Abstract:
A sliding sleeve or collar which is cylindrical and has an elongated guide or channel fluidly connecting the outer annular wall with the inner annular wall of the sleeve is disclosed. A connector having at least one open end and an elongated slot with a floor and a pin guide through the floor is further disclosed. The pin guide is open to the inside of the connector. Between the sleeve and the slot is a pin having a pin head visible through the elongated guide and two opposing spring arms of a size and shape to fit in said slot, and a pin body which movable fits in side pin guide.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a Continuation of International patent application PCT/2014/043249, filed Jun. 19, 2014, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional patent application 61/836,755, filed June 19, 2013, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
       FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a slideable locking tool connector. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Tools such as screwdrivers, drills and socket wrenches have traditionally provided a mounting means to replace or swap out a shaft or a shaft with a tool on a remote end (i.e., a screwdriver or hex wrench). 
         [0004]    Pressure fits, locking collars and moving ball bearings have all been used to hold or latch a shaft to a handle or device. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Disclosed herein is a connection system, method and device whereby a sliding cylindrical sleeve or collar having an elongated guide or channel fluidly connecting the outer annular wall with the inner annular wall of the sleeve fits over a connector having at least one open end and an elongated slot with a floor and a pin guide through the floor. The pin guide is open to the inside of the connector. Between the sleeve and the slot is a pin having a pin head visible through the elongated guide and two opposing soring arms of a size and shape to fit in said slot and a pin body which movable fits in side pin guide. Sliding the sleeve along the connector connects or disconnects a tool via a retention fixture. The pin body is urged downward into the retention fixture when the sleeve compresses one or more of the spring arms. Sliding the sleeve in an opposite direction decompresses the spring arms and the pin body will move upward back into the pin guide. 
         [0006]    According to aspects of one or more exemplary implementations, disclosed is a locking tool-mounting connector, with at least a connector having an open end, a slot, and a pin guide extending into the open end; a slideable sleeve having pin catch guide; a movable pin, having a pin head, curved spring arms extending therefrom, said spring arms being opposite one another on the pin; and a pin body. In some instances, the spring arms are asymmetrical, with one arm above the other arm. In some instances, the pin body also has a curved distal end. 
         [0007]    According to aspects of one or more exemplary implementations, disclosed is a locking tool-mounting connector having an elongated connector with an open end forming a tool guide, a slot and a pin guide extending into the open end; a slideable sleeve having pin catch guide; a movable pin assembly having a pin head, a first curved spring arm and a second curved spring arm extending therefrom, a pin body having a distal end; and, wherein the arms are asymmetrical, with one arm above the other arm. In some instances, the pin catch is ovoid with a fluidly connected first catch region and second catch region. In some instances, a lock latch may be interposed between the two fluidly connected regions. 
         [0008]    According to aspects of one or more exemplary implementations, disclosed is a locking tool-mounting connector having an elongated connector with an open end forming a tool guide, a slot and a pin guide extending into the open end; a slideable sleeve having pin catch guide; a movable pin assembly having a pin head, a first curved spring arm and a second curved spring arm extending therefrom, a pin body having a distal end; wherein the arms are asymmetrical, with one arm above the other arm and the pin body sits movably in the pin guide. In some instances, the connector includes a tool shaft with retention fixture inserted into the tool guide. 
         [0009]    In the above exemplarys the pin head can act as a catch extended above the spring arms and is of a size and shape to pass through the lock latch by temporarily displacing it, whereby sleeve movement is restricted; the distal end of the pin may be curved. 
         [0010]    According to aspects of one or more exemplary implementations, disclosed are methods of reversibly affixing a shaft to a connector by placing a pin of a pin assembly in a guide within an elongated connector; then sliding a sleeve having pin catch guide over the pin assembly and the elongated connector whereby the pin head is visible through the pin catch; then inserting a tool shaft with a retention fixture into the open end of the elongated connector; and, moving the sleeve along the connector, whereby the slideable sleeve compresses the two spring arms of the pin assembly and urges the distal end of the pin through the guide into the retention fixture. In some instances, the pin catch is ovoid having a fluidly connected first catch region and second catch region. 
