Abstract:
A securing mechanism is provided for a tool that allows for the attachment and release of the shafts of a variety of implements from the tool. The mechanism has a construction that provides an easily releasable, but secure engagement of the implement shaft within the mechanism while also having an alignment feature which engages the implement at multiple locations when engaged with the mechanism to maintain the alignment and concentricity of the implement shaft with regard to the mechanism and the tool when in use.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/408,284, filed on Oct. 29, 2010, the entirety of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to hand tools, and more specifically to a mechanism for releasably securing various implements and shafts to a hand tool. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Hand tools are designed for a variety of uses to enable individuals to perform various tasks. These tools include handles that can be grasped by the individual in order to more securely operate the tool. 
         [0004]    A number of tools of this type include various mechanisms that enable the tool to have a number of different implements having an attachment shaft attached to the tool. These mechanisms enable the shaft of the implement to be attached to the tool and utilized therewith in an interchangeable manner, allowing a single tool with multiple removable attachments to provide various functions. 
         [0005]    However, one of the prevalent drawbacks with mechanisms of this type is that the mechanism is unable to attach the implement shaft to the tool in a manner that prevents the implement from being misaligned with regard to the tool during use of the tool and implement, such that it is often necessary to remove and re-attach the implement to the tool in order to reposition the implement in proper alignment with the tool. 
         [0006]    Therefore, it is desirable to develop a securing mechanism for a tool that can be easily operated to secure and release various implements from the tool while maintaining the alignment of the shaft of the implement with regard to the tool when the implement is secured to the tool utilizing the mechanism and in use. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    According to a one aspect of the present invention, a securing mechanism is provided for a tool that allows for the attachment and release of the shafts of a variety of implements from the tool. The mechanism has a construction that provides a secure engagement of the implement shaft within the mechanism to substantially reduce any slop or play in the engagement of the implement and tool. Additionally, the mechanism has an alignment feature which maintains the alignment of the implement shaft with regard to the mechanism and the tool, and results in increased concentricity of the implement with the tool. 
         [0008]    According to another aspect of the present invention, the mechanism has a relatively simple construction that enables the mechanism to be utilized with tools having various other mechanisms disposed therein without significantly affecting the operation or overall size of the tools. 
         [0009]    Numerous other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description together with the drawings figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The drawings illustrate the best mode currently contemplated of practicing the present invention. 
           [0011]    In the drawings: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a tool including an implement securing mechanism constructed according to the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a front plan view of the tool of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is an exploded, isometric view of the securing mechanism of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a side plan view of the mechanism of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a front plan view of the mechanism of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the mechanism of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  is an exploded, isometric view of a body for the mechanism of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  is a side plan view of the body of  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 14  is a front plan view of the body of  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view along line  15 - 15  of  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view along line  16 - 16  of  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 17  is an isometric view of a socket of the mechanism of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 18  is a sectional view along line  18 - 18  of  FIG. 17 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 19  is a front plan view of the socket of  FIG. 17 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 20  is a side plan view of the socket of  FIG. 17 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 21  is a front plan view of a bushing of the mechanism of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 22  is a cross-sectional view along line  22 - 22  of  FIG. 21 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 23  is a side plan view of the bushing of  FIG. 21 ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 24  is a front plan view of a locking sleeve of the mechanism of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 25  is a cross-sectional view along line  25 - 25  of  FIG. 24 ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 26  is a side plan view of the locking sleeve of  FIG. 24 ; 
           [0038]      FIG. 27  is a front plan view of a release collar of the mechanism of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0039]      FIG. 28  is a cross-sectional view along line  28 - 28  of  FIG. 27 ; 
           [0040]      FIG. 29  is a side plan view of the collar of  FIG. 27 ; 
           [0041]      FIG. 30  is a front plan view of a shaft engageable with the mechanism of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0042]      FIG. 31  is a cross-sectional view along line  31 - 31  of  FIG. 30 ; and 
           [0043]      FIG. 32  is a side plan view of the shaft of  FIG. 30 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0044]    With reference now to the drawing figures in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the disclosure, an item, such as a tool handle, constructed according to the present invention is indicated generally at  100  in  FIG. 1 . The handle  100  can be formed in any shape to be utilized with a hand tool, and is preferably ergonomically shaped with tactile features  102  to assist an individual in maintaining a secure grip on the handle  100 . In addition to the features  102 , the handle  100  can have other design elements  104  positioned thereon as desired. 
