Apparatuses and methods relating to tool attachments that may be removably connected to an extension handle

• US 7,956,711 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2009
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Correlated Magnetics Research, LLC
• Original Assignee: Cedar Ridge Research LLC
• Inventors: Fullerton, Larry W., Roberts, Mark D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrera; Ramon M
• Application Number:
  US12/496,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20090288528A1
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 335/285, 335/306, 151431-145, 172371-372, 811/772, 403/DIG.1
• US Class Current: 335/285
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 3/00 Attaching handles to the implements
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 3/04 Racks
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0215 Flexible forms, sheets
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0263 Closures, bags, bands, engagement devices with male and female parts

Abstract

Tool attachments and extensions handles may be removably connected to each other. In an example embodiment, a tool attachment is capable of being connected to an extension handle having an extension handle connector, which includes a first field emission structure. The tool attachment has a tool implement and a tool attachment connector, which includes a second field emission structure. The tool attachment connector is adapted to be mated to the extension handle connector with the second field emission structure in proximity to the first field emission structure such that the first and second field emission structures have a predetermined alignment with respect to one another. Each of the first and second field emission structures include multiple Field emission sources having positions and polarities relating to a predefined spatial force function that corresponds to the predetermined alignment of the first and second field emission structures within a field domain.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an extension handle having an extension handle connector, the extension handle connector including a first field emission structure; and

a tool attachment having a tool attachment connector, the tool attachment connector including a second field emission structure;

the tool attachment connector adapted to be mated to the extension handle connector with the second field emission structure in proximity to the first field emission structure such that the first and second field emission structures have a predetermined alignment with respect to one another;

each of the first and second field emission structures including multiple field emission sources having positions and polarities relating to a predefined spatial force function that corresponds to the predetermined alignment of the first and second field emission structures within a field domain, said spatial force function being in accordance with a code, said code corresponding to a code modulo of said first plurality of field emission sources and a complementary code modulo of said second plurality of field emission sources, said code defining a peak spatial force corresponding to substantial alignment of said code modulo of said first plurality of field emission sources with said complementary code modulo of said second plurality of field emission sources, said code also defining a plurality of off peak spatial forces corresponding to a plurality of different misalignments of said code modulo of said first plurality of field emission sources and said complementary code modulo of said second plurality of field emission sources, said plurality of off peak spatial forces having a largest off peak spatial force, said largest off peak spatial force being less than half of said peak spatial force.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the extension handle and the tool attachment may be connected or disconnected from each other via the extension handle connector and the tool attachment connector by moving the first field emission structure relative to the second field emission structure.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the relative movement between the first field emission structure and the second field emission structure to connect or disconnect the extension handle and the tool attachment comprises at least a relative rotational movement between the first field emission structure and the second field emission structure.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the relative movement between the first field emission structure and the second field emission structure to connect or disconnect the extension handle and the tool attachment comprises at least a relative linear movement between the first field emission structure and the second field emission structure.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the extension handle or the tool attachment includes at least one other field emission structure.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the positions and the polarities of the field emission sources of the first and second field emission structures are configured in accordance with at least one correlation function.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the at least one correlation function comports with at least one code.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the at least one code comprises at least one of a pseudorandom code, a deterministic code, or a designed code;

and wherein the at least one code comprises a one dimensional code, a two dimensional code, a three dimensional code, or a four dimensional code.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein each field emission source of the multiple field emission sources has a corresponding field emission amplitude and vector direction configured in accordance with the predefined spatial force function, wherein a separation distance between the first and second field emission structures and the predetermined alignment with respect to the first and second field emission structures creates a spatial force in accordance with the predefined spatial force function.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the spatial force corresponds to a peak spatial force of the predefined spatial force function when the first and second field emission structures are substantially aligned such that each field emission source of the first field emission structure substantially aligns with a corresponding field emission source of the second field emission structure.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one field emission source of the multiple field emission sources includes a magnetic field emission source or an electric field emission source.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the field domain corresponds to first field emissions from the field emission sources of the first field emission structure interacting with second field emissions from the field emission sources of the second field emission structure.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a storage component that is capable of holding at least one of the extension handle or the tool attachment;