         [0011]    According to aspects of one or more exemplary implementations, disclosed are methods of reversibly affixing a shaft to a connector by placing a pin of a pin assembly in a guide within an elongated connector; then sliding a sleeve having pin catch guide over the pin assembly and the elongated connector whereby the pin head is visible through the pin catch; then inserting a tool shaft with a retention fixture into the open end of the elongated connector; and, moving the sleeve along the connector, whereby the slideable sleeve compresses the two spring arms of the pin assembly and urges the distal end of the pin through the guide into the retention fixture. In some instances, the pin catch further comprises a lock latch in between the first catch region and the second catch region. In some instances, the pin head is a catch which extends into the pin catch and is a size and shape to pass through the lock latch by temporarily displacing it. 
         [0012]    According to aspects of one or more exemplary implementations, disclosed are methods of reversibly affixing a shaft to a connector by placing a pin of a pin assembly in a guide within an elongated connector; then sliding a sleeve having pin catch guide over the pin assembly and the elongated connector whereby the pin head is visible through the pin catch; then inserting a tool shaft with a retention fixture into the open end of the elongated connector; and, moving the sleeve along the connector whereby the slideable sleeve compresses the two spring arms formed opposite one another on the pin body of the pin assembly and urges the distal end of the pin through the guide into the retention fixture. 
         [0013]    In the above exemplars the spring arms may be asymmetrical and the one spring arm nearer to the pin head, when compressed, will urge the distal end of the pin into the retention fixture. The other spring arm whereby the spring arm further from the pin head, when compressed, will not urge the distal end of the pin into the retention fixture. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The above-mentioned features of the present disclosure will become more apparent with reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and in which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  shows an assembly view of a hand tool with a slide lock mount; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  shows an assembly view of a slide lock mount; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  show a top view and a cut-away side view of a pin to sleeve open slide lock mount; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  shows an asymmetrical retaining pin; 
           [0019]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  show a top view and a cut-away side view of a pin to sleeve closed slide lock mount; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  shows a slide lock with sleeve to connector latch catch. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the present disclosure that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the present disclosure&#39;s teachings will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the appendices, figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. All descriptions and callouts in the Figures are hereby incorporated by this reference as if fully set forth herein. 
         [0022]    According to one or more exemplary implementations, as shown in  FIGS. 1-5B , a device  10 , which may be hand held, provides a platform for one or more sliding tool lock mounting devices, methods, systems and aspects thereof 
         [0023]    An elongated connector  20  (also referred to an arm or leg) has a closed end  22  and an open end  24 . Formed axially on the connector is a slot  25  and within the slot is a pin guide  27 . A latching spring assembly  30 , with opposing first and second spring arms  32  and  34  and a pin body  36 , is fitted into the slot. The pin body  36  sits in the pin guide  27  wherein it may move up and down, including extending into the open tool guide  26 , the tool guide and pin guide being fluidly connected to the open end  24 . The spring arms rest in the slot  25 . The spring arms may be asymmetrical whereby the first spring arm  32  is further from the pin body  36  then the distal end of the pin  37  then the second spring arm  34 . The distal end of the pin  37  may be curved. In other instances, the spring arms may be symmetrical. At the proximal end of the pin is a locking pin head  38  that extends above the spring arms and can act as a catch. The distal end of the pin  37  may be curved (concave) to facilitate entry and removal from a retention fixture  100  such as that formed in a tool shaft  102  which may support a tool  104 . 