         [0045]    Looking now at  FIGS. 1-11 , the handle  100  is formed with a securing mechanism  106  that is capable of releasably securing a shaft  108  to the handle  100 . The shaft  108  can include any implement or feature (not shown) at the end of the shaft  108  not secured to the mechanism  106  in order to provide various functionalities to the handle  100 . 
         [0046]    In addition to the securing mechanism  106 , the handle  100  can also include other mechanisms therein alone or in combination with one another, such as, for example, a torque limiting mechanism or a ratcheting mechanism, such as those shown and described in co-pending and co-owned U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 12/241,696, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Additionally, the handle  100  can incorporate a variable gear ratio mechanism, such as that shown and described in co-pending and co-owned U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 12/849,867, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
         [0047]    In the one embodiment illustrated in the drawing figures, the securing mechanism  106  is incorporated within a handle  100  also including a ratcheting mechanism  110 . The details of the mechanism  110  are not discussed in detail, as they are disclosed in the &#39;696 application, mentioned previously and incorporated herein. 
         [0048]    The securing mechanism  106  includes as component parts an engagement socket  112 , a bushing  114 , a number of ball bearings  116 , a locking sleeve  118 , a biasing spring  120  and a release collar  122 . The engagement socket  112 , as best shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  5 - 11  and  17 - 20 , is disposed within a cavity  1000  formed in the handle  100 , and is held in alignment with the cavity  100  by a number of bearings  1100  engaged between the socket  112  and the handle  1000 . The socket  112  is generally cylindrical in shape defining a central passage  129  therethrough and includes an inner section  124 , a radial flange  126  at one end of the inner section  124 , and an outer section  128  extending outwardly from the flange  126  opposite the inner section  124 . On the interior surface of the socket  112  are disposed a number of axial grooves  130  that extend the length of the socket  112  through the passage  129  defined by the inner section  124  and the outer section  128 . The grooves  130  can be present in any number and can have any suitable cross-sectional shape, and each includes an outwardly sloping or tapered end  132  disposed at the outer edge of the outer section  128 . The grooves  130  are oriented around the interior of the socket  112  in a configuration that enables the grooves  130  to engage all of the corners of various geometric shapes present on a shaft  108 , such as triangles, squares, or other polygonal shapes. In the illustrated embodiment, there are eight (8) grooves  130  located on the interior of the socket  112  in order to provide multiple four-point engagement configurations for the socket  112  and the shaft  108 . Additionally, the outwardly tapered end  132  of each groove  130  provides a self-aligning function to the grooves  130  to assist in achieving the proper alignment of the shaft  108  with the grooves  130 , and functions as a stop with respect to the insertion of the shaft  1087  into the socket  112  as the ends  132  engage the shaft  108  when fully inserted into the socket  112 , as best shown in  FIG. 10 . Further, the tapered ends  132  of each groove  130  prevent the shaft  108  from binding within the socket  112  when the shaft  108  is subjected to external compressive forces acting axially on the shaft  108 , such as pounding the handle  100  to drive an element engages with the shaft  108  opposite the handle  100  to a desired depth. The tapered ends  132  in the illustrated embodiment in  FIG. 10  are formed complementary to the faceted surfaces  133  on the shaft  108  to promote surface to surface contact when the shaft  108  is fully seated in the socket  112  to minimize bearing stresses. 
         [0049]    The outer section  128  also includes a number of openings  134  extending through the outer section  128  and within each of which is disposed a ball bearing  116 , though the bearings  116  can have alternative shapes as well, such as pins, cylindrical rollers or wedges, among others. The openings  134  have a narrowed inner end  136  that prevents the bearings  116  from passing entirely into the interior of the outer section  128 . While any number of bearings  116  and openings  134  can be used, in the illustrated embodiment best shown in  FIG. 11 , eight (8) of each are present to provide a secure engagement of the shaft  108  with the bearings  116  and the outer section  128  for any configuration of the shaft  108  as a result of the multiple points of engagement between the bearings  116  and the shaft  108 . Additionally, in the illustrated embodiment, the bearings  116  and openings  134  are disposed in the outer section  128  at locations between the grooves  130  so as to minimize the interference of the bearings  116  with the implement engaged within the grooves  130 . 
