Abstract:
A basin wrench extension handle which is a tubular member, either straight elongated or elongated with a 40 to 50 degree bend at about the midpoint, and under 16 inches in length. The tubular member is closed at one end and has a threaded bore near the open end, in which threaded bore is a thumbscrew. When the handle of a conventional basin wrench is disposed in the tubular member, and the thumbscrew tightened, better leverage for rotational movement to loosen a nut or plumbing fitting will be had by the user.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This application relates to an extension handle attachment to a conventional basin wrench to increase the leverage of the user by extending the handle a greater distance from the point of attachment to the basin wrench arm to render rotation easier.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     When plumbers or handymen are called upon to clear out drains, or to change plumbing piping, especially under a sink or in other cramped quarters, the chore often proves difficult. This is so because waterline connections and the nuts on faucets can “freeze in place” or rust in place. This renders removal quite difficult, the use of an oversized basin wrench may not solve the problem, as the curled head might not fit correctly on the problem pipe of nut. Thus there is a need for a tool that will help the plumber or handyman achieve a mechanical advantage in his or her battle to loosen nuts or other plumbing fittings. This tool solves that need easily and quickly and at low cost. It permits the removal of fittings and nuts easily and quickly with no learning curve.  
         [0003]     The invention accordingly comprises the device possessing the features properties and the relation of components which are exemplified in the following detailed disclosure and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.  
         [0004]     For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     An elongated tubular member, straight in one embodiment and having a single bend at near the midpoint along the length in a second embodiment, open at one end and capped off at the other end. Near the open end, a threaded bore is disposed into the tubular member and a thumbscrew is threadedly engaged in this bore for tightening upon the handle of a conventional basin wrench when inserted in te tubular member open end. The second curve containing embodiment permits the device to be used in tight quarters under sinks, where the full elongation might inhibit rotation of the handle of the wrench disposed in the extension tool of this invention.  
         [0006]     It is an object therefore of this invention to provide a basin wrench handle receiving device to allow a user to gain further leverage than by merely trying to rotate the handle of the wrench.  
         [0007]     It is a second object to provide a basin wrench handle extension that quickly and easily attaches to the handle of a basin wrench.  
         [0008]     It is a third object to provide a basin wrench extension handle that is suitable for use in tight places such as under a sink.  
         [0009]     Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a common basin wrench.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the first embodiment of this invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the second embodiment of this invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a bottom elevational view of the first embodiment.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a bottom elevational view of the second embodiment.  
         [0015]      FIG. 6 a  top elevational view of the second embodiment.  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a close-up part sectional view of the device of this invention having received the handle or cross member of the basin wrench.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0017]     In  FIG. 1  there is shown a perspective view of a conventional prior art basin wrench  5  having a head  6 , an arm  7  and a cross member  8 , which cross member is also referred to as a handle. It is the handle  8  that engages the device of this invention.  
         [0018]     The discussion concerning the invention commences with  FIG. 2 , an elevational view of the first embodiment  10 , of this invention. Here the device  10  is seen to comprise an elongated tube  11 , ranging from about ten inches in length to about sixteen inches in length and about inches in interior diameter. At a suitable location  17  inward from the open end  15 , along the length of the tube  11 , a threaded bore  19  is disposed at a 90-degree angle to the length of the tubing. In practice this location can vary from about ½ to 1.00 inch from the open end of the tube, though a further inward distance in would work as well. A thumbscrew  21  is disposed in said bore  19  for retention of a leg of the basin wrench, not seen in this view. The open end  17  of the device  10  is the end in which the handle  8  of the wrench  5  is inserted. Device  10  also includes a rubber cap  13  at the opposite end of the tube  11 . Cap  13  prevents injury to the user, and prevents the hand from slipping down off the closed end  23  of the tube  11  of the device  10 . An optional rubber grip  25  may overlie the tube  11 , as is shown in the close-up view  FIG. 7  to prevent hand slippage.  
         [0019]     In  FIG. 3 , the same device is shown but in a different configuration. Here device  12  instead of being a straight elongated tube  11 , the tube, designated  12 , has a bend in it, ranging between 40 and 50 degrees, with about 42 degrees being one that provides good results. The curve commences at a point about three inches inward from the open end of the tubular member. The second configuration, also of the same internal diameter, can vary in length from about ten inches to sixteen inches with thirteen being the preferred length. In this embodiment the open end for insertion of the handle  8  is designated  18 , while the threaded bore and thumbscrew are  20  and  22  respectively. The closed end  24  is covered over by and cap  14 . Though shown here, the a grip similar to overlying grip  25  shown for the first embodiment may be employed with this version of the tool as well.  
         [0020]     In  FIG. 4  the open end  15  of the tube  11  is seen with the thumbscrew  21  in place. Threaded bore  19  though present is not seen.  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  but for the second embodiment. Here the open end  14  is seen, as is the thumbscrew  22 . The bend point  26  is also seen.  FIG. 6  is an elevational view forming the second or closed end of the second embodiment. Thus rubber end cap  17  is visible and the thumbscrew is distant from the viewer.  
         [0022]     In  FIG. 7 a  closeup view is seen with the forward portion between points  37  and  37 ′ of the device shown in cutaway. Only handle  8  is seen of the basin wrench shown in  FIG. 1 . The handle  8  is shown inserted almost full length into the open end of the device; here end  15 , since the device shown is the straight elongated unit  10 . Rubber grip  25  is seen overlaying the tubular section  11 . This grip may extend for but a few inches or may extend the entire length from the thumbscrew to the rear-closed end of the device as may be desired. A cap  13  may be frictionally applied or threaded onto external threads, if present, on end  23  of the tube  11 .  
         [0023]     It is known that the basin wrench handle is only a few inches long, and if the nut to be loosened is rusty or old, it is often next to impossible to pull or push handle  8  to rotate the head  6  disposed on the nut in question. But by disposing almost all of the exposed handle—the unexposed part of the hand is within the arm of the wrench, see  FIG. 1 , within the open end of the device, and then tightening the thumbscrew to prevent removal, increased leverage can be had to rotate the handle  8  by gripping the round larger diameter and longer tube section  11  of the first embodiment, or the tube section  16  of the second embodiment.  
         [0024]     The second embodiment of this invention is employed in cramped quarters, such as under a sink where other pipes or even household articles may be stored.  
         [0025]     While the thumbscrew is located at a location close to the open end, with about ¾ inch therefrom being preferred, the fact that the body of this device is a tube permits almost the entire handle  8  of the basin wrench  5  to extend into the tubing, well beyond the thumbscrew. Typically, a basin wrench&#39;s handle  8  is about four inches long, which renders grasping it and then rendering a rotational force on it difficult in some situations especially since the diameter is usually about ⅛ inch to 3/16 inch in diameter, rendering grasping difficult.  
         [0026]     While a tubular interior diameter of about inch is suggested, this is based upon a believed diameter of about ¼ inch for the typical handle  8  of a basin wrench. Obviously, if the handle  8  is of a larger diameter, then larger interior diameter tubing is required for the body of the device, be it  11  or  16 . The thumbscrew is tightened down by rotation upon the basin wrench handle  8 , to retain it within the device&#39;s tubular member, which is of course of a greater diameter than that of handle  8 .  
         [0027]     Since certain changes may be made in the described apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.