Abstract:
A tool handle includes a handle body having a first end, a second end, an exterior surface and a bore configured to receive a shaft. A wire stripper is integrated into the exterior surface of the handle and configured to cut and remove the insulating layer of a conductive wire. The wire stripper includes a first sharp edge and a second sharp edge intersecting the first sharp edge to form a v-shaped notch.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/173,460, filed Apr. 28, 2009, the entire contents of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to a hand tool, and in particular, a combination tool for use with a variety of tasks and fastener types. 
     Phillips, flat-head, hex, Torx, and Robertson are well-known fastener drive types. On a given job site, a worker may encounter any combination of these fastener drive types, and others, in a variety of sizes. Furthermore, fasteners of these types may be associated with a variety of tasks. For an electrician, those tasks may include wire-stripping and other wire-related tasks. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, the invention provides a multi-purpose tool. The multi-purpose tool includes a handle body having a first end, a second end, an exterior surface and a bore configured to receive a shaft. A wire stripper is integrated into the exterior surface of the handle and configured to cut and remove the insulating layer of a conductive wire. The wire stripper includes a first sharp edge and a second sharp edge intersecting the first sharp edge to form a v-shaped notch. 
     In another embodiment, the invention provides a multi-purpose tool. The multi-purpose tool includes a handle having a first end, a second end, an exterior surface and an axis extending from the first end to the second end. A wire-stripper insert is coupled to the handle and configured for stripping an insulating layer from a metallic wire. A shaft extends from the first end along the axis and is coupled to the handle such that a torque applied to the handle may be transmitted to the shaft. The shaft includes an aperture configured to receive the end portion of a metallic wire in order to form a wire loop. A bit configured for driving a threaded fastener is coupled to an end of the shaft. 
     In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a multi-purpose tool. The multi-purpose tool includes a handle having a handle axis, a first end at a first axial position, a second end at a second axial position, an exterior surface, and a central cavity extending inwardly along the handle axis from the second end toward the first end. A wire-stripping insert is coupled to the exterior surface of the handle and configured to penetrate and remove a section of an insulating jacket from a conductive wire. A shaft has a shaft axis and includes a first bore extending along the shaft axis from a first end of the shaft. The first bore has a first hexagonal profile. A second bore extends along the shaft axis from a second end of the shaft. The second bore has a second hexagonal profile. A coupling section is positioned intermediate the first bore and the second bore. A first aperture configured for forming a loop in an end portion of a metallic wire is positioned intermediate the coupling section and the first end of the shaft. A second aperture configured for forming a loop in an end portion of a metallic wire is positioned intermediate the retention section and the second end of the shaft. The shaft axis is coaxial with the handle axis when the shaft is coupled to the handle within the central cavity. 
     Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a multi-purpose tool according to one aspect of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a stripping insert of a handle of the multi-purpose tool of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the multi-purpose tool taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the multi-purpose tool of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a partial perspective view of the multi-purpose tool of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a multi-purpose tool  10  according to one embodiment of the invention. The multi-purpose tool  10  includes a handle  14  and a shaft  18  oriented along a longitudinal axis  22 . The handle has a first end  26  and a second end  30 . A rounded pommel  34  is formed at the first end  26  of the handle  14 . The shaft  18  projects outwardly from the second end  30  of the handle  14 . The handle  14  also includes gripping surfaces  38  for a user such that the user may grip the handle  14  for the tightening and loosening of a fastener, such as a screw. In the illustrated embodiment, the handle  14  is detachably coupled to the shaft  30 , though in other constructions that embody various features of the invention, the shaft may be fixedly coupled to the handle. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the handle  14  includes a wire-stripper  42 . Adjacent the second end  30 , a u-shaped channel  46  is formed in the handle  14 . A stripping insert  50  is fixedly coupled to the handle  14  within the u-shaped channel  46 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the stripping insert  50  is formed from a sheet of hardened metal, such as a steel alloy. The stripping insert  50  has a v-notch  54  formed by a pair of intersecting edge surfaces  58 . When the stripping insert  50  is coupled with the handle  14 , the v-notch  54  of the stripping insert  50  aligns with the u-shaped channel  46  of the handle  14 . In some constructions, the stripping insert  50  may be permanently molded or pressed into the u-shaped channel  46 . In other embodiments, the stripping insert  50  may be detachably coupled to the handle  14 , and therefore replaceable. Where the stripping insert  50  is detachably coupled, it may be retained within the handle by a set screw, friction fit, resilient tab, or other means. 
