Patent Publication Number: US-11389942-B1

Title: Securing mechanism for a shaft

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present embodiments relate to a securing mechanism for receiving a variety of shafts, and more specifically for releasably securing various implements and shafts to a hand tool, instrument, or device. 
     A typical hand tool is designed for a variety of uses to enable users to perform various tasks. These tools include handles that may be grasped by the individual in order to more securely operate the tool. 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. However, one of the drawbacks with mechanisms of this type is that the mechanism includes internal components translating axially and/or rotating relative to the body of the device (e.g. bearings), such that the contact and rigidity with the shaft may be reduced. 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 desired contact with and/or transferring forces to the shaft when the tool is manipulated (e.g. axially and/or rotationally) by the individual in use. 
     SUMMARY 
     In some embodiments, a tool may have a securing mechanism for attaching a shaft of an implement to the tool. In various embodiments, the tool may include a tool body having an end opening configured to releasably receive the shaft. In addition, in various embodiments, the tool body may include an opening transverse and intersecting the end opening. In some embodiments, the tool may include a push button slidable within the opening between a locked position with the shaft and an unlocked position with the shaft. In various embodiments, the push button may include one or more protrusions adapted to engage the shaft in the locked position and disengage from the shaft in the unlocked positon. 
     In addition, in some embodiments, the tool may include at least one biasing member positioned between the push button and the tool body. In various embodiments, the one or more protrusions may include one or more cam surfaces positioned proximal the end opening of the tool body. In some embodiments, the push button may include an internal cavity. In addition, in some embodiments, the internal cavity may include the one or more protrusions projecting inwardly therefrom. In various embodiments, the tool may further include a sliding engagement between the push button and the opening of the tool body. Moreover, in some embodiments, the sliding engagement may be one or more pin and slot engagements. In various embodiments, the one or more protrusions may be arcuate in shape. In some embodiments, the one or more protrusions may include one or more concave walls. In various embodiments, the push button and/or the tool body may include one or more orientation features adapted to engage the shaft and orientate the tool in one or more orientations relative to the shaft. 
     In some embodiments, a tool may have a securing mechanism for attaching a shaft of an implement to the tool. In various embodiments, the tool may include a tool body having an end opening configured to releasably receive the shaft. In some embodiments, the tool body may include an opening transverse and intersecting the end opening. In some embodiments, the tool may include a push button slidable within the opening, wherein the push button translates between a locked position with the shaft and an unlocked position with the shaft. In addition, in various embodiments, the push button may include an internal cavity. In some embodiments, the internal cavity may include one or more protrusions projecting inwardly therefrom. In various embodiments, the tool may include one or more biasing members positioned between the push button and the tool body thereby urging the one or more protrusions inwardly towards the shaft to the locked positon. 
     In addition, in some embodiments, the one or more protrusions may include one or more cam surfaces positioned proximal the end opening of the tool body. In various embodiments, the internal cavity may be a through opening, wherein the through opening may be defined by a substantially arcuate wall with the one or more protrusions projecting inwardly into the through opening from the arcuate wall. In some embodiments, the tool may further include one or more cleaning ports extending from an outer wall of the tool body to an inner wall of the end opening and/or the opening of the tool body. In various embodiments, the one or more protrusions may be proximal a bottom wall of the opening. In addition, in some embodiments, the one or more protrusions may include one or more arcuate walls at a distal free end spaced from the internal cavity and adjacent the shaft. In various embodiments, the tool may further include a pin and slot engagement between the push button and the tool body. In some embodiments, the one or more protrusions may include a planar surface opposite a cam surface of the one or more protrusions. In various embodiments, when in the locked position, the planar surface contacts and restricts axially removal of the shaft from the end opening of the tool body. 
     In some embodiments, a tool may have a securing mechanism for attaching a shaft of an implement to the tool. In various embodiments, the tool may include a tool body adapted to releasably receive the shaft. In some embodiments, the tool may include a biased retention feature having a retention abutment surface opposite a cam surface, wherein the retention abutment surface interferes with the axial removal of the shaft from the tool body and the cam surface translates the biased retention feature outwardly allowing insertion of the shaft. 
     In addition, in some embodiments, the retention abutment surface may be substantially planar. In various embodiments, the biased retention feature may include a concave distal free end between the cam surface and the retention abutment surface. In some embodiments, the tool may include a pin and slot engagement allowing translation of the biased retention feature into and out of engagement with the shaft. Moreover, in some embodiments, the retention abutment surface may contact from an outer diameter towards an inner diameter of an axial facing planar surface of the shaft and interferes with the axial removal. In some embodiments, the tool may further include a button, wherein the button includes the biased retention feature. 
