Abstract:
An adapter for releasably gripping the end of a long-handled tool handle. The adapter including a plurality of grippers threadably mounted around a tubular body. An engagement plug having both male and female threaded ends is removable secured to the end of the tubular body for engaging a tool&#39;s work head.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part to United States patent application filed Dec. 26, 2009 having Ser. No. 12/647,469 which claimed priority of United States Provisional Patent Application filed Dec. 26, 2008 having Ser. No. 61/203,687 and United States Provisional Patent Application filed Dec. 26, 2008 having Ser. No. 61/203,688. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to couplings and more particularly to an adapter for mounting a work head to an elongated tool handle. 
       BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Presently, long handled hand tools, such as brooms, mops, and some paint rollers have a work head coupled to an elongated cylindrical handle. The work head includes the operative portion of the tool, e.g., the broom bristles or the paint applicator/roller. The work head is typically coupled to the handle through complementary threaded members formed on the end of the handle and a portion of the work head. 
         [0004]    The coupling section of these long handled hand tools is frequently the weakest point of the tool and is a common location for the tool to break, which usually renders the tool useless for its intended purpose. 
         [0005]    Furthermore, certain occupations, such as a janitor, require the user to have multiple long handled tools at his disposal at any given time. While it is possible to carry or otherwise transport multiple long handled tools (e.g., a flat broom, push broom, wet mop, dry mop, squeegee) simultaneously, these long handles frequently obstruct the user in his work. 
         [0006]    There is therefore a need for a device that allows a user to both easily repair a broken long handled tool connection and to allow a person to use a single elongated tool handle for various work heads. 
         [0007]    It is an advantage to provide an adapter that will readily grip substantially any cylindrical handle that can be inserted within the adapters handle inlet opening. 
         [0008]    It is another advantage of the present invention to provide an adapter that can be easily configured to couple a single tool handle to a variety of tool work heads. To that end the present invention provides a reversible engagement plug having both male and female threaded ends. The engagement plug being removable secured to the end of the tubular body for engaging a tool&#39;s work head with either the male or female threaded end. 
         [0009]    It is still another advantage to provide an adapter that will allow a tool handle with a broken fastening end to mate with a tool work head. 
         [0010]    These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when viewed in accordance with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The description refers to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a partially exploded perspective view of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is top view of the handle-engaging body portion of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a side section view of the present invention coupled to the end of a handle with a male fastener end of engagement plug extending therefrom; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is side section view of the present invention coupled to the end of a handle with a female fastener end of the engagement plug extending therefrom; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a side sectional view of an alternate embodiment including a transverse pin providing a seat for the handle. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    Referring now to FIGs., the present invention is an adapter  10  for coupling a cylindrical-shaped elongated handle  12  to a work head  13 , such as a bristle block of a push broom. 
         [0018]    Adapter  10  includes a body  14  having at least one gripper  16  and an engagement plug  18 . Body  14  is preferably approximately four to eight inches long and has a tubular shape with a rigid wall  20  that circumscribes and defines an interior cavity  22 . Wall  20  and cavity  22  run from a top handle-receiving end  24  to a bottom plug-receiving end  26 . At top end  24 , wall  20  is configured such that the upper portion  28  of cavity  22  is approximately 15/16th of an inch to one and half inches in diameter to readily receive a conventional 15/16 inch tool handle  12  in a telescopic relationship. 
         [0019]    From the lower portion of top end  24 , body  14  flares radially outwardly at the approximate middle of its length to the bottom end  26 . At the bottom end  26 , wall  20  is configured such that the bottom portion  30  of cavity  22  is approximately 1 1/8  inches in diameter. In the preferred embodiment, bottom end  26  is tapped, having a female screw thread  31  formed along the interior wall defining cavity bottom  30 . 
         [0020]    Body  14  includes a handle gripping portion  32  with at least one gripper  16  and a gripper-receiving aperture  34  formed through wall  20 . In the preferred embodiment, two rows of three grippers  16  and apertures  34  are equally spaced around gripping portion  32 . Each gripper  16  preferably has a thumbscrew configuration, having an enlarged, relatively flat head  36  on one end and an externally-threaded post  38  on the other end. Each gripper-receiving aperture includes an internal threading complementary to the threaded post  38 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , each post  38  has sufficient length to project into cavity  22  to grip an inserted handle. In the embodiment illustrated in the FIGs., two spaced rows  32   a,    32   b  of grippers and apertures ensure that any handle inserted within cavity  22  has up to six grippers  16  engaging the handle to ensure a rigid coupling between the body  14  and inserted handle. 
         [0021]    In one non-limiting embodiment, shown in  FIG. 5 , a cross beam  36  runs transversely through cavity  22  beneath the lower-most row  32   b  of grippers, but above the female threading  31 . Beam  36  is preferably a pin which passes through the centerline of the cylindrical cavity  22  and operates as a positive stop or seat for any handle inserted through opening  28 . 
         [0022]    Adapter  10  further includes an engagement plug  18 . Engagement plug  18  has a generally cylindrical body or core  54  having a male screw thread or threading  55  on its outer surface. Threading  55  is sized complementary to female threading  31  of body  14 . An annular ring  56  extends radially outwardly from core  54  separating the core  54  and threading  55  into substantially equal halves. Ring  56  preferably projects outwardly to have an outer diameter equal to the outer diameter of lower body portion  26 . In this manner, ring  56  operates as a stop and prevents the plug  18  from being inserted too far into cavity  22  while tightening threaded portions  31 ,  55 . 
         [0023]    Ring  56  further divides plug  18  into a male engagement end  58  and a female engagement end  60 . Male engagement end  58  includes a cylindrical male threaded boss  62  extending axially from the end of core  54 . In the preferred embodiment, boss  62  is sized/threaded to be received within a commonly used work head thread, such as ¾ inch ACME threading with five threads per inch. Similarly, female engagement end  60  has a cylindrical opening  66  formed axially into its end face  60   a.  Like, boss  62 , opening  66  is preferably tapped to receive an industry standard threading, such as the aforementioned ¾-5 ACME thread. 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , engagement plug  18  can be threadably mounted within bottom end  26  to either present the male engagement boss  62  or the female engagement opening  66  for engagement with a work head  13 . As shown, the plug  18  is tightened into body  14  until ring  56  abuts the bottom-most end of tubular body  14 . 
         [0025]    In operation, a handle  12  is inserted through upper opening  28 , the equally spaced grippers  16  are tightened into the cavity  22  around the handle until their posts  38  grip the outer surface of the handle and lock the handle within the cavity. That is, the combined gripping pressure of the equally spaced grippers  16  prevents any radial or axial movement of the handle  12  within cavity  22 . 
         [0026]    In still other embodiment, threading  55  and  31  may be replaced with a quick-disconnect fastener, such as a spring-biased transverse pin that locks the engagement plug within the cavity opening  30 . 
         [0027]    From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art will readily recognize that the present invention is directed to an improved device for coupling a work head to the end of an elongated handle. It should be appreciated that the sizes disclosed are exemplary and should not be construed to limit the scope of the present invention. Further, while the present invention has been described with particular reference to various preferred embodiments, one skilled in the art will recognize from the foregoing discussion and accompanying drawing that changes, modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.