said bore being connected normal to and in communication with said transverse hole,

and a handle in the form of an elongated barrel rotatably journalled about said stem and screw threaded thereto and longitudinally movable relative thereto,

said barrel having a seat formed internally and intermediate of said barrel,

said seat engaging said screw head when said barrel is longitudinally shifted to one position to effect the drive of said screw to effect the threading of said screw toward and away from said hole to lock or unlock the tool therein,

and said seat disengaging with said screw head when said barrel is longitudinally shifted to a second position whereby said barrel is freely rotatable about said stem, and

means for releasably latching said barrel to said stem whereby said barrel is rendered freely rotatable relative to said stem and screw threaded thereto in the latched position of said barrel.

9. A combination as defined in claim 8 wherein said transverse hole includes angular surfaces complementing said allen wrench adapted to be received therein.

10. A combination as defined in claim 8 wherein said latching means include

a laterally extending collar on said stem and slightly spaced from said tool head,

and an O-ring seated internally of said barrel between said tool head and said collar in the latched position of said barrel.

11. A combination as defined in claim 8 and including a storage magazine having a plurality of pockets formed therein, each said pocket being adapted to stow an allen wrench of predetermined given size, and

a bracket disposed to one side of said magazine,

said barrel of said tool holder being releasably connected to said bracket.

12. A tool holder comprising

a tool head having a hole extending transversely therethrough,

said hole being adapted to receive a tool,

a stem connected to said tool head, said stem extending longitudinally of said tool head,

an internal bore having a threaded position extending longitudinally of said stem, said bore being normal to and in communication with said hole,

a screw having a threaded shank and a connected head end, said threaded shank being threaded to said threaded portion of said bore,

and a handle rotatably journalled about said stem and longitudinally movable relative thereto between a first and second position,

said handle having a seat intermediate the length thereof for accommodating the head end of said screw when said handle is longitudinally shifted to said first position to effect the turning of said screw relative to said threaded portion of said bore for advancing or retracting said screws toward or away from said hole to secure or release a tool received in said hole and when shifted to said second position, said handle is free to rotate independent of said screw.