     These and other advantages and features, which characterize the embodiments, are set forth in the claims annexed hereto and form a further part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the embodiments, and of the advantages and objectives attained through its use, reference should be made to the Drawings and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is described example embodiments. This summary is merely provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description, and is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. Also, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a tool with a shaft exploded away; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the tool of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the unassembled and unlocked tool taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1  illustrating the shaft initially contacting a cam surface to translate the biased retention feature during inserting of the shaft; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the assembled and locked tool taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1  illustrating a locked position of the securing mechanism with the shaft; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the tool taken along  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1  illustrating the locked position; 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the tool taken along  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1  illustrating the unlocked position of the securing mechanism; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective sectional view of the tool of  FIG. 1  illustrating the unlocked position of the securing mechanism; and 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the tool having the securing mechanism. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Numerous variations and modifications will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, as will become apparent from the description below. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the specific implementations discussed herein. 
     As shown in the Figures, one or more securing mechanisms  20  may be used with the tool or device  10  to releasably secure the implement or shaft  1 . The securing mechanism  20  may be configured for a variety of instruments connecting to one or more shafts or implements  1 , not limited to the herein described apparatus. For example, one embodiment of the tool or device  10  may be a T-handle ( FIGS. 1-7 ). In other embodiments, the tool or device  110  may be a Slap Hammer ( FIG. 8 ), handles, inserters, instruments with depth stops, disassembleable instruments, modular instruments, or a variety of other devices may be secured to the same shaft end, another shaft, or instrument implement. The securing mechanism  20  may allow one or more devices  10  to quickly connect to a shaft or other implement  1 . The shaft  1 , for example, may be inserted with or without activating the button or user control  21  of the tool  10 . The securing mechanism  20  engages the shaft structure (e.g. pocket, annular groove, etc.) and may prevent or reduce axial and/or rotational translation of the shaft  1 . In various embodiments, the shaft features may correspond to other features of a body  30  of the device and may assist with one or more orientations and/or prevent shaft rotation. The securing mechanism  20  may be activated to release or unlock from the shaft allowing the user to separate the device from the shaft and/or reposition to another orientation. 
     The securing mechanism  20  releasably attaches the one or more implements with the remaining portion or tool body  30  of the one or more tools  10 . The securing mechanism and/or retention device  20  may be configured between an unlocked position ( FIG. 6 ) and a locked position ( FIG. 5 ). When in the unlocked position, the implement/shaft  1  may be released from or removed/inserted (e.g. axially/rotationally) relative to the tool body. When in the locked position, the implement/shaft may be fixed in position relative to the tool body  30  (e.g. axially/rotationally). In the locked position, one or more retention features  40  may engage the shaft  1 . Correspondingly, in the unlocked position, the one or more retention features  40  may disengage from the shaft  1 . The retention feature  40  may be unbiased in a direction, although it is shown as biased (e.g. springs) in the figures. The release or control for the securing mechanism  20  may be a button  21  (e.g. push and/or pull) as shown in the embodiments. The button  21  and/or retention feature  40  may translate (e.g. slidable or sliding engagement) into and/or out of engagement with the shaft  1 . The translation may be linear in some embodiments. As shown in the embodiment, the button  21  and/or retention feature  40  may translate perpendicular to the shaft  1 , end opening  31 , or longitudinal axis A. 
     The tool, driver, or device  10  may be of a variety of sizes, shapes, quantities, and constructions and still receive the implement structure or shaft  1 . As shown in the figures, the tool body  30  may include an elongated end opening  31  defined by an interior wall or cavity  32 . The end opening  31  may be positioned at one end  33  of the body  30 . The end opening  31  may be configured to releasably receive the shaft  1 . The body  30  may have the interior or inner wall  32  that may be cylindrical in various embodiments. The body  30  may have an exterior or outer wall  34  that may be cylindrical in some embodiments. The exterior wall  34  and interior wall  32  may be coaxial with the axis A. The interior wall  32 /end opening  31 /internal cavity  24  do not have to be circular in construction. It should be understood that a variety of shapes and sizes of the shaft receiving end openings  31  of the tool may be used and still match a variety of shaft geometry. The body  30  may have one or more drain holes or cleaning ports  35 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the cleaning port  35  may extend from one or more exterior walls  34  to one or more interior walls  32  (e.g. a wall of opening  36  receiving the button  21  and/or end opening  31 ). 
