Abstract:
A replaceable tip for a tool. A locking pin is disposed on a transverse opening in the end of the tool. A sleeve having a cammed surface formed interiorly is disposed over the end of the tool with the ends of the locking pin contacting the cammed surface. The replaceable tip has a locking keeper which engages the locking pin. Rotation of the sleeve in opposite directions locks or unlocks the locking keeper to the locking pin to allow retention or removal of the tip. In an alternate embodiment the sleeve has opposite spring fingers which contact the ends of the locking pin.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a tip for a tool and, more particularly, to a replaceable tip which is easily removed and replaceable by a tip having a different tool member. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     It is highly desirable to have a tool on which the tip can be changed to make the tool more versatile. The substitution of tips on screwdrivers such as to exchange a slot-tip for a Phillips head tip is well known. U.S. Pat. No. 6,347,565 to Steinweg discloses replaceable tips which have pins keyed to slots to lock jaw members onto studs. Other U.S. patents of which the applicant is aware which disclose replaceable tips for tools are: 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 U.S. Pat. No. 
                 Inventor(s) 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   381,544 
                 Garvey 
               
               
                 1,505,510 
                 Uhl 
               
               
                 1,556,755 
                 Burman 
               
               
                 1,565,210 
                 Seiber 
               
               
                 3,132,550 
                 Sion 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     While these patents disclose useful replaceable tips, a more simple, universal type tip is needed. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a replaceable tip for a tool which is easily attached to, and disconnected from, the tool. 
     It is another object of the present invention to have a replaceable tip which is positively connected to the tool. 
     In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, there is disclosed a replaceable tip for a tool comprising in combination the tool having a hollow end. A transverse opening is formed in the hollow end of the tool. A locking pin is disposed in the transverse opening, the locking pin having a mid portion and two enlarged opposite ends. The ends of the locking pin extend outwardly from the end of the tool. The end of the tool is received in a sleeve having a cammed inner surface. The opposite ends of the locking pin contact the cammed inner surface of the sleeve. The replaceable tip has a body having a first end and a second opposite end. The first end has a work member formed thereon. The second end has a locking keeper formed thereon. The body of the replaceable tip is received within the sleeve wherein the locking keeper engages the mid portion of the locking pin. Rotating the sleeve in a first direction engages one of the enlarged ends of the locking pin with the locking keeper and locks the replaceable tip on the end of the tool. Rotating the sleeve in a second opposite direction disengages the enlarged ends of the locking pin from the locking keeper. In this manner the replaceable tip may be removed and replaced. 
     Further in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, there is disclosed a replaceable tip in combination with a tool. The tool has a hollow end. A transverse opening is formed in the hollow end of the tool. A locking pin is disposed in the transverse opening, the locking pin having a mid portion and two enlarged opposite ends. The ends of the locking pin extend outwardly form the transverse opening in the end of the tool. The end of the tool is received in a sleeve. The sleeve has a first finger spring and an opposite second finger spring. The opposite ends of the locking pin contact the opposite finger openings on the sleeve. The replaceable tip has a body having a first end and an opposite second end. The first end has a work member formed thereon. The second end has a locking keeper formed thereon. The second end further has a tapered nose. The body of the replaceable tip is received within the sleeve such that when the replaceable tip is inserted into the sleeve, the tapered nose forces the locking pin against one of the finger springs. Said finger spring flexes such that the mid-portion of the locking pin is received in the locking keeper and retained therein. In this manner, pressure on the one of the finger springs urges the locking pin against the end of the locking pin, releasing the locking pin from the locking keeper, such that the replaceable top may be removed and replaced. 