         [0050]    The bearings  116  are retained within the openings  134  from the exterior of the socket  112  by a bushing  114  disposed around the outer section  128  of the socket  112 , as best shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  10 ,  12 ,  15 - 16  and  21 - 23 . The bushing  114  is formed as a cylindrical sleeve having a diameter slightly larger than that of the outer section  128  of the socket  112 , enabling the bushing  114  to slide with respect to the socket  112 . The bushing  114  includes an angled axial flange  138  at one end that is disposed over the openings  134  and a radial flange  140  located opposite the axial flange  138  that abuts the end of the outer section  128  and defines an opening  142  therethrough in alignment with the central passage  129  of the socket  112 . The radial flange  140  locates the axial flange  138  over the openings  134  by its contact with the outer section  128  of the socket  112 , such that the axial flange  138  partially obscures the openings  134  on the exterior surface of the outer section  128  to retain the bearings  116  therein. Further, due to the close conformity of the bushing  114  to the diameter of the socket  112 , when the radial flange  140  is positioned in abutting engagement with the end of the outer portion  128  of the socket  112 , the axial flange  138  operates to urge the bearings  116  into the openings  134 , such that a portion of each bearing  116  is positioned within the interior of the socket  112 , for a purpose to be described. Alternatively, the bushing  114  can be used in connection with or replaced by other suitable activation members such as a push rod (not shown) that urges the bearings  116  into the openings  134 . 
         [0051]    The bushing  114  is held in position around the socket  112  by a locking sleeve  118  that abuts, and in the illustrated embodiment is connected to, the flange  126  on the socket  112 , as best shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  5 ,  12 - 16  and  24 - 26 . The locking sleeve  118  is generally cylindrical in shape and defines a central passage  144  that is aligned with the opening  142  in the bushing  114  and the central passage  129  of the socket  112 . The passage  144  has an inwardly tapering outer end  146  located opposite the bushing  114 . Additionally, while the locking sleeve  118  can be formed with any desired configuration, in one embodiment, the sleeve  118  can include a number of teeth  148  on an exterior surface  149 , such that the sleeve  118  can also function as the central gear in the ratcheting mechanism  110  disclosed in the &#39;696 application. The sleeve  118  is affixed to the flange  126  on the socket  112  in any suitable manner, such as by welding, for example, to hold the socket  112 , bushing  114  and sleeve  118  in axial alignment with one another. 
         [0052]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , inserted within the central passage  144  of the locking sleeve  118  is a release collar  122 . The collar  122 , as best shown in  FIGS. 6-10  and  27 - 29 , includes a cylindrical guide portion  150  and an outwardly extending engagement portion  152 . The guide portion  150  defines a central passage  151  in alignment with the passage  144  in the sleeve  118 , the opening  142  in the bushing  114  and the central passage  129  of the socket  112 , and has a diameter slightly less than that of the passage  144 , enabling the guide portion  150  to be inserted into the passage  144 . To retain the guide portion  150  within the passage  144 , the guide portion  150  includes a peripheral notch  154  in which is disposed a retaining ring  156 . The ring  156  extends outwardly from the guide portion  150  into a corresponding recess  158  in the handle  100 , such as in an end cap  160  secured to the handle  100  over the locking sleeve  118  to retain the sleeve  118  and socket  112  within the cavity  1000  in the handle  100 . The recess  158  has a width greater than that of the ring  156  to enable the ring  156  to move within the recess  158 . The ring  156  is biased into engagement with the outer end of the recess  158  by the biasing member  120 , which is located in the locking sleeve  118  and engaged between the bushing  114  and the guide portion  150  of the release collar  122 . 
         [0053]    Between the biasing member  120  and the ring  156 , the guide portion  150  includes a number of apertures  162  within which are disposed ball bearings  164 , though the bearings  164  can have alternative shapes as well, such as pins, cylindrical rollers or wedges, among others. The apertures  162  are formed similarly to the openings  134  in the socket  112  to receive and retain the bearings  164  therein. The size of the bearings  164  is such that when the apertures  162  and the bearings  164  are aligned with the larger diameter section of the passage  144 , the bearings  164  extend outwardly from the guide portion  150  into contact with the surface of the passage  144 . As the biasing member  120  urges the collar  122  and guide portion  150  outwardly from the passage  144 , the bearings  164  contact the inwardly tapering section of the passage  144  and are urged inwardly through the apertures  162 . In this position, the bearings  164  can engage the portion of the shaft  108  positioned within the passage  151 . As best shown in  FIG. 10 , the bearings  164  can engage the exterior surface of the shaft  108  directly, or can engage a peripheral groove  109  formed in the shaft  108 . 