     In some implementations, the securing mechanism control (e.g. push button  21 ) may operably engage the shaft within the end opening  31  of the tool body  30 . The tool body  30  may include an opening  36  receiving the push button  21 . The push button  21  may be in a sliding engagement within the opening  36  between the one or more locked positions and the unlocked positions. The push button  21  and/or opening  36  may intersect the end opening  31  of the tool body  30 . The opening  36  may be positioned transverse (e.g. perpendicular) to the axis A or end opening  31 . The push button  21  slides within the opening  36  between at least one locked position ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ) and at least one unlocked position ( FIGS. 3, 6, and 7 ). The push button  21  may include the biased retention feature  40  or protrusion  41 . 
     In some embodiments as shown in  FIGS. 2, 5, and 6 , the sliding engagement of the securing mechanism  20  may include one or more pin and slot engagements  22 . The push button  21  and tool body  30  may include the sliding engagement therebetween. In the embodiment shown, the push button  21  includes the one or more slots  23  on opposing exterior side walls. The slots  23  may be axially aligned with the direction of travel of the push button  21  between the locked and unlocked positions (e.g. perpendicular to the axis A). The pins  24  may project inwardly into the opening  36  from one or more inner walls  37  defining the opening  36  and operably engage the slots  23 . The pins  24  may be inserted and/or positioned within the tool body  30  from the exterior wall  34  to the interior wall  37 . The pins  24  may guide the travel of the push button  21  between the unlocked and locked positons. The pins  24  may be transverse to the axis A and the direction of travel of the push button  21 . The slots  23  may extend along the exterior walls of the push button. The slots may extend transverse (e.g. perpendicular) to the longitudinal axis A. In other embodiments, the pin and slot engagement may be interchanged between the sliding structure. For example, the slots  23  may be on opposing walls  37  of the opening  36  of the body  30  while the pins  24  extend from the push button  21 . 
     In some implementations, the securing mechanism  20  includes the one or more retention features  40 . The push button  21  may include the one or more retention features  40  operably engaging the shaft  1  (e.g. annular one or more grooves of the shaft). The retention feature  40  may be one or more protrusions  41 . The protrusion  41  may be adapted to engage and/or disengage from the shaft  1 . The protrusion  41  may extend inwardly towards the shaft  1 . As shown in  FIGS. 2-7 , the protrusion  41  may extend inwardly from one or more surfaces of an internal cavity  25  of the push button  21 . The internal cavity  25  may receive the shaft  1  therethrough. The internal cavity  25  may be a through opening. The through opening may extend in the direction of the axis A. The through opening may be defined by a substantially arcuate wall  26 . The one or more protrusions  41  may project inwardly in the through opening from the arcuate wall  26 . In some embodiments, the protrusions may be on an exterior wall of the push button. The one or more protrusions  41  may be spaced about the internal cavity in a variety of positions. In the embodiment shown, the protrusion  41  may be proximal a bottom wall of the opening  36  or away from the user interface adjacent the exterior wall  34  of the tool body  30 . The protrusion  41  may be arcuate in shape or concave. The distal free end  42 , spaced from the internal cavity  25  (e.g. adjacent the shaft) may be concave in shape. The distal free end  42  may include one or more arcuate walls. The arcuate wall may be concave thereby contouring adjacent to the circumference of the shaft. 
     As shown in the figures, the tool  1  may include one or more biasing members  50 . The one or more biasing members  50  may urge the retention feature  40  (e.g. one or more protrusions  41 ) towards the locked position to engage the shaft. The one or more biasing members  50  may urge the button  21  and/or protrusion  41  inwardly towards the shaft and locked position. The biasing member  50  may be positioned between the push button  21  and the tool body  30 . In some embodiments as shown, the biasing members  50  may be a spring  52  (e.g. pair of springs). The springs  52  may be positioned adjacent the bottom wall of the opening  36 . The spring  52  may be received at least partially in an aperture  27  in the push button  21 . It should be understood that a variety of biasing members may be used and still create a biased retention feature  40 . In some embodiments, a biasing member  50  may not be used. For example, the button  21  may be pushed and/or pulled by the user to releasably secure the shaft in some embodiments. 
