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US 5,685,208 AGranted
Tool system with locking handle
OwnerHarvel J. Tidwellinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hand tool comprising a handle (30) with handle ends (10) to which may be attached tool ends (40 & 44) of predetermined sizes for performing predetermined functions. The handle ends (10) and the tool ends (40 & 44) have matching ways (13 & 47) for slidably joining the tool ends (40 & 44) to the handle ends (10). The tool ends (40 & 44) are locked to the handle ends (10) by the use of a spring loaded ball (33) and a locking ball (20) controlled by a push rod (18) having recessed areas for containing and for locking the ball (20) to the adjacent handle end ways (13) and to the tool end ways (47).
Claims3
A manual fastening tool comprising
- a a tool end for accommodating the usage of fasteners,
- b an elongated handle,
- c a handle end integral to said handle for accommodating the usage of said tool end,
- d slidable ways, on said tool end,
- e a concavity, of predetermined size and location, on the slidable ways of said tool end,
- matching slidable ways on said handle end whereby said tool end fits inside said handle end and is slidably adjoined to said handle end.
- g means for releasably locking said tool end to said handle end, wherein said locking means located on the handle end comprises
- a' a locking ball of predetermined size,
- b' a push rod of predetermined size and length, having
- a" shallow concavity of predetermined size and location on said rod,
- b" a large concavity of predetermined size and location on said rod,
- c" an enlarged end of said rod of predetermined size and shape,
- c' a compression spring of predetermined size and elasticity,
- d' a closed end cylindrical channel, integral to said handle end, having an opening presized for containing said spring and said push rod,
- e' a detent of predetermined size and shape, integral to said handle end and at a predetermined location on said handle end,
- wherein said channel contains said spring at the dosed end of the channel;
- said channel contains that portion of the push rod exclusive of the enlarged end of said push rod;
- the enlarged end of said push rod contacts said detent;
- said locking ball is positioned in the shallow concavity on said push rod and partially extends into said concavity on said tool end, thereby locking said tool end to said handle end;
- whereby a manual force of a predetermined amount against said enlarged end of the push rod causes said spring to contract in length and moves said large concavity on said push rod to a position in register with said concavity on said tool end, permitting said locking ball to be completely contained in said large concavity of the push rod, thereby releasing the locking means for manually removing said tool end from said handle end.
17 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.