         [0054]    When a shaft  108  of a suitable implement is to be engaged with the handle  100  utilizing the mechanism  106 , as best illustrated in  FIGS. 1-11  and  30 - 32 , the shaft  108  includes an engagement end  166  having a suitable cross-sectional shape with a number of corners  170 . The corners  170  are designed to be received within aligned grooves  130  in the socket  112  to engage the shaft  108  with the handle  100 . The insertion of the shaft  108  into the grooves  130  is facilitated by the tapered ends  132  of the grooves  130 . When positioned within the grooves  130 , the end  166  of the shaft  108  is maintained in alignment with the handle  100  by the engagement of the grooves  130  and bearings  116  around the periphery of the engagement end  166 . 
         [0055]    To lock the shaft  108  within the handle  100  during use, initially the release collar  122  is urged inwardly into the passage  144  against the bias of the biasing member  120 . In doing so, the ring  156  moves within the recess  158  until reaching the inner end of the recess  158 , thereby halting further movement of the collar  122 . In this position, when the engagement end  166  of the shaft  108  is inserted into the passage  151  in the collar  122 , the engagement end  166  can contact the bearings  164  and urge the bearings  164  out of the guide portion  150  of the collar  122 , such that the engagement end  166  can pass through the collar  122  and into the locking sleeve  118 , bushing  114  and socket  112 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . By rotating the shaft  108  as necessary, the engagement end  166  can contact the tapered ends  132  to be aligned with, seated within and engaged by the grooves  130  and bearings  116  of the socket  112 , as described previously. 
         [0056]    After the engagement end  166  is properly seated within the grooves  130  in the socket  112 , the release collar  122  is released, such that the biasing member  120  urges the collar  122  outwardly from the locking sleeve  118 . In doing so, the apertures  162  and bearings  164  on the guide portion  150  of the collar  122  are moved into the inwardly tapering section of the locking collar  118 , where the bearings  164  are urged inwardly into the guide portion  150  of the collar  122  by the locking collar  118 . However, since the shaft  108  is now positioned within the collar  122 , the bearing  164  frictionally engages the shaft  108 , thereby providing a secure engagement of the shaft  108  within the mechanism  106  preventing the removal of the shaft  108  from within the collar  122 , so that the shaft  108  can be utilized in conjunction with the handle  100  as desired. 
         [0057]    In addition, as the engagement end  166  of the shaft  108  is seated in the groves  130 , the bearings  116 , while urged partially out of the passage  129  in the socket  112 , contact the engagement end  166  as a result of the position of the bushing  114  over the openings  134  in which the bearings  116  are disposed. In this position, the shaft  108  is engaged with each of the bearings  164  in the collar  122  and the grooves  130  and bearings  116  in the socket  112 , resulting in two separate and spaced apart axial alignment contacts between the shaft  108  and the handle  100 . With this structure for the mechanism  106 , the force exerted through the handle  100  onto the shaft  108  does not alter the alignment of the shaft  108  with respect to the handle  100 , i.e., greatly reduces the amount of axial misalignment or “slop”, even after repeated uses, due to the engagement of the shaft  108  by both the grooves  130  and the bearings  116 , as well as the bearings  164  while greatly increasing the concentricity of the shaft  108  with respect to the mechanism  106  and handle  100 . 
         [0058]    To remove the shaft  108 , the collar  122  is again pressed into the locking collar  118  against the bias of the biasing member  120 , which allows the bearings  164  to be disengaged from the shaft  108 , and the shaft  108  can be removed from the collar  122 , locking sleeve  118  and socket  112 . 
         [0059]    Thus, the mechanism  106  securely engages the shaft  108  via the bearings  164 , while simultaneously maintaining the alignment of the shaft  108  with the mechanism  106  and handle  100  via the bearings  164  as well as the bearings  116  and grooves  130 . 
         [0060]    Various other embodiments of the present invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.