     In some implementations, the retention feature  40  may include one or more cam surfaces  43 . The button  21  may include the cam surface or chamfer  43  to allow the shaft  1  to be engaged or locked with the button  21  without the user pushing/pulling the button. The button  21  may need to be pressed to engage the shaft if the cam surface is not used in some embodiments. If used, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the cam surface  43  may translate the biased retention feature  40  or protrusion  41  outwardly away from the shaft (e.g. sliding the button within opening  36 ) allowing insertion of the shaft towards the locked position. Once the shaft passes over the cam surface  43 , the biasing member  50  will urge the protrusion  41  inwardly into the shaft to axially retain the shaft&#39;s position relative to the tool body  30 . The protrusion  41  may include the one or more cam surfaces  43 . The cam surface  43  may be positioned proximal the end opening  31  of the tool body  30  or facing towards end  33  of the body  30 . The cam surface  43 , if used, may be opposite the one or more retention abutment surfaces  44  of the protrusion  41 . The abutment surface  44  contacts one or more axial-facing surfaces  2  (e.g. planar) of the shaft (e.g. within annular shaft groove) and prevents removal or secures the shaft axially within the end opening  31 . The abutment surface  44  interferes with the axial removal of the shaft  1  from the tool body  30 . In some implementations, the concave distal free end  42  may be positioned between the cam surface  43  and the abutment surface  44 . In the figures, the abutment surface  44  of the protrusion  41  is substantially planar. The planar surface may be transverse to the axis A. The planar surface of the abutment surface may include a distal edge that may be arcuate in shape adjacent the distal free end  42  or shaft  1 . Similarly, the cam surface may include a distal edge that may be arcuate in shape adjacent the distal free end  42  or shaft  1 . As shown more clearly in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the retention abutment surface  44  may contact from an outer diameter towards an inner diameter of the axial facing planar surface  2  of the shaft. This increased surface area contacting therebetween in the locked position ( FIG. 5 ) creates an engagement that may transfer force from the tool body  30 /button  21  to the shaft  1 . 
     In some implementations, the tool may include one or more orientation features. The orientation features  60 , if used, may be adapted to engage the shaft and orientate the tool or portions thereof in one or more orientations relative to the shaft. In the one embodiment shown, the shaft or implement  1  includes one or more flats or orientation features  62  corresponding to one or more flats or orientation features  64  of the tool body  30 . In some embodiments, the push button may include one or more orientation features. The orientation features may also provide for the shaft and tool body to rotate together if desired by the user. 
     In use, to engage the shaft, the shaft  1  enters the end opening  31  or tool body  30 . The shaft forces the button  21  down via the cam surface  43  and passes through the through opening  25  of the button. If the cam surface is not used, the user may have to press the button downwardly to allow continued insertion upon abutting the protrusion  41 . Once the groove of the shaft aligns with the protrusion  41 , the protrusion is forced upwards into the groove of the shaft via the biasing members  50 . An orientation feature  60 , if used, of the shaft/tool body may orientate portions of the tool. The shaft may be locked until the user disengages the button from the shaft. When the button is pressed, the button retention feature or protrusion disengages from the shaft allowing the shaft to translate out of the end opening. 
       FIG. 8  shows one embodiment of the securing mechanism with a Slap Hammer  110 . When the securing mechanism  20  is in the locked position, the Slap Hammer tool  110  may allow for forward impaction and/or backward impaction. Forward impaction may apply or transmit force to the distal end of the shaft in contact with the bottom wall of the end opening or inner wall of the tool body. Backward impaction may apply or transmit force between the push button and the shaft. More specifically, the backward impaction force may be transmitted from the protrusion  41  (e.g. retention abutment surface) to the axial facing surface  2  of the shaft. 
     While several embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the scope of the present disclosure. 
     All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms. 
     The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.” 
     The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc. 
     As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.” “Consisting essentially of,” when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law. 
     As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc. 
     It should also be understood that, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, in any methods claimed herein that include more than one step or act, the order of the steps or acts of the method is not necessarily limited to the order in which the steps or acts of the method are recited. 
     In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively, as set forth in the United States Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures, Section 2111.03. 
     It is to be understood that the embodiments are not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Unless limited otherwise, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” “in communication with,” and “mounted,” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections, couplings, and mountings. In addition, the terms “connected” and “coupled” and variations thereof are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings. 
     The foregoing description of several embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise steps and/or forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.