Hand-manipulated torque tool

• US 6,564,680 B1
• Filed: 11/06/2000
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tecomet, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Beere Precision Medical Instruments, Inc. (Teleflex Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bradshaw, Guy L., Rinner, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, James G.
• Application Number:
  US09/706,889
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 811/778, 811/779, 811/775, 811/777, 811/772, 814/50, 814/89
• US Class Current: 81/177.5
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/066 the grip itself being angularly adjustable

Abstract

A hand manipulated torque tool, such as a screwdriver, having two handle portions pivotal between two modes of a straight relationship and a right angle relationship which forms a T-handled tool. A lock mechanism is operative between the handle portions to releasably hold the portions in the selected modes. The mechanism is accessible from the exterior of the tool, and it is operated by user finger pressure and it automatically re-locks upon release of the pressure and the subsequent pivoting of one handle portion to either of the two positions.

Claims

1. A hand-manipulated torque tool comprising:

a first handle having a longitudinal axis and a pivot axis extending transverse to said longitudinal axis and having a receptor for supporting a work tool and having a cavity therein extending parallel to said longitudinal axis,

an elongated second handle having a length and two terminal ends and being pivotally connected with said first handle on said pivot axis and at a mid-length location along said length and being pivotal to a position within said cavity for alignment with said longitudinal axis and a position out of said cavity to be transverse to said longitudinal axis to present a T-handle and with a first one of said terminal ends pivotal into and out of said cavity and a second one of said terminal ends always extendable to the side of said pivot axis away from said first handle,

an engager on said first handle,

a manually actuated locking member movably supported on said second handle and being movable independent of any movement of said second handle and always being exposed on said second terminal end for manual actuation and being cooperative with said engager to lock and non-lock modes for said handles and for releasably restraining said second handle alternately in said positions, and

a spring yieldingly urging said locking member in said lock mode.

2. The hand-manipulated torque tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said locking member has an actuation button connected thereto and with said button always being exposed exteriorly of said second terminal end for moving said locking member transverse to said pivot axis for the lock and non-lock modes.

3. The hand-manipulated torque tool as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said engager has two surfaces thereon and said surfaces are arranged to respectively establish said positions, and

said locking member is a pin extending interiorly of said second handle and transverse to said pivot axis and is disposed to contact said two surfaces for locking in said two positions.

4. The hand-manipulated torque tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said cavity and said first terminal end are of equal size whereby said cavity completely snugly receives one-half of said length at said second terminal end.

5. A hand-manipulated torque tool comprising:

a first handle having a longitudinal axis and a pivot post presenting a pivot axis extending transverse to said longitudinal axis and having a receptor for supporting a work tool and having a cavity therein extending parallel to said longitudinal axis,

a second handle having a total length and being pivotally mounted on said pivot post and at a mid-length of said second handle to extend equally to each side of said pivot axis and being pivotal to a position of alignment with said longitudinal axis and a position transverse to said longitudinal axis,

a manually actuated locking member movably supported on said second handle and being movable independent of any movement of said second handle,

said pivot post and said locking member having mutually engageable surfaces for precluding pivoting of said second handle when said surfaces are engaged with each other and thereby effect lock and non-lock modes of said second handle relative to said first handle and in said positions, and

said locking member being accessible exteriorly of said second handle for the movement of said locking member and consequent movement of said locking member said surface relative to said pivot post said surface.

6. The hand-manipulated torque tool as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

said pivot post is fixedly mounted on said first handle to preclude movement of said pivot post relative to said first handle.

7. The hand-manipulated torque tool as claimed in claim 5, including:

a spring yielding urging said locking member to have said surfaces in contact with each other and thereby have said handles in said lock mode.

8. The hand-manipulated torque tool as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

said locking member has a relief therein adjacent said lock member surface and being positionable contiguous to said pivot post to establish said non-lock mode.

9. A hand-manipulated torque tool comprising:

a first handle portion having a longitudinal axis and having a receptor for supporting a work tool and having two spaced-apart legs,

a pivot member affixed to and extending between said legs and presenting a pivot axis disposed transverse to said longitudinal axis,

a second handle portion pivotally mounted on said pivot member and being pivotal about said pivot axis to a position of alignment with said longitudinal axis and alternatively to a position transverse to said longitudinal axis,

a manually actuated locking member movably supported on said second handle portion and being movable independent of any movement of said second handle portion and being cooperative with said pivot member to establish lock and non-lock modes of said second handle portion relative to said first handle portion and for restraining said second handle portion alternately in said positions,

said pivot member has two surfaces arranged to respectively establish said positions,

said locking member is disposed to contact said two surfaces for locking said second handle portion in said two positions, and

a spring yieldingly urging said locking member in said lock mode.

10. The hand-manipulated torque tool as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

said locking member has a relief therein and a locking locking member surface adjacent said relief and said relief being positionable contiguous to said pivot member surfaces upon movement of said locking member to establish said non-lock mode.