     In many applications, it may be desirable to form a wire loop in the exposed end portion of the wire, such as when connecting the wire to an electrical terminal. The shaft  18  is provided with loop-maker in the form of an aperture  62  oriented perpendicular to the axis  22 . Operation of the wire-stripper  42  and aperture  62  are described below in regard to  FIG. 5 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the multi-purpose tool  10  includes a coupling insert  66  affixed within the handle  14 . The shaft  18  is selectively, detachably held within the coupling insert  66 . The coupling insert  66  allows for torque transmission between the handle  14  and the detachable shaft  18 . A spring and ball-detent assembly  70  within the shaft  18  detachably secures the shaft  18  within the coupling insert  66 . The spring and ball-detent assembly  70  is located substantially adjacent a midpoint  74  of the shaft along the axis  22 , within a solid center  78  of the shaft  18 . 
     The shaft  18  includes a first bit chamber  82  at a first end  86  and a second bit chamber  90  at a second end  94 . Thus, the first bit chamber  82  and the second bit chamber  90  are on axially opposing ends of the solid center  78 . In the illustrated embodiment, the first bit chamber  82  holds a first double ended combination head bit  98 . The second bit chamber  90  holds an intermediate sleeve  104 . The intermediate sleeve  104  includes a first sub-chamber  108  and a second sub-chamber  112 . Each sub-chamber houses one of a second double ended bit  116  and a third double ended bit  120 . 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the multi-purpose tool  10 , illustrating various additional features of the shaft  18 , the coupling insert  66 , the intermediate sleeve  104  and the double ended bits  98 ,  116  and  120 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the coupling insert  66  has an external male spline  124 . The external male spline  124  mates with a corresponding female spline formed inside of the handle  14 . In some embodiments, the handle  14  may be injection molded or cast directly over the coupling insert  66 , thereby directly forming the female spline on the male spline  124 . In other embodiments, the handle  14  may be press fit or adhesively bonded over the coupling insert  66 . 
     A central aperture  128  of the coupling insert  66  includes a pair of radially opposed relief channels  132 . The relief channels  132  are configured to receive a pair of opposing tabs  136  of the shaft  18 , described below. A pair of opposing detents  140  are configured and located to align with the spring and ball detent assembly  70  of the shaft  18  when the shaft  18  is fully seated in the coupling insert  66 , such as is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Two detents  140  are provided so that the shaft  18  may be inserted into the coupling insert  66  in either of two orientations when the shaft  18  is inserted from either of two ends  86  or  94 . 
     The coupling insert  66  may be cast, machined or otherwise formed from steel or other high strength materials. In other embodiments, a coupling insert may be integrally formed into a handle made entirely of steel or other high strength material. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the shaft  18  is reversible in the sense that either the first end  86  or the second end  94  may be received by the coupling insert within the handle. A pair of opposed tab members  136  extend outwardly from the solid center  78  of the shaft  18 . The opposed tab members  136  are configured to be slidingly received within the relief channels  132  of the coupling insert  66 . When fully inserted within the relief channels  132 , the tab members  136  provide for torque transmission from the handle  14  to the coupling insert  66  to the shaft  18  and, ultimately, from a bit to the head of a fastener. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the loop-making aperture  62  described in regard to  FIG. 1  is actually one of two such apertures. One loop-making aperture  62  is provided on axially opposed ends of the solid center  78 . Therefore, one loop-making aperture  62  is available regardless of which end  86  or  94  of the shaft  18  is coupled to the handle  14 . 
