Abstract:
Apparatus for engaging a mechanical component, such as a fastener. The apparatus includes a handle, and an elongated shank with opposing proximal and distal ends. The distal end supports a tool driver. The proximal end is pivotally coupled to a location offset from a midline of the handle to facilitate alignment of the shank along the handle in pivotally opposite extended and shortened positions, respectively. In the extended position, the tool driver projects a first distance beyond a first end of the handle. In the shortened position, the tool driver projects beyond an opposing second end of the handle a second distance less than the first distance.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of co-pending U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/253,376 filed Feb. 6, 2006. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Tools are used in a variety of applications to engage mechanical components, such as fasteners. A variety of fastener driver configurations are well known in the art, such as flat and cross-head screwdriver patterns, socket heads, hex key wrench channels, etc. Such tools can be commercially supplied individually, or as a set to cover a variety of sizes and lengths. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    Various embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to an apparatus for engaging a mechanical component, such as a fastener. 
         [0004]    In accordance with some embodiments, the apparatus generally includes a handle, and an elongated shank with opposing proximal and distal ends. The distal end supports a tool driver. The proximal end is pivotally coupled to a location offset from a midline of the handle to facilitate alignment of the shank along the handle in pivotally opposite extended and shortened positions, respectively. 
         [0005]    In the extended position, the tool driver projects a first distance beyond a first end of the handle. In the shortened position, the tool driver projects beyond an opposing second end of the handle a second distance less than the first distance. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  provide respective elevational representations of a reversible tool assembly constructed in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, with the tool assembly in an extended (first) orientation in  FIG. 1A  and in a shortened (second) orientation in  FIG. 1B . 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  shows a cross-sectional representation of a handle portion of the tool assembly of  FIGS. 1A-1B . 
           [0008]      FIGS. 3A-3B  provide side representations of the tool assembly of  FIGS. 1A-1B . 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  generally illustrates the tool assembly in an intermediate (t-bar) configuration. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  provides an alternative embodiment of a proximal end of a shank portion of the tool assembly with side projections affixed to the shank portion. 
           [0011]      FIGS. 6A-6C  provide respective elevational representations of another reversible tool assembly in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is an exploded representation of the tool assembly of  FIGS. 6A-6C . 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  provides an end cross-sectional depiction of a handle of the tool assembly of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  provides a side cross-sectional depiction of the handle of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  generally illustrates an alternative tool driver configuration for the tool assembly that utilizes removable bits. 
           [0016]      FIG. 12  provides another tool driver with a removable socket driver configuration. 
           [0017]      FIG. 13  depicts another tool driver that employs a flat screwdriver configuration. 
           [0018]      FIG. 14  shows yet another tool driver that employs a hex key wrench configuration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  generally depict an exemplary reversible tool assembly  100  constructed in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. The assembly  100  includes a handle  102  and a pivotal shank  104 . The shank  104  supports a tool driver  106  at a distal end  108  thereof. 
         [0020]    The shank  104  is pivotally coupled to the handle  102  such that the tool assembly  100  can be alternatively placed in an extended position ( FIG. 1A ) or a shortened position ( FIG. 1B ). In the extended position, the tool driver  106  extends a first (normal) distance beyond a first end  110  of the handle  102 . In the shortened position, the tool driver  106  extends a second (shortened) distance beyond a second end  112  of the handle  102  less than the first distance. 
         [0021]    The handle  102  is preferably provisioned with an outer surface  114  sized and shaped to accommodate a human hand. An external layer of rubber or other elastomeric material can be applied as desired to enhance comfort and grip. The exemplary handle  102  is shown to be nominally symmetric about a midline  115  (centerline) of the handle  102 , although such is not necessarily required. 
         [0022]    For reference, the midline  115  is an imaginary line perpendicular to, and which bisects, the length of the handle  102  at the halfway point between the opposing handle ends  110 ,  112 , so that the distance from the midline  115  to the first end  110  is the same as the distance from the midline  115  to the second end  112 . The midline  115  may or may not intersect the center of gravity of the handle  102 . 
         [0023]    As shown in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 2 , the handle  102  preferably incorporates an interior sidewall  116  that forms a central channel  118  along a length of the handle. The central channel  118  preferably has a substantially u-shaped cross-sectional shape as shown, and is sized to respectively accommodate placement of the shank  104  along the channel  118  in both the extended and shortened positions. 
         [0024]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  depict a laterally extending pivot pin  120  of the tool assembly  100 . The pivot pin  120  extends across the channel  118  from opposing sides of the handle  102  and passes through an aperture  122  in a proximal end  124  of the shank  104 . The pivot pin  120  facilitates rotational movement of the shank  104  between the extended and shortened positions, as generally represented in  FIG. 4 . It will be noted that the tool assembly  100  can be used in the in the intermediate t-bar configuration depicted in  FIG. 4  as well. 
         [0025]    The pivot pin  120  rotationally couples the proximal end  124  of the shank  104  to the handle  102  at a location along the handle  102  that is offset from the midline  115 . In the present example, the pivot pin  120  is located between the midline  115  and the first end  110  of the handle  102 . The resulting difference in projection length of the tool driver  106  from the handle  102  in the extended position as compared to the shortened position will be determined in relation to the distance separating the pivot pin  120  and the midline  115 . A greater difference in tool driver extension length will be achieved as the pivot pin  120  is moved further away from the midline  115 . 