         [0024]    The first spring arm  32  further comprises a curved member  200  affixed by its proximal end  201  to the pin, whereby the distal end  202  is unattached or free and below the proximal end and near to the distal end of the pin  37 . The second spring arm  34  further comprises a curved member  210  affixed by its proximal end  211  to the pin whereby the distal end  212  is unattached or free and below the proximal end and near to the distal end of the pin  37 . Both distal ends of the spring arms rest against the floor  28  of the slot  25 . In a hand held tool, the connector is attached to a tool body  300 , which may be a fixed tool or a torque limiting device within the body. The body may have handles  301  affixed to or formed as part thereof 
         [0025]    A slideable open cylindrical sleeve  50  with an internal annular wall  52  and an external annular wall  54  and at rim  55  at each end is shown. An elongated opening fluidly connects the external annular wall  54  and the internal annular wall  52  thereby forming a pin catch guide  60 , which may be locking. At the first end  62  of the locking catch guide is a region larger than the pin head  38  wherein the pin head can move freely. At the second end  64  is a region larger than the pin head whereby the pin head can move freely. Between the first and second ends is a lock latch  65 , which is an extension of the sleeve into the elongated opening, thereby pinching it off or otherwise forming a small narrow region, which has a smaller diameter as the pin head  38 . For the pin head to be caught into a first catch region  66  or a second catch region  68 , the pin head must temporarily displace the lock latch  65 , which is a material thin enough and flexible enough to be displaced by said pin head  68 . The catching of the pin head  38  in the first region or second region via the lock latch restricts free movement of the sleeve. A force must be applied to the sleeve to displace the lock latch and push it past the pin head, the first catch region  66  and the second catch region  68  are fluidly connected with the lock latch creating a reduced diameter passageway. 
         [0026]    The proximal end  201  of the first spring arm is closer to the pin head  38  than the proximal end  211  of the second spring arm. The offset arrangement provides asymmetry to the locking features herein by having the compression of the higher spring arm (closer to the pin head) correspond to extending the pin body  36  further into the open tool guide  26 . The asymmetry of the arms within the elongated pin catch guide  60  provides for movement of the sleeve in one direction to be locking, and movement in another direction to be releasing. The arms within the slot  25  hold the asymmetry in one orientation and prevent rotation. 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIGS. 3A, 3B and 5A  when the pin head  38  is in the second catch region  68 , the second spring arm  34  is compressed from its proximal end  211  and a less than maximum displacement of the pin body  36  is achieved, thereby the pin body  36  is not extended into the open tool guide  26 . 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIGS. 3A, 5A and 5B  when the pin head  38  is in the first catch region  66 , the first spring arm  32  is compressed from its proximal end  201  and the maximum displacement of the pin body  36  is achieved, thereby extending it into the open tool guide  26 , whereby it is mated with a retention fixture  100 . 
         [0029]    Methods of locking and unlocking a pin body  36  into the retention fixture  100  are disclosed herein. A pin  30  is placed in slot  25  in a connector  20 . The pin body fits into a pin guide  27  and a slideable sleeve is slipped on to the connector and over the pin head  38 , whereby the pin head  38  extends through the pin catch guide  60 . 
         [0030]    In a first position, the slideable sleeve is moved along the pathway of arrow  1000  and the pin head  38  displaces the lock latch  65  and rests in the first catch region  66  and the pin body  36  extends into the open tool guide  26 . The internal annular wall of the sleeve  52  applies a force to the first spring arm  32  from the proximal end  201  downward and the distal end  202  is unable to move downward against the floor  28  of the slot  25 . The sleeve movement over the arm provides sufficient force to compress the spring arm (allowing movement of the pin body). When a tool shaft  102  with retention fixture  100  is aligned with the open tool guide, the pin body  36  so displaced extends into the retention fixture  100 , thereby fixing the tool shaft in place. 
         [0031]    To remove a tool shaft affixed by the method disclosed herein, the sleeve  50  is slid along the direction of arrow  1002  and the pin head  38  again displaces the lock latch  65  and now rests in the second catch region  68 . The movement places the first spring arm in the open lock latch  65 , thereby allowing it to decompress and causing the pin body  36  to withdraw into the open tool guide  26 ; the second spring arm  34  also decompresses; and the pin body  36  is no longer displaced into the open tool guide  26  nor extended into a retention fixture  100 . Accordingly, the tool can be removed. 
