MULTI-FUNCTION TOOL HANDLE

• US 20070000097A1
• Filed: 06/29/2005
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Irwin Industrial Tool Company (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Robin, Hoover, Brandon
• Granted Patent: US 7,571,517 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 16/436
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/005 for screwdrivers, wrenches or spanners with additional levers, e.g. for increasing torque

Abstract

The tool handle of the invention includes a shank connected via a ratcheting mechanism to a male square drive. A pair of handle wings are pivotally connected to the shank at a transverse pivot hinge such that the handle wings can be changed between a screwdriver-type configuration, an L-shape configuration, a T-shape configuration or other intermediate configurations. When the handle wings are in the fully open position, the handle wings bear against the shank to create a mechanism for transferring power between the handle wings and the tool shank without the need for a separate lock. A quick change adapter having a female drive can be connected to the male square drive such that the tool handle can be used with a wide variety of tools including taps and extractors, sockets, screwdriver bits and the like.

Claims

1. A tool handle comprising:

a shank;

a handle pivotally connected to said shank;

said handle being in load bearing contact with said shank in a first position.

2. The tool handle according to claim 1 wherein the shank is connected to a tool connector via a ratchet.

3. The tool handle according to claim 1 wherein the shank is connected to a tool connector, said tool connector being a male connector.

4. The tool handle according to claim 1 wherein the shank is connected to a tool connector, said tool connector being a male connector.

5. The tool handle according to claim 1 wherein the handle includes a first handle portion and a second handle portion, said first and second handle portions being pivotally connected to the shank at a common pivot hinge.

6. The tool handle according to claim 5 said first and second handle portions movable between a first position where the first handle portion and second handle portion extend away from a longitudinal axis of the shank;

a second position where the first handle portion extends along the longitudinal axis of the shank and away from the connector; and

a third position where the first and second handle portions are on the same side of the longitudinal axis.

7. The tool handle according to claim 1 wherein said handle can move between the first position where the handle is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shank and a second position where the handle is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

8. The tool handle according to claim 1 further including a locking mechanism for locking the handle in a desired position.

9. The tool handle according to claim 8 wherein the locking mechanism includes a ball biased into engagement with the handle.

11. The tool handle according to claim 1 wherein said first and second handles are in load bearing contact with said shank in a first position.

10. A tool handle comprising:

a shank supporting a connector;

a first handle portion;

a second handle portion;

said first and second handle portions movable between a first position where the first handle portion and second handle portion extend along the longitudinal axis of the shank and away from the connector, and a second position where the first and second handle portions extend away from the longitudinal axis and a third position where the first and second handle portions are on the same side of the longitudinal axis.

12. The tool handle according to claim 10 wherein the shank is connected to a tool connector via a ratchet.

13. The tool handle according to claim 10 wherein the shank is connected to a tool connector, said tool connector being a male connector.

14. The tool handle according to claim 10 wherein the shank is connected to a tool connector, said tool connector being a male connector.

15. The tool handle according to claim 10 wherein said first and second handle portions are pivotally connected to the shank at a common pivot hinge.

16. The tool handle according to claim 15 said first and second handle portions and said shank including interdigitated portions forming said pivot hinge.

17. The tool handle according to claim 10 wherein in said second position the first and second handle portions are substantially perpindicular to the longitudinal axis.

18. The tool handle according to claim 10 further including a locking mechanism for locking the handle in a desired position.

19. The tool handle according to claim 18 wherein the locking mechanism includes a ball biased into engagement with the handle.

20. The tool handle according to claim 16 wherein the interdigitated portions include at least two portions each of said first handle portion, said second handle portion and said shank.