         [0026]    While the pivot pin  120  as shown in  FIGS. 3-4  is a preferred coupling mechanism for the handle  102  and the shank  104 , any number of other suitable arrangements can be employed as desired. In some embodiments, the pin  120  remains stationary with respect to the handle  102  such as, for example, by being press-fit or molded into the handle material. In such case, the aperture  122  in the distal end  124  of the shank  104  is sized to be slightly larger than the outermost diameter of the pin  120 , and the shank  104  freely rotates about the stationary pin. 
         [0027]    In an alternative embodiment, the pin  120  is permanently affixed to the distal end  122  of the shank  104  to provide opposing projections, such as generally depicted in  FIG. 5 . The projections rotate with the shank  104  within appropriate recesses, bushings, etc. in the handle  102 . Bearings or other mechanisms can also be utilized as desired to accommodate the relative rotation of the shank  104  with respect to the handle  102 . 
         [0028]      FIGS. 6A-6C  show an alternative reversible tool assembly  200 . As before, the tool assembly  200  generally comprises a handle  202  and a pivotally moveable shank  204 . The shank supports a tool driver  206  at a distal end  208 .  FIG. 6A  shows the tool assembly  200  in an extended position,  FIG. 6B  shows the tool assembly  200  in a shortened position, and  FIG. 6C  shows the tool assembly  200  in an intermediate (t-bar) configuration. Unlike the handle  102  in  FIGS. 1-5 , the handle  202  in  FIGS. 6A-6C  is non-symmetric about a midline  210  ( FIG. 6C ) and takes a more conventional hand-tool shape. 
         [0029]    An exploded view of the tool assembly  200  is provided in  FIG. 7 . The handle  202  is shown to include an interior sidewall  212  that forms an axially extending central channel  214  to accommodate the shank  204 . The tool assembly  200  further includes a pair of opposing bushing sleeves  216 ,  218  which are inserted into corresponding apertures  220 ,  222  in the handle  202 . The apertures  220 ,  222  extend from an outermost surface  224  of the handle  202  to the interior sidewall  212  of the handle  202 . 
         [0030]    A pivot pin  226  engages the sleeves  216 ,  218  to capture the shank  204 . More particularly, the shank  204  is provisioned with an aperture  228  at a distal end  230  of the shank  204 , and the pin  226  passes through the aperture  228  to facilitate pivotal movement of the shank  204 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 8  shows the interior sidewall  212  to provide the channel  214  with a substantially u-shaped cross-sectional shape, as before. Further aspects of the handle  202  are shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0032]    As desired, retention features such as detents  232 ,  234  in  FIG. 10  can be provided to lockingly retain the shank  204  within the channel when the shank  204  is placed in the respective extended and shortened positions. The retention features are preferably sized and shaped to allow a small localized deformation of the interior sidewall  212  sufficient to lock (snap) the shank  204  into place. It is contemplated that one pair of the detents  232 ,  234  can be provided on each side of the pivot pin  226  so that the detents operate to respectively retain the shank  204  in each of the extended and shortened positions. A slight rotational force can be applied to the shank  204  by the user to release the shank  204  and move the tool assembly to the intermediate position ( FIG. 6C ). 
         [0033]    While the above exemplary embodiments use a permanently attached socket driver as the disclosed tool driver, such is not necessarily limiting.  FIG. 11  shows a shank  304  which supports a bit receptacle  306  at a distal end  308  of the shank  304 . The receptacle  306  receivingly supports removable driver bits, such as the cross-head screwdriver bit denoted at  310 . The bit  310  is slidingly inserted into the receptacle  306  and may be retained therein through the use of friction, detents, a magnetic plate, etc. The receptacle  306  advantageously enables the same tool assembly to accommodate any number of differently configured bits for different styles of operation. 
         [0034]    Similarly,  FIG. 12  shows a cylindrical shank  404  with a conventional quarter-inch, square socket engagement mechanism  406  projecting from a distal end  408  of the shank  404 . The socket engagement mechanism  404  is configured to receivingly engage conventional sockets, such as the exemplary socket  410  (shown in cross-section). A deflectable detent ball  412  can be used to lock the sockets into place. 
         [0035]      FIG. 13  shows another shank  504  with a flat screwdriver configuration  506  at a distal end  508 .  FIG. 14  provides yet another alternative shank  604  with a hex key wrench tool driver  606  at a distal end  608  thereof. Unlike the substantially cylindrical shanks shown above, the shank  604  in  FIG. 14  has a hex (six-sided) configuration along its overall length, as shown. 
         [0036]    Various other tool driver configurations can also be employed, including but not limited to an ice pick, a cutting blade, a hammer head, a saw, a drill bit, a chisel, etc. Moreover, the tool assembly is not necessarily limited to hand actuation, but rather can be additionally or alternatively configured for engagement with and operation by a power tool, such as a portable power drill. 
         [0037]    It will be appreciated that the various embodiments presented herein provide important improvements over the art. The exemplary tool assemblies  100 ,  200  provide a highly effective tool driver configuration with easily adjusted overall lengths while retaining a conventional “hand tool” axial alignment of the handle during operation in the extended and shortened positions. The tool assemblies can be provided individually or in a set with different sizes, shapes and lengths of shanks, handles and/or tool drivers. 
         [0038]    For purposes of the appended claims, the term “midline” will be construed consistent with the foregoing discussion to describe the midway line transverse to the axial length of the handle that bisects the handle into two equidistant segments. 
         [0039]    It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, this detailed description is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of structure and arrangements of parts within the principles disclosed herein to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.