Abstract:
The present invention proposes an external-coupled electronic angle measurement apparatus including a housing, a display element, an angle detection system and a coupling portion. The housing is movable through the coupling portion to fasten the external-coupled electronic angle measurement apparatus to a desired location of different hand tools to accurately measure turning angles of a screw driven by the hand tool through the angle detection system and display the result on the display element.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an external-coupled apparatus of a hand tool and particularly to an external-coupled measurement apparatus to measure turning angles of a hand tool. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     An U.S. Pat. No. 5,589,644 discloses a wrench  1   c  for measuring turning angles, referring to  FIG. 1 , which can detect turning angles of a coupler  1   c ′ of a driving head of the wrench  1   c  through an angle detection system  7 , and calibrate fastening tightness of a work piece according to the turning angles of the wrench. The angle detection system is applicable only to the specific wrench  1   c  and not adaptable to other tools or changeable in terms of use positions arbitrarily, hence results in a higher production cost, and also is more complicated in structure. Thus its usability is limited. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates another embodiment of the wrench  1   d  for measuring turning angles according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,589,644 that has an angle detection system  8  to detect the turning angles of a coupler  1   d ′ of the driving head thereof. The angle detection system is embedded in the wrench  1   d  and cannot be shared with other tools, thus its applicability also is limited. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a measurement apparatus mountable onto a wide variety of hand tools to measure turning angles thereof and enhance usability and adaptability. 
     The invention provides an external-coupled electronic angle measurement apparatus which comprises a housing, a coupling portion, an angle detection system and a display element. The coupling portion is located on the housing to fasten the external-coupled electronic angle measurement apparatus to a tool. The angle detection system is held in the housing to detect turning angles. The display element is electrically connected to the angle detection system to display the turning angles. 
     Through the coupling portion, the invention can be easily and quickly installed on different hand tools. The angle detection system can accurately measure the turning angles of a screw driven by the hand tool. 
     The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of U.S. Pat. No. 5,589,644. 
         FIG. 2  is another perspective view of U.S. Pat. No. 5,589,644. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a plane view of another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a plane view of yet another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIGS. 8 through 14D  are plane views of other embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention to receive external information. 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention to receive external information 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5  for an embodiment of the invention. The apparatus of the invention is installed on a hand tool  10  which has a driving bar  11  with a driving head  12  at one end and a sleeve coupling head  13  at one side of the driving head  12  to fasten a screw. The external-coupled electronic angle measurement apparatus includes a housing  20 , a display unit  30 , an angle detection system  40  and a coupling portion  50 . The housing  20  has a holder  60  at the bottom. The coupling portion  50  is an adsorbable element and is fastened to the holder  60 , thus the apparatus of the invention can be quickly and movably mounted onto the driving head  12  or the driving bar  11  or the hand tool  10  at a desired location. 
     The angle detection system  40  is held in the housing  20  to detect turning angles of the sleeve coupling head  13 , and includes an electronic angle measurement device  41  and a signal processing system  42 , and is installed on a circuit board  43 . The electronic angle measurement device  41  can be a gyroscope. The display element  30  is located on the housing  20  and electrically connected to the angle detection system  40  to display the turning angles of the sleeve coupling head  13 . 
     The housing  20  may include a lighting element  21 , a buzzer  22  and a setting button  23  which can set turning angles or parameters or related information. The lighting element  21  and buzzer  22  provide alarm function to issue alerts when the turning angles have met requirements. The housing  20  also holds a battery  24  to provide electric power when in use. 
     Refer to  FIG. 6  for another embodiment of the invention. The coupling portion  50 A can be a magnetic element.  FIG. 7  shows yet another embodiment in which the coupling portion  50 B can be a sucking disc.  FIG. 8  shows one of other embodiments that the coupling portion  50 C can be a gripper. Through adsorption of the s magnetic element or sucking disc, or clipping of the gripper, the external-coupled electronic angle measurement apparatus can be fastened on the driving head  12 , driving bar  11  or hand tool  10  at a desired location. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates another embodiment of the invention in which the coupling portion  50 D can be at least one cavity to be wedged in by a mating boss or profile formed on the driving head  12 , driving bar  11  or hand tool  10  at a desired location. The cavity and boss or profile are not limited to exactly the same profile, partially matched and mutually latched can hold the apparatus of the invention.  FIG. 10  shows yet another embodiment in which the coupling portion  50 D has screw threads  51  formed on the surface of the cavity to allow the apparatus to be fastened through a screw  52 . 
       FIG. 11  shows another embodiment in which the coupling portion  50 E can be at least one boss to be wedged in a mating cavity  53  formed on the driving head  12 , driving bar  11  or hand tool  10  at a desired location. The profiles of the boss and cavity  53  are not limited to the same, partially matched and mutually latched can hold the apparatus of the invention.  FIG. 12  shows still another embodiment in which the coupling portion  50 E has screw threads  54  formed on the surface of the boss to fasten the apparatus by screwing. 
       FIG. 13  shows yet another embodiment in which the coupling portion  50 F can be one or more through holes to receive a fastening element  99  to fasten the apparatus of the invention. 
       FIGS. 14A through 14D  illustrate other embodiments in which the coupling portion  50 G includes two sets located at two opposite sides of the apparatus in an up and down, left and right, front and rear, or coaxial manner. The two sets of the coupling portion  50 G at the two sides can be cavities both, bosses both or one cavity and one boss to be latched to fasten the apparatus in varying combinations. 
     Referring to  FIG. 15 , the apparatus of the invention also may include a communication port  70  connected to a signal providing portion  72  through a signal line  71 . The signal providing portion  72  transmits related information or parameters to the apparatus of the invention through the signal line  71  and communication port  70 .  FIG. 16  shows yet another embodiment in which the signal line  71  can be directly included in the apparatus of the invention. 
     As a conclusion, when the hand tool  10  is turned, the angle detection system  40  measures the turning angles of the sleeve coupling head  13 . Hence when measuring the turning angles is desired, fasten the apparatus of the invention on the driving head  12 , driving bar or hand tool  10  at a desired location, and disassemble the apparatus when not in use. Such a structure provides greater adaptability and usability, and is easier to store and applicable to various types of hand tools.