Torque magnifying handle for driving tool

• US 6,922,870 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2003
• Issued: 08/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William L. Tontz Sr
• Original Assignee: William L. Tontz Sr
• Inventors: Tontz, William L. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrett, Suzanne Dino
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, MARK A
• Application Number:
  US10/460,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20040250378A1
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 164/21, 164/22, 164/26, 164/27, 161/101, 811/775, 811/774, 814/90
• US Class Current: 16/110.1
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 15/02 operated by rotating the handle
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/005 for screwdrivers, wrenches or spanners with additional levers, e.g. for increasing torque
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/066 the grip itself being angularly adjustable

Abstract

A handle which is sized for gripping and for holding a drive tool wherein the drive-tool handle can be alternately positioned in the body of the handle for achieving varying amounts of torque. As assembly involving the handle and the drive tool.

Claims

1. A handle for a drive tool, said drive tool comprising a drive-tool handle having a rear end and a tapered front region, said handle comprising:

a. a body sized for gripping and having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis;

b. a longitudinal bore having a cross-section and extending coaxially and forming first and second openings at each end of said body;

c. a transverse bore having a cross-section and extending from an opening in a side wall of said body, intersecting said longitudinal bore, and terminating in the opposite wall of the longitudinal bore;

d. a sole stop member formed in said body, said stop member formed about said second opening, said stop member dimensioned to obstruct insertion of the rear end of the drive tool handle through the second opening and for non-rotational engagement of the tapered front region of the drive tool handle with the longitudinal bore,

wherein a sufficient length of the cross-sectional configurations of said bores are generally complementary in cross-sectional configuration and dimension for removable, non-rotational engagement of the drive-tool handle with either the longitudinal bore through said first opening or the transverse bore through said transverse opening and

wherein said drive tool handle is alternatively positionable in said handle by inserting the rear end or the tapered front region of the drive tool handle in said first opening, or by inserting the rear end of the drive tool handle in said transverse opening.

2. The handle of claim 1 wherein non-slippery material or gripping members are formed on the surface of the body.

3. The handle of claim 1 wherein said drive tool is a screwdriver.

4. The handle of claim 1 wherein the body has a cross-section shaped for hand gripping which is selected from the group of cross-sections consisting of annular, generally annular, and polygonal.

5. An assembly comprising:

a. a handle for a drive tool, said drive tool comprising a drive-tool handle having a rear end and a tapered front region, said handle comprising

i. a body sized for gripping and having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis;

ii. a longitudinal bore having a cross-section and extending coaxially and forming first and second openings at each end of said body;

iii. a transverse bore having a cross-section and extending from an opening in a side wall of said body and intersecting said longitudinal bore, and terminating in the opposite wall of the longitudinal bore;

iv. a sole stop member formed in said body, said stop member formed about said second opening, said stop member dimensioned to obstruct insertion of the rear end of the drive tool handle through the second opening and for non-rotational engagement of the tapered front region of the drive tool handle with the longitudinal bore,

wherein a sufficient length of the cross-sectional configurations of said bores are generally complementary in cross-sectional configuration and dimension for removable, non-rotational engagement of the drive-tool handle with either the longitudinal bore through said first opening or the transverse bore through said transverse opening; and

wherein said drive tool handle is alternatively positionable in said handle by inserting the rear end or the tapered front region of the drive tool handle in said first opening, or by inserting the rear end of the drive tool handle in said transverse opening; and

b. a drive-tool comprising a drive-tool handle, said drive-tool handle dimensioned and having a cross-sectional configuration complementary to the cross-sectional configurations of said bores.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein non-slippery material or gripping members are formed on the surface of the body.

7. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said drive tool is a screwdriver.

8. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the body has a cross-section shaped for hand gripping which is selected from the group consisting of annular, generally annular, and polygonal.