     In a further aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed a replaceable tip for a tool comprising, in combination the tool having a hollow end. A transverse opening is formed in the hollow end of the tool. A locking pin is disposed in the transverse opening. The locking has a mid portion and two enlarged opposite ends. The ends of the locking pin extend outwardly from the transverse opening in the end of the tool. The ends of the tool are received in a sleeve. The opposite ends of the locking pin contact the sleeve. The replaceable tip has a body having a first end and an opposite second end. The first end has a work member formed thereon. The second end has a locking keeper formed thereon. The body of the replaceable tip is received within the sleeve wherein the locking keeper engages the mid-portion of the locking pin. The sleeve has means thereon for moving the locking pin laterally within the transverse opening such that movement in a first direction engages one of the enlarged ends of the locking pin with the locking keeper and the replaceable tip is retained. Movement in a second, opposite direction disengages both ends of the locking pin from the locking keeper and the replaceable tip may be removed and replaced. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the enclosed drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plier-like tool having replaceable tips of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a single handle and arm of a plier-type tool showing the end of the tool onto which the tip is replaceably connected. 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a locking pin. 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a sleeve. 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6A is a cross-section view of the tip of the present invention taken across the lines  6 — 6  of FIG. 1 showing the locked position. 
     FIG. 6B is a cross-section view of the tip of the present invention taken across the lines  6 — 6  of FIG. 1 showing the unlocked position. 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-section view taken toward the handle showing the sleeve rotated to a locked position. 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-section view taken toward the handle showing the sleeve rotated to an unlocked position. 
     FIG. 9 is a view showing the locking pin in relation to the projections on the locking keeper in the locked position. 
     FIG. 10 is a view showing the locking pin in relation to the projections on the locking keeper in the unlocked position. 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a sleeve having opposite finger springs. 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the replaceable tip. 
     FIG. 13 is a cross-section view of the sleeve with finger springs contacting the locking pin in a locked position. 
     FIG. 14 is a cross-section view of the sleeve with finger springs contacting the locking pin in an unlocked position. 
     FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the present invention in a screwdriver-like tool. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, a plier-like tool  10  is shown having replaceable tips  12 . The tips  12  have jaw-like work members  14  but may have other configuration such as grasping, spreading, clamping, connecting and disconnecting members. As will be explained, the replaceable tips of the present invention may be used on different tools. A plier-like tool is shown herein for convenience of explanation and is in no manner, a limitation of the replaceable tip. In a plier-like tool, a pair of handles  16  pivot about a hub and each handle  16  has an end  18  to which a respective tip  12  is replaceably connected. It is preferred that each end  18  be hollow. 
     A transverse opening  20  is formed in the end  18  of each handle  16  of the tool as shown in FIG. 2. A locking pin  22  is disposed in the transverse opening. As shown in FIG. 3, the locking pin  22  has a mid-portion  24 , a first end  26  and an opposite second end  28 . Both ends  26 ,  28  have enlarged cross-sectional areas as compared to the cross-sectional area of the mid-portion  24 . Also, each end has a respective length. The first end  26  has a length which is greater than the length of the second end  28  for reasons as will be explained. The mid-portion  24  has a uniform cross-sectional area between the first end  26  and the second end  28 . 
     As shown in FIG. 1, a cylindrical sleeve  30  is disposed over the end  18  of each handle  16 . Interiorly of the sleeve  30 , there is formed a cammed surface  32  (FIG.  4 ). Preferably, the cammed surface extends approximately 300° around the inside of the sleeve  30 . The sleeve  30  is positioned such that the opposite ends  26 ,  28  of the locking pin  22  contact the cammed surface  32  within the sleeve  30  as will be described. 
     As shown in FIG. 5, the replaceable tip  12  has a body  34  which has a first end  36  and a second opposite end  38 . The work member  14  is formed on the first end  36  of the body  34 . A locking keeper  40  is formed on the second end  38  of the body  34 . Preferably, the locking keeper  40  has a pair of bifurcated legs  42 . At the end of each bifurcated leg  42 , distal from the work member  14 , there is formed a protrusion  44  which extends outwardly from the end of each leg  42 . A slot  46  is formed between the bifurcated legs  42  and also between the protrusions  44  on the bifurcated legs  2 . The body  34  of the replaceable tip  12  is received in the hollow end  18  of the handle such that the mid-portion  24  of the locking pin  22  is received in the slot  46  between the bifurcated legs  42 . The bifurcated legs straddle the mid-portion  24  of the locking pins  22 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 5-7, the locking pin  22  is disposed within the cammed surface  32  in the sleeve  30 . Depending upon the direction of rotation of the sleeve  30 , either the first end  26  or the second end  28  of the locking pin  22  abuts a flattened terminal  48  of the cammed surface and the opposite end of the locking pin  22  contacts a curved portion of the cammed surface  32 . 