     The first bit chamber  82  and second bit chamber  90  each have hexagonal internal profiles  144 . In the illustrated embodiment, the first bit chamber  82  is sized and configured to engage a 5/16 inch (7.9375 mm) hexagonal fastener head, such as a nut or bolt. In the illustrated embodiment, the second bit chamber  90  is sized and configured to engage a ⅜ inch (9.5250 mm) hexagonal fastener head, such as a nut or bolt. In other embodiments, the first bit chamber  82  and/or second bit chamber  90  may have various other internal configurations and sizes. Examples may include square or 12-point profiles, or sizes for engaging metric fasteners of these and other configurations. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  also illustrate the first double ended bit  98  according to one embodiment of the invention. The illustrated first double ended bit is disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/701,370, entitled “SCREWDRIVER,” filed Feb. 5, 2010, and incorporated by reference herein. The first double ended bit  98  includes a first driving head portion  148 , a second driving head portion  152 , and a shank  156  that connects the two driving head portions. In the illustrated embodiment, the driving head portions  148  and  152  are integrally formed as one piece at opposite ends of the shank  156 . The shank  156  has a hexagonal profile  160  configured to slidably mate with the 5/16 inch (7.9375 mm) hexagonal profile of the first bit chamber  82 . The shank  156  may be of various lengths depending on the end-use. A spring and ball detent assembly  164  is located at or near a midpoint of the shank portion. The spring and ball detent assembly  164  is configured to engage the walls of the first bit chamber for a friction fit. In other embodiments, the ball may engage a corresponding recess of the first bit chamber  82 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the intermediate sleeve  104  has a hexagonal outer profile  168  sized to slidably engage the ⅜ inch (9.5250 mm) hexagonal profile of the second bit chamber  90 . A spring and ball detent arrangement  164 , similar to that of the first double ended bit  98 , is provided to engage the wall of the second bit chamber  90  for a friction fit. In the illustrated embodiment, both the first sub-chamber  108  and the second sub-chamber  112  have a hexagonal internal profile  172  sized and configured to engage a ¼ inch (6.3500 mm) hexagonal fastener head. 
     The second double ended bit  116  and third double ended bit  120  each have a pair of opposing driving head portions  176  on opposite ends of a shank  180 . The shanks  180  of both the second double ended bit  116  and the third double ended bit  120  have a ¼ inch (6.3500 mm) hexagonal profile  184  to engage the sub-chambers  108  and  112  of the intermediate sleeve  104 . The shanks  180  each have a spring and ball detent assembly  164  for engaging the walls of the sub chambers  108  and  112  in a friction fit. 
     Although the shaft  18  and intermediate sleeve  104  are described herein as having particular sizes and configurations, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that these sizes are exemplary. Furthermore, each driving head portion of the first double ended bit  98 , second double ended bit  116 , and third double ended bit  120  may have various sizes and configurations. Examples of different driving head configurations known in the art may include slotted, Phillips, Torx, Robertson, Pozi-Driv, hex (i.e., Allen) and others including combination types. Driving heads for the various known tamper-resistant fastener types may also be provided. 
     Each of the shaft, the intermediate sleeve and bits may undergo various heat treatment, surface hardening, plating or coating processes to optimize the hardness, toughness, wear resistance, or corrosion resistance of the tool. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates one use for the multi-purpose tool  10 . In operation, a user uses the wire-stripper  42  to strip a portion of an insulating jacket  188  from an electrical wire  192  in order to expose the conductor  196 . An end portion  204  of the wire  192  is pressed into the v-notch  54  of the stripping insert  50  such that the edge surfaces  58  penetrate the outer insulating jacket  188  of the wire. When the user draws the wire out of the stripping insert, the insulating jacket is separated, thereby exposing the conductor  196  at the end portion  204  of the wire. For many uses, it may be desirable to form a loop  208  in the end portion  204  of the wire. A user may insert the exposed conductor  196  at the end portion  204  of the wire into the aperture  62 . With a twist or rotation of the shaft  18  (via rotation of the handle  14 ) a useful wire loop  208  is formed. 
     Thus, the invention provides, among other things, a tool for driving combination-head threaded fasteners. Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.