         [0032]      FIG. 6  shows another exemplar wherein an additional or alternative sleeve fixture  300  is illustrated. The sleeve fixture is an extended region or regions which are formed on the internal annular wall  52  and can fit into a sleeve latch  302  formed as an annular groove on the connector. In some instances, this combination of fixture  300  and latch  302  may be an additional fixing means, in other instances it may be used in lieu of the lock latch  65 . 
         [0033]    While the method and apparatus have been described in terms of what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred implementations, it is to be understood that the disclosure need not be limited to the disclosed implementations. It is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures. The present disclosure includes any and all implementations of the following claims. 
         [0034]    It should also be understood that a variety of changes may be made without departing from the essence of the disclosure. Such changes are also implicitly included in the description. They still fall within the scope of this disclosure. It should be understood that this disclosure is intended to yield a patent covering numerous aspects of the disclosure both independently and as an overall system and in both method and apparatus modes. 
         [0035]    Further, each of the various elements of the disclosure and claims may also be achieved in a variety of manners. This disclosure should be understood to encompass each such variation, be it a variation of an implementation of any apparatus implementation, a method or process implementation, or even merely a variation of any element of these. 
         [0036]    Particularly, it should be understood that as the disclosure relates to elements of the disclosure, the words for each element may be expressed by equivalent apparatus terms or method terms—even if only the function or result is the same. 
         [0037]    Such equivalent, broader, or even more generic terms should be considered to be encompassed in the description of each element or action. Such terms can be substituted where desired to make explicit the implicitly broad coverage to which this disclosure is entitled. 
         [0038]    It should be understood that all actions may be expressed as a means for taking that action or as an element which causes that action. 
         [0039]    Similarly, each physical element disclosed should be understood to encompass a disclosure of the action which that physical element facilitates. 
         [0040]    Any patents, publications, or other references mentioned in this application for patent are hereby incorporated by reference. In addition, as to each term used it should be understood that unless its utilization in this application is inconsistent with such interpretation, common dictionary definitions should be understood as incorporated for each term and all definitions, alternative terms, and synonyms such as contained in at least one of a standard technical dictionary recognized by artisans and the Random House Webster&#39;s Unabridged Dictionary, latest edition are hereby incorporated by reference. 
         [0041]    Finally, all references listed in the Information Disclosure Statement or other information statement filed with the application are hereby appended and hereby incorporated by reference; however, as to each of the above, to the extent that such information or statements incorporated by reference might be considered inconsistent with the patenting of this/these disclosure(s), such statements are expressly not to be considered as made by the applicant(s). 
         [0042]    In this regard it should be understood that for practical reasons and so as to avoid adding potentially hundreds of claims, the applicant has presented claims with initial dependencies only. 
         [0043]    Support should be understood to exist to the degree required under new matter laws—including but not limited to United States Patent Law 35 USC 132 or other such laws—to permit the addition of any of the various dependencies or other elements presented under one independent claim or concept as dependencies or elements under any other independent claim or concept. 
         [0044]    To the extent that insubstantial substitutes are made, to the extent that the applicant did not in fact draft any claim so as to literally encompass any particular implementation, and to the extent otherwise applicable, the applicant should not be understood to have in any way intended to or actually relinquished such coverage as the applicant simply may not have been able to anticipate all eventualities; one skilled in the art, should not be reasonably expected to have drafted a claim that would have literally encompassed such alternative implementations. 
         [0045]    Further, the use of the transitional phrase “comprising” is used to maintain the “open-end” claims herein, according to traditional claim interpretation. Thus, unless the context requires otherwise, it should be understood that the term “compromise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, are intended to imply the inclusion of a stated element or step or group of elements or steps but not the exclusion of any other element or step or group of elements or steps. 
         [0046]    Such terms should be interpreted in their most expansive forms so as to afford the applicant the broadest coverage legally permissible.