     When the sleeve  30  is rotated in a first direction (FIGS. 7 and 9) the first end  26  of the locking pin  22  which has the longer length, contacts the curved portion of the cammed surface  12  and the second end  28  of the locking pin  22  contacts the flat terminal  48  of the cammed surface  32 . The protrusions  44  on the bifurcated legs  42  extend adjacent to the longer first end  26  of the locking pin  22 . The tip  12  cannot be removed from the sleeve  30  because the protrusions  44  are obstructed by the first end  26  of the locking pin  22 . 
     When the sleeve  30  is rotated in a second direction (FIGS. 8 and 10) the protrusions  44  are unobstructed and clear of both enlarged ends  26 ,  28  of the locking pin  22  and the removable tip  12  may be withdrawn from the sleeve  30  for replacement by a different tip. 
     Preferably, rotation of approximately 90° is sufficient to move the locking pin  22  with respect to the bifurcated legs  42  and the protrusions  44  on the bifurcated legs  42 . 
     Preferably, the protrusions  44  are semi-circular segments which are mirror images of one another. The advantage of the semi-circular configuration is that the protrusions correspond with the configuration of the hollow end  18  of the handle and bifurcated legs  42  are prevented from being spaced-apart when the sleeve  30  is rotated. However, the protrusions are not limited to the semi-circular configuration. The only limitation is that the protrusions must be able to prevent removal of the FIG. 12 from the locking pin  22  when the sleeve  30  is rotated to the locking position. 
     In an alternate embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 11-14 the sleeve  30 ′ is securely fitted on each end  18  of each handle  16 . This may be a friction fit. The sleeve  30 ′ has at least two opposite finger springs  50  or beams which, preferably, are an integral part of the sleeve  30 ′. The sleeve  30 ′ may be molded. The replaceable tip  12  has a body  34  with a first end  36  which has a tapered nose which defines the locking keeper  40 . The bifurcated legs  42  of the locking keeper  40  each have a protrusion  44  and a slot  46  is formed between the bifurcated legs  42 . The replaceable tip  42  is similar to the previously described embodiment except that the protrusions  44  are elongated and tapered. The locking keeper  40  may be viewed as a truncated cone having a slot formed axially therein to form the bifurcated legs  42 . 
     When the tip is to be connected, it is inserted into sleeve  30 ′ such that the locking keeper  40  extends into the hollow end of the tip  12  of the handle. When so inserted, the tapered nose forces the locking pin  22  to move laterally within the transverse opening  20  and to flex one of the finger springs  50  outwardly. This facilitates further insertion of the replaceable tip  12  until the tip  12  has been inserted sufficiently and the mid-portion  24  of the locking pin  22  is received in the slot  46  between the bifurcated legs  42 . The longer, first end  26  of the locking pin  22  abuts a portion of the protrusion  44  and effectively prevents removal of the replaceable tip  12 . 
     In order to remove the tip  12  for replacement with a tip having a different work member, pressure is applied to the finger spring  50  which has been flexed outwardly. This pressure is transmitted to the shorter, second end  28  of the locking pin  22  and the locking pin  22  is moved laterally within the transverse opening  20  until the protrusion  44  is no longer abutting the longer, first end  26  of the locking pin  22 . The entire length of the protrusion  44  is aligned with the mid-portion  24  of the locking pin  22  and the tip  12  may be removed from the sleeve  30 ′. As pressure is applied to the one finger spring  50 , the one finger spring is no longer flexed outwardly. However, the opposite finger spring  50  is flexed outwardly due to the lateral movement of the locking pin  22  which pressures the longer, first end  26  of the locking pin  22  against the opposite finger spring. 
     The tip of the present invention may be used on a wide variety of items including tools, household implements and other items known to persons skilled in the art. As an example, but not as a limitation, FIG. 15 shows the present invention used with a screwdriver-type handle. 
     Obviously, many modifications may be made without departing from the basic spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than has been specifically described herein.