# US 9,038,691 B2 · Extendable handle for a tire spoon and method of operation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,038,691 B2 - Document ID: US9038691B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/552,197 - Filed: 2012-07-18 - Published: 2014-01-23 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2012-07-18 - Assignees: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions Inc. - Applicants: Michael White; Robert Jensen - Inventors: Michael White; Robert Jensen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9038691B2 ## CPC - B25G 1/04: telescopic; extensible; sectional - B25B 15/02: operated by rotating the handle - B25G 1/105: {for screwdrivers, wrenches or spanners (B25G1/102, B25G1/125 take precedence)} - B60C 25/02: Tyre levers or the like, e.g. hand-held - B25B 23/0021: {Prolongations interposed between handle and tool} - B25G 1/043: {for screwdrivers, wrenches or spanners} - B25G: HANDLES FOR HAND IMPLEMENTS (attaching the blades or the like to handles of hand tools for soil working A01B1/22; handles of hand implements for harvesting A01D1/14; handles integral with brushware A46B) - B25B: TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING, OR HOLDING - B60C: VEHICLE TYRES; TYRE INFLATION; TYRE CHANGING; CONNECTING VALVES TO INFLATABLE ELASTIC BODIES IN GENERAL; DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS RELATED TO TYRES ## Abstract An extendable handled tool may include: a shaft; a hollow shaft extension encompassing the shaft and configured to move axially on the shaft so that the shaft moves in and out of the hollow space in the shaft extension; a locking collar attached to the shaft extension, the locking collar configured to rotate on the shaft; a tooth connected to the locking collar such that the tooth rotates with the locking collar; and a locking ring mounted on the shaft, the locking ring configured to fit with the tooth to rotate between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the locked position prevents the shaft extension from moving axially with respect to the shaft and the unlocked position permits the shaft extension to move axially with respect to the shaft. A method of exting a handle on a tool may also be provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tool having an extendable handle comprising: a shaft; a hollow shaft extension encompassing at least part of the shaft and configured to move axially on the shaft so that the shaft moves in and out of a hollow space in the shaft extension; a locking collar attached to the shaft extension, the locking collar configured to rotate on the shaft; an actuating tooth on the locking collar and connected to the locking collar such that the tooth rotates with the locking collar; and a lock ring mounted on the shaft, the lock ring having a void dimensioned to permit the actuating tooth to fit in the void, the lock ring configured to rotate on the shaft between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the locked position prevents the shaft extension from moving axially with respect to the shaft and the unlocked position permits the shaft extension to move axially with respect to the shaft. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1, further including an off center counter bore on the hollow shaft extension dimensioned to encompass the lock ring. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The tool of claim 2, wherein the off center counter bore defines a narrow relief portion between the hollow shaft extension and the lock ring and a large relief portion between the hollow shaft extension and the lock ring. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The tool of claim 3, wherein the lock ring has a thick portion and a thin portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The tool of claim 4, wherein the thick portion of the lock ring is in the narrow relief portion when the lock ring in in the locked position and the thick portion of the lock ring is in the large relief portion when the lock ring is in the unlocked position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The tool of claim 5, wherein the locking is achieved by wedging the locking collar in the counter bore between the shaft and the hollow shaft extension. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1, further including a collar stop located on the shaft to prevent the shaft from moving an undesired distance into the collar. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1, wherein at least part of the hollow shaft extension is a handle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1, further including an O-ring located between the collar and the shaft extension. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1, wherein the void is located in a thin portion of the locking ring. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1, wherein a tire spoon is located at an end of the shaft. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1, wherein the collar attached to the hollow shaft extension via one of: threads, a retaining ring, a press fit, and an adhesive. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1, wherein the hollow shaft extension is locked to the shaft by twisting the collar in a first direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1, wherein the hollow shaft extension is unlocked from the shaft by twisting the collar in a second direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1, wherein the shaft is made of steel. ### Claim 16 A method of adjusting a handle length on a tool comprising: providing a shaft; providing a hollow shaft extension encompassing the shaft and configured to move axially on the shaft so that the shaft moves in and out of a hollow space in the shaft extension; providing a locking collar attached to the shaft extension, the locking collar configured to rotate on the shaft; locating an actuating tooth on the locking collar and connected to the locking collar such that the tooth rotates with the locking collar; and mounting a lock ring on the shaft, the lock ring having a void dimensioned to permit the actuating tooth to fit, the lock ring configured to rotate on the shaft between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the lock position prevents the shaft extension from moving axially with respect to the shaft and the unlocked position permits the shaft extension to move axially with respect to the shaft. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further including providing an off center counter bore on the hollow shaft extension dimensioned to encompass the lock ring, wherein the off center counter bore defines a narrow relief portion between the hollow shaft extension and the lock ring and a large relief portion between the hollow shaft extension and the lock ring. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the lock ring has a thick portion and a thin portion and wherein the locking is achieved by wedging the locking collar in the counter bore between the shaft and the hollow shaft extension. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the wedging is accomplished by twisting the collar. ### Claim 20 A tool having an extendable handle comprising: a shaft; a hollow shaft extension encompassing the shaft and configured to move axially on the shaft so that the shaft moves in and out of a hollow space in the shaft extension; a locking collar attached to the shaft extension, the locking collar configured to rotate on the shaft; a means for actuating connected to the locking collar such that the means for actuating rotates with the locking collar; and a camming means mounted on the shaft, the camming means configured to be actuated by the means for actuating the camming means between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the locked position prevents the shaft extension from moving axially with respect to the shaft and the unlocked position permits the shaft extension to move axially with respect to the shaft.