11. A hand-manipulated torque tool comprising:

a first handle portion having a longitudinal axis and having a receptor for supporting a work tool and having two spaced-apart legs,

a post affixed to and extending between said legs and presenting a pivot axis disposed transverse to said longitudinal axis,

a second handle portion pivotally mounted on said post and being pivotal about said pivot axis to a position of alignment with said longitudinal axis and alternatively to a position transverse to said longitudinal axis and having an end always disposed distal from said first handle portion throughout the pivoting to and between said positions,

a manually actuated locking member movably supported on said second handle portion and being movable independent of any movement of said second handle portion and being cooperative with said post to establish lock and non-lock modes of said second handle portion relative to said first handle portion and for restraining said second handle portion alternately in said positions,

a button movably supported on said end of said second handle portion and being in contact with said locking member for moving said locking member transverse to said pivot axis, and

a spring yieldingly urging said locking member in said lock mode.

12. A hand-manipulated torque tool comprising:

a first handle portion having a longitudinal axis and a receptor for supporting a work tool,

a second handle portion pivotally connected with said first handle portion and being pivotal on a pivot axis extending transverse to said longitudinal axis and being pivotal to a position of alignment with said axis and a position transverse to said axis,

a fixed member fixedly supported by said first handle portion and is disposed and extends along said pivot axis and has two surfaces oriented to be respectively compatible with said positions,

a locking member being elongated and extending transverse to said pivot axis for movement across said fixed member and being movably supported on said second handle portion and having a surface positionable in selective contact with said fixed member surfaces for respectively securing said second handle portion in said positions and with said locking member being movable independent of any movement of said second handle portion and to a location to have said locking member surface movable out of contact with said fixed member surfaces,

said locking member having a relief therein adjacent said locking member surface and being positionable contiguous to said fixed member surfaces to establish said non-lock mode, and

a spring operative on said locking member for yieldingly urging said locking member surface into contact with said fixed member surfaces.

13. The hand-manipulated torque tool as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said fixed member two surfaces are straight and oriented at a right angle to each other and to thereby respectively establish said positions.

14. The hand-manipulated torque tool as claimed in claim 12, including:

a button movably supported on the exterior of said second handle portion and being in contact with said locking member for moving said locking member transverse to said pivot axis.

15. A hand-manipulated torque tool comprising:

a first handle portion having a longitudinal axis and a receptor for supporting a work tool,

a second handle portion pivotally connected with said first handle portion and being pivotal on a pivot axis extending transverse to said longitudinal axis and being pivotal to a position of alignment with said axis and a position transverse to said axis,

a fixed member being a pin fixedly supported by said first handle portion and is disposed and extends along said pivot axis and has a longitudinal axis extending along said pivot axis and has two surfaces oriented to be respectively compatible with said positions,

a locking member being elongated and extending transverse to said pivot axis for movement across said fixed member and being movably supported on said second handle portion and having a surface positionable in selective contact with said fixed member surfaces for respectively securing said second handle portion in said positions and with said locking member being movable independent of any movement of said second handle portion and to a location to have said locking member surface movable out of contact with said fixed member surfaces, and

a spring operative on said locking member for yieldingly urging said locking member surface into contact with said fixed member surfaces.

16. A hand-manipulated torque tool comprising:

a first handle portion having a longitudinal axis and a receptor for supporting a work tool,

a second handle portion pivotally connected with said first handle portion and being pivotal on a pivot axis extending transverse to said longitudinal axis and being pivotal to a position of alignment with said axis and a position transverse to said axis,

a fixed member fixedly supported by said first handle portion and is disposed and extends along said pivot axis and has two surfaces oriented to be respectively compatible with said positions,

a locking member being elongated and extending transverse to said pivot axis for movement across said fixed member and being movably supported on said second handle portion and having a surface positionable in selective contact with said fixed member surfaces for respectively securing said second handle portion in said positions and with said locking member being movable independent of any movement of said second handle portion and to a location to have said locking member surface movable out of contact with said fixed member surfaces,

a spring operative on said locking member for yieldingly urging said locking member surface into contact with said fixed member surfaces,

said locking member has a relief therein adjacent said locking member surface and being positionable contiguous to said fixed member surfaces to establish said non-lock mode, and

a button movably supported on the exterior of said second handle portion and being in contact with said locking member for moving said locking member transverse to said pivot axis.

17. A hand-manipulated torque tool comprising:

a first handle portion having a longitudinal axis and a receptor for supporting a work tool,

a second handle portion pivotally connected with said first handle portion and being pivotal on a pivot axis extending transverse to said longitudinal axis and being pivotal to a position of alignment with said axis and a position transverse to said axis,

a fixed member fixedly supported by said first handle portion and is disposed and extends along said pivot axis and has two surfaces oriented to be respectively compatible with said positions,

a locking member being elongated and extending transverse to said pivot axis for movement across said fixed member and being movably supported on said second handle portion and having a surface positionable in selective contact with said fixed member surfaces for respectively securing said second handle portion in said positions and with said locking member being movable independent of any movement of said second handle portion and to a location to have said locking member surface movable out of contact with said fixed member surfaces,

a spring operative on said locking member for yieldingly urging said locking member surface into contact with said fixed member surfaces,

said second handle portion having a longitudinal axis extending transverse to said pivot axis and having an end on said second handle portion located on said longitudinal axis,

said second handle portion being pivotally connected with said first handle portion to have said end always disposed distal from said first handle portion throughout the pivoting to and between said positions, and

a button movably supported on said end of said second handle portion and being in contact with said locking member for moving said locking member transverse to said pivot axis.