Abstract:
Adjustable tools which may be linked through a coupling so that the tool and the handle are rotatable relative to each other in a released condition and locked relative to each other in a locked position. The tool and the handle may thus be adjusted to have the tool at any desired orientation to the handle and in a locked position in that orientation.

Description:
RELATED CASES  
       [0001]     This application is entitled to and hereby claims the benefit of the filing date of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/682,255 entitled “Adjustable Tools: filed May 16, 2005 by Charles A. Cole. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to adjustable tools, which may be linked through a coupling so that the tool and the handle are rotatable relative to each other in a released condition and locked relative to each other in a locked position. The tool and the handle may thus be adjusted to have the tool at any desired orientation to the handle and in a locked position in that orientation.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Many tools have been proposed which provide for adjustable wrenches. One such tool is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,221 issued May 30, 1995 to James Cole. This patent discloses a wrench which has a splined pin fixed to the head of the wrench with the handle being moveable between an upper released position and a lower locked position. This wrench has the disadvantage that the pin protrudes for a substantial distance above the wrench in all instances. This patent is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference.  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,184 issued Jul. 7, 1998 to James Cole discloses a similar wrench. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,820,288, 6,000,299 and 6,161,982 also relate to tools which use splined connections in various ways. These patents are further incorporated in their entirety by reference.  
         [0005]     Other variations have been proposed which require a smooth pin positioned on the wrench head with the pin being used to engage an opening in the handle which includes flat surfaces moveable into engagement at various positions to lock the wrench and the handle into fixed positions. These wrenches also require that the pin protrude a substantial distance above the top of the wrench.  
         [0006]     All of these wrenches are subject to certain shortcomings. Many of the wrenches previously developed to have releasable coupling involve the use of springs so that the wrench may be released only while the pin is held in a particular position from which it returns when released. This results in certain disadvantages, particularly with respect to the protrusion of elements from the sides or tops of the wrenches or the tools. Accordingly, a continued effort has been directed to the development of simpler, more rugged and less protrusive coupling systems for tools.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     According to the present invention, an adjustable tool is provided having a handle joined to a tool member by a coupling comprising a pin positioned through a receptacle on the handle and a receptacle on the tool member so that the handle and the tool member are releasable by disengagement of the pin so that each of the handle and tool member are rotatable relative to the other and so that when the handle and tool are engaged by engagement of the pin the handle and tool are locked in position, each relative to the other, the coupling comprising: a first and a second receptacle positioned in a first member, the first member having a first and a second end and comprising a first extension and a second extension on the first end of the first member with each of the extensions having first and second coaxial receptacle openings each having an inside and an outside circumference and being positioned through each receptacle, the receptacle openings each having a row of splines positioned around its inside circumference; a third receptacle having an inside circumference and having a first and a second bevel around outer edges of its inside circumference and splines in the central portion of its inside circumference and positioned in a second end of a second member, the third receptacle, in the second end of the second member being formed to fit between the first and second extensions so that the third receptacle is coaxial with the first and second receptacle openings; a pin, the pin having a first end and a second end and an outside, a first row of splines positioned around the outside of the pin on its first end, a first space slightly wider than the first row of splines around the outside of the pin and adjacent the first row of splines, a second row of splines wider than the first row of splines positioned around the outside of the pin and adjacent the first space, a second space positioned around the pin adjacent the second row of splines; first and second ball bearings positioned in openings in the pin in the second row of splines, the ball bearings being positioned in the openings with springs biasing the ball bearings outwardly so that when the first ball bearing is moved outwardly into the first bevel the pin allows the first and second members to rotate relative to each other and so that when the second ball bearing is moved outwardly into the second bevel the first and second member are locked into position relative to each other; and, a first and second end cap positioned on the first and second ends of the pin respectively. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  schematically shows a ratchet wrench, including a coupling according to the present invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 1 ( a ) schematically shows a representative ratchet wrench head;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  shows an adjustable tool comprising a handle connected to a pry bar;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of a pin, according to the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3 ( a ) is an end view of a first end of the pin of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3 ( b ) is an end view of a second end of the pin shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3 ( c ) is a cross-sectional view of an end cap suitable for use on either end of the pin shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of a first member for connection at a coupling of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of a mating member for junction to the member shown in  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of the members shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  in combination with the pin in place in a locked position ; and,  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of the members of  FIGS. 4 and 5  in combination with the pin in a released position. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0019]     In the discussion of the Figures, the same numbers will be used throughout to refer to the same or similar components.  
         [0020]     In  FIG. 1  an adjustable wrench, according to the present invention, is shown. The wrench comprises a handle  12  having a coupling  14  between the handle and a ratchet  16  and having a ratchet head  18 . A selector  20  is positioned on top of the ratchet, as well known to those skilled in the art.  
         [0021]     In  FIG. 1 ( a ) a more detailed showing of the ratchet head is illustrated, particularly showing a mating shaft  22  for engagement with a tool, as well known to the art.  
         [0022]     In  FIG. 2 a  similar device is shown except that the tool connected to the handle by the coupling  14  is a pry bar  24 .  