the storage component comprising at least one storage position that is adapted to be mated to the extension handle connector or the tool attachment connector;

the at least one storage position including a third field emission structure that is configured to match the first field emission structure or the second field emission structure.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

an elongated extension handle comprising a first elongated extension handle connector that includes a third field emission structure and a second elongated extension handle connector that includes a fourth field emission structure;

the first elongated extension handle connector adapted to be mated to the extension handle connector, the third field emission structure configured to match the first field emission structure;

the second elongated extension handle connector adapted to be mated to the tool attachment connector, the fourth field emission structure configured to match the second field emission structure.

15. A method relating to a tool that may be assembled quickly, the method comprising:

disposing a first field emission structure on an extension handle connector of an extension handle; and

disposing a second field emission structure on a tool attachment connector of a tool attachment;

wherein the tool attachment connector is adapted to be mated to the extension handle connector with the second field emission structure in proximity to the first field emission structure such that the first and second field emission structures have a predetermined alignment with respect to one another;

each of the first and second field emission structures including multiple field emission sources having positions and polarities relating to a predefined spatial force function that corresponds to the predetermined alignment of the first and second field emission structures within a field domain, said spatial force function being in accordance with a code, said code corresponding to a code modulo of said first plurality of field emission sources and a complementary code modulo of said second plurality of field emission sources, said code defining a peak spatial force corresponding to substantial alignment of said code modulo of said first plurality of field emission sources with said complementary code modulo of said second plurality of field emission sources, said code also defining a plurality of off peak spatial forces corresponding to a plurality of different misalignments of said code modulo of said first plurality of field emission sources and said complementary code modulo of said second plurality of field emission sources, said plurality of off peak spatial forces having a largest off peak spatial force, said largest off peak spatial force being less than half of said peak spatial force.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

mating the tool attachment connector to the extension handle connector to thereby connect the tool attachment to the extension handle; and

moving the first field emission structure relative to the second field emission structure to increase a current spatial force between the first and second field emission structures in accordance with the predefined spatial force function to thereby secure the tool attachment to the extension handle.

17. A tool attachment that is capable of being connected to an extension handle having an extension handle connector, the extension handle connector including a first field emission structure;

the tool attachment comprising;

a tool implement; and

a tool attachment connector, the tool attachment connector including a second field emission structure;

the tool attachment connector adapted to be mated to the extension handle connector with the second field emission structure in proximity to the first field emission structure such that the first and second field emission structures have a predetermined alignment with respect to one another;

each of the first and second field emission structures including multiple field emission sources having positions and polarities relating to a predefined spatial force function that corresponds to the predetermined alignment of the first and second field emission structures within a field domain, said spatial force function being in accordance with a code, said code corresponding to a code modulo of said first plurality of field emission sources and a complementary code modulo of said second plurality of field emission sources, said code defining a peak spatial force corresponding to substantial alignment of said code modulo of said first plurality of field emission sources with said complementary code modulo of said second plurality of field emission sources, said code also defining a plurality of off peak spatial forces corresponding to a plurality of different misalignments of said code modulo of said first plurality of field emission sources and said complementary code modulo of said second plurality of field emission sources, said plurality of off peak spatial forces having a largest off peak spatial force, said largest off peak spatial force being less than half of said peak spatial force.

18. The tool attachment as recited in claim 17, wherein one or more field emission sources of the multiple field emission sources include at least one permanent magnet, electromagnet, electret, magnetized ferromagnetic material, portion of a magnetized ferromagnetic material, soft magnetic material, or superconductive magnetic material.

19. The tool attachment as recited in claim 17, wherein the tool implement comprises at least one cleaning tool implement.

20. The tool attachment as recited in claim 17, wherein the tool implement comprises at least one landscaping tool implement.