Rotary hand tool with a crank arm incorporated into its handle

• US 6,095,018 A
• Filed: 03/08/1998
• Issued: 08/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Paul Scott Schuster
• Original Assignee: Paul Scott Schuster
• Inventors: Schuster, Paul Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Eley, Timothy V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERRY JR, WILLIE WENDELL
• Application Number:
  US09/036,620
• Time in Patent Office: 877 Days
• Field of Search: 81/177.5, 81/177.6, 81/489, 81/35
• US Class Current: 81/177.5
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 15/02 operated by rotating the handle
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/007 of crank type

Abstract

A rotary driver providing continuous uninterrupted rotation, which allows the user to install rotary fasteners without the tedious and potentially harmful long term effects of twisting the wrist. The tool comprises a handle of the size and shape to comfortably fit in a hand of a operator, connected to a tool shank which extends axially therefrom. The shank carries a tool tip at its distal end. The handle also incorporates a lever arm that extends outward from the longitudinal axis of the shank. A free spinning lever arm handle is mounted at its extended end creating a crank arm assembly for the rotary driver. This assembly is attached to the handle by a pivot at its end. The assembly can then be rotated from a stored position in a handle pocket to a extended working position. When the crank arm assembly is in the stored position, the rotary driver appears and functions like a traditional screwdriver.

Claims

1. A manually rotated hand tool employed to drive threaded style rotary fasteners, comprising:

a shaft having an engaging distal end to couple with said fasteners, an opposite end retained in a gripable handle that provides said shaft with increased rotational torque, said handle having a continuous rotating means, wherein the handle further includes a storage pocket positioned along its longitudinal axis and end, having adequate dimensions to store an operating crank, said crank having one end pivotably mounted within the end of said pocket, said mounting located so the crank can be rotated from a non-working position within the pocket, to a detented working position where a operating knob of the crank is at a given distance from said axis, such that the hand tool can be operated in either a conventional or continuous fashion when driving a fastener.

2. The hand tool of claim 1, wherein the tool further includes a contained gripable secondary handle having a inner bearing surface coaxial with an outer bearing surface on the tool'"'"'s longitudinal axis, allowing said secondary handle to freely rotate and slide about said surface within said containment having a bearing surface on at least one contained end, so a coupling force acting towards the fastener can be applied during tool rotation.

3. The hand tool of claim 1, wherein said handle has a generally round, ergonomic shape.

4. The hand tool of claim 1, wherein said crank pivots about 270 degrees.

5. The hand tool of claim 1, wherein said crank has a free spinning operating knob for a handle.

6. A hand tool comprising:

a means for rotating a tool shank about its longitudinal axis in a uninterrupted continuous manner, a means for controllably coupling said hand tool to a threaded fastener, whereby said hand tool can be efficiently coupled and rotated to drive a rotary fastener, wherein said coupling means is a force produced by an operator urging a gripable secondary handle with a inner bearing surface coaxial with said axis, an end bearing surface on at least one end, having said handle contained within the tool;

so that said force is transmitted towards the fastener through the tool shank to the fastener, wherein said rotating means is a pivotably mounted crank arm connected to said shank, producing a torque about the tool axis when rotated by an operator, wherein said handle includes a storage cavity positioned along its longitudinal axis, having adequate dimensions to store a portion of said operating crank, said mounting located so the crank can be rotated from a detented working position to a non-working position within said cavity, preventing any coaxial rotation of handle with respect to the shank, allowing the tool to be operated in either a conventional or continuous fashion when driving a fastener.

7. A hand tool comprising:

a means for rotating a tool shank about its longitudinal axis in a uninterrupted continuous manner, a means for controllably coupling said hand tool to a threaded fastener, whereby said hand tool can be efficiently coupled and rotated to drive a rotary fastener, wherein said coupling means is a force produced by an operator urging a gripable secondary handle with a inner bearing surface coaxial with said axis, an end bearing surface on at least one end, having said handle contained within the tool;

towards the fastener so that said force is transmitted through the tool shank to the fastener, wherein said rotating means is a pivotably mounted crank arm connected to said shank, producing a torque about the tool axis when rotated by an operator, wherein said crank arm pivots approximately 270 degrees.

8. A hand tool comprising:

a means for rotating a tool shank about its longitudinal axis in a uninterrupted continuous manner, a means for controllably coupling said hand tool to a threaded fastener, wherein said rotating means is a pivotably mounted crank arm connected to said shank, producing a torque about the tool axis when rotated by an operator, whereby said hand tool can be efficiently coupled and rotated to drive a rotary fastener.