         [0023]     In  FIG. 3 a  pin useful in the adjustable tool of the present invention is shown. The pin comprises a pin  50  having a first end  52 , a second end  54  and an outside  56 . The pin also includes on its first end  52  on its outside, a first row  58  of splines. A first space  60  slightly wider than the first row  58  of splines is positioned next to the first row of splines. A second row of splines  62  is somewhat wider and is positioned adjacent to first space  60 . A second space  64  is positioned adjacent to the edge of second row of splines  64  and adjacent to second end  54 . The pin also includes two ball bearings  104  and  106 , which in the assembled wrench are positioned in holes in the second row of splines and maintained in an outwardly biased position by springs positioned beneath the ball bearings in the holes, as known to the art. Desirably the holes are positioned in valleys between splines. First end  52  is shown as including a first row of splines  58  on its outside and on it&#39;s inside a recess  66 , a bevel  68  and a screw receptacle  70 .  
         [0024]     In  FIG. 3 ( b ) an end view of second end  54  is shown and is similar to the end view of first end  52 , except that the splines on the outside are the outside of the second row of splines  62 .  
         [0025]     End caps are typically used with the pin, with end caps being shown in  FIG. 3 ( c ). An end cap includes a protrusion  74 , which mates with recess  66  and is formed for connection to the first and second ends by a screw (not shown) which is seated in a bevel  78  and positioned through a screw opening  76  into screw receptacle  70 .  
         [0026]     In  FIG. 4 a  first member  80  is shown and includes a first extension  82  and a second extension  84 . These extensions are spaced to receive, between the extensions a second member  106 . First member  80  includes first extension  82 , including a first receptacle  86  and second extension  84 , including a second receptacle  88 . The receptacles are located in a first end  90  of the first member. First receptacle  86  has an inside circumference  92  with a first receptacle row of splines  93  being located on inside circumference  92 . Outside circumference  94  of receptacle  86  is as shown. A second receptacle row of splines  97  is positioned on an inside circumference  96  of second receptacle  88 . The receptacles have a common axis  100 .  
         [0027]     In  FIG. 5 a  second member  106  is included and is adapted to matingly engage first member  80 . A second end of second member  108  includes a third receptacle  110 , which has an inside circumference  112  and includes a first and a second bevel  114  and  116 , respectively around its outer circumference on both sides of the third receptacle. Splines  118  are positioned on the middle portion of the circumference of third receptacle  110 . When the coupling is formed, these members are positioned with the second end  108  of second member positioned with third receptacle  108  positioned coaxially with first and second receptacles  86  and  88 .  
         [0028]     In  FIG. 6 a  pin, as previously described, is positioned through receptacles  86  and  88  and third receptacle  110 . As shown in  FIG. 6  ball bearing  104  is positioned in an outwardly extended position from second row of splines  62  in bevel  116 . In this position, first receptacle row of splines  93  and second receptacle row of splines  97  are positioned in engagement with first row of splines  58  and second row of splines  62  on the pin. This ball bearing, which is desirably extended from about 50 to about 65 percent of its diameter outwardly from the receptacle in which it is positioned in the pin as now positioned in bevel  116  maintains the pin in this position. To change this positioning, the pin may be pushed through the receptacle until ball bearing  102  is positioned in bevel  114  in which position splined rows  93  and  97  are located in first space  60  and second space  64 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . In this position, the wrench is released and the members can be rotated relative to each other. It will be noted that there is no significant protrusion of either of the sides of the pin from the outside of member  80 . This pin arrangement does not require any springs for its operation.  
         [0029]     Desirably the ball bearings are about 0.063 inches in diameter, although other sizes could be used, especially if larger pins are desired. Typically, the first row of splines  58  is approximately 0.063 inches in width with first space  60  being slightly wider so that splines  58  can rotate freely in space  60 . Second space  64  is also of approximately the same diameter. Typically the ball bearings are positioned about 0.063 inches apart so that the rows of splines are readily moved from engagement into the bevels by simply pushing the pin through the coupling.  
         [0030]     By the use of the adjustable tool of the present invention, there are no protruding members above or below the coupling and the coupling can be used in either a horizontal or a vertical position on a wrench or tool. As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the coupling is clearly horizontal as positioned on the tool in  FIG. 1  and is clearly vertical as positioned in the tool shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0031]     In the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the ends are retained in position by screws  120 . As also shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  the pin receptacles and all other receptacles are coaxially positioned. This connection is a very effective connection and is readily used to produce tools of any desired type. In other words, a handle can be attached to either the first or second member. Similarly a tool can be attached to either the first or the second member. It is immaterial whether the tool is attached to the member having the two receptacles or whether it is attached to member  106 , which has a single shaft.  
         [0032]     While the present invention has been described by reference to certain of its preferred embodiments, it is pointed out that the embodiments described are illustrative rather than limiting in nature and that many variations and modifications are possible within the scope of the present invention. Many such variations and modifications may be considered obvious and desirable by those skilled in the art based upon a review of the foregoing description of preferred embodiments.